X11 season 45 - de rigueur Mortis

[Janik]

Division 6:4

Matchday 8

FandaYona 		0 - 6	Erbil
				Solaun 6'
				Isgren 8', 24', (pen) 45'
				Hinton 33'
				Lister 48'


Matchday 9

Erbil			6 - 0	LuCa FC
Brundin 6', (pen) 20', 43'
Isgren 12'
Besen 25'
Lister 67'


Matchday 10

Erbil			4 - 0	Fantasy Factory
Brundin 14', 83'
James 56'
Hinton 81'

When your reporter abandoned his post to go skiing, Erbil were marching relentlessly towards the title. FandaYona, actively managed but extremely young and raw, were never likely to alter that. It was really just a question of how many and how quickly...
The match was over as a contest by the 8th minute following a header from Alanza Solaun and a direct free-kick from Saga Isgren. Isgren added another by the same method after 24 and completed her hattrick from the penalty spot on the stroke of half-time, an effort that made it five as Isgren’s second and third goals had sandwiched that of Caroline Hinton.
Harmony Lister made it six minutes into the second half at which point manager Jdsx was seen waving his team into an energy conserving set-up. Despite this they could have had one more, Sharyn Bullock turning home late on only to be denied by a whistle.
Would LuCa FC offer more of a challenge on Matchday 9? Erm, no. In fact arguably less so as they are drifting managerless following the previous guy walking away.
Once again it was five by the interval, with a hattrick for the dead-ball specialist as the main contribution. The specialist on this day was Sandra Brundin, and she netted a direct free-kick on 6 minutes, a penalty after 20 and then for variety a goal from open play on 43. Isgren may have been denied the set-piece goals, but her name was also on the scoresheet after she blasted in from range on 12 minutes, the other opening half strike arriving in similar fashion from Tülin Besen on 25.
Once again there was just a single strike after the break, and once again it was Lister who provided it as she headed home midway through the second-half.
Matchday 10 brought Fantasy Factory to Erbil Arena, and they did make it slightly tougher. But only slightly.
Free-kick duties were still with Brundin (Isgren was left out of the entire squad), and she opened the scoring in trademark style on 14 minutes. A second didn’t arrive until the second-half was over ten minutes old, Mellissa James providing it from a corner. And we were into the last ten before two long-rangers from Hinton and Brundin made the final score match better with the chances created.
The key result in Division 6:4 in this period wasn’t an Erbil one but rather the surprise defeat suffered by second-place Djuped BK on Matchday 8. That now leaves them six points adrift of Erbil’s still 100% record, and with a much inferior goal difference. Two more wins and Erbil are going up...

[Janik]

Division 6:39

Matchday 8

Sockford Emollient	3 - 0	Chili Babes
Conrad 68'
Batistuta 85', 91'


Matchday 9

LA Cheerleaders 	1 - 8	Sockford Emollient
Rang 65'			True 1'
				Olesen 7', 71'
				Mullins 55'
				Conrad 59', 87'
				Haraldsen 73'
				Parks 77'
Hanae Shibuya

Matchday 10

Sockford Emollient	4 - 0	FC Saturn United
Bjerkefors 5'
Conrad 8'
Antonellini 71'
Mullins 73'

