Dan Dares to Dream

Yorkshires Amateurs took advantage of slip-ups elsewhere to move back into title contention with a 3-1 away victory at Real Madrid. The Amateurs were given something to hold onto when Antony Wallwork headed in an eighth minute opener. Madrid responded positively and Kevin Gabriele had a header saved by Bicanco before Stu Mackay lobbed over the bar. They had a further chance before the break but Mackay’s radar was off once more and put his low shot wide. The second-half would see chances for both sides but it would be the away side’s finishing which would prove crucial. Gerard McMahon produced a cool finish on the hour-mark to give them a 2-0 lead and with it a stranglehold on the match. Still Madrid tried to force their way back into it and Gabriele did produce a better finish to halve the deficit. However, the Amateurs would make it three goals from three chances when Hugo Smallwood headed in to restore their two-goal cushion. Pasi Lintu had a late chance for Madrid but his lob hit the angle and Madrid would go home frustrated. Danlufc13 will be positive about the finishing following this game and with the defence remaining tight they look to have every shout of a prolonged title challenge. FredRizzo will have been left disappointed with his side’s failure in front of goal but they won’t dwell on it for too long as they sit just three points out of the top three.

Bonkers fell to a 2-0 away defeat at Hicktown Hillbillies as the title race opened up in Division One. Hicktown had them under pressure from the start as Chuck Ewing powered in a header after just five minutes to give the hosts a 1-0 lead. Bonkers did have a chance late in the half but the normally reliable Stefan Beelenkamp put his chip over the bar. Edip Bayrak would put a header over as Bonkers continued to trail in the second-half. Their frustration would continue as Henrik Larsson put a powerful header against the angle and a flick header by Chuck Ewing might have made things worse but Hawke was well-positioned for Bonkers. Henrik Larsson would waste another headed chance for Bonkers and the home side would take control in the final stages. Billy Bob nearly steered in a second but found the base of a post. However, Uncle Sam put the seal on the victory with an excellent diving header which left Bonkers a beaten side. Gary_C will have been delighted with the win and they now sit just three points back of the top three as the season enters its final straight. GarethLloyd will be relieved his side are still top following this defeat and he will expect his players to respond at Villarreal on Tuesday.

Kensington Boys Club would fall out of the top three as they were defeated 3-2 at an impressive PSV Eindhoven. Frans Haggbring had the perfect start to the game by heading past Sampson to put PSV in front. Kensington looked to strike straight back but Aubrey de Vere put his free-kick too close to Reina while Albert Finley put a header over the bar. Charles Tilly would also fire just wide and PSV might have added to their lead before the break. Rory MacFinlay went close with a header before Timmy Simons hit a post with a cracking shot from a tight angle. The second-half would explode with some super finishing along the way. Kensington equalised with an exquisite chip by Tilly just after the restart and Finley’s placed header missed narrowly. However, PSV remained strong and were back in front on 72 minutes with a diving header by Yang Sheng Nanmeng. The game continued to seesaw, though, and Finley had the visitors level again with a lob from distance. Urged on by the home crowd, PSV managed to hit the front again in injury-time and it would prove decisive; Nanmeng heading precisely into the far corner on 93 minutes to send the fans wild. Kensington News reported the loss against a ‘weaker side’ and said they will ‘really need to up their game’ if they are to remain in the promotion hunt. Kadri took offence about his side being ‘weaker’ and offered that Kensington ‘lacked respect and dignity in losing.’ Even so, Kadri must have been delighted his young side stayed out of the relegation zone on the back of the win.

White Hawk moved into the top three courtesy of a tight 1-0 triumph over Villarreal. A second minute chance for Matts Perman was gleefully taken as he flicked home a header. The rest of the half didn’t see a chance but the second-half would see a threat from both sides. Johnny Douglas thought he had equalised on 57 minutes but his fine finish was disallowed for offside. Ritchie Morgan then wasted a headed chance and Hawk might have furthered their lead but Cianan Cathan saw his header skim the bar. Ultimately it wouldn’t matter as Hooraymee’s side held on for the win and now sit third with a key match against Kensington to come on Tuesday. Cathal will be preparing his team for life in Division Two and if they compete as hard as this there will be every chance of a successful campaign next time out.

AJ Rovers edged Milan 3-2 in an entertaining game at AJR Arena. Milan began positively but Humphrey Biehn’s header was punched away while Eustace Bain put a lob over at the other end. The game would continue in end-to-end fashion as Roy Summerville steered an effort wide for Milan and they would pay as a penalty was converted by Phil Marsh at the other end. Bain would hit a post on 25 minutes for the hosts while Mortimer would protect their lead by saving from a Bernard Lormor header. Lormor would mishit an effort to brush a post as the half ended in exciting fashion. The second-half would continue in the same way and Milan levelled as Vittorio Cornacchini curled in a beautiful shot on 48 minutes. Sonny Vickerman wasted a chance at the other end from a set-piece and disaster would strike as Cirilo Gibernaue put through his own goal to gift Milan a lead. Chad Atlee gave Rovers the perfect response by heading in on 69 minutes but Vickerman could only waste another free-kick as Rovers looked for a winner. Milan would threaten also as Biehn put a header too close to Mortimer and the home side would have the final say. Mercourios Simos produced a cool finish in the area on 83 minutes to deliver the winning goal for a delighted set of home fans. Rothion’s side are still involved at both ends and face another tough home game on Tuesday against the Amateurs. This defeat will have been disappointing for Xmensch but his side have the perfect chance to boost their survival chances against rivals Pahang next time out.

Pahang responded to MrT’s brief reappearance by producing a good home performance in a 1-1 draw with F.C. Greatness. Greatness would take a fortunate lead on eight minutes as Fabio Cannavaro mishit a shot past Hussain. Pahang would respond well, though, and were unfortunate not to level when Tom Hording’s header struck the angle. However, Hording’s luck would change as he too mishit a shot home to level the game on 22 minutes. The second-half would see the home side create more chances with Kilian Strongbow wasting their first from a free-kick. Strongbow would see a further set-piece saved by Calvert before he put a chance wide following a quality breakaway. Greatness would hold out for a point and both sides remain in the battle at the bottom. Darren Calvert will be looking to take advantage of a home game next up but they face tough opposition in the shape of the Hillbillies. MrT showed he can mould his team into a potent force when he’s around and much will depend on whether he has time before the next match against Milan.