Rizzo In Real Form

Real Madrid and Villarreal were involved in an eight-goal thriller at the Bernabeu but only the home side would go away happy following a 5-3 triumph. The visitors attacked from the off but Ger Wattamaleo headed wide while Madrid’s response was a Pasi Lintu header which went over. Samvel Mortanian would see the game’s third headed chance saved by Abrey before Claudio Moura was unfortunate with his diving header which struck a post. Samvel Aivazian would finally make one of the headed chances count when he despatched his with a minimum of fuss to give Madrid a 1-0 lead on 38 minutes. Villarreal would have the last chance of the half but Wattamaleo’s shot was steered wide. The second-half saw even more incident as both sides went for the throat in an attacking feast. Teige Aran’s header needed saving by Abrey before Lintu fired in the second after being tapped the ball from a free-kick. Another free-kick saw Mortanian hit an effort wide before Stu Mackay made it 3-0 with an expert header on 64 minutes. Mackay would see Abrey deny him a quick fire second goal while Wattamaleo again endured frustration at the other end as Villarreal looked to hit back. It would be the midfield man who would finally get the visitors on the board with an excellent finish from distance but Kevin Gabriele was quick to restore the three-goal cushion with a diving header a minute later. Indeed, it would be 5-1 on 73 minutes as Aran placed home a header from a corner but the visitors didn’t drop their heads and instantly pulled a goal back courtesy of a Wattamaleo bullet from range. Ritchie Morgan would see a shot saved by Nigosian as the visitors came on strong and they would pull another goal back as Moura lobbed home from inside the area. Unfortunately for Villarreal, though, time had run out and they went home with nothing from a breathless contest. This won’t have concerned FredRizzo, however, as his side sit in second and confident of contending all the way in an impressive season. Rumours are abound that Cathal will shortly be leaving Villarreal following the manager's admission that he is 'interested' in the soon to be vacant ThunderCats job.

Bonkers remain on top following a second successive triumph over Yorkshires Amateurs. The first-half was a relatively quiet affair with just a few of chances of note. These fell the way of the visitors as firstly Joel Weymouth had a goal disallowed for offside before Stefan Beelenkamp hit a post with a brilliant free-kick. Bonkers would also see Henrik Larsson’s toe-poke go close as the half-time whistle arrived with no score. The second-half began in similar fashion to the first but this time Beelenkamp opened the scoring with another trademark free-kick. Another Beelenkamp free-kick saw the visitors take a 2-0 advantage on the hour to leave the home side with a massive uphill task. Glyn Arnold would power in a header with the Amateurs' first chance of the game and Gerard McMahon went close to an equaliser with a well-placed shot but Hawke managed to save with his legs. Franklin Agnew volleyed on target only for Hawke to save again while Antony Wallwork curled a powerful shot against the woodwork as the home side cranked up the pressure. Yoshitaka Karahira nearly gave them a helping hand with a dangerous back header which briefly threatened but it was not to be and Weymouth might have added a further goal to the tally but put his header off-target at the other end. GarethLloyd declared after the game that ‘everyone is training hard’ and they are already looking forward ‘to pitting their skill against the top flight.’ Danlufc13, meanwhile, will need a response from his team who have now lost three straight matches in a sequence which has seen them drop from the top three.

Kensington Boys Club are in the top three following a 2-0 home success over Hicktown Hillbillies. It would be the Hillbillies who caused the first moment of excitement as Marshall Mayhem volleyed superbly against the bar to give the home side a warning. Despite this, though, it was the hosts who took the lead; Aubrey de Vere heading past Boston on 16 minutes. Mayhem had another effort for the visitors but saw his header saved while Adrian Gray’s side-footed shot was saved by Boston at the other end. The second-half saw Hicktown press for the equaliser; Mayhem hit a further effort over before Sam Jakestown shot straight at the ‘keeper as they endured frustration. Indeed, it would be Kensington who would net again as Gray headed in to ensure the home side would be the ones celebrating at the final whistle. Kensington News described Patrik as having ‘a worried look on his face most days’ given the inconsistency of his side and the tightness of the division but deep down he has to be pleased with his current top three placing. Gary_C’s side have slipped into the bottom three on the back of the defeat but will just six points separating them and Kensington there are plenty of twists and turns to come this season.

