X11 season 45 - de rigueur Mortis

[Janik]

Week 6 of Season 65 of the Official Xpert 11 Ladies League report.

Division 1b

Careerwoman Blues    0 - 3    Viking South Utsira
                T.Klovning 4'
                Y.Klovning 74'
                N.Austrheim 89'


Division 2b

Sebago Town FC        1 - 0    Drakaina
Rosbotham 72'
                Mailis (sent off) 92'


Division 3e

Watergate Bay Surfers    2 - 0    Mauchline Belles
Klinkenberg 23'
Vermaelen 38'


Division 4i

Kanjeng Ratu Kidul WFC    1 - 0    Warriors FC
Wardiana 27'


Division 4j

Red Dead Heads        2 - 0    Coxy Ladies Wulpen
Kondracka 64'
Accola 87'
                
Ullapool Northern Star    3 - 1    Gregorys Girls
Iosifescu 10', 75'        Preston 73'
Weatherhead 45'


Division 4m

Chuchas United        3 - 1    Zeugma Dostluk Spor
Rosales 23', 77'        Colak 84'
Fenillat 69'


Division 4n

FCT Queens        0 - 1    Cassiopeia
                Jovancevic 80'


Division 5:14

Pendleton En Lycra    0 - 2    Deerfield Durocs
                Soviero 21'
Booth (sent off) 87'        Adelsköld 85'


Division 5:19

Rising Stars        3 - 1    1492er
Atalaia (pen) 60'        Vilanakis 80'
Andorinha 63', 68'


Division 5:22

Bombay Green Rockets    2 - 4    Harmonic Convergence
Wetterlund 31'            Ramalho 36', 44', 87'
Alberdi 55'            Great 92'

Hazeldean Inchmistress    2 - 1    Flick of the Wrist
Bringevik 44', 66'        Redman 89'


Division 5:28

Aegean Coast Ladies    0 - 2    Menywod Maeshafn
                McRichter 38'
                Cessaro 79'


Division 5:31

Csiki Girls        0 - 0    Sekler Femina FC


Division 6:36

LNWR Locomotive        2 - 0    Bury Ladies
Arredondo 71'
Hamshahri 80'


Division 6:44

Invisible Ladies    2 - 1    Aston Villa Women FC
Nylén 43'            Iwabuchi 87'
Marshland 79'

London Ladies FC    1 - 2    ASU Politehnica
Lundhahl (pen) 94'        Tilbe 14'
                Marfeo 55'


Division 6:57

Brent            0 - 5    Dublin City Womens FC
                Söderling 13'
                Shanley 15'
                Gruszka 44'
                Frias 54'
                Finnan 67'

Viking South Utsira had a chance to establish themselves as definite promotion contenders in Division 1b when they visited The Workplace to take on Careerwoman Blues.
The Blood Eagles were soon ahead, Tyra Klovning scoring with a direct free-kick after just 4 minutes play, and stayed on top through most of the rest of the match. However there was still the possibility of an against-the-run-of-play comeback from the hosts up until an injury to a key player on 68 minutes saw Viking take total charge, Yasmine Klovning making it two on 74 and Nina Austrheim adding a third for good measure in the 89th.
The comprehensive win lifted Velvet Android’s side two places up the 1b table to sit third, goal difference adrift of second and just two points behind leaders Murcielago. Oh, and two points ahead of the drop zone as well.

Drakaina came into their match at Sebago Town FC in Division 2c’s bottom three; The Dragons would much rather, and were rather expecting, to be where their hosts for this one sat, which is challenging for promotion.
Luck plays a significant role in the direction of some seasons, and Drakaina’s is clearly out this campaign. None more so than in this game, where almost everything possible went against Etienne’s side. To whit; Juan Hentovic picking up an 11 day injury, her replacement Areti Mailis collecting two yellow cards to end up sent off in second-half stoppage time, Ariadne Kavazis having a goal disallowed. But most importantly, despite having more of the ball and just as many chances as Sebago, it was the hosts who got the only goal of the game on 72 minutes.
Another loss means Drakaina remain sixth in the 2c. They are currently two points ahead of fifth, which is the target finishing spot to stay up.

A key at the bottom of Division 3e game sent Mauchline Belles to [/b]Watergate Bay Surfers[/b], the Surfers standing as the side that bottom-of-the-table Belles needed to catch.
What Jdsx and co definitely didn’t need therefore was Watergate Bay scoring both their first half chances to establish a 2-0 interval lead. That was something Mauchline never looked like overturning – in fact, if it wasn’t for a Player-of-the-Match performance from goalie Roza Belova, the outcome would have got even worse.
2-0 was bad enough though as not only did it leave The Belles still bottom of the 3e table, but they are now five points adrift of fifth. Things are looking decidedly grim in Mauchline.

It’s looking bright for Kanjeng Ratu Kidul WFC, who were top of Division 4i ahead of their game against Warriors FC (bottom).
The Sea Spirits had a bunch of first half possession, but only made a single chance from it. Fortunately for boss SeanoftheShed and his players, Novi Wardiana leaped like a salmon and headed it home. The goal came on 27 minutes, and would prove to be the only one of the match as the sides moreorless cancelled each other out for the rest of proceedings, KRK having more of the ball to very limited effect and Warriors not creating much on the counter.
The win may have been narrower than expected, but it was delivered, which was the key thing. That made it 16 points out of a possible 18 for Kanjeng, which keeps them a point clear at the top of the table and four ahead of third.

Two wins on the bounce had improved Coxy Ladies Wulpen’s league position no end. A third straight at Red Dead Heads and Janik’s side could begin to dream about competing at the top end of the table rather than the bottom.
But that isn’t how things turned out for The Waders, as the Flanders side never got going at all in this game. Red Dead Heads own flaky confidence stopped them taking advantage in the first half, but they clearly realised at the break that Coxy Ladies were there for the taking, and duly upped their level to do exactly that with two second half strikes.
Not good news for The Waders then, but what of OTF’s other Division 4j side Ullapool Northern Star? Polaris sat second in the table ahead of this round of matches, and had a tricky one on their hands as the side one place behind themselves, Gregorys Girls, visited Minchview.
The match was an open affair with a string of chances at both ends. Northern Star were the first to convert one of these sights of goal, Alunita Iosifescu slotting home in the 10th minute… and also the second as Avril Weatherhead made it two on the stroke of half-time. There were fewer chances after the break, but even so there was nothing unjustified about Gregorys getting a goal back on 73 minutes. However Polaris were not having that, Iosifescu re-establishing the two goal cushion for Delicatemoth’s side just two minutes later.
It finished 3-1, which was a significant result for Ullapool as it increased the gap between themselves and third to six points. They are still three behind leaders Invictus Ladies though, who continue to hold a 100% record for the season. At the other end of the table Coxy Ladies Wulpen remain fifth despite their dispiriting loss, but are now only outside the bottom three on goal difference.

