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X11 season 45 - de rigueur Mortis

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    Division 5:21 leaders Hazeldean Inchmistress headed off to Luculenus LFC looking to keep their post-promotion momentum going.
    The Imperials had more of the ball in the first half, but their hosts created more chances. The home side also had ref Ann Onym on their side as she disallowed Line Pedersen’s 22nd minute strike, thereby denying Inchmistress a near immediate response to Luculenus’ 18th minute opener.
    The Imperials did draw level in the end, Jessica Dekoninck scoring a breakaway on 58 minutes. Following this Foxy265’s charges made a number of chances to get the winner, but instead were hit by a sucker punch as Luculenus’ only shot of the second half saw them get it instead with a strike in the 87th minute.
    A frustrating defeat for the Framleyshire outfit, mostly because it was not deserved. But their luck was in in other ways as result elsewhere meant they stay top of the 5:21 table, albeit now just by goal difference.

    ASU Politehnica attempt to resist The Temptation Within was a clash of two sides with mid-table records.
    The Scholars buried themselves away in their own half for much of the first 45 minutes, allowing TTW the majority of possession but restricting the hosts to just two chances, neither of which they converted. That meant that when the students briefly emerged from their pit on 50 minutes, fashioning a chance that the marvellously named Traviata Marfeo headed home, it put them ahead. 18 year-old midfielder Marfeo’s strike was the first of her senior career.
    Great though this was for Granthamian’s side, it was somewhat against the run of play when it came, and became more so as the match progressed. The Temptations equaliser had been coming for a while by the time it finally arrived on 79 minutes.
    Fortunately for the Timisoara outfit that was the hosts only success, meaning they had scrapped their way to a point. One that left Politehnica fourth in the Division 5:22 table, nearly equidistant in both points and places between the play-off and the drop zone (the points gaps are five upwards and four below).

    The threat presented to Deerfield Durocs by visitors Sporting Erasmus didn’t seem all that great, given that Deerfield were top of Division 6:30 at kick off and Erasmus were towards the bottom.
    The visitors had only scored one goal all season in fact, though efficiently that strike had got them a win. That lack of attacking strength was a big reason why The Durocs felt relaxed enough at 0-0 to work the ball around and take their time searching for the opener. And once it had come, Susanna Millen heading home on 41 minutes, they were even more comfortable.
    The home crowd were slightly more on edge than the team with the 1-0 scoreeline, but even they chilled out after Doris Ludden made it two with a direct free-kick on 81 minutes.
    Victory kept SitsWithRemote’s side top of the 6:30 standings. The Swine sit two points clear of second, with the rest of the pack a significant distance adrift.

    Invisible Ladies had the chance to leapfrog Division 6:44 leaders Glenbogle Monarchs when Pebblethefish’s side visited the Uluru Stadium.
    However The See Throughs were also aware that defeat in the game would turn the two points between themselves in third and the leaders into a substantial looking five point gap. The hosts were also aware of this though, and appeared well motivated by it. They were the side looking the more likely to get the opening goal for most of the game, even if Invisible did have a few chances to nick it against the run of play.
    When the breakthrough finally came on 79 minutes it was in Glenbogle’s favour. And was swiftly followed by a clinching second. And if we are honest, 2-0 to the Monarchs was about right on this game.
    The See Throughs stay third in 6:44 despite the loss, but are now four points off second spot as well as five behind the leaders.

    A straightforward win was expected of Dublin City Womens FC when they visited managerless Instinción CFF.
    And a straightforward win is exactly what Mortal Joe’s side delivered against opponents who were bottom, without a point or a goal to their names. That meant the match was all over pretty well after Maria Lyktberg’s 14th minute opener and definitely by the time she made it three with 21 on the clock.
    Goal number two for the Molly Malones had come from the spot, Alberta Vieira slotting home on 19 minutes. And two more would arrive before the break, with two players combining and taking it in turns to score; Alona Touriño heading in Lyktberg’s cross on 43 minutes for the fourth and then returning the favour to tee up Lyktberg’s hattrick in the final minute of the opening half. These later two strikes had actually come against 10 players after injury robbed substitute-less Instinción of a defender. Dublin also lost a player to a red cross injury, Kirsti Petelius being forced off in the 48th minute with a 7-day knock.
    Dublin didn’t seem interested in getting further goals, not even after Instinción were reduced to 9 when Marina Wollin was sent off (straight red) on 53 minutes. Beating a zombie was easy enough, beating 9 shambling player was just too easy and boring. So Dublin didn’t bother.
    The win lifted The Molly Malones a place up the Division 6:57 table to sit second, two points behind the leaders and goal difference ahead of third.

    It was important to Csiki Girls title ambitions that they didn’t fall on the banana skin that was Barca Ladies FC.
    Ad hoc’s side set about avoiding that in determined fashion, controlling possession and making all the chances going in the first half. And for most of the second. What was missing from the Transylvanians was converting one of these sights of goal into an actual strike. That meant the potential to slip up was still present as the match entered its final 10 minutes.
    In a scene eerily reminiscent of the Far Side cartoon with the penguin, Barca’s one chance of the match on 83 minutes resulted in them taking the lead. Disaster loomed for Csiki Girls. But some people respond the most dramatically to times of crisis. It would appear that Laura Kilford has a second life as a costumed hero as she suddenly swooped into action, netting a direct free-kick to draw the sides level just two minutes after Csiki Girls had fallen behind, and then firing the ball in from fully 40 yards to score the winner on 88 minutes.
    The last gasp escape kept Csiki Girls in touch with Division 6:63 leaders Steel Girls ahead of the top two clashing next week. The points gap is three and the goal difference +4 in Steel Girls favour, but thanks to Kilford’s late strikes a 2-0 win for Csiki girls overturns that and puts them top.

    Comment


      Thanks again to all of you who've produced this amazing round ups.

      Comment


        Originally posted by Janik View Post
        Once known mostly for their cup exploits, Viking South Utsira are now respected primarily for their growing league exploits.
        Discuss.