If Erbil were abandoned mid-promotion charge, Sockford Emollient were left at a much more critical point as they prepared for the return game against main promotion rivals Chili Babes. The Gatorsharks had gone top of Division 6:39 with an away win in the first meeting of the sides, and ended Chili Babes 100% record in the process, leaving Nmrfox’s side looking to either consolidate or even better build on that success in the second match at John Spencer Street.
The visitors also understood the importance of the match, and both sides went for the win. Chances started as a trickle, grew and ended up as a flood. Somehow it remained goalless at the interval, and also at the hour mark but eventually something had to give and it was the Chili Babes defences that did so, Maci Conrad heading home.
That forced the visitors to throw caution to the wind, which resulted in them being picked off twice in the last few minutes, both times the moving ending with Alexia Batistuta wheeling away in celebration. Despite Batistuta’s two goals it wasn’t her who her teammates congregated on at full-time but goalkeeper Oianiyi John, whose stats for the day read as (a crucial) five shots faced, five saves.
Next up for The Gatorsharks were their spiritual-cousins-in-film but Footballing antithesis, LA Cheerleaders. Because, let’s be clear, the Pom-Pom Girls are rubbish at Football.
The match stats make for eye-popping reading. 70% possession for The Gatorsharks, 18 chances, and 8 goals. Lise True got the first within seconds of the start, Hildegard Olesen made it two on 7 minutes but then there was something of a lull, not in terms of shots but specifically ones being converted.
Kayley Mullins got things back underway again after 55 minutes and following this the goals were heavily spread around the team as nearly everyone got a turn. Conrad struck twice, Olesen got her second of the day, and Hege Haraldsen and Monica Parks also found the target. There were also a couple of set-backs in the day for Sockford, as young defender Hanae Shibuya picked up an 8-day injury and the Cheerleaders netted just their second goal of the season away at the league leaders. I’m sure that made the eight at the other end all worthwhile.
With a four point cushion, the challenge for Sockford is simply to keep winning, keep beating sides like FC Saturn United and the title will be coming to Framleyshire.
Early goals are a great pressure reliever in such games, and that is exactly what The Gatorsharks netted here, Terese Bjerkefors and Conrad having them two up inside 8 minutes. The value of those was clear as it remained just two, despite a string of chances, up until Donya Antonellini’s 71st minute header. That was again the cue for two goals in quick succession, Mullins also nodding home on 73.
And that was that. A 4-0 win, which leaves Sockford four points clear at the top of Division 6:39 with four games to play.

[Janik]

Division 6:41

Matchday 8

Perfect Ladies 		2 - 2	Invisible Ladies
Shuttlewood (O.G.) 67'		Stoneley 59'
MacCarlich 69'			Carr 82'


Matchday 9

Luculenus LFC		4 - 1	Invisible Ladies
Constantino 8'			Nádasdy 51'
Neville 48'
Clemencao 64'
McCulloch 72'


Matchday 10

Invisible Ladies	4 - 0	Hoj
Shuttlewood 5', 78'
Neves 71'
Stoneley 86'

Invisible Ladies had reached the mid-point of the season in third place in Division 6:41 on the back of a hammering of strugglers Perfect Ladies.
The return at the Perfect Arena was a very different kettle of fish as the hosts tried to show their 7-1 annihilation at the San Seethrough had been an aberration. They appeared to be going about it in the right manner, creating significantly more chances than The See-Throughs up until Dee Stoneley sprang the hosts offside trap and raced clear to give Invisible a shock lead on 59 minutes.
The ball was fed through for Stoneley’s goal by Aileen Shuttlewood, but her next contribution wouldn’t be as positive for Pebblethefish’s side as Shuttlewood put through her own net to level. With a couple of minutes it was 2-1 to Perfect, who were seemingly on course to hold on to this until Charlene Carr pounced on a ricocheting ball to draw the teams level again inside the last ten minutes. 2-2 would prove the final score.
Those dropped points meant The See-Throughs went into their game at promotion chasers Luculenus LFC seven points adrift of their opposition, who remained the target to chase down to get Invisible involved in the promotion battle.
Unfortunately Luculenus were well aware of this as well, and came out guns blazing to take the lead after 8 minutes. Stoneley felt she had equalised 10 minutes later but her celebrations were cut short by referee Tony Nolan, and it was Luculenus who struck next instead. Beáta Nádasdy pulled one back three minutes later on a breakaway but it wasn’t the start of a comeback as Luculenus held Invisible Ladies at arm’s-length until they could add two more goals without any worrying exposure at the defensive end.
That left The See-Throughs looking downwards rather than upwards went they took on Hoj.
This was the perfect match-up in the circumstance for Invisible as their opponents sat pointless, managerless and bottom.
Shuttlewood took advantage of the opportunity presented to make it 1-0 after just 5 minutes, which was how it remained until half-time as no more chances were created before the break. Some were fashioned after though, and a few further Invisible goals arrived in a mini-glut, Sofia Neves making it two on 71 minutes with a direct free-kick, Suttlewood nodding a third on 78 and Stoneley also registering a header as she netted the final goal of the day on 86.
At the end of all that, Invisible Ladies remain third in Division 6:41, and are now equidistant between the play-offs and relegation. With both seven points away, a mid-table finish for The See-Throughs seems certain.

