That's the spirit. Struggling is where Kakanui KuneKune will be after an unexpected - and frankly unwelcome - reprieve from relegation in the MLX. I predict carnage.
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Am I right that all OTF teams are still active this silly season? If so, that's excellent.Comment
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I just checked before I saw this and that's the case, 30 logged in today and the other three yesterday.Originally posted by Kevin S View PostComment
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And the season is up and running already. A Guzman to Etienne from Zeugma.Comment
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That was quick! Cheers Etienne. Good luck everybody!Comment
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I felt people had put up with a lot of unhonoured promotions etc last season, so just wanted to roll on with 33 active teams rather than recruit and have a new reshuffle.Comment
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X11 Ladies Season 55 Matchday 1 report.
Viking South Utsira will be looking to push for promotion back to Division 1 after their mid-table finish in 2b last time out. They began this campaign against familiar faces, FC Sprezzatura also having been in this section last season.Code:Division 2b Viking South Utsira 1 - 1 FC Sprezzatura H.Hovland 90' Tufvander 34' Division 3d FC MadKuts Cologne 0 - 1 Drakaina Vulturescu 15' Division 4j Coxy Ladies Wulpen 1 - 0 Johnstone Cougars Vandenbergh 89' Division 4k Kanjeng Ratu Kidul WFC 2 - 0 Ambush Ladies FC Archibald (O.G.) 17' Ikmal 50' Division 5:17 Cicada WFC 3 - 1 LNWR Locomotive Hartell 30' Zakarian 6' Libergetti 35' Lightfoot 49' Erbil 2 - 1 Braguinha Brundin 51' Tumelengi 70' Granå (pen) 81' Division 5:20 Spicks Killiettes 2 - 0 Sockford Emollient Olesen (O.G.) 32' Wiseman 93' Division 5:28 Tellusdam 0 - 1 Menywod Maeshafn Westerberg 61' Division 5:31 Csiki Girls 1 - 0 MiG31 McInns 77' Division 6:41 FC Sbrodj 0 - 3 Ullapool Northern Star Barkho 19' Elliott 24' Mouatt 83' Division 6:45 Solent Sirens 4 - 1 Scalabis Wolves Stieglecker 38', 58', 65' Estremoz (pen) 56' Abbiati 43' Division 6:54 Zeugma Dostluk Spor 2 - 2 Dead Poets Society Forsyth 46' Gudmundsdottir 4', 73' Kurt 68' Division 6:58 Dublin City WFC 1 - 0 Pretty ladies Kåmark 77'
Sprezzatura looked the better side in the first half, and secured the lead just past the half hour. The second period was very different though as Velvet Android’s girls came on extremely strong. The Blood Eagles made chance after chance, but were just lacking that finishing touch. Until the last minute of normal time that is, when Heidi Hovland netted an equaliser that was both long overdue (VSU made 8 chances in the match) and also gratefully received for appearing at all as hope was beginning to die.
After two straight play-off defeats, going one better and securing the Division 3d title will be the aim for Drakaina as they look to continue their push up the pyramid. Etienne’s side’s first hurdle to leap in pursuit of that was FC MadKuts Cologne, who have spent the last few seasons yo-yoing between this level and the one below.
The first 15 minutes was a rollercoaster for The Dragons as they went from an early low, forward Sandrine Petit suffering a 13-day injury, to a significant high, Florica Vulturescu opening the scoring. That had the Greek side ahead at the interval after a half they shade. One couldn’t really argue that they had the better of the second period, but they escape with a win thanks to a good decision from the manager not to sub lightly injured players; if he had chosen otherwise, goalkeeper Anastasia Shkolnikova would have been removed despite turning in a Grade-20 display and it’s likely that one of MadKuts five second-half shots (seven overall) would have found its way past her backup.
Newly promoted Coxy Ladies Wulpen’s return to this level saw them host Johnstone Cougars.
The visitors had an early goal disallowed, but thereafter it was The Waders on top. The first half was possession rather than chances, but after the break the opportunities came for Janik’s side. All they needed to do was convert one. With 87 minutes on the clock that hadn’t happened, so a last desperate throw of the dice saw Charlotte Beyen replaced by Laetitia Vandenbergh. Was this effective? Well, two minutes later Vandenbergh fired home the winner. You decide...
Kanjeng Ratu Kidul WFC started the new season by running into Ambush Ladies FC.
Fortunately for The Sea Spirits Ambush fell for their own trap, Reese Archibald putting through her own net after 17 minutes. Rahma Ikmal added a second for SeanoftheShed’s side in more conventional fashion five minutes after the break as the Indonesians got their third straight Division 4k season with a highly defined performance.
We have one Division with two OTF sides in it this season, and that is 5:17. One of those outfits is LNWR Locomotive, who began on the road (rails, surely?) at Cicada WFC.
The match started very well for The Steamers, Gayane Zakarian putting them ahead in the 6th minute. That was to prove the high point though as Cicada struck twice in five minutes to lead at the interval and then again soon afterwards to go 3-1 up. Victor Boskovic’s side didn’t give up, creating a number of chances to get themselves back into the game. But none were taken as their first stop on the new line (LNWR were in 5:18 last season) ended in defeat.
Our other side in this section is Erbil, who took on Braguinha first up.
Jdsx’s side’s recent seasons have been rather variable, with a play-off defeat followed by a struggle against relegation last term. That came about because of the hangover of missing out in Season 53 taking a while to clear. A quicker start was sought this time out, Sandra Brundin putting Erbil on route as she opened the scoring on 51 minutes.
Erbil were pegged back by a set-piece on 70 minutes, something ref Hans Grüber may have been having second thoughts about as he even things up by pointing to the spot on 81 minutes. Sabina Granå took the ball, clenched her jaw and smacked the winner home. Grüber then third-guessed himself by wiping off Caroline Hinton’s icing on the cake on 88 minutes. What a ditherer!
The last few seasons have been yo-yo-tastic for Sockford Emollient; they have not played in the same tier for two consecutive campaigns during Foxy265’s time in charge. The record reads down-up-down-up-up-down, though the first of these was already sorted by the time he took over at John Spencer Street.
The latest pendulum swing left The Gatorsharks in Division 5:20 this term, and an opening game at Spicks Killiettes. It took a little over half-an-hour for an Emollient player to find the back of the net. Sadly, however, what Hildegard Olesen rippled was her own. Tilly Goodstuff thought she had levelled, and also got her first career goal, on 41 minutes only for Robert Nixon (boo!) to disallow it. That would have been rather against the run of play though as Spicks dominated and deserved at least their second goal, which came late in stoppage time.
Two straight seasons of play-off heartbreak mean Menywod Maeshafn will surely only be interested in the Division 5:28 title this term. Their first step on the road to that came at Tellusdam.
The general play in the match was rather even, but importantly Maeshafn were well ahead on one metric – chance creation. IsThatcherDeadYet’s side fashioned five across the 90 minutes to their hosts zero, the pressure telling just past the hour when Ada Westerberg fired the winner.
Csiki Girls were also bridesmaids in last season’s play-offs, something they began to try and reverse against the Fly-Girls of MiG31.
Ad hoc’s side suffered an early blow when one of their stronger players, midfielder Carlota Igreja, went down with a horror 18-day injury. The Csiki’s struggled to turn possessional dominance into chances without her, but did make the key opening when Trudy Woozley picked out Saoirse McInns to head the winner on 77 minutes as the Transylvanians opened Division 5:31 with three away points.
Ullapool Northern Star will be hoping that Division 6:41 this term doesn’t have an out-of-place side (or two) that 6:39 had last term.
Delicatemoth’s side opened their attempt to get back up with a trip to FC Sbrodj. This would prove pretty well plain sailing, following two goals in five first half minutes from Zebela Barkho and Jill Elliott. Mary-Leslie Mouatt added a third late on as Ullapool racked up a comprehensive and clinical 3-0 win.
Solent Sirens experienced similar problems last term in Division 6:42 and will be hoping that the switch to 6:45 for this campaign provides a clearer run at a title. The first lap of that race was against Scalabis Wolves, and it proved to be an open and exciting game for the Mayfield Park faithful.
The first half was end-to-end, with Solent controlling more of the ball but Scalabis creating five openings on the counter to the Sirens six first-half goal attempts. More important than how many shots at a goal are taken is how well they are converted, and on that front Solent did will in the opening half as Marlene Stieglecker and Geovana Abbiati converted chances to put Andrew7610’s charges two ahead.
Scalabis were awarded a penalty in the 56th minute, which may have been a way back into the game if they hadn’t opted to goad The Sirens by having their goalie take it (she scored). That prompted a furious and immediate response from Solent, shots raining in on the Wolves goal through the second-half (9 in total in this period). Stieglecker in particular was throwing herself into things as she struck twice within ten minutes of “the ‘keeper penalty” to put her team into an unassailable 4-1 lead.Comment
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Zeugma Dostluk Spor return to the seventh tier after a season higher saw them placed in Division 6:54 and taking on Dead Poets Society in their opening game.
The visitors got the first blow in with a long ranger after four minutes, a lead they held to the interval despite a clear majority of possession being for the hosts. The advantage didn’t last long into the second stanza, Rachel Forsyth firing the leveller just seconds after the restart. That gave Zeugma belief, and it was with the run of play that Latife Kurt put Antepli Ejderha’s side ahead on 68 minutes.
Natural justice would have left the game at 2-1 to Zeugma, but the Dead Poets Society couldn’t resist having the last word, and squared the game up again on 73 minutes. That was how it stayed as Zeugma’s promotion push suffered a bit of an early shudder.
Once again our final port of call this season will be Dublin City WFC, who got their Division 6:58 campaign underway by hosting Pretty ladies.
Dublin boss Mortal Joe was absent from the sidelines for this, but by now his players had got used to operating without significant feedback and they performed anyway. Well, somewhat. With proper direction it’s highly likely there would have been more than a solitary Dublin shot. It was a very effective one though, Veronica Kåmark firing home the only goal of the game on 68 minutes.Comment
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Another year, another shot at Cup glory for OTFs sides in the official Ladies competition. Who is going to go closest to ultimate glory, and how near the sun will they fly?
