X11 season 45 - de rigueur Mortis

[Janik]

Xpert XI official Ladies League Season 60, Matchday 5 report.

Division 1a

Drakaina                   0 - 2   BK Pinglan
                                   Ljungqvist 49', 83'


Division 2b

Van Helsings GLS           4 - 0   Mauchline Belles
De Leonardis 23'
D?Aniello 43' 58'                  Diarra (sent off) 39'
Bramstedt 72'


Division 3d

Gazzas Gals                0 - 0   Coxy Ladies Wulpen


Division 3e

Red Dead Heads             0 - 2   Kanjeng Ratu Kidul WFC
                                   Sangaji 31', 59'


Division 4i

Viking South Utsira        2 - 1   Watergate Bay Surfers
B.Kvalvik (pen) 79'                Schemmel (pen) 41'
Y.Klovning 89'


Division 5:17

LNWR Locomotive            2 - 2   Eastern Promise
Astakhov 75'                       Tufvander 28'
Diana 80'                          T?vora 38'


Division 5:22

Bombay Green Rockets       4 - 1   Orleans
P?hlmann 1', 44', 73'              Myeys 51'
Alberdi 20'


Division 5:28

Cassiopeia                 0 - 0   Evil daughters

Menywod Maeshafn           0 - 0   Anonymous


Division 5:32

Csiki Girls                3 - 0   Vikings Ladies FC
Strouts 63'
Ryan 77'
Crampsey 79'


Division 6:27

I Cinghiali                3 - 0   Fear IsNotA Weakness
Kajtazi 17'
Chornovil 45'
Soviero 86'


Division 6:33

Rising Stars               3 - 2   San Francisco 9ers
Servidei 28'                       Camacho 53'
Wa 48'                             Baroncelli 88'
Andorinha 71'


Division 6:38

Trance Girls               0 - 6   Ullapool Northern Star
                                   Taggart 4'
                                   Harper 14', 55'
                                   MacKintosh 22'
                                   Iosifescu 27'
                                   Mair 71'


Division 6:41

Hazeldean Inchmistress     0 - 2   CF Fuego Eagles
                                   Andervi 43', 48'


Division 6:43

The Anarchists             1 - 3   ASU Politehnica
Schiessl 16'                       Furukvist 3'
                                   Kallio 53'
                                   Motta 68'

Hom FC                     1 - 3   Invisible Ladies
Bennett 90'                        Parsons 26'
                                   Shuttlewood 51'
                                   Longsworth (pen) 72'
                                   Fagerstr?m (sent off) 82'


Division 6:52

Zeugma Dostluk Spor        4 - 0   Haruhiists
Mansiz 19'
Colak 26'
Kulakova 46'
Kurt 72'


Division 6:56

Dublin City Womens FC      3 - 1   Homers Damer
Tavares 32'                        Sturzoiu 13'
Rusu (pen) 58'
Lyktberg 81'

Near the foot of the Division 1a table is presumably not where Drakaina boss Etienne expected his side to be. But that is where The Dragons found themselves ahead of a key game against another struggling side, BK Pinglan.
With both teams low on confidence the first strike was going to be vital. It didn’t come in the first half, but did soon after the break. Unfortunately for those backing the OTF side, the 49th minute breakthrough was in favour of Pinglan. That seemed to undermine the Greeks fragile self-belief, Drakaina not creating another chance in the rest of the game. Pinglan only made one more themselves (83rd minute), but they took it in the seal the key win.
Defeat see Drakaina slip to the bottom of the Division 1a table, and facing a real battle to avoid a second straight relegation.

Mauchline Belles know all about relegation battles, having preserved their Division 2b status on the last day of each of the last three seasons. Hopes were high at Tarbolton Toad another fraught campaign could be avoided this season, but so far it seems Jdsx and his girls are treading that very familiar path again.
A victory at Van Helsings GLS would have helped, given the sides were separated at kick-off by just goal difference… and the relegation drop line. But this really wasn’t The Belles day at all. The first half was one-way traffic in Van Helsings favour, though it took them until the 36th minute to take the lead. At 1-0 down Mauchline were still in with a chance with stealing something. As long as they still had a full complement of players. And that wasn’t true after the 39th minute as that was when Odette Diarra was shown a straight red card.
Van Helsings added a second in the brief period between the dismissal and half-time, which essentially killed the game as a contest. The second half was instead a question of how bad things would get for The Belles. The eventual damage was 4-0.
After that defeat Mauchline stay sixth in the table, but are now three points and -9 GD from safety rather than zero points and -1. It may be a result with long-term significance.

Week 5 of the season sent draw specialists Coxy Ladies Wulpen, who had finished all square in 8 of their previous 13 league games, to bottom-of-the-table Gazzas Gals, who were without a league win this season.
Well, children, what do we think is going to happen here? Did anyone say ‘goalless draw’? Congratualtions! Give yourself a gold star! The Waders arguably had the better of the play, Janik’s side holding over 50% possession in both halves and making two chances for every one by Gazzas Girls. But that is both the ratio, and the absolute. And two opening was not enough for the goalshy Waders to break through.
A third draw from five this season left Coxy Ladies fifth in the Division 3d standings, a point clear of the drop zone and five behind the top two.

