Madrid in Real Stunner

Real Madrid put in a stunning performance to defeat the reigning champion West Brom Strollers 3-2 at The Hawthorns. An enterprising performance from the newly promoted side saw them fight fire with fire against the star-studded Strollers. A first minute header by Ashod Marderosian gave something for Madrid to protect and they spent of the first-half doing exactly that. A Tony Brown drive went just wide for the hosts before Lee Hughes struck a post after beating Nigosian. Zoltan Gera would also narrowly miss with a decent free-kick as West Brom got no reward for all their pressing. Madrid would be a different animal after the break and a side-footed shot by Teige Aran struck the woodwork as they looked for more goals. Hughes would force Nigosian into a save at the other end from a curled shot while Samvel Mortanian headed off-target for Madrid. The second goal did arrive for the excellent visitors on 66 minutes when Kevin Gabriele placed beyond Valdezuka to complete a fine breakaway. They would be in dreamland 11 minutes later as Gabriele added another via his head to leave West Brom stunned. Aren Garabedian came within a whisker of making it four as his chip on goal struck the bar before West Brom staged a late rally. Cyrille Regis struck a post with a crisp strike before Richard Sneekes did make it 1-3 with a clinical header. Two minutes later and Regis pulled another back with a poacher’s strike in the area but that would prove the last piece of action in the game and the champions had fallen to a first defeat. FredRizzo’s side will have nothing to fear following this win and they will hope to add more points in their next match at home to White Hawk. DD won’t have envisaged this defeat and knows his side will have to come to terms with playing without their talisman Billy Bassett for a little while longer.

ThunderCats got their campaign up and running as they defeated Underdogz 2-0 at Surprise Stadium. After an opening day defeat ThunderCats took the fight to their hosts in a contest which saw old friends reunited. The visitors began well but Nelson Queimado couldn’t direct his header. UU announced their presence in the game moments later with Cesc Izukas’ header being saved by Magro before Luis Carlos Almeida also got in a header on goal; looping over Magro it unfortunately bounced safe off the bar. Silvio Falcao was the focal point for the next few minutes and he had already forced Casillas into a save by the time he drove a shot in for an opening goal on 20 minutes. Queimado would then flick a header too close to Casillas before Leonardo Borja had a late chance to level; his lob just not quite finding its way into the net. The second-half remained open but it would be the visitors again who would strike with Falcao thumping home his second of the contest from inside the area. Queimado would be denied by the ‘keeper from a looping header before Matias Rascao was also denied by the cat from a free-kick. Casillas remained busy for the duration and tipped away an Izet Hadzic header on 83 minutes. UU would briefly rally but Ike Dyer’s header was saved by Magro before Borja also suffered the same fate from a free-kick. Baz will be satisfied his team have now found their form and will look to put themselves in position over the first-half of the season. Izu will be disappointed with the result upon his return and will be keen to pick up points to avoid losing too much ground at the top.

Kirkbride also picked up their first win with a 3-0 success over Yorkshires Amateurs. The home side always looked the more powerful of the two teams as they looked to carry on their home form from last season. Stephen Robinson had their first effort but couldn’t direct his free-kick well enough. Keith Ellison was the next to try his luck but found Bicanco well-placed and Brian Wills also had a header caught by the ‘keeper. The Amateurs could consider themselves unfortunate from their first attack as Ozgun Dolutas’ well-placed shot left Hill stranded but struck a post. This misfortune was felt even more keenly as Kirkbride then won a penalty and saw Malcolm Graham despatch the resultant spot-kick with a minimum of fuss. The second-half followed a similar pattern and a breakaway saw Wills shoot through Bicanco’s legs to make it 2-0 on 59 minutes. Ellison nearly made it 3-0 with a brilliant diving header while Hugo Smallwood was denied by Hill at the other end. Graham did make it 3-0 on 82 minutes as he placed the ball out of the reach of Bicanco and the game was over as a contest. The ‘keeper did well to save from Robinson moments later but Kirkbride had done more than enough to secure the points. Jazza will be pleased his side have found their shooting boots as they look to add the league title to their cup crown. Danlufc13 will realise how important his side’s home form will be and with that being the case they will look to get off and running on Friday with the not insignificant West Brom Strollers coming to town.

