Abbey Edge Out Rosary In Thriller!

Tuesday evening saw La Liga's final action before the winter break and it was Abbey and St Bernadette's who took advantage to manoeuvre themselves into position for a title surge come March.
Castle Vale Stadium played host to a 'second vs third' battle with Rosary tackling the champions, Abbey. And it was Abbey who struck first in what turned about to be a thrilling 25 minutes. Winning a corner after a free-kick was scrambled clear by Rosary, the Abbey took the lead with a free far-post header from the resulting kick. Rosary struggled to get into the game and fell further behind when a terrific strike from distance fizzed into the net - the teams went into the break with Abbey leading 2-0. A Rosary tactical change, along with a swift rebuke from coach, Mr Mansell, paid immediate dividends as within three minutes of the restart they were level. The first a tap in following goalkeeping fumble, the second an opportunistic close-range finish. The game then swung from end-to-end but it was Abbey who re-took the lead when Rosary's 'keeper parried the ball out straight into the path of an Abbey attacker who hooked home. Rosary pressed for an equaliser and fashioned a glorious chance to level but the opportunity was spurned as a Rosary substitute missed his kick with only the goalkeeper to beat. A frantic end to the game ensued but Abbey stood firm and held on to win 3-2; a bitter blow for Rosary, a massive boost for the champions.
Over at Waverley, St Bernadette's were flexing their muscles and throwing their hat into the title race. The Hobmoor Road outfit secured back-to-back 2-0 wins over both the hosts, and Ward End. Bernie's are now up to fourth in the table, five points behind Abbey with three games in hand and are nine adrift of Hillstone but have played two games less than the leaders. In the evening's other game at Waverley, Ward End were rewarded for their recent efforts with a neat 2-0 win over the home side and they jump above Nansen into eleventh spot as a result.