Bassett Sorts it for Dinky

West Brom returned to winning ways with a 1-0 home victory over Totaalvoetbal. The game would prove to be a tight affair but a super free-kick by Billy Bassett on 22 minutes gave the Strollers the crucial goal. The second-half would see Totaal push for an equaliser but Pierre van Diemen shot just wide while William Ralph Dean put a further shot over the bar. The home side would see a header by Lee Hughes go over before Totaal went close to levelling; Rodney Shuttlewood’s late header striking the woodwork. Dinky was a relieved man at the final whistle to end a sequence of draws although he admitted that the win ‘had cost (me) some econ.’ It may well prove to be money well spent as they now sit six points clear with just six games to go. Robin Meeblind turned his focus to youths after the game to ‘prepare for a fresh start next term.’

Kirkbride lost ground in the race for the title as they fell to a 2-0 away defeat at Bryan Adams Athletic. The home side started with a Percival Horsfield lob which went over while Brian Wills hit a terrible half-volley at the other end. Mark Blacklock would follow the theme of missing the target for the visitors and they would pay as Karsten Seibert toe-poked home the opener for the hosts on 35 minutes. Billy Maneater would hit the woodwork before the break and this would mean Kirkbride went into it behind. The second-half saw lots of openings and Stephen Robinson was unfortunate not to level as his free-kick struck a post. Athletic went close at the other end as a powerfully curled shot by Horsfield missed by inches. Christiano Olias wouldn’t test the ‘keeper from a free-kick before Horsfield put a further lob over. Kirkbride’s trials with the woodwork would continue as Wills hit a post with a flick header and they might have fallen further behind but Hill saved well from Olias’ free-kick. Blacklock would hit a volley off-target and Mark Simpson couldn’t pinpoint the goal either as Kirkbride saw chances go begging. Olias would see a further free-kick saved by Hill but Horsfield would seal the game with a driving shot on 91 minutes. Kirkbride still attempted to get back into the contest but the end was signalled after Robinson’s free-kick brushed a post. Solongsuperman wasn’t too optimistic about their survival hopes but explained that they have ‘got a lot of lads playing for their futures’ and this could drive them on in the coming weeks. Jazza will have been disappointed with the result and will demand better finishing in the run-in if his side are to have any chance of toppling West Brom.

ThunderCats stayed within six points of the top as they disposed of Sanity Clause comfortably at Thundera Grounds. A free-kick on 17 minutes saw Leonardo Borja hit the bar and incredibly two minutes later he would hit a post with another set-piece. The home side would get their goal on 25 minutes as Paulino Ornelas toe-poked home in the area and it would be a lead they would hold until the break. Fabricio Cidade lobbed the first chance of the second-half over but Jake Sephton would double their lead when he finished clinically from inside the area. Eugene Kameni Idriss would go desperately close to adding a third for the hosts as he put a back header dangerously close to the net. The third goal would arrive shortly afterwards, though, as Nelson Queimado finished with some aplomb to seal the win. The visitors would finish with some spirit but Idriss’ free-kick was saved before Boguslaw Stanczuk’s diving header hit the woodwork and bounced clear. ThunderCats may need to be perfect from this point on to chase down West Brom but while it is possible these champions will keep on trying. Sanity’s fate is nearly sealed and much will depend on the change report and transfer dealings in the silly-season to determine where their future is headed.

The Vikings surged into third in the table with a 4-0 thrashing of Hun Haters at Viking Land. Hun might have shocked the home side early on but Jeremy Cumming could only put a shot wide of the target. Vassilis Papakostas wouldn’t waste the home side’s first opportunity, though, and he shot home after a dangerous corner was delivered by Lind. Connely would keep the home side’s lead intact moments later as he saved with his legs from a powerful Iain Emery shot. The Vikings would then benefit from another piece of expert finishing from Papakostas as he delivered from a peach of a free-kick move to send them in with a 2-0 half-time lead. Papakostas would begin the second-half in similarly brilliant fashion and a clever chip in the area on 46 minutes gave him his hat-trick and his side a 3-0 cushion. Thorbjorn Lind would continue The Vikings threat by firing off-target while Emery did likewise at the other end. Anastasios Tassiopoulos would hit the bar with a cheeky toe-poke for the hosts before they went 4-0 ahead courtesy of a free-kick from Aris Almanidis to all but seal the win. Tassiopoulos would see a header saved by Boruc while Paraskevas Maladenis hit a shot wide as The Vikings searched for more goals. They nearly had a fifth with their last attack of the game but Lind could count himself unfortunate as his side-footed shot struck a post on 84 minutes. Eaglesrjh admitted that he was ‘delighted to be as high as third in their first season in the top flight’ and better might still be round the corner as they chase down the leaders. Celticchris will be sending scouts out to Division One sides so he can plot a route back to the top division when their inevitable relegation is confirmed.

Santos’ return to form gathered pace as they hit five goals past Stanley in a solid home victory. An early shot by Robbie Mitchell had them in front as early as the first minute and Panu Sarapaa might have made it two with a header but it was saved by Moss. Stanley would enjoy chances of their own in the contest and from one Luke Riou equalised with a fine header. Dexter Warner would then half-volley wide before Riou’s driving shot was saved by Rodenas as Stanley enjoyed a purple patch. Santos would hit back before the break, though, and saw Adriano Ribeiro hit a powerful shot that needed closely watching by Moss. A free-kick early in the second-half saw Mitchell restore the home side’s lead with a shot which flew into the top corner. Mitchell would continue his game to remember by then planting home a precise header on 54 minutes to complete his hat-trick and give his side a two-goal cushion. Stanley attempted to fight back but Dijedon Betimaj’s header struck a post and Santos then made it 4-1 as Ribeiro lobbed home. Betimaj would waste a further chance by lobbing over and Mitchell might have given them further misery but his clever effort struck a post. Stanley would be given the chance to pull a goal back on 82 minutes via the penalty spot; Cal McMac stepping up but failing to put the ball away. Torbjorn Alshammar would then stun the visitors with a thunderbolt from distance to make it 5-1 and although Halldor Valporsson pulled a goal back following a classic breakaway move Santos emerged comfortable winners. Sean7 will have been pleased with the win but less so with the news of Sarapaa’s retirement just a few short months after shelling out nearly 6m for the 29-year-old. Markham will have been disappointed with the result and will realise that his side might need to pick up a couple of further wins to make them completely safe from relegation.

Underdogz put in an excellent home performance to defeat Manchester United 1-0 to strengthen their position in the table. Cesc Izukas missed with an early header for the hosts while Jonny Evans nearly put the visitors in front as his shot struck a post. Manchester United would not enjoy the best of fortune again moments later as a free-kick by Micky Wyatt also found its way onto a post and clear. Wyatt would try again on 29 minutes but this time put his free-kick wide while Cristiano Izuldo’s diving header proved no trouble for Kuszczak at the other end. Izuldo would test the visitors again on the stroke of half-time and could count himself unlucky as his powerfully struck low shot hit a post. Manchester United would have the better of the second-half but would pay for not scoring from their chances. Wyatt was once more found wanting from distance before he had a flick header go over the bar. These misses came back to haunt them on 92 minutes as Henning Bade shot home from inside the penalty area to give Underdogz a crucial three points. Izu has been involved in a press battle with Solongsuperman over the past few days but UU News reported that the win was ‘hard-fought’ and Izu claimed that their performances were ‘not bad for the joint second weakest team in the division.’ United’s title chances died with this result and they will now aim for as high as they can.