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| Viking fight for survival on last day |
After going nearly the whole season with just one defeat to their name -- and that a creditable 2-1 to Division 2b's dominant team Cornish Celts -- Viking North Utsire endured a Hallowe'en horrorshow last Monday and crashed 3-0 at Wollaston Phoenix.
Having had every single league game end either in a draw or a 2-1 result one way or the other, Viking could have been forgiven for expecting more of the same in a crunch clash against a Phoenix side who began the day three points and one place below them, directly the other side of the relegation line in 6th. Things all fell apart at the half-hour mark, however, with two goals in as many minutes for Ljube Madzoski and Krzysztof Zagorski that put the hosts in full control at the break. Six minutes into the second half, meanwhile, an own-goal from Viking midfielder Baldur Hovland sealed an ignominous thrashing that plunged the Norsemen into deep danger of going down on the final day of the season.
With Beverley Town putting themselves out of reach in 2nd by beating bottom side Cricket Utd 3-0, as expected, the Utsirans could have done with with second-bottom Swedish Gentlemens making things interesting by getting something at home to 3rd-placed FC Holymen. A win for the Swedes would have left the pair just three points apart going into the last day. Instead though they are relegated with a game to spare after going down 2-1 -- a result that puts Holymen a point out of Viking's reach.
Had the latter lost then their concluding clash with Wollaston would have meant VNU were guaranteed to overtake one or both with a closing win at doomed Cricket. Instead, it comes down to a straight fight between the three teams locked on 17 points. Phoenix not only overtake Viking on goal difference but also ended the day in 4th ahead of Seaforth Highlanders on goals-scored after the latter succumbed to a dramatic 93rd-minute 1-0 defeat at the table-topping Celts.
It means that VelvetAndroid's side must get something from their last-day trip to Lord's, while ignoring what is now a dead rubber between the Gentlemens and Celts but keeping a very close eye on both the other fixtures. Those two games have a huge amount riding on them for all concerned. The Holymen (21 points) host Phoenix while the Highlanders entertain Beverley (22 points), in fixtures that each pitch one of the teams looking to avoid being dragged through the relegation trapdoor against one of the two battling for the playoff spot. Viking must better the result of at least one of Wollaston and Seaforth if they are to stay up.
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