Kanjeng Ratu Kidul WFC hadn’t won any of their opening four Division 3e games following promotion, though they had drawn a couple. Fellow promoted side Red Dead Heads hadn’t lost any, though draws were even more prevalent for them with three from four. Another stalemate in the making then?
Well, not so fast. The Sea Spirits had Utami Sangaji, you see. And she was on deadly form from the set-piece in this one. Whether SeanoftheShed’s side genuinely deserved to win this game 2-0 was a subject worthy of debate, with evidence pointing both ways. The Sea Goddesses didn’t out-chacne their hosts, each side getting three sights of goal. But they did have a lot more possession, 60% across the entire piece.
But only one statistic counts, and that is goals, and that was where Sangaji came in. Twice she lined up from free-kicks in shooting range, on 31 and 59 minutes respectively, and twice the Red Dead net bulged.
And with that, Kanjeng climb two places up the 3e table to sit fifth. Their advantage over those still in the drop zone is only goal difference, but it’s a start. If the Indonesians are going to chase down the top two, they will have a five or six point gap to close.

Division 4i provided us with a top-of-the-table clash as leaders Viking South Utsira welcomed nearest rivals Watergate Bay Surfers to Ragnar Rock.
It was the Surfers who looked the most threatening through an otherwise even first half, having a goal disallowed on 18 minutes before taking the lead from the penalty spot on 41. VSU upped their game after the break though, and started creating chances. It took the same method for Velvet Android’s team to equalise as they had fallen behind too though, Irre Levant pointing to the spot in the 79th minute, and Bergljot Kvalvik converting.
Having levelled fairly late in the game, The Blood Eagles were carrying momentum. This paid off in the 89th minute when a cross from Kvalvik was headed home by Yasmine Klovning for a late, dramatic and just about deserved winner.
The win kept Viking top of the table, though due to other results their advantage over 4i’s chasing pack is unchanged at three points still.

LNWR Locomotive were looking to get their campaign moving consistently in the right direction against Eastern Promise after rather shunting back-and-forth over the first four rounds of the season.
The Steamers still seemed to be in reverse in the first half though as Promise had more of the ball, and more of the chances. Enough to merit being ahead, though arguably 2-0 at the break was flattering for the visitors.
Viktor Boskovic’s side were barely recognisable from the outfit that had played in the first half after the break. Suddenly the game was all Locomotive, with chances coming regularly for The Steamers. It took quite a bit of the half for this more positive display to be turned into goals, but once Simona Astakhov had got one on 75 minutes with a breakaway then a second for Gia Diana (header from a corner on 80) swiftly followed.
After trailing by two, rescuing a point probably felt like success for The Steamers. But it was enough to maintain their position in the Division 5:17 table as the single point gained saw them drop a spot to sit fifth, just a point clear of the drop zone.

[Janik]

This season had been a struggle for both Bombay Green Rockets and Orleans, making a game against each other an opportunity for both, but also a game where defeat would be difficult to take.
That was exactly what Orleans were contemplating as early as the 1st minute, as that was how long it took for Eileen P?hlmann to fire The Green Rockets ahead. Just seconds in fact as P?hlmann spotted the Orleans ‘keeper not concentrating, the shot coming from inside the centre-circle that the ball had yet to leave following the kick-off.
That goal set the template for HKS3’s side – shoot on sight. Which paid dividends when Josefa Alberdi doubled the advantage on 20 minutes, also with an effort from long range, and P?hlmann did likewise to net her second of the day on 44 minutes.
Three up at the break meant Bombay were flying. Orleans tried to drag them back to earth with one pulled back on 51 minutes, backing that up with a really poor tackle on Rockets forward Isabel Lock on 63 that saw the French player booked and Lock out for 20 days. Despite these setbacks Bombay were still clearly and comfortably the better side, which they again displayed when P?hlmann completed her hattrick in the 73rd minute, this time from a breakaway strike.
The win lifted Bombay up to sixth in the Division 5:22 table. They are now just one point behind the target spot of fifth.

OTF’s sides in Division 5:28 were looking to improve on their mid-table spots when they took on sides just below the pair in the table.
For Cassiopeia that meant a match at home against Evil daughters, who sat seventh in the standings.
The hosts were to have distinctly the better of things at Agora Aethiopia if you count by chances created; Stormstopper’s side created four scoring opportunities and only allowed their visitors one. It wasn’t as clear by possession, which tipped 55/45 in Evil daughters favour. And the one metric that actually matters, goals? Well that column was blank. For both sides.
OK, maybe things were more exciting in North Wales where Menywod Maeshafn took on sixth-placed Anonymous?
Um, no, not really. Even less action than in Cassiopeia’s match, in fact. And in Maeshafn’s case, they didn’t even have the moral victory of having more chances as Anonymous made two to the hosts one, and also claimed a fractional majority of possession. In fact, overall, Maesahfn boss IsThatcherDeadYet was likely a little relived to get out of the game with a point after a goalless draw.
A dull day overall then, which translated to the table that was obviously unchanged in the fourth to seventh placed region after the sides occupying those spots all drew 0-0. Maeshafn stay fourth, a point clear of the bottom three. Cassiopeia remain fifth, out of the drop zone on goal difference.

Four straight draws had left Csiki Girls mired in the Division 5:32 drop zone, a grouping that also contained their matchday 5 foes Vikings Ladies FC.
The hosts received a boost as it became clear that the Vikings manager was absent from proceedings (no subs picked); Ad hoc’s side proceeded to have the better of affairs. But they struggled to make a breakthrough up until Vikings picked up a red cross injury on 58 minutes, which, see above, left them with only 10 fit players.
Already on top, Csiki Girls became utterly dominant due to the extra player, going ahead on 63 minutes through Hillary Strouts’ header, and adding two more in a quick-fire burst when Tracey Ryan and Ginger Crampsey scored on 77 and 79 respectively.
The win shot Csiki Girls up the table to fourth place. They are now two points clear of the drop zone, and just two adrift of the leaders. And still unbeaten, of course.

