Dinky Taylor Made for Title

West Brom Strollers stretched their lead to seven points after finally overcoming Underdogz United 2-1 at The Hawthorns. Things started off badly for the title chasers as Tony Brown hit a tame penalty at Casillas. Brown would also hit a half-volley straight at the ‘keeper before Bobby Taylor shot wide as the home side wasted chance after chance. Billy Bassett would place a better shot on goal on 22 minutes but Casillas saved but there was nothing the ‘keeper could do three minutes later as Graham Williams toe-poked home following a corner. Taylor would have a late chance to extend the lead before half-time but he couldn’t keep his flick header down and they went in with a slender 1-0 advantage. Underdogz would stun their hosts on 55 minutes by striking with their first chance of the game; Robin van Izu improving his legend by lobbing home. West Brom would take a little while to get this goal out of their system but they would press hard for the winner in the closing stages. Taylor would produce an excellently placed shot on 74 minutes to beat Casillas and restore the advantage. Further chances would fall their way but Casillas would turn an effort from Taylor round the post while Bassett put a free-kick over the bar. Taylor would waste one final chance on 86 minutes but the home side could still celebrate three points as the referee blew the final whistle. Dinky told the press that he would be pushing ‘two wins’ to secure the title as quickly as possible even though it would take a big collapse to stop his side now. Izu heaped praise on Casillas as the ‘keeper continues to put in excellent performances.

Kirkbride moved into second after defeating previous occupants, The Vikings, 2-0 at The Bush. The home side would edge a tight contest thanks to some superior finishing. Stephen Robinson demonstrated this by firing in a free-kick on 27 minutes to give them a 1-0 lead. Mark Simpson would see a chip tapped over by Raasch before the visitors missed a chance to level late in the half as Thorbjorn Lind lobbed over the bar. Aris Alminidis would hit a free-kick too close to Hill while Robinson saw his effort miss the target at the other end. Almanidis had a further set-piece saved by Hill and the home side took full advantage as Robinson shot home from inside the area to give them a decisive 2-0 lead. Jazza will be banking on a slip-up from West Brom but will be urging his players to win all four games and see where that leaves them at the end of the season. Eagles declared his race over and added that ‘it is all about ME now’ but will still be majorly proud of a fantastic first season in the top flight.

Baz got the better of his old side as ThunderCats edged Bryan Adams Athetic 1-0 at Thundera Grounds. Geomar Altieri nearly gave the visitors the perfect start but his shot brushed the outside of a post while Leonardo Borja did likewise at the other end after a cleverly-struck free-kick. This would be the only goalmouth action of a quiet first-half but the game would open up a little after the interval. Christiano Olias wasted an early chance for Athletic as he hit a free-kick woefully off-target while Simon Teske hit a chip over the bar as a goal proved elusive for Solongsuperman’s side. Their day would then take a turn for the worse as Adam Mlynarz was sent-off for dangerous play and the home side took advantage as Borja powered in a header to put them 1-0 up. Borja would then see a free-kick saved by Sapienza as they took full advantage of having the extra man. Borja would put a further free-kick off-target and Nelson Queimado failed to get his driving shot on goal as the final score remained 1-0. Baz will be pleased with his start as ThunderCats manager and will be looking for a positive end before he makes any squad changes in the silly-season. SLS admitted that he ‘thought (he) was capable of pulling off a miraculous recovery’ with Athletic as his side face up to the inevitability of relegation. However, a fresh start next season will be sure to get the competitive juices flowing in their new manager.

Manchester United kept alive hopes of a second-place finish by defeating Hun Haters 2-1 at Old Trafford. Eric Cantona placed home a precise header on 15 minutes to give them a flying start and Darren Gibson might have made this even better but his free-kick struck the woodwork. United wouldn’t have to wait too long for a 2-0 advantage, though, as Wayne Rooney produced a brilliant lob on 34 minutes to beat Boruc. Hun looked to hit back straight away but Nigel Bruggink’s header was saved by Kuszczak and they went in two-goals down. Cantona lobbed an early header against the bar as United started the second-half positively. Hun would have chances of their own in the second-half but Iain Emery’s header proved no problem for the ‘keeper. The game would ebb-and-flow during an even second 45 minutes and Cantona would miss for the hosts before Jeremy Cumming put his shot nowhere near the target. Cumming would pull a goal back moments later, though, as he toe-poked past a surprised Kuszczak. Hun couldn’t find another chance to bring themselves level, though, and Gibson might have made the score more emphatic but his free-kick was stopped by Boruc. It has been a contrasting season for the two managers and while Pakya will be looking for some prize money with a high finish, Celticchris might already be planning some signings to give his side a boost ahead of next term.

Santos romped to a 3-0 away win at a slumping Totaalvoetbal to move up to seventh in the table. Santos would dominate proceedings as they shut Totaal out as an attacking force while creating several chances of their own. Adriano Ribeiro would lob over the bar on 22 minutes and would suffer disappointment 12 minutes later as his fine finish was ruled out for offside. Ribeiro would keep trying, though, and brought a fine save from Metelo on 36 minutes as the young ‘keeper pushed his shot round the post. The second-half brought more of the same as the visitors continued to control the game. A free-kick on 48 minutes saw Robbie Mitchell give them a well-deserved lead with a thumping strike. This became 2-0 as Asmar Golkas curled in a powerful strike from distance and Ribeiro finally got his goal on 72 minutes as he produced a fine finish to leave Metelo beaten. While Robin Meeblind is disappointed to be losing games he has said that the ‘ME is getting near where it needs to be’ and that is the most important thing at this stage of a disappointing campaign. Sean7 can relax now his side are mathematically safe and he too can start planning for another crack at the RMI next season.

Sanity Clause and AFC Stanley were involved in an exciting game at Darkdale as the sides fought out a 2-2 draw. The home side would have the perfect start as Joseph Heffer lobbed home from inside the area. Stanley would carry a threat themselves and went close to equalising through a Per-Elvis Granander header on 12 minutes. The equaliser would arrive somewhat fortuitously on 38 minutes as Luke Riou mishit a shot that would go out of the reach of Stancu in goal. This would remain the score at the break but both sides would have chances in the second-half. Riou would give Stanley their first lead of the day on 47 minutes as he found his range from distance and Matts Wallman nearly made it 3-1 but saw his free-kick well-saved by Stancu. Riou had a further chance on 79 minutes but his powerful shot missed the target and Eugene Kameni Idriss headed in a super equaliser on 89 minutes. There was still time for Sanity to have the chance to win the game but Heffer couldn’t get his lob to drop quickly enough and they had to settle for a point. Crismorena will be assessing his players as the opening of the transfer window draws near and the fans will be expecting better next season. Markham will be looking at how his side develops in the change before deciding what course of action to take with this proud club.