Strollers Walk On

Kirkbride Strollers continued their recent momentum with a 2-0 away success at Reggae Reggae Sauce which moved them into second spot in Division One. The home side would have the only chance of a quiet first-half but a half-volley by Woody Forrest was easily gathered by John Orr and the sides went in deadlocked. When Kirkbride’s first chance arrived it would be on the hour and Mark Blacklock would make the most of it by powering in a long range shot to give them the lead. Stephen Robinson missed a chance to make it a 2-0 lead when he slid a shot wide but a diving header by Blacklock on 78 minutes would double their advantage. Robinson would then smash a free-kick into the bar while Keith Ellison had a header ruled out for what can only be described as a poor offside call. Derick Maley did force Orr into a smart stop at the other end but the visitors would go home the happier and with the points. Jazza’s side sit five points adrift of the leaders but he will be keen to open the gap on the fourth-placed The Vikings as they look to seal promotion to the top flight. Xpertelevener’s side move closer to relegation every week but they will be hopeful of a much more successful season with a determined manager next term.

Manchester United are still five points clear after routinely seeing off St Omer 5-0 at Old Trafford. Aisha Abdul-Malik had a curled shot saved before Eric Cantona lobbed a header in for the opening goal on 10 minutes. Cristiano Ronaldo followed suit with a similar header on 14 minutes and when Jonny Evans headed in precisely on 27 minutes St Omer were looking at a familiar score-line. Ryan Giggs scored number four just after the half-hour by rounding Rain smartly to put the finishing touch on a neat breakaway move. United would make it 5-0 when Cantona slotted home a penalty and while Joe Radley had a header saved at the other end the home side would take this lead into the break. The second-half proved much quieter with only a couple of chances. Abdul-Malik put a header over while Darren Gibson’s headed effort was saved but it wasn’t to matter as United easily saw out the game. Pakya will be keen to instil in the players that there is still work to do as nobody in the chasing pack will give an inch in the promotion scrap. CT, meanwhile, explained that he ‘cannot wait for the change report’ so they can move a step closer to challenging ‘the big boys.’

Villarreal CF and The Vikings battled to an uncompromising 0-0 draw at Estadio El Madrigal as both teams look to seal a place in the top three come the season’s end. The home side would enjoy the only openings in the first-half with Jonathan Boulding forcing a brilliant save out of Raasch from a free-kick. The Vikings would suffer a nasty looking injury to Colin Crouch and a header by Dudley Bennington for the hosts might have made matters worse had it not been for Raasch’s excellent positioning. The second-half saw a reversal with The Vikings having the chances. An injury to the home side’s Boulding seemed to effect their play and Vassilis Papakostas had a shot which needed saving by Abrey. Aris Almanidis couldn’t make the most of a free-kick which he put over and Anastasios Tassiopoulos would also miss the target with a driving shot. With neither side able to find the elusive goal they had to settle for a point apiece. Cathal was happy with his side’s defence which now boasts ‘nine clean sheets’ and he will hope they remain in fine form ahead of their crunch match with Kirkbride on Tuesday. Eaglesrjh was a frustrated man with his side’s injuries but there should be money in the kitty for the manager come the silly season as Malloy was sold for a big fee. Time will tell whether the boss can spend that as manager of a RMI football club.

Bolton Hillbillies celebrated their first match under MasterReid’s leadership with a 3-0 home win over Kensington Boys Club. Their opening chance came courtesy of a Stan Collymore effort but it was off target and Max Myer then thought he had scored at the other end only to be denied by the assistant referee’s flag. This proved to be the last goalmouth action of the first-half but the game came to life after the break. Kensington would see Maurice Jacobs have a free-kick saved by Wellens before the home side responded. Antony Cowdrey would rise the highest to plant a great header past Lorentzen for the opening goal. Myer would then waste a headed chance for the visitors while Collymore shot over at the other end. The game continued to be open and Aubrey de Vere was unlucky with a toe-poke effort for KBC while a Collymore diving header proved easy for the ‘keeper. Max Challis would head over as Bolton looked to turn the screw and Collymore hit the post with a fine effort. The second goal would arrive as Arnold Atlee curled home a long range shot and Adrian Gray was fortunate not to make it 3-0 as he headed dangerously towards his own goal. The hosts would add a third, though, as Challis headed in deep into injury-time to cap a fine evening for the new boss. MasterReid will see this as the first step on the road to ‘achieving great things’ and with only four points separating them and third they may still have a shot at promotion. Patrik’s side continue to struggle somewhat of late and he will be keen to turn this round as they face Pahang at home on Tuesday.

Pahang warmed up for that match with a 2-2 home draw with AJ Rovers. Rovers would have the first chance but Gregory Rowling headed wide. The hosts would then take the lead as Romeo Hogg thumped in a free-kick and a flick header by Tajo Cuevas might have made it 2-0 but was well-saved by Mortimer. Rano Pantow forced Mortimer into more work as the ‘keeper punched a chip away before Pantow hit another effort over. Rovers finally emerged from their defensive duties with a breakaway move which saw Mercourios Simos fire wide. Sonny Vickerman would then have a late free-kick easily saved as Rovers went in 1-0 behind at half-time. Pahang would double their advantage as Hogg slotted home a penalty with their first effort of the second-half. Despite this setback, though, Rovers would not be disheartened. They pulled a goal back on 66 minutes as Phil Marsh rounded Richert and rolled the ball into an empty net. Hogg would waste a headed chance for the hosts and Rovers would then earn a penalty of their own with Morgan Deane levelling matters. It would be the visitors who would have the chance to win the game but Hogg’s lob didn’t trouble Richert greatly and the sides would have to settle for a point each. MrT’s side sit just six points off the top three but will need an exceptional run to force their way into the end of season promotion spots and the same can be said of Rothion’s Rovers who sit five back.

In the big battle at the bottom Belly Tubbies maintained their five point advantage over PSV as the sides drew 1-1 at Flabbyland. PSV would see Yang Sheng Nanmeng hit a volley against the bar before Kevin Sheedy thumped in a power shot for BT to give the hosts the lead. Jose Fonte then saw Fitzsimmons save a free-kick while Nanmeng put a lob header over the bar as PSV continued to press. They got the goal their play deserved when Xabi Alonso looped a header over Fitzsimmons as the sides went in locked at 1-1. The second-half proved a much quieter affair. Graeme Sharp’s over-hit lob was the only point of interest for the fans as the status quo between the sides remained. Ultimately this will suit Fitzy more as his side remain five points ahead with a far superior goal difference. Kadri will know that his side have to put some wins together to give themselves a chance of surviving but the very fact they are still in their fighting with a such a young side is victory in itself.