Amateurs Atop Division

Yorkshires Amateurs hit the top of Division One thanks to a 3-0 home victory over Milan. An early diving header by Hugo Smallwood sent them on their way but it would be the visitors who would have the other chances of the half. Jonte Sandholm put a powerful header wide when well-placed before Savino Piovanelli lobbed over the bar. The second-half would see a more fluent performance from the hosts with Amadeo Caviedes placing a ball wide from a clear-cut chance. Andy Levein would be called into action to stop from Glyn Arnold’s steered shot as Amateurs started to increase the pressure. Milan would actually launch a quick breakaway however Bernard Lormor couldn’t get his lob down swiftly enough to trouble Bicanco. Their troubles would then worsen as Caviedes headed in goal number two for the hosts on 62 minutes. This would then become 3-0 with Cameron Kingston heading in just before 90 minutes and Levein had to be alert to stop from Antony Wallwork as the hosts finished well on top. Amateurs News reported that ‘their defensive qualities have been the cornerstone of their unbeaten start.’ They will be looking for this stability to lead them to promotion at the first time of asking. Xmensch’s side will be aware of the four-point gap that has opened up ahead of them but the manager realises the club are still working hard to turn round previous mismanagement.

Bonkers would continue their surge up the table as they put together an excellent away display to defeat Pahang United 2-0. The sides would trade the first couple of chances with Mortimer Wainman driving wide for the visitors before Pahang replied with Kilian Strongbow misfiring from a free-kick. Bonkers would take the lead on 39 minutes as Chris Sutton powered in a header and it might have been 2-0 before the break but for excellence from Hussain to stop Stefan Beelenkamp’s precise header. Strongbow had another chance from a free-kick at the start of the second-half but Hawke was the equal to it while Sutton lobbed a header against the bar at the other end. Beelenkamp would also strike wood with a header as the visitors saw the better of the chances although Tom Hording’s well-placed shot at the other end did scare Bonkers as it also hit a post. The second goal would duly arrive for the visitors, though, with Beelenkamp getting a deserved goal from a brilliantly hit free-kick. Strongbow had his third free-kick of the day and was this time denied by Hawke as Pahang’s day finished in frustration. GarethLloyd explained how his side have been ‘pushing hard in training’ and this has resulted in an upturn in fortune as they now sit in third. MrT will be eager for his side to return to winning ways on Tuesday as the division tightens all the time.

Hicktown Hillbillies maintained their upward momentum with a good 2-1 home win over White Hawk FC. The Hillbillies had an early shot from Sam Jakestown saved by Dankoi as the first-half produced some excellent football. Billy Bob would volley in the opener for the hosts on eight minutes but Hawk would also threaten as a Ryan Dharmsingh header needed saving by Boston. Matts Perman was also denied by the ‘keeper before a shot of quality by Cianan Cathan levelled matters on 22 minutes. Hawk then tried to strike the front but Cathan’s diving header proved no trouble for Boston and they would pay the price at the other end. Bob would net his second of the game with a smart lob in the area as the hosts regained the lead. Marshall Mayhem hit a low shot straight at Dankoi with the last chance of the half as both sides went in for a well-earned rest. The second-half proved somewhat anticlimactic but Hawk did have a late chance to equalise as Adan Donahue fired in a volley which was deflected away by the legs of Boston. Gary_C has his side on the edge of the promotion spots and they will travel to PSV full of confidence. Hooraymee’s side are sitting in mid-table but they will realise one win will catapult them into the thick of the race as there are plenty of sides capable of beating each other.

Real Madrid won their fourth game in five in a come-from-behind success over Kensington Boys Club. Kevin Gabriele wasted an early headed chance for the hosts and then the rest of the half belonged to Kensington. They opened the scoring on 22 minutes as Maurice Jacobs curled in a beautiful effort from outside the area. Further chances came their way but Dorian Lonsdale put a powerful shot over while Charles Tilly put his well-struck effort wide. They would also enjoy the first chance of the second-half but Nersesian was alert to deny Albert Finley’s header and Madrid would improve. A free-kick by Samvel Mortanian hit the angle for them while Tilly’s header brushed the post at the other end. Mortanian would tee-up Gabriele for a half-volley which didn’t threaten while Stu Mackay curled a shot at Sampson. Madrid’s pressure did tell when Teige Aran placed a header home for the equaliser on 79 minutes and Gabriele would then head home on 85 minutes to turn the game on its head. There would be no more chances as FredRizzo’s side held on for an important victory. The win takes them to within four points of the top three and their focus will definitely be on the top places after such an impressive recent run. Patrik will be hopeful his side can bounce back at bottom club Villarreal on Tuesday to keep themselves in the thick of the promotion race.

Villarreal won’t go into that game in the best of spirits after being outplayed in a 1-0 loss at PSV Eindhoven. PSV saw Timmy Simons' driven shot saved by Abrey while Richard van Mosen shot wide at the other end in a generally quiet first-half. The home side would emerge a confident unit after the break, though, and they would dominate proceedings. A free-kick on 52 minutes saw Jose Fonte give them the lead with an excellently placed strike before Xabi Alonso demanded a fine stop from Abrey after executing a super volley. Simons would waste a late diving header but Kadri would have been delighted with the 1-0 victory at the full-time whistle. PSV News said that they hoped ‘to build on this victory and give (themselves) a fighting chance of surviving relegation.’ Surviving relegation looks a tough ask for Villarreal as they have now gone nine games without a win and sit eight points from safety; Cathal has plenty to test his talents for the remainder of this campaign.

AJ Rovers produced some fine finishing to leave F.C. Greatness defeated to the tune of 3-1 t the AJR Arena. Mercourios Simos forced Calvert into an early save from a lob while Fabio Cannavaro curled a shot wide at the other end as the game enjoyed a fast start. The opening goal duly arrived on 13 minutes as Daniel Tabaranu lobbed home an exquisite opener. Greatness were nearly given a gift on 32 minutes as Gregory Rowling looked like deflecting the ball past his own ‘keeper only for Mortimer to get to it at the last second. Mario Balotelli would also be denied by Mortimer at the start of the second-half before a header by Rowling doubled the home sides’ lead on 55 minutes. It would be 3-0 on 79 minutes as Sonny Vickerman made no mistake from the spot with Greatness looking beaten. They did stir to pull a goal back through Martinus Benfari’s steered shot and the forward might have done better with a headed chance but it would be the hosts who would win the day. Rothion’s side opened up a nice gap on the relegation zone courtesy of the win but face a tough task next up against Bonkers. Darren Calvert needs to show some Greatness of his own to get his side moving in the right direction again as they continue to slip down the table uneasily.