        An interesting hypothesis Janik! Our league form has toppled off a cliff in recent weeks, but I'm hoping we can extend our cup run as that currently seems to be our better bet for regarding this as a solid season.

        Great reportage anyway, loved the "Rangers kept poking the hornets’ nest (or poking The Blood Eagles eyrie, which is more dangerous)" line in particular. Meanwhile that was indeed a startling stat about how long it's been since Sits' Durocs side had a cup run, blimey. And that Green Rockets–Pinhalnovense tie was a classic wasn't it, especially the latter stages of the second leg.

        Comment


          Originally posted by Antepli Ejderha View Post
          Thanks again to all of you who've produced this amazing round ups.
          Cheers AE! One more should be coming this afternoon, apologies as ever for my contining failure to knock them out any earlier in the week.


          *Disclaimer: Round-up not guaranteed to be amazing.

          Comment


            Amazing OTF League roundup for 17th January 2022: Season 66 Round 11


            Division 3
            A truly dire, shot-devoid 0-0 at the Sheep Dip between Wensleydale Blues and Veni Vici Vigata (7th) cost the Blues top spot after just a week, Heffron Hendecagon regaining the summit by 2 points thanks to dispatching rudderless Tree Hill High (5th) 3-0 at home. After winning four of their first five, THH have slumped to six straight defeats (in, admittedly, largely much tougher fixtures) since December 30th and manager Rooney2020’s built-in expiry date seems to have finally elapsed: his managerial profile disappeared on Monday two and a half weeks into 2022.
            In-form OWC Albion (3rd) had won seven from their last eight and another would have carried them past Wensleydale too on goal difference, but after racing into a two-goal lead at lowly Indigo Plateau on Monday they took their foot off the gas much too soon little more than half an hour in. Albion did not produce another chance all game, whereas Plateau’s youngsters looked much livelier and pulled one back before the break then levelled with the only shot of the second half. The point lifted them back up to 8th, ahead of Eintracht Midwest who were slightly harshly edged out 1-0 at Andromache FC (4th) thanks to Elroy Brunette’s 6th-minute strike in a game where Midwest otherwise gave as good as they got. The Andros are just a point off the promotion places, five off the top and eleven clear of the rest.
            Tree Hill still lead the others, just about, but are now dead level with 6th-placed Pinewood Passers on 12 pts, F/A 12-18 after Nigel Miles crashed home the only goal against bottom side New Dresden just after the interval at the Theatre of Pies. Passers’ midseason surge has seen them take 11 points from their last five games.

            Division 2

            A huge gap has opened up between the top three and the rest after all the trio picked up pairs of heavy-scoring wins in their last two outings.
            Leaders Turd Division crushed Brian Munchingflapjack 4-0 at the Snoop, veteran midfielder Veldin Strunge garnering the plaudits for a hat-trick completed in the 92nd minute. The Flapjacks in contrast had to cope with losing experienced defender Harvey Whitmore to a career-worst injury after just 10 minutes and never looked like holding off the Turds thereafter. The winless bottom side are now 11 points from safety with just a point to their name.
            Turds have netted seven in their last two games, but both the teams just behind them went one better by notching their second straight four-goal hauls. That doesn’t begin to describe the circumstances of 2nd-placed Wharfedale Generals, though, as they fell behind merely two minutes into their trip to Portsmouth FC (6th) and found themselves two down at the break – and still were with 12 minutes to go. Then, however, Phil Lock unlocked the turnaround by finally pulling a goal back, and three minutes later home defender Remy Kamstra picked up his second booking to receive the first red card of his life. It proved deeply costly. Another one of Pompey’s three starting 27-year-olds at the back had already been subbed off, leaving them with just one plus 19-year-old replacement Lino Antonino – who promptly put through his own net to level the scoreline. Four minutes after that Reine Cederblad fired Wharfedale in front for the first time, and Frank Hulme put the icing on the comeback cake with a stoppage-time fourth. All that left the Generals still level on points with the Turds, though despite all the late excitement the GD gap has widened from 2 to 4. Dismayed Portsmouth are now 10 points off the promotion slots instead of the 7 they thought they were headed for.
            It was scarcely less exciting at the Enormodome, where 3rd-placed Somers Town Sugar Imps also racked up an incident-packed 4-2 away win over Athletico Deva. The Imps had the bit completely between their teeth after taking a first-minute lead through Sarmad Kurdi, and forward Torgeir Þórisson handing Deva’s top defender Srecko Basic his second major injury in two months merely ten minutes later with a challenge that was not so much basic as agricultural, then Gino Diana making it 2-0 midway through the first half. Although Jonte Malmsborg replied for the Deviants minutes later, Diana’s second had Somers Town cruising by the hour mark. However, a first career red card for captain Norachai Parklak in his 186-game career change the tenor of things with 20 minutes to play, not least as he had set up two of their three goals to that point, and Malmsborg’s second for Deva made things very interesting with six minutes left on the clock. The Imps held firm though and Bastjan Tomasi clinched it with an injury-time free kick.
            With formerly nearest chasers Cods of War spanked 3-0 at home by Great Northern Railway to slip back to 5th, and Littlewoods Legends only nudging up to 4th on GD after struggling to a 0-0 with second-bottom Kernow Kensa, the top three now seem to have plain sailing with an 8-point chasm between them and the rest of the table. GNR were the happiest otherwise, their fine win at Cods lifting them out of the dropzone to 7th at Deva’s expense.

