Thunder Hits Greatness

ThunderCats kept up an impressive pace at the head of the RM Invitational with a 1-0 home victory over F.C. Greatness. An early free-kick from Leonardo Borja was well-saved by Darren Calvert in goal before Greatness went close through Paolo Serena; Magro doing well to tip the ball over. Borja kept Calvert busy at the other end by hitting a powerful shot on goal which needed pushing over the bar before hitting another free-kick which the ‘keeper did well to turn round. The goal finally arrived for the home side on 40 minutes as Paulino Ornelas was given enough space to get a shot away which flew into the back of the net. The second-half saw only a couple of late chances as Alvaro Recoba hit a free-kick at Magro as Greatness struggled to find a way back into the contest and Nelson Queimado shot powerfully in stoppage time only for his effort to hit the bar. Nevertheless it was another important three points for ThunderCats who sit two points clear and continue to appease manager Meelas. Greatness have now lost four straight and sit just one point above Milan in the drop zone which is sure to be worrying coach Calvert.

Stanley kept close order at the head of proceedings with a 5-2 home triumph over Three Lions FC. The Lions would stun their hosts by racing into the lead courtesy of a Robin van Izu side-footed effort which left Hessbo stranded. The same player attempted to make it 2-0 but Hessbo redeemed himself however the ‘keeper could do nothing to stop Zlatan Izuhimovic’s header from making it two on 27 minutes. Stanley responded to this by going close through Thorbjorn Lind before Enrico Fuentes demanded a fine save from Casillas after a power shot on goal. Fuentes would halve the deficit moments later as he met a Kirk Armitage cross with a powerful header which would not be stopped. Dijedon Betimaj missed a chance to bring the hosts level but Stanley had done enough to suggest the second-half would be a tough one for the Lions. This proved to be the case as Lind equalised almost immediately with an excellent diving header. Stanley were clearly buoyed by their comeback and Garry Molseley shot home in the penalty area to put them in front for the first time on 53 minutes. A side-footed shot by Cristiano Izuldo was easily handled by Hessbo and the hosts were quickly back on the front foot. A free-kick from Oliver Trower put them 4-2 up after a neat lay-off from Wallman. Wallman himself would go close with another set-piece before he finally got his name on the score-sheet on 89 minutes as he rifled one home. Markham will have been delighted with the comeback and their free-scoring nature means they are a handful for anyone at the moment. Izuka will not be pleased with how his side threw away a two-goal advantage and will know they cannot afford any more defensive lapses like this if they are to stay clear of the bottom three.

Another side keeping within touching distance of the top are West Brom Strollers who edged out Milan 2-1 at the San Siro. Milan began the faster of the two with Victor Moses forcing Godden into a stop before Humphrey Biehn brushed the outside of a post with a shot. Cyrille Regis was the first to threaten at the other end but got his shot wrong before Bryan Robson was unfortunate not to give the Strollers the lead as his effort hit the bar. Regis would put the visitors in front as Robson teed him up from a free-kick and the strong forward lashed in a half-volley. Regis quickly put the ball in the net again but he was clearly offside and they would be indebted to Godden who produced a fine stop to deny Kaka just before half-time. The Strollers would make it 2-0 early in the second-half as Tony Brown converted a penalty with a minimum of fuss. Willie Johnston might have made it 3-0 but he mishit his shot and it struck a post. They looked like they might be made to pay for this miss as Biehn produced a clinical lob to halve the deficit and bring the hosts back into the contest. Chances continued to flow at both ends with Robert Koren hitting a lob over for West Brom before a header by Moses at the other end brought the best out of Godden once more. Robson would be foiled by Speroni before Biehn missed one final chance to level matters for the hosts. Dinky was pleased with the win which makes it ‘5 on the spin’ and he was urging his side to ‘maintain’ their ‘good going’ in the coming weeks. MarkieRich might be worried by his side’s position as they sit in tenth spot and have a crucial match against Hun Haters coming up.

Hun Haters didn’t have the best of days themselves as Tranmere Rovers beat them 4-0 at Prenton Park. The game had a quiet opening before a powerful low shot by Karsten Seibert needed watching closely by Boruc. Don MacArthur responded in style at the other end as his shot brushed a post and the woodwork would be tested by Tranmere as well with Jari Sjoholm hitting the bar from a free-kick just before half-time. The hosts would take a 55th minute lead as Raymond Jillhed volleyed home from a Mlynarz corner. Haters tried to equalise through Craig Elliston but he missed and Tranmere took control of the closing stages. Jillhed made it two rather fortuitously as his mishit shot deceived Boruc and a driving shot by Karsten Seibert made it 3-0. Jillhed chipped in number four on 80 minutes as Hun fell apart and they were lucky not to concede an own goal through David Mailer. Baz was happy with a ‘great result’ and added that to keep on improving they have to stop ‘letting in silly goals’ as they had in recent weeks. The situation becomes more dangerous for Hun with every passing game as they sit five points from safety and in poor form.

Santos FC kept their momentum going with an easy 3-1 home win over Totaalvoetbal. They never looked back once Fanuco Ufarte shot home after a corner on eight minutes. Horacio Metelo might have equalised on the half-hour but he missed with his free-kick effort and Santos were unlucky not to double their advantage as a Ray Goddard header was chalked off for a doubtful offside decision. Santos went 2-0 up in the early stages of the second-half with Cesar Ferrari leaving Rimmer helpless and Totaal in trouble. The visitors did have a shot by Allen Akerboom hit a post but this didn’t prevent Santos from putting them under relentless pressure. Adriano Ribeiro forced Rimmer into a fine block before Asmar Golkas put his effort just over the bar as they looked to add further goals. Ribeiro produced a driving shot which had Rimmer posing for the cameras before Fredrick Winnerljung headed home from a corner to make it 3-0. Ribeiro suffered more frustration at the hands of Rimmer as he saved his diving header and Metelo pulled one back with a free-kick but Santos would emerge worthy winners. Santos remain four points behind ThunderCats and they will be confident of continuing their fine run. Meeblind admits that his side needs ‘an experienced forward’ to take some pressure off van Diemen but with that not in the offing this could be another season of consolidation.

Yorkshires Amateurs remained rooted to the bottom of the table as they were defeated 4-1 at New York City. The Amateurs looked very positive from the off but Hugo Smallwood’s excellent finish was ruled out due to offside and they were nearly made to pay as Ralk Kron hit the crossbar with an excellent diving header. The chances kept arriving at both ends with Vince Brightwell wasting a free-kick opportunity for the Amateurs while Demetrio Delpiano uncharacteristically shot well over at the other end. The Amateurs received a boost in the shape of a 21st minute penalty but Fred Franklin shot too close to Sattler. Delpiano couldn’t make the visitors pay for this miss as Vadge made the save and Brightwell missed another chance as the finishing left a lot to be desired. City started the second-half much the stronger of the two and after a miss by Fagregren they would take the lead with a powerfully curled shot by Kron. Shinosuke Isimarue nearly made it two but his shot went narrowly over and the Amateurs would take advantage by equalising through a fine header by Gabriel Mohan. Franklin was then unfortunate with an effort which struck the bar and they would pay the ultimate price as City took control of the final few minutes. Ginel Aluna would re-establish the home side’s lead with a long range shot and, following a miss by Mohan at the other end, City would add further gloss to the score. Isimaru powerfully struck home from distance and deep into stoppage-time Eugene Kameni Idriss curled home a free-kick to put a slightly flattering look on the result. Jimmy will be happy with his sides’ position and they look to have adapted well to life in the top flight but Danlufc13 will be considering all options as he looks to get his side out of the relegation zone.