Maurice on Mark for KBC

Kensington Boys Club handed AJ Rovers their first defeat of the season and, in the process, moved to the top of Division One. However, it would be Rovers who would start as the more dominant team. Sonny Vickerman had already fired in an early free-kick warning by the time Daniel Tabaranu had forced Gardiner into a save. Vickerman would have another free-kick opportunity before the break and curled a beautiful effort only to see it come back off the post. The second-half would be a very even contest but KBC received a massive boost with a 46th minute penalty; Maurice Jacobs duly converted and they had a crucial lead. Vickerman would then take centre stage again with another free-kick and, unbelievably, he drilled an effort through the wall and, this time, hit the opposite post to continue his tale of woe. As if that wasn’t enough he was given another chance on 65 minutes; not wanting in confidence he strode up and went the high route in lifting the ball over the wall and beyond the ‘keeper only for the ball to hit the crossbar and go safe. Niles Worthington and Aubrey de Vere had efforts at the other end but neither would be as threatening. The battle between Vickerman and the woodwork would resume on 76 minutes and he would avoid it this time only to find Gardiner well-placed to make the save. Aubrey de Vere made his claim for the unluckiest set-piece of the day when he hit one off a post in the dying moments but then final say was left to that man Vickerman. In what proved to be the last chance of the game he had seemingly had enough of misfortune so teed up Chad Atlee for a half-volley but it was comfortably saved and Rovers were defeated. When looking at the table Patrik had a cheeky smile when he said, ‘well, well, well.’ Rothion, meanwhile, will recognise that when it’s not your day, it’s simply not your day and will urge his side not to be too downcast following their first reversal of the season.

The performance of the day came at The Bush as Kirkbride Strollers put Manchester United to the sword in a 3-1 victory. In a slow-burner of an opening half Brian Wills would have the only chance of the first half-hour but found Ben Foster his equal as the ‘keeper comfortably gathered. The game would spring to life for the home fans, though, on 36 minutes as Keith Ellison managed to flick a header home from a Stephen Robinson corner. A free-kick offered the chance to make it 2-0 shortly after the restart but Mark Blacklock couldn’t locate the target and a diving header from Wills found Foster in supreme position. The pressure would continue, though, and the Strollers eventually got their deserved second goal. It came courtesy of another Robinson corner as, this time, Billy Maneater got his head to the ball to loop it over Foster and into the net. United recognised the need to strike back and a diving header by Wayne Rooney went close before Cristiano Ronaldo fired in a free-kick to halve the deficit. Whatever nerves the home camp had because of this goal didn’t last long, though, as Wills calmly placed the ball beyond Foster to re-establish their two-goal lead. Stephen Robinson and Blacklock had further efforts to extend the lead while Fletcher tried his luck at the other end to no avail. Jazza was in jubilant mood following his side’s victory saying that his side had ‘played to (their) full capability today’ and there’s no doubt that if they continue to do so they will be looking at promotion at the end of the campaign. Pakya has seen United fall from top spot but will still be pleased by a start to the season which has seen 9 points out of a possible 12 taken.

The Vikings purred into top form with a 3-0 home win over the Belly Tubbies. Aris Almanidis might have given them the ideal start but his fifth minute free-kick hit a post to the relief of the visitors. The free-kicks would keep arriving for the defender but he found Fitzsimmons and his own accuracy in his way of giving The Vikings a lead. They would get their goal, however, as Vassilis Papakostas slipped the ball through Fitzsimmons legs after being put through by Gourmas. An injury to Mountfield didn’t aid the visitors as they went into the half-time break second best. A driving shot from Trevor Steven did give them hope that better might be round the corner but it proved to be a false dawn. Ted Tolley narrowly missed with a lob before Clint Bonavia made it 2-0 by beating the ‘keeper from inside the area. The third goal would come in injury-time via a long range shot from Paraskevas Maladenis and the emphatic win was sealed. It has to be said that BT endured some horrid misfortune with injuries as Neville and Sheedy joined Mountfield off the park but they were well-beaten by a strong home side. Everyone at the Tubbies will be hoping Fitzy will be fully recovered from his illness sooner rather than later. Eagles was ‘delighted with (his) team’s performance today’ saying it was a ‘great result’ and has ‘hopefully (put them) back on track.’