            Division 1

            Not quite so much drama in the second tier, but an oddly neat set of results where four games ended 2-0 and the other 2-2.
            Leaders Waveney Valley Swifts recovered from their first loss of term last Thursday to end boom-and-bust merchants Banik Roystonov’s latest resurgence with a straightforward win at the Waveney Bowl, and stay a point ahead of Locomotiv Noj who utterly dominated bottom side Wednesday de la Zouch in the father/son derby at the Benebau but did not seal their own win until Otto Kopitsis’s injury-time clincher. The added time was thanks to a stretcher job for Noj midfielder Ioanneís Papagiannakis at the start of the second half with the game goalless, when the 28-year-old with just 10 injury days in total in 12 seasons previously suffered a 17-day crocking.
            The sole upward movers of the day were die Ambosse, whose two goals at home to Hampshire Deers came from Edmundo Bivar and Nico Neff inside a three-minute window right at the start of the second half. The Anvils levitate from 7th to 4th, and are indeed just a point behind a Banik side who now find themselves in need of avoiding defeat in the pair’s meeting today to avoid being knocked out of the top 3 – and their up-and-down record for the season extending to WLWLWWLLWWLL. Ambosse, for their part, overtook not only the Deers (who drop to 7th) but also both Eriskay Expression and Zeugmaspor after the pair battled to that 2-2 draw at the Glen. Zeugma, stung by losing their unbeaten record with not just one but two defeats to Banik back-to-back, grabbed a 2nd-minute lead through Hamza Özil’s free kick but were pegged back after 16’ in the same way by Zenon Kalkowski – who then thumped Eriskay ahead twelve minutes later, only for Oktay Cakir to square things back up from the spot before the break. And that was that, the two teams slipping to 6th and 5th respectively with Zeugma a goal behind die Ambosse and Expression a point behind both.
            The only other beneficiaries of Monday’s results were Saltney Drawers (8th), who gave themselves hope of escaping the drop by also netting twice in three minutes through San Shan and Ray Bloody Purchase in the middle of the first half to see off visitors Azure Dragons (9th). The Drawers cut the gap to midtable from 8 to 5 points, but the Dragons are now nine adrift of safety ahead of Thursday’s key clash with bottom club Wednesday.

            OTF

            With the majority of the top sides’ clashes with each other around the middle of the season now done, Berkshire Swine have emerged from the melee with a three-point lead after a key away victory on Monday at Great Ouse Town. Karel Ruban headed home after 36 minutes and Cristafao Edilson finally secured the victory in stoppage time. Ouse would have gone level at the top with a win, but instead find themselves down to 5th and six points off the pace. Between the pair, Vita Mortis and Dandy Town both lost ground by cancelling out in a 0-0 at the Stade Andy Liver, 2nd-placed Mortis now three games without a win or a goal although their defence remains the tightest in the whole league this term so far at 3 goals conceded in 11 games. The Dandies are a point behind the Reaper Men, and themselves just a point ahead of Four Candles – have surged back into contention after four straight defeats against the other leading contenders by taking 10 points from the last 12 without conceding. The Candles’ third straight win came at Steaua Bridge, Vukosav Ignjatovic’s 43rd-min free kick the difference between the sides and lifting his team to 4th, one point in turn ahead of Ouse. Steaua remain winless at the foot of the table. Today's meetings between the Swine and Dandies, and Mortis and Candles, could go a long way to deciding who stays in with a chance of being part of the title shakedown at season's end.
            The clash between Croesoswallt Dragons and Csiki Monkeys at the Host of Trophies Past proved a missed opportunity for both clubs, a game low on chances eventually seeing Barnabás Bajcsy scored for the Monkeys on 79’ before Vasili Gulko snatched a draw back for the Dragons on 89’. That benefitted neither hugely, the gap to the top half reduced by only one point but the gap to the relegation places cut to just two – thanks to Rejects Redux (8th) winning 3-1 at Whoft Fluffopolis (9th). With the latter undergoing a rebuild and both the bottom two thus looking
            seemingly doomed already even with 7 games to go, it may well be that the Rejects’ current slot is the only one effectively in play. If they can get something at home to Croesoswallt this evening things will look very interesting in that part of the table...

            Comment


              I see Ouse can console themselves, meanwhile, with the arrival from their academy yesterday of an SQ-laden 17/5 forward. To go with their other 17/5 forward from, um, last month.

              Comment


                6 games without a win, including three defeats, in OTF's second tier. I've tried to sell my oldest midfielder as a knee jerk reaction, he wants to retire at the club. I'll now be playing for development values and hope I don't go down.

                Comment


                  Originally posted by Etienne View Post
                  Hey David Agnew , the Tree Hill High manager has quit, so we have a vacancy if you are interested.
                  I'm interested.

                  Comment


                    Originally posted by David Agnew View Post

                    I'm interested.
                    <LIKE>

                    Comment


                      http://www.xperteleven.com/vacantTea...id=108391&dh=2 should take you to the right place

                      Comment


                        Report on Matchday 7 of Season 64 of the Official Xpert 11 Ladies League. The halfway point.

                        Code:
                        Division 2b
                        
                        Viking South Utsira    1 - 1    The Liver
                        Schibstedt 30'            Starr 33'
                        
                        
                        Division 2c
                        
                        Mauchline Belles    2 - 1    Beta Andromedae
                        Melkersson 29'            Ahl 94'
                        Ask 82'
                        
                        Ninas do Matagal    1 - 0    Drakaina
                        Crespo 42'
                        
                        
                        Division 3e
                        
                        Coxy Ladies Wulpen    0 - 1    FC Sprezzatura
                                        Moreno 91'
                        
                        
                        Division 3f
                        
                        Kanjeng Ratu Kidul WFC    0 - 0    BV Cloppenburg
                        
                        
                        Division 3g
                        
                        Cassiopeia        0 - 2    FC Roblar
                                        Mesto 26'
                                        Klaric 77'
                        
                        
                        Division 4j
                        
                        Bombastic Girls        1 - 1    Bombay Green Rockets
                        Lama 55'            Ferrante 77'
                        
                        
                        Division 4m
                        
                        Three Lionesses        0 - 1    Zeugma Dostluk Spor
                                        Karakan 54'
                        
                        
                        Division 4n
                        
                        Menywod Maeshafn    1 - 3    Jocvijeve Zecice
                        Probyn 16'            Egelja 32'
                                        Mrzic 39'
                                        Kabic 51'
                        
                        
                        Division 5:17
                        
                        LNWR Locomotive        2 - 2    Great Horned Owls
                        Diallo 74', 76'            Gaven 16'
                                        Forbes 71'
                        