[Janik]

A big game at the right end of a table was the fare for Zeugma Dostluk Spor as they visited third-in-the-table Chuchas United.
The Anatolians shaded the first half in terms of possession, with chances being evenly split. It was therefore frustrating for Antepli Ejderha’s side that they ended it 1-0 down after Chuchas had scored midway through the half.
That was one goal from two opportunities for the hosts, but worse was to follow after the break for Zeugma as Chuchas also netted on their third and fourth openings of the day. Not a good afternoon for ZDS goalie Zeliha Güracar. Zeugma did pull one back late on, Semra Colak crunching in from range on 84 minutes, but overall it was an irritating day for the visitors as 57% possession across the piece and 5 chances to 4 somehow added up to a comprehensive loss.
It was a defeat that cost ZDS leadership of the Division 4m table, the Anatolian side dropping two places to third, two points behind the new leaders and one adrift of the play-off spot.

Flipping back down to the lower reaches of a table we find another crunch game for an OTF side when Cassiopeia visited bottom side FCT Queens.
The Vainglories had loads of first half possession and had the ball in the Queens net on 36 minutes, only for Frank Redkard to disallow Egzona Xhafaj‘s effort. That meant it was still goalless at the break, and indeed the hosts had had more legitimate chances, though only one to Cassiopeia’s zero.
The pattern mostly continued after the break, The Vainglories having more of the ball but Queens making slightly more chances than them anyway. What was needed was a bolt from the blue, and on 80 minutes it came when defender Jagoda Jovancevic, who had scored zero goals in her previous 215 appearances for The Vainglories, found herself with the ball at her feet and the opposition goal yawning… and didn’t choke on it.
Cassiopeia boss Stormstopper lead his bench in their celebrations, which were as much shock at the goalscorer as anything else. Once the shock around the scorer the winner had died away the importance of it shone through though, Jovancevic’s lifting her side out of the Division 4n drop zone and up to fifth, three points clear of danger. And only two points behind a play-off place.

Deerfield Durocs had a 100% record to defend when they took on, uh, Pendleton En Lycra.
The Swine controlled the first half, holding Pendleton at arm’s length whilst getting a few attacks of their own in. They only made one stick, but that, Trillare Soviero scoring on a breakaway (appropriately enough) on 21 minutes was enough to ensure an interval lead.
The second half held a little more risk for SitsWithRemote’s side as despite having even more of the ball than in the first period there was also more, i.e. something, for Deerfield ‘keeper Sandra Balela to do. But she did it, which meant it was still 1-0 when Eleonor Adelsköld headed a second on 85 minutes.
Any chance the hosts had of recovering the situation, which was already minimal, disappeared completely when Justine Booth received her second yellow card of the afternoon two minutes after The Swine’s second. Which meant a continuation of the 100% start for Deerfield in Division 5:14. But not only that – their nearest rivals were held to an unexpected draw, so The Durocs lead at the top is now 5 points.

Rising Stars were looking to consolidate their place in the promotion battle when they hosted fifth-in-the-table 1492er.
There certainly appeared to be a gap in ability between the sides as Blamb’s Stars lived up to their name with a sparkling performance. The detail was interesting, as Rising were more dominant in possessional terms before the break… but without chances and goals to show for it. Their amount of ball dropped after the interval, but at the same time the chances started to flow and with it the scoreboard ticked over.
Cristiana Atalaia got things going from the spot on the hour mark, the penalty conversion also standing as the defender’s first goal for the club following her signing last season. That sparked a flurry as Penélope Andorinha added two more in double quick time, netting on 63 and 68 minutes respectively. 1492er got one back on 80 minutes, but that was never anything other than a consolation strike.
The Ascenders stay second in Division 5:19 on the back of the win as the teams around them also triumphed. They are still therefore three points behind the leaders and one ahead of third.

Fortunes have been varied so far this season for our sides in Division 5:22, which was something that Bombay Green Rockets were looking to keep going, or at least their part of it which has involved lots of winning, when they welcomed Harmonic Convergence to The Common.
The Rockets were the first to fire in this game, but when they did so through Sigrid Wetterlund long range shot in the 31st minute it was utterly against the run of play. The lead didn’t last long, Harmonic Convergence equalising just five minutes later… and then deservedly going ahead in the penultimate minute of the first half.
The visitors continued to push HKS3’s side back after the break, but once again The Green Rockets scored despite this with a long range effort, Josefa Alberdi levelling matters on 55 minutes. As time in the game ticked down it looked like Bombay would get away with a very fortuitous point, but just as they got within touching distance of that Harmonic made it 3-2 on the night. The deflated Rockets then conceded a fourth in stoppage time.
Bad news for BGR then, but would it be better for Hazeldean Inchmistress? The bottom side were certainly hoping so as they hosted the team a place above themselves, Flick of the Wrist.
A decent first half performance from The Imperials was lacking its crowning glory until the 44th minute when Jennie Bringevik popped up to give Foxy265’s side a lead they just about merited. Buoyed by that Hazeldean… dropped back into defence mostly to hang on to what they had. But not totally as a rare raid out on 66 minutes again teed up Bringevik 35 yards out. Same outcome.
Two up meant it was all-out defence from here on out for Inchmistress, a strategy that was only briefly called into question when FotW pulled one back on 89 minutes, and those doubts were soon answered by the final whistle.
Victory for The Imperials saw the sides swap places in the 5:22 table… though that does mean Hazeldean are still only 7th! They are now just a point behind fifth, though. As for Bombay, their shock loss meant they lost ground on the top two, despite those sides both only drawing. The Rockets remain third but are now five points behind the leaders and three adrift of second.

[Janik]

Matchday 6 sent Menywod Maeshafn off to the Hong Kong Stadium to take on, er, Aegean Coast Ladies, who appear to be a bit lost!
Maeshafn’s initial attempts to take advantage of the hosts confusion were stymied by ref Frank Redkard disallowing Leigh McRichter’s 20th minute strike. He was happier with her header from a 38th minute corner, though. That sent IsThatcherDeadYet’s side into the break with a narrow lead, which was about right on the balance of play, but was becoming increasingly less so as the second half progressed and the Welsh outfit had more and more chances.
Maeshafn’s second finally arrived in the 79th minute, in much the same way as the opener – a header from a corner. It’s just that the scorer was different, Iris Cessaro the player to nod home the clinching goal. That was recent signing Cessaro’s first for her new club.
The result put some distance between the sides in the Division 5:28 table, Maeshafn climbing to third, now four points ahead of Aegean Coast, who drop to sixth. And only four points out of the play-off place now, after elsewhere in 5:28 the leaders beat the side in second.

