Hawk Hit Heights

White Hawk moved to the top of Division Two with a 3-0 home victory over Juventus. Adan Donahue gave them the ideal start as he placed the ball through the legs of Danotti for a second minute opener. Things would get better for the hosts as Donahue then comfortably netted from the spot to make it 2-0 on 12 minutes. A header by Jazmique Lattizze would miss before Juve would muster their first attempt; even then it was nearly an own goal as Donahue found himself miss-kicking in the wrong area. The home side regained the initiative and Matts Perman’s toe-poke was only denied by the ‘keeper. Juve could claim misfortune on 41 minutes, though, when Mairthin Foley’s header hit the angle of post and bar but this was matched at the other end when Perman hit wood with a fine strike on 44 minutes. The second-half saw fewer chances but it did see Hawk confirm their supremacy. Perman would waste a headed chance before Charly Chan Jet Soe shot home from inside the penalty area to complete a fine win. Hawk confirmed their promotion with the win and will now set about amassing the three wins they might need to attain the title. SuperJuve’s side remain three points clear of Cressex and have a big match next against Futsal who themselves are only a further two points back of the Italians.

Hawk claimed top spot as Bonkers lost 4-3 at home to Los Samgeles Kings. The game started off in attacking fashion but Luc Robitaille couldn’t direct his header well-enough. Bonkers would narrowly avoid scoring an own goal as Yoshitaka Karahira produced a dangerous back-pass while Alexander Frolov’s powerful low strike was saved. The Kings did take the lead on 20 minutes with Torben Kummel heading home smartly but it was to prove short-lived as Edip Bayrak finished well for the hosts on 28 minutes from their first chance of the game. Philip Calderwood’s lob needed saving by Ersberg before the Kings went back on the attack before the break but Kummel couldn’t find the net with his shot. The second-half saw more open football with the home side hitting the post early courtesy of a Stefan Beelenkamp free-kick. The Kings would strike first, though, as Anze Kopitar powered a shot home but once more the hosts would strike back quickly, this time through a Chris Sutton shot. Beelenkamp had an effort saved before they found themselves behind for a third time as Dustin Brown headed home accurately on 71 minutes. A Chris Sutton volley levelled matters again three minutes later and the game had a tense finale. Kummel’s volley would narrowly miss for the Kings before Calderwood did likewise at the other end from a speculative toe-poke. Evgeni Malkin would waste a further chance for the visitors before they struck the vital blow, Armstrong finishing well from inside the area to put them 4-3 up. Bonkers would have a late chance to pinch a point but Bayrak’s header went wide and their hopes disappeared. GarethLloyd acclaimed a ‘great team performance’ from the Kings but consoled himself with the near-certainty that Bonkers ‘are going up to Division One.’ The win for Stripy’s side all but confirms safety and with performances like this there might be much happier times ahead for the entertaining side.

Bill Murray moved into third place with a 4-0 home victory over relegation-threatened Cressex. The visitors would have the first chance, though, with Ghita Ahmataj finding his luck to have deserted him as his brilliant lob found wood and bounced clear. The home side’s response was quick with Winston Badger striking the post with a placed effort. This would be the last of the chances of the first-half but the second 45 minutes wouldn’t disappoint for home fans. A penalty by Luke Butler laid the foundations for the win on 52 minutes. Cressex had chances through Roque Guiterrez and Emil Rojas but their headers were saved by Hiller and the home side would take full advantage. Matthew Upson made it 2-0 with a fine lob on 75 minutes and a minute later Robbie Fowler rounded Stoker to make it 3-0 and game over. A fourth was added by a Shmuel Peha looping header on 87 minutes and the home fans were dreaming of promotion. Peha would waste a shot moments later while Cressex’s day got worse as Ignacio Castellini hit the bar with a penalty. The win takes CM’s side clear of the chasing pack by a point and they have the ideal opportunity to bolster their claims as they meet Norfolk on Friday. Cressex remain three points adrift and they themselves face a difficult task next as they travel to the leaders in desperate need of points.

The Lone Wanderers dropped out of the top three as they were beaten 2-1 at home by Real Madrid who by virtue of the win went to within one point of the top three themselves. Madrid would have the first chance but Samvel Mortanian headed over before having another effort saved by Peyton. The first chance for the hosts proved a near thing as Mart Rosbottom’s half-volley struck a post while at the other end Kevin Gabriele’s header was easily saved. This proved the end of the chances for the first 45 minutes as the sides went in level. Madrid began on the front foot after the break and a stunning free-kick by Mortanian gave them a 46th minute lead. The Wanderers had an effort by Arsim Kule go well-over before Mortanian wasted a further free-kick. However, the forward would get a third chance and from it would put the visitors 2-0 ahead as Peyton was powerless to stop the effort. Mortanian would try for a hat-trick with a powerful shot but hit the angle of post and bar. William MacAvish saw a header saved at the other end before Mortanian went from hero to villain as he was sent from the field for brutal play. MacAvish capitalised by shooting home from a tight angle to put the game back in the melting pot but they couldn’t force any further chances and slipped to defeat. HH faces another difficult home game against TCM following this defeat and will be aware his side might well need to win to keep up with Bill Murray. The situation is the same for FredRizzo as he looks to lead his side to a home win against LSK as they chase third spot.

Futsal gave themselves hope of escaping the drop with a 3-1 home win over These Charming Men denting the visitors’ promotion hopes in the process. Futsal began with a free-kick by Rowley Forrester going close while Chano Delgado narrowly missed with a strike at the other end. Jon Hardy would continue the threat for the visitors by heading against a post before Forrester hit a free-kick wide for Futsal as the game went from end-to-end. Rick Tuttle would open the scoring for the hosts on 35 minutes by shooting home following a corner and Heckingbottom protected the lead by saving from Tord Jakobson. Forrester would then extend the home side’s lead with a brilliant free-kick and Heckingbottom would once more play his part by saving well from Jordi Rodri’s header. The second-half saw Ryan Prisk have a lob tipped over by Derksen while Mirciulica Bardes lobbed over as the hosts looked to put the game beyond doubt. The vital third goal would come on 78 minutes in somewhat fortuitous fashion as Prisk miscued his shot only to beat Derksen. Gerard Caffery gave TCM some consolation with a nice strike on 85 minutes but they couldn’t mount a late challenge and saw Futsal take the points. Jake now has his side within five points of Juventus and with a match against them on Friday they may well perform the great escape yet. RDCM bemoaned his side who ‘just didn’t perform’ in the match and the manager will now set about winning their final three games to try and secure promotion.

Kroklund gave themselves some breathing space at the bottom of the table with a 5-0 win at doomed Norfolk. Tapani Visavuori hit a powerful shot which needed saving by Olausson on four minutes before the visitors opened the scoring on 21 minutes courtesy of Aatu Vuokki who finished calmly in the area. A diving header by Gabriel Galtier made it 2-0 on 29 minutes and the Kings visibly grew in confidence. Trudell Conway swiftly made it 3-0 with a fine header and moments later Sjunne Wenna chipped in the fourth to the delight of the visiting fans. The pattern would continue after the break with the visitors creating the only two chances of the half. Dead Three hit the angle of post and bar with a powerful header before Vuokki provided a more accurate header to make it 5-0 on 86 minutes to complete the victory. Bossebong will look to follow up with the scalp of Bonkers on Friday as they look to secure their place in the division for another season while Howemiester saw his side chalk up their 100th goal conceded in the latest defeat.