I Cinghiali were looking to consolidate their hold on the leadership of Division 6:27 when they welcomed Fear IsNotA Weakness to Piani Resinelli.
The visitors had reasons for trepidation given how The Boars have been playing in recent weeks. And did so again in this game, particularly in the first half when SitsWithRemote’s girls were much the better side. Cinghiali made a number of openings, one of which Izabela Kajtazi converted with a close range shot. That came after 17 minutes, which looked like it would be all the reward the hosts would get from the first half, until up popped Aleksandra Chornovil to add a second in the final minute of normal time of the period.
Game management was the requirement after the break, something I Cinghiali achieved very effectively, limiting Fear to just a single chance and creating a few of their own which also saw the advantage extended late when Trillare Soviero netted in the 86th minute.
If you start the day clear at the top of the table and then win your game, then you are also going to end it clear at the top of the table. Which is exactly where The Boars are. Three points clear, to be precise.

For the second straight week Rising Stars were up against another of the teams who they shared the best record in Division 6:33 with when they took on leaders San Francisco 9ers.
The previous week’s clash had ended as a 0-0 draw for Blamb’s side, but this time The Stars were looking more creative in the final third. Which produced an opening goal on 28 minutes for Patrizia Servidei, the first of in her senior career for the 19 year-old midfielder.
Hua Wa added a second for The Ascenders early in the second half, but if Stars fans thought this meant an easy day in prospect then Frisco had other ideas, pulling one back just five minutes later. The game swung from end-to-end after this, but crucially the next to score were Rising again, Pen?lope Andorinha restoring the two goal cushion on 71 minutes.
That wasn’t the end of the scoring though, San Fran reducing the gap again on 88 minutes. But never closing it as Rising Stars saw out the win that lifted them above their beaten foes, and up to second in the 6:33 table. They are only goal difference off the new top side... who they play next!

Ullapool Northern Star were not expecting a difficult challenge when they visited zombies Trance Girls.
The hosts had lost all their games without scoring and never looked like preventing Ullapool from doing the same to them. The hosts wandered around in a daze, paying little attention as Julie Taggart (4th minute breakaway), Sarah Harper (header, 14), Hellen MacKintosh (direct free-kick, 22) and Alunia Iosifescu (long range shot, 27) racked up a completely decisive four-goal lead by the interval. Iosifescu’s strike was the 21 year-old midfielder’s first for Star.
Delicatemoth’s side kept going for more after the break as goal difference could matter in Division 6:38, adding a couple of extra as Harper got her second of the day on 55 minutes and Mary-Leslie Mair turned home a corner for the sixth on 71 minutes.
This was one of four wins for human-managed teams over zombies in 6:38 on the day, which means no change to the league table that shows Polaris in third, a point adrift of the top two.

Hazeldean Inchmistress had a hot potato on their hands as they invited Division 6:41 leaders CF Fuego Eagles into Ken Higgs Avenue.
Fuego arrived in Framleyshire with a perfect record – not just four wins from four, but four from four without conceding to boot. The Imperials had had a somewhat stickier start, but Foxy265’s team gave a good account of themselves here, matching Fuego chance for chance despite only having around a third of the ball.
The score stayed level until approaching the interval, when a breakthrough came. Sadly though it wasn’t the first goal against Fuego this season, but instead the leaders going ahead on 43 minutes. When they added a second a short while into the second half it was moreorless game over for Inchmistress.
Defeat left Hazeldean fifth in the 6:41 table, six points adrift of the play-off spot and eight behind Fuego.

[Janik]

Just one win from their opening four games was a record ASU Politehnica really needed to improve upon as soon as possible. Even if that meant winning at a side third in the table, as was the case with The Anarchists.
The Scholars belief in what they were doing was given an early boost by Ellen Furukvist when she headed home a cross in the 3rd minute. That meant a setback like a equaliser for the hosts, on 16 minutes, could be taken in their stride by Grantamian’s side, who had a reasonable shout to being the better side in the first half.
But such claims are empty bombast compared to the hard reality of goals scored, which made Netta Kallio’s conversion from a 53rd minute corner a much more significant event. That goal showed that Politehnica appeared to have the better of their hosts in the aerial duel, an idea that was further reinforced when Fernanda Motta headed home a corner to make it 3-1 on 68 minutes.
Motta’s goal was the forward’s first since her closed season acquisition by the Scholars (at 31 she is a mature student). It would also prove to be the last significant action of the match.
Elsewhere in the same section, Invisible Ladies were on the road at Hom FC.
See-Throughs fans may have looked once at their opponents, bottom of the table, pointless and without a manager, and marked them down as easy meat for Pebblethefish’s girls. However a second glance at Hom’s previous results, all defeats but with two goals or fewer conceded in three of their four games, and figured there may be some hard work needed by the team first.
Invisible did find Homerton to be reasonably resilient. But, importantly, The See-Throughs were also efficient in front of goal, turning three first half sights of the target into a 1-0 goal interval (Catlyn Parsons from long range on 26 minutes) and then adding two more from just three further chances after the break when Aileen Shuttlewood struck on 51 and Linda Longsworth converted from the spot on 72.
The visitors might have padded their lead more if Margareta Fagerstr?m didn’t get herself sent off (straight red) on 82 minutes. Once she did it was Hom who looked the more likely to add a goal, which indeed they did. But coming on 90 minutes it was too late to change the result from being in The See-Throughs’ favour.
The win kept Invisible hot on leaders The Devilettes heels, just +2 goal difference behind in fact. The See-Throughs are also three points clear of third in the table… in part because third is no longer The Anarchists after ASU Politehnica beat them. As for The Scholars, they stay fifth despite the win, but are now in touch with the sides above, though the gap to Invisible and the top remains five points.

