X11 season 45 - de rigueur Mortis

[Hot Orange]

Thanks, AE. We held them for 3 minutes - well pleased with that.

[Sits]

Commiserations to Hot Orange in the MLX Kevchenko Cup Final. Gotham City and Rmy are an excellent side and manager.

Seconded. Rmy is also leading the Brythonnic, looking to retain the trophy. At least he’s a good guy; always calls VA Valv, which is good. Short for Valvoline I assume, although the Artist has never struck me as especially oleaginous.

[Various Artist]

I'm as greasy as a freshly oiled pig, me.

[Various Artist]

Great to see andrew7610 's excellent Heineken stats, because I was just looking at his new team in the Xpert Zone, whom I stumbled across just now via noticing that Foxy's Wotten Plodney had played one preseason friendly against a Stavanger Toestub – who sound like they ought to be twinned with somewhere in Framleyshire frankly.

Clicked through and discovered to my pleasure that they were taken over by HKS3 (a.k.a. Mr 7610) on September 10th. He dragged them not only from relegation certainties bound for the Comfort Zone to midtable safety, but all the way to an implausible promotion to the Amateur Zone – in 9 games flat.
Their record last season before Andrew's arrival:
P11 W1 D2 L8 F3 A21 Pts5
And their record after:
P9 W9 D0 L0 F36 A3 Pts27

And two of those three goals they conceded with him at the helm came in his fourth game, after they'd had a player sent off. And they still came back from 2-1 down with 10 men to win it 3-2, against the team whom they eventually overhauled for the last promotion place by 3 points. And didn't concede another except in their final game, which they won 7-1. Whew.

[Various Artist]

Something I just picked up on:

All 3 promoted teams were promoted again in 7 divisions (including my own).

All 3 relegated sides were demoted again in 3 divisions (including my own)

I've just twigged this means the exact same six teams therefore filled the midtable in your division as had done so the previous season, presumably? I suddenly got a mental image of the group of them clutching onto each other in a crazily spinning huddle, buffetted by the furious slipstream of three teams racing past them in one direction and another three plunging past in the opposite one, as if caught in a revolving door.

[Sits]

jdsx congratulations, Lysistrata wrap up the Human League title with two matches to spare. Any team who beats RichardSP 5-0 means business.

[Hot Orange]

OTF Season 60 Round 12 Round-Up

OTF

---

It appears a title race may have broken out in the top flight, as Vita Mortis' lead has shrunk from seven points to two in a week. Mortis had what few chances there were in an uneventful game at The Hollows against Croesoswallt Dragons, but the visitors held out without too much alarm for a goalless draw and they remain at the head of the relegation battle in 5th. Stalking Mortis are the unstoppable Kernow Kensa, whose win at Banik Roystonov was their seventh on the spin. Skipper Tyler Armstrong headed in the only goal of the game just after the hour. Banik slip back to 7th. Up to 3rd, three points behind Kernow, are Great Ouse Town, who were also 1-0 winners away from home, Parker Windsor securing their victory at desperately out-of-form Four Candles. The Candles' losing run now stands at six and has inevitably taken them into the relegation zone. The title hopes of Ouse and Kernow will be put to the test on Monday, when they meet at Blue Fen. Dandy Town are six points off the top and down to 4th after they dropped points in a 3-3 thriller at home to Hideous Towns. 9th-placed Towns will feel aggrieved at not easing their relegation fears further having lost a 3-1 lead. Champions St Pancras Starmers are back in business, scoring twice late on at home to Zeugmaspor to grab their second 2-1 win of the week and climb to 6th. It was a tough day at the office for bottom side Zeugmaspor, who were unable to name any substitutes and had to play almost all of the second half with ten men after Talat Uc was carried off. They actually went ahead minutes later but eventually succumbed to the Starmers' pressure.

Division 1

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Berkshire Swine's absence from the top tier looks set to be a short one, as they stretched their lead at the summit to eight points with an impressive 2-0 win at nearest challengers AFC Csiki Monkeys. The Monkeys drop to 3rd, Whoft Fluffopolis moving past them with a 3-0 win at table-propper-uppers Steaua Bridge. A keenly contested game suddenly swung in the Fluffers' favour when they rattled in three goals in six minutes in the closing stages. A first win in six lifted Rejects Redux up to 4th, two points below the promotion places. Two goals apiece from Christopher Belemgoto and Noel Colbourne saw them to a 4-1 success over Turd Division. The Turds do not look healthy, having conceded 13 goals in four consecutive defeats, and they drop into bottom three. A missed penalty from Bentley Kenneth appeared not to be costly for Saltney Drawers when Ray Bloody Purchase gave them an 81st-minute lead at home to Hampshire Deers, but Wesley Greaves quickly equalised to earn a draw that lifts the Deers out of the relegation places into 7th and pulls the Drawers down to 5th. Ioanneis Papgiannakis struck twice to give Locomotiv Noj a 2-0 win at Wensleydale Blues, a result that puts some distance between the 6th-placed side and the danger zone, which is where we find the Blues, in 9th.

Division 2

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It's seven wins in a row now for leaders Eriskay Expression following a confident 2-0 success at promotion challengers The Gang Play Football, headers from Dilangue Kohnde and Kyle Stuart getting the job done. The Gang are edged out of the top three by Athletico Deva, for whom Jonte Malmsborg powered home a dramatic 87th-minute winner in a 2-1 victory over visitors Great Northern Railway. GNR stay 2nd but see the Expression chug off into the distance, five points ahead of them. Away from the top four's private battles, Cods of War, FC Gloryhammer and New Dresden all boosted their chances of avoiding the drop with important wins. Die Ambosse, in 6th, had been six points clear of the bottom four ahead of their trip to the Cods, but the gap was down to three after they had Bernd Frehn sent off and then saw Par-Ola Dahlen's header seal a win for the soldierly swimmers. Gloryhammer struck twice in the last ten minutes to come from behind to win at Eintracht Midwest, who are now somewhat adrift at the bottom. They are seven points behind Dresden, whose 2-1 success at Heffron Hendecagon was the most impressive result of the day. Heffron stay 5th but three consecutive defeats have damaged their promotion hopes and they only found the net here after Dresden's Edward Plummer had been dismissed.

Division 3

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Things have tightened up at the top after the two lower-placed sides claimed the points in the clashes between sides in the top five. Brian Munchingflapjack began the season unpromisingly with 3-0 and 5-0 defeats but have now made their way to the top, reaching the summit with a 2-1 win over previous leaders OWC Albion. Missing the chance to move above Albion into 2nd were Wednesday de la Zouch, who were beaten for the first time this season, going down 1-0 at home to Nieuwegein Kneebiters, substitute Rick Frederick scoring the second-half winner. The Kneebiters remain in 5th, two points behind Wednesday and a single point behind Tree Hill High, who saw off bottom side Pinewood Passers 3-1. The Passers are something of an enigma, aren't they? Manager Geejaytee has been in charge for seven years and 30 seasons but they have had only one campaign - their third - in the top two divisions and, with respect, their current squad isn't one that's likely to change their fortunes. Anyway, their presence is a comforting constant. As is Wharfedale Generals', of course, but a 6-1 spanking at Littlewoods Legends is the latest evidence that their young side needs a little more time before they are competitive. The Legends, in 7th, are one place above the Generals and one below Veni Vici Vigata, who had the day off.

