Classic!

Every so often a game throws up one for the ages and yesterday we witnessed one between Santos FC and AFC Stanley. Santos had the better of the early exchanges and took the lead through the superb Torbjorn Alshammar. Their lead was doubled exactly fifteen minutes later when Adriano Ribeiro scored a beauty from distance. With Stanley not making much of an impression there was little to suggest what would follow in the second-half. Indeed, despite a serious-looking injury to Ray Goddard, Santos took a 3-0 lead and looked to have killed the game off. What happened next was an incredible comeback in the last twenty minutes of the game which stunned the home side. Garry Molseley started the amazing scenes with a shot after a corner on 71 minutes. Five minutes later and it was 3-2 following an Ignado Puntas header and you could sense the panic amongst the home fans. Thorbjorn Lind equalised from a breakaway two minutes later and unbelievably put them ahead on 82 minutes for the first time in the game. Stanley put the game beyond doubt when Puntas headed in on 89 minutes and even though Marcelo Afonso shot home for the hosts it wasn’t enough and Stanley had risen to win 5-4 from 3-0 behind. Sean7 was quick to give ‘full credit to AFC Stanley’ before saying that ‘atrocious defending’ was costing his team so far this season. Markham33 exclaimed himself ‘so proud of the lads’ and said with confidence ‘sky high’ nobody will ‘be looking forward to playing us.’

ThunderCats F.C got back to winning ways with a 2-0 victory over Tranmere which was closer than the score suggests. The home side took an early lead as Juliano Leite finished well from a Nelson Queimado pass on seven minutes. Chances were coming at both ends but the Cats demonstrated the difference between the top and bottom by taking some of their chances. Queimado went from creator to finisher by netting the second just three minutes from the break. The second-half saw both sides create a couple of chances each but neither be able to take them as the home side remained on top of the table courtesy of the three points. Meelas had earlier spoke of his ‘love (for) my players’ and if they can carry on in this fashion the love will surely grow. Baz78 isn’t quite so affectionate about his players and said ‘they will be transfer listed’ if they continue to under-perform and then ‘if no buyers come in they’ll be sacked.’

Losing ground on the leaders were Yorkshires Amateurs following a disappointing defeat to a young St Omer side. Justin Morgan suffered an injury which will keep him out for a fortnight as the evening started out poorly for the visitors. They would go on to create the better chances and enjoy the lion’s share of possession but it all came to nothing as Michael Radley shot home from inside the penalty area on 45 minutes for Omer. Amateurs seemed shocked by the goal and never really hit the form they have been in recently and succumbed to a surprising defeat. Reports coming out of St Omer suggested that they were ‘outplayed by their opponents’ but it will surely be a massive boost to CT who is trying to build a successful squad for many seasons to come. Yorkshires Amateurs remain in second but will need to perform much better in a massive match next time out against Hun Haters.

Hun Haters warmed up nicely for this match with a 2-0 victory in Marseille. The game was broken-up by injuries to Craig Elliston of the Hun Haters and Cecil Abrey of Marseille and several yellow cards. The second-half saw Hun Haters gradually take control and once Ashton Crosby headed in from a corner you sensed the away side always had the upper hand. The game was settled on 83 minutes when a free-kick worked between Jimmy Meire and Finlay MacCleir saw the former net to put the Haters 2-0 ahead. The result sees the sides going in opposite directions as HH head up to third with Marseille dropping to sixth and not progressing as they had hoped after last season’s rebuild.

F.C. Greatness continued to adapt to life in the RM Invitational with a solid, if unspectacular, home win over Reggae Reggae Sauce. Chances were hard to come by during a tough 90 minutes but the majority fell to the away side. Unfortunately for them they didn’t boast anyone in their team who had the cool to take one and Greatness did. The goal came on 14 minutes as, captain, Agostino Filippinetti produced a dangerous corner and Martinus Benfari proved too good for the visiting defence and headed home to the delight of Calvert and the home crowd. Darren Calvert was understandably delighted with a ‘fantastic result’ and emphasised his pleasure ‘that we kept a clean sheet.’ RRS slipped down to ninth as a result of their loss and will be looking for better fortune against Milan during the next round of matches.

Totaalvoetbal edged out Milan as they recorded only their second win of the campaign. In an even contest throughout it would take a moment of inspiration from Shirsh Vajpayee to win the day for the reigning champions. It came on 17 minutes assisted by Johan Juffing as the young midfielder then let fly with a long range drive which proved too good for Flahavan. Both sides suffered unfortunate injuries but neither could add to the score. This was no problem for Meeblind who described himself as ‘relieved’ with the win and was happy to be able to ‘battle through against a good Milan side.’ Milan find themselves in fifth spot and if they can get back to winning ways quickly should be able to challenge at the right end of the table.