West Brom Soar Over Hawk

West Brom Strollers began the defence of their title with a sound 3-1 home victory over newly promoted side White Hawk FC. Hawk began positively but Adan Donahue’s shot was saved by Valdezuka and they were then hit by a hammer blow as Billy Bassett rifled a free-kick into the net to give West Brom a seventh minute lead. Lee Hughes quickly forced Dankoi into a fine leg save as the hosts looked to double their lead. The ‘keeper then held a Tony Brown header and positioned himself well to deal with another Hughes shot. Hawk capitalised on the home side’s profligacy to equalise when Charly Chan Jet Soe drove home a shot on the half-hour. Hughes would see a lob header ruled out before the break for a 50/50 offside call and the sides went in level at the break. Hawk began the faster of the two after the interval but Donahue placed the ball wide and they would fall behind again later in the half. Zoltan Gera would net the goal as he chipped calmly over Dankoi after being given too much space in the area. Hughes then capped the victory by rounding the ‘keeper and slotting home. DD will be pleased with his side’s start to their defence but will have been less so about the injury to star man Bassett which will keep the mercurial midfielder out for the next few games. Hooraymee couldn’t have been given a tougher start to life in the top division but will have seen plenty of positives in a good display.

AFC Stanley were impressive 2-0 winners at ThunderCats as they kicked off their campaign in fine style. ThunderCats began well but Placido Polo hit one free-kick off-target before seeing another one saved by Hessbo. Polo would have another chance on 10 minutes but his steered effort never threatened the target. Stanley got into their rhythm soon after with Luke Riou being denied by Magro before Garry Molseley gave them the lead as he coolly rounded the ‘keeper and rolled the ball into an empty net. Molseley might have made it 2-0 but his header unluckily struck a post before having another aerial effort held by the ‘keeper. Carlos Partini hit a powerful low shot close at the other end but the home side would go in a goal down. Micah Richards began the second-half with an audacious chip which struck the angle while Molseley volleyed off-target as Stanley pressed for a second. Polo did strike the wood at the other end with a fine free-kick but his strike was overshadowed as Matts Wallman hit a beautiful set-piece into the net to double the visitor’s advantage. Juliano Leite had an injury-time header hit the angle to confirm that it wouldn’t be the former champions’ day. Markham declared himself ‘delighted with the team performance’ and added that things ‘look good for the future of the club.’ Baz will have been disappointed with the opening day defeat and will hope his side can kick start their season on Tuesday.

The Vikings edged an entertaining encounter with Yorkshires Amateurs as the visitors returned to top flight action. After a quiet opening Ferdo Pecar had a header saved while Hugo Smallwood’s shot was held at the other end as the sides traded chances. Thorbjorn Lind would score the home side’s first goal of the season on 42 minutes as a looping header had too much on it for the sprawling Bicanco. A free-kick just after the break saw the hosts double their lead as Aris Almanidis hit home a trademark effort. Smallwood tried to get the visitors back into the contest but his header didn’t have enough power on it while Justin Portway’s shot at the other end brought a fine reflex save out of Bicanco. The ‘keeper produced a more flamboyant save moments later to deny Portway again but Antony Wallwork couldn’t take advantage at the other end as his powerful shot went wide. Tiarnach Casey also wasted a headed chance but they did halve the deficit with eight minutes to go as Andrew Potts delivered a brilliant free-kick. However, they couldn’t force any more chances and The Vikings claimed the points. Eaglesrjh explained that ‘it was a very good and very tight game’ and added that the integration of the new signings ‘is good news for the future.’ Dan congratulated Eagles and explained he had ‘made one or two errors’ but would have seen enough positives to know his side are capable of making a big impact in the division.

The other opening day winners were Totaalvoetbal who defeated an under-prepared Manchester United 5-0 at Metelo Park. William Ralph Dean was denied on four minutes by Kuszczak while Antonello Ballarin fired wide as the home side began forcefully. Pierre van Diemen did light up the stadium with a brilliant low drive to give Totaal a lead on 13 minutes and Ard Leemans would protect that advantage by punching away a Micky Wyatt header. Johan Juffing then doubled the home side’s lead by shooting through the legs of the ‘keeper and debutant Nicholaus de Bilde produced a brilliant chip to make it 3-0 on the stroke of half-time. The second-half began in similar fashion but Kuszczak denied a de Bilde volley although a fourth goal would arrive as Ramiro Verona powered in a header. Wayne Rooney saw a shot go wide at the other end but it was Totaal who would strike again as Verona added his second from an excellently placed shot. This proved the last action in a one-sided affair with Meeblind saying it was ‘a good start’ in their bid to ‘improve on last season’s seventh-place finish.’ Pakya’s absence won’t have pleased United fans who now see their club sitting at the bottom of the pile and with another game fast approaching it could be a troubled few weeks for the famous club.

Underdogz United and Santos FC shared four goals in an explosive opener at Surprise Stadium. Leonardo Borja hit a free-kick wildly on seven minutes but he would make good eight minutes later with a superb effort which put United in front. Borja would continue his one-man show on 19 minutes with an excellent header which doubled his side’s advantage. Adriano Ribeiro put Santos’ first chance wide with a snatched shot while Bobby Taylor also missed the target at the other end with a header. Ribeiro would miss another opening for the visitors and they went in at the break with it all to do. Santos got the boost they needed on 49 minutes, though, when a penalty gave Rogerio Franca the chance to halve the deficit from the spot. Marcelo Afonso was denied by Casillas as they looked for the equaliser while Torbjorn Alshammar hit a free-kick off-target. They would draw level moments later, though, as Ribeiro powered in a header to shock the home fans. Underdogz response was a header by Paulo Junho which went over while Alshammar hit a set-piece over at the other end. Santos would have a late chance to win the game but Robbie Mitchell’s free-kick was blocked by Casillas and both sides had to be content with a point each after a pulsating match. Izuka will be pleased with the impact of new signing Borja and when all the new lads settle in it promises to be a strong season for his United side. Sean7 described the game as ‘disappointing for us’ before going on to confuse reporters with his tales of a certain Frenchman.

Real Madrid and Kirkbride would fight out the day’s other game and would leave with a point each after a 0-0 draw. The game would be light on chances with both sides creating only a couple of openings each. Keith Ellison saw a driving shot saved by Nigosian for Kirkbride while Madrid’s only chance in the first 45 minutes was a Samvel Mortanian half-volley which was covered well by Hill. The story didn’t change in the second-half despite Stu Mackay finding the net; the goal would be disallowed for shirt pulling. Both sides had a late chance to win it but Billy Maneater fired wide for the visitors before a free-kick for Madrid saw Hill catch the strike by Samvel Aivazian. Both managers will have been content with their strong defensive start to the season and when their offences click into gear good things are expected from both sides.