[jdsx]

jdsx congratulations, Lysistrata wrap up the Human League title with two matches to spare. Any team who beats RichardSP 5-0 means business.

Cheers Sits. I'm too depressed about Four Candles' disastrous plunge into the relegation zone to come here often...!

Oddly enough, Lysistrata beat Just Plain Random 5-0 two seasons ago in our last championship-winning run.

[delicatemoth]

It was a tough day at the office for bottom side Zeugmaspor, who were unable to name any substitutes and had to play almost all of the second half with ten men after Talat Uc was carried off.

Oops, sorry Antepli. I swear I selected 'Bruise' because it suits my players, not to try and take advantage of your manpower issues.

[Antepli Ejderha]

Oops, sorry Antepli. I swear I selected 'Bruise' because it suits my players, not to try and take advantage of your manpower issues.

Not a problem, he was carrying a knock anyway otherwise I'd have only had ten. It just sums up our season.

[Janik]

Xpert XI official Ladies League Season 60, Matchday 3 report. Going for pithy again (relative measure), let’s see how we do…

Division 1a

Drakaina                   1 - 2   Top Notch Society
K?llgren 87'                       Zorro 29'
                                   Touri?o 78'


Division 2b

Mauchline Belles           2 - 0   Sm?land Sveltes
Diarra 59'
Perdao 71'


Division 3d

Coxy Ladies Wulpen         2 - 0   Careerwomen Blues
Frunz? 5'
van Sttenberghe 57'


Division 3e

Kanjeng Ratu Kidul WFC     2 - 2   Girls Aloud
Sumanti 83'                        Freitas 60'
Leiria (O.G.) 92'                  Brohlin 75'


Division 4i

Cataluna Cats              1 - 4   Viking South Utsira
Palmeiras 62'                      T.Kvalvik 12', 42'
                                   Y.Klovning 24'
                                   T.Klovning 66'


Division 5:17

Pinkie Pie                 1 - 3   LNWR Locomotive
Hartnell 78'                       Teigland 11'
                                   Astakhov 36'
                                   Nixon 81'


Division 5:22

Bombay Green Rockets       3 - 1   Sporting Erasmus
Ferrante 14'                       Tipton 22'
Baumann 27'
N?rnberger 36'


Division 5:28

Cassiopeia                 0 - 2   Atomic
                                   Riisn?s 5'
                                   Quattrocchi 91'

SC Cambres Girls           2 - 2   Menywod Maeshafn
Serdengecti 58', 68'               Barker 12'
                                   Smythe 40'


Division 5:32

Csiki Girls                0 - 0   Hawkspurs


Division 6:27

I Cinghiali                2 - 0   Ozzie Legends FC
Chornovil 23'
L?nnberg 63'                       Buitenhuis (sent off) 80'


Division 6:33

Rising Stars               3 - 0   Scary Jointers FC
Andorinha 26'
Ver?ssimo 38'
Elgeuse 56'


Division 6:38

Ullapool Northern Star     4 - 0   Instinci?n CFF
Mamouni 38'
Bastock 44', (pen) 57'
Almeida 70'


Division 6:41

Hazeldean Inchmistress     5 - 0   Ipswich Town Ladies
Barnes (pens) 6', 80'
Bringevik 26', 53'
Pedersen 90'


Division 6:43

ASU Politehnica            0 - 1   Invisible Ladies
                                   Forsyth 47'


Division 6:52

Inflatable Spaceship       0 - 1   Zeugma Dostluk Spor
                                   Mansiz 69'


Division 6:56

Tesla Girls                0 - 2   Dublin City Womens FC
                                   Maaranen 53'
                                   Timmermans 59'

Week 3 of the campaign saw Drakaina host Top Notch Society, who were looking for their first win whilst The Dragons chased their second.
Top Notch looked something like their name in a first half where they were the better side, probably meriting their 1-0 interval advantage. Etienne’s Dragons then suffered two additional blows after the break when they lost young midfielder Dagny Nylund to a 9-day injury and then fell further behind on 78 minutes.
That the second Top Notch goal was against the run of second-half play barely mattered – Matilda K?llgren’s deserved goal back on 87 minutes was too little, too late for the Greeks.
Defeat saw Drakaina drop to sixth in the Division 1a table. Which was not the plan pre-season.

Two opening losses meant the pressure was on Mauchline Belles when they took on a Sm?land Sveltes outfit that came in with a win and a defeat.
The Belles were on it in this one though, looking the better side in a goalless first half and then stepping it up even further after the break leading to Odette Diarra firing them ahead on 59 minutes. That came from a corner, as did the second for Jdsx’s side when Fernanda Perdao headed home to seal the points on 71 minutes.
One win and suddenly the world looks rather brighter for Mauchline. Yes, they do remain in the Division 2b drop zone, having climbed only to sixth, but the Scots are now one of four teams on three points from three games, so further progress is very possible. It just needs positive results…(!)

Positive results had also been lacking for Coxy Ladies Wulpen in the first two rounds of fixtures. Fingers were crossed at The Curlew’s Nest that a game against a familiar foe, Careerwomen Blues were provide the turnaround. And also deal with the sexist in charge of the visitors, who are not actually called that.
I’m glad to say that referee Dick Tator also appeared to have an animus with the visitors as he disallowed a 4th minute strike from them, and then allowed a 5th minute header from a corner by Luminita Frunz?. The Waders appeared to decide to sit back on this lead, which boss Janik was totally fine with and in no way a bunch of nerves as Blues chances came and went. What they needed as Wulpen’s coolness in front of the net, as demonstrated by Eva van Sttenberghe’s header home in the 57th minute. Two chances for Coxy Ladies, two goals.
That was how it finished as Wulpen held firm for their first win in Division 3d this term. It lifts the Flanders club up to fourth in the table. And was rather underserved, which annoyed the prick in charge of the other team. So, Ha Ha!

The opening two weeks suggested that Division 3e is going to be a pretty tight affair this season. Indicative of that was Kanjeng Ratu Kidul WFC sittign seventh despite having picked up a point from their opening two games, whilst Merapi-Kraton-South Sea visitors Girls Aloud were top with just three points more, from a 1-1-0 record.
Also demonstrating how little was between the sides was The Sea Spirits having the better of the first half in terms of possession, though Girls Aloud did have the one chance. The Sea Spirits continued to boss most of the ball after the break, indeed having even more of it than previously, only for Girls Aloud to strike twice on the counter on 60 and 75 minutes.
Utami Sumanti gave SeanoftheShed’s side hope with an 83rd minute strike, which gave time for the tournaround. Just about. For we were deep into stoppage time when the visitors ?rsula Leiria inadvertently steered into her own net.
Lucky? No. Kanjeng deserved a point from the game. At least. With 61% possession and 6 efforts on goal to 4, they could have had all three points. But one did lift them up a spot to sixth in the table. Which, by the way, shows just one side with two wins and one with two defeats. Everyone else has drawn two of their three matches!

