WBS Woe, Kirkbride Survive

West Brom Strollers completed their fall from grace as they drew 1-1 at White Hawk in a result which sealed their relegation to Division One. With West Brom knowing they needed to pick up the three points to fight off Kirkbride at the bottom they wouldn’t be able to manage it against a spirited Hawk team. Hawk began the stronger and saw Adan Donahue hit a free-kick against the bar in the very first minute. Cyrille Regis did see a goal chalked off for the visitors due to a dubious offside call but Hawk were soon back on the front foot with Donahue missing narrowly from another free-kick. Yet another set-piece on 25 minutes saw Donahue’s frustration increase as he missed the target and the sides would go in deadlocked at the break. However, Hawk would gain an early advantage at the start of the second-half with Donahue slotting home from the spot before Charly Chan Jet Soe put a chipped effort over the bar. Charly Tamka looked to have settled the contest on 75 minutes but his placed effort was ruled out for offside while Donahue would see a free-kick go well-wide. West Brom would then make Hawk pay for all of their missed chances as Lee Hughes powered in a shot from a corner but it wouldn’t prove a catalyst for the visiting side and the point couldn’t save them from the drop. DD shrugged off relegation and vowed to ‘get back to winning ways in Division One’ while Hooraymee will be hoping to carry his side’s end-of-season form into the new term.

Kirkbride Strollers survived the final day dramatics as they defeated Real Madrid 2-1 at The Bush. Knowing nothing less than a win would do they would deserve their success from a positive display. Mark Blacklock saw a powerful shot saved by Casillas early on and the ‘keeper would then deny Malcolm Graham’s chip with a fine save. However, Andrew Harrison would put the hosts ahead with a fine placed finish beyond the ‘keeper and this would give the home side a half-time lead. The second-half would see chances at either end with Graham shooting wide early on for the Strollers. Madrid’s first effort came on 59 minutes but Raul Gonzalez’s header skimmed the bar although they would level as the same player lobbed home minutes later. Kirkbride would respond well, though, and Harrison powered in a header to put them back in front on 78 minutes. Stephen Robinson would then see a free-kick saved and Madrid had the chance to level but Gonzalez would waste a penalty. This would prove their last chance and the celebrations could begin as Kirkbride stayed in the top division. Jazza admitted he ‘wasn’t sure how’ but will now plot a much more successful campaign next time out. Fred Rizzo said that his side ‘had a decent season’ and will look to improve for next term.

The Vikings completed their championship winning season with a 1-0 away success at Yorkshires Amateurs. Both sides would produce some good attacking football in an open end-of-season game at The Thorp Arches. Anastasios Tassiopoulos looked to have put the visitors ahead on eight minutes with an accurate shot into the far corner but he was stood yards offside and the goal wouldn’t count. The home side responded with a shot by Gabriel Mohan but Raasch comfortably saved. The Vikings would break the deadlock five minutes later as Russell Ovendale connected sweetly with a strike from distance to beat Bicanco. This would be the last of the action before the break but more chances would come in the second-half. Tassiopoulos had a driving shot caught before Ozgun Dolutas put a lob over as both sides pressed. Mohan would also have a flick header saved by Raasch before Ovendale nearly put through his own net but saw the ball rebound off a post. At the other end Ovendale would place a header well-wide while Dolutas powered an effort wide for the Amateurs. Vassilis Papakostas and Ferdo Pecar would have late efforts go close for The Vikings as they saw out time on another three points. Eaglesrjh will have been delighted with his side’s finish to the season and will look to enjoy the silly season before preparing his side to defend their crown. Amateurs News claimed that Danlufc13 was already ‘plotting a return to the top flight’ in what looks like it will be a competitive section.

Arsenal DB won the battle of two of the top three at The Emirates as they defeated Totaalvoetbal 1-0. With both sides giving run-outs to out-of-form players this would be a somewhat tight contest. Francesc Fabregas did look to have given Arsenal an early lead but was flagged for offside before Zlatan Izuhimovic hit the bar with a chip at the other end. Darren Gibson would break the deadlock with a fine strike from range on 35 minutes and Arsenal would take this lead into the break. Fabregas smacked a free-kick off the bar at the start of the second-half before Owen Hargreaves had a half-volley saved by Leemans on the hour. Bosko Balaban would then waste a chance by lobbing over before William Ralph Dean did likewise for Totaal at the other end. Ultimately, Arsenal would be taking home the points with Arsenal News reporting they had ‘finished on a high.’ Robin Meeblind admitted he would be ‘working hard’ over the silly season to leave his side in a better position next term to challenge for the title once more.

Santos ended the season on a high with a 2-1 home victory over OAP Pop Punk. With both sides having secured safety over the past week or so they went into this game in relaxed mood and produced an open game. Santos opened up with Torbjorn Alshammar hitting a free-kick against a post before Bosse Bong put the visitors ahead with a set-piece which flew into the net. Jordi Cruyff would miss narrowly with a header before Adriano Ribeiro put a header over at the other end. Alshammar would net on 29 minutes as he shot through the legs of Given and Robbie Mitchell might have had the hosts ahead moments later but his powerful low shot struck a post. The second-half remained open with the hosts edging it. Alshammar would lob a header over the bar before Gordon Brown missed the target with a strike for Pop Punk. Mitchell would also head wide for the hosts but they did hit the front courtesy of a powerful strike by Alshammar on 80 minutes. Marcelo Afonso missed a chance to seal the game by side-footing wide but Cruyff couldn’t capitalise as he flicked a header wide for the visitors. Dijedon Betimaj would get the ball in the net in injury-time but it would be disallowed for a foul and Santos would claim the points. Sean7 will be delighted with his side’s fourth-place finish and will look to build on that for next season. Paddy will now move onto the cup and some silly season signings before embarking on his first full season in charge of Pop Punk.

AFC Stanley and ThunderCats finished their respective seasons with a 2-2 draw at Garden Street. Both sides looked to come and play open football and an enjoyable game was the result. Stanley began the better and took the lead courtesy of a flick header by Bobby Taylor on two minutes. ThunderCats’ first sight of goal came from a free-kick but Matias Rascao’s effort was blocked by Hessbo. Izet Hadzic would also be denied by the ‘keeper as he tipped his lob over before Rascao powered an effort off-target. Magro would ensure the deficit was only one at the break, though, by saving from another Taylor header. The second-half saw even more chances with Silvio Falcao curling the first one wide for the visitors. Nelson Queimado would also miss the target with a drive before Jon MacClintock hit the angle with a header at the other end. Taylor would then lob a header over before Hadzic had a half-volley saved for ThunderCats. Falcao would finally level on 79 minutes with a clinical strike in the area and Juliano Leite nearly put them in front but his placed effort struck a post. Stanley would take advantage as MacClintock placed in an accurate header but the visitors wouldn’t be beaten as Raimundo Lange finished from inside the area. MaClintock would have the chance to win it for the hosts but his half-volley struck a post and the sides went away with a point each. Markham will look to strengthen his side in the off-season before looking for another successful season in the top flight next term. Baz will also be looking to strengthen as he looks to get ThunderCats back into title winning contention.