[Janik]

Division 6:42

Matchday 8

Solent Sirens		5 - 0	Riverwood Town FC
de Beauvoir 3', 6', 68'
Hyeong 52'
Stieglecker 58'

Zenit Odenplan Ladies 	1 - 5	Witches of Chiswick
Khadarkevich 27'		Mercier 30'
				Beja 40', 56'
				Matzuoka 72'
				Herrlin 77'


Matchday 9

Witches of Chiswick	1 - 4	Solent Sirens
Beja 23'			Djorovic 15'
				Högardh 27'
				de Beauvoir 45', 81'


Matchday 10

Twin Peaks Owls 	0 - 0	Solent Sirens

Witches of Chiswick	5 - 0	Pegasus Girls
Matzuoka 1', 16', 19'
Kurisawa 40'
Altstrand 45'

Solent Sirens had reached the halfway point of the season holding the Division 6:42 play-off spot, and they were not about to be displaced from that by a bunch of zombies like Riverwood Town FC.
Simone de Beauvoir proved herself particularly handy with the old flying Knopfler, moving Andrew7610’s side two in front within six minutes by finishing off a corner and netting a trademark free-kick. The game then lulled its way into the second half before Jin-Ae Hyeong made it three. This was quickly followed by a strike from Marlene Stieglecker and de Beauvoir completing her hattrick. Which provided the final account of five.
Witches of Chiswick also came into this round of matches on a good result, having narrowly beaten Zenit Odenplan Ladies to put some breathing space between The Bewitched and the 6:42 drop zone.
Another win at Zenit would likely extend that further, and Wilbflibl’s side pressed for that in the opening half, with 60% possession and 5-2 on chances. Despite these numbers there were briefly behind, Odenplan getting the first of the day on 27 minutes, but that was only brief and Chiswick led at the interval through strikes from Natalie Mercier (30) and Luciana Beja (40).
Whatever was said in the Witches dressing room at the interval clearly worked, as Chiswick went up two gears from merely being better than Odenplan to thrashing them soundly after the break. Three more goals were added, which was merely reflective of The Bewitched’s dominance, Beja heading her second of the match, Tomiko Matzuoka making it four and Johanna Herrlin completing the route on 77 minutes.
Matchday 9 brought the second and final OTF derby of this season.
The first chance fell to The Sirens as early as the 2nd minute, but Paulina Lotoft precise header was saved by Witches’ keeper Miyuki Kurihawa. That would prove to be the last significant action from Lotoft in the game as on 13 minutes the young defender went down with a 7-day knock and was replaced by Eva Sundén. Not that this disrupted Solent noticeably as they were in front just two minutes later, Ana Djorovic’s flick header finding the target.
The Bewitched reacted and levelled on 23 minutes with a flick header of their own, this one by Beja who turned in a corner. However that was rather against the run of play and just four minutes later The Sirens were back in front when Evelyn Högardh fizzed in a low drive fom long range. Heyong nearly doubled the advantage on 40 minutes only for her power shot to brush the outside of the post, but that was a brief reprise as Solent made it three via a direct free-kick from Simone de Beauvoir on the stroke of half-time.
The game was more even after the break, with ref Stellan Offsajed apparently working to keep it a live contest when he disallowed Geovana Abbiati’s 60th minute toe-poked effort, despite there being seemingly nothing wrong with it. That gave Wilbflibl’s side hope, particularly when Mercier broke clear in the 66th minute; her shot was slipped past Banaz Pinachi in the Solent net but also fractionally wide of the goal. Next to try was Sarah Altstrand, whose direct free-kick in the 76th minute beat Pinachi, who this time was saved by the ball rebounding off her left post. And then the sucker punch: two near misses were followed by stunner from de Beauvoir, her powerful swerving long-range effort giving Kurihawa no chance.
That settled the outcome, though there were two further chances in the dying minutes, Sundén putting a diving header wide on 83 and a lob from outside the box by Mercier skimming the crossbar.
The overall analysis was probably the right team won, but the margin of 4-1 was a little flattering for Solent.
An upbeat day such as that was the perfect preparation for Solent ahead of a trip to leaders Twin Peaks Owls. This was one that, if The Sirens could win, would blow the 6:42 title race back open.
Did Twin Peaks know that? You are damn right they knew it. The entertainment was minimal for The Black Lodge denizens with just a few moments of coherent action in the entire piece. These few chances biased towards Solent, but Andrew7610’s girls just couldn’t make the breakthrough and had to leave with just a single point. Though that surely counts as success, given Twin Peaks were at 100% before The Sirens visited and gave them a real fright.
Meanwhile The Bewitched were going through the motions against bottom-placed zombies Pegasus Girls.
It took less than a minute for Mercier to find Tomiko Matzuoka for the opener, and is if to show how easy this was the same pair combined twice more on 16 and 19 minutes and did so by carefully setting up Matzuoka for a perfect hattrick. Mari Kurisawa added a fourth on 40 minutes with a header from a corner and Altstrand swirled in a direct free-kick on the stroke of half-time to make it five. And then Chiswick went to the pub, safe in the knowledge the game was over.
What does it all add up to? Well Solent remain second in the table, five points behind Twin Peaks. Which is probably more points than Twin Peaks will drop in the remaining games. So the focus is on securing the play-off spot, and on that front the advantage over third-placed Marselle is just a point. Chiswick’s relegation fears are over as they now boast a ten point advantage on the bottom three. They seem unlikely to close the seven point gap on Solent though so holding fourth place is probably the realistic target for the remainder of the campaign.

