Vikings Victorious

The Vikings continued to live up to their pre-season hype with a solid 2-0 home triumph over Newry City. They had to reorganise early on as Melker Ahlm suffered a slight injury but they served notice of their threat with a Tassiopoulos header which went just wide. They succeeded with their next chance on goal when Ilmari Jukka produced a simple chip over Wellens following a corner from Maladenis. Newry took time to settle into the game but a lob header by Clint Dickson was unfortunate not to bring them level before the break as it bounced away off the angle of post and bar. The visitors would carry the early threat in the second 45 minutes as they looked to peg back the deficit. However, Stan Collymore couldn’t make the most of his chance and The Vikings then tightened up significantly. With time ticking away the hosts managed to secure the victory when Justin Portway headed home a Damon Strachan cross. The same two thought they had combined for a third goal moments later but it was pulled back when Portway was adjudged offside. Collymore then defiantly had a free-kick turned over the bar but it was The Vikings who would go away much the happier of the two teams. Eaglesrjh proclaimed himself ‘happy, happy’ with what he described a ‘solid start to the season.’ Mickeymoose has seen his team open with a win and loss but will remain hopeful of a good season with a promising squad of players.

Manchester United kept up their impressive form with a 4-1 success at Pahang United. An early chance for Michael Carrick was easily saved by Hussain before Ronaldo poked them ahead following a corner on 24 minutes. Henning Gassner attempted to draw the hosts level but shot woefully wide as United took their lead into the half-time interval. When Benjamin Johannsen headed a decent opportunity wide Pahang would then find themselves under an incredible amount of pressure. They were immediately 2-0 behind with Nemanja Vidic heading in a Hargreaves cross with the minimum of fuss before Rafael da Silva should have done better moments later but could only shoot at the ‘keeper. Gassner did likewise at the other end as Pahang tried manfully to get back into the contest but an injury to Tomas Tauber did little to help their cause. Ryan Giggs swept home from a corner on 79 minutes for 3-0 and although Avishai Beniesh replied swiftly for Pahang with a lovely free-kick the three goal lead was soon re-established. It was that man Giggs again who placed his shot out of the reach of Hussain following a clever breakaway and Pahang were well-beaten. Pakya will be encouraged by both the free-scoring nature of the team and their defensive solidity, a combination which should make them tough to stop this term. Pahang have endured a troubled start to the season but with manager TBFC planning to ‘modify’ his side the fans will retain their faith.

Reggae Reggae Sauce and Kensington Boys Club played out a competitive 1-1 draw to maintain their unbeaten starts to the season. The match started dramatically with clear sights of the goal at both ends. However, both Charles Tilly for KBC and Tyrone Barratt for the hosts could not direct their efforts on target and the game would remain goalless. Following this frenetic start the game settled into a quieter affair with the visitors enjoying much of the possession. With it, though, they could only create one further chance in the half but, once more, Tilly could not make it tell and they would go in all-square. The first meaningful action of the second-half wouldn’t take place until after the hour-mark but it was worth waiting for. A clever free-kick saw Christiano Torres hit a half-volley which needed a super stop from Gardiner to keep it out. The nature of the game saw KBC have the next chance with Maurice Jacobs bemoaning his fortune as his header struck wood and bounced clear. An injury to Tyrone Barratt brought about a brief lull in the proceedings before a fire-cracker of an ending. It would be Barratt’s replacement, Timotei Orasan, who scored the opening goal of the game as he stunned the visitors with a beautifully hit long range volley in the 90th minute. With Patrikpatrik urging his side to throw caution to the wind, KBC bravely fought back to take an unlikely point. Jacobs sent over a lovely cross and Aubrey de Vere wasn’t to miss his opportunity and headed home. Undoubtedly, Xpertelevener will feel a little aggrieved after his side had taken the lead so late on but a return of 4 points out of 6 to start the season augurs well for RRS. Patrik will be proud of his side’s resilience and they look well-equipped to cope with the rigours of Division One football.

