Originally posted by Sits
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Gosh, I can hardly keep up Sits! That's a tremendous achievement with the Reds, though, and I like the fact that you've avoided the whole Alexander the Great scenario by immediately moving on in search of fresh new worlds to conquer. -
It was never the plan, but it occurred to me the vacant team might be hard to fill, and suddenly thought it would help out a tiny league and give me something fresh to get my teeth into. The Reds should be snapped up quickly.Originally posted by Various Artist View PostComment
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I know no one ever looks at the Team of the Month rankings, but May's OTF winner seems to be a top notch manager, with a sensational panache and elan.Comment
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They give it to any fucker these days.Comment
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It's all gone downhill since Etienne passed the reins onto that blamb git.Comment
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"'oo does he think he is?", etc.Comment
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Since lambers took over control I've not dropped a point, not conceded a goal, and now this.
It's almost as though I've got some good blackmail material on him...Comment
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Careful now.Comment
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Down with this sort of thing?Comment
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Having long since realised that Pulau Pinang are just not competitive in MLX compared to some of the other teams and having taken a look at other squads such as Pinnochio Players and Blue Bison I have decided, even though I am not the greatest fan of them, to start working with a youth squad.
As a result some big players are going on the market and some teenagers are coming in. Obviously this isn't necessarily going to change our fortunes but doing nothing definitely wasn't going to.
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Sorry for this week's delay, I had loads of admin to do in MLX so had to put this off until this afternoon!
OTF League roundup for 30th May 2022: Season 68 Round 5
Division 3
Wednesday de la Zouch continued their untroubled progress on Monday, winning their fifth straight game without conceding with a straightforward 2-0 at bottom club Pinewood Passers, who in utter contrast have lost all five without scoring. It’s fair to say there wasn’t much variation on the betting on this one. Between the two there was lots of flux, though, the day’s big winners being OWC Albion who soared 4 places to 2nd after Buck Aneering-Hedda’s free kick and Rotundio Tubesock’s solo effort gave them victory in the last 20 minutes at Byss FC who swap places with them in 6th. Great Northern Railway are also up 4 after coming form behind to win 2-1 at Eintracht Midwest, who just as in the other game swap places with their conquerors to end the day 7th. And, yes, the exact same thing happened via Brian Munchingflapjack’s 3-1 win at New Dresden, the two sides exchanging 5th and 9th spots. Amid all this chaos, one island of complete calm was Brutal Deluxe Redux’s Tree Kill High ground, where there was just one shot all game, from visitors Indigo Plateau, and it ended 0-0 to keep BDR 4th and IP 8th -- and where an Indigo winner would indeed have seen the pair swap places too! There are just 3 points still between 2nd and 9th, with 6-point gaps in either direction from the pack to the top and bottom sides.
Division 2
Also swimmng in untroubled waters are Cods of War, who maintained their own perfect start with a fifth win without conceding. Theirs came however at 2nd-placed Heffron Hendecagon, Jon Nazib and Alex de Souza netting either side of the interval to increase the gap between the clubs from 2 to 5 points all of a sudden. Wensleydale Blues move up to level with Heffron in 3rd after edging a tight one 1-0 at Kernow Kensa, who drop to 8th on goals scored thanks to bottom side Saltney Drawers abruptly quintupling their season’s goal tally in a 4-0 home thrashing of Wharfedale Generals. That lifted Saltney from 9th to 7th, and dumped the Generals to the foot of the table as now the sole remaining winless side.
Because, remarkably, the Drawers’ feat of increasingly their GF column from 1 to 5 at a stroke was matched on the day by the other team who’d started it winless and on the very bottom of the pile, Veni Vici Vigata. This, more impressively, came against Banik Roystonov, who came to Hunger Hill unbeaten in 3rd and took a 9th-minute lead through defender Alexandr Sindlec, only for the hosts to not only level inside the first half hour through Keegan Gallacher. Veni then started the second half by losing a key midfielder in Drew Backhouse to injury, yet took the lead anyway moments later through Ken Montgomery. Normality seemed to reassert itself when Vaclav Lavanchech finally hauled Banik level with 11 minutes to play, but four minutes later Backhouse’s teenaged sub Giles Wimbledon smashed one into the net to hand VVV the lead once more. This one lasted just two minutes before Lavanchech again fired Banik back on terms -- but another two minutes after that home midfielder Marlon Bissett headed his first goal in two seasons to snatch a dramatic 4-3 win for VVV. They climb to 9th, while free-scoring Banik increase their goals total to 14 from 5 games but still suffer their first third-tier defeat since 2013. After all that, it’s a relief to say that Athletico Deva and Turd Division cancelled out 1-1 at the Enormodome to stay side-by-side in midtable, 6th and 5th respectively.
Division 1
Another leader with clear water all of a sudden opened up behind them is Waveney Valley Swifts. Despite falling behind at home to Somers Town Sugar Imps (3rd), WVS were handed back the initiative when the visitors’ discipline let them down; firstly a penalty just before the break brought the hosts level, then Imps midfielder Didki Maumbi received a straight red card nine minutes into the second half. Waveney still took until the last ten minutes to make the man advantage count, but finally capitalised twice to win 3-1. It turned out a very good day for them, as the only other team to win in the division was 8th-placed Azure Dragons -- who moreover did so 2-1 at home to 2nd-placed Locomotiv Noj, not only lifting the Dragons to 6th but leaving WVS three points clear at the summit. Somers Town are a point behind Noj and one ahead of Steaua Bridge in 4th, who drew 1-1 in a game of few chances at home to Whoft Fluffopolis (9th). Both the other fixtures also ended 1-1; Csiki Monkeys (down to 7th) and Littlewoods Legends (5th) cancelled out at Bankfalva Kert, allowing the Dragons to bisect them, while Portsmouth FC (10th) and die Ambosse (down to 8th) also finished all square at Fratton Park in a result that benefits neither much.
OTF
The one pacesetting team not solidifying their position on Monday was Croesoswallt Dragons, although the league leaders could be reasonably pleased with a tightly-contested 0-0 draw at reigning champions Dandy Town (4th). Berkshire Swine cut their lead to just a point though by beating Great Ouse Town 3-0 at the Stef Tolsma Arena, in an odd affair where experienced Swine defender Huub Scheenaard was carried off after an 11th-min foul from visiting forward Scott Grayson, then the latter’s strike partner also left on a stretcher after half an hour. Karel Ruban’s 54th-minute breakaway goal looked like making all the difference between the sides until he added another in the 90th, but Flip “Flip” Zijlstra took advantage of the copious injury time to thump a 95th(!)-minute clincher. Ouse plunge four spots to 9th. The Swine oust Zeugmaspor from 2nd after the latter were held to a thrilling 3-3 draw at Eriskay Expression, in which they threw away a two-goal lead and in fact found themselves trailing with minutes to go after Ludvik Rolness looked to have completed the Islanders’ turnaround -- only for Kürsat Yigit to rescue a point for Zeugma with an 87th-minute spot-kick. They drop back just a place to 3rd, while Expression stay 8th after being leapfrogged by Hampshire Deers, who beat bottom side Rejects Redux 3-1 away. It was a bit of a comedy of errors between two out-of-form sides at the Mack Mean Megadome: excessively bevowelled Hampshire defender Eliot Piearce put the hosts ahead with a 9th-minute own goal, then redeemed himself five minutes later by setting up Jason Galway’s equaliser, followed by Redux counterpart Jörgen Kristenson putting through his own net to hand the visitors the advantage just after the half-hour. Five minutes later the Rejects conceded a penalty too, which Dwight Allmark put away to secure a 3-1 win that lifts the Southern Cervines to 7th.
