Jazza Makes Dinky Wait

Kirkbride ensured the title race would go right down to the final day as they edged West Brom in the battle of the Strollers on Christmas Day. Brian Wills stoked the fires early in the game with a calmly executed lobbed finish over Godden to put Kirkbride ahead on three minutes. However, Cyrille Regis had a lob of his own to answer on 16 minutes and both sides had shown a clinical nature in front of goal with their first chance. Mark Blacklock would then have a shot saved by Godden before Wills headed in his second of the game to put Kirkbride back in front. West Brom were indebted to Godden again before half-time as he denied Wills a hat-trick goal from a well-placed header. West Brom responded after the break but found their touch in front of goal had deserted them. A free-kick saw Billy Bassett force Hill into a decent save and the ‘keeper would be in action again three minutes later to save at the feet of Regis. Regis would be denied once more on 76 minutes as his side-footed shot was blocked by Hill and the home side had the points they craved. Jazza knows that his team did everything that could have been asked of them and they will be looking to defeat Stanley and hoping that Manchester United can do them a favour in their match against West Brom. DD had an uneasy look on his face following the match but he’s experienced enough to know that a point will still clinch the club’s first ever RMI title.

The Vikings’ title hopes look to be all-but over as a narrow victory over Sanity Clause left them with a massive goal difference to overhaul even if results did go their way. They would be shocked early in the game as Lenny Melaugh rounded Raasch on five minutes to slot home for Clause. The Vikings would get into their stride and saw Aris Almanidis hit the bar with a thumping free-kick on eight minutes. The defender would have another go on the stroke of half-time and this time he managed to beat Widlund and avoid the woodwork to bring the visitors level. They took this momentum into the start of the second-half and Marcus Young’s powerful low strike gave them a 2-1 advantage on 57 minutes. Sten Stille headed wide for the hosts before Ginel Aluna also failed to put his drive on target as Clause desperately looked for a way back into the contest. However, it would be The Vikings who nearly added to their tally as Benjamin Foran narrowly avoided scoring an own goal before Almanidis had another free-kick thwarted. Viking Land News reported that Eaglesrjh was ‘looking at what might have been’ as his side realise the title is just out of reach. Crismorena will again be happy with the competitive nature of his side and he will be hopeful they can make the next step and start winning games when Season 6 begins.

ThunderCats delivered an excellent away performance to keep up their good work under Baz leaving Manchester United beaten 4-0 at Old Trafford. Silvio Falcao began the away side’s dominance by finishing well after a corner on five minutes. Jake Sephton would then see his lob saved by Kuszczak before Eric Cantona forced Magro into an outstanding stop from United’s first chance of the day. Carlos Partini would then double ThunderCats’ lead with a precise header and substitute ‘keeper Ursu protected it by saving from a Fabio da Silva lob. Falcao was unlucky not to score his second of the day with a chip which hit the bar while United responded with a Darren Gibson free-kick which was some way off target. The second-half saw ThunderCats dominate and they scored an early goal as Paulino Ornelas steered home a fine shot in the area on 46 minutes. Nelson Queimado hit a wild shot a minute later while another Gibson free-kick at the other end was off-target. Falcao saw a header tipped over by the ‘keeper before a bicycle kick from Sephton went wide as the visitors upped the tempo. Sephton would get his goal on 63 minutes with an excellent header to put his side in cruise mode. They did have late chances with Borja hitting a free-kick wide before having another chance punched away by Kuzszcak. United’s day got worse when Severin Gran was sent-off for arguing and they nearly topped it off as Micky Wyatt came perilously close to putting through his own goal. Baz will be hopeful his side can finish on a high in a big match against The Vikings on Tuesday but whatever the outcome they look in good hands going into next season. Pakya returned to the helm on Saturday and he will have prepared his side for their important final game where West Brom will be looking to clinch the title.

Santos and Bryan Adams Athletic were involved in an exciting game at Estadio do Deus with the home side prevailing by the odd goal in five. With plenty of chances the fans wouldn’t be short-changed this Christmas Day and an early free-kick saw Eadbhard Liffey go close for Athletic. Simon Teske would then put a header over before Santos had their first chance; Asmar Golkas heading home to give them a 31st minute lead. Robbie Mitchell then produced an excellent diving header which in turn produced a fabulous save from Sapienza. The second-half would see even more excitement and a lob by Miles Madeley fired a warning to the hosts before the same player hit a post after beating Rodenas with a neat effort. Simon Teske would finally level matters with a lopping header on 51 minutes but Santos responded immediately and Mitchell side-footed in to restore their advantage. Adriano Ribeiro would then head straight at Sapienza before Mitchell hit the angle with another header as the home side began to find gaps in their opponent’s rearguard. However, the game would twist once more on 68 minutes as Teske shot in for his second of the game to tie the contest. Mitchell was having a standout day, though, and he wouldn’t be denied a winning goal; launching himself to meet a Ribeiro cross he connected sweetly with a diving header which left Sapienza well-beaten. Still Athletic might have gotten something out of the contest but a header from Marten Wessman went over the bar and the points belonged to Santos. Sean will be hoping his side can finish fifth with a last day win but he will also want more consistency next season as his side search for that elusive first title. SLS called it a ‘nice win for Santos’ but explained that the match was a success for his side also as they ‘got a few players up or closer to 100% ME.’

AFC Stanley enjoyed a 2-0 home win over Hun Haters in a comfortable performance. Tyrone Stanley lobbed a 12th minute header over before Dijedon Betimaj had a further header saved by Boruc. Iain Emery would see his lob bounce unluckily off the angle and from this point on his side would play second-fiddle to a determined home team. Cal McMac scored the first with an excellent lob from outside the area on 44 minutes and they would continue to be the better side after the break. Per-Elvis Granander made it 2-0 with a fine header on 49 minutes and he saw a half-volley saved by Boruc as he looked for a quick-fire double. This would prove the last chance of the day but it would be a satisfactory one for Markham. The manager explained that his side have given ‘youth a chance’ and this ‘can only bode well for next season’ in what promises to be the toughest RMI to date. Celticchris will be leading his side in Division One for the very first time but with cash to spend and an experienced man at the helm this may just be a blip for one of the RMI’s founder members.

Underdogz United coasted to a 2-0 home victory over Totaalvoetbal to draw level on points with their beaten foes. All of the action took place in a first-half which saw United dominate their young opponents. Alfred Calascione was unfortunate not to put them in front on three minutes as his lob header hit the woodwork and United suffered more bad luck as Robin van Izu’s powerful low shot struck a post four minutes later. Cristiano Izuldo would give them a deserved lead on 15 minutes when he precisely headed past Leemans. Leemans would make a comfortable save from a Zlatan Izuhimovic header on 24 minutes but the ‘keeper couldn’t prevent van Izu getting his goal from another header four minutes later. Totaal would create a chance of their own but Shirsh Vajpayee’s diving header brushed a post and they went in two goals adrift. The second-half was played out with little or no incident and United emerged triumphant with three points. UU News called it a ‘decent win over a young Totaalvoetbal’ while Robin Meeblind simply said, ‘roll on next season.’