                        
                        Division 5:19
                        
                        HS            0 - 1    Rising Stars
                                        Veríssimo 88'
                        
                        
                        Division 5:20
                        
                        Ullapool Northern Star    1 - 0    In Colour LFC
                        Mamouni 82'
                        
                        
                        Division 5:21
                        
                        Hazeldean Inchmistress    3 - 0    Gregorys Girls
                        Tattershall 10'
                        Bringevik (pen) 35'
                        Morgan 82'
                        
                        
                        Division 5:22
                        
                        Aveley Ladies F.C    4 - 0    ASU Politehnica
                        Gurkdal 18'
                        Machado (pen) 23'
                        Levander 74', 86'
                        
                        
                        Division 6:30
                        
                        Somerset Senoritas    0 - 1    Deerfield Durocs
                                        Brugge 35'
                        
                        
                        Division 6:44
                        
                        Mawenzi            1 - 1    Invisible Ladies
                        Mirza 46'            Prestonfield 28'
                        
                        
                        Division 6:57
                        
                        Dublin City Womens FC    2 - 0    Homers Damer
                        Touriño 26'
                        Lyktberg 64'
                        Vieira (missed pen) 93'
                        
                        
                        Division 6:63
                        
                        Csiki Girls        1 - 1    Steel Girls
                        Kilford 60'            Bellido 9'
                                        Irazusta (sent off) 83'
                        Stuttering recent form for Viking South Utsira meant a game against bottom side The Liver was a good opportunity for The Blood Eagles to re-ignite their promotion challenge… assuming they won, that is. Not doing so against a side who arrived at Ragnar Rock pointless could have the opposite effect on the fading Norwegians.
                        The warning signs for VSU that things would go as Velvet Android had planned were there early on when The Liver had a goal disallowed. However, it was the hosts who struck first, Mette Schibstedt firing home in a goalmouth scramble after a corner on 30 minutes. That allowed Blood Eagles fans to briefly ignore the lack of chances their side had created (the goal was their first) and instead focus on the possession the home side had been having. A goal would free them up, wouldn’t it?
                        All good in theory, but utterly undermined by The Liver equalising just three minutes later. Viking insantly reverted to their stuttering, slightly panicked play. Somewhere they remained stuck for the remaining hour of the match.
                        About the only thing you can say is it could have been worse – The Liver could have nicked a winner. But being the first team to drop points against an opponent, and doing that by conceding the second goal that team has scored all season ain’t good. The point gained was enough to keep The Blood Eagles third in Division 2b, but unless things are turned around fast, starting with the return meeting against The Liver, that is a position that is only going to decay.

                        Mauchline Belles were looking to end the first half of the season on a rare high when they took on Beta Andromedae at Tarbolton Road.
                        The Belles had only won one of their opening six games, but were on top of their visitors from the opening whistle of this one, going ahead just before the half-hour when Gunilla Melkersson turned home a Lilian Ask corner. Soon after that goal Andromedae ‘lost’ their goalkeeper Miranda Crona, or rather had her brutally taken out by Michelle McFillan, who was booked for her offence. However Beta’s second choice, Ellen Fogby, is a pretty useful goalie in her own right, so McFillan’s cynical play didn’t get as much benefit as it would in other fixtures.
                        Fogby needed to be good because she was busy, Jdsx’s Belles sending five efforts her way in the second half (to add to three on the Andromedae goal before the break, so eight overall). This barrage eventually broke through, Ask providing the answer on 82 minutes from another corner, which she didn’t take herself this time.
                        Mauchline did concede a goal deep into stoppage time, which was the only shot a visibly frustrated Roza Belova had had to face all afternoon. The game was safe despite her berating of her back four though.
                        Elsewhere in the same section a key clash at the top of the table sent Drakaina (second at the start of play) to Ninas do Matagal (third).
                        This was not one of The Dragons finest performances, though. Indeed Etienne’s charges spent the first half very much on the back foot. They looked like they had got away with it until the hosts set the Crespometer buzzing on 42 minutes.
                        There was little change in the pattern after the break, though Drakaina did manage to get a single shot off at one point. It didn’t register, and though Matagal’s two second half chances didn’t either that first half strike meant this didn’t hugely matter.
                        The loss saw Drakaina and their conquerors swap places in the Division 2c table, The Dragons dropping to third, now two points behind second and three adrift of the leaders. At the other end of the table Mauchline Belles have climbed out of the drop zone to sit fifth at the mid-point of the campaign.

                        Talking of drop zones, Coxy Ladies Wulpen were mired in the one in Division 3e ahead of hosting fifth-placed side FC Sprezzatura.
                        Despite needing to get going to close the five point gap their visitors held on them, it wasn’t The Waders who were making the waves in this game – it was Sprezzatura. Fairly gently ones it’s true, but Coxy Ladies had less of the ball and faced more chances in the first half.
                        The second 45 minutes was a pretty dull affair as far as the Curlew’s Nest crowd were concerned as chances were thin on the ground. The Waders failed to register from their one second-half sight, but that wasn’t the case when Sprezzatura had a chance in stoppage time.
                        That late, late goal sent Janik’s side spiralling to another defeat, their fourth so far this campaign. They are now six points adrift of fifth, though oddly they did climb a spot from eighth to seventh despite losing as Purple Cobras lost more heavily.

                        There really isn’t much between top and bottom of Division 3f at the moment - as if to emphasise that the leaders were being beaten 3-0 at home by the bottom placed side elsewhere as this match between mid-table sides Kanjeng Ratu Kidul WFC and BV Cloppenburg was going on.
                        Neither side sparked in this one, though The Sea Spirits did have an excuse after an injury to key midfielder Tyan Borot just 5 minutes in seriously disrupted KRK’s boss SeanoftheShed’s carefully constructed tactical plan.
                        Despite losing Borot so early The Sea Goddesses did have a couple of chances before the break. But they didn’t convert and as the game progress the hosts saw a reducing amount of possession, the well of sights of goal running completely dry. Fortuantely Cloppenburg were parched for the entire game, so at least the Indonesians got a point for their work.
                        That point saw both teams move up a place in the 3f standings, The Sea Spirits climbing to fourth. They are equidistant in points between the play-offs and the drop as well as being so in places (two in both cases, i.e. points and places).