AJ Rovers edged out Villarreal CF by a 1-0 score-line as the first season champions troubled start to life in Division One continued. Ritchie Morgan went close for the hosts before they endured a scare with Andy Hardy heading dangerously close to his own goal. The chances continued to be traded with Mercourios Simos driving in a shot which needed saving by Abrey before Villarreal hit back through Johnny Douglas although the forward couldn’t get his effort on target. Sonny Vickerman had the last chance of the half for Rovers before Villarreal were hit by an injury to Hardy as the sides went in level. Rovers would strike at the beginning of the second-half when Elling Jarnoy shot home in the area on 49 minutes. The game then passed quietly before Rodney Shuttlewood forced Mortimer into a save from a free-kick as the hosts looked for a way back in. It wasn’t to be, though, and Daniel Tabaranu might have doubled the lead but his shot brushed the outside of the post and went into touch. Rothion will be content with his side’s solid start and with 4 points on the board early they can look ahead with some confidence. Cathal reflected on their ‘second loss of the season and a bad injury’ with a simple ‘oh well.’ He’s an experienced enough campaigner to realise there is plenty of football still to be played before things are anywhere near settled.

Two young sides met at the Philips Stadion as PSV Eindhoven defeated St Omer 2-1. The teams showed the attacking nature of youth in the opening stages as Dennis Bogarde for Omer and Daniel Agger for PSV both went close. Omer were then to take the lead as Bogarde made amends for his earlier miss. A corner was delivered by Artur Arneng and the forward finished with aplomb to give Omer further belief. The half settled after the goal but PSV did have one more chance to level scores as Jeremiah McNally flicked a header on goal but it was easily dealt with by Jerry Hamshaw. PSV responded quickly after the interval with Kees Splinter drawing them level with a clinical header. Agger went close to giving Eindhoven the lead before Splinter struck again to turn the game round. Another header from a McNally cross proved too much for Hamshaw as Omer found themselves behind. They might have been level within minutes but a Bogarde volley found the frame in its way and the score remained 2-1. Arne Seiffert and Joseph Radders missed free-kick opportunities and the points belonged to PSV. PSV manager Kadri spoke of his ‘admiration’ for Omer and wished ‘them all the luck in the world’ as the season progresses. ConyTottee’s belief in what he is doing won’t have been shaken by this defeat and he will have seen plenty of positives in the way they have started the campaign.

Belly Tubbies escaped with a point from a 2-2 draw against Kirkbride Strollers after being put under intense pressure following the sending-off of midfielder Peter Reid. The Strollers saw Billy Maneater put his header too close to Fitzsimmons before the Tubbies burst into life. The opening goal came for the hosts on nine minutes as Pat van de Hauwe teed up William Ralph Dean from a free-kick and the forward made no mistake. David Proctor hit the post as the Strollers cursed their luck before succumbing to a second goal, once more, from a set-piece. This time van de Hauwe only had eyes for the net as he smashed an effort through the wall and into the roof of the net. The Strollers tried to respond through Sinoda and MacIan but neither could produce the necessary finish to get a goal back. Fraser Symington made sure the visitors started the second-half on the front foot but he couldn’t beat the ‘keeper. The game had a huge turning point on 55 minutes as Reid had a momentary lapse of self-control and used his elbow in a challenge and was rightly sent from the field. Sinoda, Maneater and Symington all went close as the Strollers looked to increase the pressure on the 10-men and they eventually found a goal to bring themselves back into the game. It came courtesy of Sinoda as he let fly with a driving shot on goal which left Fitzsimmons helpless. Symington had two efforts miss as frustration grew in the visiting camp but they managed to pinch a point deep into injury-time. El Lapinho was the scorer as he wasn’t closed down from distance and stunned the home crowd with a brilliant strike. The point represented both side’s first of the season and both Jazza and Fitzy will be keen to get their first win on the board as the matches continue.