Csiki Girls and Sekler Femina FC held similar records prior to the pair meeting at A kertem – both had 8 points from two wins, two draws and a loss, and neither stood as exactly prolific at either end of the pitch.
A stalemate would have been many people’s prediction for the game. Many people would have been right… There was just one shot in the entire 90 minutes. That went the way of Ad hoc’s side in the second half. But it was missed. As for their visitors, Sekler may do better if they concentrated on signing Footballers rather than celebrities – Simona Halep was booked and then substituted a minute later (stick to Tennis!), whilst Cameron Diaz was booked but survived the hook as Susan Sarandon had already been hauled off and the away side were out of subs.
A single point wasn’t enough to preserve either side’s position in the Division 5:31 table: the Csiki’s (the one we care about) dropping from third to fifth, now just goal difference ahead of the drop zone… but also only two points off the summit.

LNWR Locomotive really needed to beat Bury Ladies if they were going to match Division 6:36 title rivals San Francisco and KrYptiX, given both of those had already beaten the Lancashire side. Neither found it easy though, Kryptix winning 3-2 and Frisco 4-3!
Those games were both at Gigg Lane though and this one was at Millington Street, and away from home Bury proved less of a goal threat. They still had some chances… but one for every two The Steamers made. Even so, it took Viktor Boskovic’s side until the last quarter of the match to make their home advantage tell, but once Constanza Arredondo had turned home a corner for the first on 71 minutes there only appeared to be one winner. A feeling that was reinforced when Niloufar Hamshahri headed home to double the lead on 80.
The top three in 6:36 all won, so it’s as you where in the promotion picture. Which means Locomotive are third, goal difference behind second and two points adrift of the leaders.

Invisible Ladies played host to a struggling Aston Villa Women FC as they looked to keep their push up the Division 6:44 table going.
The See-Throughs suffered an early setback when Aileen Shuttlewood went down in the 14th minute with an innocuous looking injury that turned out to be anything but; Shuttlewood will be out for 20 days! However PebbletheFish’s side didn’t let their teammates ill-fortune bother them and continued to have much the better of the game, culminating in an opening goal on 43 minutes for Vivianne Nylén.
The See-Throughs control of affairs continued after the break, another period of pressure and chances building up to a second goal on 79 when midfielder Estelle Marshland raced clear and slotted home. That strike proved crucial as Villa got a goal back on 87 minutes, which was only a consolation thanks to Marshland’s strike.
The big game of the day in 6:44 was elsewhere though. In London to be precise as ASU Politehnica, sitting second in the table, visited leaders London Ladies FC.
The hosts not only held a 100% winning record prior to Politehnica’s visit – they had also conceded just one goal in five games. Fazed? These young Scholars? Not at all. They clearly believed they were good enough to break London down, and as a result duly did – Pakize Tilbe firing home in the 14th minute.
The student side kept playing until they doubled their advantage (and trebled London’s goal against for the season) when Traviata Marfeo headed home in the 55th minute. At that point Granthamian’s side decided they had scored enough and sat back to absorb London’s pressure. They did buckle once, eventually, conceding from the penalty spot, but as that was in the 94th minute it was more of a gesture than a comeback.
The win didn’t take Politehnica top of the 6:44 table as the gap had been five points. But it’s now down to two. As for The See-Throughs, their victory saw them climb a spot to fourth, three points adrift of The Scholars.

Zombies were the fare for Dublin City Womens FC on Matchday 6 as The Molly Malones visited managerless Brent.
It didn’t take long for Mortal Joe’s side to overrun their hosts, Desireé Söderling and Keelan Shanley scoring within three minutes of each other (13 and 15 minutes) to have Dublin two to the good by the quarter-hour. Söderling’s goal was the first for Dublin for the veteran midfield talent since her recent acquisition by The Molly Malones (18 year-old Shanley’s strike was the second of her career… but her first league goal).
Elwira Gruszka headed a third for Dublin just before the interval, and after it it was two chances two goals for the Irish side, Juliana Frias heading a fourth on 54 minutes and local girl (MF 16/4) crowning coming off the bench at half-time to make her senior debut by scoring her first ever competitive goal with a long range shot midway through the second half.
The win kept Dublin on the heels of Division 6:57’s top three – Dublin stay six points adrift of the leaders, but the gap on second is down to four points now.

[Various Artist]

Yeah, I was always happy to let in the occasional non-OTFer as long as we represent the overwhelming majority. If you do approve them it's worth linking them to this thread so they know where we discuss the league otherwise they might wonder at the absence of scribble posts. Might also be worth mentioning their name in case it raises a red flag - eg worldcupboy, if he's still doing his thing.

"Mike.d", seems to be a private league only type. Any flags?

None here, at any rate. Good stuff lambers!

I believe Etienne is referring to the infamous Worldcup12, whose league-hopping 'habits' are the stuff of legend and hence not the kind of person you really want to accept in if you're looking to keep him for even the short-medium term, let alone the long term.

I don't think he's quite as bad these days as he was 7 or 8 years ago, but suffice to say I once witnessed him quit a league 20 minutes after joining it.

[Sits]

That's the boy. I believe he may even offer stand-in services now. He should.

[Antepli Ejderha]

That's the boy. I believe he may even offer stand-in services now. He should.

The irony as that's his modus operandi

[Etienne]

Hi Sits . Well done on getting the Human League season up and running. Reporting for dismissal now.

I did try and message you in game, but I'm still getting messages saying I am not allowed to contact you.

[Various Artist]

That's a cunning ruse to avoid having to dismiss you from Suffragette City, neatly done Sits.

[Sits]

Etienne OK - I will need a few hours as I'm now at work.

[Sits]

Sorry that sounded a bit abrupt. Someone had the gall to actually talk to me while I was trying to type on OTF. Bloody cheek

[Sits]

Etienne all done. Thanks for carving the Suffragettes’ name into the history of the Human League.

[Etienne]

Thanks, Sits.

[Sits]

So if anyone wants to take over the Suffragettes now is the time. I would require the name to remain.

[Janik]

Week 7 of Season 65 of the Official Xpert 11 Ladies League report.

