Hoodoo Haunts Eagles

Manchester United continued to prove a troublesome opponent for The Vikings as they scored late goals in a 2-0 victory. United set the pace throughout the first-half and saw Cristiano Ronaldo hit the right post with a free-kick. Unfortunately for him this was to be his last act in the game as he was taken off with an injury. Michael Carrick came within inches of scoring as his lob hit the bar and he had a flick header which found Raasch well-placed as the home side continued to press. The second-half would see The Vikings waste a free-kick opportunity with Tassiopoulos firing well wide. United took advantage of this by opening the scoring on 71 minutes; Eric Cantona producing a brilliant chip after being found by Berbatov. This lead would swiftly be doubled with Carrick finally getting his name on the score-sheet with an excellent header. He again showed his aerial threat moments later but would be denied his second goal by Raasch. United wouldn’t be denied the three points, though, which maintains their excellent start to the season. Sitting on top of the table, Pakya will want the side to keep focus, starting with Belly Tubbies on Friday. The pain was evident for Eaglesrjh who admitted that his team ‘just can’t get a result at all against Man Utd!’

Kensington Boys Club kept up their unbeaten start to the season with a 1-1 draw at PSV Eindhoven as both managers fielded young sides. Eindhoven would stun their visitors by taking the lead on 17 minutes as Frans Haggbring produced a moment of quality to lob Ted Sampson. Kensington replied with a couple of quick-fire chances; Aubrey de Vere testing Reina with a volley before getting a free-kick horribly wrong. Eindhoven had a set-piece of their own at the other end but Sampson would produce a fine leg save from Jose Fonte’s effort. The KBC equaliser would come on 33 minutes with de Vere finally getting some reward for his enterprise; picking up the ball from Hepburn some way out he left Reina with no chance with an unerring finish. Fonte did try to put PSV back in front but his free-kick was well-saved and the sides went in level at the break. The second-half would see a quiet opening with Haggbring not being able to reproduce his first-half heroics as he hit a tame effort at Sampson. Predictably, de Vere would have a chance at the other end but his free-kick wasn’t very good as both sides began to struggle. Fonte continued the theme by hitting a set-piece over the bar before Yang Sheng Nanmeng was unfortunate to find only the post in the way of his effort on 86 minutes. PSV would suffer more misfortune when Nanmeng found the back of the net only to be denied by a doubtful offside call, one which infuriated the home fans and led to Warren Peace being given a police escort off the pitch. Kadri will be pleased that his side continue to pick up points despite having a youth policy and the fans are thought to be delighted with their manager. Patrik admitted the draw, and potential loss, might have been his fault admitting that although he ‘pride(s) himself in never underestimating (the) opposition, (he) might have done so today.’

Kirkbride Strollers took advantage of playing an u19’s St Omer side by romping to a 5-0 away win. Billy Maneater set the ball rolling with a brilliant opener on five minutes as he struck from long range. He might have added a second minutes later but hit woefully over the bar. He did provide a perfect corner for Stephen Robinson to power in the second, though, as the Strollers continued to look dominant. Roberto da Luz made John Orr make a save at the other end before Mark Blacklock placed the ball beyond Rain to put the visitors 3-0 up. Rain did manage to make one save from Maneater and watched as the midfielder also put an effort over the bar as the attacks kept coming. The second-half saw Robinson go close with a precise header and then add the fourth goal on 57 minutes with another accurate effort. It was 5-0 when Maneater continued their aerial dominance by looping a header over Rain following a fine centre from Robinson. The chances kept arriving for the visitors; Brian Wills forcing Rain into two saves while El Lapinho cleared the bar with a lob. Robinson tried to add to his tally from a free-kick but saw it brush a post but the away fans were, nevertheless, jubilant following an exciting away day. Jazza will have expected the points and will be keen to keep pace with the leading clubs as the season continues. ConyTottee responded to the defeat by signing 17-year-old forward Timmy Svenson as his youth policy continues unabated.