[Janik]

Division 6:56

Matchday 8

Scorpions		0 - 1	Menywod Maeshafn
				Corleone 14'


Matchday 9

The World Is Yours 	3 - 1	Menywod Maeshafn
Stockholm 8'			Elodie van Hijde 21'
Hewleri 33', 67'


Matchday 10

Menywod Maeshafn	4 - 2	Maltese Sharks
Barker 16'			Stene 18'
van Hijde 34', 63', 92'

When we last checked in Menywod Maeshafn were storming to promotion, boasting an eight point lead on their nearest rivals. Maintaining that advantage against bottom side Scorpions would have been straightforward if The Arachnids had not gained an active manager shortly before the game.
That made a difference as Scorpions have decent players (they were previously Scorpion Flower), which made the return a real battle for IsThatcherDeadYet’s girls. A successful one though as, despite the sides being really very evenly matched in possession and chances, the one goal was a Welsh effort, Monalisa Corleone heading in a corner on 14 minutes.
Next up was a trip to Montana and mid-table side The World Is Yours.
However this was not one of Maeshafn’s finest performances as they found themselves on the backfoot for most of the game. Chances on the counter were being created and from one of those on 21 minutes a free-kick was won that Elodie van Hijde converted. That shot brought the scores level following an early World Is Yours strike, but they wouldn’t remain that way as the hosts netted twice more to inflict a shock first league defeat of the season on Maeshafn.
An immediate bounce back was called for against managed but not well managed Maltese Sharks.
It would prove to be a trickier encounter than expected as the Sharks proved hard to scare off. And that despite Katherine Barker giving the leaders a 16th minute advantage. This was immediately cancelled out and if referee Warren Peace hadn’t intervened on 32 minutes Maeshafn would have been behind. But he did, and two minutes later it was the Welsh with their noses in front through van Hijde.
The half ended in annoying fashion as Maeshafn midfielder Tina Käck was kicked out of the game (8 days). van Hijde took it on herself to get revenge for her mate, and do so in a legitimate way as she made it 3-1 on 63 minutes and then, following Malta closing in again, finally putting the game to bed with a direct free-kick in stoppage time.
Where does that leave Maeshafn? Top of Division 6:56 by five points from Orangeries, who they play in a crucial match this Tuesday.

[Janik]

Division 6:57

Matchday 8

Aherla Ladies 		1 - 2	Dublin City Womens FC
Kikuxi (pen) 63'		Ryding 43'
				Kamide 50'


Matchday 9

Dublin City Womens FC	0 - 0	Real Persian CF


Matchday 10

Dublin City Womens FC	3 - 0	El Bastardo Ladies
Ciutacu 1', 42'
Kåmark 34'

