Horacio The Great

Totaalvoetbal edged out last season’s third-placed Hun Haters 2-1 at the MVB Arena. The game started off well enough for the hosts but after a couple of missed chances Ike Dyer suffered a serious injury before Iain Emery put the visitors in front with their first attack of the game. HH had chances to extend their lead before Totaal struck twice late on. Horacio Metelo proved to be the hero as he first scored a cracking free-kick before showing ice cool nerves to slot home the winning penalty. HH will feel slightly aggrieved that they didn’t get something out of the game after twice hitting the woodwork. Meeblind pronounced himself ‘delighted’ but admitted that HH ‘probably deserved a point.’ The result sees Totaal up to sixth after putting together an unbeaten run of three games while Hun Haters remain a point ahead in fourth.

ThunderCats F.C remain the team to catch at the head of proceedings but had to work hard in defeating St Omer 1-0 at Five Percent Stadium. St Omer enjoyed the better of the opening half in creating the only two opportunities but they were unable to take them and had to withstand a nasty looking injury to Brian Bratseth. ThunderCats were a different team after the interval and laid siege to the home goal. Despite their superiority it looked like being a frustrating evening for the league leaders and they too suffered injury problems with Adalberto Rua being carried off on the hour mark. Just when Omer were looking to celebrate a well-earned point the visiting side struck the decisive blow. It came from a quick breakaway move and ended with Ackesjo sliding in Silvio Falcao who finished with the minimum of fuss. The victory sees them move eight points clear and, given their form, it looks a massive lead even at this early stage in the season. Omer, under the leadership of CT, have the look of an exciting team for seasons to come and have troubled a lot of the top sides this season.

AFC Stanley suffered a setback in their title quest as they lost 2-1 at home to Tranmere Rovers. Tranmere took advantage of their chances in the opening half-hour as first Gavin Hawthorn struck from distance before Joe Urpani followed suit to put the home side in severe difficulties. Stanley never gave in despite this two-goal deficit and managed to pull one back soon after the restart with Olli Kaskinen shooting home in the penalty area. Despite edging possession Stanley couldn’t force an equaliser and Markham was quick to acknowledge a lack of firepower as he spoke to the press. Speaking about Garry Molseley he called him ‘a leader up front and without him we look an ordinary side.’ Tranmere will be delighted with the three points as they jostle for position in a very tight section. With Stanley on 16 points in second and Tranmere on 15 in eighth they give the perfect illustration of the competitiveness of the RM Invitational this season.

Santos FC kept up their remarkable run with a fourth win on the spin following their meeting with Marseille. With Cathal mentioning earlier in the week that his activity had been hit due to exams Santos took full advantage with a 3-1 victory. The first-half saw both sides feel each other out and goals for either side from Patricio Bento and Ritchie Morgan saw them go in level at the interval. Santos came out a confident side, though, and retook the lead albeit through an own goal from Cal Beardsley. The home side went on to create numerous chances but had to wait until the 86th minute to settle the game with Bento netting his second of an impressive substitute appearance. Sean7 has seen his side climb from bottom to third in a matter of games and there is no telling where this incredible run might end. Marseille will wait patiently for their manager to finish his schooling and hope he can then restructure them into a formidable force for future seasons.

Yorkshire Amateurs and Reggae Reggae Sauce enjoyed a rare old battle which finished in a 3-3 draw at The Thorp Arches. Celso Gomide had put the hosts in front before RRS proceeded to play some of their best football of the season to go 3-1 up. The equaliser came courtesy of the excellent Derek Acorah who finished off an Eddy Grant pass. This goal seemed to boost their confidence and they came out all guns blazing after half-time. Jonny Sorensson shot home from a corner on 49 minutes to put the visitors 2-1 up before Noel Mawson finished another breakaway move for a 3-1 advantage on 54 minutes. Amatuers steadied themselves before relying upon their class centre-forwards to get them out of trouble. Amadeo Caviedes showed a calm nerve in finishing a one-on-one with Reggae-Sauce to give them hope and when a similar opportunity was presented to Armand Gomah on 84 minutes they were level. It would have been harsh if either side had lost such a classic encounter but both sides might look upon this as two points dropped. Reggae Reggae Sauce sit on 13 points just above the drop zone while Amateurs are a further two places higher and two points better off.

AC Milan and F.C. Greatness also fought out a draw as their encounter finished 2-2 at the San Siro. Martinus Benfari gave the visitors an early tonic and it would prove to be a lead they would keep until half-time. Humphrey Biehn brought the home side level a minute after the restart with a fine finish in the penalty area and with both sides looking for a winner the game had a dramatic conclusion. Brilliant young forward Mario Balotelli looked to have won the game for Greatness with a stunning long range strike but Kaka had other ideas as he produced a brilliant free-kick to level on 90 minutes. Darren Calvert said he was ‘a bit disappointed with a draw’ before adding there was ‘many positives in the game’ not least the 17-year-old Balotelli. Greatness sit comfortably in fifth with their point while it does nothing for Milan’s plight as they sit in eleventh and in need of a victory.