Zeugma Dostluk Spor took the field against Haruhiists looking to extend their utterly perfect record so far in the league this season.
Four wins from four with no goals conceded was what Antepli Ejderha’s side had racked up prior to this one, and they demonstrated exactly why with another comprehensive performance that didn’t give their opponents a sniff. Zeugma had 60% or more possession in each half, and regular chances throughout, with goals also accumulating steadily across the piece.
Makbule Mansiz got the first from range on 16 minutes, with Semra Colak adding to it from rather closer in on 26. The second half started with a similar goal to the opener, scored this time by Veronika Kulakova before even a minute had elapsed of the half. And on 72 minutes Latife Kurt ensured there would be a pleasing symmetry, two goals in each half adding up to 4-0, when she broke clear and slotted home.
ZDS stay 100%, with a perfect defensive record. But they are not the only team in Division 6:52 that is true of, as Lilywhite Ladies boast the same analysis. For now the Anatolians are top on goal difference, but the two games against each other loom either side of the mid-season point.

Dublin City Womens FC were looking to bounce straight back after their 100% record fell last matchday when they hosted fourth-placed Homers Damer at The Heart Stadium.
The match initially looked a tricky one for Mortal Joe’s girls as Homers struck first on 13 minutes. Memories of last season where a fast opening start completely dissipated were bubbling on the Heart terraces at this point. The team were more focused though, levelling matters on 32 minutes through Patr?cia Tavares close-range strike. That was her first goal since the defender moved to the Irish capital last season.
It was still 1-1 at the break, with Homers having had a worrying amount of possession from Dublin’s fans perspective. But they made no more chances, whilst after the break the hosts did begin to fashion some more. And also be handed some, such as the 58th minute penalty from which Camelia Rusu fired them ahead. Thanks Charlie Fender (that was the ref, btw).
Maria Lyktberg headed in a third on 81 minutes for insurance as Dublin got right back on the winning horse this time around. They stay second in Division 6:56 after that, and are only off top on goal difference.

[ad hoc]

You're playing me next week. That'll help you out

[ad hoc]

In other news a win this evening means my team survived in the Golden League division 1. As we'd gone up two seasons running prior to that and felt very much like we were punching above our weight that feels like a victory. Hoping that Sits gets placed in my half of the level next season

[Antepli Ejderha]

6 minutes until the cup final in the MLX, our chances are slim to none, very much towards the none end of the continium.

[Sits]

In other news a win this evening means my team survived in the Golden League division 1. As we'd gone up two seasons running prior to that and felt very much like we were punching above our weight that feels like a victory. Hoping that Sits gets placed in my half of the level next season

Nice one ad hoc, I hope so too. Our only objective will be survival.

[Sean of the Shed]

I'm pleased to say that I won't be facing either of you. A final day victory assured the Buzzards of a second season at the top level of the Golden League, finishing a creditable fourth.

[Sits]

Sound effort Sean, and thanks for the friendly invite.

[Sean of the Shed]

Anytime. It doesn't feel like a proper pre-season if we haven't had a warm-up game.

[Janik]

The official Ladies League Cup Round 3 saw a good sample of OTF’s teams still active. But who was going to go deeper, and for whom was this the end of their Season 60 Cup run?

Badal FC                1 - 0   Csiki Girls
Zwaanswijk 4'

Csiki Girls             1 - 0   Badal FC
Neaves 84'              A.E.T.
                                Befrin (sent off) 111'

1-1 on aggregate. Badal win 4-3 on penalties


Bolton Ladies College   2 - 1   Hazeldean Inchmistress
de Bruinwerker 6'               Bringevik 62'
Jameson 68'

Hazeldean Inchmistress  0 - 2   Bolton Ladies College
                                Jameson 9'


Bolton win 4-1 on aggregate


Coxy Ladies Wulpen      3 - 2   The Madhouse
Beyen 12'                       Tiri 19'
Wuyts 60'                       Bello 34'
Roosens 76'

The Madhouse            1 - 1   Coxy Ladies Wulpen
Smolders 3'                     Roosens 49'
Tenhola (sent off) 45'

Wulpen win 4-3 on aggregate


Jackie Brown            0 - 2   Drakaina
                                Featherstone 68'
                                Barry 88'

Drakaina                1 - 1   Jackie Brown
Vulturescu (pen) 15'            Sequeira 90'

Drakaina win 3-1 on aggregate


Mauchline Belles         2 - 0   FC Norrbylund
Fogueira 5'
Hackett 49'

FC Norrbylund            0 - 2   Mauchline Belles
                                 Perdao 7'
Miriam Espanca (sent off) 85'               McRenton 59'

Mauchline win 4-0 on aggregate


Las Mazas                1 - 2   Kanjeng Ratu Kidul WFC
Hed?n 62'                        Ikmal 37'
                                 Sumanti 80'

Kanjeng Ratu Kidul WFC   3 - 0   Las Mazas
Dalmiya 34'
Sangaji 54'                      Galdeano (sent off) 75'
Pailloux 62'

Kanjeng win 5-1 on aggregate


Secret Scorers           2 - 1   Bombay Green Rockets
Perse (pen) 12'                  Baumann 48'
Birindelli 73'

Bombay Green Rockets     0 - 0   Secret Scorers

Scorers win 2-1 on aggregate


VV Waddenzee             1 - 1   LNWR Locomotive
Grol 83'                         Arredondo 51'