That left just Vita Mortis v Four Candles, and the two three-time champions served up merely a 2-2 draw at the Hollows. Candles shaded the possession, but Mortis will be the unhappier with the result after having 8 shots to 3 only to fail defensively and see their revival from the previous couple of games falter. Ted Hart quickly cancelled out Tadeu Oliveira’s opener for Candles inside the first quarter-hour, then fellow Mortis youngster Matty Ovendale fired the Reaper Men in front with 20 minutes to go only for Matteo de Angelo to head the visitors level again minutes later. Mortis stay 5th, Candles climb to 6th a point behind them.Comment
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OTF Season 68 Round 6 Round-Up
OTF
Croesoswallt Dragons maintained their place at the top of the table with a comfortable 3-0 home win over bottom side Rejects Redux, and their lead is up to three points as a result of Berkshire Swine's 1-0 defeat at Four Candles, Fraser Dobie netting the Candles' first-half winner. The Candles climb to 5th, just behind the Swine, who were overtaken by Zeugmaspor and Vita Mortis. Zeugma are 2nd after defeating Dandy Town 1-0, Yaman Dursan converting one of their two chances while the Dandies were busy spurning half a dozen. It was the reigning champions' first away defeat since they lost 1-0 at Vita Mortis halfway through Season 66 and it leaves them well off the pace in 6th. Mortis, meanwhile, recorded a convincing win in a tight game, if such a thing is possible. While possession and chances were evenly spread in their contest at Eriskay Expression, goals were not, Mortis rattling in four to Eriskay's one. Their set-piece expertise made the difference, goalkeeper Howard Stant opening the scoring from the spot and Nathan Helleday making the points safe with two free kicks. A 2-0 win for Great Ouse Town at home to Hampshire Deers lifted them above their opponents and out of the relegation zone, the Deers ending the day in 8th, just above Eriskay.
Division 1
Leaders Waveney Valley Swifts came out on top in a lively game at Littlewoods Legends, long-range strikes from Mateo Forlan and Per-Elvis Köhlqvist ultimately proving the difference in their 3-2 success. The Swifts' advantage at the top is up to five points with the two sides beneath them failing to win. Locomotiv Noj were thrashed 4-0 at home by Steaua Bridge, whose midfielder Marciello Carelli scored twice and assisted another before picking up an injury late in the game. Steaua move into 2nd place, above Noj and Somers Town Sugar Imps, who twice came from behind to draw 2-2 at Whoft Fluffopolis, Torgeir Ţórisson scoring the second equaliser on the break. The Fluffers remain 9th and are still looking for a first win of the season, as are Portsmouth FC, who stay bottom following a 1-1 draw at home to Azure Dragons, who slip a place to 7th. Overtaking them and the Legends to move up to 5th are AFC Csiki Monkeys, 3-0 winners at die Ambosse. They lost goalkeeper Gert Bosveldt to injury just before the interval, but young replacement Ryan Hankers remained untroubled as the Monkeys eased to victory, two late goals producing a scoreline that accurately reflected their dominance.
Division 2
A full house of draws here, so all is as you were. That does of course mean that Cods of War's 100% record is no more, the curse of the Team of the Month striking as they were held to a dreary goalless home draw by 8th-placed Kernow Kensa, the visitors taking a point despite finding no room on the team bus for any substitutes. Heffron Hendecagon (2nd) were ahead at Saltney Drawers (7th) after just three minutes through Small Dave, but Alistair Whittle's goal soon afterwards earned a point for the Drawers. Wensleydale Blues and Banik Roystonov stay either side of the promotion line in 3rd and 4th after 1-1 draw at The Sheep Dip. A blow for Banik - as well as seeing a lead quickly wiped out midway through the second half - was the nasty injury picked up by skipper Jaan Prokop, who looks set to miss the next five games. It was goalless and largely uneventful at The Snoop between Turd Division (5th) and Veni Vici Vigata (9th), while a stoppage-time penalty converted by Roch Florczyk earned a point for Wharfedale Generals and prevented Athletico Deva (6th) from being the day's only winners. The Generals, trailing to Dan Gudmundsson's early goal, had lost striker Reine Cederblad to a straight red on 67 minutes so the equaliser was a welcome surprise, but they remain winless and bottom.
Division 3
Wednesday de la Zouch dropped their first points of the season in a 2-1 defeat at Indigo Pleteau, the winning goal dispatched by Jude Victribellingham from a free kick. Plateau climb to 6th, while WdlZ's lead is cut to three points after 2nd-placed OWC Albion beat bottom side Pinewood Passers 4-0. Great Northern Railway plummet from 3rd to 7th following their 1-0 home defeat by Byss FC, for whom 18-year-old midfielder Wilbur Downs scored the winner in only his second senior appearance. Byss are one of the four teams to pass GNR and they move up to 4th. Replacing GNR in 3rd are Brian Munchingflapjack, who had to come from behind to beat Brutal Deluxe Redux 2-1, Holger Hallén scoring the winner, his third in three games. Xoán Bello was on target twice for Eintracht Midwest, who climb to 5th with their 4-0 win over New Dresden, who were another team to forgo substitutes, but with rather less success than Kernow. They stay 9th.Comment
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Week 11 of Season 65 of the Official Xpert 11 Ladies League report.
Viking South Utsira kicked off at Cole Park with both themselves and their hosts, Girls Aloud moreorless equidistant between the Division 1b play-off spot and drop zones.Code:Division 1b Girls Aloud 1 - 0 Viking South Utsira Billingham 5' Division 2b Drakaina 2 - 1 San Quirico Byzhyti 46' Spina 76' Kavazis 63' Division 3e Smĺland Sveltes 3 - 3 Mauchline Belles Pombo 31' McRenton 23', 53', 74' Cordeiro 46' Passinhas 81' Division 4i Kanjeng Ratu Kidul WFC 0 - 0 Arena 67 Ladies Division 4j Purple Cobras 0 - 4 Ullapool Northern Star Ferrell 4', 65' Kilander (sent off) 88' Mamouni 10', 47' Zombie Team 1 - 0 Coxy Ladies Wulpen Wollitz (pen) 42' Division 4m Queirela FC 0 - 3 Zeugma Dostluk Spor Kulakova 41' Kiss 49' Kurt 63' Division 4n Lady of the Lake 0 - 1 Cassiopeia Aritonovic 21' Division 5:14 Pink 0 - 0 Deerfield Durocs Division 5:19 Rising Stars 1 - 1 The Girls Andorinha 46' Corga 14' Division 5:22 Bombay Green Rockets 1 - 0 Afrodita CF Baumann 54' Hazeldean Inchmistress 0 - 1 Harmonic Convergence Ramalho 73' Division 5:28 FC Fagaras 1 - 3 Menywod Maeshafn Spiteri 84' McRichter 20' Lincoln 66' Narberth 90' Division 5:31 Csiki Girls 1 - 3 Sterndrive FC Ryan 59' Henriques 7' de Lima 24', 81' Division 6:36 LNWR Locomotive 1 - 0 KrYptiX Ladies FC Teigland 36' Division 6:44 Dinolo 1 - 4 ASU Politehnica Pedraza 78' Hällqvist 7', 31' Tilbe (pen) 20' Badoi 33' Invisible Ladies 2 - 0 Glenbogle Monarchs Phelps (O.G.) 41' Shuttlewood 80' Division 6:51 Girls Fury 3 - 1 Metropolis Ladies FC Caetano 43' Hochimin 17' Ivelid 60' Cuervo (pen) 90' Division 6:57 Evil Daughters FC 0 - 2 Dublin City Womens FC Lyktberg 33', 37'
The home side made an early claim on pushing up towards the former when they went ahead after only 5 minutes play. The Blood Eagles struggled to respond to this, having only 40% of the ball and making no chances whilst giving up three across the first half. Velvet Android’s charges were still seeing limited amounts of possession after the break, but did make one chance and get the ball into the back of the Girls Aloud net. Unfortunately these two items were isolated from each other, Nina Austrheim’s strike on 86 minutes being disallowed by Donald Scott.
The loss was a damaging one for VSU as the teams sitting both second and sixth in 1b each picked up points in their games. That leaves The Blood Eagles six points off a play-off spot, and only one point clear of the drop zone. It looks like survival is the main aim at Ragnar Rock now…
Talking of survival, Drakaina could take a big step towards securing it in Division 2b if they beat sixth-placed San Quirico when the teams clashed at Delphi.
The Dragons shaded a tight first half in statistical terms (possession and chances), but without reward for Etienne’s side. However the Delphi faithful didn’t have long to wait in the second half to see their side edge ahead, Sandra Byzhyti smashing home directly from a free-kick within 60 seconds of the restart.
