ThunderCats on Move

ThunderCats moved into third in the RMI with a 3-1 home victory over Yorkshires Amateurs. After beating the Amateurs in Yorkshire only a few days prior, ThunderCats were looking for a six-point haul to keep them within touching distance of the leaders. It would be the Amateurs who would begin the better of the sides and Derek Naples put them in front by rounding the ‘keeper to slot home on seven minutes. Nelson Queimado hit a half-volley wide for the hosts as they set about trying to get back into the contest. Placido Polo would see a toe-poke go wide and they would still trail at the break. The pressure would continue in the second-half with Silvio Falcao being denied by Bicanco. Polo would finally level on 52 minutes by side-footing home while Antony Wallwork mishit his shot when given a chance at the other end. Polo would then have a header saved for the hosts before he did actually put ThunderCats ahead with a looping header on 70 minutes. Vince Brightwell would waste a shot on goal for Amateurs as their hopes slipped away while Raimundo Lange smashed a chip off the bar at the other end. The Cats would have a final chance in injury-time and Falcao would finish clinically to cap a 3-1 victory. Baz continues to go quietly about his business and with his side well-placed in third he will be gaining in confidence about adding to ThunderCats’ long history of success. Amateurs News reported that this season might just have been ‘too soon for such a young side.’

At the top The Vikings maintained their lead with a 1-0 defeat of Real Madrid. Having led the league for a while, Madrid were looking to get back on track here but would come up against a side determined to hold onto their top spot. Anastasios Tassiopoulos would hit a post early on for the hosts while Gonzalo Higuain steered a shot wide at the other end as the game started positively. Higuain would then see Raasch save from his free-kick and the sides would go in deadlocked. The second-half began quietly but a breakaway saw Tassiopoulos brush a post for the hosts on 68 minutes. A minute later and Tassiopoulos would hit the bar with a chip and the midfielder would finally get his goal a minute later by beating Adan comprehensively. Madrid would try to hit back but Xabi Alonso’s header was comfortably saved. The Vikings would try and add another goal to seal the victory but Konstantin Grozdanic couldn’t keep his shot down. It would prove irrelevant, though, as The Vikings held on for an important victory which keeps them in first place. Eaglesrjh is in charge of the form side of the division at the moment and a home match against West Brom will hold no fears for the league leaders. Fred Rizzo has seen his side slip to sixth and he will be desperate for his side to turn their form around against ThunderCats at home on Friday.

Totaalvoetbal continue to chase hard at the top of the table as they defeated White Hawk 3-1 at White Stadium. Having narrowly won the home game, Robin Meeblind was keen for his side to improve their finishing ahead of this fixture and they wouldn’t disappoint. Nicholaus de Bilde set the tone by side-footing home on 17 minutes to put the visitors ahead but Hawk would quickly level as Ryan Dharmsingh placed the ball out of the reach of Leemans. Shirsh Vajpayee would nearly celebrate his 100th game with a goal but his header hit the angle and Totaal would have to settle for going in level at the break. Antonello Ballarin would volley them into an early second-half lead, though, with a stupendous strike from distance. However, White Hawk would rally in the last 10 minutes and they created several chances. Urby Jerome saw a header saved by Leemans before Dharmsingh shot wide from a tight angle. Charly Chan Jet Soe then lobbed over and they would pay the price for their profligacy. Ballarin would hit the bar with a chip at the other end before Pierre van Diemen finished well in the area in injury-time to seal a 3-1 win. Meeblind was ‘pleased with an improved display’ but added they still needed further improvement if they are to wrestle first away from The Vikings. Hooraymee sees his side eight points from safety and a win against Kirkbride is paramount on Friday.

AFC Stanley and Santos FC fought out a tight 1-1 draw at Garden Street. Following an incredible comeback by Stanley in the first game the neutrals were looking forward to another feast of football but it wouldn’t quite play out in the same way. Santos did begin well and a Robbie Mitchell chip hit the bar before Bobby Taylor headed well-wide at the other end. Mitchell would then see a free-kick saved and this would be all the action of the first-half. Santos would take the lead on 69 minutes, though, as Mitchell coolly converted a penalty but the home side would, again, fight back. Matts Wallman would be the hero by drilling home a free-kick and things might have been even better but for Taylor’s mishit shot allowing Rodenas to make the save. Nevertheless, Markham33 will be pleased with four points from the two games ahead of a tough trip to Arsenal which sees two title hopefuls come head-to-head. Sean7’s side are now 11 points off first and a more realistic goal is to put distance between themselves and the bottom three; beginning with a home match against the Amateurs on Friday.

Arsenal DB would put together a brilliant second-half performance to defeat AFC Pop Punk 3-1 at George at Asda Pop Punk Park. With Pop Punk taking the first contest last week the home fans were hopeful of their side picking up another three points to continue their fine run but they came up against a determined foe. Pop Punk did bring their good form into the contest, though, with Habib Bowser powering in a low shot on 13 minutes to give them a 1-0 lead. Arsenal would remain composed, however, and they might have levelled before the break; Darren Gibson curling a shot onto the bar when he might have deserved better. The second-half would be all about the visitors as they sought to get back into the contest. Gibson would power a header wide just after the restart before a penalty by Francesc Fabregas saw them level on 67 minutes. Bowser would nearly deflect the ball into his own goal as the hosts came under terrific pressure and a powerfully curled shot by Michael Carrick gave Arsenal the lead on 75 minutes. Ulrich Kischko then placed in a header to round off a sensational second-half as Arsenal eased to victory. Arsenal News quickly focused on the next match with Stanley saying with ‘both teams in the same sort of place in the league this game will be tough.’ ‘Damn’ came the response from Pop Punk’s manager before he embarked on some more transfer dealings to strengthen his side.

West Brom defeated Kirkbride 1-0 as the champions looked to continue their recent improvement in form. With West Brom only just getting into gear they were looking to make up for lost time as they entertained the Strollers from Kirkbride and they would edge a tight match. A header by Lee Hughes nearly put West Brom in front on 17 minutes but it hit the woodwork before the same player hit a drive just over. Kirkbride’s response for the opening half was a free-kick by Stephen Robinson and, he too, was entitled to curse his luck as it crashed back off the bar. Robinson would have the first chance after the break but his looping header was theatrically saved by Carson. The home side would then strike the killer blow as Hughes lobbed over an advancing Hill to give West Brom the lead. Keith Ellison would miss the chance to level as Carson made a comfortable save from his shot and the hosts might have extended their lead but Hill managed to turn Tony Brown’s powerful shot round the post. Kirkbride thought they had levelled deep into injury time when Andrew Harrison found the net from distance but it was disallowed for a foul and their misery was complete. They now sit in the bottom three and Jazza will stress the importance of victory over bottom club White Hawk on Friday. DD mentioned that they were ‘slowly but steadily getting back on track’ and that is dangerous news for the rest of the division.