WBS Repel Viking Raid

West Brom withstood a strong Vikings performance to win 4-2 and remain at the head of the RMI. The home side produced a solid first-half performance which culminated with chances before the break. Regillio Jordan put them in front with a fantastic header while a toe-poke by Justin Portway brushed a post. There was still time for Paraskevas Maladenis’ powerful low shot to narrowly miss and Aris Almanidis to demand a save from Scott Carson following his testing free-kick. The second-half saw the Strollers wake-up as both sides created numerous chances. Bobby Taylor flicked a header over the bar before he forced Connely into a leg save from a low shot as the Strollers searched for the equaliser. Taylor’s next header would also go over but West Brom would level courtesy of Cyrille Regis’ brilliant diving header on 52 minutes. Regis completed the turnaround 12 minutes later as he headed home a Taylor cross but Anastasios Tassiopoulos would soon level from the spot for the home side. Tassiopoulos went close to giving The Vikings the lead but it would be a header from Regis at the other end which would see West Brom hit the front again and also complete the forward’s hat-trick. The Vikings weren’t finished, however, and Aris Almanidis forced Carson into a fine stop from a free-kick before the ‘keeper also had to be alert to deny Thorbjorn Lind’s well-placed shot. Despite their efforts it would be the visitors who would net next; Taylor looping home a header to give them a two-goal cushion. Still the home side came as Portway’s driving shot was brilliantly turned round a post by Carson while Almanidis saw a free-kick go wide. In the end their efforts would come to nothing as the West Brom juggernaut carried on. Eaglesrjh was happy his side ‘gave WBS a game at least’ but admitted to not having ‘enough cash’ to compete properly at the moment. DD will have been more than pleased with the victory ahead of their season-defining clashes with ThunderCats over the next seven days.

ThunderCats will also go into that clash on the back of a win as they held off a strong AFC Stanley challenge to record a 3-2 victory which kept them in second. Jake Sephton thought he had put the champions in front on two minutes but his mishit shot was disallowed to give Stanley a reprieve. They would get their goal on 21 minutes, though, as a powerful header by Fabricio Cidade left Hessbo clutching at thin air. Stanley would play their part in the game, though, and saw Matts Wallman force a save out of Magro from a decent free-kick. The second-half saw more chances with Wallman having the first; his free-kick beating Magro and levelling matters. Wallman had another chance on the hour but this time Magro saved his shot and a volley by Cidade at the other end put the home side back in front. Kirk Armitage shot wide as Stanley looked for a route back in again and they found it when Alan Martindale rounded Magro on 76 minutes to slot home. The home side responded by going in search of a winning goal and saw Cidade loop a header over when well-placed. They wouldn’t be denied for long, though, with Leonardo Borja stunning the visitors with an excellent free-kick on 81 minutes. Paulino Ornelas would waste a late chance as he put his chip well-over but it wouldn’t affect the final result as the home side went away with the points. Meelas will now expect his side to hit the front over the next two games as his champion side take on the current leaders. Markham will have been pleased with how his side competed and will urge them to take that form into their double-header with Manchester United to keep them in contention at the top.

Kirkbride Strollers moved into the group behind the leaders with a 2-0 home victory over Totaalvoetbal. In a quiet first-half the only chance of note went the way of the visitors but Shirsh Vajpayee got his shot all-wrong and it went well-wide. The Strollers were the dominant outfit after the break and put the visitors under pressure. Mark Blacklock was unfortunate not to give them a lead on 67 minutes as his shot struck the woodwork but they would get their rewards late in the game. Keith Ellison shot past Rimmer after a corner on 78 minutes and Stephen Robinson showed great composure to beat the ‘keeper in a one-on-one following a quality break. Andrew Harrison did put a dampener on the home side’s display at the end of the game as he was sent from the field for dangerous play but the fans were still left to celebrate an important three points. Jazza explained that they ‘played well as a team’ but also fired a warning at superstar Andrew Harrison by adding that they ‘can’t afford passengers.’ Robin Meeblind responded to the poor back balance at the club by putting Shivan Preetnav up for sale and said that they ‘can’t continue with such a lack of funds.’

Manchester United put in a dominant away performance to leave Santos with a 2-0 victory and three points. Ryan Giggs put a mishit shot wide early on before Wayne Rooney’s header hit the angle as the visitors started well. They would continue to see chances in the second-half with Rooney being denied an early goal for hand ball. They would get their goal, though, as a penalty allowed Eric Cantona the opportunity to put them in front on 51 minutes. Rooney headed past Valdez on 64 minutes to give the visitors a cushion but, in truth, they never looked threatened on the day. Darren Gibson might have added a third but his header hit the bar while a free-kick by the midfielder also smashed against the bar. Gibson would hit another free-kick late in the game but this time got it badly wrong and it sailed over. However, the 2-0 win was enough to see them into sixth and in touch with the chasing pack as the season reaches its halfway mark. Sean7 will be disappointed with his side’s current run as five losses have followed their five wins to open the season. They now face a crunch double with Kirkbride in their efforts to turn their season round.

Tranmere took a point away from Underdogz United but might have wanted more after the home side were reduced to 10-men early in the contest. Luca Tonizu nearly gave the home side an early lead but saw his chip hit the bar while Robin van Izu hit a free-kick wide. Izu Casillas would received his marching orders on 33 minutes for dangerous play and Tranmere looked to take advantage but Eadbhard Liffey’s free-kick was saved by replacement ‘keeper Valdezuka. Zlatan Izuhimovic looked to give Underdogz a boost going into the break but his free-kick hit a post and the sides would go in level. The second-half opened with a Liffey free-kick but it was placed too close to the ‘keeper and they would then fall behind as Alfred Calascione planted a header past Sapienza at the other end. Tonizu put a header wide for the hosts before Ross Weymouth levelled matters with a stunner from distance for Tranmere. The home side responded well to this setback and Calascione saw a shot saved before he was denied by Sapienza again as he tried to round the ‘keeper moments later. Izuael Clichy would also put a shot wide and it looked like they would pay for missed chances as Geomar Altieri finished a breakaway with some aplomb. However, the home side would show great character and were rewarded as Izukas headed home a Tonizu cross to ensure both sides went away with a point each. Izu was disappointed with the decision to take off Robin van Izu and one of his coaches will surely have felt a backlash in the aftermath of the game. Baz, meanwhile, is seeing his side battle hard and a double-header with Sanity Clause might give them the springboard from which to launch the greatest of escapes.

Sanity Clause picked up their second successive point in a 1-1 draw at Hun Haters as their form begins to improve under their new manager. Elvis MacCaran would give them a first-half lead as he rounded Boruc on 33 minutes to slot confidently home. The second-half saw Kay Flo miss the chance to double the visitors’ lead as he headed straight at the ‘keeper. The home side would finally see some chances late in the game but Alexandr Prohazska put his free-kick off-target. They would draw level soon after, though, as Finlay MacCleir headed home superbly from a Crosby cross. MacCaran would try to win it for the visitors but his header was too close to Boruc and a point each would be the sides’ reward after a tense encounter. Similar to Tranmere, Crismorena may be looking at their clashes as a chance to get some points on the board to fuel confidence ahead of the second-half of the season. Celticchris will need at least four points out of their matches with Totaal if they are to give themselves a fighting chance of escaping relegation.