Drakaina had charge of the game following that goal. They made the most of that by adding a second on 63 minutes, Ariadne Kavazis firing home. A lapse in concentration allowed Quirico one back against the run of play on 76 minutes, but following that a re-focused effort saw the Greeks home without too many further scares.
The consequences of the win are not only that Drakaina now stand four points clear of San Quirico and the 2b drop zone, The Dragons also climbed to within one point of the play-off spot (without actually moving position at all – they kicked off fourth in 2b and remain there, but it’s now a much stronger fourth place to be in!)
Draw specialists Mauchline Belles were hoping something would finally give on this front when they headed to a Smĺland Sveltes outfit that had only drawn once in ten previous Division 3e matches.
The teams sparred for half the first half, with the Belles the first to strike after that, star striker Lisa McRenton putting Jdsx’s side ahead on 23 minutes. It was quickly apparent this was against the run of play though, and the hosts probably deserved more than their 31st minute equaliser given their first half play… but they didn’t have long to wait in the second half to be rewarded, going ahead on 46 minutes.
But wait, Mauchline were not done yet. Or rather McRenton wasn’t, the prolific forward headed home her second of the day on 53 minutes. And then doing likewise again on 74 to put her side ahead for the second time in the match. Was this finally the day when The Belles would close out a match and win? Sadly no, it wasn’t, Smĺland scoring again on 81 minutes to make it 3-3. Which was, of course, how it finished.
Draw number seven leaves The Belles still bottom of 3e, seven points from safety with only nine left to go for. Sadly the Scots seem to be drawing their way to relegation.
Kanjeng Ratu Kidul WFC are fighting hard to make the opposite move to the one looming for Mauchline Belles. A key contest en route to their goal was their home clash with nearest rivals Arena 67 Ladies.
The sides came into the game separated by just two points, the gap in The Sea Spirits favour, with a distance back behind the pair to third. It was nearly a title decider, though one more important to Arena than KRK to win, with the Indonesians more in the ‘don’t lose’ space. As such it wasn’t that much of a surprise to see Arena 67 take the game to SeanoftheShed’s side, though Kanjeng withstood the visitors pressure well not giving up a single chance in the first half (not making one either, but that is by-the-by).
The second 45 minutes was more even in possessional terms, 52-48% to Arena 67, and had one chance per team. Neither converted theirs though, meaning the big game ended up as quite a dull 0-0 stalemate. That was much better for The Sea Goddesses than their opponents as it means they stay top of Division 4i, two points clear with three matches to play. Other results on matchday 11 also meant Kanjeng are assured of at least a play-off place as a fall-back… but going for the title is the thing.
“Just avoid a slip up!” That was effectively Delicatemoth’s message to her Ullapool Northern Star side as she sent her charges out to take on bottom-of-the-table and pointless so far this season Purple Cobras at the Globo Gym.
What the manager didn’t say but was probably secretly hoping was that her team would get off to a fast start, rapidly going two goals up and making the rest of the afternoon stress free. So there was high contentment on the Polaris bench when Amy Ferrell (4 minutes, turning home a corner) and Inčs Mamouni (10, breakaway) achieved exactly that.
The score was still 2-0 at the break, but after it the same two players struck again to extend Ullapool’s lead to four. This time Mamouni was the to turn home a corner in the first few minutes of the half, the skipper slotting home on 47 minutes. Ferrell’s second of the day came on 65 with a blast from range. The 22-year old midfielder’s brace also doubled her career tally for Polaris.
The Cobras Carola Kilander was sent off with a straight red card late on (88 minutes), but by then the result was already decided and UNS were not minded to exploit their extra player in the brief time they had one.
With Ullapool highly likely to win, the pressure was on Coxy Ladies Wulpen to win at fellow mid-table side Zombie Team… but that was also equally on the hosts as the sides stood locked together on points, each three adrift of Ullapool.
A very tight game of few chances predictably ensued. Each side had one opening in the first half, but with different outcomes – The Waders missed theirs and Zombie Team didn’t, the hosts helped somewhat by the chance coming from the penalty spot.
Coxy Ladies attempt to step things up after the break was disrupted when forward Estelle Wuyts got injured just three minutes into the second-half. Although Wulpen boss Janik was able to send on a replacement, Chloé Bremen, of similar if not even slightly better ability, this unexpected change broke The Waders rhythm, and they never got it back, creating no chances at all after the break to lose 1-0.
After all that the Division 4j shows Polaris still second and still well in charge of their own destiny – the Scots are six points behind leaders Invictus Ladies, but also three ahead of third, which is now held by Zombie Team. Coxy Ladies, meanwhile, look becalmed in mid-table after their loss as the fifth-placed side are now six points adrift of second but also seven clear of the bottom three.Comment
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A potential banana skin in Zeugma Dostluk Spor’s path to promotion was presented by mid-table Queirela FC – would the Anatolians slip up at the Queirela Arena?
The initial signs were promising for ZDS as they controlled the first half, though there was a bit of twitchiness amongst the travelling fans until Veronika Kulakova converted control into a lead by heading home in the 41st minute. Having finally gained that deserved advantage AntepliEjderha’s charges rapidly built on it, Codruta Kiss firing home a second on 49 minutes and Latife Kurt nodding home a sealing third on 63.
The banana skin was therefore easily stepped over with no trouble at all – Zeugma had 60% possession and 6-0 in chances in a match that they cruised through almost completely untroubled. The win keeps them two points clear of Real de Praceta who are second in Division 4m and three points ahead of Hogarth and Knaresbroug in third. ZDS play the latter next in a huge game.
Cassiopeia had a chance to put some breathing space between themselves and the Division 4n drop zone when they visited struggling Lady of the Lake.
The game was also a big one for the hosts, who dearly needed the win to close the five point gap between themselves and Stormstopper’s Vainglories, who kicked off sitting fifth in the 4n table. However it was the visitors who drew first blood, Sandra Aritonovic heading home after 21 minutes. They also drew blood again 10 minutes later, but not metaphorically this time as a poor challenge from Jagoda Jovancevic left Lake ‘keeper Kissy Suzuki in a heap and needing to be carried off. Jovancevic was booked for her challenge.
The hosts had another goalie on the bench nearly as good as their first choice, which meant that despite Cassiopeia creating a number of second half chances they were not able to add to Aritonovic’s first half strike. The Vainglories only offered one sight of their own goal all game though which LotL didn’t take, ensuring this mythic encounter ended in victory for the visiting side.
It was a win that lifted Cassiopeia up a place to fourth in the 4n standings, but more importantly kept them within three points of second place and four points clear of the drop.
Out of the cup and concentrating on winning the league as Deerfield Durocs were, there was every expectation that they would claim victory at bottom-of-the-table Pink… or at least that was the thought for SitsWithRemote’s side ahead of the game.
Once the action had kicked off things looked less straightforward for The Swine, particularly after they lost key midfielder Aleksandra Chornovil to an 11-day injury just 10 minutes into the game. That seemed to throw Deerfield, who never got going in the game. Indeed if it wasn’t for the performance of goalkeeper and player-of-the-match Sandra Balela (grade 16) they may well have lost. But Balela was on form, and she ensured the game ended goalless instead.
Other results then turned what had looked a set back into a positive day as The Durocs title rivals Real Rolz had an even worse afternoon at a relegation-threatened team, losing 3-0. That means Deerfield are now six points clear. They also are now assured of at least a play-off spot the side in third are 11 points distant now.
There was a pleasing symmetry between promotion chasing Rising Stars and relegation threatened The Girls records ahead of the two chasing at The Common – The Ascenders came in with a 5-4-1 analysis and their opponents the exact inverse of that (1-4-5).
What supporters of both sides would probably complain about was drawing too often, which would have already been in minds before The Girls took a shock lead after 14 minutes. Blamb’s Stars needed to restore parity whilst giving themselves long enough to find a winner, something they managed when Penélope Andorinha levelled seconds after half-time. Giving themselves long enough was managed that is, the actual detail of finding the winner proved irritatingly more difficult as three subsequent chances came and went unconverted.
A frustrating match ended on an even bummer note for The Ascenders when key midfielder Érica Veríssimo (the team’s free-kick taker) picked up a 10 day injury with 86 on the clock. Having used all three subs already this finally condemned The Stars to dropping two points, which saw them fail to take advantage of leaders The Effing Blinders losing (Rising would have gone above Effing with a win). Instead they remain third, two points out of the play-off spot and now four adrift of new Division 5:19 leaders GAI Ladies.