A point and a couple of mid-table places separated Viking South Utsira from their matchday 3 hosts Cataluna Cats, the margins in The Blood Eagles favour.
Velvet Android’s girls set about increasing those gaps with a whirlwind first half display. Regular chances had the Cats reeling, the resulting disorganisation and panic being well exploited as crosses on 12 and 24 minutes picked out Tove Kvalvik and Yasmine Klovning, who were both unmarked to head home.
Kvalvik made it three by finishing off a free-kick move three minutes before the interval, to put Viking in total command. Cataluna’s resistence was little more than token; even when they did pull one back on 62 minutes, it only took four for Tyra Klovning to restore Utsira’s three goal cushion.
The win, combined with the margin of it, was enough to edge VSU up a place to second in the Division 4i standings.

Last week’s shock defeat had left LNWR Locomotive lower down the Division 5:17 table than Viktor Boskovic would have expected. So far down, in fact, that matchday 3 hosts Pinkie Pie were ahead of The Steamers.
Locomotive set about reversing that, building momentum from the start of the game to become… if not an unstoppable force, then certainly a pretty tricky one to halt. It takes a whale statue to stop a runaway train, My Little Pony’s don’t quite cut it. Instead Maja Teigland (11 minutes) and Simona Astakhov (36) scored to have LNWR 2-0 up.
Locomotive continued to have the better of things after the break, only to be hit with a goal against the run of play on 78 minutes. Teigland thought she had restored the two-goal advantage two minutes later, only for referee Hans Gr?ber to disallow it. He then thought better of things, and awarded The Steamers a free-kick seconds later which Charlotte Nixon swept home to make it 3-1 after all.
That is how it stayed, the win powered Locomotive on to second in the Division 5:17 table.

Bombay Green Rockets fall back to earth has been as rapid as their ascent. Boss HKS3 must have been hoping terminal velocity had already been reached prior to his side welcoming Sporting Erasmus to The Common.
The Rockets started their ignition sequence at the opening whistle, firing their main engine on 14 minutes when Amalea Ferrante turned home a corner. A response from Erasmus kept Bombay on the launch pad until the 27th minute, which was when Barbara Baumann’s close range finish sparked lift off. Throttle up came on 36 through Tina N?rnberger’s header, the rest of the journey to orbit being done on momentum as no further goals were added by either side.
A low-earth orbit for now. The lowest possible – 7th in the Division 5:22 table. But it’s a first stage at least.

[Janik]

Cassiopeia were yet to win or to score (though they did have a point to their names from a goalless draw) when they ran into an Atomic side that had won both their games without conceding.
A tough looking game for The Vainglories got even tougher when Atomic went 1-0 up after 5 minutes. Stormstopper’s girls clung on and clung on and clung on after that, but never really looked like scoring (well, if you don’t have a shot all game…) and eventually shipped the second that Atomic had been threatening all along in the 91st minute.
The same level of opponent was the task for Menywod Maeshafn as they visited leaders SC Cambres Girls.
This game followed a different pattern though as it was the OTF side scoring early on, Katherine Barker becoming the first player to net in the league against Cambres when she headed in a 12th minute corner. Not long after taking the lead Maeshafn lost a player to injury, defender Cho-Hee Eum picking up a 12-day knock. IsThatcherDeadYet’s troops kept the pressure up though, doubling their advantage when Meredith Smythe crashed home from distance on 40 minutes.
If the first half was open, the second was tight. There were just two shots in it. But both came for Cambres, and very sadly for Maeshafn, both were scored. It was clear that the Welsh side were unlucky to only get a point from the game, even if a point away at the leaders was something they would likely have accepted before the game kicked off.
The draw also moved Maeshafn up to third in the Division 5:28 table. Cassiopeia drop to the foot, though.

Two draws to open the season for Csiki Girls compared to a win and a draw and no goals conceded for the week three visitors to A kertem, Hawkspurs.
Pre-match predictions might have marked this down as a goalless draw… and they would have been right. Of the two teams, a point was probably a better return to Ad hoc’s charges as Csiki girls had marginally the worse of the general play, creating just one chance all game from 43% possession.
The Csiki’s three points from three games currently has them sixth in Division 5:32. But such is the evenness of this section, where no team has won or lost more than a single game from their first three, the Csiki’s are nearly as close to top as they are bottom. In addition three sides are unbeaten so far and three are without a win… and the Csiki’s are part of both sets!

Down under we go next to see how I Cinghiali got on against Ozzie Legends FC.
Overall I would go with ‘pretty well’ in a rather sparky game. The Boars inflicted the first blow of the day, both illegitimate (Susanna Millen causing a minor injury and picking up a yellow) and how you are meant to do it, Aleksandra Chornovil breaking clear to finish on 23 minutes. The goal was created by Idde Brugge’s through ball, but her day didn’t last much longer as she was carried off on 29 minutes after a brutal foul from one of the Legends… who suffered a red cross injury of their own just two minutes after that.
The spiciness continued after the break as Ozzie player Annette Buitenhuis picked up two yellow cards, the second in the 80th minute. Prior to her dismissal, but after her first yellow, Blenda L?nnberg had moreorless won the game for boss SitsWithRemote by netting Cinghiali’s second.
The win was enough to lift The Boars to the Division 6:27 summit. It’s only on goals scored, but it’s better being there than anywhere else.

Rising Stars had won both their opening two games without conceding. Matchday 3 visitors to the Ascension Arena Scary Jointers FC had lost both of theirs without scoring. They were also without a manager.
Straightforward for Blamb’s charges? Mostly. As long as they avoided injury given that the Jointers were apparently set to ‘thresh’ as they picked up an astonishing SEVEN yellow cards. But no red. Jose Mourinho would purr at seeing carousel fouling so splendidly executed.
The Ascenders concentrated instead on the actual point of Football which is, you know, scoring goals. They got three of them, the first two from corners, Pen?lope Andorinha steering home with her foot on 26 minutes and ?rica Ver?ssimo powering in with her head on 38. Bette Elgeuse added a third on 56 minutes, Rising spending the rest of the game making sure they didn’t get clobbered.
Three from three, no goals conceded and the only 100% record remaining in Division 6:33 obviously mean being top of the league at this stage.

Zombie opponents were also the schedule for Ullapool Northern Star, specifically Instinci?n CFF.
And if that wasn’t straightforward enough for Polaris, just after the hour it became just 10 zombie opponents due to an injury. Actually the score was still 0-0 at the time, though given how Delicatemoth’s side were already dominating it was just a matter of time before they broke through. Against 10 it took just two minutes, In?s Mamouni firing home on 38. Suzy Bastock added a second on 44 and a third from the spot on 57. N?bia Almeida rounded off the scoring by nodding home a fourth of the day on 70.
The win took Northern Star up to six points from their opening three games, which currently has them fourth in the Division 6:38 table.

Hazeldean Inchmistress were up against Ipswich Town Ladies who were one of the Ipswich Town sides Foxy265’s charges faced last season. The weaker ones.
The Tractor Girls were no match for The Imperials, not helped by their tendency to give away penalties. It was from the spot that Inchmistress took the lead, skipper Kelli Barnes stroking home on 6 minutes. She would add another from 12 yards in the 80th minute as well.
Jennie Bringevik also got one in each half, which were Hazeldean’s second on 26 minutes and their third on 53. Ipwsich had a goal disallowed, Barnes’ second spot kick made it four and Line Pedersen rounded off the scoring in the last minute of normal time.
The Framleyshire outfit are currently fourth in the Division 6:41, six points from three games having them three off the summit and one point behind the play-off spot.