Drakaina’s first game of the season took them to 1492er (not their full name) who try and duck the accusation of being a sexist f*ckwit by being so in German. It does not pass, mate.Code:1492er 1 - 3 Drakaina Spedding (pen) 10' Sietaridis 13' Atum 18' Elena Gitsis 34' Drakaina 5 - 0 1492er Källgren 5', 33', 48' Gael Heggarty 43', 79' Drakaina win 8-1 on aggregate Ansioliticas FC 0 - 0 Csiki Girls Csiki Girls 1 - 0 Ansioliticas FC Smet 107' A.E.T. Csiki Girls win 1-0 on aggregate Blood Angels II 1 - 2 Solent Sirens Idemark 41' Agra 57' Stieglecker 62' Solent Sirens 0 - 0 Blood Angels II Solent win 2-1 on aggregate Bråten Karlskoga IK 0 - 0 Zeugma Dostluk Spor Zeugma Dostluk Spor 1 - 0 Bråten Karlskoga IK Turchetti 57' Zeugma win 1-0 on aggregate Dublin City WFC 1 - 2 Sadnecessary Kåmark 58' Ekvall 69', 90' Sadnecessary 2 - 0 Dublin City WFC Vikström 17' Berntsson 34' Sadnecessary win 4-1 on aggregate Gylle FF 0 - 3 Kanjeng Ratu Kidul WFC Wibawa 19' Stevens (sent off) 65' Ikmal 25' Diksha Dalmiya 58' Kanjeng Ratu Kidul WFC 1 - 0 Gylle FF Sangaji 24' Kanjeng win 4-0 on aggregate Jolles IK 2 - 3 Erbil Obafemi 8' Hinton 29' Nebari 69' Sharpe 38' Besen 91' Erbil 3 - 0 Jolles IK Brundin 36', 50' Isaac 76' Erbil win 6-2 on aggregate Menywod Maeshafn 3 - 0 Tartan Tawties FC Boye 46', 86' Westerberg (pen) 91' Tartan Tawties FC 0 - 2 Menywod Maeshafn Barker 65' Simone Kjellberg 79' win - on aggregate Parkhill Rangers 0 - 4 Viking South Utsira L.Hovland 54' A.Austrheim 66' N.Austrheim 89' H.Hovland 95' Viking South Utsira 5 - 5 Parkhill Rangers B.Austrheim 14', 40', (pen) 59' Timoska 31' N.Austrheim 48', 87' Luikku 33', 89' Strigoiu 51' Turpeenniemi 55' Viking win 9-5 on aggregate Silverdorph Squad 1 - 2 Coxy Ladies Wulpen Anderstedt 25' Onjens 68' Vandenbergh 76' Coxy Ladies Wulpen 1 - 1 Silverdorph Squad Vandenbergh 31' Strausova 66' Wulpen win 3-2 on aggregate Tesla Girls 1 - 5 Sockford Emollient Mamouni 52' Canhanga (O.G.) 5' Abdul-Muttalib 16' Conrad 79' Samways 85' Ericson 93' Sockford Emollient 2 - 0 Tesla Girls Goodstuff 31', 43' Sockford win 7-1 on aggregate Ullapool Northern Star 0 - 3 Mosshagen United LFC Angarth 53', 91' Strümpel 79' Mosshagen United LFC 2 - 0 Ullapool Northern Star Ledin 52' Kha (O.G.) 85' Mosshagen win 5-0 on aggregate Unattached 0 - 3 LNWR Locomotive Reisinho 19' Teigland 25', 56' LNWR Locomotive 3 - 1 Unattached Gileva 1' Nyman 60' Nixon 18' Teigland 74' LNWR win 6-1 on aggregate
The hosts, who play in Division 6, took the lead in this one from the spot after 10 minutes, but The Dragons cam immediately back at them and were ahead by the 18th minute after strikes from Laria Sietaridis and Silvia Atum. Sandrine Petit had a third disallowed for Etienne’s side in the 27th minute, but the Greek fans didn’t have long to wait for the net to bulge legitimately again, Elena Gitsis firing home on 34 minutes.
That was it for scoring for the opening leg, leaving Drakaina well ahead ahead of the return. This wasn’t quite a formality, but close to it. However, given the lack of basic human respect from the opposition manager, it was to be hope that The Dragons were feeling in savage mood anyway.
A goal after 5 minutes from Matilda Källgren was a good start. And neither Källgren personally or her team were finished. Far from it. She added two more to complete a hattrick with strikes on 33 and 48 minutes, whilst her strike partner Gael Heggarty registered twice on 43 and 79.
8-1 on aggregate, which was very satisfactory. Well done to The Dragons, and best of luck for Round 2 against an outfit that represents almost the complete opposite in terms of likeability, Doncaster Belles of Division 5:18. The second leg will be in Delphi.
Csiki Girls took on less objectionable lower-tier opponents in Ansioliticas FC.
The first leg of this one turned out to be a dull affair, with just three chances across the 90 minutes. From those, no goals were scored leaving ad hoc’s charges with a careful balancing act of attack and defence in a return match where a score draw = elimination.
But that would have necessitated a goal being scored. Once again neither side showed any inclination to do that as the opening 45 minutes at A kertem passed by peaceable. After the break the Csiki’s began to turn up the wick though and by extra-time they were really going for it. This extra commitment to attacking play was rewarded in the 107th minute when Floriane Smet rose to head home a Saoirse McInns corner and settle the tie.
Will the Csiki’s R2 matches against FC YHC Ladies of Division 2a be livelier? Here’s hoping.
The OTF side in our third tie was also away from home in the opening leg, but not in this case the higher Division outfit as Solent Sirens took on Blood Angels II of Division 5.
For 45 minutes the first match followed League positions, not the Cup committee’s opinions as Blood Angels made all the chances and took a deserved 1-0 lead into the break. Solent boss Andrew7610 would have been working on his side having had superior possession, and encouraging them to turn that into goal attempts and see what came of it.
As it turned out, very good things materialised. The Sirens first opening of the game arrived in the 57th minute, and Brígida Agra took full advantage, blasting home. Their second appeared five minutes after that, and this time Marlene Stieglecker was the dead eye, heading calmly past the Angels ‘keeper. These would be the only two chances the South Coast side created all match, compared to 5 for their hosts. But 2-1 to Solent it would remain.
Ahead on aggregate and with two away goals in their back pocket, the Sirens were in a strong position with effectively a two goal cushion as long as they didn’t concede. With that in mind, Solent set about restricting Blood Angels to, well, nothing at all. The visitors didn’t have a shot in the first half, and though they eventually found the space for a speculative hit after the break, this was an excellent game-killing job, only marred by a 10-day injury suffered by Analissa Valdano when the final whistle was already looming.
Solent’s reward is two games against Noble of Chile, who play in Division 3h. The Sirens are the lower seeds, so at home in first up.
An all seventh tier encounter sent Zeugma Dostluk Spor to Bråten Karlskoga IK for the opening leg.
The match would be as close as the two sides identical league status implied. Antepli Ejderha’s charges had more of the ball, fewer of the chances, and an equal share of the goals scored. 50% of nothing, being nothing. That left it all to play for in the return in Anatolia.
As with Csiki Girls, this made the second leg a balancing act. However, the Anatolians were just as adept at that as their Transylvanian cousins, not letting Karlskoga have a single shot and having a few of their own. They also had one over on Csiki Girls but not waiting until extra-time for that key breakthrough, Volante Turchetti providing it on 57 minutes. That was a first career goal for the young midfielder, though it has taken a while to come – this was her 45th game in Zeugma colours.
Turchetti and co will get a chance to test themselves in R2 as Zeugma have been drawn against FC Lady Hammers of Division 2c. Despite the gap between the sides in the league, Zeugma are the higher Cup seeds so play their first leg away from home.
The draw was not kind for Mortal Joe’s Dublin City WFC as they were pitted against Sadnecessary from Division 1.
Could the Dubs keep themselves in touch for the second leg? Could they even nick an advantage to take on their travels? The first looked possible after a chanceless first half, and the second was on when Veronica Kåmark buried Dublin’s first opportunity of the game to put her side ahead. The lead wouldn’t last, Sadneccessary levelling from a direct free-kick and then delivering a killer blow from another as the match entered stoppage time. 1-2 did at least hold out a small possibility of something seismic in leg two.
A possibility yes, but a remote one. And it faded further from the realms of realism when Sadneccesary made it 3-1 on aggregate after 17 minutes. Double the time was double the score as Moral Joe’s side fell 4-1 behind, a gap they never looked like recovering.Comment
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Two Divisions separated Kanjeng Ratu Kidul WFC from their bottom tier opening leg hosts Gylle FF.
SeanoftheShed’s side were determined to show why, and hit Gylle hard from the first whistle. Aulia Wibawa fired the Indonesians ahead on 19 minutes, and that was swiftly added to by strikes from Rahma Ikmal (25) and Diksha Dalmiya (58). That felt like a comprehensive enough lead that Kanjeng would effectively say ‘Nah, that’s alright’ when presented with a chance for more following Gylle’s Lee Stevens getting a straight red card on 65 minutes. 0-3 it remained, and that should entirely do it for the tie.
The return at Merapi-Kraton-South Sea was a quiet affair with just a handful of chances combined. There was only a solitary goal which went the way of the Sea Spirits on 24 minutes, defender Utami Sangaji firing in just the third goal of her entire career. A slightly surprising number given her level and free-kick taking abilities. Presumably she is too far down the pecking order to get a chance to take many under general circumstances?
Next up for the Indonesians will be Inverse United of Division 5:14. The seeding for this are entirely in line with league placings, so Kanjeng will be away first.
Erbil were another away at a seventh-tier side for their first game of the campaign as they made their way to Jolles IK.
The opening was so “jolly” for Erbil as they fell behind after just 8 minutes [Ha!, Geddit? Ach, suit yourselves]. That scare prodded Jdsx’s side into action, and they were ahead by the interval as Caroline Hinton and Rosaline Sharpe both scored.
Erbil suffered another setback early in the second-half when Louise Colliemore went down with a 12-day injury. Her replacement was followed three minutes later by a double change from the Erbil boss, the second of which brought Tülin Besen into the far, which would eventually prove to be a key alteration.
First though there was another equaliser from Jolles as neither young ‘keeper impressed. It was still 2-2 going into stoppage time, but that was when Besen made her mark, firing in after Sharpe’s corner to secure a first leg advantage for her side.
The away win meant Erbil had an effective two goal advantage to work with for the return game. But would Erbil play in the same expansive fashion, or go more cautious? Expansive, definitely expansive. Sights of the Jolles goal were regular occurrences, Sandra Brundin accepting two free-kicks in scoring range to pick out two corners and have her side 5-2 in front overall.
One more goal was added, but it was notable for the identity of the goalscorer, Cattie Isaac getting her first career strike. Will she get a chance to add to that in R2 against Twisted Sisters of Division 4c? Only time will tell.
Menywod Maeshafn may have been home for the opening leg against Tartan Tawties FC, but the lack of a manager for the visitors made the Welsh side the strong favourites to progress.
They looked a bit confused about how to go about that in the first half, as 58% was somehow contrived into 0-1 on chances. That was rectified seconds into the second half, Lisha Boye heading her team in front and thereafter it was one-way traffic in Maeshafn’s favour. A second goal felt like it was coming for a long time as a slew of chances were created, and though the Tawties held firm until Boye headed home a second four minutes from time.
