Smurfs Up Despite Loss

Smurftastic Smurfs duly wrapped up the final promotion place in Division One despite falling to a 1-0 defeat at champions, Splott Rovers. With Smurfs knowing they only needed to avoid a heavy defeat there was never any danger in a tight encounter. Ernie Ormondroyd had an early free-kick saved before Ted Caird’s powerful shot went dead as the visitors started the better of the two sides. The second-half opened with Ormondroyd being denied by Ghostrider before Splott emerged as an attacking force late in the game. Frank Punisher would put a drive too close to Bogefeldt but it wouldn’t matter as Paul-Phillip Ravage volleyed home in injury-time to deliver three points to Splott. Carbonmonoxide will be delighted his side have capped a superb season in fitting fashion and will now set about building a side to compete in the top section. Thesmurf was happy with his season following promotion and will now have the same task as CM as silly season opens.

Bonkers would find themselves relegated as they were held 2-2 at F.C. Greatness who, in turn, missed out on the final promotion spot. With both sides needing the three points an attacking game ensued. A free-kick on two minutes saw Casian Ponor hit straight at Hawke before he put another effort over the bar on six minutes. Henrik Larsson saw a diving header saved at the other end and they would be hit by a Mario Balotelli goal on 17 minutes as the forward steered in a fine shot. Larsson would see a lob punched away as the visitors looked to respond and Pietro Di Fabio did just that with an excellent free-kick which levelled matters. Ponor wasted a further free-kick for the hosts but Alvaro Recoba did flick in a header to re-establish their lead on 43 minutes. There was still time before the break for Stefan Beelenkamp to hit the woodwork with a flick header of his own but Bonkers had to go in behind. The second-half opened with a Di Fabio free-kick which missed narrowly while Balotelli hit a half-volley over at the other end. Ponor’s luck would remain out from free-kicks as he hit the bar while Edip Bayrak lobbed over for Bonkers. To their credit they would keep going to the last and Usain Bolt thundered in a leveller in injury-time but time ran out in their search for a winner. Gareth Lloyd will be disappointed after his side’s relegation but he is well versed at getting them out of Division Two and will feel confident about promotion. Darren Calvert wouldn’t have expected promotion with such an unlikely goal deficit to overturn and will now look to make them stronger ahead of what looks like a tough division next season.

AC Milan would also find themselves relegated as they couldn’t find a way through Pahang at the San Siro. With Pahang already promoted this game was all about Milan but they would find little in the way of attacking football and found themselves down. The opening half saw just one chance with Tajo Cuevas’ volley being saved by home ‘keeper, Mathis. The second-half wouldn’t be much better with just a chance each. Jonte Sandholm would hit a poor volley at Hussain with Milan’s only chance while Kilian Strongbow’s shot didn’t threaten at the other end. Xmensch will have been disappointed by his side’s performance in such a big game and will now look to rebuild in Division Two. MrT can begin his planning for the RM Invitational top division following an outstanding season.

Carthage survived despite being held to a goalless draw at basement club Bumerang. With Bumerang already down and Carthage needing a win to guarantee survival, most were expecting this to be an away win but it wouldn’t be quite so straightforward. The first-half proved to be a quiet affair although Shinosuke Isimaru did have a goal disallowed for a foul. Chances finally arrived in the second 45 minutes with Fabius Maximus having a volley saved for the visitors. Miguel Angelo would then strike a post with a fine bicycle kick before Rikard Lind hit the bar with a free-kick for the hosts. Hasdrubal Gisco would see a shot saved for Carthage before they saw Delis Eribenne sent-off for brutal play to complicate matters. Bumerang looked to take advantage but Lind’s free-kick was saved while at the other end Quincy Lansbury saw a powerful shot saved by Stancu. Carthage would have one last chance but Nathan Gatling didn’t test the ‘keeper and they had to settle for a point. Ultimately, this would prove enough for Blakey’s side but even he admitted that he ‘wasn’t sure how they survived.’ Coolbooy will be hoping for a more progressive season next time out after a disappointing relegation.

Kensington Boys Club finished the season on a high as they defeated AJ Rovers 2-1 at Kensington Grounds. With both sides having little to play for an open encounter was expected but much of the drama would happen late in the contest. Rovers did hit the front on 16 minutes courtesy of a powerful strike in the area by Donovan Bronach. Kensington’s response came just before the break but Maurice Jacobs’ curled effort was saved by Hodges and they went in behind. Rovers looked to double their lead at the start of the second-half but Gleb Styin’s lob went over and Kensington assumed control. Jacobs would see a lobbed header go over before Daniil Nikulin narrowly avoided scoring an own goal. Hodges would then deny Jacobs’ expert volley but Kensington would not be denied. Gilbert de Clare powered in a fine equaliser on 81 minutes and just seven minutes later a free-kick saw the ball lifted for Adrian Gray to hit home a half-volley. Patrik will be boosted by his side’s win going into the silly season and will hope for better next term. Rothion will also be looking for a top-three finish next season after seeing their promotion bid derailed late on this time.

In the other game Cardiff City and African Imitators would share a 0-0 draw to complete their seasons. The game had more of an edge to it than anticipated as both clubs saw men sent-off in a fractious encounter. The bookings started early on and would remain a theme throughout. Savo Milosevic would see a free-kick saved from the visitor’s only chance of the first-half while at the other end Osorio Sao’s strike went over. The second-half saw both teams have a couple of chances each and also have a man sent-off each. Cardiff would take the lead when Chano Paya slotted home on 75 minutes and a couple of minutes later Luigi McKeever was sent-off for dangerous play to make things worse for the visitors. Norris Shipton then tried to seal the win but saw his header gathered by Handez and the Imitators fought back. Milosevic would lob in a superb effort to level on 82 minutes before Sao saw red for arguing for the hosts. The visitors would then see Raimundo Raja have the chance to win it late on but his half-volley went nowhere near its intended target and the points were shared. Both Gravitons and Uwfb will be looking to improve upon their seventh and eighth-place finishes respectively next season.