The Dublin City Womens FC context was a run of form that had lifted them from a poor start to threatening to push into the Division 6:57 promotion race. The Dubs were looking to maintain that improvement by completing the mid-season double over fellow rising side Aherla Ladies.
Mortal Joe’s side clearly shaded the first half, and would argue that they deserved Vivian Ryding’s 43rd minute opener. When Ai Kamide made it two early in the second-half, a comfortable afternoon seemed in prospect... unless Aherla had something to do with it. Which they did, pulling one back from the spot on 63 minutes. This led to a grandstand with chances at both ends but no additional goals as the Dublin bandwagon continued to thunder on, closing the gap on the play-off to just goal difference
The next roadblock was formed by Real Persian CF.
Persian’s cautious approach had inflicted the last defeat on Dublin, and this led to a very cagey game. Both sides created a couple of chances but no more than that, and no more than half-opportunities either. No of them were converted. The bandwagon slowed a bit, as Dublin were back to two points adrift of their target.
Next up for Dublin was the bottom-placed zombie El Bastardo Ladies.
However let’s be clear that, for all their lack of a manager, El Bastardo isn’t a bad team. They are hard to breakdown. Wouldn’t have known it as seconds into the game Adelina Ciutacu raced clear to opening the scoring, but they are.
The rest of the match showed more typical resistance, as Mortal Joe’s side were restricted to just two more. Both arrived before the interval from headers, Veronica Kåmark making it two on 34 minutes and Ciutacu registering her second of the day on 42.
And so where does that leave us? Well, with Dublin fourth in the 6:57 table, and involved in a four-way struggle for the play-off spot as second to fifth is covered by just four points. Dublin are midway up that ladder.

[Janik]

Division 6:62

Matchday 8

FC.Bayern Mädchen	0 - 3	Csiki Girls
				Igreja 31'
				Solas 43'
				Morientes 60'


Matchday 9

Bigbay Gals 		1 - 3	Csiki Girls
Blair 64'			Clevan 47'
Shaw (sent off) 80'		Israca 87'
				Austin 90'


Matchday 10

Csiki Girls		5 - 0	Brazier
Solas 1', 10'
Smet 14', 89'
Gränsmark 20'

Our last visit to Csiki Girls was midway through their double header with title rivals FC.Bayern Mädchen. The teams had shared the points in the first match at A kertem after the Csiki’s had had the better of, but couldn’t find a breakthrough during, a nil-nil draw.
Would things be different in the return at the Allianz Arena? Not in terms of the pattern of play as once again Csiki girls were making the running, having more possession and most (though not all this time) of the chances. The key difference in the second match was in the Csiki’s finishing, though. Zero from four in the home game had morphed into two/four by half-time of this as Carlota Igreja and Solange Solas found the target on 31 and 43 minutes respectively.
Ad Hoc’s side kept the pressure up after the break, which led to Maria Morientes making in three on the hour. That was an insurmountable lead for the hosts to claw back, giving Csiki Girls a huge win in the Division 6:62 title race.
Having won the six-pointer, the key thing was to back it up. It would have been so frustrating if the Csiki’s had lost next up to Bigbay Gals whilst Bayern were winning and putting things back to square one.
The Csiki’s shaded a tight first half without totally dominating. They upped their game rapidly after the interval, Ellie Clevan heading the visitors in front on 47 minutes. The Csiki’s were taking control of the game by now, so it was a surprise when Bigbay equalised after 64 minutes, a long range shot sneaking it’s way past Emma Laude.
The Csiki’s reacted to this by pressing for a winner. The match was becoming particularly fraught because of this, and it was a home player who broke, Christina Shaw lashing out at young defender Deb Beck and earning a straight red card for her troubles on 80 minutes. Ad Hoc’s side took advantage of their opponents reduced numbers to turn pressure into an onslaught, one that paid dividends in the 87th minute when Liraz Israca headed home. With that the hosts shoulders slumped which allowed for further poetic justice when Beck’s replacement due to the minor injury she picked up in the sending-off, Bethany Austin, was the woman on the spot form a corner to head the third. It was the first goal in Austin’s six year professional career for good measure.
The next challenge was a fairly easy one, as the Csiki’s got to warm themselves up bottom side Brazier, who are naturally a managerless outfit.
It only took seconds for Solas to open the scoring, the same player adding a second with 10 gone. Floriane Smet nodded a third on 14, and but for sympathy from referee Seymour Red it would have been four on 18 minutes via an own goal (the player grateful to be let off the hook was Jolene McQuillan). That reprieve was pretty brief however as just two minutes later Emelie Gränsmark had made it four after all.
That would be the high point of the day for Gränsmark as she picked up a 10-day injury fairly soon into the second half. That knocked the Csiki’s off their rhythm for a while, the only further addition to the scoreline coming in the 89th minute from Smet.
If Csiki Girls had more than delivered on backing up their top-of-the-table win, the opposite can be said about Bayern Mädchen. Following the defeat, their first of the season, they have picked up just one more point from a 0-0 draw and 0-1 defeat, results that have seen them plunge down the 6:62 table. The demise of their closest rivals is obviously fantastic news for Csiki Girls, who now find themselves eight points clear of second. The title can be secured with the right set of results this coming week...