LNWR Locomotive          0 - 0   VV Waddenzee

1-1 on aggregate. Locomotive win on away goals rule

Round 3 put Csiki Girls up against Badal FC, which isn’t their actual full name, but my bowdlerised version on grounds of taste rather than sexism.
Anyway, yes, The Csiki’s were away in the first leg, which meant heading to the ground of a Division 3 side. A tough ask for Ad hoc’s girls, which looked even tougher when Badal opened the scoring after just 4 minutes. However the Csiki’s dug in from there, preventing the damage from getting any worse but at the same time not getting a blow in of their own. That left the tie delicately poised for the return at A kertem.
The second leg was another tight affair, but one in which Csiki Girls were the only team seemingly interested in pursuing a goal. Well, they did need to score and their opponents didn’t, so that does make sense. The Transylvanians pursuit of that goal gradually ramped up across normal time, and this approached paid dividends with just 6 minutes and stoppages to play when Robin Neaves headed in a corner to force the extra half-hour.
Csiki Girls continued to look the side mostly likely in extra-time, particularly after Badal’s Asmaa Befrin was dismissed in the 111st minute for her second bookable offence. But despite creating 7 chances across the 120 minutes, Neaves late normal time strike remained the only goal of the day. Which meant we were in to penalties.
These started badly for Csiki Girls when Taylor Rain saw the first kick of the shoot-out saved. Goals from Floriane Smet, Trudy Woozley and Tracey Ryan followed, but four from four from the visitors meant it was score or bust when Bethany Austin stepped up for the Csiki’s final kick of the initial five. And, it turned out, the final kick of the entire tie…
A sad way to go out, after having pushed a side form two tiers higher so close. But hardly one to be ashamed about.

Giant killers Hazeldean Inchmistress were looking to back up their take down in the opening round of Division 4 opposition when they faced another side from this level, Bolton Ladies College.
The first meeting was in Lancashire, and just like Csiki Girls things didn’t look promising initially for The Imperials as their higher tier foes rapidly opened the scoring, in the 6th minute in this case. Hazeldean managed to keep the score at 1-0, a little by luck as well as judgement, until just after the hour mark. Which was when Jennie Bringevik levelled, pretty clearly against the run of play.
Bolton swiftly restored their lead, but the exchange of goals was a positive one for Foxy265’s side as they now had an away goal to build on when the tie got back to Framleyshire.
Unfortunately that was a foundation built on sand as all it took was a Bolton strike on 9 minutes to make it subside. That left The Imperials needing two just to force extra-time, with the concurrent worry that another Bolton goal would instantly double the ask to four to stay alive. Oh, and having to do that without midfielder Jessica Dekoninck after she picked up an 8-day injury just 14 minutes in.
Inchmistress did create a couple of opportunities for the goals they needed, but the away goal issue raised its head when Bolton scored again early in the second-half. 4-1 down on aggregate was unrecoverable to Hazeldean, the rest of the game playing out pretty quietly with just a disallowed Bolton goal as an incident of major note. So ends Hazeldean’s cup run, which was good while it lasted.

Coxy Ladies Wulpen sit one tier higher than their Round 3 opponents, The Madhouse, but as lower seeds meaning the opening leg of this tie was at the Curlew’s Nest.
This would turn out to be a see-saw affair, with multiple lead changes. The first team to grab the hot potato was The Waders, Charlotte Beyen heading them ahead in the 12th minute. The Madhouse responded on 19 though, and had the tie turned on its head when they went ahead on 34.
Coxy Ladies boss Janik urged more from his side at the interval, and got the response he was looking for when Estelle Wuyts headed the sides level on the hour mark. The Waders belief surged with the leveller, which led to them scoring a third on the night, and thus reclaiming the lead, when Laetitia Roosens headed home on 76 minutes.
That was the end of the to-ing and fro-ing, Wulpen heading to the second leg with a narrow lead but also with two away goals against weighing on their minds. Maybe that contributed to a nervous start? If so, it was potentially disastrous as it took just three minutes of the second leg for The Madhouse to score, levelling the tie up on aggregate but putting the hosts ahead by virtue of those strikes in Flanders.
Wulpen had to score to survive, but there wasn’t much sign of them doing so for the rest of the first half. Things changed dramatically in the final minute before the interval though when the hosts Anne Tenhola committed a professional foul and was duly sent off. Suddenly Coxy Ladies had the chance they needed, Roosens taking advantage rapidly after the restart with a breakaway strike on 49 minutes.
After that Wulpen had ample opportunities for a second that would have made life much more relaxing for their fans (and manager!). But they didn’t put them away which meant the match stayed on a knife-edge, one goal, however much against the run of play, would have been enough to send The Madhouse through still, until Will Taykabribe final whistle brought relief.
The Waders get to put their fans through it all again when they take on Division 3c side Lion Ladies in Round 4. The opening leg will be in Belgium on this occasion.

After two rounds of matches against teams from the bottom rungs of the pyramid, Drakaina were drawn against one closer to their own level when Round 3 paired them with Division 3 outfit Jackie Brown.
Leg one was at the Haus of Gaga, which was somewhere Drakaina looked right at home. And that despite a minor knock to superstar ‘keeper Anastasia Shkolnikova after 6 minutes (she stayed on) and a more serious one for Anastasia Kanagounis on 58, which she couldn’t play through. And indeed won’t be fully recovered from for 15 days.
Kanagounis was forced from the field just as The Dragons were beginning to wind things up after Etienne’s side had had the better of possession but without creating many chances in the first hour. Drakaina’s reward for their work in that period came in the last 30 minutes as Jackie Brown tired, and began to make mistakes for the visitors to exploit. That meant more chances for the Greeks, two of which were converted to establish a healthy lead in the tie. Madeleine Featherstone got the opener from range on 68 minutes, Susanna Barry adding a late second when she headed in an 88th minute corner.
That advantage was further extended 15 minutes into the return leg when The Dragons were awarded a penalty which Florica Vulturescu coolly despatched. After that Drakaina sat off and asked Jackie Brown what they had. This turned out to just be a single goal, which, when it arrived in the last minute of normal time, was clearly never more than a consolation strike.
Next up for the Greeks will be Division 4i side San Quirico. Delphi will host the first leg of that particular tie.