Ada Westerberg stroked home a third from the spot in stoppage time to give the final score a complexion close to the game it was meant to represent.
The tie was moreorless dead. It just needed an away goal in the return to add the coup de grâce. Katherine Barker thought she had this on 36 minutes, only for referee Warren Peace to disagree. She tried again on 65 minutes, which this time satisfied all parties. Simone Kjellberg popped a cherry on top on 79 minutes to give IsThatcherDeadYet’s side an overall 5-0 aggregate win.
Will Round 2 be more difficult? Probably. Standing in Maeshafn’s way will be Bethanys Binos or Division 5:21. Despite the shared tier, the Binos are comfortably the higher seeds having reached the sixth round last season, so the first leg will be in Wales.
After a few disappointing seasons in the Cup, Viking South Utsira will be looking to bring back the Cup glory of yesteryear this time out. They would not have considered R1 opponents Parkhill Rangers a particularly high obstacle, as Parkhill are a Division 6 side.
It took The Blood Eagles 50-odd minutes of the opening leg to begin to exert the expected dominance, but once Lina Hovland had fired them ahead, it was just a question of how many for Velvet Android’s side. And which of the historic Utsiran sporting families would the contribution come from. The answer was the Hovland’s and also the Austrheim’s, Asta of that ilk making it 2-0 on 66 minutes and then seeing cousin Nina add a third on 89.
Heidi became the second Hovland of the day to score deep into injury time, which left The Blood Eagles 4-0 up ahead of the home leg. And there was no chance that Parkhill were going to score 4+ goals at Ragnar Rock. Was there?
I mean it would have taken something crazy, like a wild game in which both teams clean forgot how to defend. There were no signs that that would be the case early on as Birgit Austrheim scored for The Blood Eagles to make it 5-0 on aggregate and few other chances were seen. But then Parkhill scored two in three minutes between the 31st and 33rd minute, and the world spun off its axis.
Birgit Austrheim sent into the break level on the night at 2-2 after she struck on 40 minutes, and when Nina Austrheim got her second of the tie to put Viking back in front of the game at 3-2, there was hope again that Parkhill’s spirit was broken. Not a chance, another quick two goal flurry had them ahead 4-3 by the 55th minute.
Velvet Android on the Utsira bench was cutting a conflicted figure, annoyed by his side’s defending but at the same time very comfortable that they were always 4-6 goals to the good. It was back to five in the bank on 59 minutes when Birgit completed her hattrick from the spot. And then six again late on when Nina wrapped up a brace. Surely that was enough for victory in the match as well as the long since assured overall progress? No, it wasn’t. Despite only having a handful of minutes, Parkhill contrived to level once again to leave the final score at a barely believable 5-5 (9-5 on aggregate).
To reprise, Viking were 1-0 up, 2-1 down, 3-2 up, 4-3 down, 5-4 up and drew! If Round 2 is even a tenth as dramatic, then the VSU and Dav Dolls’ fans are in for a treat. Despite The Blood Eagles being comfortably higher up the pyramid (2b compared to Division 6:43), Dav Dolls are actually the higher seed, meaning leg one is at Ragnar Rock.
Another side away to a Division 6 opponent in their opening leg was Coxy Ladies Wulpen, who took on Silverdorph Squad.
It was quickly apparent that The Waders had a proper challenge on their hands as Silverdorph fielded a full starting XI of grade-10 or higher and with decent age profiles in attack and defence to boot. Is the official Ladies League the strongest in terms of depth of quality around? I think it might be. Silverdorph’s strong side put in a suitably tough first half performance and went into the break a goal to the good.
The Waders also had a skilled and talented group out there presenting them though, and Janik’s side came back into it after the interval. They drew level on 68 minutes with a landmark goal as young midfielder Christelle Onjens (18/5) headed home Eva van Sttenberghe’s cross. van Sttenberghe created another eight minutes later, picking up the vastly more experienced Laetitia Vandenbergh, who was just as cool in burying her chance.
That was in for first leg scoring, given The Waders a handy lead for the return fixture in Belgium. They built on that when Vandenbergh got her second of the tie just past the half-hour of the game at the Curlews’ Nest, but if Waders fans thought this meant the second half would be relaxed, they were mistaken. Silverdorph pulled one back on 66 minutes, meaning they were just one strike from forcing extra-time. Ultimately they couldn’t find it, leaving Coxy Ladies rather relieved to have scraped into Round 2. There they will play P.S.G. of Division 5:32, the first leg at the Parc des Princes.
Same again in our next tie, where Sockford Emollient took on Division 6 denizens Tesla Girls.
The Gatorsharks made a fine start to the match, or rather hosts Tesla a catastrophic one as Divua Canhanga put through her own net in the fifth minute. Sockford doubled their advantage 11 minutes later in more conventional fashion, Wafaa Abdul-Muttalib racing clear to net. Tesla thought they had pulled one back on 33 minutes, only for referee Al Reddy to disallow the strike. However the reprieve for Foxy265’s charges was only temporary, the hosts halving the deficit on 55 minutes.
Would that prompt a late flurry? Yes it would, but from Sockford, not Tesla. Maci Conrad restored the two goal cushion on 79 minutes, and two late breakaways padded it further, Mellisa Samways racing clear on 89 minutes and Lotta Ericson doing likewise in stoppage time. Those strikes should have settled the tie before it ever hits Framleyshire.
There would be something for locals to engage with in the return though as local girl Tilly Goodstuff (great name!) was selected at centre-forward and went looking for her first career goal. She found it on 31 minutes from Maci Conrad’s defence splitting pass. Having struck once Goodstuff had the taste, and she registered again before half-time by converting a Mellisa Samways assist.
That was the end of the scoring as The Gatorsharks opted for a more conventional way of closing a tie out than certain others. Next up is Jeonbuk Motors, with the second leg being at John Spencer Street despite Jeonbuk operating a step higher in Division 4b.Comment
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Ullapool Northern Star had a serious challenge on their hands when they took on Mosshagen United LFC of Division 2.
The first leg took place an Minchview, and for 45 minutes a lung-busting effort from Ullapool saw them moreorless hold their own; yes, Mosshagen had more of the ball, and yes, they did have 100% of the chances in this period, but it was only two of them and the game remained scoreless until the break.
It didn’t stay like that for long afterwards, as Delicatemoth’s side began to be ground down. One on 53 minutes became two after 79. That was probably curtains, but a third in stoppage time looks likely to be a killer.
The second leg was a daunting one for the Scots, but they fought well, keeping chances few and far between and the scores level on the night until the 52nd minute. By now the tie was done and everyone knew it. What was missing was a consolation strike for the plucky Ullapool players. One of them did score on 85 minutes, but Ninorta Kha’s effort was only into her own net. Cruel.
Our final tie of this round pitted LNWR Locomotive against the snarkily named Unattached (think how that will appear on any transfers).
Unattached are a Division 6 side, i.e. one step below The Steamers this season, Viktor Boskovic’s setting about demonstrating on the pitch what that difference made in practice as they pushed their hosts hard in the first half. Unattached were undone twice, Flávia Reisinho heading the opener on 19 minutes and Maja Teigland firing the second after a 25th minute corner wasn’t cleared.
Teigland struck again on a breakaway around 10 minutes after the break to extend the lead to three, which left Locomotive well in charge ahead of the Mollington Street stop. They showed no signs of easing up in the early going either, Ekaterina Gileva heading The Steamers ahead from a corner inside the opening minute. That was Gileva’s first goal in a Locomotive shirt after 80+ matches for the club.
Charlotte Nixon doubled the lead on the night with a direct free-kick on 18 minutes. Unattached got a consolation on 60 minutes, but that was completely against the run of play, the last word going to Locomotive and Teigland, who nodded in her third of the tie to round of the aggregate score at 6-1.
The Steamers progress to two games against IFK Göteborg of Division 4e. The first match will be at Mollington Street.
Round 2 draw - first listed teams home in opening leg
Code:Csiki Girls vs FC YHC Ladies (3a) Doncaster Belles (5:18) vs Drakaina Inverse United (5:14) vs Kanjeng Ratu Kidul WFC Jeonbuk Motors (4b) vs Sockford Emollient FC Lady Hammers (2c) vs Zeugma Dostluk Spor LNWR Locomotive vs IFK Göteborg (4e) Menywod Maeshafn vs Bethanys Binos (5:21) P.S.G. (5:32) vs Coxy Ladies Wulpen Solent Sirens vs Noble (3h) Twisted Sisters (4c) vs Erbil Viking South Utsira vs Dav Dolls (6:43)
Comment
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The Malouins have 16 out of 16 players on red arrows after tonight's miserable defeat.Comment
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Zmaj have had a red cross injury in every game so far, including both our senior midfield players.Comment
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X11 Ladies Season 55 Matchday 2 report.
Following a home draw first up, could Viking South Utsira go one better at Man City Ladies?Code:Division 2b Man City Ladies 0 - 0 Viking South Utsira Division 3d Drakaina 2 - 2 Chelsea Ladies FC Atum (pen) 78' Wyatt (pen) 9' Gitsis 89' Moniz 75' Division 4j Hibs Ladies 0 - 2 Coxy Ladies Wulpen van Sttenberghe 55' Valcke 84' Division 4k Kanjeng Ratu Kidul WFC 2 - 0 Propaganda Luangpruksachat 3' Ikmal 76' Kronberg (sent off) 87' Division 5:17 Erbil 1 - 1 Cicada WFC Brundin 44' Lightfoot 77' LNWR Locomotive 3 - 0 Kungsholmens FC Zakarian 42' Nixon 46' Knox (sent off) 36' Teigland 69' Division 5:20 Sockford Emollient 1 - 0 CF Fuego Eagles Conrad 92' Division 5:28 Menywod Maeshafn 0 - 0 Moe Szyslak Experience Division 5:31 Csiki Girls 0 - 1 F.C Dinamo Ladies Bulgaru 62' Division 6:41 Ullapool Northern Star 6 - 0 Alissa Kha 1' Späth 5' Klovning 12' Mair 20', 28' Fågelberg 62' Division 6:45 Bombastic Girls 7 - 0 Solent Sirens Kurisawa 22' Castilhos 27', 70' Facher 35', 52' Rosenkvist 55' Rodin 64' Division 6:54 BW Günthersdorf 0 - 3 Zeugma Dostluk Spor Forsyth 2', 36', 89' Kurt (sent off) 85' Division 6:58 Brisbane Heat 0 - 4 Dublin City WFC Lantree 13' Ciutacu 21' Isabel Carreto 33', 87' Mareggini (sent off) 63'
Not with the Citizens back line in the sort of fearsome mood they showed in this game; The Blood Eagles didn’t even get a sight of Petra Schmeichel’s goal. Julie Alme in the Viking net was under considerable more strength, but she showed a zen-like calm in turning in a Grade 19 display to deliver a draw for manager Velvet Android. And that despite Utsira finishing with only 10 players following a 12-day injury to Tove Kvalvik after all three subs had been made. Fortunately far enough after that there was just seconds left of stoppage time when Kvalvik went down.