[Janik]

Division 7:27

Matchday 8

Forest Mountain Falcons	0 - 6	girls de charneca
				Heatley 1'
				Raquel Pedroso 11', 36'
				Penelope Campos 16'
				Escobar 20'
				Áláfinesse 36'


Matchday 9

girls de charneca	6 - 0	Escobar
Oxenstierna 14'
Áláfinesse 19'
Fetele 37'
Heatley 57'
Bell 92'


Matchday 10

girls de charneca	5 - 0	Källby IF Dam
Haywood 59'
Áláfinesse 64', 86'
Campos 82', 91'

And finally Zeugma side to be, girls de charneca. Antepli Ejderha’s side had hit the summit of Division 7:27 in the previous round of matches, and with a section solely populated by zombies they were surely there to stay.
The first in line for decapitation were Forest Mountain Falcons. In a familiar theme for these reports, the first goal arrived in seconds. It was finished by young forward Ashley Heatley. Further strikes followed swiftly from Ana Raquel Pedroso (x2), Penelope Campos, Luana Escobar (a rare effort for the decidedly non-prolific defender) and Merdaleiro Áláfinesse. Six to the good by half-time, charneca knocked off for the day.
Next in line were Escobar. And this time it took a little longer to opening the scoring, the Insan Haklari Stadyumu crowd having to wait all of 16 minutes for the opening goal. When it came it was a first career strike for young midfielder Liv Oxenstierna.
The opener was set-up by Áláfinesse, who got the second for herself on 19 minutes. She would also get the third from the spot after 35, but not before Heatley had had one disallowed. Asabe Fetele made it four by the interval, but the charneca players clearly felt this wasn’t quite enough as they vaguely shook a leg after the break, creating a handful more chances and from them two further goals for Heatley on 57 minutes and Stacey Bell in stoppage time.
Matchday 10 brought an encounter with one of the freshest zombies in Källby IF Dam.
Källby made use of their relatively recent mobility to keep AE’s side out until very nearly the hour mark. However the dam was always going to finally break, the one to cause the breach being Peg Haywood. The initial trickle, Áláfinesse adding a second soon after, became a flood in the last ten minutes as Campos struck twice either side of a second on the day for Áláfinesse.
Technically charneca’s lead in the Division 7:27 table is only three points, but for that to be closed they would have to drop points, and who is going to do that to them? Promotion will be confirmed sooner or later, with this week an outside possibility.

[Various Artist]

You maniac. We love you Janik, thanks a million for the giant catchup

Enthusiasm for the task ahead could have taken another blow when Asta Austrheim was stretchered off with a horrible 25-day injury after just eight minutes. She was replaced by sister Birgit, which seems a bit harsh of the Assistant Manager as surely Birgit would have preferred to accompany Asta in the ambulance?

Hah, yes I'd just described Birgit as looking "visibly shocked" in my PR for this week an hour or two ago. She's a trooper, though.

To this point of season 50, no side had scored more than once in a game against FISO.

I hadn't actually spotted that! Nice statting. We did indeed rather wreck their remarkably proud defensive record for the campaign, though.

Further good news from other result was that VSU’s closest rivals for second had lost, and so fallen four points behind The Blood Eagles.

And we host them next...

[Various Artist]

We're down to 59 now, dazcreed has gone. I don't really care about the league as I'm more concerned about SDR.

This, exactly. You can't help but worry when someone suddenly drops out of sight for a spell.

At least, some of us can't help but worry. There are a few being pretty dickish about it in MLX's Scribble/PRs, regrettably, with no apparent empathy. Like AE says, though, the game is secondary. Really hope things are OK.

[nmrfox]

This, exactly. You can't help but worry when someone suddenly drops out of sight for a spell.

At least, some of us can't help but worry. There are a few being pretty dickish about it in MLX's Scribble/PRs, regrettably, with no apparent empathy. Like AE says, though, the game is secondary. Really hope things are OK.

Exactly. A couple of replies have been formulated on the Scribble and deleted before being sent. No-one on OTF obviously, but some managers really are fuckwits when it comes to this game.

[Sits]

And there’s me suggesting “pragmatic” quick fixes when it was SDR who stepped into the Hunan League when I had Real Life Shit in late 2016.