                        Cassiopeia had drawn quite a few of their Division 3g games and lost hardly any (just one) but could they repeat the trick when hosting Divisional leaders FC Roblar?
                        Not really, no. Well, OK, Granthamian’s side did come close to ending the first half all square at 1-1, but i) Sandra Aritonovic’s 44th minute strike was disallowed, and ii) if it had stood 1-1 would have been a travesty scoreline after a half that Roblar had controlled.
                        The visitors were less dominant after the break, but still as resolute defensively. The Vainglories were searching for their first effort at goal… and still might be now if the final whistle hadn’t put them out of their misery five days ago. As for Roblar, it was one chance, one goal after the break.
                        Cassiopeia stay in 3g’s bottom three after the loss. They sit sixth, four points behind fifth. Only three goals scored from seven games looks like the root of the problem, though how The Vainglories address that without endangering the solid defence that has only shipped five in seven is a difficult question to answer.

                        Comment


                          Both Bombay Green Rockets and Bombastic Girls would have been looking at the matchday 7 meeting of the teams, along with the immediate return in Bombay on matchday 8 as an opportunity to pick up points against a fellow struggler and therefore move away from Division 4j’s drop zone.
                          Both sides had their positives in a goalless first half, The Rockets holding more of the ball and Bombastic having the majority of the chances. The later was the first element made good on, when the hosts took the lead 10 minutes after the break. However, HKS3’s girls continued to have 57% possession as the game progressed and they in turn converted that to the scoresheet via Amalea Ferrante’s 77th minute header.
                          A draw wasn’t the best for either team, both remaining in 4j’s bottom three (The Green Rockets kicking off sixth and staying there), but if it suits any team better it is Bombay as they were the away one. As long as they win the home match coming up next…

                          Division 4m witnessed a top-of-the-table clash to end the opening half of the campaign as Zeugma Dostluk Spor visited leaders Three Lionesses.
                          ZDS may have kicked off second in the standings, but the gap between the sides was less than three points meaning that a Zeugma win would take them top. And that seemed to motivate the Anatolians more, or was it the Lionesses not being sure whether to attack or play for a draw to keep themselves top? Either way Antepli Ejderha’s side was the better one, in terms of possession before the break, and possession and chances after it.
                          Just one goal was scored in the game, which thankfully came with the run of play rather than against it. Nuray Karakan got it, racing clear and sliding home on 54 minutes to send the away end at The Willows into raptures.
                          That took ZDS top of the 4m table at the halfway stage. And put them into the same stick-or-twist position that Three Lionesses had had for the instant rematch in Anatolia.

                          Menywod Maeshafn could not have picked a harder match to end the first half of the season on than one against Division 4n leaders Jocvijeve Zecice… except for maybe facing Zecice away… which is what the second half of Maeshafn’s campaign starts with. Bah!
                          But dealing with this one first, it started very well for the North Walians, Morgan Beck’s free-kick picking out Margaret Probyn for the opening goal on 16 minutes. That goal aside though the first half was a tough one for IsThatcherDeadYet’s side, both in terms of lack of possession and chances given up, and, sadly, two goals for Zecice to leave Maeshafn down at the break.
                          A third for the Croatians six minutes after the restart was a killer. Maeshafn gave up no chances after that, but whether this was down to their improvement or the visitors simply holding them at arms length to see out the result was not entirely clear.
                          Defeat saw MM drop to the foot of the 4n table at the midway stage. They have picked up four points – fifth spot has ten.

                          It was around this time last season that LNWR Locomotive began to go like, well, a train, putting together a run that nearly saw them steam away from the relegation places and nearly puff their way to promotion instead. Unfortunately The Steamers are going to need a second such ride, and were behind the timetable to start when they took on Great Horned Owls as the express had already started rolling on matchday 6 last time around.
                          Which is a lot of words of intro, which normally means a ‘nothing happened, nil-nil draw’ report. Far from it. This was a deeply lively game, with the teams exchanging chances. And goals. The Owls were the first to register on 16 minutes, a lead they held to half-time and then extended on 71 minutes.
                          That might have looked like the end of the line for Viktor Boskovic’s team in this game, but it turned out there was a turntable available for them to spin things around fully with two goals in three minutes. Not only were the goals temporally close, they were identical in personnel terms, Simona Astakhov setting up Pauline Diallo for both strikes (74 & 76).
                          A point pulled from the fire was better than none of course, but even with it Locomotive remain seventh in Division 5:17, four points shy of fifth.
                          [as an aside kevchenko might be pleased to note that not only do Great Horned Owls retain their name, they still have the services of Ida Klovning. She set up one of their goals, in fact. Oh, and their current boss is very appropriately named for managing a set of Owls – WisemanJ. Based on his comment on this game he also seems a decent fella]

                          Are the really objectionable names becoming rarer in the Xpert Ladies? I seem to come across few as egregious as Rising Stars matchday 7 opponents, who I am going to call simply HS.
                          The good news here is HS are heading to the bottom tier with a hard bump, which will hopefully encourage the s***-for-brains in charge of them to flush himself away, allowing someone to sanitise the place after his departure. The home side have lost regularly. But enough on them – let’s focus on The Ascenders instead.
                          Blamb’s side came to the final game of the first half of the season in good nick, sitting second in the table. If there was a quibble with The Stars performances so far it would be goals being in somewhat short supply. Just eight in their previous six games. That flaw was rather in evidence in this one as The Ascenders had 60% possession in both halves, but only made four chances. A disallowed strike just 12 minutes in from Govanna Vella not helping in that regard.
                          The lack of opportunities despite plenty of ball meant the game was still goalless coming into the final five minutes. But there, finally, Rising’s class (and HS’s woeful leadership) became telling, Érica Veríssimo firing home directly from a free-kick to secure all three points.
                          Elsewhere leaders Spacecowgirls were being held to a draw, which allowed The Stars to close the gap on them to just goal difference. Third placed The Effing Blinders are two points back.