That second point of the season has VSU fifth in the early standings, level on points and goal difference with sixth but ahead on goals scored.
Drakaina’s second match of the season pitted them against a dislikeable opponent for a number of reasons. That was the double guilt by association of Chelsea Ladies FC, one with their real life male counterparts and the other the association with the real life Women and their usurpation of Kingsmeadow from Kingstonian (guilt shared with Wimbledon FC). Further offences of the virtual team being a Hot Pink kit (urgh) with a Playboy Bunny logo on it (FFS). Yes, really a very unappealing mob.
The main desire against a team like this is to soundly beat them. That looked unlikely for The Dragons after Chelsea took the lead from the spot in the 9th minute and held that advantage for a good chunk of the game. Indeed things took a turn for the worse for Etienne’s girls on 75 minutes when Chelsea scored again.
If victory is out of the question though, how about a spectacular late comeback? That would be gutting to be on the wrong end of. And this is precisely what the Delphi crowd were treated to, Silvia Atum pulling one back from the spot on 78 minutes and Elena Gitsis securing a point on 89.
That point proved enough to lift Drakaina to top spot in the nascent Division 3d table, as no side has a 100% record in this section any more.
Coxy Ladies Wulpen won their first game, and kept a clean sheet; Hibs Ladies lost their opener without scoring.
Sounds promising, huh? Especially with the pattern of play very much following these markers. The Waders were dictating play, but they did need a breakthrough. Eva van Sttenberghe was the player to provide it, smacking home from range on 55 minutes. A second from distance by Lien Valcke in the 84th minute allowed Coxy Ladies boss Janik to finally relax, sit back and watch his side play out the last few minutes in comfort.
Wulpen are one of two teams with a 100% record after two matches in Division 4j. Of the two, The Waders have the lower goal difference, so sit second currently.
Two teams with opening wins clashed at Merapi-Kraton-South Sea when Kanjeng Ratu Kidul WFC took on Propaganda.
Thao-Ap Luangpruksachat gave The Sea Spirits the lead inside 3 minutes with a long range blast, which counted even though the visitors insisted people ignore it. The next two incidents in the game were real ‘fake news’ as first Luangpruksachat and then the visitors had goals disallowed.
The Sea Goddesses had looked clearly the better side before the break and this pattern continued afterwards as well, Rahma Ikmal making the game safe for the Indonesians in the 76th minute. Propaganda finished with 10 players after Helena Kronberg was sent off for a second yellow on 87 minutes, but by that stage SeanoftheShed’s charges had more than they needed, so passed on the opportunity to embellish things.
Just like with Coxy Ladies, Kanjeng’s section (Division 4k) has two 100% teams after two games, of which the OTF side is one. And the one with the slightly weaker goal difference in this case as well.
Week 2 of the season pitted Erbil against another team that had won their opening match, Cicada WFC.
Visitors Cicada had more of the ball in the opening 45 minutes, but it was Erbil who were the side creating chances. The second of these was a free-kick in shooting range in the 44th minute, Sandra Brundin finding the target to send Jdsx’s side to their half-time cuppa in front.
Erbil continued to be the team fashioning the openings after the break, but the second goal proved elusive. And that came back to bite them on 77 minutes when Cicada’s first (and as it would turn out, only) sight of goal of the afternoon was despatched past Jun Kinniyaka to leave the sides sharing the spoils.
Elsewhere in the same section another two sides with similar opening results met as LNWR Locomotive and Kungsholmens FC went looking for their first points of the campaign.
Both sides lost a key defender (in fact, as strong a defensive player as either possesses in their squad) in the first half, but in rather different circumstances: Erbil’s player to depart was skipper Ekaterina Gileva, who was carried off after 9 minutes with a horror 17-day injury. She was replaced of course, but that wasn’t an option for Kungsholmens when Mary-Evelyn Knox’s mouth ran away with her in the 36th minute and she was shown a straight red card.
The Steamers had been the better side at 11 vs 11, but not with a player advantage they took over completely. Gayane Zakarian headed them in front on 42 minutes, and it was armchair-and-slippers time for Locomotive boss Viktor Boskovic after Charlotte Nixon’s direct free-kick doubled the advantage seconds after the restart. Maja Teigland burnished the final scoreline with another on 69 minutes, though the destiny of the points was well decided already.
The fixture list in Division 5:17 was such that all 100% teams played each other, and drew. That means Erbil’s point has them level with three other sides on four. They are sitting third on a mixture of goal difference and goals scored currently. By elimination this also means that the four sides to lose on Matchday 1 were also playing a peer. Both these games produced a winner, meaning that LNWR are currently sixth, GD behind fifth.
Sockford Emollient were looking to bounce back from an opening day defeat when they took on CF Fuego Eagles.
Emollient manager Foxy265 had his side playing defensive and rapid spring Football, allowing Fuego more of the ball but denying them chances and creating some of their own at the other end. Neither of the openings created before half-time were converted, which made for a scare for Gatorsharks fans when Fuego had the ball in their net on 48 minutes. However referee Donald Scott was not happy, to the relief of the majority in John Spencer Street.
Sockford’s luck turned immediately when, just a minute after the disallowed goal, young midfielder Patti Pennock went down with a 12-day injury. That is already the third red cross knock, and second of 10+ days that the 20 year-old has suffered. Despite that setback, The Gatorsharks pressed for a winner. They kept searching as time ticked over 90, and with just seconds remaining Maci Conrad rose to head home the only goal of the game.
Sockford’s win jumps them up to fourth in the Division 5:20 table. Their three-point haul to date is one point of top spot but also only one point away from the bottom three.
An opening win meant that Menywod Maeshafn went into their game with the Moe Szyslak Experience in confident mood.
The belief was evident in the way Maeshafn commanded the ball, holding 60% of the ball across the piece. However, the needed guile was somehow lacking as all this possession was only transposed into two attempts on goal, and that despite boss IsThatcherDeadYet opting for a three-pronged attack. Neither was converted, but with the visitors not managing a single opening that was enough to give the Welsh side their fourth point of the campaign.
That total has Maeshafn fourth in the Division 5:28 standings, but level on points with the two sides directly above them, and with a three point advantage over the bottom four.Comment
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Csiki Girls were also coming into their week 2 game on the back of a win, something they were looking to build on versus F.C Dinamo Ladies.
The match would be one of a decent amount of chances, but also a lack of notable incidents. There weren’t even any subs made, a single yellow card being the secondary talking point after the match. The main one was the winning goal on 62 minutes. This came with the run of play, for the team with a strong advantage in possession and more shots. Unfortunately, this wasn’t Ad Hoc’s charges but rather Dinamo who secured the victory.
Defeat left Csiki Girls fourth in the Division 5:31 table. They have three points, the leaders four and sixth placed has two.
There is a league within a league in Division 6:41 this season as only half the teams have active managers. That puts a lot of emphasis on six of the games for each side, and takes most of it away from the other eight. Ullapool Northern Star’s opening win belong to the latter category, as did their week 2 fixture against Alissa.
The main task for Delicatemoth’s side in these games is not to shoot themselves in the foot. That was avoided as early as the 5th minute as by then Ullapool were two to the good thanks to goals from skipper Ninorta Kha (a direct free-kick in the opening minute) and Babette Späth (breakaway, 5).
From then on it was just a question of how many Northern Star would get, and from whom. The answer was 6 in total, with Renate Klovning getting one (12 minutes), Mary-Leslie Mair a brace (20 and 28) and Sonja Fågelberg also finding the target (62).
Two wins from two and 9-0 combined is only enough to have Ullapool second in the table, albeit only on alphabetical order. Bigger tests await in future, with the first of these coming this week...
I assume from the naming of just four subs that Solent Sirens’s manager Andrew7610 didn’t get around to selecting a team and tactics for their game at Bombastic Girls. I certainly hope that was the case, because otherwise the massacre that followed would need a serious inquest.
The match was completely one way traffic from the first whistle. Bombastic were three up by the interval, and lived up to their name by keeping it going all the way through to the 70th minute, when they reach 7-0.
A catastrophic defeat that could have longer term effects than simply dropping The Sirens down to fifth in the Division 6:45 table. It could be a form and momentum killer for the season... it becomes hugely important for Solent to bounce back at the first time of asking.
Matchday 2 sent Zeugma Dostluk Spor to visit BW Günthersdorf and their flake of a manager.
The Günthersdorf boss has been sacked only to resume his role on no fewer than seven occasions over the past four seasons, and he was again absent for this match. That meant Rachel Forsyth’s opening goal, scored with less than 2 minutes on referee Warren Peace’s watch, had already pretty well decided the match.
Which was just as well, as lots of things went against Antepli Ejderha’s side over the 90 minutes. The first negative came after 10 minutes, Stacey Bell being forced to depart the fray with an injury that was later assessed as 14-dayer.
The next notable incident was on the positive side of the ledger, Forsyth doubling the lead on 36 minutes. That was how things stayed until the last ten minutes, with Zeugma looking very safe. They still looked pretty much like that on 85 minutes, despite Latife Kurt crazily getting herself sent off as she picked up the only two yellow cards of the match. Some say Peace should have been more lenient, but equally Kurt shouldn’t have given him the opportunity...
Any fears from the travelling fans were quelled a few minutes later by Forsyth as she completed her hattrick, heading home a corner. There was even time for her to think she had four on the day, but her stoppage time effort was disallowed to complete the hand of negative aspects for the Turks (red cross injury, red card, disallowed goal).
A somewhat pyrrhic win then. But one that lifted Zeugma up to third in the Division 6:54 standings at the moment, with four points from their opening two games. The leading two teams have a full house of 6 points.
I’m not quite sure if Dublin City WFC boss Mortal Joe was present in Queensland for the trip to Brisbane Heat as his side only had four subs named. I am sure that the Heat were without a guiding hand, as their boss was only ever a chimera.
The pattern of play did suggest The Dubs had a plan, as they took complete command from the outset. That domination was rewawrded with three first half goals, Honey Lantree heading the opener on 13 minutes, Adelina Ciutacu firing in the second on 21 and Ana Isabel Carreto making in three on 33 minutes.
It wasn’t all good news for Dublin as Brígida Padilha was hacked down and suffered an 8-day injury on 47 minutes, her assailant getting a yellow card. Unlike the straight red that Caprina Mareggini received on 63 minutes for a seemingly much more mundane challenge. Mareggini’s angry reaction at seeing red has earned her a misconduct charge and an extra game on her ban.
