Hawk Take Title

White Hawk FC secured the title with a 6-0 away win at Norfolk to put the seal on an exceptional campaign. A first minute lob by Clyde Nageswar gave them a flying start and while Norfolk went close through a Trevor Fazackerley header the match was never in doubt from this moment. Charly Chan Jet Soe placed a shot beyond Olausson for number two before Nageswar added the third from another header. Matts Perman headed in for 4-0 on 16 minutes and a lob by Ruud Sparendam made it five as the visitors threatened to run riot. Nageswar narrowly failed in his quest for a first-half hat-trick as his shot trickled wide but Hawk were still comfortable at the break. Hawk created further chances after the break with Clarence Ong A Fat hitting the bar with a brilliant lob. Nageswar would score his third goal of the game on 89 minutes with a strike in the penalty area and although Adan Donahue missed with an injury-time effort Hawk ran out easy winners. Hawk are now seven points clear and can celebrate their second divisional title in three seasons; an excellent achievement for the impressive Hooraymee. Howemiester will have plenty of work to do in the off-season to ensure his side are ready for Division Three football next term.

Bill Murray FC edged out Bonkers 2-1 to keep hold of the final promotion place. Murray saw Shmuel Peha lob against the bar early on before Matthew Upson hit the post later in the half from a free-kick. Another Upson free-kick would give Murray a 32nd minute lead and Hiller saw this lead would last until the break as he held from a Garry Maynard header. The second-half saw more chances with another Upson set-piece needing tipping over by Hawke. Stefan Beelemkamp went close for the hosts before Robbie Fowler doubled Murray’s lead with a smart finish. Henrik Larsson immediately halved the deficit with a well-placed finish before Beelenkamp narrowly failed to equalise from a free-kick. Hawke would then save an Upson free-kick at the other end before a lob by Maynard was punched away as Bonkers looked to level. Larsson would have the next chance for the hosts but once again Hiller was the equal to it and this proved the end of the opportunities as Murray held on. CM now has a match against Madrid which will determine promotion; a win or a draw will suffice to take Murray into Division One with CM saying ‘the pressure is mounting.’ Bonkers News reported that the ‘team has run out of steam’ but they will still be delighted with a campaign which sees them move up a division for next term.

Real Madrid won 3-2 at Kroklund to ensure they would go into the final day still hopeful of promotion. A fifth minute header by Samvel Mortanian gave the visitors a 1-0 advantage and Samvel Aivazian nearly made it 2-0 as his header hit the angle of post and bar. The Kings would respond with an Aatu Vuokki equaliser after he placed the ball through the legs of Nigosian. Mortanian would hit a free-kick wide before Kapo Kachadorian smashed a shot against the post as the half finished all-square. Madrid started the second-half on top and the pressure nearly told on Trudell Conway who passed back dangerously to narrowly avoid scoring an own goal. Kevin Gabriele would then head in to put Madrid back in front although the Kings tried to hit back quickly as Vuokki brushed a post with a header. Mortanian would see a header saved at the other end before Vuokki did equalise by chipping Nigosian. Madrid dug deep once more to take the lead again in injury-time with Mortanian adding his second goal of the game by finishing off an excellent counter. This proved to be the winning goal and means that FredRizzo lines his troops up against Murray knowing a win will see them promoted. However, despite celebrating their success the manager said ‘it will mean nothing if we don’t win our last game.’ Bossebong’s side survived despite their defeat as results elsewhere meant they take a four point lead over the relegation zone going into the final game.

The Lone Wanderers’ promotion hopes disappeared despite a 2-1 victory at Los Samgeles Kings. The Wanderers took an early lead courtesy of an Evandro Lemos penalty but were to be pegged back on 13 minutes as Alexander Frolov thumped home from distance. Stephen Julius hit a free-kick just wide and the sides would not be separated by the time the half-time whistle arrived. The second-half saw Albert Scully lob in a header to re-establish the visitors’ lead and when Ladislav Nagy’s fine free-kick was excellently saved by Ibehre the home side’s hopes had gone. HH couldn’t hide his disappointment at failing to win promotion and added that the ‘players underperformed’ and that they would be ‘rebuilding.’ Stripy’s side know that they will be playing Division Two football next season and will look to be challenging at the top end rather than escaping the drop.

These Charming Men also saw promotion hopes finally end despite a 4-2 home victory over Juventus which leaves them staring relegation in the face. Juventus had started brightly and took the lead courtesy of a toe-poke by Orlan Canito on four minutes. TCM responded well, though, and Stuart Cooksey headed in expertly before hitting the bar with another effort. Loran Rajabi would put the hosts in front on 15 minutes with a fine header while Mairthin Foley was denied at the other end after hitting a decent free-kick. Linus Streicher headed at Fuentes for the hosts before Foley levelled matters with a smart lob on 34 minutes. Their parity was short-lived, though, as another header saw them fall behind as Loran Rajabi out-jumped the visiting defence. Juventus missed a chance at the start of the second-half as Foley miscued badly and they would pay by going a further goal behind as Streicher headed home on 79 minutes. Vicenzio Rossitto added to Juventus’ dismay by getting sent-off for a professional foul and defeat leaves them needing a win to have any hope of survival on the final day. RDCM will look to finish a fine season off in style so they go into next term full of confidence for another crack at promotion.

Juventus are in the drop zone because Futsal continued their surge to safety with a 3-1 win over Cressex. Cressex enjoyed the first chance but Lauro Poggi’s shot was easily saved by Heckingbottom. Futsal would then take the lead as Rowley Forrester thumped in a free-kick before Graeme Haynes missed a chance to extend the lead when well-placed. Forrester would be unfortunate not to net from another free-kick as it struck a post while Poggi had another two efforts saved by Heckingbottom. Robin Barratt brought the visitors level at the start of the second-half as he put through his own net but he would make amends moments later as he struck home at the other end. Haynes would head in shortly afterwards to make it 3-1 as Futsal started to take control. Rick Tuttle would curl a shot wide before Barratt thought he had made it 4-1 with a fine header but it was chalked off for a dubious offside call. Haynes would have another chance but his header was punched away by Ikhala. Rick Tuttle would also hit the bar for the hosts but it wasn’t to matter as they had already done enough to secure the points in a 3-1 win. Jake knows that survival is now very much on as a home match awaits against Norfolk who have yet to win a point this season. Cressex’s relegation was confirmed with the defeat and they will now look to bounce back at the first time of asking next season.