Title Race On

AFC Stanley made the most of their chances to hand ThunderCats F.C a rare defeat in the RM Invitational. Stanley got off to a troubled start as Enrico Fuentes suffered an injury and then Per-Elvis Granander got his diving header all wrong when presented with a decent opportunity. However, this all changed as Olli Kaskinen produced an excellent lob on 25 minutes to give them a 1-0 advantage. In true champion style, though, ThunderCats hit back with their very first chance as Fabricio Cidade shot home in the penalty area. The home side would then dominate until the break but Leonardo Borja and Carlos Partini couldn’t hit the target with their respective chances. Izet Hadzic had the same problem at the start of the second-half as he wasted another ThunderCats chance and they would pay the ultimate price as a Kirk Armitage strike found the back of the net even though the connection wasn’t sweet. Stanley would be grateful to ‘keeper Hessbo for maintaining their advantage as he stopped a Jake Sephton toe-poke. Armitage might even have extended their advantage but Magro was also in fine form at the other end. Sephton and Hadzic then failed when given late opportunities to pinch a point and Stanley emerged with a crucial victory. Meelas put on a positive outlook as their unbeaten run came to end instead focusing on a ‘chance to start a new one’ and also promised ‘fresh blood will be coming soon.’ Markham now has his team within a point of the reigning champions and they will sure to be there until the end as the manager goes for the big prize.

West Brom failed to take advantage of ThunderCats’ slip-up as F.C. Greatness returned to winning ways with a 2-1 away success. The first-half was a non-event as the sides cancelled each other out and produced no moments of note. West Brom started the second-half in fine fashion, though, and only the post prevented Billy Bassett from scoring the opening goal. Greatness would also have their first chance of the contest and Fabrizio Colluato stunned the home crowd by curling home a long range shot. This lead was then doubled as Colluato headed home a Faust Baronchelli free-kick to leave West Brom with a mountain to climb. The home side set about their task in a positive fashion but their luck was out with Bryan Robson hitting the woodwork with a fine lob. Lee Hughes would then have a header saved by Rachao before Richard Sneekes finally pulled one back with a long range shot of some quality. Greatness saw Fabio Cannavaro go close late on and were grateful to the good positioning of Rachao which made a save from Hughes elementary. Darren Calvert will have been pleased with his side’s win and seemed to dismiss the thought of relegation by saying ‘what’s one of them?’ DD was in scathing mood as he faced the press conference, saying that Greatness ‘were lucky’ before the chairman added some perspective to DD’s words by saying the manager was ‘under quite a bit of strain at the moment.’ Troubling times indeed at WBS.

Santos FC also failed to close ground on the leaders as they were defeated 2-1 at Three Lions FC. Things actually started in very positive fashion for the visitors as Fredrick Winnerljung dived in to head home a Robbie Mitchell cross to give his side a first minute lead. Amazingly, though, the lead would last just a minute as Robin van Izu shot home in the penalty area after Santos failed to mark well enough from a corner. Asmar Golkas hit a tame effort at Casillas and van Izu did the same at the other end as the rest of the half failed to live up to the explosive start. The visitors were unlucky not to retake the lead on the hour-mark with a lob from Rogerio Franca hitting the bar and going clear. They would have further reason to rue this missed chance as the Lions took the lead with their next effort. Luca Tonizu rose well to powerfully head home a Possebon cross to send the home fans into delight. Richardo Ferrari would then cap a frustrating evening for Santos by being sent from the field and his side went home pointless. Sean7 sees his side remain six points behind the Cats and they now go into a massive double-header against them knowing that only two wins will bring them level. Izu was more than happy with his side’s work over the past week with this result following on from a 3-2 success against Tranmere and the managing admitted that they were ‘two big wins.’