AJ Rovers produced an excellent home performance to defeat White Hawk 3-0 at AJR Arena. A first minute toe-poke by Mercourios Simos nearly gave the home side a lead but unfortunately struck wood. The visiting response was swift and Adan Donahue also suffered misfortune as his chip struck the angle before Cianan Cathan wasted a header in front of goal. Matts Perman then had a header saved by Mortimer and the home side took full advantage as Miron Lysenko drove home a shot for the opening goal on 28 minutes. Eustace Bain would then put a chip over before Phil Marsh drove home the second on 41 minutes. Glenn Rijssel did have a late chance to pull a goal back but it found Mortimer well-placed and they went in two behind. Donahue put a free-kick wide at the start of the second-half as Hawk tried in vain to find a way back and their woes would increase as Taylor Grape toe-poked home a third on 76 minutes. Further chances still came the way of the hosts but Sonny Vickerman hit a free-kick too close to Dankoi and the ‘keeper also denied Miron Lysenko’s header. Simos would also have a header saved by Dankoi before Eustace Bain headed straight at him with the last chance of the game. Rothion’s side are now well-placed in mid-table but will want his players to stay focussed as the season reaches the business end. Hooraymee has Hawk three points from either zone and will look upon a trip to Pahang as a chance to get back to winning ways.

PSV Eindhoven continued their recent good form with a 3-1 home victory over Pahang United. Pahang actually started the better of the two sides and took a seventh minute lead courtesy of a Kilian Strongbow free-kick. PSV were soon into their stride, though, and saw Rene Maslovsky go close with a header before Petrut Vrabioiu did flick home the equaliser on the stroke of half-time. Yang Sheng Nanmeng put a header against the bar at the start of the second-half while Tom Hording put one over at the other end. PSV would take the lead on 62 minutes as a chip by Miquel Tonelotto defeated Hussain to find the net. Nanmeng saw a header hit the angle for the hosts while Strongbow had a free-kick saved at the other end. This would be Pahang’s last chance to get back into it and Nanmeng sealed the game with another header in injury-time. Kadri was happy with the 6 points against Pahang which has given them ‘some momentum’ ahead of their ‘huge’ game against Hicktown on Friday. Nothing much changes for Pahang in MrT’s absence and the fans await their manager’s return to the fold.

F.C. Greatness went down to a crushing home defeat to AC Milan as the visitors got a much-needed three points. Milan saw an early chance go begging as Jonte Sandholm headed over while Paolo Serena hit the woodwork for the hosts. Hindle was forced into a leg save from an Alvaro Recoba header and Fabrizio Colluato put a steered shot wide as Greatness suffered in front of goal. Milan would take full advantage of this as they took an 11th minute lead with Andrea Pirlo placing home an accurate shot. Agostino Fillippinetti tried to hit back for the hosts but found the woodwork in his way and Bernard Lormor doubled their pain with a fine goal from distance to make it 2-0. Greatness again suffered in front of goal as Colluato curled a shot over and Milan went close to adding a third from a Pirlo lob which needed saving. The second-half saw fewer chances but there was still plenty more goals. Milan made it 3-0 via a penalty from Paddy McCarthy while Fabio Cannavaro continued Greatness’ miserable day by striking a post on 72 minutes. Mario Balotelli would give them brief hope, however, after he shot home from a corner but a bicycle kick by Sandholm snuffed out any chance of a comeback to deliver three points to Milan. Xmensch will have received a massive boost because of the performance and the club will have renewed hopes of avoiding the drop. DarrenCalvert, meanwhile, will be nervously looking over his shoulder should his side continue to ship goals at such an alarming rate.