Strollers Stalking Strollers

Kirkbride continued their title push with a comprehensive 5-0 victory over Sanity Clause. Benjamin Foran nearly gave them the ideal start with a dangerous back pass but Sanity escaped as the ball trickled wide. Ricky Taylor would then force Stancu into a decent save with his legs as the defender rose highest in the area. Taylor would be at it again moments later but this time put his looping header over the bar. It wouldn’t be long before Kirkbride took the lead, though, as Stephen Robinson produced a delicate lob to leave Stancu floundering and the home fans celebrating. Stancu would redeem himself by saving from a Mark Simpson header before Sanity Clause had their first effort of the day; Boguslaw Stanczuk firing an effort over. Kirkbride were soon back on the front foot and found themselves 2-0 ahead as Billy Maneater produced an excellent header on 34 minutes. A Malcolm Graham shot then struck the bar as the home side remained in the ascendancy up until the half-time break. More chances were to follow in the second 45 minutes with the first being an Andrew Harrison drive which flew wide. Kirkbride would soon find a third goal and it was Maneater again who this time found his range from distance to all but settle the contest. Sanity were unfortunate moments later as Joseph Heffer struck the bar with a cracking shot but they were soon on the back foot as Simpson shot at Stancu. Mark Blacklock would add a fourth; once again demonstrating his side’s ability from distance with a brilliant strike. Eugene Kameni Idriss would see a free-kick saved at the other end before Keith Ellison fired in a powerful shot to make it 5-0. Sanity’s day was complete when Kay Flo missed with a late strike and they went home a well-beaten side. Jazza explained that ‘this is what the team are capable of’ before adding that the side might finish ‘even higher’ than their top-five aim. Crismorena’s side continue to look towards the future and a fresh start in Division One next season might be just what they need.

West Brom kept their six-point lead at the top of the table despite being held to a 1-1 draw by a tough AFC Stanley side. West Brom were the more progressive side in the opening half and enjoyed the first chance as Brendon Batson placed past Moss only for the goal to be disallowed. Billy Bassett would put a lob header just over before Moss was called into action to save from a Graham Williams diving header. They would finally take the lead on 38 minutes as Bassett thumped in a free-kick which the ‘keeper could do nothing about. The second-half was a relatively quiet affair which allowed Stanley a route back in. Alan Martindale would curl in an equaliser on 81 minutes with Stanley’s first chance of the game. Cyrille Regis would waste a headed chance to put the home side back in front and it looked like they might pay for this miss as Luke Riou placed the ball home only for the goal to be ruled out for a dubious offside call. DD blamed himself for the draw as he ‘forgot to set tactics.’ Markham will have been pleased with his side’s point as they continue to rebuild following a tough run of results.

Baz’s first game in charge of ThunderCats ended in a 1-1 draw as Santos took home a well-earned point. Fabricio Cidade would go close to giving Baz the dream start by driving a shot wide on eight minutes. Santos’ response was mightily effective as a cross from Golkas allowed Robbie Mitchell to head them into a 23rd minute lead. Cidade’s precise header was saved by Rodenas before he finally got his goal by toe-poking home the equaliser on 31 minutes. Placido Polo would waste a headed chance before the break and the sides went in deadlocked. Polo also had the first chance of the second-half but his driving shot was saved by Rodenas. There was also good keeping at the other end as Magro produced a brilliant save to deny Yogender Pragurd’s curled shot. The final chance of the contest would fall to Polo but he hit a tame free-kick at Rodenas and the sides took home a point each. Baz will be happy this game is out of the way and can now look forward to getting the best out of his new side as they look to track down West Brom at the top of the table. Sean7 will be pleased with the point but will know their season fell away some time ago and will be looking forward to better things next term.

The Vikings defeated manager-less Tranmere 2-1 at Prenton Park to continue their excellent progress. Tranmere would have chances in the contest and Eadbhard Liffey struck a post with an early free-kick. Liffey would enjoy another opportunity on 23 minutes but this time missed the target. Logan MacCanish would force a save out of Raasch at the start of the second-half as Tranmere continued to press. Marten Wessman was the next to try his luck but his powerful low shot missed the target and the visitors would then stun them by taking the lead with their first chance; Aris Almanidis firing a free-kick into the roof of the net on 69 minutes. Liffey responded with a free-kick of his own and looked on in despair as it hit the angle. They would find their reward on 82 minutes, though, as Geomar Altieri fired in an equaliser from the penalty spot. Almanidis would miss with another set-piece at the other end and both sides would keep pressing as the game entered its final stages. Liffey had a free-kick easily saved by Raasch and The Vikings would capitalise as Anastasios Tassiopoulos netted from the spot to put them ahead. Tassiopoulos would put a header off-target deep into injury-time but it wouldn’t cost them as they held out for the win. Eaglesrjh is rumoured to be setting his sights on youth match experience now his side have safe-guarded their top-flight status for next term. Tranmere still await their new boss and the sooner the better as far as they are concerned.

Manchester United produced a smothering home performance to leave Totaalvoetbal well-beaten if only by a 1-0 score. United had much the better of the first-half and enjoyed an early chance as Cristiano Ronaldo had a free-kick saved by Leemans. Leemans would also deny Michael Carrick’s side-footed shot before the midfielder hit a further shot at the ‘keeper. The second-half saw United enjoy the majority of possession and were rewarded with late chances. Wayne Rooney saw a header tipped over by Leemans before the forward hit a post with another fine header. Rooney would waste a further chance before Ronaldo thumped in the winning goal from a set-piece. Totaalvoetbal finally created a chance late on but Shirsh Vajpayee’s strike thundered back off the bar and the visitors were defeated. Pakya’s side have made the step up seamlessly and with a run of wins might still impact the title race. Robin Meeblind responded to this defeat by bringing in a couple of youngsters amid rumours that he is preparing for next season.

Underdogz United ensured there would be no relegation fears for them by defeating Hun Haters 2-0 at Surprise Stadium. The game came alive in the second-half after a non-event of a first 45 minutes. Zlatan Izuhimovic opened the second-half with a bang by slotting home the opening goal before Aaron Ramsey placed a header off-target. Hun responded with a Finlay MacCleir header but Casillas was the equal to it. A diving header by Henning Bade at the other end made it 2-0 and although Jeremy Cunning and Ted Caird missed chances for Hun the home side were in control. Robin van Izu missed a late chance to make it 3-0 as Boruc stopped his free-kick but the hosts had done more than enough to secure the points. Izu explained that ‘the whole team is doing well’ but is rumoured to be adding to the squad sometime next week. Hun continue to endure a horrid season and their fans will be hoping Division One will give them a chance to get back on track.