F.Y.R. Macedonia round-up: Belasica march on

FK Belasica GC maintained their two-point lead at the top of the Macedonian First League today with a 1-0 win over FK Tikves, Risto Doriev scoring the only goal of the game.

Vardar hit back
The leaders might even have stretched their advantage over FK Vardar if not for a stirring fightback from the second-placed side who came from two goals down to beat FK Napredok. Vardar dominated the opening period but went into the break two goals behind as Goce Toleski struck twice on the break in the final ten minutes of the half.

Petkov double
Vardar pushed forward after the interval and their pressure finally told on 59 minutes when Bulgarian international Mario Petkov struck to halve the deficit. Six minutes later he added a second to draw the home side level, but it still looked as if Napredok would escape with a point until the final minute when Brazilian Oliveira pounced to score his 12th goal of the season.

Cementarnica on song
FK Cementarnica 55 eased their relegation worries with an important 1-0 win away to FK Sileks. Darko Tasevski scored the only goal of the game on 20 minutes but Cementarnica had to work hard for their victory after Stole Georgiev was sent off with 20 minutes to play.

Pobeda hit back
Cementarnica, third from bottom, are now within a point of FK Pelister who drew 1-1 in Prilep against FK Pobeda. Pelister were reduced to ten men on the hour when Tomi Jovanov was sent off for a second bookable offence, but the visiting side still managed to take the lead eight minutes from time through Igor Momirovski. With three minutes to go, however, former Pelister player Dragan Dimitrovski struck against his old side to earn third-placed Pobeda a point.

Savic hat-trick
Elsewhere, Ljubisa Savic scored a hat-trick as FK Sloga Jugomagnat overcame bottom side FK Kumanovo 3-0. Savic is now the league's leading scorer with 14 goals. FK Rabotnicki beat FK Bregalnica Delcevo 1-0 in the day's other game.