Belly Tubbies picked up an important win against AJ Rovers as they made more of the fewer chances they created in a 2-1 win. Despite seeing Tim Cahill go down to an early injury the Tubbies took a seventh minute lead as Kevin Sheedy displayed coolness to beat Mortimer from inside the penalty area. With chances at a premium in the first-half, AJ missed their only one as Sonny Vickerman got his header wrong and didn’t trouble Fitzsimmons. The second-half began with Pat van de Hauwe hitting horribly wide from a free-kick as the Tubbies sought to double their advantage. His evening would then be cut short by injury as AJ looked to hit back with an effort from Gordon Hogg going close and Daniel Tabaranu hitting straight at the ‘keeper when well-placed. Vickerman would miss a free-kick chance before redeeming himself with a great volley which looked like pinching a point on 92 minutes. However, the Tubbies launched one final raid and were awarded a dramatic penalty by Frank Redkard; Trevor Steven making no mistake from the spot to give the Tubbies a much needed three points. This win will have eased some of the pressure surrounding Fitzy while he continues to recover from illness. Rothion will, no doubt, rue the cruelness of the defeat after his side showed great character to bring themselves back into the contest so late in the day. He is now charged with the task of ensuring his side suffers no ill-effects from the defeat.

Pahang United picked up a precious victory over Reggae Reggae Sauce in a match of chances at Padang MPK. Pahang had gone close through Ray Eastwood before RRS stunned them by taking a 16th minute lead. Woody Forrest produced an excellent chip to leave Hussain stranded and the leave the away fans in wild celebration. Eddy Grant nearly doubled the lead with a good volley before Pahang also went close through Kilian Strongbow. Pahang enjoyed a brilliant start to the second-half with Romeo Hogg scoring a penalty on 46 minutes. It looked like being even better for them when Timotei Orasan put through his own net but it was disallowed and RRS were reprieved. The visitors would then enjoy a period of superiority in the game but Terry Jenkins and Woody Forrest failed in their attempts to give them a lead and Pahang would fight back. Rano Pantow forced a save from Phil Taylor who also denied Tajo Cuevas as the hosts suffered frustration in front of goal. A crucial moment of the game came on 88 minutes as Eddy Grant was injured by an elbow from Till Gloden and had to be helped off the field. RRS had, once again, not named any substitutions and they were forced to try and see the game out with 10-men. This would prove their undoing as Cuevas arrived unmarked in the area to send a precise header beyond Taylor and into the goal. RRS did try to save the game through a Woody Forrest half-volley and a Christiano Torres strike which hit the bar but they couldn’t manage it and fell to defeat. MrT has his side nicely in mid-table and looking upwards following an impressive three-match unbeaten run. Meanwhile, Xpertelevener has seen his side drop down the table and might see his side embroiled in a familiar relegation battle unless he can pick them up soon.

Newry City and Villarreal CF fought out a 1-1 draw in the day’s other contest. The game started in tough fashion for Newry with an injury to Dylan Toman but Stan Collymore turned things round when he shot home in the penalty area on 17 minutes to give them the lead. Max Challis missed the target with a free-kick before Collymore had to be replaced due to being felled by an elbow from Stanko Marincic. The visitors looked to hit back in the second-half and Errol Beddoe produced a composed finish to round the ‘keeper on 55 minutes only for it to be disallowed by the assistant referee’s flag. Max Challis hit straight at Abrey when he perhaps should have done better before the visitors struck back. A cross from Sid Peyton was headed home precisely by Dudley Bennington and the scores were level. Beddoe would miss a further headed chance but Villarreal were to be hit by the sending off of Marincic for further use of his elbows. Newry couldn’t take advantage of their numerical supremacy as a Clint Dickson chance went begging and the sides had to settle for a point apiece. Mickeymoose will be content with his side’s mid-table position but will want them to produce more as the season progresses while Cathal has now steered his side through three unbeaten games following a rough start to the season. Better things may just be round the corner.