                          Ullapool Northern Star have been a revelation on their return to the sixth tier, Polaris coming into the final match of the opening half of the season, which was against mid-table In Colour LFC,* top of the Division 5:20 standings.
                          * - that colour being blue, so it doesn’t appear to be Liverpool FC being reference here.
                          The Highlanders played with the confidence that five wins out of six ought to generate, keeping the ball off their visitors for long periods. All that Northern Star were missing was that possessional dominance being converted into regular chances.
                          Some openings did result though, two in each half. Delicatemoth’s side finally broke through with a late chance in the second period, the ever reliable Inès Mamouni swirling home a direct free-kick on 82 minutes. It proved to be the only goal.
                          There was also good news from elsewhere for UNS as nearest rivals FISO were beaten. That means Polaris’ 6-0-1 record has them four points clear of the pack at the midpoint.

                          Comment


                            Another side carrying promotion momentum onwards is Hazeldean Inchmistress, who were likewise top of their section as they prepared to host Gregorys Girls.
                            The Imperials first had the ball in Gregorys net after just 4 minutes play, but Mollie Tattershall’s effort was disallowed. A set-back or just a brief blip? The latter, as just 6 minutes later it really was 1-0 to Inchmistress, Tattershall herself the player to head home.
                            That was the start of a dominant 90 minutes for Foxy265’s side against opponents who started the day second, level on points with Hazeldean. Did I mention that? I meant to mention that. This was a big game that had set Framleyshire abuzz in advance, and as such the atmosphere at Ken Higgs Avenue was first electric and then joyous as the Imperials tore their opponents apart.
                            Heavy pressure resulted in a penalty on 35 minutes that Jennie Bringevik converted to double the advantage, the two goal cushion also allowing everyone to relax. They were even more chilled when Jacqueline Morgan added a third on 82 minutes, which was no less than Inchmistress deserved as The Imperials had made 9 chances to 1 in the game.
                            The win put three points between Hazeldean and Gregorys Girls, though the advantage on second in Division 5:21 is slightly less, just two points, as Zombie Team (who aren’t) have jumped in between the two combatants of this one.

                            Not every promoted team takes the higher level by storm. Some, like, ASU Politehnica matchday 7 hosts Aveley Ladies F.C , take a while to adapt.
                            The Essex side came into the game bottom of the Division 5:22 table, but appeared in the mood to do something about it. That was in contrast to The Scholars, who just appeared to be in a mood. The game was not much of a contest, to the obvious frustration of students boss Granthamian, who was growing increasingly agitated on the sideline as he implored his side to show some engagement. They never did. It finished 4-0 to Aveley.
                            That result saw Politehnica lose a place in the 5:22 table to sit fifth at the halfway stage. The Timisoara side are just a point clear of the drop zone, and two ahead of Aveley who, courtesy of the margin of victory in this game, now also have a better goal difference. A much, much, much improved attitude and performance will be demanded of The Scholars when class reconvenes.

                            If taking one step back for a season can help push a team forward by building momentum through Division 6 wins, then Deerfield Durocs are on a very exciting trajectory. The Swine were top of Division 6:30 ahead of their game at Somerset Senoritas you see, having won all but one of their previous six games (and that other match was a draw at their nearest rivals).
                            When sides are flying they can win in various ways – by dominating opponents, or just by being calm and efficient when a rare chances comes. This was one of the latter type for SitsWithRemote’s side. The Durocs actually had a lot of the ball through the match, but only made a handful of chances. But when Idde Brugge has finished off an earlyish one (35 minutes) and goalie Sandra Balela is having a day of days (5 shots at her, 5 saves), a scattering of chances is all that is needed.
                            The narrow, slightly lucky win keeps Deerfield two points clear of second in the 6:30 table. Third is seven points back.

                            Defeat last time out against the league leaders meant Invisible Ladies were trying to bounce back when they headed to Mawenzi , who were also attempting to keep themselves on the leaders heels.
                            The See-Throughs saw only a limited amount of the ball in the first half, little more than a third of it in fact, but even so Pebblethefish’s side put themselves ahead at the interval through Jacqueline Prestonfield’s 28th minute free-kick.
                            This advantage lasted less than 60 seconds after the restart, Mazeni’s equaliser the cue for the hosts to push on for a winner. The rest of the game was a real rearguard action for Invisible, but The See-Throughs defence stood out during it, withstanding the pressure to secure a point.
                            That was better than defeat of course, but actually wasn’t a great deal of use to either team. It means the gap between The See-Throughs, who stay third in Division 6:44, and second is now up to four points.

                            Dublin City Womens FC’s clash with Homers Damer was an important one in what is a congested top end of Division 6:57 – it pitted second against third, with the two sides level on points but with either at risk of dropping as far as fifth if they lost the match.
                            Certain aspects of the two sides similar records point as advantages to Mortal Joe’s side – The Molly Malones were unbeaten in the league, whereas Homers had lost twice previously, and whilst Dublin had only conceded two goals in their preceding six games the visitors had shipped six.
                            Once the game got underway those markers looked even more important as Dublin took control. Pressure and chances were rewarded with an opening goal by Alona Touriño on 26 minutes, the veteran midfielder turning in a corner for her third in three games since her New Year’s Day move to Phoenix Park. There was no let up by The Molly Malones after this, and once again the weight of chances told when Maria Lyktberg made it two on 64 minutes.
                            That strike killed the game as a contest, though Dublin did have a chance for a third deep into stoppage time when they were awarded a penalty. Alberta Vieira was unable to convert, but no matter, the result was already sealed. The win kept Dublin second in the 6:57 standings, two points behind the leaders, whilst Homers Damer did indeed fall to fifth spot.