A run of disappointing results recently for Bombay Green Rockets meant HKS3’s side were really looking for a win when they hosted Afrodita CF. Though whether the identity of the visitors was a good thing or not was arguable given that Afrodita arrived as Division 5:22’s leaders.
In some ways that took the pressure off The Green Rockets as whilst they wanted to win, they weren’t expected to do so [we will leave aside that Rockets thrive on pressure – it is, indeed, fundamental to them working…]. And it seemed to work as this performance was very different from the somewhat stilted ones that had dropped Bombay into the 5:22 relegation places as they dictated the game to their supposedly illustrious visitors. Mathilda Grünewald in the Bombay net was virtually redundant, whilst her opposite number was kept busy enough (though not overworked, to be fair).
There was just one breakthrough for The Rockets, all they needed with Afrodita not having a not in anger in the match. The crucial strike came directly from a 54th minute free-kick, Barbara Baumann the player with the bit of magic needed in her boots.
Hazeldean Inchmistress’ season seemed to be going the opposite way to Bombay Green Rockets prior to The Imperials meeting with Harmonic Convergence – whilst The Rockets had initially flared brightly but were now fading, Inchmistress had been picking up the pace nicely in recent weeks after a slow start to the campaign.
In this one Foxy265’s side were trying to be patient. They had more of the ball than Harmonic Convergence; they prodded and probed at the visitors defence. But chances were thin on the ground for the Framleyshire girls. The Ken Higgs Avenue crowd muttered to themselves about wastefulness and were urging their team to try something more dynamic to break the visitors down.
This low level grumbling got louder along with the urging after Convergence nicked a goal on 73 minutes, but on this day Hazeldean’s final balls just were not finding the mark, with their attacks foundering all-too-often without a shot being tried. In fact the hosts got just one off all match!
The result of that was a defeat for The Imperials that saw them swap places again with The Ascenders, Hazeldean dropping back down to sixth in the 5:22 standings whilst The Green Rockets climbed back up to fifth. Both are now six points adrift of first and second, and really more concentrated on staying up now… which hopefully both can do.
Victory over leaders Domina Eleven last week had opened a slight chance for Menywod Maeshafn to launch a late bid for the Division 5:28 title, along with consolidating their hold on the sections play-off spot. But that good work could easily be undone in a tricky match at FC Fagaras, who had their own battles to fight.
IsThatcherDeadYet’s girls appeared steely in their determination not to allow that to happen, Leigh McRichter pouncing on an opportunity from a corner in the 20th minute (the only one created by either side in the first half) to ensure a half-time lead for the Welsh outfit. Clare Lincoln was equally dead-eyed in the 66th minute when she was fed the ball in a crowd in the box.
Fagaras pulled one back in the 84th minute, the goal scored by Texas lead singer Sharleen Spiteri, (who appears to be embarking on an unlikely second career for a woman in her 50s but good luck to her…). However that was really against the run of play, with Maeshafn control being re-asserted by Edith Narberth in the 90th minute.
Three goals from four chances was sharp finishing by the North Walians, the sort of play that keeps them nicely tucked in in second place in the 5:28 standings. They are five points behind the leaders and six ahead of third, and seem well on course for the play-offs.Comment
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A superb run of form had lifted Csiki Girls from the nether regions of Division 5:31 up to second in the table ahead of their meeting with Sterndrive FC. However Ad hoc’s side’s luck was out for this one as their visitors, who were propping up the table winless, had acquired a new and engaged manager for the first time this season two days prior to this fixture.
Was the fresh occupancy of the Sterndrive dug-out something The Csiki’s were aware of when sorting their team out? I’m not convinced. Either way the first quarter of the game was a nasty shock for the A kertem crowd as their flying heroines suddenly found themselves 2-0 down, and justifiably so on the balance of play, to a supposedly totally out-of-form opponent.
The Csiki’s responded somewhat after the break, Tracey Ryan turning home a free-kick routine to pull a goal back on 59 minutes. But the hosts were still on the back foot, their chances of getting anything from the day being finally killed off when Sterndrive got a third in the 81st minute.
Not just plain bad luck with timing, but also costly for Csiki Girls as they fell from second in the 5:31 standings back down to fourth. The Transylvanians are now three points behind the leaders, two points off the play-off place… and two points in front of the bottom three.
Matchday 11 brought with it the clash of the Division 6:36 titans as LNWR Locomotive welcomed KrYptiX Ladies FC to Mollington Street.
To put the match in context, these two were level on points at the top of the table, Locomotive holding top spot on the basis of a goal difference that was +1 better (+35 (39-4) to +34 (37-3)). Both were unbeaten, each having drawn twice, one of which in both cases was against each other. It wasn’t quite a title play-off given that each had dropped points in one other game, but it was within spitting distance of it.
That is what the two teams were playing for, and it was Viktor Boskovic’s Steamers who stoked their firebox and went for it, particularly in a first half when LNWR outshot KrYptiX 3-0. Locomotive were duly rewarded for their proactive approach when Maja Teigland fired in after a 36th minute corner hadn’t been properly cleared by the visiting defence.
The Steamers easing off the regulator after that was understandable in the circumstances. It was a bit of a gamble, but it proved a successful one as despite KrYptiX having more shots after the break (not difficult as any is more than none!) it wasn’t many and Sona Mgrditchian stopped them all (i.e. both).
The Steamers didn’t add to their first half strike, but they didn’t really need to as that alone was enough for a three point advantage over KrYptiX and a seven point one over the rest of 6:36. Locomotive are now clearly ahead of timetable, but they do have two tricky sections to negotiate to reach their planned destination. The Steamers have more work still do yet…
A easy win was expected for ASU Politehnica at Dinolo, given the home side’s combination of being managerless, pointless and bottom of the table.
Granthamian’s side secured the three points as rapidly as one would expect, Nanna Hällqvist firing in from long range after 7 minutes, the same player later adding the third for The Scholars (31), Pakize Tilbe slotting in a second from the penalty spot (20) and Melania Badoi adding a fourth with a long-range strike (33).
If there is a minor criticism of the student side here, it is in their continued application – they appeared to knock off once the win was secured instead of keeping their intensity and effort levels up beyond the first half hour. The problem with just doing the minimum is although the win was secured, the Division 6:44 title may come down to goal difference and the boost to that ended up being just +3 for Politehnica as not only were no more goals scored by them after Badoi’s, they even contrived to let Dinolo (one goal previously all season) get a consolation on 78 minutes!
As long as the top two keep winning their won’t be a way in for Invisible Ladies. All The See-Throughs can do is win their games, and hope. But beating fellow actively-managed side Glenbogle Monarchs was far from a given.
Invisible went for it though, following the instructions manager PebbletheFish had left with his assistant. These were working in terms of possessional dominance, but approaching half-time The See-Throughs didn’t have a goal to show for it. Step in Glenbogle’s Lisa Phelps, who helpfully turned the ball into her own net on 41 minutes (blows grapes out of the water that does).
Invisible continued to dominate possession after the break without creating many chances. Just one more, in fact. But that was enough for Aileen Shuttlewood, who headed home an 80th minute corner for her side’s second, which secured the points.
Despite the win Invisible stay four points adrift of Division 6:44’s play-off spot, which occupied by Politehnica. The Scholars themselves are two points (and -7 GD) behind leaders London Ladies.
As has already been said, it is going to take new Metropolis Ladies FC boss Harbinger of Hope a while to reverse the negative momentum of his new side. In time (read: next season) Metropolis will hope and expect to beat mid-table sides like Girls Fury. But not yet…
There was a brief flutter of belief in the unexpected early on when Chisola Hochimin turned home a Angelica Gagner free-kick to give the visitors the lead on 17 minutes, particularly when that was still the score approaching half-time. If the Big City Girls could have held out until the break… but Girls Gury levelled just as it was looming (43 minutes).
In truth that goal was overdue as Girls Fury outshot Metropolis 6-1 in the first half. The scoreline in the second 45 minutes was more in keeping with chance creation as Girls Fury struck twice more to take the win. There were signs there for Metropolis fans though – the period ahead, the possession stats for the second half (56% by inference).
