Boys Club Greatness

Kensington Boys Club enjoyed a return to form as they thrashed F.C. Greatness 4-0 at Kensington Grounds. With the hosts sitting nervously above the drop zone a win was vital to give them a springboard for the second-half of the season. Adrian Gray had an early strike hit the angle before Gilbert de Clare did put them in front with a clinical header on 23 minutes. The midfielder then lobbed in a superb second to put the home side in control at the interval. The second-half began in the same fashion with Harry Whitlow thumping home from range to make it 3-0. Martinus Benfari did hit a post with a steered effort at the other end but the visitors never looked in the contest. Seymore MacRanald struck a free-kick into the net for 4-0 and Whitlow might have made it five but put his shot just wide. Nevertheless, it proved a comfortable victory for the hosts as they seek to move towards the top half of the table. Patrik will be hopeful of continuing this form on Tuesday in the return fixture. Darren Calvert won’t have been impressed with his lacklustre side and can only hope home comforts brings better out of them next week.

Splott Rovers hit the heights of first as they defeated a resurgent Bonkers 2-0 at Star Centre Arena. Bonkers were in confident mood travelling down before the game as they had hit their straps in recent weeks. However, the home side were looking to continue their march towards back-to-back promotions and they didn’t disappoint. Bonkers would see Henrik Larsson unfortunately strike a post with a powerful strike before Stefan Beelenkamp had a header saved as they started in fine fashion. Rodney Shuttlewood would go close with a flick header for the hosts but they would then be given a scare as Larsson netted only to be denied for offside; still it was a warning for Splott. They would improve after the interval and a breakaway finished with Eddie Venom chipping over Hawke for the opening goal. This became 2-0 on 70 minutes as Venom defied a tight angle to thump home and leave Bonkers stunned. Beelenkamp did have a free-kick chance but he could only put it straight at Roschach and the home side emerged with the points. CM will hope his side can draw from last season’s experience to clinch promotion once again and they are in the perfect position at the moment. GarethLloyd will be disappointed with the setback but will realise there wasn’t much between the sides and will hope for a reversal on Tuesday.

Smurftastic Smurfs were replaced at the top following a 0-0 draw at Carthage. The Smurfs were looking for four points from the double-header and might consider themselves unfortunate not to have gained three already after a strong performance. Mickey Linton drove an early shot wide before a free-kick by Craig Elliston was saved as they enjoyed the better of the first-half. Elliston would also see a header saved before the break and they would go in frustrated. The second-half followed a similar story and Linton had further frustration as he had a goal chalked off for a doubtful offside decision. He would then thrash a shot well-wide before Carthage briefly threatened with Fabius Maximus hitting the bar with a thumping free-kick. The Smurfs won a set-piece of their own but Elliston would see Aurelius save while Gabriel Islas hit a post with a clever effort. Ultimately, the visitors would be unable to make the breakthrough and they had to settle for a point. Thesmurf will be satisfied with this as long as they win the home fixture on Tuesday and put their season back on a firm footing. Blakey will be happy with the point but perhaps less so with the performance and will expect a stronger showing in the return.

Pahang United put in their best performance for a number of rounds as they disposed of Cardiff City 4-1 at Padang MPK. With Cardiff having shown signs of a revival in recent rounds and travelling on the back of two straight wins the home side knew they had to be on the top of their game to record a positive result. Claus-Dieter Elits had an early header saved by Peyton and the ‘keeper would then make a more comfortable save from a Harold Yates shot. Franck Saur did give Pahang the lead on 36 minutes as he toe-poked home and Hussain would protect the lead by saving well from a Tommaso Miceli half-volley. Stephen Julius narrowly avoided scoring an own goal and his side went in a goal down and behind the eight-ball. Kilian Strongbow gave the hosts a perfect start to the second 45 minutes by curling home a powerful strike on 48 minutes while Tom Hording put a lob just over. The pressure continued with Geraldo Aguiar also lobbing over and Pahang were firmly in the driving seat when Strongbow lashed home from inside the area to make it 3-0 on 63 minutes. Cardiff did get a goal back on 86 minutes with Franklin Bodin thumping home but Pahang had the final say deep into injury-time with Aguiar getting his goal from the penalty spot. MrT has his side back into third and at the halfway point his ambition will be on gaining promotion. Uwfb will hope to put this setback behind him in the return fixture but his side sit only one point from safety and will be confident of survival.

Bumerang picked up a vital three points as they defeated African Imitators 1-0 at Darkdale. With African Imitators showing an inconsistent side to their play in recent weeks Bumerang were hopeful of a home boost and managed it in a desperately tight encounter. The first chance of the game resulted in the only goal as a free-kick was drilled in by Rikard Lind for the hosts. The Imitators were nearly gifted a route back in as Eugene Kameni Idriss deflected the ball towards his own goal but was fortunate as it brushed against a post. The second-half would be a non-event with no chances but it would matter little to Bumerang as they picked up three vital points. Coolbooy will be happy that his side are out of the bottom three but they will need to add more goals to their play in the second-half of the season. Gravitons will be disappointed with this performance and nothing less than three points in the return will satisfy the fans.

In the other game AC Milan and AJ Rovers fought out a 0-0 draw at the San Siro. With Milan adrift and AJ slipping down the standings a tight game was on the cards. As it was Milan would see most of the play and Ricardo Kaka put a chip just over on 23 minutes. A free-kick by Quigley Addison went narrowly wide and Milan had to settle for a 0-0 score at the break. Savino Piovanelli began the second-half with a stunning curled shot but found his luck out as it struck a post. Rovers did force a free-kick but Sonny Vickerman couldn’t hit the target and Milan pressed once again. Simone Spina flicked a header straight at Mortimer before he also brushed a post with a placed shot. Piovanelli would still have one more chance deep into injury-time but put it off-target and Milan’s profligacy would ultimately cost them two points. Xmensch will be happy with the clean sheet and will now look for his side to find a cutting edge in the hope they can yet survive. Rovers were disappointed with another draw but Rovers News reported ‘home advantage’ should be enough for them to win the return match.