Cath Enjoys Reunion

Bully Boys found some form to defeat Abu Dhabi United 3-1. Having endured a bit of a rocky patch of late, Cath knew his side needed to pick up a win to keep ahead of the game at the top. The home side would put in a strong performance with Ike Dyer curling in a long range effort on 18 minutes to put them 1-0 ahead. Abu did respond well with Claudio Moura shooting home in the area six minutes later but it would be the home side who would dominate. Dominic Smythe forced Rossell into a fine reflex save from a decent strike in the area and the sides would go in level. Rossell would also make a save at the start of the second-half, holding well from a Curt Elliott header and he would also position himself well to deny an Aatu Vuokki half-volley. Bully Boys would keep pressing, though, and Elliott would thunder in a strike on 74 minutes to put them in front before Vuokki put a header wide moments later. Vuokki would get his reward on 79 minutes, however, as he shot home after a corner wasn’t cleared and he might have added another but his header was saved by Rossell. Nevertheless, the three points were secure for Cath’s side and the manager explained that he now ‘needed to keep himself focused for the run-in.’ Tal explained that his set-up ‘was a gamble that didn’t turn out this time’ but his side won’t be too downcast.

These Charming Men would match Bully Boys at the top of the league as they triumphed 2-0 at Crimea River. With the top five competing hard for the three promotion spots, TCM would have realised the importance of this game. TCM would begin well and a Loran Rajabi shot gave them a lead on 15 minutes from which they would never look back. Rajabi would nearly make it 2-0 but put a shot wide and they would take their one-goal lead into the break. TCM started quickly after the break but Stuart Cooksey put a shot over the bar. However, Cooksey would do better minutes later as he shot home following a corner to double the visitor’s lead. Jon Hardy would then see a lob hit the bar as they looked to put the game safe. Crimea did force a late chance but Tomas Rosicky couldn’t hit the target with his lob and they fell to a disappointing defeat. RDCM will now prepare his side for the crunch match against Bully Boys on Friday with his side in good heart following this win. Ith will be happy to get to the off-season where he can put in his plans ahead of his first full season in charge.

Gooners ensured that all three of the top sides would win as they defeated The Kings 1-0 at Highbury. With The Kings in relegation difficulty the points were important for both sides but there would only ever be one side looking for the win. Kyle Lang was denied by Fitzsimmons on seven minutes from a chipped effort before Leonardo Borja’s free-kick was also held by the ‘keeper as the sides went in level. The second-half would see Gooners crank up the pressure and Dennis Bergkamp was unlucky not to open the scoring as his placed shot struck a post. Thierry Henry would finally break the deadlock on 52 minutes with a cheeky toe-poke finish which caught Fitzsimmons by surprise. Lang would then see a header dealt with by the ‘keeper before Borja also found Fitzsimmons from a free-kick. Bergkamp would put the last chance of the game over the bar but it would prove irrelevant as the home side held on for three important points. FMR declared his side ‘were in the hunt’ for the title but they will also be eager to secure a promotion spot at the very least. Hitman has a big job on his hands to steer his side to safety and their next match looks a tough one as Bayern Munchen come to town.

FC Bayern Munchen would ensure the pressure remained on the top three as they defeated a youthful Special Ones MKII 3-0. With Munchen one of the form sides in recent weeks this always looked a tough ask against an inexperienced visiting line-up and it would prove that way. The first-half would be quiet but would see a sting in its tail. Zackary Longcroft would head home on the stroke of half-time to give Bayern Munchen the lead after dominating possession for long periods. The second-half would see more home chances but they would have to survive a Ricky Routhledge chipped effort which found the net but was chalked off for offside. Longcroft would mishit a shot when well-placed for the hosts before a free-kick saw Billy Bob hit an effort well-wide. Longcroft would see red for the hosts due to dangerous play and Glaucio Feterio looked to capitalise but got his header all wrong. Munchen would then seal the win with a shot from Billy Ray Bongle and then an own-goal courtesy of the unfortunate Routhledge. Dimentis will have been pleased with his side’s professional performance and he will now look to steel them ahead of the run-in. Aj was happy that his side picked up experience and will now be looking to finalise plans ahead of next term.

Wortley remained above the drop zone despite losing 2-1 at home to Dream Team who kept themselves in touch at the top in the process. With Dream Team clinging onto the coattails of the top three they knew the importance of three points here and they dug deep to get them. DT would have the first chance and Garry Gain made the most of it by lobbing in on 13 minutes. A Brandon Hiller header went wide as the home side looked to level but they were indebted to Gareth for keeping them in it as he saved bravely at Adam Aspire’s feet. The second 45 minutes started busily and Paulinho Santos had already put a free-kick wide by the time Curt Pryor looped in a header for the equaliser. DT would regroup, though, and Aspire shot home comfortably following an excellent break to put them back in front. Wortley would press again and forced Mil Moody into a misdirected kick in front of his own goal but fortunately for him it didn’t find its way into the back of the net and DT had netted an important three points. @peace recently expressed his hope that the dropped points at the start of the season wouldn’t cost his side but they can only win the last four games and see where it takes them. Thegtreatlordbags will be relieved his side are still above the drop zone but they will recognise the need to pick up wins to secure safety themselves rather than rely on others.

PSV Eindhoven deepened Juventus’ struggles with a 2-1 success over the Italian side. With Eindhoven at the bottom of the table, Juve would have looked upon this as a must-win encounter but they continue to struggle in their manager’s absence. Iwan Balkaran had an early header saved for the hosts before a free-kick saw Claudio Collauto blast home to put Eindhoven 1-0 up. Juve would respond but Alberto Morante put a lob over. Kristoffer Lindfors would fare better, though, as he finished a fine breakaway with a clinical strike only to see it chalked off. The second-half saw more action with Arhen van Loenhout having a header saved before Collauto put one of his own wide. Eindhoven continued to press and van Loenhout saw another header miss before Timmy Simons made it 2-0 with an excellent diving header. A free-kick saw Collauto brush a post for the hosts before Juve grabbed a consolation courtesy of a Lindfors lob in the area. This might have proved more than a consolation moments later had Chacros made more of a free-kick while Balkaran went close with a header at the other end. Kadri will be more than happy with his side’s performances this term and this can only mean better things for the future of the club. SuperJuve’s side look destined for the drop as things stand with the manager AWOL and the team in poor form.