Vikings on March After Strollers

The Vikings continue to chase down West Brom Strollers following a 3-2 away victory at Santos. Aris Almanidis saw an early free-kick saved by Rodenas but Vassilis Papakostas did give the visitors the lead as he lobbed home a header. Thorbjorn Lind would have a diving header saved as they continued to press and went in at the break with a deserved 1-0 advantage. Santos started better after the break and were level thanks to a clinical Panu Sarapaa strike after a corner. Sarapaa then saw a header strike a post before Robbie Mitchell had the hosts in front by shooting through the legs of Raasch. Anastasios Tassiopoulos would have the visitors level, though, as he chipped home on 69 minutes and thirteen minutes later Papakostas would add another header to give The Vikings another lead. This would prove the crucial goal in the contest and Eaglesrjh’s side would go away with another massive three points. The manager was fooling no-one when he said ‘Don’t make me laugh!’ when asked whether they were pushing for the title. Later, he was even heard to say that he has developed ‘a taste for it’ now. Sean7’s side still appear to be clear from relegation but the manager will want to make that certain as quickly as possible to ease any possible anxiety.

West Brom edged to a 1-0 win at Sanity Clause to keep their six-point lead but were made to fight all the way for the victory. Dorian May put an early volley wide for the hosts before Shinosuke Isimaru had a header saved as they enjoyed the better of the first-half. West Brom would show their class, though, as Billy Bassett shot home from their first chance of the game. Isimaru would reply by putting a header wide and the hosts would ultimately rue their missed chances. DD will realise three wins should be enough for the title given their superior goal difference and they will look for the first of these wins against Underdogz on Tuesday. Crismorena will have been buoyed by his side’s performance and will have gained confidence for the challenges ahead.

Kirkbride enjoyed the best of a wild contest with Hun Haters to stay in contention should West Brom slip. Hun had early chances but Ted Caird’s free-kick brushed a post and Nigel Bruggink put a header off-target. Mike Bell would put Kirkbride’s first chance wide while they were nearly given a boost as Jeremy Cumming almost put the ball into his own net with a dangerous back pass. Mark Simpson would then be denied by Boruc as he tried to round the ‘keeper but there was nothing the cat could do about Bell’s header which nestled in the back of the net. Bell would follow up by putting another chance wide when it looked easier to score but Kirkbride would go 2-0 ahead as Brian Wills volleyed home. Hun looked to hit back but Iain Emery put a lob over although Boruc did keep them in the contest by saving from a Bell shot. Finlay MacCleir hit a half-volley at Hill for the hosts while Andrew Harrison shot wide at the other end. The second-half continued in exciting fashion with Bell curling home a beautiful shot from distance to make it 3-0. Mark Simpson would get in on the act by heading in moments later although MacCleir did pull a goal back with a toe-poke at the other end. The visitors would continue to attack, though, and a lob by Bell gave him his hat-trick and his side a 5-1 lead. Emery would waste a diving header opportunity for the hosts as they slipped to a defeat which all-but ensures relegation. Celticchris can now look forward to starting afresh in Division One next term and hope that his players will be ready for the challenge. Jazza will be eager for his side to win five out of five and hope that it will be good enough for the side to claim the title at the first time of asking.

Manchester United made Solongsuperman’s task as manager of Bryan Adams Athletic that little bit tougher by sending them to a 2-1 defeat. Ryan Giggs would have United in front on four minutes with an excellent header although he did waste a further chance by toe-poking over. Sapienza would also be called into action to save from a low Jonny Evans shot before Giggs was back in on the act with another toe-poke which went wide. Eric Cantona curled a shot wide as the home side continued to press although from a rare attack Raymond Jillhed had the visitors level with an excellent strike from some way out. The second-half started with a lob by Percival Horsfield but unfortunately for Athletic it would go over. Darren Gibson would fire a free-kick wide for the hosts while Eadbhard Liffey would lack accuracy with his long range strike as the game began to ebb-and-flow. Gibson would fire a volley wide for the hosts and he would then lob a header over as United wasted chances. Logan MacCanish couldn’t punish them for these misses, though, as his goal was disallowed for offside. United would then see a Micky Wyatt header saved by Sapienza while Karsten Seibert lobbed over the bar for the visitors. However, with time running out the game would see its defining moment; a flick header from Owen Hargreaves finding its way into the corner of the net to deliver three points to the home side. Pakya’s side look well-set for a top five placing now and this will go down as an excellent achievement in their first top-flight season. Solongsuperman admitted that their remaining games would be ‘about trying to make relegation be not by a huge margin’ following this loss.

ThunderCats saw their title challenge fade as they were held to a 0-0 draw at Underdogz. A shot by Silvio Falcao which was easily held by Casillas was all a poor first-half had to offer but there was to be more chances after the break. Cesc Izukas had a header held by Magro while Henning Bade hit a post with a fine strike as the home side came on strong. ThunderCats would see Falcao go desperately close as his toe-poke struck the angle before Bade’s shot was saved by Magro. Ultimately neither side would find the breakthrough and had to settle for a point apiece. Izuka was happy with his side’s point before plotting his tactics for their big match against West Brom; admitting ‘they’ll (WBS) exploit the tiniest opening in my defence’ if given the chance. Baz may have seen the title slip away but he will be well-prepared for his first full season in charge of ThunderCats next term.

AFC Stanley defeated Totaalvoetbal 1-0 in the other game of the day. A cagey first-half saw no chances but the game would open up slightly after the break. Totaal enjoyed the first chance but Bryan Robson’s free-kick was saved by Hessbo and the home side took over proceedings. Garry Molseley would power in a header for the opening goal and Luke Riou would have made the win more convincing but for an excellent save by Izu Metelo. Markham was relieved with the win before adding that they ‘are always tough matches with Robin.’ Meeblind himself admitted the home side ‘deserved the win’ but was ‘happy with the performances of his young players.’