The first of two OTF derbies in Division 6:43 this season saw ASU Politehnica playing the hosts as Invisible Ladies visited.
It proved to be a tight match, with very few incidents of note. The first of them was rather a negative one, See-Throughs midfielder Linda Longsworth picking up a 14-day injury in the 28th minute after an innocuous bit of play. The first positive bit of action came in the 47th minute when Invisible defender Darlene Forsyth sent a lob in from outside the box… and into the top corner of Timmi Uara’s net.
The Scholars came close to an equaliser on 58 minutes when Maja Munksg?rd’s fizzing low drive rebounded back off of Elisabet Nasser’s post… and that was that for moments of note, the last half hour plus going by without anything worth remarking on happening.
The win kept PebbletheFish’s side perfect, and level on points with Division 6:43 leaders The Devilettes, but second on goal difference. As for Granthamian’s students, they currently languish down in fifth place, which is something they will be determined to improve upon in the coming weeks.

We are all agreed that Zeugma Dostluk Spor don’t belong in Division 6:52, right? But being there does mean we can come across the wonderfully named Inflatable Spaceship, which is a really weird concept and would need some exceptional material to stop it popping.
How did Zeugma go about trying to prick the hosts bubble? By having lots of the ball, but not doing a great deal with it, mostly. Antepli Ejderha’s side had 65% possession but from that only created two chances, which is just the same amount as their hosts managed on half the ball. A key difference though was ZDS converted one of their openings, Makbule Mansiz firing home in the 69th minute, and Spaceship didn’t stick away either of theirs.
Mansiz was hooked by the ZDS assistant boss just two minutes after scoring, so we will never know if she would have managed another. It wasn’t needed though – the one she had already poached was enough to keep Zeugma top, 100% and yet to concede a goal this season.

After the tribulations of last season Dublin City Womens FC seem more settled having won their opening two games (though they did do that in Season 59 as well…). Making it three from three was a proper challenge as their hosts, Tesla Girls, have some very decent players in their ranks.
The first half was very even, and officially chanceless after Maria Lyktberg’s 39th minute ‘goal’ was chalked off by the busy Hans Gr?ber. That wasn’t the only setback for Mortal Joe’s side in the opening 45 minutes as they also lost key defensive mentor and star performer Christine Delaire to a 15-day injury.
The Dubs showed they could play without Delaire though as they kept Tesla chanceless for the second half as well as the first. Meanwhile, at the ‘right’ end (from our perspective), Dublin had three chances… and from these scored two goals, Jutta Maaranen burying a long range shot on 53 minutes and Emma Timmermans netting a second on 59.
That was enough to claim the win that maintained the 100% start through week three, and also moved Dublin to the top of Division 6:56 for the first time this season. They are the only team with a perfect record left in this particular section.

[Sits]

Cheers Janik, lovely stuff.

[Various Artist]

Sorry this one was a bit close to the wire!

OTF League roundup for 2nd November: Season 60 round 13

Division 3

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Brian Munchingflapjack, fresh from beating OWC Albion to take top slot from them last Thursday, find themselves already four points clear after a 3-1 win at Wharfedale Generals (8th) on Monday. The Yorkshire youngsters took a quick lead but were soon pegged back, and even a first career red cross for experienced Munchies defender Rafael Avelino late in the first half was not enough to halt the new leaders from turning the game their way.
OWC, meanwhile, having lost just one of their first 10 games, succumbed to the team immediately below them for the second time in four days. They had looked right on course to bounce back when Alastair Jobson’s 19th-min header had them in front against visitors Wednesday de la Zouch until almost the 90th minute – but then an extraordinary last-gasp brace from Wednesday hitman Joacim Bobeck, his second coming in the third minute of stoppage time, flipped the result on its head. It moves Weds above Albion into 2nd on GD.
5th hosted 4th at Parkhout, where a tame 0-0 between Nieuwegein Kneebiters and Tree Hill High was perhaps no surprise as it featured the division’s two tightest defences, but saw both slip back slightly in the promotion race. The Biters are now four points below 3rd, THH are three below – though the latter do have a game in hand on all the other top teams.
A hat-trick from midfielder Elmer Robertsson (two FKs and a pen) swept Veni Vici Vigata (6th) to a 5-0 win at Littlewoods Legends (7th), which opened up a 3-point gap between them and also wiped out the Legends’ brief GD rebound stemming from their 6-1 win over the Generals a game earlier. Given that their 2-2 draw at VVV last month was the only other game the Legends hadn’t lost in their last 10, it doesn’t bode well for their upcoming trips to the Flapjacks and Wednesday.
Winless Pinewood Passers, four points adrift at the foot, sat the day out and return to action tonight at Nieuwegein.


Division 2

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An eighth straight win for Eriskay Expression maintained their five-point lead at the top as Terrance Henderson gunned down Cods of War with a magnificent hat-trick for a 3-1 victory in the North Atlantic derby at the Glen. The Eriskay captain’s early opener was cancelled out by the aquatic artillery on the stroke of half-time, but a quickfire second-half double, the first a penalty, carried the Islanders clear.
With a huge 12-point cushion over 3rd and 4th places, the Scots can seal promotion straight back to Division 1 if they win at Athletico Deva (4th) tonight, who drew 1-1 at former Div 3 rivals die Ambosse (6th) on Monday to slip straight back behind The Gang Play Football again on GD. A last-minute crocking for important defender Ilija Djorovic will also hamper Athletico’s run-in.
The Gang left it late, but an 88th-min Benedict “Alan” Partridge header nicked a 2-1 win at New Dresden (9th) that puts them back above the Deviants into the promotion places by a single goal.
Two second-half strikes saw Great Northern Railway (2nd) dismiss the challenge of FC Gloryhammer (8th) at the Clump, and they are Expression’s only real challengers for the crown.
With the only realistically up-for-grabs promotion slot being 3rd, Heffron Hendecagon (5th) intriguingly reignited their own challenge for it with a last-ditch 1-0 win over bottom club Eintracht Midwest. It ended the Hendos’ three-game losing streak and puts them just two points off the pace.
At the other end, Midwest are eight points from safety on 4 points. Dresden (11, -11GD), Gloryhammer (12, -12GD) and Cods (12, -11GD) are all far too close to call though, with die Ambosse four points clear of that cluster and the only team looking fairly certain of a midtable finish this far out.

[Various Artist]

Division 1

---

Runaway leaders Berkshire Swine have one trotter back in the promised land, after holding off temporarily-nearest challengers Whoft Fluffopolis 2-1 at the Stef Tolsma. It moved them 9 points clear at the summit, and 12 ahead of 4th place meaning they can potentially seal their elevation to the top flight as soon as tonight. The end to the Fluffers’ three-match winning run drops them back to 3rd, behind AFC Csiki Monkeys whose bid to extend their impressive yo-yo between the top two tiers received a boost via a 4-1 thrashing of Turd Division (8th).
Turds’ plunge towards the u-bend continues: they have now lost 5 on the trot by a combined 17-4. They are still only behind Hampshire Deers on GD (admittedly now by 8) though as the Stags (7th) staggered to a surprise 1-0 home defeat to Wensleydale Blues (9th) – only the Blues’ second win all term, but which cuts their gap to safety down to just 3pts.
Steaua Bridge in contrast are 6 from safety with 5 to play, despite a battling point at Saltney Drawers where Steaua held onto a 1-1 against the run of play. Drawers stick in 5th, while Locomotiv Noj and Rejects Redux swap places around them after Noj’s 1-0 win over the Rejects at the MSA Celebration Arena.
Aside from the Swine, everyone else must look over their shoulders. Between the Monkeys (23pts), Whoft (21), Noj (20), Saltney (19) and Rejects (18) the other promotion places are fully up for grabs, and at the lower end of that group there is just a four-point cushion to the relegation places too...