Two of the three negatives that Zeugma experienced for Dublin as well then. But not the third, Isabel Carreto’s late strike counting to make the final total 4-0. That push Dublin up to second in the Division 6:58 table, level on (maximum) points with Inter Petrila but way behind on goal difference.Comment
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Two unexpected away wins overnight:
Lincolnshire Curly Coats (Golden League): failing to cling on in Division 2a, facing the leaders away, won 4-0. Absolutely no idea how. I was starting to despair of ever getting higher than this level. Have been contemplating a ground-up rebuild or even quitting the Official Leagues entirely. There's no social interaction there, so the only benefits are ranking, ego and the ability to plug the Human League on all the forums. Fora? The Curlies now have their survival in their own trotters - away to a misogynist bastard next round, who is the rival for the remaining safety position.
Kakanui KuneKune (MLX): resigned to bottom place and relegation as the scraps of a squad with a big rebuild ahead only survived the drop to GLX due to a restructure. Won 2-0 at the storied Lemmings, who must be rebuilding.Comment
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X11 Ladies Season 55 Matchday 3 report.
Viking South Utsira, with two draws to their name, made their way across the North Sea to take on Gretna Girls FC, who had won their opening two Division 2b fixtures.Code:Division 2b Gretna Girls FC 3 - 0 Viking South Utsira Pessanha 5', 26' Naylor 57' Division 3d Cam Hotspurs 0 - 2 Drakaina Heggarty 6' Sietaridis 28' Division 4j Coxy Ladies Wulpen 1 - 0 Fair Maidens of FISO Roosens 55' Division 4k Högberget FC 1 - 3 Kanjeng Ratu Kidul WFC Sandvik 40' Willockx 10', 42' Dalmiya 82' Division 5:17 Kungsholmens FC 3 - 3 Erbil Neilson 8' Hinton 4' Gago 35' Granå (pen) 15' Idensjö 84' Paton 67' Slytherin LFC 2 - 0 LNWR Locomotive Stânaru 3', 45' Division 5:20 AFC Wimbledon 0 - 4 Sockford Emollient Antonellini 35', 62' Ericson 39', 86' Division 5:28 Evil daughters 2 - 0 Menywod Maeshafn Pellerano 66' Dinter 80' Division 5:31 Atalanta Calcio 1 - 3 Csiki Girls Austin 78' Ackland 26', 76' Smet 84' Division 6:41 Ansioliticas FC 0 - 1 Ullapool Northern Star Wendel 80' Division 6:45 Almighty Ladies 3 - 2 Solent Sirens Gauld 31', 58', 62' Abbiati 33' Lotoft 73' Division 6:54 Zeugma Dostluk Spor 2 - 0 London Lovers Lúcia Lucas 10' Kurt 84' Division 6:58 Dublin City WFC 6 - 0 Karlskrona United FC Isabel Carreto 5', 56' Lantree 14' Ciutacu 34' Dunganstown 48' Cruz 52'
The Borderdwellers set about demonstrating why they have started so well, moving two in front by the 26th minute. Viking tried to rally, but all they really succeeded in doing was slowing Gretna down somewhat, and even so it was still 3-0 and game over for The Blood Eagles by the hour.
Velvet Android will hope for an easier game for his side next time up as Viking look to improve on the seventh spot in 2b they currently hold.
Top travelled to bottom when [b]Drakaina[/b visited Cam Hotspurs for a Division 3d encounter.
Cam were without a goal in their opening two games, so looked in trouble when The Dragons went in front as early as the 6th minute, Gael Heggarty blasting in from distance. That was Drakaina’s first shot of the game and when their second also went in (Laria Sietaridis finishing a breakaway on 28 minutes) it was already game over.
Etienne’s side gave up just one opening to the Hotspurs thereafter as they closed out a comfortable win that kept them at the top of the 3d pile.
The only two sides in Division 4j with 100% records prior to matchday 3 were Coxy Ladies Wulpen and Fair Maidens of FISO. The fixture list set them to clash at the Curlew’s Nest.
For 45 minutes the two sides cancelled each other out as the top-of-the-table encounter proved something of a damp squib. What was needed was a spark, and Laetitia Roosens turned out to be the player to provide it as she raced clear on 55 minutes to put The Waders ahead.
Would that get the match fizzing and popping? Er, no, not really. It proved to be an isolated bit of colour as the sides settled back into their midfield scrap. Which, to be honest, suited Coxy Ladies boss Janik down-to-the-ground. The 1-0 win meant his side leapfrogged their opponents to sit top of the 4j table.
Like Wulpen, Kanjeng Ratu Kidul WFC had a perfect record but sat second before their match at Högberget FC.
The Sea Spirits set about the match in a way that suggested high confidence, controlling possession and chances. They went ahead on 10 minutes when Jennifer Willockx nodded home from a corner, and weren’t at all phased when Högberget levelled against the run of play a few minutes before the interval, Willockx simply restoring the advantage 120 seconds later.
Rahma Ikmal had what would have been a killer third for SeanoftheShed’s side disallowed on 57 minutes, but all that did was force was force the visiting fans to wait for a bit as Diksha Dalmiya did put the seal on the win with 82 on the clock.
And, as elsewhere, that was enough to lift the OTF side to the summit, Kanjeng opening a three point lead on the pack in Division 4k.
Week 3 sent Erbil to Kungsholmens FC with hope in their hearts, as they were unbeaten and their hosts were yet to pick up a point.
That made the situation look good for Jdsx’s side when Caroline Hinton fired them ahead in just the 4th minute. However that lead was short-lived, as Kungsholmens levelled exactly the same amount of time later.
Erbil went back in front on the quarter hour as Tony Nolan pointed to the spot and Sabina Granå converted. Around this goal there were further chances for the visitors but these went untaken and once again they were pegged back on 35 minutes.
Erbil went in front for a third time on the day midway through the second half, Leah Paton finishing a breakaway. And once more they had the chances to establish the two goal cushion that would surely have brought victory, and then paid for not taking them as once again the home side levelled. That was how it would finish, with 3-3 being a very unjust reflection on a game where Erbil had had 61% possession and made 9 chances to 3. When your ‘keeper has a bad day it tends to be rather painful...
Elsewhere in the same section, LNWR Locomotive were also on the road (traitors!) as they made their way to Slytherin LFC.
The first half of this game was one-way traffic, and sadly the direction of travel was towards The Steamers goal. The hosts made it all the way to the final buffers (mixed metaphor!) twice, netting on 3 and 45 minutes. Viktor Boskovic’s side came a little more into it after the break and even had a chance to pull one back, but when that wasn’t converted defeat was sealed.
LNWR didn’t lose a place in the Division 5:17 table on the back of their defeat, they remain sixth and only trail fifth by goal difference. Erbil did drop a spot though, falling from third (and joint top on points) to fourth and two points back after they were held.
Sockford Emollient first two games brought one win and one defeat, both low scoring affairs. Could they up the ante against an AFC Wimbledon that had struggled in their first two matches?
The first half signs promised that they could as The Gatorsharks created an avalanche of chances. All that was missing was goals, with the breakthrough finally arriving in the 35th minute from the boot of Donya Antonellini. That liberated her teammates and within four minutes it was two, Lotta Ericson heading home.
2-0 at the break wasn’t truly reflective of a game that Sockford had utterly dominated (they made 9 chances to 1 in the first 45 minutes), which meant Antonellini’s second of the game, a long range strike on 62 minutes, was greeted with relief by the travelling Framleyshire contingent. Ericson would also end with a brace, her second coming in the 86th minute (another header).
The win sent The Gatorsharks flying up the Division 5:20 table to second spot.
Third against fourth, one win and one draw against the same, was the scenario when Menywod Maeshafn made their way to Evil daughters.
The hosts were well on top for most of the first half in possessional terms, but resolute defending from Maeshafn kept them to just a trickle of scoring opportunities. The good work looked to have been undermined when Evil daughters had the ball in Laure Bertheau’s net soon after half-time, only for ref Frank Redkard to disallow it.
IsThatcherDeadYet’s side tried to use that as a springboard, and had the ball in the opponent’s net themselves six minutes later only for Redkard to even things up by also ruling out Ada Westerberg’s effort. That kept it scoreless, which is how it remained until midway through the second half when the hosts finally struck. They added one more on 80 minutes as the Welsh outfit ended the game without a legal attempt on goal.
Maeshafn stay fourth in the Division 5:28 standings despite the reverse. They are three points off the play-off spot and two ahead of the drop zone.
Csiki Girls visit to Atalanta Calcio looked a good opportunity to pick up points as the hosts were the only Division 5:31 side pre-game with none to their names.
Csiki Girls’ pushed hard to break the game in their favour during the first half. Ad hoc’s side made a string of chances with Norma Ackland’s 26th minute goal a rather paltry return for their expansive and attacking play.
Ackland righted that somewhat with her second of the day on 76 minutes, and not a moment too soon as it was swiftly followed by one back for the side from Bergamo. That was completely against the run of play, but did threaten a smash-and-grab late goal until Floriane Smet rendered such a possible strike academic by making it 3-1 to the Csikis on 84 minutes.
The win took Csiki Girls up to six points from their opening three Division 5:31 games. It’s looking like being a tight section this season – that haul was enough for the Csiki’s to claim sole possession of the leadership of the section, whilst remaining just three points ahead of seventh!Comment
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A first league game against opponents with a human manager faced Ullapool Northern Star when they travelled to Elysium Bridge to take on Ansioliticas FC.
The match proved to be extremely evenly contested. The first half possession split was 51-49 in Northern Star’s favour and was technically chanceless, but only because Ullapool’s Ninorta Kha had had a strike disallowed.
Delicatemoth’s side upped their share of the ball after the break without that particularly increasing the openness of the contest. Both sides created one chance in the second period, Ansioliticas not converting theirs unlike Vanja Wendel, who buried Star’s 80th minute opening.
That proved to be the winner, which kept the Scots on a perfect 100% record. Despite that, they actually lost a spot in the Division 6:41 table to slip to third. But given they have played a contender whilst the two teams ahead of them, who are only so by +2 and +1 GD respectively, are yet to do so it’s a million miles from a reason to panic.
The pressure was on Solent Sirens to bounce back from a spectacular mauling the previous week when they visited Almighty Ladies.
The Sirens chances initially looked good as they were well on top in the possession stats. The hosts were able to magic up chances from limited ball (a clever trick if you can do it) and it was they rather than Andrew7610’s side who took the lead on 31 minutes.
Geovana Abbiati responded swiftly, levelling from a direct free-kick two minutes after the opener, and that was enough to have the teams turn around all square. However, Almighty took the lead again just before the hour and whilst it was once again the first of two quick goals, this time the second of them also went to the holy hosts.