[Janik]

Mauchline Belles had apparently landed a plum tie when they were paired with Division 6 side FC Norrbylund. However the fact that the opening leg was to be held at Tarbolton Road should have sounded a note of caution of fans of the Scottish club. That meant Norrbylund had already eliminated a side possessing a higher seed in the competition than Mauchline’s to assume that high seeding berth in this tie.
Jdsx’s girls showed they were primed and ready rather than complacent though, starting the match at a high intensity that produce a goal just 5 minutes in for midfield general Filomena Fogueira. The Belles went on to dominate the game on the back of that start, creating a slew of further chances. But only one more goal, Lorna Hackett scoring 4 minutes into the second half just as Fogueira had 5 minutes into the first. Both goals were of similar construction as well, breakaway strikes. And both players relatively recent signings. But at quite different ends of their careers; this was a first senior goal for 18 year-old Hackett.
2-0 was low-ball on a 9-1 in chances game, but it still put The Belles in a very strong position for the return match. Especially since Mauchline’s first goal of the game, if one should come to pass, would effectively be worth double as it would be an away strike. As it turned out it took only 7 minutes for this to happen, Fernanda Perdao firing home directly from a free-kick.
That pretty well settled the tie as it now left Norrbylund needing four – unlikely from a side that had created one chance in the first 90 minutes and would go on to create the same again in the second. The rest of the tie was basically taken up with how many Mauchline would score, and how many other chances they would pass up. One more of the former, Lisa McRenton heading home a corner on 59 minutes, and a whole slew of the later as it turned out – The Belles would end the tie with 4 goals from 19 chances! It would have been 5 from 20, but Perdao had a personal second of the second leg chalked off by referee Dick Tator.
The second leg ended with Norrbylund a player down after Miriam Espanca was shown a second yellow card on 85 minutes. But by then Mauchline’s progress to Round 4 was already assured. The identity of their opponents in that is a spoiler for a later game, so see below for who they will play. I can only reveal now that the opening leg will be the home one for the Belles.

Two sides from the middle tiers of the pyramid clashed when Kanjeng Ratu Kidul WFC took on a Las Mazas outfit that plies it’s league trade in Division 4.
The Sea Spirits aim in the opening away leg was to show their hosts that there may only be one level between them, but that level is an important one and Kanjeng were a better team. Oh and win the match and score some away goals as well, please. Rahma Ikmal was clearly listening to this as she turned home a corner for SeanoftheShed’s side on 37 minutes, and had the ball in the back of the Mazas net again on 61. This second strike was disallowed on technicalities; to whit, the defender Ikmal had sent flying with a shove in the back to allow the ball to get to her!
Doubling the pain of this set-back was a Las Mazas equaliser just 60 seconds later. Ikmal wasn’t the only players listening to her boss though, Utami Sumanti also getting in on the ‘scoring an away goal’ and ‘winning the game’ act with an 80th breakaway strike that proved to be the winner on the night.
That gave Kanjeng a seemingly comfortable advantage as it meant that when the sides reconvened at Merapi-Kraton-South Sea Las Mazas needed to score twice. Diksha Dalmiya threatened to make it thrice with a disallowed goal in the 18th minute, and wasn’t to be denied by ref Travis Tee again when she got another sight of goal in the 34th minute, heading home Ikmal’s cross.
Utami Sangaji extended the advantage yet further with a goal directly from a free-kick on 54 minutes, with Ad?le Pailloux adding extra padding in the 62nd minute. In many ways the scoreline was extremely harsh on Las Mazas, the second leg was actually 3-3 on chances but that translated into a 3-0 due to the respective managers choices of goalkeeper. It was all too much for the visitors Carilla Galdeano, who was seemingly hunting her second yellow card of the day until she received it on 75 minutes and got to depart the stage nice and early.
The Sea Goddesses will hope to perform as efficiently against ShamLam Doobily Dodgers in Round 4. The Dodgers are up to Division 1b nowadays, and will be visiting Indonesia for the first leg of this one.

Bombay Green Rockets’s reward for upsetting Viking South Utsira in Round 1 was a tie against a side from a tier below themselves as they took on Division 6 outfit Secret Scorers.
The opening leg was at the Alex Scott Stadium, which is a name that makes me think the Scorers boss may be a decent chap (Scott is, of course, one of England’s most capped internationals). So though it pains me to report the OTF side fell behind in the 12th minute, and to a penalty kick, that is maybe less than usual.
HKS3’s Rockets didn’t make much headway in the first half, but made up for that almost immediately after the break when Barbara Baumann headed home a 48th minute equaliser. However, even with Bombay having more of the game after the break this was still against the run of play, which means Secret’s 73rd minute first-leg winner felt fair enough.
That away goal meant Bombay just needed a 1-0 win in the return at The Common. And this time around they were clearly the better side, having comfortably over 50% of possession across the match, and also the majority of the chances. They just needed to put one of them away. The Scorers ‘keeper was in good form though, and as each opening came and went the pressure ramped up on the Green Rocket forwards. That resulted in chances being more and more snatched… and a blank scoresheet that spelled curtains for their cup run this year.
It’s not the last we will see of Secret Scorers though, as the Division 6:33 side are the mystery team who will play Mauchline Belles in round 3 (see two reports up).

