Anime in Tiger Hunt

Anime Allstars moved to within two points of the top three as they thumped Reggae Reggae Sauce 4-0 at The Hayao Miyazaki Stadium. Going into the game Anime knew they had to be word perfect for the remainder of the season if they were to haul in Crimson and they would produce a faultless performance here. Kirie Kojima hit the first chance over from a free-kick before Johnny Douglas also got too much on his header as the home side started strongly. Kojima would put the second free-kick the same way as the first before putting another set-piece wide. However, Anime would hit the front when Naru Narusegawa flicked a header home to the relief of the home faithful. Narusegawa would make it a double celebration for the fans before the break with a blistering strike just before the half-time whistle to make it 2-0. Asuna Kagurazakaa put the second-half’s first chance over with a lobeed effort which had a bit too much power on it. Sonsaku Hakufu would be unlucky with a chip which hit the angle while Colin Crouch also tested the woodwork with a lobbed header which cracked the bar. Crouch would get his goal moments later with a powerful strike from distance and Kagurazakaa broke away to make it 4-0 on 84 minutes with a well-placed shot. Kojima would waste a late chance by firing yet another free-kick off-target but it wouldn’t matter as Joshy’s side strolled to a comfortable victory. He will expect his side to do likewise against Omer on Tuesday as they continue to chase hard for that promotion spot. Xpertelevener can at least console himself with the fact that his side sit in 10th spot instead of last but that would be about it following an abysmal performance.

Crimson Tigers would see their lead in third slip to two as they drew 1-1 at FCR Cressex. The Tigers would have been under pressure before the kick-off but once again this youthful side produced a battling performance to take a point even when the game looked like slipping away. Andy Howe might have given them a dream start but his diving header was saved by Martinzon. Dante Allegri continued their fine start by hitting a lob just over before Ubaldo Andre hit a free-kick straight at Gow at the other end. Howe would see another shot saved and the Tigers would then be thankful to their ‘keeper as Lauro Poggi’s penalty was turned round the post by Gow. Andre would then give them another scare with a free-kick which struck the woodwork and despite all these near misses the score remained 0-0 at the break. The second-half began with an Allegri shot which was punched away before Howe had a header disallowed just after the hour because of a poor offside decision. This looked like it would come back to haunt them when minutes later Cabbar Saatcioglu would volley home from inside the penalty area to put Cressex ahead. Andre would then see a header saved before Tryggvi Valsson was also denied as the home side looked to turn the screw. However, the Tigers would dig deep to force one more chance and Miroslav Burkhart would deliver an accurate header to pinch a point for the promotion chasers. Paulc333 had hoped for the ‘gap to be maintained’ but will be pleased by his side’s resolute nature following this late draw. Villan_RAS will be buoyed by his side’s performance and might have expected three points as reward.

EspAda kept a grip on first with a 2-0 victory over AFC Boo Boys. With the Boo Boys just playing for pride the home side’s extra desire was apparent from the start and they would coast to victory. Patric Torebring saw an early diving header punched away and Cloutier would also save from the forward’s shot moments later. However, the ‘keeper could do nothing to stop Andrea Gualco from putting the hosts ahead from a superb diving header and Torebring might have made it two but got his shot all wrong from a tight angle. The second-half would continue to see chances for the home side with the first falling to Torebring but once more the forward couldn’t find the target from his lob. A free-kick saw Gualco curl home a beautiful second to relax the crowd and it might have been another on the hour but Cloutier denied the midfielder from a placed shot. Gualco would also put a free-kick into the grasp of Cloutier before Zihni Demiray missed the target with a placed effort. However, it would matter little as EspAda saw out time on an easy victory. Crismorena will now set about the task of gaining three points at Sauce with the match against Morley looming on the horizon. Skoolyou will be looking ahead to next season but will want his side to be more creative in their final three league games.

Morley made sure they stayed in the title race but were made to work hard for their 1-0 win by Rolling Thunder. With Thunder having endured a disappointing season the match had all the makings of a comfortable one for Morley but it wouldn’t pan out that way. Art Boyle put an early diving header over for Morley while John Obi Mikel headed against the bar in response for the visitors. Angres Kafka was the next to try his luck for Morley but his free-kick was held by Jorquera before Marcelo da Silva hit a free-kick for Thunder off-target. The second-half began in dramatic fashion with Beltran Bergantinos heading into his own net to give Morley the lead. Mitchell Pennock tried to extend this advantage but his powerful strike hit the bar before Mikel chipped over at the other end. Dustin Wotton would also hit the woodwork for Morley as his shot beat Jorquera but struck a post but they would still hold on for three vital points. Leeg21 will be looking to stay within touching distance of EspAda before their massive end-of-season clash in the hope they can yet win the title. Vehusheia will be another of the managers looking forward to the end of the season in the hope that it brings with it a good change report.

Alsancak would romp to a victory at St Omer as they went chance crazy at Five Percent Stadium. Having endured a loss last time out, Alsancak knew their promotion hopes were all but over but they would put together a scintillating performance to gain the three points here. John Burston would score from their very first chance as he shot through Hamshaw’s legs to open the scoring. Hamshaw would redeem himself by saving from Nedum Onuoha’s header before Burston saw his flick header turned over by the ‘keeper. Burston would again be denied by the ‘keeper from another flicked header before Norbert Rauscher missed the target in a rare foray forward by Omer. Burston would put a header well off-target before lobbing over as the chances continued to fall for Alsancak. Burston would continue to waste chances and, on 37 minutes, he saw a shot fail to trouble Hamshaw. Meanwhile, Cirkovic was alert enough to hold from Timmy Svenson’s header and the score remained 0-1 at the break. The second-half brought with it plenty more chances for the visitors as they looked to give their fans some Easter cheer. Howie Colby would power a shot off a post before Burston saw a header saved by Hamshaw. Rory Burston would have his first chance on 48 minutes but Hamshaw was well-placed to save but Colby did make it 2-0 with a cracking lob from distance. Colby would quickly add a third with a clinical strike in the area and Adam Warne then made it 4-0 from a precise header. Colby would complete his hat-trick courtesy of a brilliant bicycle-kick as Omer threatened to subside. R Burston would then force Hamshaw into a fine save form his header before Colby put a header of his own wide. Colby would continue to threaten but his diving header was excellently saved by the overworked Hamshaw who also saved from a J Burston header. This proved the last chance in a breathless game which will live long in the memory of the Alsancak fans. Wienersnitzel will be hopeful his side can continue in that attacking manner for the rest of the season but this reporter hopes for something less busy next time out. CT will have been overwhelmed by this game even by Omer’s standards and the gaffer will be eager to begin wheeling and dealing soon.

The other game saw Pink Bus Riders defeat Tottenham Hotspur 2-0 at White Hart Lane. With Spurs bottom and Pink enjoying a renaissance under Kilie the game seemed to favour an away win and so it would prove. The first chance resulted in Eliott Malloy rounding Gomes to slot home only to see it disallowed. This would prove the only exciting part of a dull first-half but the second 45 minutes would improve. Lois Farrington powered in a shot to put Pink ahead before he would volley at Gomes later in the half. Tomas Master hit a free-kick high and wide at the other end before Seth Eaves sealed the win with a fine header on 85 minutes. Kilie will be growing in confidence ahead of his first full season in charge while Ocs will be eager to see how his side develops in the change report.