Mee-Lasting Distance

ThunderCats F.C overcame the challenge of Hun Haters to maintain a grip at the top of the RM Invitational. All the damage came in an almost faultless first-half performance by the leaders. Fabricio Cidade scored the first from long distance and Hun had to suffer a second blow when Vyascheslav Vanyushin went off injured on 13 minutes. Cidade was enjoying an excellent start to the game and he helped himself to a second by heading in a Nelson Queimado cross. The third goal came on 36 minutes courtesy of a Silvio Falcao strike and you sensed then that the game was over as a contest. The second-half saw ThunderCats ease up a little and, as such, it was a more even encounter. Both sides had a couple of sights of goal but neither found the final touch required to convert them. It didn’t matter to ThunderCats who were able to keep their three point lead at the head of proceedings. Meelas was full of fighting talk by promising not to let ‘a season slip away’ like it did last time. With eight games to go and just a three point lead there is plenty of work still to do. Similarly, Hun Haters will be keen to put together a winning run as they find themselves in the unfamiliar territory of sitting in ninth and only out of the relegation zone on goal difference; something Celticchris will want to change as soon as he can.

Santos FC are ThunderCats’ nearest challengers as they won again, this time beating Tranmere 2-1 at the Estadio do Deus. With confidence flying high in the Yellow of Santos they again created numerous chances with their free-flowing game. Tranmere were giving as good as they got in the first-half, though, and nobody could argue with the stalemate at half-time. Santos came out and turned the screw during an entertaining second-half and were soon rewarded. Adriano Ribeiro opened the scoring with a fine header from a corner on 58 minutes and just six minutes later the lead was doubled. Asmar Golkas was the recipient of some fine build-up play from Fredrick Winnerljung which enabled him to beat Larkin with the minimum of fuss. Tranmere, to their credit, kept plugging away and pulled a goal back from Uilliam Flanagan. However, it never really threatened to be enough to get them back into the game and they became the eighth straight victim for Santos. While Santos’ defence has tightened up they are the top scorers in the division and Sean will want to keep his players sharp for their title run-in. Tranmere manager Baz, explained that his ‘aim was a top 6 finish’ at the start of the season and despite this defeat they sit seventh and well capable of achieving what was set out for them.

AFC Stanley slipped a little off the pace as they were held 0-0 at AC Milan. Stanley dominated the opening half but found putting the ball in the net beyond them despite three chances. In truth, the performances of front pair Lind and Molseley was below the high standards they have set and this might have cost them the chance of three points in this game. Milan grew in the second-half as Stanley became frustrated but they had too many men performing below par to take full advantage. In the end, 0-0 seemed inevitable and saw Stanley slip five points behind the leading ThunderCats. Despite this, with eight games to go they will believe they have every chance of becoming champions but will need their strikers to hit the goal trail to do so. MarkieRich has admitted to being ‘disappointed with his team’s performance’ this season and while a point against a leading side might be seen as a good platform on which to build he will be looking for his side to show him more in the coming matches.

F.C. Greatness moved into fourth as they defeated St Omer 2-0 at Cedar Road. The match saw two nasty looking injuries as Fabio Cannavaro went off for the hosts while Cony Tottee suffered the same fate for Omer. The game never really hit the heights but Greatness were decent value for their 2-0 triumph. Mario Balotelli once more underlined his potential by netting his sixth goal of the season via a header on the stroke of half-time. The home side remained in control during the second-half and capped it as they did in the opening 45 minutes. The late goal, this time, coming courtesy of an Alvaro Recoba free-kick which left Hamshaw helpless in goal. Greatness have moved to within six points of top spot and might have a big say in where the title eventually ends up. Omer have long since written off this season but as the matches tick by the hope of a brighter future edges nearer.

Totaalvoetbal and Yorkshires Amateurs once more ended up dead-level following another intriguing encounter. The home side started the better of the two and, despite an injury to Shivan Preetnav, were to take the lead as Horacio Metelo converted a penalty. A turning point for the away side came when Cees van Nisterooy was sent-off, allowing them to impose their game on an over-worked Totaal side. Andrew Potts also suffered an injury but it was to have little effect on a surging away side. After wasting a couple of chances they finally found the equaliser as Hans Riegler came up with a superb lobbed finish to beat Leemans. Neither side could fashion a winner as they each took home their, by now customary, point. Totaalvoetbal now sit very comfortably in mid-table with Meeblind saying they are ‘ahead of schedule’ for the season. The Amateurs will be glad to have secured a point and will want to push forward after a horror recent run.

Marseille picked up a shock win by defeating, the previously in-form, Reggae Reggae Sauce 1-0 at the Sauce Bottle Arena. The home side never really got going as they looked a shadow of their recent selves. Alejandro Junior scored the winning goal for the visiting side and they could have had more in a performance built on the spirit of their players. Reggae Reggae Sauce then shocked the league by off-loading Derek Acorah for a near 6m econ. Manager Xpertelevener insisted he ‘will be investing (the) money wisely in order to make the best of Derek’s departure.’ With 12m in the bank they have plenty of options and will feel that, with a mid-table place currently occupied, now is as good a time as any to rebuild a little. Marseille have given themselves a lifeline following the win and with just two points separating them from eighth-place who knows what is possible?