Unbeaten Run Ends

Champions Totaalvoetbal had a wake-up call as the new season finally arrived.

Goals from Sebastiano Sablone and Dante de Matteo for St Omer were enough to fire them to a 2-0 victory.

Totaal spent the evening misfiring in front of goal and an injury to Alexeij Ogliarki completed their misery.

With the trophy being paraded in front of a packed crowd at the MVB Arena there was a sense of anticipation as the sides emerged.

Buoyed on, the home side pressed from the start with Johan Juffing forcing Stanley Stones into a fine save.

Making his debut in midfield was Edwin Hayter and he also forced Stones into action; a long range volley comfortably held by the 'keeper.

St Omer were happy to sit in and wait for their opportunity. When it arrived they took it with both hands as Carlton Bruce found Sebastiano Sablone in space to produce a fantastic lob which embarrassed young 'keeper Ard Leemans.

Totaalvoetbal tried to hit back straight away but Hayter's header was to be denied by the crossbar as the youngster continued his busy debut.

St Omer came out a much more confident side after the break, boosted, no doubt, by their goal advantage. Cesar Monparlet having a header saved by Leemans as the early stages were spent inside the Totaal half.

An injury to Ogliarki didn't help matters for the disorganised hosts as the out-of-form Oriol came on to replace him.

Looking somewhat out-of-form himself was Shivan Preetnav and he wasted a headed opportunity as he struggled to keep up with the pace of the game.

Dante de Matteo was keen to show him how to do it, though, and in the process put St Omer 2-0 ahead. Edgar Passinha delivering a pacy corner which de Matteo met well and sent the away fans delirious.

Preetnav had a chance to redeem himself and put the champions back into it but the super Stones saved again to maintain the visitor's advantage.

Franco Zoppetti and Monparlet were the next to suffer injuries as the visitors whole-hearted approach brought a couple of set-backs to go with the positive performance.

A free-kick gave Omer the chance to stretch the lead but Leemans got the better of Edgar Passinha.

As it turned out it wasn't to matter as they held out for a comfortable and well-deserved 2-0 victory.

"It's a disappointing start." conceded Meeblind.

"But sometimes you just have to credit the opposition and say they out-performed us.

"So in that spirit, well done to CT and St Omer.

"This will be a tough season for our boys, we are a bit short defensively and don't have much money but we'll look to improve quickly."