OTF

---

Vita Mortis entered the previous Monday’s games 7 points clear at the top of the league. One week and 90 minutes later, as it were, they were down to 2nd place after hosts Zeugmaspor fought back with Yunus Gurkan’s second equaliser of the game in the 84th minute to leave the clash of 10th v 1st at the Yeni Hach Kapisi all square at 2-2. Merely one minute later Mortis, three games without a win, saw their four-week run at the head of the standings ended by an own-goal from Great Ouse Town midfielder Hector Woodhouse, which gave Kernow Kensa the two-goal victory margin they needed to supplant the Scythemen at the summit on GD.
It was 1-1 at half-time at the Blue Fen, but Dean Booker fired Kensa back in front after an hour then Woodhouse’s unfortunate late intervention completed a 3-1 win – an eighth straight victory for the Cornishmen, matching Mortis’ own recent streak. It has been a truly spectacular turnaround for Scultura’s team, who started off the campaign DDDDL before doubles over Hideous Towns, Four Candles, Banik Roystonov and now Ouse from the eight subsequent games. Now, of course, they have a run-in against the five teams they could not beat at the start of term... finishing with a trip to Mortis on November 19th.

The defeat for GOT deals a blow to their attempt to insert themselves in the title hunt; the Fenlanders are now 6 points behind the top two, and fall back to 4th thanks to Dandy Town’s home win over Banik Roystonov. The visitors took a first-minute lead with an Ondrich Jarosik FK, but despite their hanging onto it for nearly an hour they were undone by the Highwaymen’s superior firepower – notably Olli Brann burying two freekicks of his own. The Dandies have gone DWDWDW in the last three weeks and have lost only once in 10, and they now sit ominously close behind the heels of the leaders just 4 points in arrears. They have a massive trip to Kernow today.
Banik slip back into the relegation places by a point, as the guttering Four Candles narrowly ended their six-game losing run in a 0-0 at Croesoswallt Dragons where they were badly outplayed yet clung on for their first point since winning the reverse fixture on October 8th. The Candles have still not scored in 7, but are back out of the dropzone and host bottom side Zeugma tonight. The similarly out-of-form Dragons are winless in five, and sit just three points ahead of them in 6th.
Vaulting to 5th though go St Pancras Starmers, who beat Hideous Towns (9th) 3-1 at the Waveney Bowl. The resurgent champions lost 5 on the spin last month, but have now won three straight to pull back clear of relegation danger. Towns are still just a point from safety themselves, ahead of a big Norfolk derby at Mortis this evening.

[Various Artist]

bid to extend their impressive yo-yo

That may have worked better in my head than it came out.

[Sits]

Excellent work VA.

[Janik]

The official Ladies League Cup, Season 60, Round 1 was a bit carnage for OTF sides as we lost a third of our representatives. Let’s hope for better survival rate in Round 2.

Bombay Green Rockets    1 - 0   Viking South Utsira
P?hlmann 46'
                                B.Kvalvik (missed pen) 84'

Viking South Utsira     2 - 1   Bombay Green Rockets
K.Hovland (pen) 53'             P?hlmann 1'
N.Austrheim 77'

2-2 on aggregate. Bombay win on away goals


Cassiopeia              0 - 1   Juventistele
                                Pavarotti 87'
                                Surea (sent off) 90'

Juventistele            1 - 1   Cassiopeia
Lovisteanu 84'                  Gordana 41'
Juventistele win 2-1 on aggregate


Galactic Stars          1 - 2   Mauchline Belles
Thorninger 82'                  Billing 64'
                                Diarra 89'

Mauchline Belles        1 - 0   Galactic Stars
Veta Luengo 32'

Mauchline win 3-1 on aggregate


LNWR Locomotive         0 - 0   Spicks Killiettes

Spicks Killiettes       2 - 2   LNWR Locomotive
Beeton 76'                      Arredondo 68'
Torkhomian 81'                  Teigland 92'

2-2 on aggregate. LNWR win on away goals rule


Man U FF                0 - 2   Kanjeng Ratu Kidul WFC
                                Hartanto 5', 49'

Kanjeng Ratu Kidul WFC  2 - 0   Man U FF
Gr?nn?sen 18'
Sangaji 33'

Kanjeng win 4-0 on aggregate


Menywod Maeshafn        0 - 1   Janes Addiction
                                Rascol 25'

Janes Addiction         1 - 0   Menywod Maeshafn
Asher 68'

Janes win 2-0 on aggregate


Rising Stars            1 - 3   Q.P.R Ladies
Miguel 86'                      Pececnik 5'
                                Alm 54'
                                Asani 90'

Q.P.R Ladies            4 - 0   Rising Stars
Gung 5'
Jun 12', 54'
Mancaku 46'

QPR win 7-1 on aggregate


Skogstorp GoIF          3 - 4   Hazeldean Inchmistress
Azizadeh 33', (pen) 77'         Mej?a 29'
Patrasova 53'                   Pedersen 51', 55'
                                Mollie Tattershall 86'

Hazeldean Inchmistress  1 - 2   Skogstorp GoIF
Bringevik 76'                   Effa 12'
                                Jacqueline Morgan (O.G.) 48'

5-5 on aggregate. Hazeldean win on away goals


FC Spartak Ervalla      0 - 5   Csiki Girls
                                Neaves 3', 55'
                                Crampsey 20', 51'
                                Ryan 37'

Csiki Girls             2 - 0   FC Spartak Ervalla
Ackland 35'
Austin 72'

Csiki Girls win 7-0 on aggregate


Tesla Girls             1 - 3   Drakaina
Chevillon 84'                   Featherstone 18'
                                Byzhyti 44'
                                K?llgren 89'

Drakaina                1 - 1   Tesla Girls
Featherstone 30'                Cardinale 41'

Drakaina win 4-2 on aggregate


Fc Zinken               0 - 2   Coxy Ladies Wulpen
                                Beyen 48', 83'

Coxy Ladies Wulpen      4 - 0   Fc Zinken
van Sttenberghe 11'
Onjens 13'
Beyen 22'
Kabasele 61'

