Pahang Puzzler for Patrik

Pahang United produced a stunning performance to leave Kensington Boys Club crushed following a 6-1 defeat. The first-half saw both sides create chances as the defences were dominated. Pahang netted with their first opportunity as Tom Hording toe-poked home following a corner. Albert Finley and Aubrey de Vere had shots saved as KBC looked to hit back. Hording and Finley had chances at either end as the game continued at an incredible pace and KBC would find their equaliser. Adrian Gray was given too much room in the penalty area and smashed a shot home to give the visitors renewed hope. However, Pahang hit straight back and another corner caused enough confusion in the visiting defence to allow Tajo Cuevas to ghost in and head home. Seymore MacRanald saw red for dangerous play as KBC’s match went from bad to worse although they escaped a Ray Eastwood lob before half-time to go in just a goal behind. Pahang would take advantage of their numerical superiority during a second-half blitz which left KBC well-beaten. Cuevas saw a header blocked before Ray Eastwood chipped the ‘keeper only to hit the bar. Rano Pantow saw a free-kick go close before the third goal finally arrived courtesy of a Jeremias Lindeman header. The visitors would then melt down in the face of a final 10-minute onslaught. Romeo Hogg made it 4-1 with a brilliantly curled shot and it was 5-1 moments later as Hording hit the ball through the ‘keeper’s legs. Lindeman toe-poked in number six following a corner and the visitors couldn’t get off the pitch quickly enough at the end. Despite the win MrT claimed ‘there’s a lot of things I have to learn and improve’ and if he does the league had better watch out on this basis. Meanwhile, Patrik has been seen looking bemused and scratching his head among other things this past week. While he has been ‘depressed’ and at a loss to ‘explain the biggest loss in Kensingtonian history’ there is no doubt that he will have them firing again for their next match.

Eaglesrjh celebrated becoming admin of the league by watching his side defeat St Omer 4-1 in Viking Land. The Vikings were too strong for their inexperienced visitors and saw Vassilis Papakostas give them a seventh minute lead with a header of some quality. Their finishing would be of a high standard throughout the match and Papakostas added the second on 29th minute with another accurate header. In what was turning out into a bit of a benefit match for the striker he then scored his hat-trick goal with a nicely curled effort on 33 minutes which left Omer staring down the barrel of a big defeat. He would, however, then spoil his 100% record when Frost saved his header moments later and Omer would strike back before the break. A successful raid into the penalty area led to a spot-kick being awarded; Cony Tottee making no mistake from the spot to give them some hope for the second-half. As it turned out there would only be one chance during a quiet second 45. It would, however, provide The Vikings with their fourth goal; Ted Tolley adding his name to the score-sheet with an excellent header. Eagles was happy his side won the ‘game in style’ and managed to give ‘match experience to fringe players.’ ConyTottee still has his players in excellent form despite the defeats and the longer he can continue this the more hopeful he can be for future seasons.

Manchester United continued their march towards top-flight football with an easy 2-0 win at Belly Tubbies. Karim Benzema began the game in explosive fashion and narrowly failed to give his side the lead with two excellent efforts in the first three minutes. Wayne Rooney then flicked a header wide as United maintained their attacking superiority. Rooney would see Fitzsimmons save another header before United finally took the lead. Eric Cantona was left in space from a corner and he had no problem in finding the net with a clinical strike. Carrick then saw a header saved as United kept control up until the break. Benzema started the second-half as he did the first and, once more, he would narrowly fail with a header. Belly Tubbies did make a better fist of competing during a more even second-half and Kevin Sheedy forced Kuszcak into fine work in the United goal. Rooney brushed the outside of a post for United before Cahill drove wide at the other end as the game entered a to-and-fro period. It would be United who would emerge from this period in better shape, though, as Michael Carrick headed home a Cantona cross to double their lead. This would effectively end the game as the time was played out with no further chances created. The Tubbies had further turmoil when Fitzy1961 left the site but they have since appointed Whataneejit and it is hoped that he will steer the club into steadier waters. Pakya and United have no such problems as they have opened up a five point gap on fourth spot and look in prime position as the season moves towards its half-way mark.

Villarreal CF continued their improvement with a 2-0 home win over Kirkbride Strollers. It was the visitors who would start the better of the two sides with Billy Maneater and Mark Blacklock forcing Abrey into early saves. Villarreal took advantage of Kirkbride’s profligacy by taking the lead with their first chance; Errol Beddoe placing the ball home after being put through by Shuttlewood. This seemed to give the home side confidence and Beddoe was unlucky not to add a second as his lob struck the bar. It would be Beddoe who would strike again, though, as he produced an accurate header on 25 minutes to double the lead. Rodney Shuttlewood had a further chance before the break but John Orr gathered. The second-half saw an even contest and Blacklock had a lob hit the angle as Kirkbride tried to get a foothold in the game. Beddoe continued to cause problems for the Strollers’ defence and placed a header off the post while Bennington fired over the bar. EL Lapinho for the Strollers and Beddoe for the hosts both had late chances but they didn’t add to the score with Villarreal running out 2-0 winners. Cathal was already turning his attention to their next match against The Vikings following the win and spoke of being ‘quite confident’ ahead of it. Jazza will just be happy to get back to their home ground for the next match following this disappointing result.

Newry City made light work of a disappointing Reggae Reggae Sauce side to win 3-0 a Sauce Bottle Arena. Newry started brightly and took a fourth minute lead with a neat lob by Dylan Toman leaving Phil Taylor stranded. Woody Forrest struck wide for the home side and from this point on it was all Newry. Sebby Cizma was very unfortunate not to double the lead with a super free-kick which struck a post but they didn’t have to wait long for their second goal as Toman headed home powerfully on 23 minutes. The pattern continued into the second-half and RRS escaped going 3-0 down due to Max Challis being flagged offside. A free-kick saw Cizma fire just wide but the same player would make it 3-0 by finishing off a free-flowing breakaway. RRS then lost Torres to a red card as their day went from bad to worse and Cizma had one final chance in injury-time but fired wide. It wasn’t to matter to the away fans, though, as they celebrated a 3-0 triumph but were rocked by news of Mickeymoose’s departure from the club. The club have since brought in Ramsay2009 and the fans will hope he continues their decent start to the season. Xpertelevener continues to baffle his club’s fans with his reluctance to use the full squad and the fact that players are now being put in their wrong positions does not bode well.

AJ Rovers and PSV Eindhoven fought out a tough 0-0 draw at the AJR Arena as both sides had to settle for a point apiece. Sonny Vickerman threatened to give Rovers an early lead but Reina was alert enough to stop the shot. Some poor challenges led to an injury for either side as Manuel Ficuz was kept busy. Eindhoven had their first chance of the game when a lob header from Yang Sheng Nanmeng needed saving. The final chance of the half fell to Daniel Tabaranu of the home side but he got his effort wrong and the sides would go in deadlocked. The second-half would be just as tight but the away side would enjoy two chances to their opponent’s one. The first chance of the half fell to Jeremiah McNally of the visitors but it flew over the bar. AJ’s Elling Jarnoy could do no better with his curled shot and a late free-kick by Jose Fonte didn’t come any closer to finding the breakthrough. Kadri is happy that ‘the team is now starting to take shape’ and everything is pointing towards ‘a positive future.’ Rothion has seen his side slip to seventh and he will want them to improve their form swiftly to be able to reverse this trend.