Portway puts Vikings in pole.

Viking Land News

The Vikings moved clear at the top of the table after a week where it looked like no one wanted to win the title!

The week started with only 1 point seperating the Vikings from Totaalvoetbal. Both teams had tricky away fixtures on tuesday as they looked to build momentum into the biggest match of the season at Viking Land on friday. However it was to be a weird tuesday as both teams lots 1-0 and neither team could be said to head into the top of the table clash with any real momentum.

In all leagues Eaglesrjh vs RobinMeeblind is a fixture that always wets the appetite. the two managers have met a number of times in various leagues and it is a fixture that both managers look forward to.

As for Vikings vs Totaalvoetbal the history is not as rich, only 4 games had been played before this one and it was 2 wins a piece, However hope was high for the Vikings as each side had won their 2 games at home.

Both managers had wished each other good luck before the game and this feeling of wellbeing was apparent between both teams and fans alike.

The evening was bright and sunny as both sets of players took to the field, the game was billed by some as a title decider and nerves where evident in the players and the managers as they shook hands prematch.

The game started with the Vikings kicking off and they put together a good early move that saw Lind fouled in a dangerous area. Almandis stepped up to the freekick but Totaal keeper Leemans was equal to the shot. The rest of the 1st half seemed to be a very tight nervous affair and it looked as if nothing else would happen in the half, that was until the last minute of the half, the Vikings put together a good move and playmaker Ferdinand Quinn broke through the offside trap, he was careering in on goal when Jaap Cruz made a desperate attempt to catch him and get the ball. Quinn was too far away though and Cruz ended up pulling him back just as he was advancing on the keeper. The verdict was the foul was just outside the box and Cruz saw a straight red from the highly skilled official. Almandis chipped the freekick into the box and Villas rose well and headed goalwards and it took a fine save from Leemans to deny the Vikings the lead.

At half time Eaglesrjh told his team to stay patient and not to try too much despite the numerical advantage.

Totaal keeper Leemans was again forced to save another Almandis freekick on 55 as the Vikings looked to create opportunities. Totaal where holding a good defensive line with the midfield 5 sitting very deep and Portway picked up a booking as he tried to force his way through. The young striker would eventually get a reward for a fine display in the 75th minute. Quinn fed Pecar down the wing and he sent over a beautiful cross, Portway had timed his run between defenders perfectly and his header beat the desparing Leemans into the net. Cue the Vikings fans breaking into song!

The Vikings where looking for a second and Lind was booked for some unfair shirt pulling as he looked to get a yard on his marker. The second goal came in the 85th minute, Almandis swung in a corner and this time Portway seemed to have mis-timed his run, however the determined forward dove full length to get his head on the ball and got enough on it to divert it into the bottom corner. Wild celebrations erupted as if the Vikings had already won the league.

The Viking had done a great job of keeping Totaal quiet throughout the game, but they showed they where still going to be dangerous, perhaps the Vikings had turned off slightly and Vajpayee found space to tee up Juffing who placed his shot well to give Totaal some hope.

The Vikings then tightened up defensively for the rest of the game and in fact may have added to the lead but Almandis was again wayward with a late freekick.

The final whistle was then blown and the Vikings celebrated taking a 4 point lead into the last 3 games of the season.

The managers again shook hands with Eaglesrjh clearly the happier.

We caught up with the manager after the game.
Clearly i'm very very happy to win this game, it was always going to be a tough game and even with the sending off they defended very well and it looked like we were not going to break through. I knew I had to play just about my strongest 11 today and they did the job just fine. Tactically i cant say i was brilliant today apart from the decision to give the playmaking duties to Quinn who played brilliantly. Plaudits of course must go to Justin Portway, i've always been a big fan of the lad and he showed why today, a best ever performance and 2 goals against this team shows why I feel he can be in this team for years.

I see others seem to have us down as having won the title already but as far as i'm concerned nothing is decided yet, we still have 3 tough games to come and some more youths to play and we will not be celebrating anything until it is secure and in the bag!