Wulpen win 6-0 on aggregate

Our first tie is the second pair of OTF derbies in this season’s Cup as Bombay Green Rockets took on Viking South Utsira.
The first leg was played in the heat of Mumbai… and unfortunately I missed it so can only give the overview rather than the usual derby blow-by-blow account. What I can still see is that the Green Rockets boss HKS3 was a bit worried about what was to come pre-game, based on a pre-season friendly between the sides that had ended 7-1 to The Blood Eagles.
Things were rather different in a competitive environment though as the game reached the first half interval still scoreless, Viking having the one chance of the period. Bombay’s first opportunity came immediately after the restart when Donielle Cois’ corner was allowed to drop into the second yard box. Cue a mad scramble that was ended when Eileen P?hlmann poked home.
A reaction was likely from The Blood Eagles, right? Well maybe in other weather conditions, but the Norwegian side looked lethargic on this afternoon. They did create a couple of openings in the rest of the game, one of them clear cut. That was an 84th minute penalty. Bergljot Kvalvik grabbed the ball, but didn’t put it away.
That meant Velvet Android’s side had a deficit to overturn and were going to have to do so without the security blanket of an away goal going in the return at Ragnar Rock. It took The Rockets just seconds to make the most of this, P?hlmann firing in from a narrow angle to make the aggregate 0-2. The away goal meant the ask on Viking was to score three to save their skins.
It took the hosts some time to get their heads around this, and indeed it was Bombay who had the next chance, P?hlmann’s lob header in the 10th minute just clearing the bar. Viking’s first chance took until the 26th minute, and had the same outcome as Tyra Klovning’s lob (with her foot rather than her head) was also fractionally over. Lina Hovland then hit the target with a 34th minute free-kick, but without the power or placement to demand anything but a routine save from Mathilda Gr?newald. She was also essentially untroubled by Nina Austrheim’s 43rd minute drive.
The Blood Eagles came out showing increasing urgency after the break, and soon hit the angle of post and bar with Mette Hovland’s 48th minute lob. Five minutes on from that VSU got their second penalty of the tie. This time skipper Kristin Hovland was on the pitch; she took it and scored. Viking pushing on was leaving holes at the back, which produced a free-kick in shooting range for Marcia Wemerson on 59 minutes. Monike Austrheim in the Utsira goal handled in comfortably.
Still Viking came on, Nina Austrheim sending an effort from range one metre wide in the 65th minute. Austrheim had her sights correct in the 77th minute though as she broke away and slid the ball past the advancing Gr?newald’s right hand, and also inside the post. That got Viking level on aggregate, but they needed another. Bergljot Kvalvik sent a toe-poke over in the 79th minute, but that was to be The Blood Eagles last chance of the game. The only further sight of goal went Bombay’s way instead, Amalea Ferrante powering a shot narrowly side in the 91st minute.
That final effort going wide didn’t matter though as The Green Rockets had already done enough. Their reward for toppling Viking is to take over The Blood Eagles seeded spot. That means they will be away for the opening leg of their Round 3 encounter with Secret Scorers of Division 6:33.

Cassiopeia were looking to bring down opponents from two tiers higher than themselves when they took on Juventistele.
The opening leg was a tight affair despite the gap in level between the two sides, likely due to Cassiopeia boss Stormstopper’s cautious 5-3-2 approach. This so nearly worked as Juventistele were stopped in their tracks. In fact, they didn’t get a shot on the Vainglories net until the 87th minute. But when they finally did, it sadly went in. The negative of the formation was that when Juventistele’s skipper Andra Surea got sent off for her second yellow card in the 90th minute, Cassiopeia didn’t have enough bodies willing to go forwards to make the most of it.
That result meant The Starry Double-U’s had to score in the second leg, but if they did so it would cancel out the away goal. Which is exactly what happened in the 41st minute when Gordana Juric headed home. Another would have put The Vainglories in a brilliant position, but instead it was another low on chances game and another when Juventistele nicked one late on to go 2-1 up on aggregate. Even then a goal for Cassiopeia would have turned things around. But it wasn’t to be.

The second round draw pitted Mauchline Belles against opposition from three tiers further down the pyramid in the guise of Division 5 outfit Galactic Stars.
The opening leg was on the Stars ground, but it was The Belles who shaded a tight, indeed goalless first half. Jdsx’s side had 57% possession in that period, and exactly the same after the break but this in the second period they added chances to mix, going from one in the first 45 to five openings after the teams had switched around. All those opportunities had to lead to a goal or two, Vicki Billing getting the first from close range on 64 minutes.
The Scots pressed for more after that, only to be hit with an equaliser very much against the run of play on 82 minutes. A draw would have been a harsh reflection on a game where Mauchline were clearly the better side… which makes Odette Diarra’s 89th minute headed winner seem fair enough.
That goal made a huge difference to the second leg as suddenly Galactic had to press forward as they required a minimum of two goals to avoid elimination. Mauchline, by contrast, could keep it tight and look to exploit whatever limited openings that might allow. Which is exactly how the return leg panned out, a game of very few chances producing just a single goal, scored by Veta Luengo on 32 minutes.
The Belles reward for their 3-1 aggregate win is two games against FC Norrbylund of Division 6:25. Despite the relative status of the two teams, the opening leg will be at Tarbolton Road.

[Janik]

LNWR Locomotive faced a tough challenge in Round 2 after they were paired with Division 3 outfit Spicks Killiettes. Division 3 being two steps up the pyramid from The Steamers current level.
Mollington Street was the venue for the opening leg. And… well, let’s say it has been host to more exciting games during its history. Just about the square root of, um, nothing, happened. Killiettes had more of the ball, but without creating a chance, whilst Viktor Boskovic’s side did created a solitary opening. But didn’t score it. There weren’t even any cards of substitutes, the match highlights log containing just a single minor injury (for Killie).
0-0 at home wasn’t a bad result for The Steamers though, as it meant all they needed at Bourtreehill Park was a score draw. Well, I say ‘all’, but that was still quite a challenge particularly as the Spicks boss had remembered to pick his side for this one. Despite that Locomotive still had the sole chance of the opening half, albeit again unconverted.
By half-time, 135 minutes of Football had been played with Steamers ‘keeper Maral Parseghian yet to face a shot. That would change quite dramatically in the second 45 minutes, but despite the efforts raining in on the Steamers net it was the visitors who went in front when Constanza Arredondo fired in from long range on 68 minutes.
That was a huge goal as it meant Spicks needed two to overcome the away strike. They got one on 76 minutes as Parseghian was finally beaten and followed that up with a second on 81. It looked for all the world like a close-but-no-cigar outcome for The Steamers, until, in stoppage time, one last chance came their way. If there was a player the Locomotive support would have chosen to be on the end of that 92nd minute corner, it was Maja Teigland. She showed why as her glancing header zipped across goal and in off the far post.
Cue wild celebrations on the away end as there was just no time for Killiettes to recover. The Steamers progress instead to a Round 3 clash with VV Waddenzee of Division 4f. Mollington Street will host the second leg this time around.

Three Divisions separated Kanjeng Ratu Kidul WFC from Division 6 opponents Man U FF.
It showed, as SeanoftheShed’s Sea Spirits had the better of their opponents from the first few minutes of the opening away leg. Utami Hartanto was the player to make the breakthrough for Kanjeng, just 5 minutes in. She repeated the trick at a very similar stage of the second half, her and her teams second coming approximately 60 seconds earlier in the period. Aside from Hartanto’s two strikes there wasn’t very much else of note in the first meeting of the tie.
Those two strikes put The Sea Goddesses in a strong, but not unassailable, position prior to the return at Merapi-Kraton-South Sea. At least not at kick-off, as by half-time the Indonesians were 2-0 up on the night again following strikes from Mariell Gr?nn?sen on 18 minutes and a direct free-kick by Utami Sangaji on 33. 4-0 on aggregate was comfortably enough to put the tie to bed, the second period playing out goallessly and chancelessly as Kanjeng shut the game down.
Next up for The Spirits of the Sea will be Las Mazas of Division 4o. Kanjeng will be heading to Spain for leg one of this one.

