Mi-quells ThunderCats

Two former champions met at Thundera Grounds as Totaalvoetbal stayed top of the RM Invitational with a 1-0 win at ThunderCats F.C. With both sides looking to return to former glories a cracker looked in store but it would be Totaal who would take control of the contest. A free-kick by Antonello Ballarin went just over as they looked for an early goal. The goal would come on 26 minutes as the inspirational Miquel Oriol steered home a shot from inside the area but Ballarin couldn’t add to the lead as he put a free-kick wide of the target. The second-half would be a quiet affair with just a chance each. Zlatan Izuhimovic forced Magro into a decent save with his legs as the forward got in a good diving header. ThunderCats did get their chance to level matters but Silvio Falcao’s shot was turned over by Ard Leemans. Robin Meeblind was happy with the win but reserved special praise for Oriol who he said had been ‘immense’ during the opening three games. Baz takes his ThunderCats to Arsenal DB next and will be hopeful of creating more chances to push further up the table.

Real Madrid continued their fine start to life in the top flight as they defeated White Hawk FC 3-0 at Santiago Bernabeu. With both sides coming up from Division One last term their starts have been contrasting and Madrid would again look the more progressive unit. Pasi Lintu began by wasting a chance for the hosts while Ryan Dharmsingh’s mishit shot missed by a distance at the other end. Teige Aran would force Dankoi into a stop on 14 minutes as his lob threatened to open the scoring. Madrid would get their goal on 19 minutes, though, as Federico Quintana succeeded where Aran failed in lobbing the ball over Dankoi and into the net. The second-half would see Madrid gain even more confidence but Kevin Gabriele couldn’t net with a steered shot. A free-kick by Samvel Aivazian would be stopped by Dankoi while a set-piece at the other end saw Adan Donahue brush a post as Hawk looked for a way back into the contest. However, their hopes would dwindle as a penalty allowed Gabriele to double the home side’s lead. Lintu then made it 3-0 with a superb volley to leave Hawk beaten. Aran would come close to making it four as his shot struck a post but FredRizzo’s side had done more than enough to secure their second win of the season. Rizzo will be more than happy with his side’s start and will be looking for them to continue it with a home match against the Amateurs on Tuesday. Hooraymee has seen his side struggle after their promotion and they will be desperate to pick up their first points at Santos on Tuesday.

AFC Stanley were in impressive form as they swept aside Kirkbride Strollers 2-1 at Garden Street. After some busy transfer dealings in the off-season Markham has seen his side start the season well and they were once again in attacking form in this game. They would have to overcome an early deficit, though, as Malcolm Graham back-heeled Kirkbride into a lead on seven minutes. Per-Elvis Granander would respond by hitting a powerful low shot against a post while Stephen Robinson also brushed a post at the other end. Stanley would level the game on 15 minutes as Granander drilled in from distance to the delight of the home crowd. Granander would continue his threat on 42 minutes as he got in a header on goal but Hill saved it comfortably. The second-half would be all Stanley as they went in search of the three points. Granander would force Hill into a brilliant save from a curled effort and Virgil Beckham then had a header go off-target. The game would see a crucial moment on 80 minutes as Graham was sent-off for stamping and Stanley took advantage. Matts Wallman would hit a stunning free-kick against the bar before Cal McMac lobbed the hosts into a lead. Micah Richards would see Hill save from his drive but Stanley had already done enough to claim the three points. Markham will be delighted with his side’s start to the season but they face another stern test of their title credentials in their next match as they travel to the champion Strollers. Jazza won’t have enjoyed his side’s latest performance and will expect a backlash from them as they return to their home patch to take on Underdogz United.

