Bonkers Draw Offers Hope

Bonkers dropped two points at home to AJ Rovers as Division One continued to be a tight section. A free-kick by Sonny Vickerman was as exciting as it got for the visitors in the opening 45 minutes but the effort never really tested Hawke in goal. Bonkers would then exert some pressure at the other end and a penalty by Mortimer Wainman gave them a 22nd minute lead. Tommy McCue brushed a post with a headed chance before Stefan Beelenkamp had a free-kick saved by Mortimer. The hosts would continue to create chances but McCue’s shot was wild and the lead stayed at one at the break. The second-half saw Rovers assert a semblance of control and they might have been level but for the assistant referee’s flag denying Gordon Hogg’s strike. Hogg wouldn’t be denied for too long, though, and he headed in on 81 minutes to ensure Rovers’ fans would go home happy. GarethLloyd was in a philosophical mood after the game and said simply, ‘if you don’t score goals you can’t win games.’ That being the case his forwards will now be in for some serious practice before the next match. Rothion will have been delighted with the point which sees the side just four points from the top three.

Kensington took full advantage of Bonkers dropping points by drawing level with them after defeating Villarreal 3-0. Charles Tilly thought he had powered in the opener on four minutes but had it disallowed for a foul before Jack Wilshere had a header saved at the other end. Aubrey de Vere would volley straight at Abrey but the ‘keeper could only watch as Maurice Jacobs’ header struck a post on 18 minutes. Kensington would finally take the lead on 19 minutes as Niles Worthington flicked home a header. Villarreal would have a chance to level but Wilshere could only skim a header over before Seymore MacRanald made it 2-0 with a fine header. Richie Chalmers would miss a header for the visitors as they went in two behind. Claudio Moura thought he had brought them back into it at the start of the second-half but his goal was disallowed and he then put a header over the bar. Abrey would save from de Vere’s lob but Kensington would make it 3-0 as the forward made his next effort count by chipping the ‘keeper. A further home game now gives Patrik the chance to hit top spot but the normally disbelieving coach won’t be counting any chickens just yet. Meanwhile it has been a dramatic few days at Villarreal as Cathal was overlooked for the ThunderCats job and is said to be ‘distressed’ at recent events although he is sure to remain thoroughly professional.

Yorkshires Amateurs pushed their way back into the title race by defeating a poor F.C. Greatness side 2-0 at The Thorp Arches. Antony Wallwork flicked a header wide before Glyn Arnold hit a half-volley which flew into the net as the home side started strongly. Arnold would swiftly make it 2-0 on 11 minutes with a clinical header before Andrew Potts put a free-kick over the bar. Tiarnach Casey headed just wide while Greatness failed to make any sort of impact at the other end. The second-half saw further chances for the home side and Wallwork lobbed just over before he also headed wide. The misses weren’t to matter, though, as they had already done enough to secure the three points. The players certainly responded to the manager’s statement that his ‘heart is at the Amateurs’ and the club will look to push on from this point. Meanwhile, Darren Calvert may want to change his team’s name if they continue to put in such lacklustre performances as this one.

AC Milan put together an excellent performance to defeat Real Madrid 3-0 and improve their chances of escaping the drop. Bernard Lormor had an early header saved by Hogardh before Vittorio Cornacchini failed to make a free-kick count as the home side started the better of the two sides. Kevin Gabriele would put a lob against the angle for the visitors but, in truth, they would always be second best. Rupert Massimo’s low shot needed saving by the ‘keeper and Horardh also saved well from Andrea Pirlo’s header. Milan would finally get the goal their play deserved on 45 minutes as Jonte Sandholm thumped in a shot after a corner wasn’t cleared. The second-half saw Milan produce a couple of clinical finishes; Massimo heading in well from a corner while Savino Piovanelli shot home from inside the area to give the score a more realistic look to it. Xmensch is starting to see his hard work rewarded and the club are within touching distance of moving out of the bottom three. FredRizzo won’t have been impressed with his team’s display and will be looking for a massive improvement in their crunch clash with Kensington on Tuesday.

White Hawk would also put in a dominant performance in defeating Pahang United 2-0 at Padang MPK. Matts Perman hit an early shot wide before Charly Chan Jet Soe hit a post with a thunderous strike as Hawk declared their attacking intention. Soe would head wide from a further chance and Glenn Rijssel would lob over as Pahang were unable to break free of Hawk shackles. The goal inevitably came on 36 minutes when Ryan Dharmsingh headed in and although Kilian Strongbow had a free-kick chance at the other end he put it off-target and they would go in behind. Clarence Ong A Fat shot home in the penalty area to double the lead at the start of the second-half and the win might have been more emphatic but for a poor free-kick from Adan Donahue. Hooraymee’s side are just a point off the promotion pace and will be hopeful of forcing their way into the top three come the season’s end. When MrT returns he will do so to a team who have lost form and their lofty league placing and relegation looks a distinct possibility at this point.

Hicktown won the division’s other game with a strong home performance against PSV Eindhoven. The goal would come in the very first minute as Duke Hazzard placed home an accurate header to leave Reina beaten. PSV were put under constant pressure throughout the game as they couldn’t find any attacking fluency. Billy Bob hit a free-kick over before the break for the hosts before further chances arrived in the second-half. Bob would hit another free-kick over before Marshall Mayhem had a steered shot saved by Reina. Reina would have his crossbar to thank for keeping out Billy Ray Bongle’s header while Jonny Easter nearly helped out the home side as he put a header perilously close to his own net. The win puts the Hillbillies into the middle of the table and they could still be involved in the battle at either end as the season unfolds. Kadri admitted his side were ‘completely outplayed’ but gave hope to the fans by saying ‘in a couple of seasons, this team will be so good, managers will be waiting in line to replace me.’