Paulina Lotoft pulled one back for The Sirens on 73 minutes to set up a grandstand finish, and there were enough chances in the game for a higher final score than 3-2 (9-6 to Almighty was the final count), but 3-2 was how it ended.
That leaves Solent sixth in the young Division 6:45 table, four points adrift of the play-off place and in a rut of form they need to break from urgently.
A good cup performance a few days prior sent Zeugma Dostluk Spor into their game with London Lovers in high confidence.
That was only reinforced by taking the lead in the 10th minute, Ana Lúcia Lucas netting just her third ever Zeugma goal to put Antepli Ejderha’s charges in front. It was a lead they threatened to add to for much of the rest of the match before finally doing so in the 84th minute, Latife Kurt heading home the clincher.
Zeugma actually lost a place in the Division 6:54 standings to slip to fourth. That was because all of the top four played and beat the bottom four, and also down to one side (The Lady Croc) getting hammered every week (average score 0-6 despite having an active manager!); the other leadings sides have all played the Crocs, Zeugma are yet to do so.
Dublin City WFC boss Mortal Joe may or may not have been present and correct for his side’s meeting with Karlskrona United FC (just three subs named suggested possibly not, though the Dublin squad is quite small), but their opponents were definitely managerless, as they always are.
The Irish side were not in sympathetic mood whatever the exact circumstances, racing into a two goal lead thanks to strikes from Ana Isabel Carreto (5 minutes) and Honey Lantree (14). Adelina Ciutacu made it three before the break when she swept home to finish a flowing move on 34 minutes, and there was to be no let up after the break as three more were added.
Brady Dunganstown headed the first of these on 48 minutes, Rita Cruz made it 5-0 four minutes later and four minutes after that it was Isabel Carreto turn as she scored with her head for the second time in the game.
That was felt to be more than enough, Dublin easing off for the whole last third of the match to cruise to the half-dozen win. That kept them second in the Division 6:58 table, level on points with the leaders (both have 100% records) and three points clear of third spot.Comment
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Official Ladies League Cup Season 55, Round 2. Most OTF sides made it through to this stage, but how many keep going further?
There were quite a few tough draws out there for our teams, with Csiki Girls one of those with a challenge on their hands when they took on FC YHC Ladies of Division 3.Code:Csiki Girls 1 - 1 FC YHC Ladies Woozley 51' Meiser (pen) 77' FC YHC Ladies 0 - 1 Csiki Girls McInns 14' Csiki Girls win 2-1 on aggregate Doncaster Belles 0 - 2 Drakaina Gitsis 39' Atum 85' Drakaina 2 - 1 Doncaster Belles Heggarty 16' Trukhanava 57' Gudlandur 67' Spencer (sent off) 88' Drakaina win 4-1 on aggregate Inverse United 1 - 0 Kanjeng Ratu Kidul WFC Nogan 38' Kanjeng Ratu Kidul WFC 0 - 0 Inverse United Inverse win 1-0 on aggregate Jeonbuk Motors 1 - 1 Sockford Emollient Tian 32' Antonellini 76' Sockford Emollient 0 - 1 Jeonbuk Motors Tian 30' Jeonbuk win 2-1 on aggregate FC Lady Hammers 0 - 0 Zeugma Dostluk Spor Zeugma Dostluk Spor 0 - 1 FC Lady Hammers Beech 84 Hammers win 1-0 on aggregate LNWR Locomotive 1 - 2 IFK Göteborg Reisinho 62' Neaves 23', 92' IFK Göteborg 0 - 0 LNWR Locomotive Göteborg win 2-1 on aggregate Menywod Maeshafn 1 - 1 Bethanys Binos Kjellberg 31' Nordh 50' Bethanys Binos 1 - 2 Menywod Maeshafn Elliston (pen) 90+2' A.E.T. Westerberg 59' Kjellberg 118' Maeshafn win 3-2 on aggregate P.S.G. 1 - 1 Coxy Ladies Wulpen Oxlade 75' Kerckhoeven 61' Vandenbergh (missed pen) 26' Coxy Ladies Wulpen 4 - 1 P.S.G. Beyen 49', 60', 88' Brown 70' Carey (pen) 78' Wulpen win 6-2 on aggregate Solent Sirens 0 - 2 Noble Abildskov 58' Troest 66' Noble 4 - 0 Solent Sirens Abildskov 28', 85' Troest 40' Fausing 48' Noble win 6-0 on aggregate Twisted Sisters 1 - 1 Erbil Björkelind 86' Brundin 16' Erbil 2 - 0 Twisted Sisters Bullock 6' Brundin 80' Kjellberg (sent off) 78' Erbil win 3-1 on aggregate Viking South Utsira 2 - 0 Dav Dolls H.Hovland 10' Y.Kvalvik 22' Dav Dolls 0 - 1 Viking South Utsira B.Klovning 82' Viking win 3-0 on aggregate
The opening leg took place at A kertem, and it was the hosts who were first to strike, ad hoc’s side following up a good first half in terms of possession with a classy opening goal by Trudy Woozley, blasting home a direct free-kick. Unfortunately the Csiki’s good work was partially undone when idiot ref Hugh Cango (skill 2/10) gave YHC a penalty late on that they converted. The 1-1 home draw leaves the Transylvanians needing to score in the away leg to have any chance of progressing.
It only took them 14 minutes of the return to get the goal they needed, Saoirse McInns heading home an Elly Granheim corner. That cancelled out the away goal conceded in the first leg, but rather more importantly put the Csiki’s 2-1 up on aggregate. They were going through, unless or until YHC could level.
The hosts pushed to do so, creating occasional chances. But with a rather more competent ref this time they actually had to do it by themselves, and that proved beyond them as the Csiki’s took a considerable scalp given the two tier gap between the teams. Their reward is a very winnable Round 3 tie against Gemlas Damer FC of Division 6:10. The first leg is at home.
Another two Division mismatch pitted Drakaina against Doncaster Belles, though the OTF side were the big club in this one as the Belles operate in the sixth tier.
The Dragons looked the stronger side from the opening whistle at the Keepmoat, which was entirely to be expected. They created a number of first half chances, easily sufficient to justify Elena Gitsis’ 39th minute opener. Etienne’s side kept the pressure up after the break and were rewarded with a second goal five minutes from time, Silvia Atum taking Gitsis’ lead and firing home a long range shot.
Keep it tight, no slip-ups was the message ahead of the return at Delphi. As long as The Dragons didn’t do anything crazy, the tie had been won in the opening leg. Gael Heggarty scoring after 16 minutes to further extend the Greek’s advantage was definitely in the ‘not crazy’ column.
The Belles reduced arrears a little before the hour mark, but they were still a long way behind with that goal and slipped even further adrift again a few minutes later when Maria Gudlandur shot home. That was the end of the scoring though there was to be one more notable incident, Donny’s Susan Spencer earning herself a dumb red card for a second booking with barely any time left and the tie dead and buried.
Next up for The Dragons is two games against The Sibley Squad of Division 5:20. The first leg is in Greece.
Kanjeng Ratu Kidul WFC took on Inverse United who, being a Division 5 outfit, sat a step below The Sea Spirits.
The opening leg was at Inverse’s DS Stadium, and would prove to be a tight affair. Very few chances were to be hand across the 90 minutes, with just one converted. That came for the hosts on 38 minutes from a corner. SeanoftheShed’s side had two sights of goal but didn’t find the target with either, leaving them with work to do when the match returns to South-East Asia.
The Sea Goddesses dominated possession in the opening half of the return match at Merapi-Kraton-South Sea. But unfortunately 61% possession translated into no chances. That was a problem given that Kanjeng had to score. That urgency at least produced a couple of sights of goal after the break, but neither was converted as Kanjeng’s opponent’s name became saldy prescient – in a turnaround for logic, Inverse won the tie 1-0 despite having only one chance to their opponent’s four.
Another fifth versus sixth tier encounter sent Sockford Emollient to Jeonbuk Motors for their opening leg. However, The Gatorsharks, despite being the higher seeds, were the team at the lower league tier as Jeonbuk operate in Division 4.
Jeonbuk dominated first half possession and also comfortably shaded the number of chances created. They will have felt justified at going in to the break 1-0 up. The Framleyshire Massive had a nasty few moments soon after the break when it looked like their hosts had made it 2-0, only for referee Tony Nolan to wipe the strike off.
Sockford seemed to take inspiration from the escape and came back into the game strongly. Foxy265’s side stopped conceding chances and started making some of their own, which culminated in Donya Antonellini heading home a 76th minute equaliser that put Emollient narrowly ahead on away goals prior to the return match.
Stick of twist was the call for The Gatorsharks at John Spencer Street; 0-0 would be enough, but it would be risky. The call therefore was twist, and on 26 minutes it looked like Wafaa Abdul-Muttalib had got the reward they were seeking only to see referee Ann Onym shaking her head. That setback was compounded when Jeonbuk scored (and it was allowed to stand) four minutes later.
Now Sockford were behind on aggregate and needed to score to stay in the tournament, but also not conceded again as that would mean their task jumping from score one to force extra time to score three or go out. Monica Parks would likely have played a significant part in the chase for a goal if she hadn’t picked up an 8-day injury five minutes after the Jeonbuk goal. In Parks’ absence no-one else really stepped up to prompting the team, leading to a 1-0 second leg defeat and unexpected elimination.
Just the four tiers separated Zeugma Dostluk Spor from Division 2 opponents FC Lady Hammers. And yet, despite that, Zeugma were the higher seeds for the tie, so got to play leg one away. Yay...
The aim for Antepli Ejderha’s side was to frustrate their hosts and take the tie back to Anatolia still as a live contest. His players were certainly snapping into the tackles, as a visit to the Hammers treatment room after the game would tell, with two minor and one major injury suffered. The approach worked well as the home side were restricted to just two chances all match, and scored none of them. Zeugma also failed to convert their one brief opportunity for an away goal, leaving things very finely balanced ahead of the return leg.
Zeugma needed to score in the second leg to progress, but couldn’t risk pushing too hard for that as conceding meant scoring twice or being eliminated. A similar though process was going through the Hammers minds, and the game became defensively orientated though with a smattering of chances for both sides.
The Insan Haklari Stadyumu crowd was on tenterhooks whenever the visitors attacked, and let out a collective groan on 65 minutes. That was swiftly followed by a relieved cheer when it became obvious that Seymour Red was not giving the goal. Eyes turned Red’s way again on 84 minutes, but this time he was in no mood to wipe out Lady Hammers goal and deny their progress.Comment
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LNWR Locomotive were taking on a side from Division 4, i.e. one tier above, when they faced IFK Göteborg.