Division 1b

Viking South Utsira    2 - 3    Murcielago
T.Kvalvik 49'            Sand 11'
A.Hovland 79'            Underwood 65'
                Gain 90'


Division 2b

Drakaina        2 - 2    Acetium Ladies
Kalitzakis 4'            Quintero 14'
Kavazis 87'            Roarke 90'


Division 3e

Mauchline Belles    1 - 1    Anarcho-Capitalists
McRenton 45'            Celina 78'


Division 4i

Propaganda        0 - 1    Kanjeng Ratu Kidul WFC
                Thunberg 49'


Division 4j

Coxy Ladies Wulpen    4 - 0    Gregorys Girls
Kabasele 15'
Roosens 24'
Peeters 64'
Ntambwe 74'

Invictus Ladies FC    1 - 1    Ullapool Northern Star
Webb 16'            Mamouni 86'


Division 4m

Sporting CP        0 - 4    Zeugma Dostluk Spor
                Della Morte 6', 23', 54'
                Yalcin 70'


Division 4n

Cassiopeia        1 - 2    Iron empress
Aritonovic 21'            Piehler 60'
                Osborn 62'


Division 5:14

Deerfield Durocs    1 - 0    Venezuela
Millen 82'


Division 5:19

Rising Stars        2 - 0    GAI Ladies
Veríssimo 50'
Miguel 58'


Division 5:22

Cleckheaton Athletic    5 - 0    Hazeldean Inchmistress
Bal 27', 40', 59'
Moura (pen) 46'
Botosăneanu 64'

The Temptation Within    4 - 0    Bombay Green Rockets
Keir 14'
Lagavulin 25', 76'
Haring 86'


Division 5:28

Menywod Maeshafn    1 - 0    Atomic
Narberth 71'


Division 5:31

CFF Dinamo Bucharest    2 - 1    Csiki Girls
Jacinto 46', 76'        Hodge 65'


Division 6:36

LNWR Locomotive        3 - 0    JMFF Ladies
Sassounian 18'
Diallo 27'
Kahayan 42'


Division 6:44

Invisible Ladies    4 - 0    Dinolo
Clark 4', 24'
Longsworth 46'            Olazabal (sent off) 76'
Marshland 83'

ASU Politehnica        2 - 1    Mawenzi
Tilbe 29'            Apte 35'
Hällqvist 83'


Division 6:57

Homers Damer        0 - 1    Dublin City Womens FC
                Lyktberg 51'

The final match of the opening half of the season pitted Viking South Utsira against Division 1b leaders Murcielago.
It was a big clash as Viking came into the game third in the table, just two points behind the visitors to Ragnar Rock. A win therefore potentially moved Velvet Android’s side to the top of the tree at the mid-point… but they were 1-0 down at the break after a difficult 45 minutes where Murcielago showed precisely why they arrived in town as the side in that position.
The positive for The Blood Eagles was it was only one goal, and one chance could overturn that. Tove Kvalvik was obviously listening to this part of the teamtalk as that is precisely what she provided in the 49th minute. But would that change the pattern of the match? Erm, no, Murcielago continued to be on top and reclaimed their advantage on 65 minutes.
History also repeated with VSU levelling against the run of play, Anneke Hovland heading in a corner on 79 minutes. But in the end Murcielago were not to be denied, and if the winner was late (it was – the 90th minute) it is rather hard to argue it wasn’t merited.
Instead of going top Viking lose a spot to sit fourth in the 1b table after seven games. They are four points behind Murcielago, one behind Space Chicks (who sit second)… but also only one point ahead of the drop zone.

Drakaina’s latest attempt to get their league campaign back on the rails came at home against an Acetium Ladies side who had four points more than the relegation-threatened Dragons.
A flurry of early attacking for the Greeks saw Florica Vulturescu have a goal disallowed after just 2 minutes play, only for Circe Kalitzakis to head home on 4 minutes. This one stood. However rather than a mark of things to come for Etienne’s side, this start was more of a false dawn as having scored The Dragons failed to press home their advantage at all, conceding an equaliser as early as the 14th minute.
Drakaina had lots of the ball after that, but not chances which mostly went Acetium’s way. The game looked like a 1-1 draw for a long while, with maybe a goal to break that deadlock. Which is exactly what The Dragons got on 87 minutes, Ariadne Kavazis heading in a corner, only to once again fail to defend their advantage, conceding a second equaliser in the last minute of normal time.
It finished 2-2 which was no help to Drakaina as the sides directly above them both won. The Dragons end the opening half sixth in the Division 2b table, four points adrift of fifth.

Winless Mauchline Belles would have hoped for an easier last chance to get that elusive ‘W’ in the opening half of the season than second-in-the-table Anarcho-Capitalists.
That was what Jdsx’s Belles were presented with though. So they had to get on with it. Which they did in a good first half that ended in high style with Lisa McRenton firing in the opening goal on the stroke of half-time.
Being ahead was a rare sensation for The Belles this season – McRenton’s strike was just their second goal all season (though the first also established a lead). Maybe this explains why the Scots got deeper and deeper as the match wore on. They clung on and clung on to their narrow advantage, until, deep into stoppage time, they buckled and conceded an equaliser. With just about the last kick of the game.
A sickener, which may well take a while for Mauchline to get over. Time they don’t have as they currently sit eighth and dead last in Division 3e, six points adrift of fifth.

[Janik]

Whatever might have been said elsewhere Kanjeng Ratu Kidul WFC where the favourites to win the clash at Propaganda, seeing as The Sea Spirits arrived at the Duel Arena as the unbeaten leaders of Division 4i.
That said it was always unlikely to be an easy match for SeanoftheShed’s side as the hosts sat third. And indeed the first half was entirely even, possession being shared 50-50, chances at 2-2… and the key stat staying blank.
The deadlock was broken soon after the restart when KRK forward Marta Thunberg rose majestically to head home Mariell Grřnnĺsen cross. In the aftermath of this strike The Sea Goddesses put on a defensive masterclass, denying Propaganda any further sights of goal so closing it a very good 1-0 away win.
That kept Kanjeng top of the 4i table at the halfway stage of the campaign. The Indonesian side is a point clear of second… and now seven ahead of Propaganda, who remained third despite their defeat.

The opening half of the season has been a struggle for Coxy Ladies Wulpen. The Waders had a chance to climb out of the Division 4j drop zone though when they hosted a Gregorys Girls side who kicked off two points better off than Wulpen.
Coxy Ladies started the match on top, making good on their progressive opening when Jessica Kabasele slotted home in the 15th minute. That fast start was consolidated on 24 minutes when Laetitia Roosens took aim from distance and doubled the advantage.
The second goal was a rare example of Janik’s side continuing to press after a strike, but having seen the value in it The Waders stayed on the front foot for the rest of the game. That resulted in two more goals for the hosts, both headers, and both from crosses swung over by the previous goalscorer as first Roosens picked out Morgane Peeters (64 minutes) and then Peeters did likewise for Anaďs Ntambwe (74).
Fun as that game was for Coxy Ladies fans, it wasn’t where neutral eyes cast on Division 4j were looking. They were focused instead on Ullapool Northern Star’s trip to Invictus Ladies FC, which was a pairing of top and second in the table.
Leaders Invictus were the first to strike, cracking home a long distance shot on 16 minutes. However Polaris absorbed that blow and kept playing, the match reaching half-time still 1-0 to the hosts. That wasn’t for a lack of chances though as both sides created openings before the break, something they continued to do after it as well.
Who got the next goal was always important, but became ever increasingly so as the match got nearer its conclusion with the score still only 1-0. It never felt likely that that would be the final total though with both teams still having regular openings, and finally there was a second goal on 86 minutes… from Inčs Mamouni, who blasted home from 35 yards.
Mamouni’s strike gave Delicatemoth’s side a draw they definitely deserved, and one that keeps Polaris a healthy five points clear of third in the 4j table (they also stay three points behind Invictus). Meanwhile Wulpen jumped up two places to sit fourth at the mid-stage, a point clear of the drop zone (and six behind UNS).