LNWR Locomotive also pulled off a shock in Round 1, meaning they were in the spot of the higher seed against Division 4 side VV Waddenzee in Round 2.
Despite the apparent status, The Steamers were on the back foot for much of the first half, which they will have been grateful to end still level at 0-0. But that is nothing compared to the relief Locomotive must have felt when Constanza Arredondo headed home a 51st minute corner to give them the lead.
This didn’t really change the pattern of play though as LNWR continued to see less of the ball and Maral Parseghian continued to be the busier goalkeeper. That kind of imbalance had to pay in the end, Waddenzee getting an 83rd minute leveller which was the least they deserved from the game.
The onus remained on Waddenzee in the second leg despite equaliser as The Steamers were still fractionally ahead by dint of the away goal they had scored. Viktor Boskovic and co clearly knew that, and set out their stall to disrupt and frustrate, and if that led to a 0-0 draw then dandy. Chances were consequently at a minimum, with neither team helped by disruptive injuries, defender and recent signing Sabela Lampon the player to go down in The Steamers case when she picked up a 10-day knock in the 51st minute.
That injury will threaten Lampon’s participation in the opening away leg of LNWR’s Round 4 tie with Division 1b side Kongo BK. From which it can be inferred that the rearguard action against Waddenzee was successful and that second leg did indeed end scoreless, leading to The Steamers progressing on away goals.


Round 4 draw - first listed teams home in opening leg

Coxy Ladies Wulpen             vs   Lion Ladies (3c)
Drakaina                       vs   San Quirico (4i)
Kanjeng Ratu Kidul WFC         vs   ShamLam Doobily Dodgers (1b)
Kongo BK (1b)                  vs   LNWR Locomotive
Mauchline Belles               vs   Secret Scorers (6:33)

[Hot Orange]

OTF Season 60 Round 16 Round-Up

OTF

---

Heading into stoppage time on Thursday, the games involving the three principal title contenders were goalless and all was looking very much as-you-were at the top. But then came a dramatic intervention at le Stade Belinda Carlisle, as Kernow Kensa captain Tyler Armstrong found space in the box to fire in a crucial winner for his side over hosts St Pancras Starmers. The victory returns Kernow to the top of the table, a point ahead of Vita Mortis, who were unable to trouble visitors Dandy Town at The Hollows and were grateful for the point gained from the scoreless encounter with the 3rd-placed Dandies, who really could have done with the win as they are now three points off the top. It's looking more and more likely that the final-day clash between Mortis and Kernow will be a winner-takes-all showdown. Great Ouse Town are now officially out of the title race despite easing to a comfortable 3-0 win at Hideous Towns, where Jeffery Redman despatched two free kicks to climb to the top of the goal-scorers charts. For Towns, defeat more or less puts an end to their survival hopes, as Four Candles' 2-1 home win over Banik Roystonov moves them four points clear of the bottom three. Both Hideous and Banik will need to win both of their remaining games to stand any chance of overhauling the Candles. For Zeugmaspor, the game is already up. A 1-1 draw at home to Croesoswallt Dragons means they go straight back down. Indeed, it seems certain that all of the relegation places will go to the teams promoted from Division 1 last season. The Dragons and the Starmers are all but safe in 5th and 6th respectively.

Division 1

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Cristofao Edilson's 78th-minute free kick gave Berkshire Swine a 2-1 victory at Hampshire Deers and wraps up the Division 1 title. The Deers, who led at half-time, remain in relegation bother, now just one point above the bottom three. A late free kick also proved decisive at Bankfalva Kert, Laszlo Olah's 84th-minute effort giving AFC Csiki Monkeys the points against Steaua Bridge, a result that condemns Steaua to relegation. The Monkeys are five points clear in 2nd place and very nearly guaranteed promotion. Behind them are Whoft Fluffopolis and Locomotive Noj, who meet on Monday. The Fluffers were held to a 1-1 draw at Wensleydale Blues, Judd Leslie-Singleton equalising Rhys Sedbergh's early strike for the Blues, allowing Noj to draw level with them thanks to a 4-2 home win over Turd Division, late goals from Loukas Tsiartsas and Mavras Kolitsidakis securing the points. The Turds have conceded 28 goals in losing eight on the trot. They remain 9th, two points behind Wensleydale. Rejects Redux and Saltney Drawers are still in the fight for the third promotion spot, particularly so the Rejects after their 1-0 win in Thursday's game between the two. Josue Uribe scored a first-half winner from the spot, with the Drawers' hopes of salvaging something dashed by the sending-off of Ray Bloody Purchase and the stretchering-off of Acker Herron. The teams swap places, the Rejects moving up to 5th, the Drawers falling down to 6th.

Division 2

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The D2 trophy was on hand at The Glen, ready to be presented to champions-elect Eriskay Expression, but was taken away again at the end of the day, as Expression suffered a surprise 2-0 home defeat by die Ambosse. They certainly had the chances to grab the win they needed but visiting keeper Emmanuel Haywood was in fine form to keep them out, and Berndt Scilacci also had a decent game, scoring the goals that gave his team the points and guarantees their safety. Great Northern Railway's 4-1 win at New Dresden, which featured two goals from Rober Luque and Tommy McConville's 11th of the season, clinches their promotion and takes them to within five points of Expression - and so theoretically still in the title hunt. It was not such good news for Dresden, who are relegated. The third promotion spot will be keenly contested in the final week of the season. A 1-1 draw at home to FC Gloryhammer was a disappointing result for The Gang Play Football, one that sees them slip to 4th. Edging above them are Athletico Deva, who saw off already-relegated Eintracht Midwest, but not without a severe attack of the jitters. After taking 75 minutes to get their noses in front, Deva were stunned when Midwest equalised in the 84th minute. Blushes were spared when late goals from Godfrey Corpe and Miomir Berberovic gave Deva a 3-1 win. Also in the hunt are Heffron Hendecagon, who pulled level on points with The Gang, two points behind Deva, thanks to a 1-0 win at Cods of War. Hugo Rune's first-half goal was enough to defeat the plat-du-jour platoon, who find themselves in a straight fight with Gloryhammer to avoid the last relegation spot. And guess who they play on the final day.