Menywod Maeshafn’s reward for reaching Round 2 was a shot-to-nothing at taking down Division 2 outfit Janes Addiction.
North Wales was the venue for match one of the tie. The hosts settled very decently, having more of the ball and a share of the legitimate chances in the half at 1-1. Unfortunately for boss IsThatcherDeadYet that equal share didn’t extend to the scoreline as Janes Addiction went into the break one to the good following a 25th minute header (the visitors had already had a strike previously ruled out by this stage).
Maeshafn had the better of possession before the break. And after it. But not chances in the second half as these broke mostly for Janes. The visitors didn’t take any though, which kept the tie alive for the second leg, albeit with the Welsh side definite second-favourites. Their interest in the tie stayed alive for pretty well the whole match, though a long shot did become an extremely long one after the hosts went 1-0 up again on 68 minutes.
Only one shot on goal in the entire second leg was the killer though as Maeshafn’s performance was creditable, but still resulted in elimination.

Rising Stars were also looking to punch up three levels when they faced Q.P.R Ladies from Division 3.
And, um, this one was altogether less close. That is because Blamb’s Stars dismantled QP… ha, no, that isn’t quite what happened. Maria Miguel did get a goal for The Ascenders after 86 minutes of the opening leg, but that only brought the score on the night back to 1-2 after goals from QPR on 5 and 54 minutes. And even that push against the tide was swiftly reserved when the visitors struck again on 90.
That made the second leg almost a formality, but QPR were not easing off despite this, which made for rather a hard day for The Stars. Hard to the tune of 4-0 against on the night, the goals coming in braces in the opening 10-15 minutes of each half.
A 9-day injury to closed season signing Edite Mon??o, suffered on 69 minutes, i.e. junk time when the aggregate score was already 7-1, just compounded the agony of defeat for Rising.

A shock win in Round 1 over a Division 4 side meant Hazeldean Inchmistress took over a seeded spot and got a plum Second Round draw against fellow Division 6 outfit Skogstorp GoIF.
The Imperials shaded an open first half of the first leg on possession terms. Chances were one a piece though, as were goals, Elvia Mej?a firing home a direct free-kick on 29 minutes only for Skogstorp to respond in kind four minutes later.
The second half continued to be exciting with chances at both ends, but this time came with goals by the bucketload. In the first few minutes of the half in particular as a breathless five minute spell produced three strikes. Inchmistress got the first of these on 51 minutes, Line Pedersen scoring a breakaway, once again Skogstorp responded with a near identical goal almost immediately (53), only for Pedersen to put Foxy265’s side ahead for a third time with a close range finish on 55 minutes.
After that things calmed down. Somewhat. Chances were still coming, but it was over 20 minutes until the next goal. And that was a third equaliser for Skogstorp, this one from the penalty spot. Hazeldean showed immense mental fortitude though by not buckling with this and going ahead for a fourth time(!) when Mollie Tattershall cracked in a long range effort on 86 minutes.
That was finally the end of the first leg scoring, leaving the dust to settle on a single goal lead for Inchmistress but with four away goals in the bank. That meant that even a single goal defeat in Framleyshire on the return would be enough for progress. So long as it wasn’t 5-4, 6-5 or 7-6, scores which couldn’t be entirely ruled out after the first encounter!
Those away goals began to look important when Skogstorp scored fairly early on at Ken Higgs Avenue (12 minutes) and continued to create chances after that through the first half. The Imperials held on at 0-1 ‘til half-time, despite losing midfielder Jessica Dekoninck to a 10-day injury a few minutes before the interval. But soon after the break the second Skostorp goal that had been coming arrived… via an own goal from the hosts
Now Hazeldean needed a goal, but from where? The Imperials hadn’t created a single chance in the game! What was needed was a cool head if a sight of goal did suddenly pop up, and that is exactly what Jennie Bringevik demonstrated in the 76th minute. It was to prove the only chance Inchmistress created in the second leg, but that and the four from the first were enough to secure progress by that narrowest margin, away goals.
Round 3 is also still seeded and with The Imperials now in a high slot they will get to host the second game again. The opposition are back up a couple of notches though as this time it’s Bolton Ladies College of Division 4k.

[Janik]

Our next tie was an all Division 5 affair that pitted Csiki Girls against FC Spartak Ervalla.
The Csiki’s were on their travels for leg one, which took place at Euroborg. It proved to be a very comfortable venue for Ad hoc’s side who were very swiftly into the lead, Robin Neaves firing home in the 3rd minute, and three to the good and cruising by half-time after further strikes from Ginger Crampsey (20th minute breakaway) and Tracey Ryan, who headed home a corner on 37. 3-0 was maybe a shade flattering for The Csiki’s as it came from just 5 first half chances but a comfortable lead was merited as they had also had the lion’s share of possession.
The Transylvanians showed no sign of letting up immediately after the break, continuing to boss the ball and swiftly adding two more as Crampsey (header, 51 minutes) and Neaves (close-range shot, 55) both registered their second of the days. But after that it was quite enough, Csiki Girls shutting up shop on a 5-0 away win.
That made the second leg an absolutely formality. However, just for safety, Csiki Girls dominated the play once again, making 7 chances to Ervalla’s 1. That latter number was nowhere near cutting it, especially as the target continued to move further away after Norma Ackland (breakaway, 35) and Bethany Austin (header from corner, 72) padded Csiki Girls lead further.
The reward for such a thoroughly comprehensive victory is two matches against Badal FC of Division 3a. The Csiki’s are again the higher seeded side, so will host the second game.

With nearly the entire height of the pyramid between Drakaina and Division 6 outfit Tesla Girls, The Dragons were extremely strong favourites to make further progress in the competition.
Etienne’s side were looking to kill the tie off in the opening leg so that more fringe players could play in the return. Tesla proved no pushovers though, only allowing the Greeks two first half chances. Drakaina did score both, though, Madeleine Featherstone heading home on 18 minutes and Sandra Byzhyti burying a direct free-kick on 44.
The match stayed tight after the break, with relatively few chances and no addition to the score until well inside the last ten minutes. Tesla showed they were still in the fight by becoming the next side to register when the impasse was finally broken on 84 minutes, only for Matilda K?llgren to re-institute Drakaina’s two goal cushion on 89 minutes with a long-range strike.
That two goal cushion was effectively three, as the first leg score meant Tesla Girls were out unless they netted at least that many in the return match at Delphi. Which stayed the requirement, though now for a draw rather than a win, even after Featherstone touched in a K?llgren free-kick on the half-hour. The visitors did chip the target down to two before the interval, but that was to prove their last chance of the tie.
Drakaina move on to a Round 3 clash with Jackie Brown of Division 3g.

The final tie for us of this round sent Coxy Ladies Wulpen up against Fc Zinken of Division 5.
The Waders played to their level in the opening leg, looking every bit two tiers better than their hosts. A slew of chances were created from which only two goals was marginally disappointing, though probably enough. The two chances converted were both snaffled by Charlotte Beyen, one following a 48th minute corner, the other a speculative long-ranger on 83 minutes. The only downside to Coxy Ladies day was a nasty injury (19 days) suffered by first-choice defender Claire Michel during the first half.
A two goal cushion made the second leg look pretty straightforward for Janik’s side. It swiftly became a formality with strikes from Eva van Sttenberghe (11 minutes), Christelle Onjens (13) and Beyen (22). All were from corners, Onjens’ being a shot with the other two headers.
Jessica Kabasele headed in an open play cross for the fourth of the day on 61 minutes, but the big news for Wulpen after the break was another serious injury to a first choice defender, this time Lien Valcke going down three minutes prior to Kabasele’s strike with a 12-day knock. That left Coxy Ladies with a very young backline for the remaining half-hour, but one unsuccessful shot from Zinken was not even close to the six goals they needed at that point.
Neither Valcke or Michel will quite be back fit in time for the opening leg at The Curlew’s Nest of Wulpen’s Round 3 tie against The Madhouse of Division 4d.


