Sixy Stanley Stun Santos

AFC Stanley fought back from 2-0 behind to see off Santos 6-3 thanks to a late burst in an exhilarating game. A bicycle kick from Fanuco Ufarte brought the first save of the game from Stanley ‘keeper Hessbo before Adriano Ribeiro put a diving header over. Garry Molseley had Stanley’s first chance but Rodenas was down quickly to smoother while Marcelo Afonso went close at the other end with a side-footed effort. The match was developing into an end-to-end contest as Jon MacClintock wasted the next chance for the hosts by shooting straight at the ‘keeper. Santos would go straight down the other end and open the scoring as Panu Sarapaa headed in with some aplomb. Sarapaa would then deliver a free-kick which needed saving while Luke Riou chipped over at the other end. Enrico Fuentes also chipped over and Stanley paid the price as Ribeiro curled in number two for the visitors on 36 minutes. Stanley did bring themselves back into the game before the break as Molseley finished a breakaway calmly to set-up the second-half perfectly. The hosts were quickly level as Riou netted with a diving header and a breakaway moments later so Fuentes put them 3-2 in front to the dismay of the visitors. Santos regrouped, though, and went close through a Sarapaa free-kick before they did draw level with an excellent header from Ufarte. It would be the home side, though, who would find the powerful finish to win the game. Riou curled home a powerful shot on 73 minutes to put them 4-3 ahead and a header from the forward then made it 5-3 as he completed his hat-trick. Molseley would put the icing on the cake with a fine header from a corner and while Asmar Golkas bravely had a shot saved at the other end it would be Markham left smiling. The manager explained that ‘the best form of defence is attack’ when they play Santos and us neutrals are left wishing they would play each other every week. Sean was gallant in ‘crediting Stanley for their win’ but added more ominously that ‘heads (would) roll’ after the defeat.

West Brom failed to extend their lead, though, as they slipped to a 3-0 defeat at Totaalvoetbal. It would be an old friend who would come back to haunt them as Ike Dyer inspired the home side to a terrific performance. A second minute free-kick saw Dyer set-up for a half-volley which needed saving by Godden. Dyer would make his next chance pay, though, with a super diving header on 18 minutes to make it 1-0. This lead would remain into the second-half when the forward flicked a header beyond Godden for 2-0 on 47 minutes. Dyer was at it again on 56 minutes but this time he struck the bar with a fierce effort. However, there was still time for the forward to complete his hat-trick with a confident finish in the area to complete a super personal display. Meeblind called Dyer’s display ‘stunning’ and the team performance ‘as complete as you could see’ while DD magnanimously said that he was pleased the forward was ‘doing well’ since his move from the Hawthorns.

ThunderCats moved ominously two points from the top spot with a solid 3-0 away win at Sanity Clause. It would be Clause with the first effort as Yves Vairelles mishit a shot onto a post. The visitors would respond but Leonardo Borja’s free-kick was saved. Borja would get the better of Widlund moments later, though, as he thumped in the opening goal from another set-piece. The second-half was a slow burner but Jake Sephton put the Cats well on top with a fine finish following a corner. Sephton then had a header saved before Borja hit home another set-piece to make it 3-0. Clause would have a couple of late efforts but Eugene Kameni Idriss missed the target from a free-kick before Dorian May’s shot was saved by Magro. Meelas now has his side within striking distance of the top and will fancy his chances of making another successful title tilt in the coming weeks. Crismorena will continue the task of getting the side playing in his style after only recently taking over.

The Vikings are also within two points as they put in a professional away performance to defeat Hun Haters 2-0. Don MacArthur had the first chance for the hosts but put his shot over and they would then be stung as Thorbjorn Lind found the net from distance to put The Vikings ahead. Lind had the chance to make it 2-0 but put his shot too close to Boruc and the score would remain 1-0 at the break. Tomas Master quickly made it 2-0 at the start of the second-half with a powerful strike, also from distance. Although, HH had the only other chance of the game Craig Elliston would put it wide and the hosts would fall to another defeat. Eaglesrjh proclaimed himself ‘delighted’ with his side’s start to the campaign and added he would be looking to ‘introduce youths’ as he looks to safeguard the club’s future whilst remaining competitive. Celticchris looks to have a massive job on his hands with HH as they now sit eight points adrift of safety and still looking for their first victory.

Kirkbride would also leave Tranmere still searching for their first win as they won at The Bush by the odd goal in five. Tranmere began brightly but saw Eadbhard Liffey have a penalty saved by Orr before he then put a free-kick over the bar. A free-kick at the other end would be saved as Stephen Robinson shot too close to Sapienza but the midfielder would have the last laugh as he headed in a corner for the opening goal minutes later. Robinson would hit another set-piece over on the half-hour while Malcolm Graham also got his shot up and not down on 35 minutes. Tranmere began the second-half quickly with Geomar Altieri going close but were again caught by a Robinson free-kick at the other end as the midfielder added his second of the game. Malcolm Graham drove home the third on 56 minutes with a super finish to look like sealing the points for the hosts. Robinson would curl another effort wide before Graham had a chip go over as they continued to search for goals. However, it would be the visitors who would finish better and Adam Mlynarz pulled a goal back with a clinical strike. Billy Maneater flicked off-target for the hosts and Graham also mishit a shot wide on 88 miuntes. Altieri then caused some anxious moments for the home side by heading in to reduce the deficit to one but time would run-out on their comeback hopes. Jazza admitted his side ‘weren’t at (their) best’ but will have been pleased with the end result. Baz continues to see his side come up just short in games and will be hopeful their luck will turn in a must-win game against HH on Tuesday.

Manchester United were also winners as Underdogz United were beaten 2-0 at Old Trafford. A free-kick from Cristiano Ronaldo gave them a superb start as he fizzed it into the net on 13 minutes. Ronaldo then lobbed over Casillas but also over the goal as they looked to double their lead. The second-half would see more chances as both sides found their way through to goal. Underdogz saw Cesc Izukas fire wide before Ronaldo tested Casillas at the other end. The visitors would go close to the equaliser on 70 minutes as Zlatan Izuhimovic struck a post and their luck worsened as Alex Soames did the same thing minutes later. As if that wasn’t bad enough Darren Fletcher then sealed the win with a fine header to keep Manchester United moving forward in their first top-flight season. Pakya will be delighted they sit only five points off the top after a tough start and they will fancy their chances of closing the gap still further with a home match against Sanity Clause on Tuesday. Izu said that he thinks his side are ‘performing very well’ considering the relative strengths of the teams in the league and will have quickly moved his side’s focus onto Kirkbride following this defeat.