Division 3

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A 2-0 home win over Nieuwegein Kneebiters takes OWC Albion back to the top of the table, the Kneebiters' Toine Ten Damme helping their cause by getting sent off. Albion returned to the changing room to find they had also secured promotion, thanks to Wednesday de la Zouch going down to a surprise 2-1 home defeat by Littlewoods Legends, for whom Ariel Pelletieri was the match-winner with two goals. There was a red card here, too, with Legends sub Ove Almen departing early, but Wednesday's hopes of rescuing a point were cruelly dashed when ref Warren Peace ruled out Joacim Bobeck's 94th-minute equaliser. Wednesday's defeat also led to extra celebratory consumption of oaty treats for Brian Munchingflapjack, whose promotion was confirmed while they munched. It really wasn't a good day for Wednesday, who slipped to 4th as a result of Tree Hill High's 4-1 win over Veni Vici Vigata. VVV were another side to finish with ten men, Eistein Kniksen seeing red. THH move a point clear of Wednesday with a game in hand. The Kneebiters are three points further back in 5th and not out of it yet. And in the game between the bottom two, Phil Lock's late goal was enough to see Wharfedale Generals past Pinewood Passers.

[Antepli Ejderha]

6 minutes until the cup final in the MLX, our chances are slim to none, very much towards the none end of the continium.

Shows what I know.

[Sits]

Congratulations AE. A title for the ages. Hadn't realised we had not celebrated it on here after the game comments but it absolutely warrants it.

[Antepli Ejderha]

Congratulations AE. A title for the ages. Hadn't realised we had not celebrated it on here after the game comments but it absolutely warrants it.

Thanks Sits, I was in a state of shock and had to check the result a few times.

I hope the change reports for MLX went well, only a single double jumper but no retirements for me. My moody midfielder is now on the market as I need some money.

[Sits]

Pretty mediocre for Kakanui KuneKune, who will need two 17yos we can’t afford, and will be far from competitive.

Thank goodness for My Skagerlid at Les Sangliers, and the Curly Coats and Swine who won’t need to buy anyone. Which is always nice.

[nmrfox]

Pretty average for Effing Sodbury. a couple of double jumpers and seven single jumpers, but our 5 defence looks weak (37/10 set to retire, 35/12, 32/12, 21/8, 20/7) and the midfield is pretty much the same with tyros and gnarled veterans and no-one in their mid to late twenties. With a pot of under 1/2million econs, it looks like a long slow rebuild for the yo-yo club.

[MortalJoe]

Billberry Buryborry had a better change report than I thought. I will buy two youngsters, actually I bought two youngsters, sell our double-jumper and buy a nicely skilled 29 year old midfielder, and we might be coming back sooner to the MLX as I thought.

I am eagerly awaiting the change report for Dublin city FC in the Golden League. With the new team and the rebuild with young players I have 8 players on 18 DV and it would be fantastic to have 8 double-jumps. I also got 13 out of 14 Managers of the round awards. Not because I am the absolute tactical genius (which I am not), but I was the only manager in a field full of zombies. At least I get a bit of money for that. And we will be relegated next season for sure.

[nmrfox]

The top 3 divisions in OTF all have genuine winner-takes-all matches in the final round of games this Thursday*

Division 2 sees 3rd placed Atletico Deva host 4th placed The Gang Play Football. Should Deva not lose then they will be promoted.
Division 1 sees 3rd placed Rejects Redux hosting 4th placed Whoft Fluffopolis. A win for either will see them promoted. However a draw at the Rejects and a win for Locomotiv Noj (at home to now-safe Hampshire Deers) and they will be celebrating at the MSA Celebration instead. Should RR/WF draw and Noj draw or lose, then a win by 4 goals or more will see Saltney Drawers push past the 3 sides in front of them to claim that last promotion spot. The Drawers are up against divisional champions Berkshire Swine however, though their minds could be on Bondi Beach...
OTF sees the title going to the wire. Long time leaders Kernow Kensa have hit a bad patch and allowed perennial favourites Vita Mortis not only to catch them, but overhaul them at the top. Only a win at The Hollows, something that no-one has achieved this season, will do for Scultura's team.

* dependent on your timezone of course.

[Wouter D]

I also got 13 out of 14 Managers of the round awards. Not because I am the absolute tactical genius (which I am not), but I was the only manager in a field full of zombies.

Did you forget to set tactics in game 14?

[pebblethefish]

Division 1 sees 3rd placed Rejects Redux hosting 3rd placed Whoft Fluffopolis.

3rd against 3rd? Now that's what I call a tight division!

[nmrfox]

3rd against 3rd? Now that's what I call a tight division!

Doh! Getting ahead of myself there (I hope). Nice spot and now amended.

[lambers]

Also a relegation head to head in Div 2. Gloryhammer need to win away to the synonymous with synonyms Cods, otherwise the latter stay up in their place

[nmrfox]

Also a relegation head to head in Div 2. Gloryhammer need to win away to the synonymous with synonyms Cods, otherwise the latter stay up in their place

Apologies for missing that battle to avoid a relegation plaice lambers