At the bottom end of the table Hun Haters recorded a vital 2-1 victory over Yorkshires Amateurs. Things didn’t start particularly well for the Haters, though, as Murray Davis struck home powerfully in the area to give the Amateurs a 14th minute lead. This might have been doubled but Micky Cox’s long range strike went wide and the Haters improved. Don MacArthur would spark them as his flicked header proved too accurate for Bicanco and brought them level. MacArthur wouldn’t be quite as effective with his next headed effort as he missed the target from close range. Davis tried to get the Amateurs back on the front foot before the break but he would also miss the target with his shot and the sides would go in at 1-1. HH would start the second-half with real impetus and Iain Emery had already headed wide before a penalty by Ted Caird gave them a 2-1 lead. Caird was then unlucky not to extend the advantage as his lobbed header hit the bar. Meanwhile, at the other end Davis kept plugging away but couldn’t make good with a header and his side remained behind. Caird would also waste another chance for the hosts but it was to prove irrelevant as they emerged 2-1 victors. The win keeps CC’s side in touch with the teams just above the drop zone and they face their immediate rivals over the next two games in an effort to pull clear. Things don’t look quite as promising for Dan’s side as they sit eight points behind the safety mark and know that nothing but wins will now suffice if they are to give themselves a realistic chance of survival.

Tranmere gave their own survival hopes a shot in the arm with a 3-1 victory over AC Milan. Jari Sjoholm might have given them the perfect start but fired his free-kick just wide and Sandro Bucchi didn’t have any better luck as he shot wide when through on goal. Milan had their first effort on 18 minutes but Andrea Pirlo was also unsuccessful with a free-kick. Tranmere responded to this by getting straight back on the front foot and Aponino Xavier brought the best out of Speroni following an ambitious lob. Sandro Bucchi finally made the breakthrough on 24 minutes with a super long range shot which brought relief to the Rovers’ fans. Sjoholm would miss a late free-kick as the visitors remained on top but went into the break with only a one-goal advantage. The second-half saw Milan lucky not to extend the visitors lead as Savino Piovanelli put a dangerous back-pass against the post but the same player did then go close at the right end with a purposeful header. Milan, by this point, were starting to play better and saw Ron Aldinho fire wide with a powerful low shot before Victor Moses did the same moments later. Despite this improvement in play it would be Tranmere who would get the next goal. It came as the ball fell to Marten Wessman from a corner and the forward finished clinically to double his side’s advantage. This lead swiftly became three with Sjoholm heading home superbly from a Olias cross to leave Milan bewildered. Victor Moses did bravely pull one back with a cleverly steered finish but it never threatened to bring his side back into it and Wessman and a dangerous back-pass by Rissi might have made the winning margin even bigger. Baz was happy that his side moved three points clear and hoped that it proves to be ‘the turning point of our season’ as the new signings begin to ‘look impressive.’ MarkieRich must now be getting seriously worried about his Milan side who sit four points adrift and look in poor form with the season nearly at the halfway stage.

Totaalvoetbal got a welcome victory as they defeated New York City 1-0 at the MVB Arena. Totaal started on the front foot and saw Horacio Metelo force Sattler into a fine save before Shivan Preetnav hit a post after being put through. Totaal did allow City a chance, though, as the half neared its conclusion but Shinosuke Isimaru put his lob well over the bar and the sides went in level. Isimaru did do better with a header at the start of the second-half which needed tipping over by Rimmer but Totaal were quick to respond. Metelo was given another opportunity from a free-kick but once more Sattler was the equal to it. A free-kick at the other end saw Eugene Kameni Idriss fire wide and the home side would then put City under some late pressure. Shirsh Vajpayee got himself into a fine position before firing over and Metelo once more wasted a free-kick chance as they searched for the decisive goal. Metelo would be unfortunate with another free-kick, though, as he finally defeated Sattler but found the post in his way. Just when it looked like the game would finish goalless Totaal pinched a winner at the death; Vajpayee chipping home expertly after being put through by Preetnav. The win was greeted with wild celebrations in the stands with Meeblind stating obviously, ‘we needed that.’ Jimmy won’t be too disheartened as his side are still well-placed as his side continue their first adventure in the league’s top-flight.