Cats Claim Edge

ThunderCats stole a march in the race for the title as they defeated New York City 2-1 at Emirates Stadium. The visitors began well with Leonardo Borja coming within inches of giving them the lead as his shot struck a post. New York hit back in fine style, though, with Shinosuke Isimaru toe-poking them ahead on 13 minutes. City tried to double their lead before the break but Elvis MacCaran headed over the bar and the lead was one at the interval. ThunderCats hit back after the break and equalised on 58 minutes as Izet Hadzic fired through a wall of players to find the net. Five minutes later and they nearly took the lead with Adalberto Rua heading over. Eugene Kameni Idriss hit a free-kick straight at Amarante at the other end before ThunderCats did take the lead as Borja beat Sattler with an accurate finish. The final whistle was met with wild scenes of celebration amongst the visiting fans. However, they will have been less enthused about Meelas’ statement that ‘if things don’t end right with a good change report and an RM title’ he might leave the job. Jimmy meanwhile will take charge of his last game with NYC on Friday and will hope he can finish on a high after an excellent first season in the top flight. Whichever club appoints him for next season, and the word is it will be Spartans, will be sure to have a massive chance of success.

West Brom fell two points off the pace as they were held to a 1-1 draw by Santos. They had started brightly with a Cyrille Regis header which hit the bar before Graham Williams headed wide. Santos signalled their intent to attack with a Torbjorn Alshammar free-kick which struck a post. West Brom had a free-kick of their own and Billy Bassett opened the scoring with a cracking effort. With George Buske in whistle-happy mood Alshammar had another set-piece at the other end but couldn’t make it count. This was quickly followed by another effort which was held by Godden and the ‘keeper made another save from a miscued Richardo Ferrari shot. West Brom were next on the attack and had a header by Bassett saved by Rodenas. Bassett would test the ‘keeper again moments later but he was equal to it to gather a free-kick. Santos would emerge after the break as the dominant force. Adriano Ribeiro would place his header too close to Godden who then pulled off a great save from a Patricio Bento header. Marcelo Afonso would fare better, though, as he headed in on 70 minutes to level proceedings. Bento would miss a chance to win the game as he headed wide and ultimately the sides would take home a point apiece. DD relaxed his players by saying he ‘will be proud’ of them no matter what happens on Friday and their fans will be hoping for one final twist. Sean7 goes into the final game with his side comfortably sat in mid-table and he will now be looking ahead towards a good change report so he can finalise plans for next season.

Hun Haters kept themselves ahead of the drop zone with a point from a 3-3 draw at Stanley who saw their title hopes disappear with the result. HH had the first chance but Moss saved well from an Ashton Crosby header before Ted Caird shot wide. Stanley’s first chance was a Cal McMac free-kick but it was saved by Boruc while Iain Emery put a lob header over at the other end. Stanley had some fortune with the opening goal as Alan Martindale connected poorly with his shot but wrong-footed Boruc to put his side 1-0 ahead. Garry Molseley headed an effort high over before McMac hit the post with a free-kick as Stanley looked to double their lead. Molseley would then strike a shot just wide before Ashton Crosby equalised for HH with a fine header. The visitors then saw Emery brush a post with a header before they turned the game round by converting a penalty courtesy of Caird. The second-half would see more chances as the game remained open. HH would have the first with Craig Elliston hitting a free-kick at the ‘keeper. However, it would be Stanley who would score next as Mitchell Arkwright converted the second penalty of the game. Caird would power in a header which needed saving by Moss before he scored from the spot again to put HH back in front. Elliston would hit a free-kick over before Stanley responded with one of their own as McMac fired just wide. Martindale headed at Boruc before Elliston missed another set-piece as the chances kept coming. The equaliser would arrive courtesy of Dexter Warner as he planted a header into the far corner to ensure this exciting contest would finish with a point each. Markham offered congratulations to HH and added that ‘both teams’ had gone for it in an exciting contest. Celticchris now knows a win will definitely keep his side up while a point might be enough depending on the margin of victory if Greatness do win; an exciting end to a difficult season.

F.C. Greatness remain in the final relegation spot as they were defeated 4-1 at Milan to give Xmensch his first victory in charge. Jonte Sandholm hit the first effort wide before Roy Summerville gave Milan the lead with a precise header on 32 minutes. Savino Piovanelli added a second nine minutes later with another excellent header and although Faust Baronchelli fired a shot in for Greatness they would find themselves 2-0 behind at the break. Ichi Ebisawa made it 3-0 on 54 minutes as he poached a goal following a corner while a Humphrey Biehn shot was saved well by Calvert. A penalty on 75 minutes gave Biehn the chance to make it 4-0 as Milan continued to dominate the game. Biehn then missed a chance for a hat-trick as he poked a shot wide and he would then hit a free-kick too close to Calvert. Baronchelli would head a consolation for Greatness but they have it all to do on the last day. Two points behind, Calvert will know his side need to win to entertain any hope of survival and the team will be set-up to do just that. Xmensch said that he was ‘very proud of my boys’ and added that if he had come to ‘Milan a few rounds earlier’ they would have escaped relegation.

Three Lions put in a solid performance to defeat Yorkshires Amateurs 3-0 at The Thorp Arches. A fifth minute free-kick by Luca Tonizu was saved by Bicanco before Cesc Izukas fired in the opener on 14 minutes. Henning Bade powered a header wide for the visitors as they held control up to the half-time break. Bade would head in the second goal at the start of the second-half while Amadeo Caviedes smashed an effort into the post at the other end. Bade would flick home the third on 72 minutes to put the contest beyond doubt. The Amateurs did have the ball in the net as Jeffrey Cheeseman shot into the goal but it was disallowed for offside and when he then hit a shot against the crossbar it confirmed it would not be their day. Caviedes missed a late chance and the hosts would be well beaten. A silly-season of rebuilding awaits at The Thorp Arches while Izu takes his side into a massive final game against ThunderCats with the manager saying he has ‘two sets of tactics in mind.’

Totaalvoetbal kept up their recent good run of form with a 3-0 home win over Tranmere. Shivan Preetnav had an early effort saved by Sjolund before Edwin Hayter headed over. Horacio Metelo would score the first from a trademark free-kick on 33 minutes while Ike Dyer smashed an effort off the bar. Hayter would add a second with a speculative effort from distance and Totaal were good value for their 2-0 half-time lead. The start of the second-half saw Metelo curl an effort wide before Dyer shot straight at Sjolund. Tranmere would have a chance through a Jari Sjoholm free-kick but Rimmer made the save. It was then 3-0 as Dyer volleyed home on 82 minutes. Tranmere would have late chances but Sandro Bucchi saw a lob saved while Sjoholm hit a free-kick over and a penalty by the midfielder was turned round by Rimmer. Sjoholm’s frustration was complete when Rimmer saved a free-kick and Tranmere ended up soundly beaten. Meeblind was already ‘looking forward to the excitement of the cup’ and hoped his side ‘would take their form into that competition.’ Baz will look forward to next season with confidence despite a poor recent run and they will be hopeful of challenging further up the ladder.