The Swedes soon had The Steamers on the back foot. Maral Parseghian and her defence spent much of the opening half scrambling, to the point where it was little surprise when they went behind on 23 minutes. Locomotive found a higher gear after the break and levelled the tie on 62 minutes, Flávia Reisinho sweeping home a corner. After that it was backs-to-the-wall again as Göteborg pushed for a winner. Just when it seemed that The Steamers had weathered that, the visitors struck; there were 92 minutes on the clock at the time.
The 2-1 away defeat meant LNWR had to score twice when the tie restarted at the Ullevi stadium. Viktor Boskovic’s charges did make a first half chance, but they didn’t convert. Neither did Göteborg with the two they fashioned, nor the four created in the second half. That left the door open a fraction all the way through the rest of the match, but despite one further opening The Steamers couldn’t throw it wide as their cup run ended for the season.
One of the few ‘same tier’ confrontations of this stage pitted Menywod Maeshafn against fellow Division 5 side Bethanys Binos.
The opening leg was in Wales, but despite playing host it was Maeshafn who were clinging on for much of the opening half as the Binos made chances. Except they didn’t convert them, also seeing Robert Nixon rule a strike out. That would prove doubly galling when Simone Kjellberg gave IsThatcherDeadYet’s side the lead on 31 minutes, which was just three minutes after the disallowed effort.
The Binos kept going despite the setback, and even hardened Maeshafn fans would have struggled to begrudge them their 50th minute equaliser. On the balance of play, they deserved at least a draw. But as it was only that, Maeshafn just need a goal in the return to keep themselves competitive in the tie.
The Welsh team were diligently searching for that from the outset of the game at the Forthbank Stadium. Three first half chances came and went without it showing up, the more pessimistic travelling Maeshafn fans telling their mates “Forget it, it’s never gonna happen”. These same doomsayers were jumping around claiming “I always believed” when Ada Westerberg hammered a 30 yarder into the top corner on 59 minutes.
That flipped the contest and meant the Binos had to score or they were out. They began to create chances, but the score continued to sit at 0-1 into stoppage time. There were 92 minutes on the clock when Bethanys launched one last, desperate attack. The ball was played into the area and player fell over mysteriously and yelped and referee Luke Bribe [tap’s nose] pointed unexpectedly to the spot.
The kick was converted, sending the match to extra time. Impressively, Maeshafn were not winded by the sucker punch goal and spent extra time creating chances, knowing that if they scored one it would make the Binos task virtually impossible. Penalties were looming when one last pass found Simone Kjellberg in the area. She half-turned, dipped a shoulder and then used the fraction of a second of time and space to fire the ball into the bottom corner and send her side through.
An intriguing R3 draw was handed Maeshafn’s way as they found themselves paired up with [spoiler!] Erbil of Division 5:17. That tie will draw some attention, I’m sure.
Coxy Ladies Wulpen were the higher ranked side by seeding and league Division when they came up against P.S.G. of Division 5.
After a quiet opening few minutes, the game came to life midway through the first half. First Waders defender Claire Michel picked up a nasty 18-day injury courtesy of a poor PSG tackle (the perpetrator was booked), and then, three minutes later, Michel’s replacement Laetitia Vandenbergh had the ball in her hands, waiting to take a penalty. Vandenbergh is of course a striker, so ought to have been comfortable in this situation. However the one she was in for the majority of the game was in the back-line, covering for Michel as there were no defenders on the bench [for some bizarre reason]. Maybe Vandenbergh was still getting to her unusual responsibilities because she missed the spot kick!
That setback meant Janik’s side had to wait until the 61st minute to take the lead, Noémie Kerckhoeven rising highest to head home an Aurelie Wostijn cross. However, the failure to make the most of their time on top would come back to haunt The Waders as PSG equalised and then looked to have gone ahead, until Irre Levant offered a reprieve.
Wulpen were ahead on away goals ahead of the return leg, and appeared to be relying on that in a first half where they didn’t create a single chance. That made the Curlew’s Nest crowd in increasingly fretful, demanding more of their side as they headed to the changing rooms.
The message appeared to have got through as Coxy Ladies were a side transformed after the break. The most notable upper of her game was forward Charlotte Beyen. She twice battled past opponents to get her head first to ball across the box, sending Alicia Leclerq’s open play and Eva van Sttenberghe’s corner past the French ‘keeper on 49 and 60 minutes respectively.
P.S.G. pulled one back on 70 minutes, which actually got them to within another of progress on away goals. That made it clear The Waders needed more for insurance, Zara Carey providing it with a 78th minute penalty. Beyen completed her hattrick in the remaining time as Coxy Ladies moved on to two matches against BK Pinglan of Division 4h, a parallel sector to the one Wulpen occupy.
Solent Sirens were looking to punch up three levels by taking on Noble of Division 3.
The Mayfield Park crowd turned up in some trepidation as the game came just four days after their side had collapsed in a league game. This time around Andrew7610’s charges bent against a stiff wind, but didn’t snap in two. Noble had chances, but it was not until nearly an hour gone that The Sirens capitulated to one. That became two soon after, but that was where the damage stopped.
If referee Warren Peace hadn’t disallowed an earlier effort, it could have been even worse for Solent, but even so it looks like Game Over after the opening leg.
The Sirens chances were slim at the opening whilst of the second game, and got slimmer by the second even before the 28th minute opener for the hosts. That was with the run of play as Solent had created no chances and given up many, and both the chances and at a slower flow the goals kept flowing Noble’s way thereafter; three more strikes were added to give a final score of 4-0 on the day, 6-0 on aggregate as a worthy but unsuccessful effort came to an end.
Erbil were the higher seeds but with the lower Divisional placement, when they did battle with Twisted Sisters of Division 4.
That meant an away trip for the opening leg, and an up-and-down first ~quarter-hour for Erbil. On 8 minutes they lost key midfielder Natalie Genghini to a horror 26-day injury. That didn’t seem to effect the visitors focus as soon after the resumption they took the lead when Sandra Brundin headed home.
The game was reasonably open with some chances at both ends, but 0-1 was how the score remained until less than five minutes from time when Twisted Sister got an equaliser they probably deserved. The question that goal possesses for the Erbil boss with whether attack or stick to holding on to the narrowest possible lead on tie-breakers.
What Jdsx decided to do was attack and try and make the tie safe. Sharyn Bullock made a significant contribution towards that when she fired in inside 6 minutes. That value of Bullock’s goal was made all the more obvious when Twisted Sisters had the ball in the home net on 15 minutes, only for the strike to be disallowed.
That was a let off, with the match being tight and relatively chance free after it, until another key event occurred in the 78th minute. That was a second yellow card for the Sisters Anette Kjellberg. Within two minutes of her side going down to 10, it was 2-0 to Erbil and 3-1 overall when Sandra Brundin did it in style, curling a free-kick around the wall and in.
As noted up thread, Erbil’s reward is an all sixth tier OTF Cup derby as Erbil will take on Menywod Maeshafn of Division 5:28.Comment
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Our final tie of this round also gives an indication of how previously renown Cup fighters Viking South Utsira struggled last season – they somehow found themselves seeded below Division 6 side Dav Dolls despite four tiers separating the sides (in The Blood Eagles favour of course!).
The main aim for the opening home leg for Utsira was nothing as mad as their previous home game in the Cup, which finished 5-5 on the night. Great for the fans, heartstopping for the coaches. But Viking did want to do this without compromising their attacking intent.
It’s a balance Velvet Android’s side managed as they went two up inside the first half of the first half (of the first leg, so the first eighth overall) thanks to goals from Heidi Hovland and Yvonne Kvalvik, and then reined things in enough to stay solid at the back without unduly elminiating their own attacking threat. Indeed VSU had six more chances after the break but couldn’t add to the two goals. Maybe they didn’t want to overshadow Kvalvik, as her strike was the first of her young career. She is just the latest chip of one of the famous and productive Utsiran rocks.
VA’s message to his team ahead of the return would likely have been “Keep it tight and nick one at the other end if we can”. And also “Don’t draw 5-all!” Both were taken to heart. Dav’s were limited to just one shot in the first 45 minutes and zero after it, which the mathematically enable amongst you will have noted couldn’t possibly be enough to mount a comeback. Indeed, instead of Dav’s coming back it was The Blood Eagles who extended their advantage late on, Britta Klovning firing home after a corner on 82 minutes. That ended the game as a contest then and there as it meant Dav’s suddenly needed four in no time to stay alive.
They didn’t manage any, VSU progressing to a R3 encounter Division 3a side Dalens IF. The first leg is on Ragnar Rock.
Round 3 draw - first listed teams home in opening leg
Code:Coxy Ladies Wulpen vs BK Pinglan (4h) Csiki Girls vs Gemlas Damer FC (6:10) Drakaina vs The Sibley Squad (5:20) Erbil vs Menywod Maeshafn Viking South Utsira vs Dalens IF (3a)
Last edited by Janik; 03-06-2019, 23:44. Reason: I missed my own side from the R3 draw! How did I do that...Comment
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X11 Ladies Season 55 Matchday 4 report.
Both Viking South Utsira and Girls Aloud were still looking for their first win of the campaign when they met at Cole Park.Code:Division 2b Girls Aloud 2 - 0 Viking South Utsira Price 18' Malmsten 86' Division 3d PVFC Ladies 0 - 4 Drakaina Heggarty 25', 38' Cano (sent off) 93' Barry 41' Vulturescu 94' Gudlandur (sent off) 86' Division 4j Coxy Ladies Wulpen 1 - 2 San Francisco Wet Cats Carey 50' Valcke (O.G.) 29' Leslie 84' Division 4k Kanjeng Ratu Kidul WFC 1 - 0 Red Dead Heads Borot 67' Division 5:17 Erbil 2 - 1 Slytherin LFC Hinton 28' Briffa 61' Brundin 58' LNWR Locomotive 4 - 1 Husmorskolen Teigland 14' Hörberg 22' Severinsson 77' Zakarian 80' Nixon 83' Division 5:20 Sockford Emollient 2 - 0 The Sibley Squad Abdul-Muttalib 6' Ericson 45' Division 5:28 Fossa Delle Leonesse 1 - 2 Menywod Maeshafn Barker (O.G.) 73' Westerberg 47' Barker 91' Division 5:31 Csiki Girls 2 - 0 FC BRAILA Beck 62' McInns 92' Division 6:41 Llanos 0 - 4 Ullapool Northern Star Menashi 4', 42' Späth 55', 80' Division 6:45 AC Gemelas 1903 0 - 2 Solent Sirens Stieglecker 3' Abbiati 37' Division 6:54 Zeugma Dostluk Spor 0 - 3 Vendetta Team Parreira 26' Molloy 31' Dorneles 75' Division 6:58 Dublin City WFC 1 - 0 Inter Petrila Cruz 65'
The hosts shaded the early going, and made good on this slight edge by netting their first chance of the game on 18 minutes. The Blood Eagles needed to find a response in the second half, boss Velvet Android attempting to prompt it with a double change. But it didn’t come. In fact, Girls Aloud got more on top and it was they who scored again on 86 minutes to seal the win. I would make some sort of allusion to their discography, but off the top of my head I can’t name a single Girls Aloud song let alone something appropriate. So, sorry.
