Five-Star Meelas Out On High

Meelas completed his reign as ThunderCats’ manager with a 5-1 away victory over AFC Stanley. It was a game they dominated from the off and they enjoyed a ninth minute lead as Fabricio Cidade chipped home from inside the area. Placido Polo missed the goal with a free-kick effort a minute later while Silvio Falcao put a header over as the traffic remained one-way. Falcao would try his luck from distance next but his low shot was saved by Hessbo. There was nothing the ‘keeper could do about the visitors’ next effort, though, as Carlos Partini powered in a shot to make it 2-0 on 41 minutes. Falcao’s poor fortune in front of goal continued on the stroke of half-time as his chip hit the angle and the lead remained at two. The second-half saw Stanley briefly threaten a revival as Luke Riou shot home in the area on 46 minutes. However, Nelson Queimado would quickly restore the two-goal cushion with a diving header and ThunderCats would remain in control. Paulino Ornelas forced Hessbo into a save with a driving shot but it would be 4-1 as Partini smashed home on 70 minutes. Dijedon Betimaj couldn’t find the back of the net with his chip on 73 minutes as the home side struggled to keep pace with the surging visitors. Indeed, Polo would strike a free-kick over before making it 5-1 from another set-piece five minutes from time. ThunderCats’ fans gave Meelas a rousing send-off at the final whistle and they now hope new manager Baz can keep them where they feel they belong. Markham’s task doesn’t get any easier with an away day at West Brom coming on Tuesday and the defence will need to be primed for another tough battle.

West Brom’s lead at the top of the table was reduced to six points as they were held by an excellent Vikings side in a 1-1 draw at The Hawthorns. West Brom had the only chance of the first-half but Ronnie Wallwork narrowly failed to put a header on target while the rest of the 45 minutes was a battle for supremacy. West Brom would gain the initiative on 53 minutes when Tony Brown looped home a header but The Vikings’ response would be telling. Evstathios Gourmas would draw them level from their first chance with an audacious chip from distance and they might have even pinched all three points as Anastasios Tassiopoulos saw his header punched away by Godden deep into injury-time. Eaglesrjh was said to be ‘happy with the progress so far’ and their goal is to be ‘challenging for the title next season.’ DD will be more than satisfied with his side’s current position and congratulated Eagles on a ‘good game.’

Totaalvoetbal and Kirkbride Strollers failed to make any significant inroads at the top as they cancelled each other out in a 1-1 draw at Metelo Park. The Strollers would have the first sight of goal but Mike Bell’s lob would go over and they would then find themselves behind. Shirsh Vajpayee would be the source of their pain as the midfielder let rip with a cracking shot from distance. Kirkbride’s response would be a header by Stephen Robinson but it was off-target and they would go in a goal behind. The second-half saw more openings with Bryan Robson putting a free-kick against a post for the hosts. Robinson hit back but shot straight at Rimmer before William Ralph Dean put a rasping shot just over at the other end. Billy Maneater would level the game on 69 minutes as he rose highest to head home a corner. Robson would again be denied a goal; this time his header being saved by Hill while Les Curran’s precise header was too close to Rimmer as the game went from end-to-end. The Strollers could have pinched all three points towards the end of the game but Bell shot too close to the ‘keeper and a point each was the result. Robin Meeblind was ‘pleased with the point against fierce opposition’ but disappointed that they ‘remained seven points off the pace.’ Jazza will have had similar feelings but will fancy his side’s chances of three points against Sanity Clause on Tuesday.

Underdogz United picked up a vital win to plunge Tranmere closer to the trapdoor in the RMI. Tranmere would enjoy the only chances of a tight first-half and were unlucky when Eadbhard Liffey put a header against a post. This poor fortune continued with their next opening as Geomar Altieri put a half-volley past Casillas only for it to brush the post and go dead. The second-half saw chances for both sides as the game remained on a knife-edge. A header from Altieri went desperately close to giving the hosts the lead while Liffey also went close from another set-piece. They thought they had received a boost when Ricardo Izalho put through his own net but he had been fouled and Tranmere would pay for wasted opportunities. A penalty by Izu Casillas would give United the lead and break home hearts. Indeed, Robin van Izu forced Sapienza into a fine save as the visitors looked to add to their tally. Liffey would have a final chance to get a point for the hosts but Casillas would not be beaten in goal as he delivered a man-of-the-match performance. UU News declared that the ‘Underdogz will survive’ following the result and their manager will feel more confident for the remainder of the season. The same cannot be said of Tranmere who saw Baz leave them to take up the ThunderCats job. Much will depend on his replacement who is expected to be named in the next few days.

Manchester United and Santos cancelled each other out in a 0-0 draw at Old Trafford. Cristiano Ronaldo put a free-kick tamely at Rodenas while Asmar Golkas had a shot saved at the other end in a quiet first-half. The second 45 minutes would be even duller with Santos having the only chance of the half; Golkas hitting a half-volley well only to see it crash back off the woodwork. Pakya will be content that United are progressing well in their first ever RMI season while Sean7 will be pleased to see the back of a poor run of form. Hopefully this point will mark a fresh run which will see them move up the table.

Hun Haters put in an obdurate display to take a point at Sanity Clause in a 0-0 draw. Frisco Ortiz lobbed a header over for the hosts in what proved the only chance of the first-half. After the break Sanity created three more opportunities but couldn’t find the killer touch. Joseph Heffer hit a driving shot too close to Boruc on 53 minutes while Sten Stille’s header was also straight at the ‘keeper. Boruc was forced into a tougher save just before time but he excelled in keeping out Heffer’s steered effort and the points were shared. In truth it did neither side’s survival prospects any good and they are both preparing for Division One football next term.