Hawk Finally Take Flight

White Hawk secured their first win as an RM Invitational top division side by defeating Kirkbride Strollers 2-0 at White Stadium. Looking cut adrift at the bottom Hawk knew they needed to start picking up victories and they didn’t disappoint with a good home performance. A free-kick on 13 minutes saw Adan Donahue thump them ahead to boost the whole ground. Donahue had a further free-kick saved by Hill before a powerful low shot from distance by the midfielder went some way wide. Mark Blacklock tried to level at the other end but didn’t threaten with his long range shot while Mike Bell also missed the target with his header. Hawk would have the only other chance of the half but Charly Tamka volleyed wide and they had to settle for a one-goal half-time lead. The second-half would see the game hit a stalemate but deep into injury-time Donahue lashed in his second goal to cap a fine victory for Hawk. Hooraymee and his troops will have gained confidence from this win and if they can pick up another three points against Totaalvoetbal on Friday things may start looking altogether different for the bottom side. Jazza will be getting somewhat concerned by his side’s form and with them sitting just a point above the drop he will be keen to win the battle of the Strollers on Friday.

At the other end The Vikings would hit the top of the division with a comprehensive 2-0 win at West Brom Strollers. Having been boosted by the news their manager was stopping on West Brom wanted a performance to cap it but they were far from their best. A free-kick in the first minute set the tone as Ferdinand Quinn tested Carson in goal. Ferdo Pecar would then waste a headed chance while Quinn put a further free-kick just over as The Vikings dominated the opening half. The second 45 minutes would be similar in pattern with the visitors creating all the chances. Anastasios Tassiopoulos put a side-footed shot just over the bar and Justin Portway was denied by Carson as frustration grew in The Vikings camp. However, they would find their saviour on 86 minutes as Lewis Branston planted home a precise header to the delight of Eaglesrjh. A free-kick two minutes later saw Quinn test Carson once more but the visitors would get their second moments later as the midfielder finally got the better of Carson with an excellent dead-ball strike. This capped a super away performance and left Eaglesrjh going to bed ‘dreaming of RMI titles.’ DD joked that he was ‘leaving again’ after this performance but the fans will hope they can enjoy a better second-half to the campaign now the club is more settled.

Totaalvoetbal slipped from the top as they were held to a 0-0 draw with AFC Pop Punk at Metelo Park. With the sides occupying different halves of the table both would be desperate for the points for their own needs. Totaalvoetbal would start the stronger but Johan Juffing mishit his shot and it brushed a post and went wide. Ramiro Verona then hit the bar with a header as Pop Punk rode their luck. At the other end Eric Cantona’s diving header was easily saved by Leemans and this would be the end of the action for the first-half. The second 45 minutes would be relatively quiet with Antonello Ballarin having a free-kick saved by Given before Ike Dyer hit a powerful low strike just wide. Robin Meeblind was ‘underwhelmed’ by his side’s performance but offered congratulations to Paddy ‘on a well-earned point.’ Paddy was said to be ‘happy with the point’ ahead of their double-header with Arsenal DB.

Real Madrid also dropped a place in the table but they will have been thankful for a point after undergoing a stern test at ThunderCats. With everyone jostling to put themselves in position for a second-half challenge for the title this game was vital to both clubs. The first-half would be a quiet affair with only Izet Hadzic’s diving header causing any goalmouth action; it was comfortably saved by Adan. ThunderCats would open up after the break and a Luca Tonizu free-kick brought a save out of Adan before the ‘keeper also warded off a steered shot from Raimundo Lange. Adan was called into action once more on the hour-mark and saved well from Silvio Falcao’s header. Hadzic would also be denied once more by the ‘keeper from a shot but he had the final say by poaching home after a corner wasn’t cleared. Tonizu then had a free-kick saved by Adan and Madrid stunned the home side by equalising from their only chance; Raul Gonzalez producing a diving header of unerring accuracy to the delight of Madrid’s fans. Baz will have been delighted with the performance but amazed by the lack of three points to accompany it. However, they will have to put it out of their minds as they look forward to a double-header with Yorkshires Amateurs. FredRizzo will definitely see this as a point gained ahead of their crunch top of the table double with The Vikings over the next week.

AFC Stanley and Arsenal DB battled out a tough 1-1 draw at Garden Street. With the teams in the chasing pack the need to pick up points is always there. A free-kick on nine minutes saw Matts Wallman’s effort blocked and Stanley would then have a scare at the other end as Ulrich Kischko produced an excellent diving header to beat Hessbo only to be denied for a foul in the build-up. Darren Gibson would put Arsenal ahead on 34 minutes, though, as he drove in a brilliant effort from some way out. Wallman would waste a free-kick before the break and they went in a goal behind. Stanley would get a boost on 70 minutes as a penalty allowed Wilfred Tolkien the chance to level and he would make no mistake. Gibson did have a chance to pinch the win late on for Arsenal but his half-volley struck a post and the sides went away with a point each. Brown was reported to be ‘glad of the away point’ ahead of a ‘tough double-header with AFC Pop Punk.’ Markham will have been pleased with his team’s response following their defeat last time out and they will now look to kick-on ahead of the second part of the campaign.

Yorkshires Amateurs and Santos were also involved in a draw as the visiting side paid the price for missing their chances. With the Amateurs looking for wins to bridge the gap to safety Santos would have been aware of the danger of the match going into it. Amateurs set up in a 4-2-4 formation and were rewarded on 25 minutes as Antony Wallwork lobbed them into the lead. Santos would have their first chance just before the break but Marcelo Afonso had his lob saved by Bicanco and they would go in behind. Santos would be by far the more progressive side in the second-half and Afonso had already seen a lob go over the bar by the time Robbie Mitchell had a header saved on 53 minutes. Mitchell would level the game 16 minutes later, though, as a powerful strike proved unstoppable. Mitchell would continue to cause problems but put a header over before striking the bar with a thunderous strike. As it was Amateurs would hold out for a valuable point while Santos will have been left frustrated. Despite the Amateurs being pleased with the point they did acknowledge that they ‘must start grinding out victories if they are to have any chance of beating the drop.’ Sean7 will have been disappointed with the draw if he actually managed to watch the match after nursing an Olympic size hangover following a dramatic Ice Hockey final on Sunday. A fitting ending to a fine games for the hosts.