Pakya v Patrik Ends Even

Manchester United and Kensington Boys Club fought out an extremely tough 1-1 draw at Old Trafford as United maintained their lead at the head of the table. A clever header by Darren Gibson needed watching carefully by Timmy Lorentzen in the KBC goal as United searched for an early advantage. KBC would strike back with a header of their own as Niles Worthington brought the very best out of Ben Foster with his flicked effort. Maurice Jacobs did find the net on 35 minutes with a diving header but an awful offside call denied him his goal and the sides went in level at the break. The second-half saw United take a 66th minute lead as Dennis Irwin headed home a Cristiano Ronaldo free-kick. With injuries and yellow cards disrupting the rhythm of the game there was never a real sense of one side being in the ascendency. KBC would bring strike next as Alfie Whitley showed quick reactions in the area to toe-poke home to level matters. The game then had a dramatic ending as Aubrey de Vere saw red for simulation and United nearly took advantage of their extra man as Eric Cantona brought a fine save out of Lorentzen deep in injury-time. Pakya will be content with United’s four-point lead at the head of things and will remain confident of promotion. Patrik will surely be pleased with his side’s recovery from THAT defeat and they are very much involved in the chase for RM Invitational football next season.

AJ Rovers shocked The Vikings with a 2-1 home victory largely thanks to their more clinical finishing. Both sides started in attacking fashion as a Chad Atlee header needed saving by Raasch before Murray Irwin looped one over at the other end. Damon Strachan continued The Vikings attacking intentions by lobbing in the opening goal after a nice pass by Gourmas. They might have made it 2-0 shortly afterwards but Tassiopoulos couldn’t direct his shot on target and the lead remained at one. A lob header by Evstathios Gourmas looked to have made it 2-0 but it was chalked off for shirt pulling and AJ could breathe again. However, The Vikings would remain on the front foot and Damon Strachan saw a chip go just over the bar. AJ would eventually emerge from their defensive duties but Elling Jarnoy couldn't overcome a tight angle and the chance was gone. The Vikings were quickly back on the attack but Vassilis Papakostas chipped over the bar and they would only take a 1-0 lead into the break after dominating the half. The Vikings would continue with their momentum at the start of the second-half but neither Tassiopoulos nor Gourmas could make the most of decent opportunities and their profligacy would cost them the game. After a quiet spell AJ exploded in the final ten minutes with Sonny Vickerman bringing them level with a beautifully placed header. On 84 minutes they would then be given the chance to win the game after the award of a penalty; Jarnoy revelling in the role of match-winner as he deposited the ball into the back of the net. After the defeat Eagles asked about ending the ‘game at 80 minutes’ following their poor finish after ‘cruising’ the majority of the contest. He will still be content with his side sitting in second, though, while Rothion now has his side just two points off the race and moving very much in the right direction.

Kirkbride Strollers were also held to a 1-1 draw as PSV Eindhoven continued their excellent developmental season at Philips Stadion. The first-half was a relatively quiet affair with only one chance in it. It came on 17 minutes but Jose Fonte never seriously troubled Orr from a free-kick and the sides would remain deadlocked at half-time. Kirkbride would start the second-half in much more positive fashion and a Mike Bell lob needed tipping over the bar by Reina in the home goal. Bell would get the better of Reina on 55 minutes, though, as he placed his header beyond the ‘keeper for the opening goal. PSV remained calm despite this deficit and forced another free-kick chance for Fonte but he couldn’t make it count. They would also bring the best out of Orr following an excellent diving header from Rene Maslovsky as they strived for the equalising goal. They eventually got their reward after an excellent driving shot by Frans Haggbring left Orr beaten and the score 1-1. Bell did have another headed chance to win the game for Kirkbride but he couldn’t get it on target and the sides would go away with a point each. Jazza keeps his side in the top three on the back of this point and he will be happy with the threat posed by Mike Bell as they look to him to fire the side to promotion. Kadri continues to juggle the development of his side with keeping their heads above water as the season progresses; proving to be one of the season’s success stories in the process.

Villarreal CF built upon their recent momentum with a 2-0 away win at Belly Tubbies. They put in an excellent display of possession in the opening half but both sides cancelled each other out and the result was a 0-0 half-time stalemate. The second-half, in contrast, burst into action from the start as Tim Cahill curled a shot wide for the Tubbies before Richard van Mosen chipped over the bar at the other end. Tubbies lost van de Hauwe through injury and Potsdam Erplatz took advantage by finishing well following a swift breakaway move. Kevin Ratcliffe looked to bring the home side level but missed the target with a header and the game was settled in injury-time when van Mosen placed beyond Fitzsimmons to give Villarreal a two-goal lead. Despite seeing his side move to within a point of a place in the top three Cathal claimed that promotion ‘doesn’t really bother me this season’ as he continues to concentrate on their youth players. Fitzy remains in the relegation zone and are now three points adrift however he knows he has enough talent in the squad to pull through if they can find some form.

FC Flying Dog gave Tivvymike a winning start with a 2-1 success over Pahang United. An early chance came their way as Kian Dadashi was teed up from a free-kick but he couldn’t get it anywhere near the target. Pahang would make more of their opening effort as Tom Hording lobbed the ball home on 27 minutes to give the home side problems. Pahang had the chance to extend their lead but Romeo Hogg hit the crossbar with a free-kick. They were then indebted to Richert for tipping over an audacious lob by Kian Dadashi just before the break. The second-half started with Hogg forcing Dittmer into a leg save from another free-kick before FC Flying Dog hit back. The goal came from a nice Woodlands pass and ended with Antony Cowdrey shooting home in the penalty area. The game would be turned on its head completely minutes later as Clint Dickson somewhat fortuitously mishit his shot into goal following a Cowdrey corner. Maximo Simas and Cowdrey had chances to extend their lead but a mixture of inaccuracy and good ‘keeping prevented them from doing so. Nevertheless they had recorded their first win under Tivvymike and they are fancied to go onto great things. MrT’s Pahang are three points above the drop zone yet only five away from the top three and much of their season will depend on how many wins they can pick up around the turn.

Reggae Reggae Sauce reaped the rewards of playing players in their correct position as they returned to form with a 5-0 win over St Omer. Christiano Torres gave the home fans something to cheer as early as the second minute with a nice finish over Leopold Frost. He then acrobatically tried to make it 2-0 but couldn’t direct his bicycle kick and Omer escaped. Dennis Bogarde forced Mullin into a save as Omer briefly attacked but from this point on it was the home side who would have the ascendency. Tyrone Barratt chipped home number two on 19 minutes and it was 3-0 courtesy of a Derick Maley strike on 29 minutes. Omer did have a goal disallowed for a dubious offside call while Sauce saw Stefano Counago go close as the game continued to see attacking football. Bradley Foster lobbed in number four soon after half-time while Barratt nearly made it five moments later but couldn’t quite find his accuracy. Frost was well-placed to deny John Part as the midfielder got in a header on goal but the fifth goal did arrive as Maley powered in a shot after a corner. Everyone is hoping this will be the win that gives Reggae the ‘kick up the arse’ their manager claimed they needed and they can now move on and produce even better performances. Omer continue to build their squad for the seasons to come and will just try to limit the heaviness of their defeats in the coming weeks.