<feeling bad>

[Antepli Ejderha]

And there’s me suggesting “pragmatic” quick fixes when it was SDR who stepped into the Hunan League when I had Real Life Shit in late 2016.

<feeling bad>

No need to Sits.

[Antepli Ejderha]

What an epic round up Janik, that deserves three Guzmans from me for a great start to the day.

Guzman. Guzman. Guzman.

[Various Artist]

No need to Sits.

Blimey no, exactly, pragmatism isn't a bad thing.

The people getting more than one of our backs up are the ones assuming that if the admin isn't around all of a sudden it's because he's a "bad admin" or "he should have thought of that before he took on the role", with no hint of it occurring to them that they've no idea whatsoever about the circumstances.
(Like Foxy, I've redacted more than one comment I was going to make – even within that sentence, let alone in the Scribble...)

[jdsx]

Truly epic, Janik.... Hope the skiing was good!!

[Janik]

Having caught up with the Ladies Official League, what of the Cup? Well, after a successful R5 showing (all remaining side progressing) there were four OTF-managed outfits preparing for Round 6...

Round 6


Erbil			0 - 0	AS BABES DO VARDAS
			A.E.T.

VARDAS won 5-3 on penalties


G---'s FC		1 - 0	Viking South Utsira
Degerstam 67'
Kindström (sent off) 53'


Kanjeng Ratu Kidul WFC	1 - 1	Triestina
Pailloux 11'		A.E.T.	Lusitano 66'

Kanjeng win 4-2 on penalties


Kizomba Luanda		3 - 0	Drakaina
Magnussen 36'
Husmo 41'
de Graca 55'

Erbil found themselves pitted against a side operating one tier higher when they took on
AS BABES DO VARDAS.
This was a match low on incident as the teams basically cancelled each other out. There were a few chances scattered over the 120 minutes, more for VARDAS than Erbil, but these were rarities and never enough to make the final score of 0-0 feel unjustified.
So it was on to the penalty shoot-out. VARDAS went first and scored, Erbil’s first taker was Sandra Brundin. She missed. That left Jdsx’s side behind the eight-ball. Saga Isgren, Sabina Granå and Alanza Solaun did what they could be converting penalties 2, 3 and 4 but with VARDAS confidently despatching all their kicks the match was decided.
One shouldn’t overlook that Round 6 is an excellent performance for a seventh-tier side.

Viking South Utsira took on a shittily named team from their own tier that I’m rendering as G---'s FC.
This would prove to be a very forgettable day for The Blood Eagles. They made the only three chances of the first half, but didn’t manage to convert any. And then, early in the second-half, Velvet Android’s girls were handed a seemingly major break when opponent Anja Kindström was shown a straight red card.
The Utsiran share of possession increased against ten men, but not the rate of chances which slowed if anything. And then, to compound matters, the opposition created their one chance of the match on 67 minutes, and took it.
We will have to wait for another year for The Blood Eagles to improve on their previous best of a quarter-final showing.

The Cup has been the bright spot in a hard season for Kanjeng Ratu Kidul WFC, and it was one they had high hopes of maintaining when taking on Triestina side from the one tier below.
Adèle Pailloux got The Sea Spirits off to a fantastic start as she netted the opening goal from an 11th minute corner. That would prove to be the only chance of the first half, but after the break Triestina came more and more into it, and it would be hard to begrudge them their equaliser midway through the period.
The rest of the match saw the Adriatic side making the running, but with The Sea Goddesses defence standing firm it was going to take penalties to separate the sides. Kanjeng were taking first, and were rapidly into an advantage as Diana Doom scored and Triestina missed their opening kick. A successful conversion from Cindy Prins was followed by a second Triestina miss, meaning that once Tia Farisy had put Kanjeng 3-0 up, they were on the brink of victory. It would have come is Triestina had failed to convert their third kick, but they didn’t. OK, no matter, Jennifer Willockx will score to seal it... or not. Erm, a save from the fourth Triestina attempt will do it , right? Also no. This all meant there was real pressure on Jolanda Dennen’s fifth kick; if she missed, then the door would be back up. Up stepped Dennen and... the net rippled, Kanjeng were through!
Round 7 would pit SeanoftheShed’s side up against Hippy Chicks of Division 3e.

