Mr T Flying Towards Promotion

Pahang continued their march towards promotion with a 1-0 win over Bonkers which left them deep in trouble at the other end of the table. With both sides desperate for points the game always had the makings of a tight one and it wouldn’t disappoint. The first chance arrived just after the half-hour with Stefan Beelenkamp brushing a post with a decent free-kick. The second 45 minutes would remain just as hard-fought although Joel Weymouth nearly struck early with a half-volley which needed saving by Hussain. Pahang would finally create a chance on 77 minutes but Geraldo Aguiar put a header well-over. Nevertheless, they gained in confidence from this moment and just 10 minutes later Tajo Cuevas shot home from inside the area to deliver a priceless three points to Pahang. MrT has his team within one win of promotion now he admitted they had ‘been in this division for too long.’ GarethLloyd is three points from safety so a win is a must against AJ Rovers on Friday.

Smurftastic Smurfs are still in possession of the last promotion place as they recorded a 2-0 away win at AJ Rovers. With Rovers still entertaining hopes of promotion themselves everything was in place for a classic match-up at AJR Arena. However, the visitors would dominate from the moment Ernie Ormondroyd enjoyed a piece of fortune with a mishit shot which found the back of the net. Craig Elliston would then force Hodges into a fine save from a lob before Minoru Hara had a goal disallowed on 17 minutes. Still, the Smurfs would continue to be the more progressive side and Ted Caird shot against the angle before the break as they looked for more goals. This continued in the second-half with Giorgio Blundetto having a power shot blocked by Hodges. However, they would get their second goal on 74 minutes when Caird lobbed home a fine finish. It might have been more still but Elliston saw a header hit a post before Chris Tretton couldn’t direct a header of his own well enough. Thesmurf will have been delighted with as complete a performance as he could have wished for and a point at home to Greatness on Friday will see his side promoted barring a miracle. Rothion has seen his promotion hopes slip away but they are sure to be a formidable force once more next season.

F.C. Greatness saw their hopes fade a little as they were defeated 2-0 at Bumerang. With the home side desperate for wins to give themselves a chance of avoiding the drop, Greatness found their finishing too hot to handle. Rikard Lind hit an unstoppable free-kick on 11 minutes to give Bumerang an ideal start and although Greatness would have chances they would never be able to level up. Paolo Serena did see an effort ruled out for offside but that would be all they could muster during a disappointing opening 45 minutes. Calvert had to be alert to stop a Boguslaw Stanczuk header on 53 minutes but Fabrizio Colluato saw a powerful shot saved before Martinus Benfari hit the bar with a half-volley as they failed to capitalise. Fabio Cannavaro would also fail to find the net with a powerful header and their misery was completed when Vincent Fallon placed a shot home for the hosts on 89 minutes. The win will have given Coolbooy renewed hope of beating the drop but a stern test awaits them next as they travel to face the champions. Darren Calvert has to prepare his side to win at Smurftastic next otherwise they will face another season of Division One football.

Kensington enjoyed a massive day down at the bottom of the table with a 3-0 home win over AC Milan. With both sides fighting for their Division One lives it was always going to be a keenly-fought contest but it would be the superior finishing of the hosts that would win the day. Adrian Gray saw an early strike go just centimetres wide while Simone Spina powered a shot over as both sides began with attacking intent. Kensington would make the breakthrough on 10 minutes with Maurice Jacobs showing no nerves to slot home a penalty. Albert Finley would then see a lob hit the angle as they looked to extend their lead but Milan would also fire a warning as Quigley Addison hit a free-kick just off-target. Guy Dalton would give Kensington a priceless two-goal advantage, though, as he hit an exquisite strike from distance and the score would remain this way at the break. Andrea Pirlo powered a shot straight at Lorentzen at the start of the second-half as Milan looked for an early foothold. However, Samson Lockwood would also have a shot which needed saving at the other end as both threatened. It would be the hosts, again, who would find the killer touch with James Wilde finding the net from a free-kick to leave Milan well-beaten. They did go close through Jonte Sandholm and Addison but they never really threatened a comeback. Patrikpatrik will have been doubly delighted with this win but Kensington News still warned they are ‘not clear from relegation just yet.’ Xmensch will need to lift his troops ahead of their crunch clash with Cardiff on Friday where anything other than a win will leave them with a lot to do.

Cardiff would ease their own relegation worries with a 3-2 victory over Carthage at Fratton Park. With the sides locked together on 22 points both knew the importance of this encounter but it would be surprisingly open in the second 45 minutes. The first-half saw just a couple of chances with Hasdrubal Gisco having a goal chalked off for offside before he then saw a header saved by Peyton. The second-half would open up and Miguel Angelo put Carthage ahead with a super half-volley on 56 minutes. Franklin Bodin would try to respond for the hosts but narrowly failed to net with his powerful strike but Marco Busquets did place home a shot to level on 67 minutes. Tomasso Miceli was denied by the ‘keeper moments later while Busquets headed over as Cardiff looked to hit the front. However, Gisco would fire a headed warning at the other end to keep the hosts honest. It would be Busquets, though, who would strike next although his shot in the area on 78 minutes was somewhat mishit. Two minutes later and Gisco wasted another chance for the visitors before Stephen Julius curled a shot over at the other end as the game showed no signs of slowing down. Indeed, Julius chipped in a third for the hosts on 89 minutes which looked to have made the game safe only for Quincy Lansbury to place a shot beyond Peyton a minute later to reduce the deficit to one once more. This would be the last of the action, though, and Uwfb could celebrate an important win. They are now within touching distance of safety and a point at Milan would be enough to secure it. Blakey has admitted his side are ‘stuck in a rut’ but a home match against African Imitators offers them the chance to record an important win.

African Imitators would enjoy a 3-0 home victory over off-colour Splott to secure Division One football for next season. With Splott having just secured the title it seemed the Imitators were meeting them at the right moment and they showed more of a cutting edge to record three points. Reed Fantastic did put a free-kick wide early for Splott before Noel Pierce powered a shot too close to Handez as the visitors began well. Indeed, Kurt Nightcrawler then saw a shot saved as well as the chances kept coming. However, they would pay the price for not taking one of them as Luigi McKeever lobbed in the opening goal for AI on 21 minutes. Savo Milosevic would then hit the bar with a fine strike before Percival Horsfield volleyed wide as the home side enjoyed a purple patch going forward. On 55 minutes they would get their second goal as Milosevic curled home a beautiful effort and when Sayeef Handez slotted home a penalty on 61 minutes it was game over. Eddie Venom did hit a token effort at Handez while Fantastic put a free-kick wide as Splott continued to be frustrated. It might have been worse for them but Milosevic couldn’t net with a header although they had already done more than enough to secure the win. CM admitted that his side had been ‘celebrating too hard’ and will now look to ensure his side finish their wonderful campaign strongly. Gravitons can now plan ahead after he proclaimed ‘what a season.’ They are sure to be an even tougher prospect for opponents next season.