The Vikings are also on seven points following an entertaining 2-1 home victory over Underdogz United. With Izuka having connection problems, Eagles was hoping to add another three points to his side’s tally and they wouldn’t disappoint. United would give them a scare, though, as Ike Dyer headed home only to be denied by the linesman’s flag. They would then see Leonardo Borja hit a free-kick too close to Connely before Ferdinand Quinn had a set-piece denied at the other end. Konstantin Grozdanic went close with a half-volley before Vassilis Papakostas did fire the home side in front. A penalty gave the home side the chance to extend their lead on 27 minutes but Papakostas couldn’t convert. They did duly get their second goal on 29 minutes, however, as Anastasios Tassiopoulos headed home a Papakostas cross. The Vikings continued to press but Papakostas couldn’t keep his diving header down and they would go in just two goals to the good. The second-half saw the visitors fight back with Luis Carlos Almeida getting in a header only for it to be held by Connely. Borja forced the ‘keeper into another save from a free-kick while Quinn also had an effort saved at the other end. Almeida then pulled a goal back on 85 minutes from a fine header but it proved too little too late to save them from defeat. Eaglesrjh admitted that it had ‘been a very good start to the season’ but did add he had worries about his side’s ability to ‘covert penalties.’ Izuka did reappear after the contest and explained his problems with the new layout at the club and so there may be further problems ahead for the talented coach.

Arsenal DB celebrated the arrival of their new manager in fine fashion as they beat Santos 3-2 in a thrilling encounter. Having taken three points from their first two games Arsenal showed an attacking intent from the off in this contest. Wayne Rooney nearly put them in front as early as the first minute as his lobbed header hit the angle and minutes later Owen Hargreaves also placed a header against the woodwork. Eric Cantona also had a headed chance but put it too close to Lukic although Rooney did net with a diving header although he was clearly offside. Michael Carrick shot wildly from a tight angle and Arsenal would be stunned as Rogerio Franca converted a penalty at the other end to put Santos ahead. The lead wouldn’t last long, though, as Carrick placed in a beautiful header. Hargreaves couldn’t put them ahead with a powerful strike but it wouldn’t take them long to hit the front; Rooney slotting home confidently from the penalty spot. Carrick would add some gloss to the score before the break with a beautiful lobbed header and although Adriano Ribeiro went close at the other end Arsenal were full value for their two-goal half-time lead. Arsenal started where they left off after the break and saw Cantona shoot just over before Lukic gathered from a Hargreaves header. Felix Sandstrom did pull a goal back with an accurate finish on 67 minutes to put the game back in the melting pot. Rooney saw Lukic thwart the home side again but Rico Raffaelli couldn’t take advantage as his power shot couldn’t find the net at the other end. Lukic once more kept Santos in it on 82 minutes with a stunning save from a Rooney header before Carrick wasted another chance by shooting wide. The misses wouldn’t cost Arsenal, though, as they took three important points in what is sure to be a tight division. Arsenal News reported that the ‘team did DomBrown proud’ in his first match-up. Sean7 will be disappointed not to have picked up a win in his opening three matches and will stress to his side how important three points is against White Hawk on Tuesday.

Yorkshires Amateurs picked up a vital home point as they held last year’s champion side West Brom Strollers. Having been pointless in their opening two games the Amateurs were desperate to put something on the board and a determined performance saw them do just that. An early free-kick gave them the chance to open the scoring but Andrew Potts could only put his effort wide. West Brom’s first effort came courtesy of a Lee Hughes volley and he was desperately unlucky as it came back off a post. More misfortune was to follow as Cyrille Regis put a header against the bar and the sides would remain deadlocked at the interval. The Amateurs had the first chance of the second-half with a volley by Gabriel Mohan going wide. Mohan had a nervous moment at the other end as he deflected a shot just wide of his own goal. Bicanco would earn his side their point with a decent save from a Graham Williams free-kick as the game ended goalless. Danlufc13 will have been positive about his side’s point and Amateurs News explained that a ‘good record against Madrid’ has the club hopeful of even more success on Tuesday. DD will be eager for his side to click into gear at home to Stanley in their next match as they look to gain some places in the early-season standings.