All for the future – the present see Metropolis stay seventh in Division 6:51.
If Dublin City Womens FC are to retain realistic hopes of promotion, they need to stay within three points of the play-off place so they are poised to take advantage of slip ups from the sides above them. That meant winning at fourth-in-the-table Evil Daughters FC – not necessarily a simple task.
The Molly Malones did it really efficiently though. Mortal Joe’s side’s method was a quick-fire brace of goals from centre-forward Maria Lyktberg in the latter stages of the first half, the Swede heading home after 33 minutes and then predicting the goalmouth scramble right to poke home a corner in the 37th minute.
Those two chances seemed to satisfy Dublin, the Irish side not even bothering to attack Evil Daughters after the hosts lost their ‘keeper to injury in the 77th minute, with a defender taking her place. The Molly Malones reasoning appearing to be that defending properly was enough for the win after Lyktberg’s strikes. A logic proved by them holding out for the 2-0 success.
Victory kept Dublin third in Division 6:57, three points behind Homers Damer, and hoping, hoping for an error from the side ahead of them.Comment
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Despite picking the opponents correct formation, my hands are tied at the moment and I'm having to put out a team full of kids who never got a game in the first 2/3rds of the season and some of the ones who were playing were doing so out of position, so weren't developing normally. Brites played 9 consecutive games, Hochimin 8 games and Nobrega 8 games out of position and none of them have developed as they should, plus their form in particular but the whole squads is not good. Don't understand why the previous manager didn't set a default team up, if they had it would have made a big difference, even walking away. I also don't understand why the game AI, puts out teams like that. It makes zombie teams too easy. Why the AI can't do something as simple as put a midfielder in a midfield role is beyond me. Having defenders in midfield and attack, with midfielders in defence just makes no sense.Comment
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I know what you mean HOH, I often despair of that myself particularly wearing my league admin's hat, as abandoned teams end up cannon fodder much easier than they should that way. When managers are good enough to let me know in advance that they are leaving one of my leagues, or when I've got a temporary manager in to help get a new season set up, I try to remember these days to ask if they'll just check before they go that there's at least a sensible default XI and set of tactics saved so that there's no danger of the rudderless side going 4-2-4 Bruise Very Offensive or playing with a striker in goal, a goalie in midfield and defenders up front.Comment
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OTF League roundup for 6th June 2022: Season 68 Round 7
Division 3
Wednesday de la Zouch recovered from dropping their first points of term in a defeat a week ago to Indigo Plateau when they held off Brian Munchingflapjack (5th) 2-1 at the Benabau, although the loss of defender Cody Gaunt to injury leaves them looking a little lightweight at the back for the next week. OWC Albion keep pace 3pts back in 2nd, in-form Rotundio Tubesock scoring the only goal at home to Great Northern Railway (8th), though their veteran defender Jure Robida took another step towards his impending retirement when the 37-year-old came on an an injury sub then got sent off in the latter stages. The Flapjacks and GNR are two of the four teams making way for sides coming up from below, Brutal Deluxe Redux the big beneficiaries after a brace from skipper Lothar Johannsen saw them past Eintracht Midwest 2-0 at home and saw them pass their victims (who drop to 6th) plus three other clubs to vault to 4th.
Byss FC climb to 3rd after continuing their sharp improvement under HOH with, to ape HO’s description of last Thursday’s Expression–Mortis result, a convincing win in a tight game at New Dresden – where the possession was 44-56, the chances 5-6 but the scoreline 1-4. 31-year-old Byss midfielder Horst Burkhard is one of their best players yet inexplicably spent last season on the bench for the then-4twenties, from where he made just three appearances and thus announced his early retirement in a fit of understandable dudgeon. He may regret it somewhat after the new boss not only installed him in the starting XI but also made him captain, but he certainly led the way on Monday with his first two career goals and two assists to boot.
The fourth side down a place in midtable is Indigo Plateau, who apparently abhor an unblemished record of any kind. Fresh from wrecking Wednesday’s perfect 5-0-0 start four days earlier, they went to a Pinewood Passers side who were 0-0-6 coming in... and lost 2-1, unable to complete a comeback after the Passers scored twice in 5 minutes inside the opening quarter-hour. That was Pinewood’s first two goals since the retirement of Jerónimo Vilas-Boas, who memorably netted four on his debut and went on to tally 45 in 108 appearances to end up 4th on their all-time scoring charts, and without whom their cutting edge is rather... blunt. They began the game with 31/4 Charles Dearden up front, whose replacement for injury after just 18 minutes by 20/4 Andy Redford thus counts as an upgrade.
Division 2
Cods of War still lead the way in D2, but their advantage is down to 3pts after a second straight draw. They led at Banik Roystonov (4th) through Urby Amadsalatoen’s third goal of the campaign and had not conceded all season in nearly six and a half outings until Vaclan Lavanchech levelled for the hosts just before the break – then promptly scored his second (and fifth of the season) soon after it. Cods fought back though to (salt-)preserve their unbeaten start through Jon Nazib. A 2-2 counts as something of a quiet start to the week for Banik, who like last term seem to be not only determined to be neutrals’ favourites but also to be reserving the bulk of their goalfests for Mondays – the four games I have covered so far have brought 20(!) of the 28(!!) goals their fans have seen from their seven fixtures to date. Their 17 scored is nearly double any other team in the division, Cods and 2nd-placed Heffron Hendecagon both having 9, though the Hendos did net three without reply on Monday in an another superficially close game (other than the scoreline) at home to Athletico Deva.
Deva are the only downwardly-mobile side, sliding to 8th on GD behind both their local rivals Saltney Drawers and also Kernow Kensa, after the pair deadlocked 1-1 at the Kernowek Stadium to maintain their matching records so far and climb a place each. Second-bottom Veni Vici Vigata came within an ace of also ending the day on 6pts like the other three, but succumbed to a 91st-min Billy Mallerstang goal that snatched Wensleydale Blues a 1-0 away win at Hunger Hill. That kept the Blues (3rd) level on points with Heffron above them and moved them four clear of Banik, who were joined on 10pts by Turd Division (5th) after a 3-0 home win over bottom club Wharfedale Generals.
Division 1
Waveney Valley Swifts seem to have found a meaner streak this season after switching to a predominantly black kit and demoting their famous oranje to merely a trim colour. They were certainly in no mood to show mercy to winless Whoft Fluffopolis, dominating the chances at the Bowl and winning 2-0 with both goals coming early in the second half, and shoving the Fluffers to the foot of the table as a result. They are a massive 8 points clear already after 2nd-placed Steaua Bridge fell to a surprise 2-1 home defeat to the club who started the day bottom, Portsmouth FC, for whom a first victory of the season lifts them to 8th. 3rd- and 4th-placed Somers Town Sugar Imps and Locomotiv Noj could not capitalise on Steaua’s slip-up, cancelling out 1-1 at the Belinda Carlisle to both remain behind the Bridgemen on GD. That left Littlewoods Legends the highest-placed upwardly-mobile outfit, rising to 5th after coming from behind to beat die Ambosse 2-1 at the Woods. Ambosse are down to 9th, and now three points from safety after Csiki Monkeys (who drop to 6th) and Azure Dragons (7th) battled to a 2-2 draw at the latter’s Dongfang Stadium. A point apiece was probably an equal relief, the Monkeys only having two chances but taking both whilst the Dragons snatched an equaliser only in the 87th minute.
OTF
Croesoswallt Dragons tightened their grip at the top of the league on Monday in dramatic fashion, with their game against 2nd-placed Zeugmaspor seemingly destined to end 0-0 with almost no chances seen until Vasili Gulko headed the leaders in front in the 89th minute – then Lloyd Montgomerie slotted a killer second in the 92nd, the 20-year-old’s 3rd in 5 games this term. Croesoswallt now have a 4pt lead at the summit, Zeugma plunging to 5th and the new nearest side being Berkshire Swine who edged out Eriskay Expression (9th) 1-0 at the Stef Tolsma. Four Candles also climb, to 3rd, after somehow coming out 1-0 victors in an incident-packed affair at Hampshire Deers (8th) where they had an early Fraser Dobie goal chalked off, captain and best defender Graham Hadden carried off just after the interval, finally scored with their only legitimate chance nine minutes from time and then finished the game with 10 men after Hadden’s replacement and second-best defender Dougie MacElfrish was dismissed three minutes later for a second yellow card. The 37-year-old MacElfrish took over this season from Apolo Arjona at the top of the Candles’ all-time appearances standings and this was his 326th appearance over 19 seasons. It was his first ever sending-off.
