Bonkers Burn Pahang

Bonkers strengthened their grip on Division One with a 4-1 victory over Pahang United at Crazy Town. Pahang actually enjoyed the first chance but Jeremias Lendeman’s luck was out as his shot struck a post and went safe. Bonkers replied with a side-footed effort from Joel Weymouth which brought the best out of Hussain. This was followed by an Edip Bayrak shot which narrowly missed before Stefan Beelenkamp’s volley also demanded excellence from Hussain. Bonkers would be rewarded for their pressure, though, as Henrik Larsson netted with a diving header on 14 minutes. Beelenkamp would see a curled shot caught by Hussain before Weymouth also missed a steered shot as the pressure continued. Pahang briefly responded with a Tom Hording lob which wasn’t accurate enough before Kilian Strongbow hit a free-kick straight at Hawke. Bonkers would proceed to double their lead with Innocenzio Filippinetti netting with a well-placed header on 36 minutes. Larsson’s next effort would be saved by Hussain before Beelenkamp hit home a free-kick to make it 3-0. Hording wasted a side-footed chance at the other end as Pahang went in three behind. The second-half was much quieter but there would be a goal each. Mortimer Wainman would slot home a penalty for the hosts while Pahang would have a Tajo Cuevas goal chalked off. Hording did pull a goal back for the visitors but his header wasn’t enough to get them any reward from the game and they even saw Romeo Hogg sent-off for elbowing late on. GarethLloyd is keen for his side not to throw away top spot this season as they did last and declared they would ‘train’ deliver ‘good tactics’ and keep ‘good form’ in the run-in. MrT’s return gives hope to Pahang who have endured a torried time in his absence.

Kensington and Real Madrid fought out a tough top-of-the-table clash to finish 1-1 at Kensington Grounds. Madrid wasted the first chance as Kevin Gabriele volleyed wide while a Maurice Jacobs free-kick was saved by Nigosian at the other end. The other chance of the half saw Teige Aran lob a header over as the sides went in goalless at the break. Madrid would strike first in the second-half as Aren Garabedian hit home excellently after being teed up from a set-piece. They would waste the chance to double the lead as Stu Mackay had a free-kick blocked by Sampson. This would come back to haunt the away side as Kensington produced some late pressure. Gilbert de Clare hit a shot well-over before a free-kick by Jacobs went straight into the arms of Nigosian. They would level, though, with time running out. They were first reduced to 10-men as Seymore MacRanald received his marching orders for brutal play but they responded by winning a penalty and Jacobs calmly slotted in for a share of the spoils. The point keeps Patrik’s side tucked in second spot and they are still well-placed for a title push. FredRizzo will have been disappointed with the late equaliser but it is a point gained away from home in a tight section.

Yorkshires Amateurs remain in third following a 0-0 draw at Milan. The Amateurs saw Amadeo Caviedes head straight at Hindle before Cameron Kingston headed off-target as they began the stronger. However, the Amateurs would fade and allow Milan into the contest. Victor Moses put a header over the bar before he put his next effort straight at Bicanco. The second-half would be quieter and only offer a couple of bits of action. Glyn Arnold had a goal chalked off for offside for the visitors while Andrea Pirlo headed wildly off-target as neither side could find the winning goal. Amateurs’ defence continues to be the foundation of their promotion tilt and they will need to be in fine form once more as they travel to Madrid on Friday. Xmensch will have been happy with a point and recognises that relegation issues ‘will not be clear’ any time soon.

White Hawk managed to win a point towards their promotion battle despite Hicktown Hillbillies creating the better chances in their 1-1 draw. Billy Bob put the visitors in front with the first shot on goal on 16 minutes and they continued to enjoy the better of the first-half. Bob would see a free-kick effort crack the bar before having another go which resulted in a fine save from Dankoi. The second-half evened up somewhat and there was to be chances at either end. Bob would see his luck go from bad to worse as another free-kick hit the bar and Hawk responded by creating their first chance; Matts Perman equalising with a clinical strike. Byron Somaroe followed up by hitting a shot just over while Bob volleyed against the woodwork again at the other end. Chuck Ewing saw a header saved before Bob’s day was complete as he put another free-kick over. Gary_C will see this as a missed opportunity given the performance but sometimes your side just does not get the luck they deserve. Hooraymee will have been pleased with a point given the match and they are still only a point back from a place in the top three.

F.C. Greatness put in a much-improved performance to defeat AJ Rovers 2-1 at Cedar Road. Fabrizio Colluato gave them a boost by driving in a first minutes shot to give them a 1-0 lead. Alvaro Recoba hit a powerful strike over on seven minutes before a lob by Agostino Filippinetti looked to have put them 2-0 ahead but was disallowed for offside. Paolo Serena would have them 2-0 up, though, as he headed home expertly on the half-hour and they would take this lead into the break. Rovers’ chance to get back into the contest came on 62 minutes and Gordon Hogg wouldn’t disappoint with his header. However, Greatness would stand firm and create further chances following the sending off of Rovers’ Hogg. Colluato put a powerful strike narrowly wide while Recoba hit a free-kick too close to Mortimer. Nevertheless a 2-1 win sent the fans home happy with Darren Calvert stating ‘it was about time we won a game.’ The result leaves Rothion looking over his shoulder and a clash with Milan on Friday now takes on added importance.

Villarreal and PSV Eindhoven would take a point each in the divisions’ other game of the day. PSV were the more progressive side in the opening half and created two chances. Jose Fonte would force Rossell into a save with his legs before Jeremiah McNally unfortunately brushed a post with his placed effort. The second-half saw more chances with the home side enjoying the most of them. Potsdam Erplatz had a shot saved by Reina before a Jonathan Boulding free-kick was also repelled by the ‘keeper. At the other end Petrut Vrabioiu put a curled shot off-target before Rene Maslovsky saw red for dangerous play to reduce the visitors to 10-men. Villarreal would then see Bernardo Almeida be denied by Reina from the spot and PSV sought to take advantage but Yang Sheng Nanmeng’s powerful low shot struck a post. Claudio Moura would waste a chance for the hosts by shooting at Reina and the ‘keeper would also deny Ger Wattamaleo’s diving header with an excellent save. Jeffery Fraser still had a chance to win it for Villarreal but his shot skimmed a post and 0-0 would be the result. Kadri called it ‘a respectable draw’ given the red card and injuries and his side are now out of the drop zone as a result. Cathal will know he is likely facing relegation but the once-famous club will trust in him to take them back to former glories soon enough.