                            Snatching victory from the jaws of defeat last week meant that Csiki Girls were still within striking distance of leaders Steel Girls when Division 6:63’s top two clashed at A kertem.
                            Actually leapfrogging their visitors was not going to be an easy task for Ad hoc’s side, as it was a long strike they needed – not just a win, but one by three clear goals. That looked unlikely at kick-off, and even more so when Steel Girls took the lead after 9 minutes. And even more so when The Csiki’s best striker and captain Norma Ackland was stretchered off after 37 minutes with a 13-day injury that will also keep her out of the return match. If it is a minor consolation for Csiki fans at the lack of a red card for her assailant it is that totting up of yellows means she will also be absent for the second game through suspension.
                            The game was pretty evenly balanced throughout, with chances at both ends. The Csiki’s just needed a hero to score one of them. Cometh the hour… and precisely on it as well, Laura Kilford sending a direct free-kick after 60 minutes arrowing into the bottom corner. That made her another to have three goals in three games since her recent acquisition, Kilford joining the A kertem ranks on Christmas Eve.
                            Kilford’s reward for levelling was to be substituted nearly immediately, but that does mean she will be available for the next clash. That isn’t true of Steel Girls Alise Irazusta, who came on as a sub but then picked up two yellow cards in relatively quick succession late on to be dismissed on 83 minutes. She is yet another to be absent this coming Tuesday, and like the Csiki’s Ackland Irazusta is Steel Girls highest rated forward!
                            The Transylvanians had a few minutes against 10 to try and win it, which wouldn’t have put them top of 6:63 but would have drawn them level on points. However they were not quite able to force the winner home, so had to settle for the draw and staying in touch in second spot.

                            Comment


                              Originally posted by Janik View Post
                              SeanoftheShed’s carefully constructed tactical plan.
                              Is this what they call journalistic licence?

                              Comment


                                OTF Season 66 Round 12 Round-Up

                                OTF

                                The game of the day was at the Stef Tolsma Arena, where leaders Berkshire Swine hosted Dandy Town, who began the evening in 3rd. It's been an impressive return to the top flight for the Dandies and they put in a performance that suggested they are once again real contenders for the top prize. Dominant in possession throughout, they chalked up a 2-0 victory thanks to goals from Geraldo Cambundo and Lincoln Balshaw. They move up to 2nd place, now just a point behind the Swine. As for the leaders, they have stumbled a little of late, winning only two of the last seven, but those seven games have all been against the other teams in the top five. Once an eighth such game - away to Four Candles this evening - is out of the way, a favourable run-in awaits. In the other top-of-the-table clash, the aforementioned Four Candles were denied an impressive away win at Vita Mortis by a 93rd-minute equaliser from Wesley Bannerman, a strike that cancelled out Alexander McCardy's opener for the visitors. The point keeps Mortis ahead of the Candles, but they drop a place to 3rd. There are only four points separating 1st and 4th and, just a point further back, Great Ouse Town remain in the running. They were held to a 1-1 draw at AFC Csiki Monkeys, with the home side's Döme Polonkai and Ouse's Jeffery Redman both scoring with headers in the first quarter of the game. The Monkeys remain sandwiched between 8th-placed Rejects Redux and 6th-placed Croesoswallt Dragons, who played out a goalless draw at the Mack Mean Megadome. Whoft Fluffopolis, as we know, have their eye firmly set on next season and Steaua Bridge took full advantage to record their first win of the campaign and swap places with the Fluffers at the bottom. Steaua, with only three goals all season hitherto, were two Till Maier goals ahead inside ten minutes and went on to hit five before the interval, as 18-year-old Fluffers keeper Keef Leigh-Kugars failed to stop anything that came his way. The visitors pulled one back in an improved second-half performance before selfless striker Dexter Sprockett decided to create an opportunity for another youngster next time out by picking up a red card in the closing minutes.

                                Division 1

                                Eriskay Expression were left to rue Giovanni Bento's first-half penalty miss as they went down 2-1 at home to Waveney Valley Swifts. Following the strict X11 refereeing protocols, Hugh Cango was inevitably soon levelling things up and handing the Swifts a penalty of their own, which Daniel Buumeijer tucked away to put them in front. Ludvik Rolness headed Eriskay level on the hour, but Georghes Plescanu broke away to hit the winner. Remaining a single point behind the Swifts are Locomotiv Noj, whose 2-1 win at home to Zeugmaspor was their fifth consecutive victory. The game followed a remarkably similar pattern to the Eriskay-Waveney contest, with Mavras Alvertis putting Noj ahead just after half-time, Okan Baran equalising for Zeugma after 60 minutes, and Christos Simos then netting a late clincher. A long way behind the leading duo - Noj are nine points clear of 3rd place - are five teams separated by just three points. Zeugma and Eriskay are now the lowest placed of that quintet in 6th and 7th, but they remain very much involved in the chase for promotion, even if it does seem likely that only one spot remains available. Banik Roystonov and die Ambosse stay 3rd and 4th after a 1-1 draw between the two at Moje Zahrada. Both teams scored from their only clear opportunity, Edmundo Bivar firing die Ambosse ahead from a free kick before Povel Kafka headed in an equaliser. Hampshire Deers climbed to 5th courtesy of a 4-2 home win over Saltney Drawers. Two equalisers from Ray Bloody Purchase looked to be good for a point for Saltney, but the Deers struck twice in the closing stages, Dwight Allmark grabbing his second of the day in the last minute, to claim the points. Defeat leaves the Drawers seven points from safety in 8th. Richie Rowson was on target twice as Azure Dragons beat Wednesday de la Zouch 2-0 to increase their advantage over their bottom-placed opponents, but the prospects of either of them or the Drawers avoiding the drop look bleak.