Another early end to the day came at the Hollows, for Vita Mortis midfielder Ernest Crompton, who was stretchered off just 5 minutes into their game with champions Dandy Town. The Scythemen did not seem to really recover from this and were dominated 8 chances to 2 – but the Highwaymen are shooting blanks to a great extent since lifting their 15th trophy and could not make an impression on home keeper Howard Stant. The 0-0 result was unusual for Mortis, whose combined 21 goals for and against is the highest in the top flight this season – but less so for the Dandies whose fans have surprisingly seen just 6 in total (3 for, 3 against), 50% fewer than any other team in the entire league, to make the defending champs what we can only call the anti-Banik so far. Anyway, both sides slip one spot in the table, Mortis to 4th and Town to 7th. The latter’s spot was usurped by Great Ouse Town, for whom Jeffery Redman scored twice including one freekick to put them on the road to an easy victory at bottom team Rejects Redux, and take his own tally to 5 for the campaign, before captain Irving Kenyon dispatched a late penalty clincher.Comment
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Week 12 of Season 65 of the Official Xpert 11 Ladies League report.
Six points separated Viking South Utsira from visitors As Punkonas, and not in The Blood Eagles favour, when the two clash at Ragnar Rock.Code:Division 1b Viking South Utsira 0 - 1 As Punkonas Esfrega Tachos 17' Division 2b Embla FF 0 - 3 Drakaina Nylund 38' Kalitzakis 84' Hentovic 88' Division 3e Spicks Killiettes 0 - 3 Mauchline Belles McRenton 18' Hackett 88' MacFillan 92' Division 4i Kanjeng Ratu Kidul WFC 3 - 0 Spacecowgirls McGillicuddy (O.G.) 38' Thunberg 59' Wardiana 82' Division 4j The Norfolk Broads 0 - 0 Coxy Ladies Wulpen Victoria de Waterloe (sent off) 56' Ullapool Northern Star 0 - 2 Zombie Team Sääf 84' Elmlund 88' Division 4m Hogarth and Knaresbroug 1 - 2 Zeugma Dostluk Spor Strindberg 54' Kurt 2', 79' Division 4n Cassiopeia 1 - 2 Samurai Jovancevic 65' Aizawa 25' Yamazaki 51' Division 5:14 Deerfield Durocs 1 - 1 Lion Ladies Brugge 22' Sturesson 80' Division 5:19 Wheelies Wobblers 0 - 1 Rising Stars Andorinha 43' Division 5:22 Bombay Green Rockets 1 - 0 Flick of the Wrist Baumann 50' Hazeldean Inchmistress 2 - 0 Afrodita CF Shelton 27' Bringevik 76' Division 5:28 Menywod Maeshafn 0 - 0 Don 540 Division 5:31 Csiki Girls 1 - 1 S Team Kilford 7' Division 6:36 Cataluna Cats 2 - 6 LNWR Locomotive Furre 19' Diana 12' Fuentes 66' Sassounian 26' Fuentes (sent off) 92' Astakhov 59', 63', 84' Arredondo (pen) 93' Division 6:44 Mawenzi 0 - 1 Invisible Ladies Prestonfield 47' ASU Politehnica 5 - 0 Aston Villa Women FC Săvescu 3', 62', 69' Nylin (O.G.) 31' Badoi 40' Division 6:51 Boé da Fixe 2 - 0 Metropolis Ladies FC Vieira de Jesus 21' Stiubei 73' Division 6:57 Stehags FC DAM 0 - 4 Dublin City Womens FC Gruszka 4', 41' Moore 79' Vieira 91'
Only a win would really do for Velvet Android’s side if they wanted to stay in the hunt for top flight promotion (Punkonas held Division 1b’s play-off spot at kick-off) but it never really looked like the North Sea Islanders would claim this. 1-0 down from the 17th minute, Viking struggled to get anything going. In fact they wouldn’t manage a single shot in the game, and had to be grateful to ref George Buske for the final margin not being worse than 1-0.
The rest of The Blood Eagles season will now be devoted to staying in 1b. This is an exciting contest – there are currently four teams locked in a battle to avoid two spots, with just a point separating the lot of them. VSU currently head this group, and can take a large stride towards safety if they beat one of the other teams involved in their next match.
Drakaina once looked to be getting sucked into a relegation battle, but some vigorous flapping had seen The Dragons climb back up to within sight of Division 2b’s play-off spot prior to their trip to Embla FF.
The Greeks had clearly the better of the first half, but had to wait until the 38th minute for a chance to drop right. It was Dagny Nylund who finally rose to the challenge, swooping to head the open goal. The second half told a similar story as Etienne’s side continued to look much the more likely, but took until the latter stages of the period to convert that into a second goal. Circe Kalitzakis was the player to step up this time, also with a header, this one on 84 minutes.
That pretty well sealed the deal for The Dragons, but just to make sure they added a third for insurance on 88 minutes, Juan Hentovic firing home. The win saw Drakaina climb up to third in the 2b standings, just one point adrift of the play-off spot. Any thoughts of relegation are now long forgotten.
Mauchline Belles were also on the brink of no longer fretting about relegation, but not in a good way. Way too many draws (7) and no wins (0) meant The Belles were in imminent danger of going down ahead of the East Ayrshire derby Spicks Killiettes, who were also battling the drop.
There might have been something poetic about the final bell for Mauchline tolling in their own backyward, but The Belles didn’t seem ready to accept that fate as they tore into their hosts. The early pressure resulted in a goal from Lisa McRenton on 18 minutes, but The Belles had been here before this season – could they build on their advantage this time?
As time ticked by, and Mauchline chances came and went unconverted Belles fans got increasingly nervous that their team would find a way to draw yet again. And that despite this being Mauchline’s best performance of the season by a distance, with all the chances going at the Killie net. It wasn’t until Lorna Hackett let fly speculatively from fully 40 yards on 88 minutes, and then watched overjoyed as the ball sailed over the Spicks ‘keepers head and in, that the visiting hordes truly believed. Or the team, because having got that second that likely secured the win and took the pressure off, Michelle MacFillan soon added a third (92 minutes).
A first win at last, and not a moment too soon as even with it Mauchline are still bottom of Division 3e, four points adrift of fifth. The Belles have had some unlikely escapes in Jdsx’s time in charge – if they can pull this one off it would be their greatest yet.
Promotion hunting Kanjeng Ratu Kidul WFC were clear favourites to beat relegation threatened Spacecowgirls when the two met at Merapi-Kraton-South Sea.
Both sides came into the game with a zero in one of their win/draw/loss columns. For Kanjeng this was against loses – The Sea Spirits arrived at the match still unbeaten in the league this season. In Spacecowgirls case the blank was against draws – they either win or loss, but never draw. Only one potential result preserved those stats, a KRK victory, and SeanoftheShed’s side were on their way to it thanks to a helping hand from Adrienne McGillicuddy, who put through her own net on 38 minutes (and then got subbed at half-time! Brutal…).
Marta Thunberg doubled the advantage for the Indonesians with a direct free-kick on 59 minutes. That put the hosts comfortably ahead against opponents who hadn’t made a chance in the match to that point, a cushion that was plumped further when Novi Wardiana scored a breakaway on 82 minutes.
Victory sealed it was time for Kanjeng to check for the other scores from Division 4i. And there was good news there as their only rival for the title, Arena 67 Ladies, had been held to a 2-2 draw. Those results leave The Sea Spirits four points clear at the top of the table with just six left to play for… and a home game against the bottom side to come next!
Both Coxy Ladies Wulpen and their matchday 12 hosts The Norfolk Broads were after a win to lift them out of the mid-table mire and give meaning to their last two games of the campaign.
The Waders were the better team in the first half in possessional terms, if not chances which were two apiece. The only important stat, the scoreboard, was unchanged at half-time from its state at kick-off though.