Zeugma Dostluk Spor were looking to bounce back after a first defeat of the season last week had cost them the leadership of Division 4m. They had the perfect opponents to do it against as they visited bottom and managerless Sporting CP.
Sporting had barely scored all season (just once) but had mostly been tough for sides to break down. Not so for Antepli Ejderha’s charges, who managed it after just 6 minutes through Delfina Della Morte’s long range strike. 1-0 was good, but the game was still somewhat in the balance at that scoreline… until Della Morte did it again from a nearly identical spot on 23.
Della Morte enjoyed that so much that she let fly from fully 40 yards early in the second half… and saw the ball whistle home once again! She gets to keep it, though the ball itself might prefer to stay with Gökcen Yalcin instead after she scored with a delicate touch on 70 minutes rather than the brutalising it got from Della Morte’s hattrick of master-blasters.
The win saw the drop of the previous week reversed as ZDS jumped back to top spot in 4m. They are a point clear of second and third at this notable stage of the campaign.

Two teams next to each other in mid-table, both with 2-2-2 records, clashed at Agora Aethiopia when Cassiopeia took on Iron empress.
The match started well for Stormstopper’s side, a good first half performance having its central highlight when Sandra Aritonovic broke clear to give Cassiopeia the lead on 21 minutes. That advantage lasted until the hour mark, when Iron empress equalised directly from a free-kick. Unfortunately for The Vainglories they allowed one conceded to become two, shipping again two minutes later.
That quick-fire brace appeared to knock Cassiopeia’s confidence as they didn’t create a single chance to rectify matters in the remaining time. It was a loss that saw The Vainglories slip a place to sixth in the Division 4n table, though only goal difference behind fifth. Iron empress, meanwhile, have gone second, which shows how tight this section is.

Fresh from a win against the second best team in Division 5:14 Deerfield Durocs took on the third strongest when they hosted Venezuela. SitsWithRemote’s side being the best of all, of course (well, naturally!).
Some ask how big the gap is between The Durocs and the rest of their league. It didn’t look to vast in the opening half which Deerfield shaded so marginally that the 0-0 half-time scoreline was entirely fair. But it began to look more of a chasm after the break as the Massachusetts outfit ramped things up, culminating in Susanna Millen’s winning header in the 82nd minute.
Winning as Deerfield held on despite playing the last few minutes with 10 players due to an injury to Annelie Borgvardt after all The Swine’s substitutions had been made. The hosts didn’t even give up a chance in the time they played a player light, just as they hadn’t in the 87 prior minutes. As for Borgvardt, she will be out for 15 days.
It was a good day all around for Deerfield as elsewhere in 5:14 nearest rivals Real Rolz were being held to a draw. It means The Swine hold a seven point advantage on second and a ten point one on third at the far buoy. They remain at 100% for the season as well…

The big clash in Division 5:19 on Matchday 7 was also the one to draw our parochial interest (nice when these combine) as second-in-the-table Rising Stars hosted leaders GAI Ladies.
GAI were unbeaten coming into the game, but had only been winning games narrowly and conceding goals in the process, both of which were encouraging for Blamb’s girls. The Ascenders certainly played with belief, holding a whopping 69% of possession in the first half. Only one chance arose from that (which was missed) but generated told in the opening fifteen minutes of the second half as first Érica Veríssimo scored a direct free-kick and then Maria Miguel headed a second (50 and 58 minutes respectively).
The Stars were able to hold GAI at arm’s length for the remainder of the game, something ref Al Beback gave a little hand with when he disallowed a visitors goals, Rising closing out a 2-0 win that saw them leapfrog their visitors to top the 5:19 standings on goal difference (+5 better than GAI). With another side hot on the heels of these two, sitting just a point behind, it looks like a close race in the second half of the season in this section.

[Janik]

Hazeldean Inchmistress arrived at Cleckheaton Athletic in confident mood after two straight league wins had got their season up and running. Hint – Imperials fans should stop reading here and skip right on to the next report.
So, um, yes, all was well in the Inchmistress dressing room before the game. Foxy265 sent his side out with the idea that a win would see them leapfrog their hosts and potentially climb out of the relegation zone. The mood took a bit of a knock when Cleckheaton scored on 27 minutes and a serious one when they hosts got their second on 40. But the overall play was even enough there was still hope of a comeback at this point.
That died in the opening seconds of the second half when the hosts were awarded and converted a penalty. Unfortunately for the Imperials players and the fans who had made the journey from Framleyshire Cleckheaton weren’t happy with three and went on to add two more against dispirited opponents.
Ah, welcome back! Let’s talk about Bombay Green Rockets trip to The Temptation Within shall we? It was a game where a win would see Bombay leapfrog their hosts to move into second in the table and [looks up result]… er, maybe everyone should step outside for another moment?
This match went inexorably south for HKS3’s side from the moment that TTW opened the scoring in the 14th minute. Just like with Hazeldean the overall possession and chance stats didn’t really back up the battering the OTF side took – it was just that in both cases chances were converted into goals against with eye-watering regularity. There were four against in The Green Rockets case, two per half, a strike on 25 minutes to add to the opener and one each after 76 and 86 to complete the damage.
After all that the Division 5:22 table was not going to look great. But even so, it isn’t that bad. Yes, Hazeldean remain in the bottom three (seventh) and yes, the side they now need to catch to get out of the danger zone are The Rockets, who have dropped to fifth, three points ahead of danger and the same in front of Inchmistress. But neither position is terminal…

An up-and-down opening half of the campaign for Menywod Maeshafn saw them drop a distance back of the top two after defeat to the leaders on Matchday 6. But it would be entirely inkeeping with the variability of IsThatcherDeadYet’s side this season if they bounced straight back from that to beat second-placed Atomic and thereby re-establish themselves right back in the promotion fight.
The first half was a cagey affair, with no chances to either side. Maeshafn had more of the ball, but as they did nothing much with it this was worth little. At the time. In the end it might have counted as the same pattern after the break came with a couple of sights of goal for the Welsh side. The key one was the chance on 71 minutes, or rather the half-chance as Edith Narberth was a good 35 yards out when she let fly… but that was close enough to notch the winning goal.
And with that, Maeshafn were indeed back in the fight, closing to within a point of Atomic. They remain third, but are now looking up more than down.

