Van On His Bike

Cees van Nisterooy saw red as Totaalvoetbal were held by Yorkshires Amateurs at MVB Arena earlier today.

The challenge was laid down when Vince Brightwell left his calling card on Shivan Preetnav, a challenge that had Preetnav carried off and the home crowd baying for blood. Sten Koll saw fit to only dish out a yellow card which didn’t serve to satisfy them.

Amateurs nearly took a lead when Armand Gomah brushed a post after 25 minutes but seconds later they were to be behind. A clumsy tackle in the area allowed Horacio Metelo the chance to slot home his fourth goal of the season.

Referee Koll then took centre-stage once more as he saw fit to send-off Cees van Nisterooy for a challenge which seemed very similar to Brightwell’s earlier in the game, the only difference being there was no player injured in this one. Nevertheless the experienced defender and captain had to walk and despite Metelo going close with a free-kick the second-half was to have a very different complexion.

Totaal’s high pressure game was beginning to show on the remaining 10-men and chances began to appear for the Amateurs, Riegler forcing Leemans into smart work on 51 minutes.

An injury to Andrew Potts briefly knocked the Yorkshire side out of their stride but a fine move culminating with a Yogender Amarparm lob being tipped away by Leemans seemed to spark them back into life. Indeed, a moment later and they were level. Tiarnach Casey found Riegler in enough space for the midfield master to produce a lob out of the top drawer which not even Leemans in top form could save.

Unfortunately the visitors couldn’t build on this momentum and Totaal held firm for a well-earned point.

"Another game with Dan and another draw.” said Meeblind post-match.

"There may be different talking points in the game but eventually we end up level.

“To be fair the lads have dug deep in the second-half because if anyone was going to win it, it was going to be them. A point gained.

“I’m sure they’ll push away from the relegation zone and we are ahead of schedule.”