If Wulpen boss Janik was hoping his side could step things up after the break (and he was…), he had reckoned without the shortness of Victoria de Waterloe’s fuse. Apparently enraged by a minor injury inflicted on Clémence de Vos a couple of minutes earlier, for which the Norfolk player was only booked, de Waterloo took it upon herself to boot another Broad off the pitch completely. Which she managed, but i) Norfolk had a sub available and ii) it resulted in her expulsion from the arena.
That happened in the 58th minute, leaving The Waders over half-an-hour to hang on for a point. Which they managed… but really to little avail as three points was two too few for the Flanders side.
Norfolk and Coxy Ladies were both attempting to chase down second-placed Ullapool Northern Star. Polaris had more immediately rivals to concern themselves with though, most especially third-in-the-table Zombie Team who were the matchday 12 visitors to Minchview.
With three points between the sides Delicatemoth’s charges seemed to take the attitude that a point was good enough from this game, and this could be achieved by defending alone. This was a risky strategy, but one that appeared to be working as UNS reached the last 10 minutes still level at 0-0 despite Zombie Team having had a number of chances to Star’s singleton.
Unfortunately for Ullapool the assessment on whether a rearguard action has worked happens after 90+ minutes and not 80. And by the end the outcome of the review had changed after the visitors got goals on 84 and 88 minutes.
Each was painful in its own way, the first because a comeback was unlikely and the second as a two goal winning margin for Zombie Team meant them leapfrogging Polaris by +1 GD to claim second place in the Division 4j table. Coxy Ladies, meanwhile, remain fifth. The Flanders outfit are five points behind UNS and the Zombies with just six left to play for. They are safe from relegation (eight points clear) though.Comment
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A critical clash in the Division 4m title race sent leaders Zeugma Dostluk Spor to Earls Court to take on third-in-the-table Hogarth and Knaresbroug, who sat just three points adrift of the Anatolians, though goal difference meant the hosts leapfrogging AntepliEjderha’s side was deeply unlikely.
It was just H and K that ZDS had to worry about though as anything less than a win for Zeugma and the third side in the 4m promotion shake-up, Real de Praceta would find the door to top spot open to them. So there was relief all around amongst the Zeugma coaches and fans when Latife Kurt put them ahead inside the opening two minutes.
The visitors had much the better of the rest of the first half, but failed to add to their tally during this period. That left them vulnerable to an improved Hogarth & Knaresbrough [why doesn’t their manager spell it this way?] display after the break, which the hosts produced to equalise on 54 minutes. Now it was ZDS’ turn to dig deep… which they also managed, crossing for Kurt to head them back in front on 79 minutes.
That proved to be the winner, and it was an important one as Praceta had scored twice late on to win a wild match 5-3. It was a pair of results that basically secure Zeugma’s backstop of a play-off place (six points and +12 GD clear of H&K now) and leave them still leading 4m by two points with two to play.
Cassiopeia had the chance to practically seal their Division 4n survival when they hosted sixth-placed side Samurai.
The four points between the sides at kick-off would have extended to seven if Stormstopper’s side had won this match, but they were never really on course to do so. The early loss to injury of young forward Ioanna Efthimiadis (clattered in the 7th minute, opponent booked, Efthimiadis helped off and out for 7 days), whilst not a help was probably not the root cause of the disappointing performance – after all Efthimiadis’ replacement, Gordana Juric, is a pretty handy player herself. In fact there is no obvious cause for the first hour of the game, which saw Saumrai create chance after chance and score twice.
To make things even more perplexing the last half-hour was the opposite story as Jagoda Jovancevic pulled one back (65 minutes) and The Vainglories had enough chances to level things up completely. They didn’t take them though and instead fell to a defeat that plunges them right back into the relegation dog-fight.
Cassiopeia remain fourth in 4n, but now it is a fourth-place that sits only two points clear of the bottom three. That said catching second is not out of the question – that gap remains only four points. Just don’t let your mind turn to what it could have been with a win here…
It was possible that Deerfield Durocs could claim the Division 5:14 title with the right pair of results in their game against Lion Ladies and a match elsewhere. All that SitsWithRemote’s side needed was a better result than title rivals Real Rolz managed. However Rolz were up against the bottom-of-the-table side, which contrasted with Lion Ladies third place in the table.
Let’s get the detail out of the way first – Real Rolz won their game. So the title was off the table for the day, whatever happened at Deerfield. And that was a game that The Swine were the better side in, and led for much of following Idde Brugge’s long range strike on 22 minutes, but didn’t put away which left them vulnerable to a sucker punch. Which is precisely what Lion delivered on 80 minutes when they converted their only chance of the game.
Which meant another draw for The Durocs, a third in a row. The first was a good one, keeping title rivals Rolz back, the next two more underwhelming. It means they still hold a four point lead with two matches to go, and will be champions of 5:14 with a win in either. Those games are against two of the sides in the drop zone. It remains very much in the Swine’s own hands (hooves).
Rising Stars have faded somewhat in recent weeks with unexpected dropped points. That was alongside draws against promotion rivals, which meant Blamb’s side came into their game at bottom-of-the-table Wheelies Wobblers either without a win in four games, or on a four game unbeaten run (actually eleven games unbeaten) depending on whether you are a glass half full or empty type.
Even the optimists would admit that The Ascenders needed to win this one, though – that run of four points in four games (factual and unarguable) had seen them fall four points behind the Division 5:19 leaders and two adrift of second. So it was as much relief as joy when Penélope Andorinha put The Stars ahead on 43 minutes, particularly as this had followed shortly after Helen Gozo had had a goal disallowed (39).
Rising had deserved their half-time advantage on account of outshotting Wheelies 4-0 in the first half. But things got twitchy after the break as the Wobblers had four sights of Alba Quevedo’s goal. The Stars stopper turned in a superb grade 18 performance though to see all four efforts off and confirm the win.
There was good news from elsewhere in 5:19 for The Ascenders as leaders GAI Ladies suffered a home defeat. That meant Rising close to within one point of GAI, though they are now second to The Effing Blinders, who are a point further ahead of The Stars.
Bombay Green Rockets were eight points clear of bottom-of-the-table Flick of the Wrist and able to condemn the visitors to relegation with a win or even a draw… but that wasn’t the important aspect from The Rockets point-of-view; from HKS3’s side’s perspective it was imperative that they beat the bottom team to boost their own survival chances as they kicked off outside Division 5:22’s bottom three only on goal difference.
The first 45 minutes was a frustrating period for Bombay as they had plenty of possession, 60% all told, but couldn’t convert any of that into a sight of the Flick goal. Or at least not to the satisfaction of ref Constance Paine as Eileen Pöhlmann did have the ball in the visitors net on 44 minutes only to see her effort disallowed. That merely compounded the frustration of a half were the opposition had had both the legitimate chances from their limited possession.
It was therefore a massive relief to all around The Common when The Green Rockets not only had a shot in anger on 50 minutes but actually went and scored it, Barbara Baumann’s free-kick strike scorching home. What other way is there for a Rocket to register? With a precious lead Bombay went into protect mode, still hogging the ball and not creating much and still limiting (but not entirely eliminating) FotW opportunities. They got to the end without conceding through a mix of this, and a sprinkling of luck as Paine disallowed a goal for the second time in the match, ruling out a late equaliser on this occasion.
Whilst Bombay were playing the bottom team the side who they were a crucial place above, Hazeldean Inchmistress, had a much tougher assignment as Foxy265’s girls hosts 5:22 leaders Afrodita CF.
The Imperials seemed emboldened rather than perturbed by the challenge though, taking the game to Afrodita from the off. The hosts were already clearly on top before Josephine Shelton opened the scoring on 27 minutes, and didn’t ease off after going ahead either.
In fact the second half was pretty extraordinary as it is rare for a league leading side to only have 22% possession across a 45 minute period. The Ken Higgs Avenue crowd were purring about how well their side was playing, and if that purr did take on a slightly more impatient edge as they waited for a second goal that was removed when it arrived via Jennie Bringevik’s head in the 76th minute.