In the much-of-a-muchness that is Division 5:31 where teams stand means little. So nothing much should be read into Csiki Girls being a couple of positions ahead of Matchday 7 hosts CFF Dinamo Bucharest.
On the pitch it looked good for Ad hoc’s side as they had more of the ball, albeit without the first half chances to back that up. The feeling in the Csiki’s dressing room at half-time was a ramp up was imminent and goals would come with that – they were sort of right, because the first strike appeared within seconds. What wasn’t taken into account was it would come for Dinamo!
The Csiki’s took the setback in their stride though and made the chances they were expecting to through the rest of the first half. Their pressure was rewarded when defender Megan Hodge headed home an equaliser on 65 minutes, but the winning goal that ought to have arrived didn’t. Well, not for Csiki Girls, who were clearly the better side. It came for Dinamo instead in the 76th minute.
The Csiki’s must have felt like they had been mugged. It was definitely something like that. And as they reeled they also stumbled into 5:31’s bottom three, which is not where they expected to be at the mid-point of the campaign. Despite that the Transylvanians are still only four points behind leaders of this tight section!

Zombies invaded Mollington Street when LNWR Locomotive played host to JMFF Ladies.
The Steamers struggled to get serious momentum up in the first half. Not to the point of failing to put the game to bad, mind – that was still achieved through goals from Sirouhi Sassounian on 18 minutes, Pauline Diallo on 27 and a strike for young forward Sona Kahayan on 42. But despite going at a decent lick Locomotive were never the runaway train that some sides can be against managerless foes.
Despite the slightly underwhelming scoreline LNWR couldn’t stoke themselves up enough to add to their total after the break, leaving the final total as three points from a 3-0. If it had been 7-0 The Steamers would have been top of the Division 6:36 table at the halfway point, but no matter – the important thing was the win and having as many points as any other side in their section. Both were comfortably achieved by Viktor Boskovic’s side.

Anyone expecting Invisible Ladies day to be easy against bottom-of-the-table pointless zombies Dinolo… was right. It was very straightforward.
The See-Throughs were ahead from the 4th minute when Phoebe Clark raced clear and slotted home, the same player doubling the advantage for PebbletheFish’s side on 24 minutes with a shot from range. It was only 2-0 at the break, but three seconds after the restart when another breakaway was finished by Linda Longsworth. Dinolo’s (lost) cause wasn’t helped when Begońa Olazabal picked up her second yellow card of the day on 76 minutes, the shortage of numbers of their opponents spurring Invisible on to score a fourth through a direct free-kick in the 83rd minute converted by Estelle Marshland.
Tougher fare was served up for OTF’s other side in Division 6:44 as ASU Politehnica confronted Mawenzi.
The Scholars were on the front foot for most of the first half, going ahead when Pakize Tilbe scored directly from a free-kick on 29 minutes, only to be pegged back against the run of play six minutes later.
It’s was still all square at the interval, and stayed that way through most of the second half despite increasing dominance in general play from Granthamian’s side, and that despite losing midfielder Marina Bragadiru to a 10-day injury eight minutes into the period. But where was the winning goal? Look no further than Player-of-the-Match Nanna Hällqvist, who capped a grade 18 performance with the key strike on 83 minutes.
That goal saw Politehnica end the opening half of the season second in the 6:44 table, two points adrift of leaders London Ladies. And just three points ahead of new third-placed side, Invisible Ladies, who climbed a spot to be in that position.

The final match of the opening half of Dublin City Womens FC’s season was not quite a must-win, but definitely a must-not-lose when Mortal Joe’s girls kicked off at Homers Damer trailing the league leaders by six points.
The Molly Malones players appeared to have understood the message about the importance of the occasion as they put in a lung-busting first half performance that gave the Irish side the platform to have more possession than their hosts. Neither side created a chance before the break, the first opening of the match coming soon after it, on 51 minutes. A key chance as it turns out as Maria Lyktberg soared to head Dublin ahead.
The goal was a rare chance in front of net for either side. Both had just one more opening in the match, but neither managed to take theirs leaving the score as 1-0 to Dublin. Which was both a first defeat for Homers Damer, enough to knock them off the top of the Division 6:57 table, and also good enough to lift The Molly Malones up to third, now just three points behind their just vanquished foes.

[Janik]

Official Ladies League Cup, Season 65, Round 4

Drakaina        0 - 2    Wćlcyrie Girls
                Paajanen 36', 89'

Wćlcyrie Girls        1 - 0    Drakaina
Elfström 17'

Wćlcyrie win 3-0 on aggregate


Hörnsjöns IF        2 - 2    Deerfield Durocs
Djekanovic 46'            Adelsköld 20'
Ihalainen 76'            Borgvardt 27'

Deerfield Durocs    1 - 0    Hörnsjöns IF
Brugge 32'

Deerfield win 3-2 on aggregate


Juventistele        3 - 2    Zeugma Dostluk Spor
Pavarotti 10'            Kulakova 54'
Helmersson 31'            Della Morte 90'
van Deursen 85'            Kulakova (missed pen) 22'

Zeugma Dostluk Spor    0 - 1    Juventistele
                Jassen 81'

Juventistele win 4-2 on aggregate


Mauchline Belles    0 - 1    Spearwives of Ygritte
                Croagh 16'
                Neagh (missed pen) 80'

Spearwives of Ygritte    1 - 0    Mauchline Belles
Mathlouthi 40'

Ygritte win 2-0 on aggregate


Viking South Utsira    2 - 0    Queens United
T.Klovning 14'
L.Hovland 85'

Queens United        3 - 0    Viking South Utsira
T.Kvalvik (O.G.) 59'
Lysell 61'
Tegner 65'

Queens win 3-2 on aggregate

The Cup has provided Drakaina with a break from their travails in Division 2b this season… up until Round 4, where The Dragons found themselves paired with very familiar opponents – fellow 2b side Wćlcyrie Girls!
Would playing their usual opponents in a different context allow for a better outcome for Etienne’s side? That was the hope (with the follow up of ‘and then transfer it’). Unfortunately the reality of the opening leg at Delphi was the opposite outcome – the league form translated across to the Cup! The Dragons were hardly totally outplayed here, but they were also the second best and probably couldn’t have argued if the game had finished 1-0 to Wćlcyrie as it appeared likely to do with time expiring. The second Wćlcyrie goal on 89 minutes was very harsh on the Greeks, though.
The Dragons chances of a turnaround in the return league were obviously slim, and became even more skeletal in the 17th minute when Wćlcyrie extended their advantage to three goals. Drakaina did get three back in response… the only problem was these were only chances, and none of them were converted!
Rather than the cup distracting from the league, Drakaina will now have to look for a recovery in the league to help them put their very forgettable cup exit behind them.

