Santos Blind Robin & Totaal

Santos produced a second-half master-class to leave Totaalvoetbal reeling in a 4-1 defeat. Totaal started confidently and a powerful strike from Pierre van Diemen gave them a sixth minute lead. Adriano Ribeiro gave the home side a brief panic when he headed over his own goal before producing a header at the other end to test Rimmer. As it was it would remain 1-0 to the visitors at the break. Santos emerged after the break as a different side. Rogerio Franca wasted a headed chance before Asmar Golkas toe-poked home the equaliser on 51 minutes. Three minutes later and Panu Sarapaa went close with a mishit shot but they did take the lead as Ribeiro volleyed home in the area. Robbie Mitchell shot just wide on the hour and although Johan Juffing demanded an excellent save from Rodenas the visitors were struggling to cope. Mithcell would make it 3-1 by placing beyond Rimmer while Shirsh Vajpayee was denied at the other end as Totaal looked lost. Ribeiro was denied by the ‘keeper before a free-kick by Mitchell hit a post. The chances kept coming for the hosts as Ribeiro struck a post with a powerful strike and it would be 4-1 with Marcelo Afonso lobbing over Rimmer deep into stoppage time. Sean7 explained that while the squad may ‘lack battle experience’ they draw their strength from ‘challenging each other based on performance.’ On this showing they will be at the top for some time. Meeblind paid credit to Santos saying they ‘were nothing short of brilliant.’

West Brom Strollers fell two points behind Santos as they were held to a 0-0 draw at Underdogz United. In a desperately tight game there was to be only one opportunity created. It came for the visitors but unsurprisingly Willie Johnston couldn’t direct it on target and the sides took away a point each. After enjoying over 70% of the match DD explained that he didn’t ‘think (he’d) ever had so much possession and not scored’ and they will look to get back on track on Tuesday. Meanwhile, Izu appeared to stumble across something brilliant when he met with the press. He explained that they needed to turn ‘losses into draws’ and then ‘draws into wins.’ Indeed, expect to see a WWWWW form guide at Surprise Stadium very soon.

AFC Stanley remained in strong form as they disposed of Sanity Clause 6-1 at Garden Street. The visitors would enjoy the first chance but Yves Vairelles could only lob over and they would then find themselves under pressure for a lot of the game. Per-Elvis Granander forced Widlund into a theatrical save before Kirk Armitage headed wide as Stanley began playing with intent. Eugene Kameni Idriss did hit a free-kick wide for Clause but they then gifted Stanley the opener as Frisco Ortiz headed past his own ‘keeper. Garry Molseley nearly made it two but his header found the angle although Cal McMac did fire in following a breakaway. Molseley would then be denied by Widlund before Vairelles pulled a goal back for Clause with a neat strike. The home side responded before the break with a brilliant free-kick by Matts Wallman and they took this 3-1 lead into the sheds. The second-half began with Wallman firing in another free-kick just after the hour to increase the home side’s lead. Granander nearly put through his own goal but soon rectified that by finishing well at the other end for 5-1. Jon MacClintock added a sixth with a clever lob as Stanley coasted to victory. Markham has his side excellently placed following a confident start to the campaign and they will make the trip to old foes Totaalvoetbal in good form. Clause fans will be hoping for more from their boss as they lose form and matches to make their stay in the top division a precarious one.

ThunderCats scored a late winner as they ground out a 2-1 success at Tranmere to stay in contention at the top. A free-kick for Eadbhard Liffey was stopped by Magro and ThunderCats capitalised as Izet Hadzic gave them the lead with a header from a corner. Tranmere didn’t lie down, though, and hit the angle through a Logan MacCanish chip. The score would remain this way into the second-half and MacCanish couldn’t level matters with a curled shot for the hosts. Magro would then deny Karsten Seibert’s half-volley but was powerless to stop MacCanish’s shot from a tight angle on 72 minutes which did bring Tranmere level. The visitors’ response would be strong as Placido Polo curled a shot off a post before Silvio Falcao drove in an 89th minute winner. Indeed, Hadzic might have added another but for a brilliant save by Sapienza from his header. 2-1 was enough, though, to get Meelas’ side moving in the right direction ahead of a tough looking match-up against Underdogz. Baz’s Tranmere continue to struggle and they face a crunch match against Manchester United on Tuesday knowing that a gap will open up should they fail to pick up the points.

Manchester United prepared for that particular clash with a thumping 5-1 away win at Hun Haters. Cristiano Ronaldo had an early free-kick saved by Boruc while David Mailer brushed the post with a shot at the other end. The opening goal arrived on 12 minutes as Wayne Rooney headed the visitors into the lead and a power shot by Eric Cantona quickly had them 2-0 ahead. Darren Fletcher curled a super effort against the bar and a header by Michael Carrick also tested the woodwork as United dominated. Owen Hargreaves was the next to try his luck but Boruc tipped his header over however the ‘keeper could do nothing about Rooney’s header which made it 3-0 on 23 minutes. Fletcher chipped in the fourth minutes later and a powerful strike by Rooney completed his hat-trick to put United 5-0 up on 39 minutes. Ronaldo lobbed over before the break but United went into the interval with a massive spring in their step. The second-half was an anti-climax after the first but the home side did manage a consolation goal through a Ted Caird penalty. There would be no more chances in the contest but Pakya will have been delighted with United’s first win of the campaign. Another win will see them move into the comfort of mid-table and allow them to consolidate their position as a top division side. Celticchris will be wondering where their first win is coming from and they will need to tighten up defensively to give themselves a chance in future matches.

The Vikings returned to winning ways with a strong 2-0 home victory over Kirkbride Strollers. Justin Portway had an early header saved by Hill but this proved to be the only chance of a quiet first-half. The second-half would see the home side create more chances with Aris Almanidis having a shot saved by the ‘keeper. Kirkbride wasted their opportunity as Stephen Robinson hit a free-kick wide and they would pay the price as Vassilis Papakostas powered in the first goal on 58 minutes. Anastasios Tassiopoulos volleyed in the second goal on 76 minutes and although Almanidis was denied by Hill in injury-time The Vikings had done enough for a comfortable victory. Eaglesrjh declared it ‘good to get 3 points from Kirkbride’ as ‘home form is going to be important.’ Kirkbride responded to the defeat by bringing in superstar signing Andrew Harrison for 14m plus. The midfielder will be expected to safeguard Kirkbride’s future while also allowing them to develop into challengers for honours.