A two goal cushion was ample for the Framleyshire side to wrap up their impressive win, one that lifted them out of the 5:22 drop zone – The Imperials climbed a spot from sixth to fifth. Bombay also went up a place to stay just in front of their OTF rivals, climbing to fourth. Both teams now boast perfectly balanced 6-0-6 records, and are one point clear of the drop zone… and looking the other way are only three points adrift of the play-off place and four off top spot. The second OTF derby of the season is up next, and will determine which will battle the drop on the final day and which might sneak their way up.Comment
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With a gap of five points to league leaders Domina Eleven above them and one of six points to third-placed Atomic below the eventual outcome of Menywod Maeshafn’s regular season being a play-off place already looked pretty certain ahead of their game against relegation-threatened Don 540.
The two sides each packed their defence for this encounter… and what resulted from that was predictable – neither could break the other down! IsThatcherDeadYet’s charges might argue they produced enough chances in the match (four) to have nicked a goal and that if they had it would have been a winner… but they didn’t.
Don 540 didn’t score either from their two sights of the Maeshafn goal, the draw not doing a great deal positive for either team’s situation in the Division 5:28 table. But nothing particularly negative in Maeshafn’s case either as the end of the North Walians title hopes was just a matter of when, whilst their advantage on third remained at five points, though now over a different nearest rival (Aegean Coast Ladies).
Up-and-down Csiki Girls took on one of the sides who had jumped past them recently when they hosted S Team.
Laura Kilford got the A kertem outfit off to the perfect start when she curled home a direct free-kick after only 7 minutes play. That was the only chance of a pretty even first half, but after the break Ad hoc’s side began to create more by playing on the counter-attack, and that despite the loss of a key player to injury when Eunice Ackram picked up a nasty 21-day knock in the 50th minute. What The Csiki’s lacked, though, was a killer touch to put the second away… and that came back to bite on 75 minutes when the visitors, previously completely toothless, were handed a golden opportunity to equalise from the penalty spot. Which they took.
The Csiki’s were unable to raise themselves again in the face of this set-back and were forced to settle for a draw in a match where they had had 400% more shots than their opponents. Despite that it was a point each, which was enough to keep Csiki Girls fourth in Division 5:31, probably too far behind the leaders now for this to be realistic (five points) but still in with a shout of the play-off place (two points) but not out-of-the-woods for relegation yet either (just three points behind).
A vague memory says LNWR Locomotive and Cataluna Cats have had some dramatic, goal-filled matches over the seasons. Whether that happened again or not was probably of little concern to Steamers boss Viktor Boskovic – his focus would simply have been on his side claiming the win they needed to preserve their three point advantage at the summit of Division 6:36. By any means necessary.
The fans heading to Cataluna and the, um, Car Park by the chip shop stadium may have been more hopeful of excitement though. If they were, they would have been well satisfied by another explosive match. The opening was only averagely dramatic though, Gia Diana firing Locomotive ahead from range on 12 minutes, the Cats equalising on 19 only for Sirouhi Sassounian to re-establish the advantage with 26 on the clock.
It was after the break when things kicked off, starting with Simona Astakhov’s first of the evening on 59 minutes. We didn’t have long to wait for her second, the midfielder doubling her total 63 minutes, and now we were right into it as Cataluna closed back to 2-4 on 66 minutes.
A brief lull ended with Astakhov completing her hattrick in the 84 minutes, followed by the Cats Eliana Fuentes picking up her second yellow card of the day in the 92nd minute (her first had come in the very first minute of the match!). Neither we nor ref Manuel Ficu were quite done though, the arbiter still finding time to award LNWR a 93rd minute penalty which Constanza Arredondo stuck away to make the final score 6-2!
Some way to secure a must-take three points, especially against a potentially tricky opponent. The win kept The Steamers three points clear of KrYptiX Ladies FC, but it was also the margin that mattered as Locomotive’s goal difference stayed at +40 whilst KrYptiX were thrashing the bottom team 8-0 to move theirs up to +41. Next up for The Steamers is a game with a zombie, whilst KrYptiX have to play the stung Cats. Fingers crossed either the scores of the margin will be just about enough to get Locomotive to the end of the line.
All that Invisible Ladies can do for the rest of this season is keep winning their games and hope against hope that Division 6:44’s top two falter. Getting the victory away at Mawenzi was potentially a tall order for PebbletheFish’s side but if they wanted to keep their hopes alive it was a peak The See-Throughs had to conquer.
Invisible went about their task diligently and professionally. They had the better of the first half in terms of possession and chances, but it ended goalless. ‘No matter!’ the See-Throughs said, ‘We just keep playing until we score’. That breakthrough came very quickly after the break, Jacqueline Prestonfield turning home a 47th minute corner. Thereafter Invisible shut up shop, allowing Mawzeni but one chance in the match as they closed out the 1-0 win they needed.
And what of one of those teams above The See-Throughs, ASU Politehnica? Well, The Scholars were at home to struggling but not managerless Aston Villa Women FC, which was one that Granthamian’s charges would have expected to win.
The key player in delivering on those was to be Elena Săvescu, the forward netting a hattrick. Her first came as early as the 3rd minute when she turned home a free-kick routine. Săvescu took a back seat for a while as an own goal from Pia Nylin (31 minutes) and a Melania Badoi strike put the student side 3-0 up at the interval.
After the break it was back to Săvescu, the forward heading in a cross on 62 minutes for her second and then completing a perfect hattrick when she fired home her third and her side’s fifth of the day on 69 minutes.
Despite the two wins for the OTF sides it remains as you were at the top of 6:44 as leaders London Ladies also claimed victory, and in one some might have been hoping they would drop points in (vs Glenbogle Monarchs). That all means that Politehnica stay second in 6:44, two points and -6 GD behind London and four points and +10GD ahead of The See-Throughs.
With a focus entirely on next season, Harbinger of Hope’s Metropolis Ladies FC were always likely to be on a hiding to nothing when they visited a Boé da Fixe side heavily involved in the Division 6:51 title battle.
That was exactly as it panned out. Metropolis did make their opponents work somewhat hard for the three points, but a goal in each half ensured that Boé da Fixe got there in the end. On the other side of the ball it was all about working on structure and patterns ahead of next season… and getting players used to playing their natural positions again!
Metropolis remain seventh in the 6:51 table, four points adrift of sixth. This is a gap the Futurists can cut to just a single point if they win the head-to-head clash, which is up next. For once there is a chance of a win…
Our final match of the week is one of those straightforward affairs where one of our sides casually decapitates a zombie or five. In this case it was Dublin City Womens FC who were loping the heads off Stehags FC DAM.
It wasn’t a difficult day for Mortal Joe’s side against winless opponents whose only points and indeed goals come from two 1-1 draws against a fellow zombie, and who only had 10 players available for this match so started it a player short. In fact the only thing likely to hold The Molly Malones back was a lack of interest as it was too easy.
In the end Dublin managed to rouse themselves enough to score four goals, which is really no more than barely awake in this case. Elwira Gruszka headed the first four minutes into the match… and did the same for the second four minutes before the interval. Two more headers would complete the scoring, Sheena Moore nodding home a cross on 79 minutes and Alberta Vieira doing likewise from a corner on 91. Moore’s goal was the first of the 17 year-old midfielder’s senior career – she and her family will remember it, even if no-one else does.
The win was nearly enough to lift Dublin back into Division 6:57’s play-off spot, or rather the win allied to the current holders of second spot, Homers Damer’ being held to a draw was nearly enough. But not quite as Homers clung on for a point in their game, which keeps them one ahead of The Molly Malones, though with a goal difference -4 worse. Homers Damer might rectify that next Saturday (they play bottom side Brent) which puts added pressure on Dublin’s game with upper mid-table side Tallĺs Golden Girls. The good news for Dublin is the Golden Girls (and indeed everyone below 3rd in 6:57) are out of contention for runners-up spot, so likely to be playing a few more kids.Comment
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Made a pig's ear (or foot) of that.Comment
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I'll be honest here as real life intruded a bit. On the day before the match, my wife went into hospital for an operation (all went well) and on match-day I suddenly realised that I hadn't set any tactics. Quickly logged on and genuinely thought that we were playing the bottom team, so set up with offensive tactics which I definitely wouldn't have done if I knew that they were the leaders. Worked out well though.Originally posted by Janik View Post
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