Division One D-Day

White Hawk remain top of Division One after a tough 0-0 draw with fellow promotion hopefuls AC Milan. The game would be a closely matched affair throughout as both sides chased the all-important points. Bernard Lormor looked to have put Milan in front on 16 minutes but a wrong offside call would ultimately prove costly. Savino Piovanelli would shoot wide with their next chance while Ryan Dharmsingh did likewise at the other end. Piovanelli would struggle with his accuracy again with his next effort while Hindle kept Milan level by gathering at the feet of Somaroe. The second-half would see just a chance each and neither side would be able to make the crucial breakthrough. Quigley Addison wasted a free-kick opportunity for Milan while Dharmsingh was unfortunate when his header hit the woodwork for Hawk. The point leaves Hooraymee’s side at the top of the table and they know a victory over the Amateurs on Tuesday will leave them celebrating the title. Xmensch said that his side ‘are very satisfied with the second-half of the season’ but they will still be going all out for a final day win with promotion still mathematically possible.

Yorkshires Amateurs put in a Christmas Day special for their fans to defeat PSV Eindhoven 4-0 and set up a showdown with White Hawk. PSV started quite brightly but a lob from Rene Maslovsky didn’t really test Bicanco and the home side took control. Andrew Potts delivered a brilliant free-kick to make it 1-0 on 14 minutes. Micky Cox had a header saved by Reina before the break but the Amateurs would come out much more purposeful after the interval. Potts had another free-kick but it was saved by Reina this time while Hugo Smallwood put a header well-wide. Cox would beat Reina but see his shot go wide but they would be gifted their second goal as Jose Fonte put through his own goal. Amadeo Caviedes would then make it 3-0 by rounding Reina following an excellent counter and a diving header by the front man made it 4-0 on 90 minutes. Danlufc13 knows that ‘a win guarantees us promotion’ and was in confident mood saying ‘I expect my players will rise to the occasion.’ Kadri admitted that his side had ‘ran out of steam’ in their battle against the drop but added that he had ‘high hopes for the midfield and defence’ ahead of the new season.

Bonkers moved into the final sought-after promotion place with a dramatic 3-2 home win over F.C. Greatness. The home side would gain an early boost as Edip Bayrak powered in a shot from distance after just six minutes. Bayrak might have made it even better for the hosts but his chip hit the angle while Chris Sutton put a header over the bar. Stefan Beelenkamp forced Rachao into a decent save in goal as the home side created all the openings in the first-half. Greatness were a much-improved side after the break and Agostino Bernardi immediately levelled with a lob in the area. A free-kick by Faust Baronchelli incredibly put them 2-1 ahead and if Martinus Benfari’s lobbed header hadn’t been saved by Hawke, Bonkers might have been in serious trouble. As it was Bayrak chipped in the equaliser on 76 minutes to the relief of the home fans and better was to come as Garry Maynard headed home brilliantly from a Larsson cross. This proved to be the winning goal but GarethLloyd will have to get his side’s feet back on the ground quickly as they face a make-or-break clash with Milan on Tuesday. Darren Calvert will be thankful his side showed some fighting spirit in the second-half but ultimately this season will not be remembered fondly at Cedar Road.

Kensington Boys Club may rue missed chances as they slipped out of the top three following a 1-1 draw at AJ Rovers. Taylor Grape chipped home on 17 minutes as Rovers looked to safeguard their Division One status. A free-kick by Maurice Jacobs would force Mortimer into a fine leg save while Lorentzen kept the Club close with a save from a Phil Marsh chip. Aubrey de Vere would see a lob go over the bar before Samson Lockwood hit a post as Kensington pressed. Charles Tilly looked to level the game on the stroke of half-time but his fine volley was saved by Mortimer and they went in a goal behind. Further chances would come their way after the break but Alfie Whitley could only put a header wide. Barry Painter was unlucky with a powerful low shot which struck a post but Kensington would find their equaliser as Tilly shot home emphatically from a tight angle on 85 minutes. Patrik will now bank on a win at Pahang in their final game being enough to secure promotion but this will be no easy task as their opponents need the points for an entirely different reason. AJ News reported that ‘Rovers are still not safe from relegation’ and they will need to take care of business against PSV in their last game.

Real Madrid go into the final round of matches with their promotion hopes very much alive as they defeated Hicktown Hillbillies 3-2 at Bucket Bowl. The home side saw Buddy Bailey half-volley straight at Hogardh while Teige Aran was denied by Syvaluoma at the other end as both sides looked to attack. Aran would put a diving header over for Madrid before Vahe Kasparian smashed a post with a fine free-kick. They would then receive a setback as Uncle Sam despatched a penalty for the hosts to give them a half-time lead. Aran would level up swiftly after the break with a cleverly steered finish while Bob missed a header at the other end. Madrid would then strike the front as Pasi Lintu lobbed over the ‘keeper on 67 minutes while a toe-poke from Kevin Gabriele narrowly failed to double their advantage. Chuck Ewing would have the game back in the melting pot following a brilliant header on 77 minutes but Gabriele replied in kind to re-establish Madrid’s advantage six minutes later. Leroy Shepard just managed to avoid scoring an own goal but nevertheless his side would fall to a defeat which leaves their Division One status hanging by a thread. With this in mind it surprised everyone when Gary_C just upped and left his side in their hour of need and it remains to be seen whether this will help or hinder the players on Tuesday against Villarreal. FredRizzo will be focusing his side on beating Greatness and only then will they look at whether that is enough to secure their promotion into the RM Invitational.

Pahang picked up a point in their battle against relegation as they drew 0-0 at Villarreal. Pahang would completely dominate the first-half but their finishing would let them down. Franck Saur mishit a shot against a post on 11 minutes while Kilian Strongbow also hit the woodwork with a fine free-kick. Tajo Cuevas would have a half-volley saved by Rossell and the ‘keeper would also deny Jeremias Lindeman as Villarreal held on. The second-half would see their roles reversed as the home side became the more progressive side. A free-kick saw Jonathan Boulding force Hussain into a good stop before Bernardo Almeida also had a set-piece saved by the cat. Jonny Douglas would see red for stamping but one final chance would fall to the home side; Ritchie Morgan heading wide when well-placed. Pahang would then see Tom Hording sent-off for brutal play but this had no effect on the outcome as Paine blew for full-time. MrT has a tough looking final fixture against Kensington as they look to secure their Division One status but they will be in confident mood after a recent upturn in results, with the manager saying ‘there’s still hope.’ Cathal’s season finished a long time ago but he can have a major say on the relegation battle by defeating Hicktown in their final game.