                                Division 2

                                Goals on the break from Matteus Apelgren and Codrut Gardeanu enabled leaders Turd Division to overcome a stubborn Portsmouth FC side and remain on top. Wharfedale Generals, in 2nd place, keep pace with the Turds thanks to a 2-1 home win over Cods of War. They also relied on counterattacks, with Frank Hulme and Reine Cederblad providing the finishing touches to frustrate a Cods side that had more of the chances. Somers Town Sugar Imps lost ground on the top two after being held to a 1-1 home draw by Kernow Kensa. Indeed, they needed a late free kick from Bastjan Tomasi to salvage the point. Their position in the promotion places still looks secure, however, as their nearest challengers, Littlewoods Legends, are some six points distant. The Legends brushed aside tail-enders Brian Munchingflapjack 4-0, captain Harry Koch leading by example with two goals. Those defeats for the Cods and Portsmouth leave them in mid-table, though Portsmouth in particular may wish to keep an eye on the bottom three, with Kensa in 8th four points behind them. Athletico Deva drop to 9th, behind Kensa on goal difference, after a 2-0 defeat at Great Northern Railway, for whom Jimmy Crossan and Roland Facher both headed in crosses from Oisin Keane. GNR move up to 6th.

                                Division 3

                                The top two both took a significant step towards promotion with away wins at the teams directly beneath them. Hugo Rune scored twice in the final ten minutes of the first half for leaders Heffron Hendecagon at 3rd-placed OWC Albion, with the home side only able to pull one back after the break, through Buck Aneering-Hedda. Yan Lowrigg's strike came from Wensleydale Blues' only sight of the Andromache FC goal, but it proved enough to secure the points. The Blues remain two points behind Heffron but are now five clear of OWC and six ahead of Andromache. It looks as though the latter two will be left to battle it out for the third promotion place, which could make their final-day meeting at Albion's Colosseum of Dread a spicy affair. Although not so much if the Andromache manager fails to return from holiday. The rest have little left to play for, though the welcome return of PhoebeDisco/David Agnew to X11 management means that Tree Hill High's remaining games will be of extra interest. Their final outing before the arrival of the new manager was a seventh consecutive defeat, a 3-1 reverse at home to Eintracht Midwest that was rounded off somewhat aptly by a 93rd-minute own goal from Jack Inman. THH slip to 6th, while Midwest shuffle up to 8th. At the very bottom, New Dresden moved to within a point of Indigo Plateau after beating them 2-0 at home, Plateau keeper Pika Chumeichel having a day to forget, while Veni Vici Vigata and Pinewood Passers treated the famished fans at Hunger Hill to a drab mid-table scoreless draw.

                                Comment


                                  Originally posted by Sean of the Shed View Post

                                  Is this what they call journalistic licence?
                                  Oh sure. There is a great deal of artistic licence involved here. Pretending these are real games of Football for starters. I'm attributing this attention to detail to the SofS avatar within the game, his days of work to prepare going to waste as he stands on the sidelines of a rainy and windswept pitch in his sheepskin coat. I've got him pegged as a decidedly old school manager... who still wears a sheepskin coat despite being in Indonesia, where rainy and windswept goes hand-in-hand with 30 degree Celsius!

                                  Comment


                                    My official team's chance at safety turned out to be a nothingburger, we got throttled and the team behind us easily beat the team that was shooting for a playoff spot. Ah well.

                                    Human League's Cornfield FC are carrying too many player by some distance, but may have done enough to secure safety already.

                                    Eintracht Midwest are almost looking like an actual team for a change. 4 Wins! not bottom of the table!

                                    Comment


                                      Originally posted by Janik View Post
                                      Oh sure. There is a great deal of artistic licence involved here. Pretending these are real games of Football for starters. I'm attributing this attention to detail to the SofS avatar within the game, his days of work to prepare going to waste as he stands on the sidelines of a rainy and windswept pitch in his sheepskin coat. I've got him pegged as a decidedly old school manager... who still wears a sheepskin coat despite being in Indonesia, where rainy and windswept goes hand-in-hand with 30 degree Celsius!
                                      Faux sheepskin of course, the real thing is no longer de rigueur these days.

                                      Comment


                                        Tree Kill High 4 Wensleydale Blues 2

                                        Tree Kill High started the Brutal Deluxe Redux era on a high, with a 4-2 victory, Hiro Kodama getting the game started with an excellent first minute strike on an opponent. Despite falling 2-1 behind, Jack Inman, Toby Gregory and Jonas Colin showed that their stud sharpening practice over the last few days didn't go to waste, as they left their mark on the Blues, quite literally in the case of Jonas Colin. An excellent performance was topped with a clean sheet as the Blues failed to breach the Killers defence.

                                        Comment


                                          Originally posted by Janik View Post
                                          [as an aside kevchenko might be pleased to note that not only do Great Horned Owls retain their name, they still have the services of Ida Klovning. She set up one of their goals, in fact. Oh, and their current boss is very appropriately named for managing a set of Owls – WisemanJ. Based on his comment on this game he also seems a decent fella]
                                          (my bold) This made me laugh out loud – I'd never clocked that before Janik! How wise, indeed. And by a brilliant coincidence I see the Owls are Coxy Ladies Wulpen's very next opponents in the 5th round of the Xpert Ladies Cup, love it. I trust if your team get Bruised out of their boots in that game your "seems a decent fella" opinion will hold, meanwhile...?

                                          Comment


                                            Sorry all for my even tardier than usual OTF report this week, anyway. I've not been in a great state the last few days after taking suddenly ill on Sunday night, was throwing up all night and more violently than I can ever remember in my life. Compares closely with a gastric bug I picked up in South Africa in late 2015, which similarly knocked me for a six for a couple of days, and touch wood I seem to be gradually improving, but it's been a bit slower than I'd like.

                                            Comment


                                              Get well soon VA.

                                              And, if I may be so bold, put your health before the otf report

                                              Comment


                                                Originally posted by ad hoc View Post
                                                Get well soon VA.

                                                And, if I may be so bold, put your health before the otf report
                                                Yeah, blimey. Put down your keyboard and go back to bed.

                                                Hope you're feeling fit as a violin again soon.

                                                Comment


                                                  WisemanJ does seem decent, going back to my early Stars days when we locked (great) horns with the Owls. They are also a member of multiple OTF led leagues — Human, Heineken and Brythonnic.

                                                  Comment


                                                    Cross post, but what Ad Hoc and Hot Orange said.

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