Milbourne Supremacy for Vikings

The Vikings withstood a strong Santos FC challenge to record a 2-1 win and remain top of the RM Invitational. With The Vikings locked in a battle at the top of the league with Totaalvoetbal they knew any slip-ups might prove costly while Santos still had business to take care of at the other end of the standings. Santos began well with Marcelo Afonso putting a volley wide but the rest of the half would be a battle for possession. The second-half also began with a Santos chance but Rico Raffaelli mishit his shot and they would pay the price as The Vikings went down the other end and took the lead courtesy of a Fredrick Milbourne volley. Santos wouldn’t be disheartened, though, and saw Robbie Mitchell strike the angle with a super free-kick while Aris Almanidis put a free-kick wide at the other end. The Vikings might have taken a firm grip on the game moments later but Evstathios Gourmas’ shot struck a post and Santos would level. The equaliser came on 81 minutes from the spot with Rogerio Franca netting with ease. However, the home side are made from stern stuff and Anastasios Tassiopoulos had already gone close with a header by the time Milbourne shot home from a tight angle to re-establish the home side’s lead. Still, Santos would have a chance to take a point but Mitchell’s free-kick was saved and the points belonged to The Vikings. Eaglesrjh was already looking ahead to Tuesday’s match at Arsenal explaining that his side ‘need to win a game at a ground where they have never previously done to maintain their title charge.’ Sean was said to have been ‘encouraged by his midfield play’ but looking ‘for his forwards to carry the team’ in the final few weeks.

Totaalvoetbal kept themselves in the hunt for the title after eventually breaking down West Brom Strollers 1-0 at Metelo Park. Totaal have been under constant pressure in recent weeks due to the form of the leaders and were up against a strong looking West Brom side. A tight game ensued where both teams fought hard to keep the ball amidst a tense atmosphere. With both defences looking impregnable the game looked to be heading for deadlock. However, Totaal won a free-kick in stoppage-time and Antonello Ballarin proved the hero once more with a thrilling strike to deliver three priceless points. Meeblind called Ballarin’s form ‘sensational’ and was ‘delighted the midfielder will be around next season.’ DD will be frustrated by the loss and will be looking for his side to pick up the required wins for safety as soon as possible.

ThunderCats kept hold of third spot with a routine 3-0 victory over White Hawk FC. With Hawk proving the league whipping boys the home side were expected to triumph comfortably and so it proved. A free-kick on five minutes saw Placido Polo force Dankoi into a leg save before Silvio Falcao put a header over the bar. Polo would then see Dankoi deny him from another set-piece and Falcao saw a header hit the woodwork. The breakthrough would finally arrive on 31 minutes as Polo provided an excellent toe-poke which crept home. Ruud Sparendam nearly produced an unlikely equaliser for Hawk but his shot struck a post and Polo was denied by Dankoi before the break at the other end. ThunderCats maintained their dominance into the second-half with Falcao shooting wide early on before Polo’s diving header made it 2-0 just after the hour. Falcao would then curl a shot wide before Polo hit a free-kick off-target. Carlos Partini would add a third goal with a fine header to cap a routine victory which leaves ThunderCats as the current best of the rest. A tough trip to Santos awaits Baz’s side next but nothing looks to faze the manager and his players at the moment. Hooraymee faces a match against Yorkshires Amateurs knowing that defeat will signal their relegation into Division One.

Arsenal would produce a fine home display to defeat Kirkbride 3-1 and stay in fourth spot. With points important for Kirkbride as relegation looms they needed a positive performance here but the home side would prove too strong. The first-half was quiet but Mohammed Salih did put Arsenal ahead with a fine header on 10 minutes. This would be the sum of the goalmouth action in the first 45 minutes but the game would open up after the interval. Faustino Asprilla produced a stunning driving shot to make it 2-0 on 50 minutes only for Andrew Harrison to place the ball home just after the hour to reduce the deficit to one once more. Darren Gibson then suffered some misfortune as his free-kick struck the angle and Kirkbride might have capitalised but Mark Blacklock’s volley struck a post. Arsenal would finally secure the win on 85 minutes with Bosko Balaban looping home a header and the margin might have been improved but Asprilla’s shot went well-over. DomBrown has assured fans that his side are ‘looking for good results against the teams above’ but is also keen to develop their youth players. Jazza will have survival at the forefront of his mind and three points at home to Totaal looks important for the cup winners.

AFC Stanley would distance themselves from the relegation dogfight with a 1-0 home victory over Yorkshires Amateurs. With Amateurs deep in the relegation zone they knew a victory here would be priceless but the home side would score the only goal in a tight contest. The Amateurs looked to strike early but Ozgun Dolutas’ header struck the woodwork and went safe. Stanley would net from their sole chance in the first-half with Jon MacClintock showing great accuracy with his strike from distance. Both sides would enjoy one more sight of goal after the break with Paul Merson hitting a tame shot at Hessbo for the Amateurs before Garry Molseley drove a powerful shot just wide at the other end. Markham will feel seven points is a safe enough gap at this stage of the season but he will still be hopeful that his side can end the campaign strongly. Amateurs News, meanwhile, explained that survival would ‘surely be impossible if they fail to beat White Hawk in their next game.’

In the other game, Real Madrid picked up a vital three points from a 3-1 home success over OAP Pop Punk. With both sides still looking nervously at the relegation zone neither wanted to lose this important encounter but Madrid would prove superior on this occasion. However, it would be Pop Punk who would strike first as Habib Bowser headed home powerfully on five minutes. Madrid would respond positively, though, and Gonzalo Higuain was only denied an equaliser due to some smart work from Given in goal. They would find their leveller on 21 minutes courtesy of an Iain Wright volley and the score would stay this way at the break. Madrid carried this momentum into the second-half and a superb Wright lob put them in front on 51 minutes. Wright would look to complete a hat-trick but Given saved his free-kick although Raul Gonzalez did head in to make it 3-1 on 77 minutes. Pop Punk did have a chance in injury-time to pull a goal back but Cedric Roussel couldn’t direct his header on target and they finished on the wrong end of the result. Fred Rizzo declared Wright would ‘be an instant fan favourite’ after his heroics and more goals should see the team safe. Paddy will demand a response from his side and they face a huge match against West Brom on Tuesday.