Sun Comes out for Annie

The Vikings were in celebratory mood as they despatched Kirkbride Strollers 4-1 at Viking Land. With Anastasios Tassiopoulos making his 100th appearance for The Vikings the fans were demanding a win for their midfield hero. Thorbjorn Lind nearly got them off to the best possible start but his shot would strike a post. However, cometh the hour, cometh the man and Tassiopoulos took it upon himself to open the scoring with as cool a side-footed strike as you would wish to see. Lewis Branston quickly made it 2-0 with a fine curled shot after being set-up by, you guessed it, Tassiopoulos. Branston would see a header beat Hill to make it 3-0 following an excellent cross from a certain midfielder while Lind was only denied by a fine save from the ‘keeper. Kirkbride would improve after the break and Benito Villas nearly helped out by putting through his own goal. Mike Bell would hit the angle with a chip on 59 minutes while Ferdinand Quinn had a free-kick saved for the hosts. Billy Maneater would have a header saved and as the chances kept falling to both sides Branston went close for the home side. Kirkbride would get a goal back on 80 minutes as Stephen Robinson curled in a free-kick but the final say wouldn’t belong to them. Tassiopoulos would produce some great approach play to send Quinn through and the forward despatched the ball to put them 4-1 ahead. Aris Almanidis did see red to take a little gloss off the day while Robinson missed a free-kick chance at the other end. However, it was left to The Vikings, their fans and Anastasios Tassiopoulos to celebrate a memorable day. Eaglesrjh was quick to say the legend ‘did not disappoint’ but, in a worrying statement for the league, added ‘he can remain here for many more seasons and really set the bar high.’ Jazza can’t be pleased with how his side are playing of late but you write the Strollers off at your peril.

Santos FC brought an end to Real Madrid’s unbeaten run with an emphatic 5-1 home victory. With Santos slipping into gear following a slow start to their campaign this was always going to be a real test of Madrid’s credentials. Robbie Mitchell headed the hosts into an early lead and they would never look back. Mitchell would put a free-kick well-wide and the half-time score remained 1-0. Mitchell would quickly make it 2-0 after the break with a powerful strike in the area and the forward had his hat-trick on the hour following a looping header. Kevin Gabriele did pull a goal back for the visitors from distance but you sensed it was not going to be enough. Marcelo Afonso hit a post for the hosts while Mitchell put a chip over as they continued to press. Samvel Mortanian did go close with a flick header for Madrid but it was Santos who would net again courtesy of a driving shot from that man Mitchell. Rogerio Franca would add another with a fine header and Santos fans went away dreaming of lofty ambitions. Sean7 declared himself ‘very pleased’ and added ‘consistency is key in surviving the drop.’ The drop? On this showing the title might be well within reach. FredRizzo will have been disappointed with the defeat but won’t dwell on it after a brilliant start to the campaign.

Totaalvoetbal would return to the top of the table as they ended Stanley’s unbeaten home record in a 4-1 triumph. Both sides had endured some troubles in recent games but the fans still went into the contest in good heart. Totaal would begin the better with Antonello Ballarin curling in a shot on five minutes to put them 1-0 ahead. However, Stanley would also score from their first chance with Cal McMac placing a header into the net. Ramiro Verona put a lob over for the visitors but a powerful low drive by Ballarin had them back in front on 34 minutes. A free-kick move on 37 minutes saw Shirsh Vajpayee denied by Hessbo and the half-time score remained 2-1. It would quickly become 3-1 with William Ralph Dean thundering a strike in from distance while Leemans kept out a Matts Wallman free-kick at the other end. Alan Martindale would also see a header saved by the cat and Totaalvoetbal rounded off the win late on. Ballarin would miss another free-kick but set-up Miquel Oriol from their next chance and the defender made it 4-1. Robin Meeblind was ‘delighted’ with what he called ‘the team’s best ever performance.’ Markham admitted ‘too many players had off days’ and warned ‘with money in the bank’ that he wouldn’t be afraid to make changes.

Arsenal DB eventually saw off the challenge of Yorkshires Amateurs by a single goal at The Emirates. Having taken a point away to Totaalvoetbal in their last game the Yorkshire side travelled to Arsenal in good heart despite the fact they were coming up against an in-form opponent. The first-half saw the Amateurs shut down the hosts and they were the happier side as the referee signalled an end to a goalless 45 minutes. Arsenal would improve after the break and Darren Gibson only needed the one chance to open the scoring with a header on 48 minutes. Francesc Fabregas would see a free-kick held by Bicanco before Amateurs looked to level with Lucas Ravelli firing just over. Fabregas would put a further free-kick wide before his final strike would also miss the target. However, the solitary goal from Gibson would prove enough to give Arsenal another vital win. Following the win Arsenal News reported that Dom Brown will be looking for the side to ‘shake off their poor away form’ in their next encounter at Stanley. Yorkshires Amateurs are facing up to a fight at the bottom of the league but it is hoped ‘their new signings will provide the experienced heads that can save the club.’

West Brom enjoyed two pieces of good news this week as the team won away to ThunderCats before DinkyDave announced he would be staying at the club after recent speculation suggesting otherwise. The match saw the sides going into it in differing form with ThunderCats producing some good recent displays while the Strollers struggled. Izet Hadzic went close for the hosts on nine minutes as his chip hit the angle but West Brom would hit back in stunning fashion as Tony Brown shot home from inside the area. This lead would be protected until the break but there would be more chances in the second 45 minutes. Fabricio Cidade forced Valdezuka into an early save from a side-footed shot while Zoltan Gera saw a header punched away at the other end. Carlos Partini was the next player to be denied by a ‘keeper as his curled shot was saved before he then put a header over the bar. West Brom’s response came courtesy of Lee Hughes but he was denied by Magro before Gera also saw a shot saved. Gera would threaten again on 77 minutes but his steered shot went just wide. ThunderCats would have another chance to level but Cidade produced a disappointing finish with his head and the visitors held on for a vital victory. With Dinky staying the fans will hope the players can now show the sort of form which took them to the title last season and a home match against The Vikings awaits them. Baz will look to put this result behind him when his side face Real Madrid on Tuesday knowing a win will take them to within touching distance of the joint-leaders.

White Hawk FC and AFC Pop Punk fought out the days other game at White Stadium as both sides earned a point from a tough match. With Hawk struggling down the bottom they knew they had to start picking up points and fast to give themselves any sort of hope of surviving the drop. They did start the more progressive of the two but Adan Donahue’s free-kick proved easy for Given before Urby Jerome had a goal disallowed for offside. Pop Punk would also have a goal disallowed with Leonardo Borja falling victim to a flag happy assistant. Donahue would see a further free-kick go wide and Pop Punk would stun the hosts on the stroke of half-time as Borja rifled in a free-kick to give the visitors the lead. Hawk would continue to press after the break with Ryan Dharmsingh having a driving shot held by Given. They would be level shortly afterwards, though, with Donahue flicking home a header to the delight of the home fans. Ian Taylor tried to put the visitors back in front but got too much on his chip while Donahue had a late set-piece punched away for the hosts. While the point may boost morale for Hooraymee’s side he will recognise the need for three in their next home match but they face tough opposition in the shape of Kirkbride Strollers. Paddy had better news away from the football as he became a daddy and he will hope to celebrate the birth of his daughter with three points against Totaalvoetbal.