The consequences of the defeat for VSU were painful, as they dropped to the foot of the Division 2b table. They are two points from safety, but need to get that first win under their belts very, very soon.
Drakaina had two wins and a draw to their names when they travelled to Glasgow to take on a PVFC Ladies side with a mirror image record.
It would prove to be a lively old encounter, of the sort that fills reporters notebooks. The first major incident was the opening goal on 25 minutes. Gael Heggarty scored it to put The Dragons ahead, getting her head to Laria Sietaridis’ cross. Heggarty added a second for both herself and her team on 38 minutes, which was swiftly followed by Susanna Barry (41) as Drakaina went into the interval three to the good.
That put Etienne’s side in a very strong position. Sietaridis thought she had stiffened it up even more when she coolly slid home on 65 minutes, only for referee Stellan Offsajed to shake his head. No matter, 3-0 should be a comfortable margin just as long as no-one does anything stupid. Like getting two yellow cards six minutes apart, which is exactly what Maria Gudlandur achieved.
That gave a glimmer to PVFC, but there was little time and they hadn’t managed to do anything about it when Chavela Cano mistimed a challenge and, having already been booked, joined Gudlandur in ending her match prematurely. The Dragons were in a less generous mood than their hosts, Florica Vulturescu taking advantage of the extra space just a minute later to net a fourth.
The Greeks stay top of Division 3d after this win, and have increased their goal difference advantage from +1 to +3.
Division 4j leaders Coxy Ladies Wulpen were looking to protect their 100% record against a transatlantic raid when they hosted San Francisco Wet Cats.
The Waders may have been a touch complacent as they struggled to get going. The Wet Cats were probing away, and this lead to them taking the lead in unfortunate fashion for Coxy Ladies defender Lien Valcke, who turned into her own net on 29 minutes.
A better start to the second half was Janik’s side draw level with 50 on the clock, Zara Carey heading in. On another day this might have been a springboard for Wulpen to take the game by the scruff of the neck. On this one, they settled back into the same pattern as previously, and paid for that when Frisco scored the winner on 84 minutes.
A bad day for The Waders was completed in stoppage time when first choice ‘keeper Sarah Asselman picked up an 11-day injury. That will keep her out of Wulpen’s next league match, which they will still go into as leaders but now with just a one point gap to second place.
Would a similar fate befall Kanjeng Ratu Kidul WFC? The Sea Spirits were also trying to stay at 100% for the fourth week when they took on Red Dead Heads at Merapi-Kraton-South Sea.
The home fans saw their team control the general play and pattern of the game, but without success in the first half. To be fair there weren’t many chances to do so as the Sea Goddessess found Red Dead hard to unpick. The breakthrough finally arrived midway through the second half, Tyan Borot racing clear and firing in.
A short while after the goal, Adèle Pailloux was forced from the field with a nasty looking injury (17 days) but with all his subs still in hand, Kanjeng manager SeanoftheShed was able to cover the gap and see his side to victory. As the only side with a perfect record at the start of play and maintaining that, The Sea Spirits also retained top spot and kept their margin at a handy three points.
Two sides with decent starts (both unbeaten) clashed at the Erbil Arena when Erbil took on Slytherin LFC.
The first half was essentially even on possession, but not on chances which tipped the hosts way by two to zero. And also not on goals, Caroline Hinton converting one of those two openings on 28 minutes. Sandra Brundin doubled the advantage for Jdsx’s side with a direct free-kick on 58 minutes, and though Slytherin pulled one back soon after and had a number of other chances to strike, those two proved enough to ensure the three points were pocketed by Erbil.
Three points was also the major target for LNWR Locomotive as they hosted bottom side Husmorskolen.
The Steamers were looking to get back to winning ways after two straight losses and were off to a pretty swift start, Maja Teigland heading them in front on 14 minutes. That lead didn’t last long, though, just eight minutes in fact before Husmorskolen equalised with just their third goal of the season.
That leveller was against the run of play, something that Tekla Severinsson briefly thought she had rectified on 32 minutes up until she spotted George Buske signalling otherwise. That decision was looming larger and larger as time ticked away and Locomotive still found themselves all-square despite raining shots on the Husmorskolen goal. 1-1 was how it stayed until inside the last fifteen minutes, Severinsson the player to finally break the deadlock, wheeling away after firing in from distance with just the briefest check to see that Buske was happy this time.
Having finally got their noses in front again, LNWR cashed in, Gayane Zakarian and Charlotte Nixon adding two more in the next few minutes to give Viktor Boskovic’s side the sort of lead their general play had merited.
The win lifted Locomotive out of the Division 5:17 drop zone and moved them up to fifth, three points clear of danger. Erbil’s victory likewise saw them climb a place to third, two points behind the leading pair.
Just two points separated Sockford Emollient and The Sibley Squad prior to their meeting at John Spencer Street, though that two points did encompass much of the Division 5:20 table.
The Gatorsharks were the side higher in the table, and they backed up that exalted status as early as the 6th minute, Wafaa Abdul-Muttalib firing home from range. That would be the high point of Abdul-Muttalib’s day, the low coming nearly half-an-hour later when she was forced from the field with a 9-day injury.
The loss of their main striker didn’t affect the Framleyshire outfit unduly though, Lotta Ericson doubling their advantage with another long-range blast on the stroke of half-time. Foxy265’s charges held Sibley Squad at arm’s length through the second half. Indeed only Emollient had clear openings to add to their total.
They didn’t do that but two was already ample as The Gatorsharks retained second spot in the 5:20 standings. They are a point adrift of the leaders and one clear of third.Comment
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Menywod Maeshafn faced a tricky fixture in week 4 when they visited Fossa Delle Leonesse, a side that was winless but also difficult to beat.
Maeshafn had the better of the first half without getting their noses in front, but didn’t have to wait long after the interval for that to occur, Ada Westerberg cleaning up a goalmouth scramble on 47 minutes after a corner wasn’t properly cleared. That goal had IsThatcherDeadYet’s charges in front until the 73rd minute, when Katherine Barker sliced horribly into her own net.
A dispiriting moment for Barker, but it made the comeback all the sweeter. The match had entered stoppage time and looked set for a draw thanks to her error, until Westerberg picked Barker out on a worked free-kick routine to score a 91st minute winner. Her celebrations were a wild mixture of ecstasy and relief.
Victory kept Maeshafn fourth in the Division 5:28 standings, but fourth as part of the top group of teams which is now distinctly clear of the bottom four. Indeed goal difference is currently all that separates Maeshafn from the play-off place.
Having gone top of Division 5:31 last time out, Csiki Girls were looking to celebrate that and build on it in front of their own fans when they hosted FC BRAILA.
The Csiki’s went about this in methodical fashion, creating a number of chances as they looked a cut above their opponents. The opening goal did take a while to materialise, but when it did it was spectacular, defender Deb Beck letting fly from all of 45 yards. She has a hammer of a left foot.
Ad hoc’s side continued to have much the upper hand in the game after that, but were still on a knife-edge from the lack of a second goal. That finally came in the second minute of stoppage time, Saoirse McInns heading home to allow the A kertem crowd to relax for the last few seconds of the match.
When the leaders win they generally stay top, which is exactly what happened to The Csiki’s. Indeed they extended their lead over second from one point to three.
Zombie-despatching is going to be a regular feature of Ullapool Northern Star’s season, with their match at Llanos being the latest example.
A stress free afternoon for Ullapool followers was suggested by Sonia Menashi netting the opening goal inside 4 minutes, but when one didn’t turn swiftly into two things began to get a little bit twitchy for manager delicatemoth as she saw her side miss a string of chances. That is until the 42nd minute when Menashi topped and tailed the opening half with her second of the day.
The second half was cruise mode, with two more goals added to Northern Star’s total. These were also a personal brace, Babette Späth firing home on 55 minutes and nodding the fourth on 80.
Ullapool remain perfect for wins, four from four, but are still only third in the Division 6:41 table as other also efficiently despatch the shambling dead.
After a few weeks of struggle for Solent Sirens it was absolutely vital that they beat an AC Gemelas 1903 side that is generally right at the foot of the table.
What Andrew7610’s charges needed was an early goal to settle their nerves. So thank you Marlene Stiegleckerm, who provided exactly that in the 3rd minute. Solent probed away for another through the rest of the first half, and were rewarded for their efforts when skipper Geovana Abbiati clipped one in from 30 yards on 37 minutes.
And that was all she wrote as The Sirens decided they didn’t need any more goals after the break and Gemelas were not good enough to close the gap at all. The win lifted Solent up a place to fifth in the Division 6:45 standings. They are now three points adrift of the play-off spot.
Fourth took on first in Division 6:54, which over-emphasises the pre-game difference between Zeugma Dostluk Spor and Vendetta Team. Yes, there may have been two sides between them in the table, but the gap was only goal difference.
So this was an even match-up then? Er, no, not really. Zeugma soon found out why Vendetta have been racking up the goals as they were chasing shadows. A string of chances came for the visitors in the first half, with two of them converted to leave Antepli Ejderha’s side with a mountain to climb. They didn’t even reach base camp as it turns out, continuing to be right on the back foot after the break, shipping another and only avoiding a 4-0 pasting thanks to referee Justin Thyme’s indulgence.
Zeugma didn’t lose a place in the table despite the loss. However, they are now three points behind the leading two teams and aware of the challenge that closing that gap again will entail.
How strong are Dublin City WFC? Strong enough to be able to compete in a top-of-the-table clash, such as the one against Inter Petrila, despite the presumed absence of boss MortalJoe (no subs named).
In fact, Dublin were the stronger side from start to finish of this game. They held 60% of possession in the first half and 58% overall and made five chances to their opponent’s one. If there was any justice in the world this would add up to a home victory and, you know what?, that is precisely what happened. One goal was enough, Rita Cruz supplying it when she swept home on 65 minutes.
That win meant Dublin have won four from four in Division 6:58 so far this campaign. As they and Petrila were the only two teams with perfect records before this game, Dublin are the only ones remaining now. They sit top, three points clear of their vanquished foes, who remain their closest challengers.Comment
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Ooh, I reckon Northern Star could do worse than getting this artist in to design some kits.
[URL]https://twitter.com/womensart1/status/1137370355876712448[/URL]
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