F.Y.R. Macedonia round-up: Vardar take command

FK Vardar extended their lead at the top of the Macedonian table with a 4-1 win at FK Kumanovo today.

Vardar triumph
Dragan Nacevski opened the scoring for the visitors at the City stadium with a 20th-minute goal but Kumanovo, the Prva Fudbalska Liga's bottom side, were back on level terms after 45 minutes through Esad Colakovic. Normal service was resumed in the second half, Dejan Ristevski scoring in the 62nd and 79th minutes to give Vardar a commanding lead before Srdjan Zaharievski struck in the final minute to complete a miserable afternoon for Kumanovo, who have won just once in nine league games.

Draw for Belasica
There was more good news for Vardar, as their main title rivals FK Belasica GC could only draw 1-1 at mid-table FK Sileks. Ivica Gligorovski opened the scoring for the home side in Kratovo, and although Ahmet Ahmetovic equalised after 69 minutes, Belasica could not stop Vardar extending their lead at the top of the table to four points.

Tikves thwarted
There was some comfort for Belasica as third-placed FK Tikves were beaten 3-1 at FK Rabotnicki. Dusan Nedeljkovic opened the scoring for the home side in Skopje after just four minutes, but Antonio Tasev levelled from the penalty spot three minutes later to take his season's tally to seven. However, Dejan Georgievski’s 13th-minute effort put Rabotnicki back in the driving seat, before a second Nedeljkovic strike five minutes into the second half confirmed the result.

Georgiev hat-trick
FK Napredok are now just two points behind Tikves after a Vasko Georgiev hat-trick helped them to a 4-1 win against FK Pelister in Kicevo. Antonio Nicevski opened the scoring for the home side after just three minutes before Georgiev struck in the 33rd, 37th, and 57th minutes to take his season's tally to six goals. The visitors scored a consolation goal with two minutes remaining.

Sloga slug Pobeda
The win saw Napredok leapfrog over FK Pobeda, who lost 2-0 at lowly FK Sloga Jugomagnat at the Chair stadium in Skopje. Ertan Demiri broke the deadlock for the capital side after 59 minutes, and Goran Stankovski sealed the win with a 75th-minute strike. In today's other game, FK Cementarnica 55 could only draw 1-1 at FK Bregalnica Delcevo. Ljupco Simovski opened the scoring for the home side after 15 minutes, but Chinedu Blesing levelled four minutes into the second half.