Paddy Pops Stanley Streak

AFC Pop Punk finished AFC Stanley’s unbeaten run with a 4-1 home victory at George at Asda Pop Punk Park. With Paddy having the desired effect since his arrival hopes were high although they faced stiff opposition in the shape of Stanley. The visitors started well and Garry Molseley deserved more from his curled shot than it to bounce back off the woodwork. At the other end Ike Dyer saw his first effort held by Hessbo before he made his next one count to put Pop Punk 1-0 ahead. Micah Richards nearly gifted the visitors a route back in with a back header which struck the angle but Stanley were facing a two-goal deficit when Luke Young curled in a powerful shot from distance on 41 minutes. The second-half would see even more action with Bobby Taylor wasting an early chance for Stanley. Dyer would force Hessbo into a fine save from a header before Cal McMac pulled a goal back for Stanley via a diving header. Dyer again would be in the thick of the action on 67 minutes but Hessbo proved his nemesis once more with a fine reflex stop from the forward’s shot. Jean Luc Picard would make it 3-1 with a smart toe-poke on 73 minutes while Taylor put a lob well-over at the other end. Leonardo Borja would smash the crossbar from a free-kick for the hosts before Cedric Roussel hit a shot straight at Hessbo. Stanley would continue to look for a way back into the contest but Molseley had no luck with a header and a penalty by Virgil Beckham sealed the win on 86 minutes for Pop Punk. Taylor would still have time to head another effort straight at Given and Stanley would go away disappointed. Paddy was delighted with the win although he wished ‘Dyer would be a bit more clinical in front of goal.’ Markham admitted Pop Punk ‘deserved their win’ but rued their efforts which struck the woodwork.

Real Madrid FC and Arsenal DB were involved in an exciting encounter at Santiago Bernabeu which ended 2-2. With Madrid flying high and Arsenal moving menacingly into position under Brown all the ingredients were there for a tense match. Francesc Fabregas wasted Arsenal’s only chance of the first 45 minutes by chipping over while Teige Aran had a half-volley saved at the other end. The second-half would open up and Mao Wannasathit opened the scoring for the hosts with a fortuitously mishit shot on 57 minutes. Mohammed Salih quickly levelled for the visitors with a thrilling strike from distance and moments later Cole Aitkin had them 2-1 ahead courtesy of a penalty. However, Madrid would fight back once more with Kevin Gabriele hitting in superbly from distance and the forward might have had them in front with a header but it would fail to find the net. Darren Gibson lobbed over for Arsenal before Fabregas hit the bar with a late free-kick as they pressed. Indeed, Fabregas would have one more free-kick effort but this time he would put his effort over and the game would end up tied. Arsenal News reported ‘the camp are glad of the point but they fully expect to start winning again in the next round.’ FredRizzo will be happy to still be unbeaten after this tough match-up but they don’t get any easier with a trip to Santos next.

Totaalvoetbal would move back into second but were held 1-1 by Yorkshires Amateurs. With Totaal looking to rebound following their first defeat and the Amateurs looking for vital points for their battle at the bottom a hotly fought contest was in store. Totaal would open the scoring on 19 minutes from their first chance as Pierre van Diemen rifled in from distance and they would take this lead into the break. They would come out strongly after the interval also with van Diemen curling another effort just over the bar. The forward would continue to be a threat and a lobbed effort needed tipping over by Bicanco. Antonello Ballarin would then fire a free-kick off-target before doing the same thing with his next effort. With the contest deep into stoppage-time the Amateurs would force their first chance of the game and Derek Naples rose highest to head home a fine equaliser to send the away support into raptures. Robin Meeblind bemoaned his side’s ‘failure to take their chances’ and offered credit to the Amateurs ‘who fought hard and took their chance when it came.’ Danlufc13 privately admitted it was ‘daylight robbery’ but was more than happy with his side’s point as they look to kick on from this moment.

The Vikings put on a dominating home performance to defeat White Hawk FC 3-0 in Viking Land. Eaglesrjh had been open about his disappointment that his side weren’t higher up the standings but his side responded in fine style to keep Hawk in trouble at the bottom. Thorbjorn Lind had a powerful shot saved by Dankoi but The Vikings would take the lead on five minutes as Jerry Raafenberg had a moment to forget; miss-kicking wildly he put the ball past his ‘keeper to gift the home side the lead. Lind would brush a post with a neat effort on 15 minutes and Dankoi had to be alert to stop Anastasios Tassiopoulos from adding the second minutes later. Justin Portway would lob the next chance over the bar before heading another effort against the bar. The Vikings would make it two on 32 minutes as Portway placed beyond Dankoi and although Adan Donahue had a free-kick chance for the visitors the home side would go into the break with a two-goal lead and little trouble. The second-half started well too as Lind demanded a decent stop from Dankoi before Tassiopoulos mishit an effort beyond the ‘keeper to make it three. White Hawk would endure some misfortune as well with Cianan Cathan heading against the angle but they would be soundly beaten at the end of the day. Eagles will have been pleased both with the win and results elsewhere and another home victory next up could have them sitting very close to the top. Hooraymee looks to be fighting a losing battle at the bottom of the table but the talented coach won’t be giving up just yet.

ThunderCats continue to be one of the form teams in the division and they produced an impressive display in a 3-1 victory at Kirkbride Strollers. With Jazza’s side usually impregnable at home the fans came expecting another good performance but they were met with a visiting side who resembled their glory days of the not too distant past. There was no sign of what was to come when Keith Ellison shot home after a breakaway on six minutes but ThunderCats would respond. Silvio Falcao quickly had a shot saved at the other end as they signalled their intention to meet fire with fire. Mike Bell would waste a chance for the hosts and on the stroke of half-time Carlos Partini placed home a shot to level matters. The second-half began with Falcao lobbing the Cats ahead and they would never look back. Falcao would add another goal by clinically shooting through the legs of Hill to leave the hosts with a mountain to climb. Stephen Robinson would then waste a free-kick chance for the Strollers while Bell would head off-target as they tried in vain to get back into the contest. Nelson Queimado might have added another late on but his header went just over. Nevertheless Baz will have been excited by his side’s performance and he will want them to reproduce when they face West Brom on Friday. Jazza will demand an immediate response from his side but fixtures don’t get much tougher than The Vikings away.

The other game of the day saw West Brom Strollers and Santos fight out a 0-0 draw at The Hawthorns. With the teams going in seemingly opposite directions Santos will have rarely travelled to The Hawthorns in more confident mood. However, the first-half would produce a stalemate with neither side showing enough creativity to make a breakthrough. The second-half would see Santos grow in confidence but they will struggle to find the finishing touch. Asmar Golkas had a lob saved by Valdezuka before Rogerio Franca was also denied by the cat from a headed chance. A free-kick on 71 minutes gave them one more chance but Torbjorn Alshammar’s luck was out as it crashed back off the woodwork and the points were shared. DinkyDave shocked West Brom fans after the game by ‘resigning with immediate effect’ but did add ‘I will be back.’ We look forward to the day. Sean7 will be positive about his side’s point and they will now set their sights on ending Real Madrid’s unbeaten run at the top of the table.