Cox Clinches Title for Yorkies

Yorkshires Amateurs left it late but they secured a 1-0 win at White Hawk which saw them claim their first ever divisional title. With promotion and the title at stake you could sense the pressure on the players in a desperately tight first-half. No chances were created as the sides battled for supremacy with White Hawk enjoying more possession as befits the home side. The second-half saw Hawk create a couple of chances but Clyde Nageswar was denied by Bicanco as he tried to round the ‘keeper while Ryan Dharmsingh put a driving shot wide of the target. With time running out the Amateurs' only chance would arrive and they were not to waste it; Micky Cox delicately chipping over Dankoi to send the travelling fans wild. Hawk would never recover and the title belonged to the Amateurs, something which obviously delighted their manager. He praised a defensive record which he said had ‘been the reason we have won the title’ and added ‘I’m proud of the boys.’ While Hooraymee will have been disappointed with this result he could console himself at the final whistle that he has taken White Hawk into the top flight completing his journey from Division Three when they joined the league in season two; a fantastic achievement in such a short space of time.

Real Madrid would take the other promotion spot as they beat F.C. Greatness 4-2 to complete a run of form which has seen them win five out of their last seven matches. Madrid would force plenty of chances in the match but would find Greatness stubborn opponents. Samvel Mortanian put a driving shot wide early on as the home side signalled their intention and the same player would also waste a free-kick chance. Kevin Gabriele did head in the opener on 14 minutes, leaving Rachao standing. Faust Baronchelli would be denied by Hogardh from Greatness’ first chance and the second goal then arrived for the hosts as Mortanian mishit home a shot following a corner. Aren Garabedian nearly added another with a precise header which struck a post before Greatness hit back late in the half; Mario Balotelli’s flick header needed saving before Martinus Benfari pulled a goal back with a mishit shot of his own on the stroke of half-time. Madrid wouldn’t let this affect them at the start of the second-half as Stu Mackay and Lars-Johan Lagerstrom both tested Rachao with decent efforts. Mao Wannasathit also wasted a chance but it would be the visitors would strike again to level the game; Baronchelli delivering a peach of a free-kick on the hour-mark to leave the home fans stunned. Mortanian would hit a free-kick of his own straight at Rachao but Madrid would hit the front again on 68 minutes as Gabriele rounded Rachao to slide home. This lead was doubled when Ashod Marderosian headed home and although Wannasathit was sent-off for dangerous play Madrid saw out the game to win promotion in front of their adoring fans. Fred Rizzo declared himself ‘happy (their) hard work has paid off’ and offered ‘congratulations’ to the Amateurs for winning the title. Darren Calvert will have been relieved his side avoided a second successive relegation but the manager will know his hard work starts now if he is to make his side a force once again.

AC Milan and Bonkers cancelled out each other’s promotion hopes as they drew 2-2 at San Siro. It would be a match full of chances despite the tension as both looked for the all-important three points. Jonte Sandholm had an early curled effort saved by Hawke before Simone Spina headed well-wide. Milan would remain on top but Ricardo Kaka’s shot wouldn’t unduly trouble Hawke before Bonkers burst into life. Stefan Beelenkamp wasted one free-kick chance before delivering another onto the head of Joel Weymouth only for the midfielder to head over. Sandholm would then put Milan in front with a super strike from distance on 37 minutes before Savino Piovanelli then had a header saved as Milan looked to forge on. Bonkers wouldn’t lie down, though, and Beelenkamp had another chance before the break but would fire his free-kick over. The second-half would start in explosive fashion as Chris Sutton steered in an equaliser on 48 minutes while Spina side-footed wide a minute later as Milan looked to retake the lead. Beelenkamp would misfire from another free-kick before Kaka volleyed over as the game went from end-to-end. Paddy McCarthy would give Milan the initiative again on 65 minutes as he powered in from distance but once again Bonkers hit back; Garry Maynard heading past Hindle on 82 minutes to give the game a dramatic conclusion. Sandholm had a curled shot saved by Hawke before McCarthy lobbed over the bar as Milan just could not find the elusive winner. The draw meant Xmensch’s side finished sixth and as it turned out even a win wouldn’t have seen them promoted. However, the manager has overseen a dramatic turnaround in fortune for his side and they have been tipped by a fellow Division One manager in the shape of Danlufc13 ‘to be front runners for the Division One title next season.’ The result also saw Bonkers miss out on promotion, more cruelly by just one goal and GarethLloyd will no doubt be doubly determined to see his side celebrating next season.

Pahang United secured their safety with a brilliant 4-1 home victory over Kensington Boys Club and thus meaning the visitors miss out on promotion to the top flight. Pahang always looked the more progressive side with Kilian Strongbow seeing a free-kick kicked away by Lorentzen on 11 minutes. James Wilde did think he had given KBC a lead two minutes later but he was yards offside and Pahang then took the lead with Romeo Hogg blasting in from long range. The lead would only last five minutes, though, as Aubrey de Vere replied in kind to level matters on 27 minutes. Dirk Heller would blast a shot over before he re-established the home side’s advantage with a curling shot also from distance. Kensington came on strong before the break but Hussain punched away a free-kick from de Vere before Samson Lockwood placed a header against the outside of a post. The second-half would belong solely to the home side as they searched for more goals to guarantee their safety. Strongbow missed with another long range effort on 62 minutes but seven minutes later Heller side-footed in to make it 3-1. Simun Kilp narrowly failed to make it four with a header which was just off-target but Strongbow would add the finishing touch in injury-time with a low strike from distance beating Lorentzen. MrT can be happy with his end of season recovery and if they can maintain that sort of form for the whole of next season then things are sure to be exciting at Padang MPK. Patrik will undoubtedly be disappointed at his side’s failure to gain promotion but the popular manager will refocus for another attempt in Season 6.

Hicktown Hillbillies couldn’t save themselves as a 1-1 home draw with Villarreal condemned them to relegation to Division Two. Things had begun promisingly for Hicktown as they gained an advantage in terms of possession and then forced the first-half’s only chance on 37 minutes; Marshall Mayhem placing the ball out of the reach of Rossell in goal to put them 1-0 ahead. The second-half saw them sit back too much, though, and Villarreal gained the upper hand. A free-kick saw Franklin Pepper hit the angle of post and bar before Ger Wattamaleo toe-poked home the equaliser. Another free-kick on 81 minutes gave Pepper the chance to win the game but his weak effort was claimed by Syvaluoma and the sides went away with a point each. There was better news for Hicktown after the game as Dimentis was appointed their new manager and with a silly-season to work with his players things look promising for the club ahead of next term. Cathal will now wait eagerly for his change report after declaring earlier that his future depends on the results.

AJ Rovers ensured their survival in a 0-0 draw at an already relegated PSV Eindhoven. The game would be a close run affair with neither side looking to have any confidence in front of goal. PSV had the first opening but Claudio Collauto’s lob hit the angle while Mercourios Simos brushed a post at the other end with a decent effort. Jeremiah McNally would have the last chance of the half but his half-volley went over and the sides went in deadlocked. Rovers opened more positively at the start of the second-half but Leigh Roberts could only put his lob over the bar when well-placed. Both sides would then have a chance to win the game with Kees Splinter wasting a chance for the hosts by shooting miles wide before a free-kick saw Simos hit the angle on 89 minutes. Nevertheless the point was enough for safety for Rothion’s side but he did say with his side’s lack of goals they ‘might get a few strikers in preparation for next season.’ Kadri will continue to rebuild his side in Division Two next season and the astute coach will be hoping his players gain in quality during the change report.