School boy rules would dictate that top of the table Tropics would easily see off bottom placed Corinthians but that "rule" couldn’t be further from the truth as a hard fought out 2-2 draw was played at Happy Valley. In a game where both teams had the lead it was Cors who got their noses in front from a Jamie Foy pen and Tropics were finding it difficult to penetrate a resolute Cors defence. Where there is a will there is however a way and a glorious move across the Tropcis backline and down their left saw a cut back ball side footed into the net from Joost Van Opstal. Tropics came out at the second half with more vigour but it required a mix up in the Corinthians defence to take the lead as a ball hit off a shin into the goal. Corinthians physical presence from set pieces had caused the smaller Tropics team issues all day and with 15 minutes left a corner was headed back across the goal to Larry Finnerty who, having lost his marker, took it on the chest and blasted into the roof of the net.
Wanchai Spartans remain the favourites in the eyes of the bookies and emphasised that point with a 6-1 drubbing of Goodfellas who continue to run hot and cold. It was however only 1-0 to Spartans at half time and the game was on a knife edge at 2-1 when Goodfellas had a strong shout for a pen but it was waived away by the ref (who happened to get a 5/5 rating by the Spartans Manager). From there on it Spartans took control as Goodfellas intensity dropped and they began to chase the game. The hero's for Spartans were Oliver Baijings (3), Ali Thompson, Dan Barrie and Jose Aguilar with the solo strike fort Fellas coming from Dave Hughes. That result drew Spartans level on 17 points with USRC and one behind Tropics although they do have a game in hand.
USRC bounced back from their previous weeks defeat beating a SOHO Spartans team who baffled USRC Manager Cairns as to why they are where they are in the league. It was their GAS old boys who secured the points with Harry Barnard and Mark Jobling netting and while USRC had chances to stretch their lead they couldn’t capitalise and with the game at 2-1 they ran a tightrope. But they saw the game out and to stay level with Spartans who they face in this weekends big game.
DBFC v's Forward - Unable to play due to HK Protests
Mes v J-Leaguers - Match forfeited by Mes
In a battle of the Celt new boys in Division 2, Irish Harps faced off against Scottish Eagles with both sides settling in to Legal League admirably. Ahead of what proved to be a feisty encounter out in TKO, the Irish held a 7 point lead over the Scots having played a game more but that gap was not evident on the day as the spoils were shared in a 2-2 draw. Eagles took the lead through an OG before Ian Killoughery levelled it up latching on to a fine cross. Sam Wolstenholme then put Eagles in the ascendancy once more when he converted a penalty but again Killoughery pegged them back, this time with a quality left foot finish. The best opportunity for a winner fell to Harps as they were awarded a penalty but it wasn’t to be as Eagles keeper made a fine stop to earn his side a point.
Vikings gave a full lesson on how to train a dragon as they blitzed DV 8-1. Despite being 6-0 up at HT, Vikings gaffer was not overly joyous saying they only played a ‘decent game without being great’. Bad news for the rest of the league. After taking the lead within the first 10 seconds, it was pretty routine for the new league leaders from there as Frederik Hebo (2), Soren Kargo (2), Martin Johansen (2), Oliver Falkengaard and OG shared the goals. Max Remington at least gave DV something to take away with them for an improved second half display but by then the Dragons wings had been well and truly clipped.
Wanchai Wolves are now firmly in the promotion pack after their impressive 2-0 success over fellow high flyers Samurai Blue. In a game with a ‘friendly rivalry’ edge to it, boiling point was never far away and so it proved with a Sam Blue player seeing red in both senses of the word after lashing out before getting his marching orders. In regards to the kicking a ball rather than oppo players, Wolves were the better side on the day and could point to 2 heroes with Henry Li bagging twice and goalkeeper Justin making a world class save from a penalty at 1-0.
In another game involving two teams with promotion hopes, it was Krauts who got the better of San Pells, sneaking a 2-1 win. Pells had the better of the first half but were wasteful in front of goal until Donny Tse gave them the lead straight after the break. The wasted chances would prove costly though as Paul Graessle and Simon Ranke struck to give the points to the Germans who are looking to make an immediate return to Division 1.
Bants and OSM are two sides who it’s fair to say have struggled for consistency this season as their respective league positions is testament to the quality being seen throughout the division. Both of these sides would probably have expected to be top 6 but may be in a mid-table slog instead with a 1-1 draw here doing neither any favours. In the blistering heat this was always likely to be a balanced game and so it proved with Steve Harrington seeing his finish cancelled out by Sam Ameen. An effort from half way late on nearly won it for OSM but the shot was agonizingly off target.
Shooters managed to pick up a 2-1 success over Legal Head giving them their first win of the season. Yoshimoto and Kuramae were on target for the Japanese and despite Jason Tiger getting one back for Head, Shooters were able to close this one out ‘by luck’ to hang on for a much needed win.
Continuing the theme of tight games, MBFC edged out Shui Wei 3-2 in a battle of the mainland sides. Shui Wei took the lead through Niko Nitti but MBFC hit back as Liu Shengduo and Cao Yuxing finished 1-on-1 chances. Their lead was further extended when Wang Qing converted a beautiful team goal and despite Angel Gomez pulling one back, it was MBFC who held on to move 4 points ahead of their opponents.
KCC Royals and Young Guns went in to their Monday fixture level on 4 points with both sides in need of a victory. It was Young Guns who fired on the night with Dave Tse getting a brace to secure the win. Royals felt a little hard done to having had 2 goals ruled out on the night for very questionable calls but will need to pick themselves up and improve if they are not to be involved in a wooden spoon battle this season.
With Cavs having the chance to draw level at the top and BOCs still without a point this season, the expectation was for a comfortable evening for the KCC side. It proved anything but as BOCs set up to play on the break and frustrate their more technically able opponents. After being kept in it by a combination of excellent saves and wasteful finishing, BOCs took a shock lead when James Day headed in from a corner. This was short lived though as Cavs capitalized on some poor defending to level things up then sneak ahead through a long range effort. 2-1 down with ten to go, BOCs had to gamble and this left space at the back for Cavs to grab a third after a fine defence splitting pass. James Day got his second of the game to make it interesting at the end but Cavs kept the ball well and killed the game to join Wolves and Vikings on 19 points in a fiercely contested promotion battle.