Totaalvoetbal kept their slender grip on top spot with a tense 2-2 draw at Santos. With both sides in good goal-scoring form from the first game of the season much was expected of this match-up and it didn’t disappoint. Santos took the initiative as the home side and Rogerio Franca made their first chance count by beating Leemans with ease. They could have then made it 2-0 but Robbie Mitchell headed over and they were then hit at the other end as William Ralph Dean showed him how it was done with a clinical header. Totaal went on to enjoy a good spell and Johan Juffing was only denied by a last-gasp Rodenas save while Pierre van Diemen hit his shot horribly and watched it trickle wide. Adriano Ribeiro had a header warded off by Leemans at the other end as the sides went in level after an entertaining half. The second-half wasn’t quite as open by the standards of the first but there was still plenty of interest. A free-kick on 78 minutes had Santos back in front as Mitchell delivered a superb effort which Leemans was powerless to stop. However, there would be more twists as Benicio Correa saw red for elbowing and just four minutes later van Diemen headed in explosively to level the game. Santos still might have pinched it in injury-time but Mitchell’s looping header went over and the sides went away with a point each. Sean7 directed his anger at Correa who he claimed had ‘let the entire team down tonight’ but had time for Maicon who he said ‘slotted in perfectly.’ Robin Meeblind was ‘delighted with a point’ at a ground which hasn’t always been kind for the Dutch. Next stop, ThunderCats as the tough start to the season continues for Totaal.

Another 2-2 draw took place at Garden Street as AFC Stanley and The Vikings fought out a thrilling encounter. While there wouldn’t be an abundance of chances in the game the quality of football on show from both sides was, at times, a joy and bodes well for the season. Stanley had an early boost as a penalty award allowed Wilfred Tolkien the chance to smash home the opener. The Vikings worked their way into the game patiently and were rewarded with a breathtaking free-kick by Aris Almanidis on 26 minutes which levelled the game. Ferdo Pecar had a further chance held by Hessbo and the score remained 1-1 at the break. The second-half followed a similar pattern but this time the visitors would take the lead as Evstathios Gourmas placed the ball beyond the diving Hessbo on 81 minutes. The Vikings should then have sealed the game on 90 minutes but Gourmas let himself down with a terrible penalty which didn’t trouble the ‘keeper. To make matters worse for the midfielder Luke Riou would make Stanley’s next chance count with a brilliant chip and the points would be shared. Markham33 was happy that his side ‘competed well against a team who will be up there at the end of the season.’ Meanwhile, Eagles bemoaned the vagaries of a game which saw his side ‘top the table at 90 minutes’ but then a missed penalty and a Stanley equaliser stopped them even picking up the victory.

The other game would see Manchester United edge to a 1-0 win at White Hawk to leave the newly promoted side still looking for their first points. With Pakya looking like being replaced soon at United it was thought this would be Hawk’s chance to open their account but the visitors stood up to the task well and ground out an important three points. A free-kick on three minutes saw Cristiano Ronaldo test Dankoi before a set-piece at the other end similarly saw Adan Donahue denied by the ‘keeper. This trend would continue as Kuszczak flung himself to tip another Donahue strike round the post before Dankoi matched it with an excellent stop from Ronaldo on 35 minutes. The second-half saw another Donahue free-kick open proceedings but this time the midfielder missed the target. United would then take control and Eric Cantona was desperately unlucky not to score with an ambitious bicycle-kick which struck a post. Their goal did come, though, on 73 minutes as Cantona lobbed in a perfect header to send the away fans into raptures. United would hold onto this lead and turn it into three points which boosts the club in this troubled time. It is rumoured should Pakya not return that United have lined up an exciting candidate to take-over and the fans will, very soon, have something else to cheer. Hooraymee, meanwhile, has endured a tough start to life in the top-flight but this classy manager will have his team adapting quickly to give them every chance of making the grade.