Round 2 draw - first listed teams home in opening leg

Badal FC (3a)                  vs   Csiki Girls
Bolton Ladies College (4k)     vs   Hazeldean Inchmistress
Coxy Ladies Wulpen             vs   The Madhouse (4d)
Jackie Brown (3g)              vs   Drakaina
Mauchline Belles               vs   FC Norrbylund (6:25)
Las Mazas (4o)                 vs   Kanjeng Ratu Kidul WFC
Secret Scorers (6:33)          vs   Bombay Green Rockets
VV Waddenzee (4f)              vs   LNWR Locomotive

[Hot Orange]

OTF Season 60 Round 14 Round-Up

OTF

---

After climbing to the top of the table on the back of eight straight wins, Kernow Kensa were unable to maintain the momentum and were beaten 1-0 at home by Dandy Town, Tim Bruggermann nodding in the winner for the visitors on the hour. Their defeat allowed Vita Mortis to return to the summit, even though they were held to a 1-1 home draw by strugglers Hideous Towns. Reine Rose gave Towns an early lead, but thereafter they were unable to get near the Mortis goal and were inevitably pegged back by Rene Vanden Borre's equaliser. Those results leave things intriguingly poised at the top. Mortis have a one-point advantage over Kernow, and the Dandies, now very much back in the hunt, are just one point further back in 3rd. Both Mortis' and Kernow's eight wins so far this season have come in one streak. Huh. Two defeats in a week appear to have removed 4th-placed Great Ouse Town from the title race. They went down 2-1 at Croesoswallt Dragons, whose winner from Lewis Harold was very late but well deserved. Ouse slip five points behind the top three, while the Dragons move a similar distance clear of the relegation places. Indeed, it is now looking likely that three of the current bottom four will drop. Four Candles missed an opportunity to increase their advantage over the bottom three in a 1-1 draw at home to tail-enders Zeugmaspor. Apolo Arjona thumped them ahead with a first-half free kick, but visiting captain Abidin Praminho equalised from the spot in a game apparently featuring no other action. The Candles, in 7th, are a point ahead of Hideous. The two teams meet on Monday and your reporter is anxious. Banik Roystonov were the latest victims of the St Pancras Starmers revival, losing 2-1 at home to the reigning champs and dropping to 9th. Bankai Tensa Zangetsu hit the decisive goal and is now the division's joint top scorer (with Ouse's Jeffery Redman) on six. The victory keeps the Starmers in 5th and should banish any lingering relegation fears.

Division 1

---

They lost their second game of the season, but it has been largely plain sailing for Berkshire Swine since then and they can put their trotters up having secured their immediate return to the top flight with four games to spare. Second-half goals from Devon Newton and Jesus Carreto gave them a 2-0 win at Turd Division and puts them beyond the reach of all bar AFC Csiki Monkeys. The sinking Turds, meanwhile, have lost six in a row and are now three points adrift of safety. The title is more or less in the bag for the Swine, as the 2nd-placed Monkeys trail them by 11 points following a 2-2 draw at home to Locomotiv Noj, Konrad Biliczki salvaging the point for them in the 92nd minute. Noj slip a place to 5th but remain very much involved in what promises to be a thrilling battle for the two remaining promotion places. Whoft Fluffoplis and Saltney Drawers are the other principal protagonists and they met on Thursday at the Raymond Illingworth. A predictably close contest was settled in the Drawers' favour when Acker Herron's late pile-driver gave them a 2-1 win that lifts them above the Fluffers into 3rd. Rejects Redux would have gone 4th with a home win over Hampshire Deers, but the southern cervinae triumphed 3-1 with Wesley Greaves coming off the bench to score twice. Defeat leaves the Rejects four points from both the promotion places and the relegation zone, with the Deers a point and a place beneath them in 7th. The clash between the bottom two, Steaua Bridge and Wensleydale Blues, ended goalless and did little to boost either's survival hopes.

Division 2

---

We have a confirmed promotion here too, Eriskay Expression sealing the deal in impressive style with a convincing 3-0 win at Athletico Deva, the last side outside of the top three who could have caught them. They will surely soon be joined by Great Northern Railway, whose nervy 1-0 win at die Ambosse - clinched by Lance Lambert firing home their only opening of the game - gives them a 10-point cushion over the 4th-placed Deviants. The Gang Play Football strengthened their grip on 3rd with a comfortable 3-0 success at Eintracht Midwest, a result which all but seals Eintracht's relegation. The two other relegation spots are very much to be determined. New Dresden are 9th and lost ground on the rest as they went down to a crucial defeat at Cods of War, who are thus now four points ahead of them in 7th. The flaky-fleshed fighters overcame the first-minute nobbling of Albert Haressa to score twice without reply before exacting a revenge crocking on Dresden's Wesley Little in the appropriately named injury time (although it should be noted that there is no evidence that either injury was caused by an injudicious challenge). FC Gloryhammer stay level on points with the Cods, and move just one behind die Ambosse, after Peter Travers' early goal proved decisive at home to Heffron Hendecagon, who will now be another team not quite sure whether to push for promotion or concentrate on avoiding relegation, being five points away from both. Or they could just try to win their games, I guess.

Division 3

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Leaders Brian Munchingflapjack are within touching distance of promotion after easing to a 4-0 win at Veni Vici Vigata, Carlos Ivan netting twice for the Flappers. VVV stay 6th. OWC Albion are back up into 2nd following a pivotal 2-1 victory at Tree Hill High, for whom a first defeat in ten sees them drop to 5th, four points shy of the final promotion place. That place is currently occupied by Wednesday de la Zouch, who slipped from 2nd after being surprising held to a goalless draw by 8th-placed Wharfedale Generals. Moving up to 4th, two points short of the top three and possibly starting to see an opportunity to make their first step back up the league, are Nieuwegein Kneebiters, who were comfortable 3-0 winners at home to bottom club Pinewood Passers. 7th-placed Littlewoods Legends did not partake in the day's activities.

[lambers]

Continued appreciation from me for HO, VA and Janik's round-ups. Most of the time I'm lazy and just click the 'Like' button, but thought I would voice it this time round.

the southern cervinae

This is making me think that I should come up with a club motto. I've never learnt latin, so relying on online translation services, but I'm currently leaning towards 'Esse cervi'.

[Antepli Ejderha]

Continued appreciation from me for HO, VA and Janik's round-ups. Most of the time I'm lazy and just click the 'Like' button, but thought I would voice it this time round.

This. But I'm lazier.

[Antepli Ejderha]

After choking in the two previous rounds I've got my win and promotion to division 2 in the Golden League, I should also have a decent change report and get some money with the sale of a few youngsters.

Next I'll see my draw and things will go downhill from there.

[Sits]

This. But I'm lazier.

Liked, as I’m even lazier.