There was no need for Deerfield Durocs to forget their league form (The Swine are still perfect in the bread-and-butter stuff this season) when they headed to Division 4 side Hörnsjöns IF for the opening leg of their Cup Round 4 encounter. Rather the opposite in fact – SitsWithRemote’s side would be at their best if they simply continued in the same vein.
That was precisely what Deerfield did in the first half, holding 57% possession, denying Hörnsjöns any sights of goal, and making two of their own. And also converting both of those openings, Eleonor Adelsköld heading in a corner on 20 minutes and Annelie Borgvardt putting in a pinpoint shot from 30 yards with 27 on the clock.
Hörnsjöns looked shell-shocked heading off for half-time, but the teamtalk clearly did them a power of good as they attacked from kick off, made their first chance of the game and, just like The Durocs, scored it. That changed the game with The Swine now trying to hang on to their advantage. They sort of didn’t and sort of did as Hörnsjöns equalised on 76 minutes but that left Deerfield still marginally ahead on away goals going into the return match.
With a lead so slender it would have been really risky for The Swine to attempt to sit on it. So they didn’t, going for Hörnsjöns instead. Plenty of possession was garnered in the first half, but without making too many goalscoring opportunities. Just one, in the 32nd minute in fact. Good job Idde Brugge finished it off smartly then, isn’t it?
There was now some daylight for The Durocs, allowing them to kill the game. They did it by hogging possession, holding 69% of the ball in the second half. And this against a side from a Division above themselves, remember. That limited Hörnsjöns to just one second half attempt on goal, not enough when the visitors needed two to avoid elimination, especially since they didn’t even score from the one they made. Neither did Deerfield from their sole second half chance, as if that matter a bean.
The win sent Deerfield through to Round 5 of the Cup for the first time since way before the current ownership were in place (Season 19 in fact). Their opponents there will be another fifth tier side, the cleverly named Diver City – Division 4h to be precise.

[Janik]

Zeugma Dostluk Spor were also looking to carry good league form into the Cup and use that to take down opponents from a tier higher than themselves when they took on Division 3 side Juventistele.
The first leg at Romcomit was a quiet affair. Wait, no, no it wasn’t. Not in the slightest. In fact it was a game for the ages. The opening goal didn’t take long to come, the excellently named Beatrix Pavarotti crashing home from range to put the hosts in front on 10 minutes. The next 10 minutes or so were the Veronika Kulakova, but not in a good way for the ZDS skipper as first she had a goal disallowed (that came with 12 on the clock) but Robert Nixon was obviously feeling guilty as he handed her an excellent chance to rectify that on 22 minutes when he awarded Zeugma a penalty. Up stepped Kulakova… and saw it saved.
The miss was compounded on 31 minutes when Juventistele scored again to go 2-0 up, which is how things stood at the interval. But Kulakova was not to be denied all evening, rising to head home a corner on 54 minutes to drag her side back into the game. Buoyed by this Antepli Ejderha’s side made most of the second half chances… only to be hit by a sucker punch when Juventistele scored with their only chance of the period to make it 3-1.
That came on 85 minutes, but still the action wasn’t done for the day, Delfina Della Morte racing clean through in the 90th minute and slotting away to make the final score 3-2 and leave the match extremely delicately poised ahead of the return in Anatolia.
The tie stay teetering on that knife edge all the way through the first half at the Insan Haklari Stadyumu, with ZDS having a clear majority of the possession as they sought the single goal it would take to move them from behind on aggregate to ahead on away goals, but with Juventistele having the two chances (and a goal disallowed). When would a breakthrough come? Would one arrive at all?
The longer the match went on, the greater the possibility there wouldn’t be a goal to see in the return game. But also the chances that, if there was a sole strike, it would power Zeugma through. Then, on 81 minutes, it came… for Juventistele. Talk about deflating the balloon. Suddenly needing two to win meant ZDS’ goose was cooked. And Round 4 remains the high point in club history, both in their Zeugma phase and prior to that.

Another of our sides looking to topple opponents from a step above themselves were Mauchline Belles, though in the Scots case their league form wasn’t anything to shout about when they took welcomed Spearwives of Ygritte (currently in Division 2) to Tarbolton Road.
The opening leg proved to be a cagey affair with possession pretty even and very few chances. None at all for Jdsx’s Belles in fact and just one in the first half for the Spearwives. Unfortunately for the Ayrshire fans, the visitors converted that lone opening.
The second half looked to be following a similar pattern when, after 35 minutes of virtual stalemate, Ygritte were awarded a penalty. However this even clearer chance than the first half was beaten away by Roza Belova in the Mauchline net. Belova was beaten a minute from time though, but luck was still on The Belles side as that effort was disallowed, leaving the score just 1-0 and keeping the Scots in with a vaguely reasonable chance in the return.
The Belles chances looked better as the first half of the return leg played itself out as they were having plenty of possession and making chances. All it needed was converting one to go 1-0 up and the Spearwives would be under serious pressure. But it didn’t happen, Mauchline falling behind instead on 40 minutes as the hosts (who were also having a decent time on the attack) converted instead.
Now the task appeared more daunting for The Belles, who needed two away at a side a step above themselves if they wanted to go any further in the competition. To be fair to the Ayrshire girls they gave it a go, fashioning a couple of sights of goal in the second half. But without converting either, which meant it was the end of the road for Mauchline in the Cup this season.

The only OTF side attempting to punch down in this round were Viking South Utsira, who took on Queens United of Division 4 [and yes, that is a deliberate tweak to their name to make it more ambiguous].
The Blood Eagles started on the front foot… but having taken the lead on 14 minutes through Tyra Klovning’s close range finish promptly switched to the back one and an absorb-and-coutner-attack policy. It proved to be an excellent approach for Velvet Android’s side as they absorbed the Queens pressure without offering a single sight of Monike Austrheim’s net, but without blunting their own attacking threat as chances still came at a decent flow.
1-0 may well have been enough to put Viking in a good position for the second leg, but 2-0 was always going to be a superior result and the hosts were handed the perfect chance to claim that on 85 minutes when awarded a free-kick in what is known as Lina Hovland territory. Like any good
postman Hovland delivered bang on schedule to put Viking into a very handy position ahead of the away second leg.
“Just go out and play properly”, “don’t mess it up”, and phrase and ideas like that. These are not positive messages – a team talking in those terms can get its mindset all wrong. And then when the opposition score after 7 minutes, even if this goal is disallowed…
But no, it was still 0-0 at half-time and all it was going to take was an away goal for The Blood Eagles and the tie was in the bag. Cometh nearly the hour (59 minutes) and up steps Tove Kvalvik. Just one tiny issuette – her inadvertent touch direct the ball past Monike Austrheim rather than the QU goalkeeper. When that goal was followed two minutes later by a second for the hosts, thereby wiping out Viking’s aggregate lead, blind panic set in – The Blood Eagles were throwing this away. The process was completed in the 65th minute with a third for the hosts. Six minutes of madness had put VSU on the verge of elimination.
There was still time, though. One goal would put Viking back ahead on away goals. But psychologically that was a non-starter – the Norwegians were a defeat outfit. Eventually the final whistle confirmed what those with eyes could already see. A famous day for the hosts, an infamous one that got away for The Blood Eagles.


