Billy Bobs in to Beat Bully Boys

Division Two continued to tighten up as the top sides enjoyed differing fortunes. Leading side, Bully Boys would suffer a 2-0 reverse at FC Bayern Munchen to put their leadership under severe threat. With a defeat last time out the Boys knew their lead was getting slimmer but they were powerless to prevent another loss as Munchen eased to a much-deserved triumph. The home side started positively but Billy Bob’s powerful shot was saved by Kangashaka. However, they would hit the front on 21 minutes as Uncle Sam blasted home from a tight angle to the delight of the sold-out home crowd. Billy Ray Bongle would then strike a post as they looked to kill off the visitor’s hopes. They needn’t have worried, though, as the Boys only effort was an Aatu Vuokki goal which was chalked off for handball on 49 minutes. Munchen would seal their win on 61 minutes when Bob rounded Kangashaka to slot home. The win keeps Dimentis’ side in promotion contention and after three consecutive wins they will be positive about a happy ending. Cath recently admitted to putting priorities into ‘form’ but he will be feeling the pressure as the season enters its crucial phase.

These Charming Men would draw level on points at the top with a 0-0 home draw against Abu Dhabi United. With Abu Dhabi in stunning recent form, TCM knew this was going to be a tough contest and they received nothing less. TCM did have the better of the first 45 minutes but Linus Streicher would head wide before he also put a lob off the angle as their attempts at scoring met with frustration. The second-half saw Abu Dhabi come more into the contest and Jack Wilshere put a driving shot high over the bar from their first chance. Mathew Bower would respond for the home side but his powerful low shot was kicked away by Rossell and Abu Dhabi had the chance to win the game. It would come via a set-piece move but John Butcher couldn’t direct the resultant header on target and the spoils were shared. RDCM declared himself ‘happy with that’ and will now concentrate on picking up the relevant points for promotion and even the title. Talinmer will be delighted with the run his side are on and will look for more points against Crimea on Friday.

Gooners would capitalise on the top two dropping points as they secured a 3-1 win at Juventus. Having enjoyed a good recent run, Gooners’ focus has sharpened and they knew nothing less than a win would do at Juve. They would never look in danger of failing either as Dennis Bergkamp powered in a header on 10 minutes to put them in front. David Rocastle would put a header of his own over moments later while a third headed effort was saved by Tonetto from Thierry Henry. They would finally double their lead on 20 minutes, though, as Rocastle produced a stunning diving header to beat Tonetto. Juve would pull a goal back from their first chance as Jacobo Chacros rounded Seaman to make it 2-1 on 24 minutes. Alberto Morante looked to have levelled on 37 minutes but his goal was rightly chalked off for offside and they would go in a goal behind. The second-half saw Gooners look to re-establish their two-goal lead and Nicolas Anelka had a header disallowed on 65 minutes before Bergkamp volleyed wide. Bergkamp would make it 3-1 on 74 minutes as he flicked a header home to give them some breathing space. Chacros would waste a chance to bring Juve back into the contest as he mishit a shot wide and they fell to defeat. FMR declared that the ‘table looks great fun’ ahead of what is sure to be an interesting run-in. SuperJuve has his side in the bottom three and knows nothing less than victories will give his side the best possible chance of survival.

Dream Team kept themselves in the promotion hunt with a powerful performance and a 2-0 home victory over The Kings. Having slipped up in their previous two games, DT were under no illusions as to the important of victory from this home match and they wouldn’t disappoint. From their first chance Warren Wish saw a half-volley saved by Fitzsimmons before Adrian Heath headed dangerously close to his own goal just before the break. DT would force even more pressure after the break and Kris Krafty hit the bar early on with a fine chip. The Kings did see Heath bring a comfortable save out of Delirious before DT exerted more pressure. Krafty would put a powerfully curled shot wide before Wish had a shot saved by Fitzsimmons as the pressure grew. Torgny Dahlqvist would be the next to try his luck but his header went centimetres wide. However, they would get their reward late on as Garry Gain found a stunning goal from distance to put them 1-0 ahead. Jamie Sinclair then saw red for a tackle from behind to make The Kings’ task even harder and they were punished when Dudley Dream curled home a free-kick deep into injury-time. @peace will be quietly confident of a strong finish to the season but a tough match awaits them next as they travel to TCM. Hitman10’s side are in poor form at the moment and they desperately need the three points against wortley on Friday.

Wortley, themselves, would fall to another heavy defeat as they were outplayed at Special Ones MKII. With Special Ones responding to their new manager this always looked a tough ask for wortley and so it proved. Ricky Routhledge would have an early header tipped over by Gareth before he shot just wide moments later. Routhledge would be denied once more on 11 minutes as Gareth gathered at his feet but Alf Ackroyd did put the home side ahead with a neat finish following a flowing breakaway. Rai Kike would see a header saved for wortley while Brandon Hiller hit over as they briefly threatened a comeback. However, it wasn’t to be and Rowley Forrester blasted home a free-kick before the break to make it 2-0. The second-half was one-way traffic as Special Ones looked for more goals. Freddy Kennedy would volley narrowly wide before Robin Barratt did make it 2-0 with a driving shot following a corner. Ackroyd would then see a lob go over before a free-kick by Forrester did make it 4-0 on 77 minutes. AJ was disappointed by an injury to Forrester which he said was ‘a big blow to our title chances.’ Thegtreatlordbags will recognise the need to start picking up wins and The Kings match on Friday becomes a definite six-pointer to both sides.

Crimea River picked up a win in the divisions other game as they defeated PSV Eindhoven 2-1 at Phillips Stadion. Having endured three games without a win, Crimea were eager to pick up three points so they could keep track on the sides above them. They would always look the more progressive side in this contest with Alex Song going close from distance on 17 minutes. Samir Nasri would put them ahead on the half-hour with a thumping strike from inside the area and they would keep this lead at the break. Fran Merida would quickly have them 2-0 ahead after the interval with a fine lob from distance although Claudio Colluato had the game back in the melting pot just after the hour with a stunning free-kick. Albery Mojnar had a curled shot pushed round as the visitors looked to assert themselves once more while Andrey Arshavin was wayward with a free-kick. Nevertheless, Crimea had secured a vital win and will now travel to Abu Dhabi looking for more points on Friday. Crimea News was happy that the side had ‘finally managed to finish a match with the same eleven that took to the field’ and they will hope for similar consistency on Friday. Kadri will already be looking forward to next season where he will, hopefully, reap the rewards of his development work.