The biggest challenge in Round 6 was that facing Drakaina, who had been paired with Kizomba Luanda from the tier above.
The Dragons needed a bit of a luck and a flat performance from their opponents if they wanted to win. They got neither, Luanda dominating possession with around two-thirds of the ball. Despite that Etienne’s side still created chances, but those foundered on a ‘keeper having a grade-19 day.
Anastasia Shkolnikova in the Greeks net by contrast had a so-so 90 minutes. Grade-13 isn’t bad, but she has turned in better than that in the past. It definitely wasn’t enough to keep Kizomba at bay, the Angolans netting three of their five chances to comprehensively end Drakaina’s cup run this year. Round 6 did represent a franchise record effort, though.


Round 7 draw

Hippy Chicks (3e)	vs	Kanjeng Ratu Kidul WFC

And then there was one for Round 7...

Round 7


Hippy Chicks		1 - 1	Kanjeng Ratu Kidul WFC
Looyah 32'		A.E.T.	Prins (pen) 21'
Harris (sent off) 116'

Hippy Chicks won 5-4 on penalties

This was entirely new territory for Kanjeng Ratu Kidul WFC. But then so had been Round 6. And Round 5. In fact, the run to Round 4 last season had been a first in club history for The Sea Spirits (and predecessors). Could the trend to repeatedly break new ground continue against Hippy Chicks of Division 3?
An early substitution for key midfielder Diana Doom due to a minor injury didn’t help as far as Kanjeng were concerned, though Hippy Chicks Raquel Harris did get booked for it. Soon after another refereeing decision benefitted SeanoftheShed’s side as George Buske pointed to the spot. Cindy Prins shouldered the responsibility calmly.
The lead was short-lived though as just 11 minutes later Hippy Chicks equalised. From this point on the match was extremely even, up until the 116th minute when Harris received her second yellow and marching orders. Would Kanjeng be able to take advantage of their extra man in the short time remaining? Nope, the final whistle blew without further chances and into penalties we went.
The Sea Spirits were taking first. The netted their opening two through Prins (the same way as normal time) and Leila Azeite, but Hippy Chicks also scored. Kanjeng’s third kick was entrusted to Tia Farisy, but her effort lacked venom and was beaten away. Jennifer Willockx stroked home the fourth to keep the Indonesians in touch, and they were then right back in it when Kacey Rust saw off the fourth Hippy Chicks effort. Jolanda Dennen held her nerve to make it 4-3, but then so did the next opposition taker. That moves us into sudden-death. The first Kanjeng player to step up in that was Diksha Dalmiya. Unfortunately she put her effort wide, and Rust couldn’t extricate her from that as Hippy Chicks smacked home their sixth kick to win the tie.
So the Cup is over for OTF for the season. However if Kanjeng can continue their rapid advancement (R4 in season 49, R7 in season 50) then we might have a champion next season??

[SouthdownRebel]

Guys, I'm OK but it's been a rough fortnight. My stepfather suffered a major heart attack a couple of weeks back. Thankfully he's pulled through, although it was touch and go, and my poor mum really suffered in the aftermath of having to administer CPR and the trauma of that - the shock and anxiety got so bad she convinced herself she was also having a heart attack and had to be taken for a precautionary ECG of her own, which was the only thing that convinced her she wasn't. I'm sure you'll all forgive me for forgetting about X11 for a while, although I should have thought of the option of having one of you take over temporarily - sorry about that. Thanks for your concern up-thread (and to Kev, who emailed me separately) - you're a fine bunch.

So we have a few vacancies to fill in MLX - I'm of the opinion that those we've lost and/or have thrown their toys out of the pram weren't worth keeping so I won't be losing any sleep over it. We've had one replacement in this morning and I've sent a message to all managers to update them so hopefully that will calm things down a bit but if you could help spread the word in your other leagues I'd be greatful.

Also really sorry to hear about Pebble up-thread - I hope you're getting the care and support you need.

[Sean of the Shed]

Glad to hear you are alright SDR, and I hope your family are on the mend.

[Hot Orange]

Delighted to hear things are OK-ish, SDR.

[SouthdownRebel]

Thanks gents, much appreciated.

[ad hoc]

Great to know you are OK sdr but sorry to hear about the reasons for your absence

[nmrfox]

Great to see you back SdR and hoping that your family members make a full recovery. Take care mate.

[Etienne]

Ditto.

[Sits]

Great to see you again SDR. Best of luck in the next few weeks family-wise.