Title Race Totaaly Open

Totaalvoetbal opened up the title race by defeating leaders ThunderCats F.C 1-0 at MVB Arena. With two well-drilled defences chances were to arrive mainly in the form of free-kicks. From the one chance in open play, however, Totaal scored the decisive goal. Shivan Preetnav picked up a pass from Horacio Metelo before beating Magro from distance to boost the home side. ThunderCats encountered further problems as Paulino Ornelas suffered an injury which forced a crucial reshuffle in the middle of the park. Both sides had opportunities from set-pieces in the second-half but neither found their range and the one Preetnav goal was enough to seal it for the hosts. Meeblind was delighted with the ‘four points that we didn’t expect to have’ which has seen his side move to fifth in the table, six points behind the leaders. ThunderCats will want to re-establish themselves following the week’s results and this may explain the 4 755 555 econ arrival of forward Jake Sephton, who will be expected to fire the side to the title.

AFC Stanley closed to within three points of top spot after a 3-0 home win over Marseille. Stanley did concede chances throughout the 90 minutes which will not please manager, Markham33. What will please him, though, is how his side took their chances when they came. Olli Kaskinen set the tone by shooting home in the penalty area on 47 minutes after Stanley had endured a frustrating opening half. Alan Martindale added a second on 75 minutes as he finished a breakaway move which effectively ended the contest. Kaskinen was to add a third from a well-worked free-kick as Marseille’s lack of preparation came back to haunt them. The defeat sees Marseille firmly embroiled in the relegation battle and there looks to be only one outcome without Cathal’s return. Markham, meanwhile, sees his promoted side now sit just three points from ThunderCats with a slightly better goal difference, there can only be one objective from here.

Santos FC are also just three points from the top after another accomplished display saw them defeat Yorkshires Amateurs 2-0 at The Thorp Arches. It was the second controlled display against the Amateurs in a matter of days as Santos always seemed to have the better of their opponents. Torbjorn Alshammar was the hero for the visitors as he provided a couple of clinical finishes in a match otherwise lacking them. His first goal was a cool finish after being put through by Yogender Pragurd on 41 minutes. This gave Santos the impetuous they needed as they had enjoyed the majority of possession with little reward previous to this moment. Alshammar ultimately finished the game with an excellent second goal when he headed in a corner from Asmar Golkas who himself enjoyed a superb game in the middle of the park. The win sees free-scoring Santos remain in third and now firmly involved in a title battle when weeks earlier it looked as though they might be in a relegation fight. Yorkshires Amateurs will take heart from that story too as they now sit in the relegation zone following a horror run. Danlufc13 will know, though, that a couple of wins and the season will again be looking entirely different.Reggae

Reggae Sauce put themselves on the fringes of the title battle with a solid 2-0 away win at Hun Haters. Despite the possession being 50-50 in the opening half it was only RRS who would do anything with it as they created four chances. They eventually managed to take the lead four minutes before half-time as Derek Acorah hit his eighth of the season, this one from distance. You could see the lift in the visiting players as they went in for their interval and this was still apparent when they resurfaced after the break. Cabbage Man was to take inspiration from Acorah and in striking a shot from distance he too found the beating of Boruc to double the away side’s advantage. Hun did push forward during the second-half but they lacked their usual precision play and ultimately lost out to a better side on the day. Xpertelevener declared himself ‘pleased we’ve got some form together’ and that the ‘performances’ are being turned ‘into results’ as his side move up to fourth in the table. Hun Haters sit just above the drop zone following the defeat but with the experienced Celticchris in charge they won’t be panicking just yet.

F.C. Greatness are another side who sit on 19 points following a strong 1-0 home performance over Tranmere Rovers. On the back of two games without a win Greatness got the boost they needed when Alessandro Filippinetti scored after two minutes from a breakaway move. Greatness went onto play some super football during the opening 45 minutes but couldn’t find a cutting edge that would have realised a big half-time lead. The second-half was a much quieter affair in which you felt the home side always had in hand as they welcomed three points to Cedar Road. Tranmere manager Baz78 gave an honest appraisal when he said they ‘were outclassed today’ and admitted putting Ray Hearts as a forward was ‘a bad tactical error’ but with only seven points separating them and ThunderCats they have everything still to play for. Darrencalvert is a point better off and will know that the crucial part of the season is coming up if he can get his side into the championship winning form from last season.

AC Milan were the other winners on the day as they stormed to a 4-0 away win at St Omer. They had to do so without the services of goalkeeper Darryl Flahavan from the 18th minute as the ‘keeper found himself unable to continue due to injury. It wasn’t to matter, though, as Victor Moses put on a striking master-class either side of half-time. All three goals came courtesy of some breathtaking breakaway football from Milan as they left Omer chasing shadows at times. His efforts coming on 37, 42 and 54 minutes to end the game as any sort of contest. Bernard Lormor added some gloss with an 80th minute fourth goal, also from a breakaway, as Omer continue their education. MarkieRich was ‘very pleased’ and declared his team was ‘back in a bit of form’ as they climbed to eighth in the table on 16 points. Omer look destined for the drop now and CT will be anxious they maintain their form bars as the all-important change report begins to loom.