Foursome WBS Keep On Winning

West Brom produced another powerful performance to dismiss Tranmere 4-1 at The Hawthorns. A second minute strike by Richard Sneekes went just wide as they signalled their intent in the game. Lee Hughes would also power a shot wide before Adam Mlynarz had a side-footed shot saved at the other end. West Brom were back on the attack moments later but a Sneekes header was easily saved by Sapienza but there was nothing the ‘keeper could do as Cyrille Regis netted following a corner. Hughes quickly made it 2-0 with a powerful strike from distance while Manuel Bonda wasted a chance to bring Tranmere back into it before the interval. West Brom were once again quickly out of the blocks but Billy Bassett missed with a free-kick. Eadhard Liffey managed to pull a goal back for the visitors with a brilliant free-kick of his own and Sapienza maintained the momentum by saving from a Willie Johnston header to keep the visitors alive. However, Brendon Batson flicked a header home on 81 minutes and when Bonda unfortunately headed against a post at the other end you sensed the game was up. Willie Johnston duly added a fourth with a clever toe-poke and ensured West Brom would ease to a 4-1 victory. DD has his side scoring goals for fun and while they are in this mood they will take all the stopping this season. Baz is still awaiting his side’s first points of the campaign and they have a tough game next as reigning champions ThunderCats come to town.

Santos ensured the pressure remained on West Brom as they too won their fourth straight match with a 3-0 success at Sanity Clause. The home side did open well but Elvis MacCaran headed over before Santos took control. Panu Sarapaa had a header saved by Widlund before Torbjorn Alshammar also headed straight at the ‘keeper. Rogerio Franca was the next to waste a headed chance but he did do better moments later as he curled in a long range shot to open the scoring. It was more of the same after the interval and Santos were 2-0 up as Franca deposited a penalty with some aplomb. Sarapaa narrowly failed to make it 3-0 from a fine header but Robbie Mitchell did add another with a superbly taken free-kick on 83 minutes. Mitchell would waste a further free-kick chance before MacCaran hit the crossbar at the other end in a last act of defiance from the home side. Bus_dude2001 will see his side’s form dropping when he returns to the fold and only quick action will save them from a season of trouble. Everything remains perfect for Sean7 as his side score goals for fun and have only conceded one in four games.

Totaalvoetbal slipped into third following a 2-0 home win over The Vikings. It would be a fast start which would lay the foundations for the win as Totaal produced some excellent early football. William Ralph Dean did all the damage as he drilled in a low powerful strike on two minutes before showing a more delicate touch three minutes later to lob Raasch for 2-0. The Vikings recovered and forced a chance on 35 minutes but Rimmer held Thorbjorn Lind’s header on goal. Totaal had further chances before the break but Edwin Hayter’s powerfully curled shot was tipped over by Raasch before Ike Dyer hit a shot straight at the ‘keeper. The second-half was a quiet affair with only one further effort on goal. It came for the visitors with Murray Irwin placing a shot off-target. Robin Meeblind was happy with what he called ‘a solid victory’ but added they would have to be ‘on the top of their game’ to take anything away from a trip to Santos on Friday. Eaglesrjh admitted to fearing ‘a tanking’ after the early goals and they will look to bounce back with a home game against Kirkbride on Friday.

AFC Stanley remained unbeaten but were disappointed with a last-minute equaliser against them in a 2-2 draw at Underdogz United. Mitchell Arkwright had an early header saved by Casillas before Garry Molseley missed the goal by inches with a driving shot. The home side would respond with a free-kick chance and Robin van Izu made no mistake with a stunning strike. United might have added a second but Luca Tonizu’s effort was disallowed for offside. The second-half saw Stanley strike back and Molseley levelled with a poacher’s goal following a corner on 54 minutes. Cal McMac got his shot all wrong but still forced Casillas into action on 61 minutes before Cristiano Izuldo headed straight at Moss as the home side threatened. Jon MacClintock flicked a header too close to Casillas but Enrico Fuentes did much better with his header to put Stanley 2-1 up on 73 minutes. It would be a lead they would hold until just before time when Izuldo hit a brilliant half-volley to leave Moss helpless and the sides going away with a point each. Markham admitted he had ‘to be disappointed’ with the manner of the equaliser but has already told the players to ‘focus on (their) next match.’ Izu will be pleased with his side’s never-say-never attitude and they will need more of the same to match their next opponents, West Brom Strollers.

ThunderCats got their challenge back on track with a 3-1 home victory over Hun Haters. Juliano Leite placed his header too close to Boruc as they started on top. However, they would escape when Ted Caird’s well-placed shot was disallowed for offside. Fabricio Cidade was denied by Boruc as he tried to round the cat before he also saw a header saved. He would win the third battle as he managed to go round Boruc before slipping the ball into an empty net to give the home side a deserved half-time lead. HH responded well after the break but Iain Emery had no luck with a header which came back off the angle while Cidade missed a chance at the other end. ThunderCats scored a crucial second goal on 66 minutes when Paulino Ornelas finished a breakaway move coolly. Emery wasted a headed chance at the other end and when Leonardo Borja lobbed in the third it was effectively game over. HH did get a well-deserved consolation when Johnnie Cullen toe-poked home but it wouldn’t stop the home side picking up three points. Meelas will be pleased his side have returned to winning ways but will be less than satisfied with his side’s current fifth-place. Celticchris will be keen for his side to pick up a win soon but with plenty of money in the coffers the club looks in a good position.

Manchester United and Kirkbride fought out a 1-1 draw at Old Trafford in the other game of the day. United opened strongly and saw Wayne Rooney have a header hit the angle before Darren Fletcher had another header saved by Ted Hill. The Strollers responded with a header from Keith Ellison which needed saving by Kuszczak before United hit the front; a bicycle kick by Fletcher giving the game a spectacular opener. El Lapinho tried to produce a bicycle kick at the other end but it went wide before Hill saved from Eric Cantona to keep Kirkbride in the game. Les Curran had a chance to equalise before the break but it was stopped by Kuszczak. The second-half opened with a Michael Carrick header which was saved by Hill before Mark Blacklock looped a header over for the Strollers. Carrrick put a further header off-target before Kirkbride levelled courtesy of a fine Blacklock finish. Things might have improved further for the Strollers with Mark Simpson having a diving header hit the woodwork. Jazza thought his side ‘had enough chances to win the game’ but got what they wanted from the contest. Pakya’s side are slowly coming to terms with the division and an away game against Hun Haters gives them a chance to get their first win on the board on Friday.