Round 5 draw – one-off matches at the Xpert Arena

Diver City (4h)        vs    Deerfield Durocs

[Various Artist]

Great reporting Janik. That was a day (well, six minutes) to forget, what an absolute shambles from VSU but a heck of a comeback for our hosts. We had a terrible late collapse today too in the league, the season is in danger of imploding altogether for us at the moment.

Can't believe it's only the Durocs who made it through to the straight knockouts. Go on Sits, you've got a long way to carry the OTF banner solo but we'll be willing you onwards.

[Sits]

Thanks VA, no pressure then! Unfortunately a tough away draw in the league has biffed the form somewhat.

[Various Artist]

VSU's collapse has come at just the wrong time. Had we been able to put together a good midseason run here there'd have been a shot at promotion to the top flight – which I've just twigged would have been not only a first for that club, but would mean I'd be as close as I've ever been to matching Etienne's fantastic achievement of a clean sweep of simultaneous top-tier clubs across my roster. Mars Rovers have just gained promotion back to the J4GL Premiership to make it 7 from 7 right now among my private-league teams, with both Viking North Utsire (who are only 3 games into their season) and Viking South Utsira in Division 1 in respectively the Ultimate League and Xpert Ladies. As things stand alas neither Utsiran side looks like making the step up next season, and indeed Division 2 football looks rather more likely in either case right now.

As far as my private-league clubs go, things are relatively rosy however:

Mars Rovers are back in the J4GL top tier, after four immediate relegations in all our previous cracks at it – and with our strongest ever side, at a moment in time where there's not really any standout superstrong teams there, so hopefully we're decently well placed to survive up there for the first time.

Royal Atlantis are Heineken League champions, and 2nd in the Premiership four games into our defence behind AE's Zeugma Birligi. Our relegation a couple of seasons ago seems to have disguised the fact that we've quietly put together arguably our strongest ever side here too, without me really noticing it until we'd won the title last month.

Rćdfearne Island FC are an extraordinary 11 points clear in the Brythonnic Premiership top flight with 4 games to go, and unbeaten all season, despite in no way having a standout team. All being well we could clinch a third title in this league as soon as Friday, to make it five for RIFC altogether added to the two in the original Brythonnic League.

Sandringham Park just achieved a highest-ever placing of 2nd in the Human League top division, albeit in the distant slipstream of champs Just Plain Random, by dint of making a strong finish to the campaign after any actual title chances were long blown. Our yo-yo days appear to be behind us at present, so fingers crossed we can make a decent fist of next season now.

Tiree Automatic are 2nd in the Xpert Zone top tier and ostensibly making a genuine title challenge right now. However there's a horrific sextet of midseason fixtures coming up against all the top sides, so our realistic position will be more apparent in 3 weeks' time.

United Underground are in a historic rut of late in MLX, but did become the only side to beat – or even score against – rising big guns Bucovina Blue Bison last week to ensure qualification for the postseason playoffs for the 36th straight time, so that's something.

Vita Mortis just finished 2nd in the OTF, as is increasingly traditional. We could and perhaps should be there or thereabouts yet again this coming season, though much depends on whether aging keeper Howard Stant (38) can prolong his indian summer much further as there's no succession plan in place whatsoever there. And our senior defender Birkir Rúnolfsson (34) has announced he'll quit after the season, which throws a real spanner in the works regarding any attempt to bring through a young keeper in the following season.

[Various Artist]

Just realised it's four unsuccessful previous cracks Mars Rovers have had at the Premiership in the J4GL, not three! This will be our fourth visit in the last nine seasons, but the first was eight seasons before that.

[MortalJoe]

Dublin City Womens FC in the Xpert Ladies are an extraordinary club, They have a) the maybe most useless manager in the whole league, who is not able to guide is team to Division 5 and higher for a longer time, but also b) they have, in my opinion, one of the most capable Youth Academies in the whole League.

Today we received 17/6 midfielder Sheena Moore. Due to the unique structure of the transfer market and the fact, that we a) have six games left to play and b) 17/5 midfielder Shevon Keane just sold for 505 000, I decided to let her stay and give her as much game time as I can.

And Then I checkd the data from the Youth Academy since I took over.

Since I took over 31/01/2020 , 20 players have been promoted from the Youth Academy and are still around. In this period we got:

2 x 16/4 (both midfielder, one vanilla, Keelan Shanley is intelligent (I mean the SQ))
7 x 17/4
2 x 17/5 (Forward and midfield)
1 x 17/6
7 x 18/5
1 x 18/6

So, I could have easily sold my existing players and would still have a full team of capable youngsters and a full chest with money.

Ten of these 20 Academy players are still with the team. Until now, three of them got a double jump (Fionnulla Gallager even got two), three of them refused to get a double-jump yet, and four are in their first season. And these four are the reason, why I am writing.

I got actually five youth-players from my Academy before the season. And I got three players within the last 24 days: 16/4 midfielder Clair Finnan, 17/5 midfielder Shevon Keane (which was sold last week) and 17/6 Sheena Moore today.

Even for a fully funded 5-Star-Academy I find that quite good.

That is one of the reasons why I funding all my Academies on full, even most of the others are not producing that well, some of them do not produce anything nearly as good.

I wish there would be a possibility to get the same date from the private leagues, but that is not available, unfortunately.

[lambers]

X11 admin advice time!

I have an application from Harbinger of Hope for a new team. We have an existing team in 4twenties where the manager hasn't turned up in three months and not since the day after their creation. I think it's safe to say they should be sacked. Can I replace that team with HoH's new team before the new season which is, er... tomorrow. I'm guessing not?

Harbinger of Hope, if I can't replace that team with your new one, would you be interested in taking over 4twenties for the upcoming season? You will be able to change the team name. P.S. Apologies for the delay, I just noticed you actually applied earlier this week.

[Sean of the Shed]

X11 admin advice time!

I have an application from Harbinger of Hope for a new team. We have an existing team in 4twenties where the manager hasn't turned up in three months and not since the day after their creation. I think it's safe to say they should be sacked. Can I replace that team with HoH's new team before the new season which is, er... tomorrow. I'm guessing not?

Harbinger of Hope, if I can't replace that team with your new one, would you be interested in taking over 4twenties for the upcoming season? You will be able to change the team name. P.S. Apologies for the delay, I just noticed you actually applied earlier this week.

If you sack the manager of 4twenties then HoH's application should automatically shift to that team. It's because there are no available teams to apply for that new applications go into a queue.