Newry City made the most of their clash with the youngsters from St Omer and ran out comfortable 3-0 winners. An early lob from Kian Dadashi set the tone but he found Frost in acrobatic form to tip the ball over. The goal wouldn’t be long in coming, though, as Clint Dickson toe-poked the ball past the advancing Frost to give the hosts a 1-0 lead. The ‘keeper would win his next battle with Dickson as he saved a diving header from the forward. Omer would then create a chance of their own as Cony Tottee’s powerful low shot brushed the outside of the post. The hosts did lose Dadashi to injury as the half finished on a sour note for them but they took their 1-0 lead into the break. This lead would be swiftly added to as Dickson continued his impressive game with an excellent lob from a Faste corner. The forward would then miss a header and Bruno Vasa would do likewise at the other end. A lob attempt from Arnold Atlee would make it 3-0 in the last ten minutes and Omer were well-beaten. Omer news reiterated their commitment to ‘developing youth talent’ and while it might not appease the fans at this moment in time it should benefit them in the seasons to come. Mickeymoose, meanwhile, has moved his side nicely into mid-table and will hope to keep them pushing upwards in the coming weeks.

Villarreal and Pahang enjoyed a rare old battle at the Estadio El Madrigal as they both took away a point apiece in a 2-2 draw. The visitors would be unfortunate not to take the lead when Rano Pantow looped a header off the bar and Villarreal would make them pay; Rodney Shuttlewood firing in a tenth minute free-kick to edge them in front. The sides would continue to trade chances with Avishai Beniesh shaving a post for Pahang while Shuttlewood missed a chance to double his tally with a poor header. Pahang would get their equaliser before the break as Till Gloden powered in a header just after the half-hour and this is how it would stay until the break came. Pantow nearly gave United the advantage at the start of the second-half but his header would find the post as Villarreal continued to ride their luck. There was to be no escape for them with Pantow’s next effort, however, as he drilled in a long range shot of some quality. Shuttlewood and Peyton would miss their chances to equalise for Villarreal while Beniesh narrowly missed in his attempt to double the visitor’s advantage. The hosts would then receive a life-line courtesy of referee Charlie Fender; Bernardo Almeida making no mistake from the spot after the referee had awarded a penalty. Both sides had a chance to win the game but neither Beniesh nor Shuttlewood could seize it and they would finish deadlocked. Cathal’s reaction said it all as he said ‘phew!’ before smiling broadly at reporters. Mr T claimed to be ‘disappointed with the ref’s decision’ but declared himself happy with the fact that ‘the players played very well today.’

Reggae Reggae Sauce and PSV Eindhoven emerged with a point each after a game of two-halves at the Sauce Bottle Arena. PSV had the better of the opening half and took a lead with an expert Daniel Agger header from a corner. Jose Fonte hit a free-kick just over and Jeremiah McNally missed with a powerfully curled shot as the visitors looked by far the more threatening of the two sides. RRS would be reborn after the break and equalised through a flick header from Steven Lampard. Further chances would come their way as PSV wilted. Christiano Torres hit a shot at Reina from a free-kick as the pressure increased. The hosts would find their luck out when a lob header from Lampard hit wood and went safe. Ronaldo would also miss a late chance but given the difference in the two halves maybe a point apiece was fair. Xpertelevener has his side in seventh after the opening four games but might want to remember to name substitutes for further games to avoid playing with 10-men when it’s unnecessary. PSV news spoke of a ‘creditable draw’ but rued the fact that they ‘allowed them back into the game.’