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X11 season 45 - de rigueur Mortis

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    Fairy 'nuff.

    Comment


      And it's actually fairer on the other sides in your Division than the team suddenly becoming stronger at a random point in the season.

      Comment


        Originally posted by Janik View Post
        And it's actually fairer on the other sides in your Division than the team suddenly becoming stronger at a random point in the season.
        I'd have no problem with it as we're leading the division.

        Comment


          Originally posted by Sits View Post
          ...Here are the coming season end dates:

          27 March OTF
          1 April XPert
          16 April J4GL
          20 April MLX
          22 April Brythonnic
          30 April Human
          2 May Heineken

          .. We'll have to be careful through that peak J4GL - MLX - Brythonnic sequence, not to block our own evaluations.
          Coming into the busy period now, watch those evals.

          Comment


            X11 Ladies Cup, Round 3.


            Code:
            Apan FC			3 - 1	Ullapool Northern Star
            Späth (O.G.) 9'			Barkho 82'
            Rundkvist 45'
            Stålhagen 57'
            
            Ullapool Northern Star	1 - 4	Apan FC
            Kha 34'				Stålhagen (pen) 25', 43'
            				Nordén 58'
            				Almheden 62'
            
            Apan win 7-2 on aggregate
            
            
            Atalanta Calcio		0 - 0	Erbil
            
            Erbil			4 - 2	Atalanta Calcio
            Hinton 11'			Döhler 8'
            Brundin 25'			Göring 50'
            James 46', 84'
            
            Erbil win 4-2 on aggregate
            
            
            Bajen Chics		2 - 1	Drakaina
            Röse 37'			Sietaridis 86'
            Kronholm 51'
            
            Drakaina		1 - 1	Bajen Chics
            Fionulla Mourne 55'			Jakobson 60'
            
            Bajen win 3-2 on aggregate
            
            
            Coxy Ladies Wulpen	1 - 1	Babuskare
            Vandenbergh 79'			Whitfield 85'
            
            Babuskare		2 - 0	Coxy Ladies Wulpen
            Pelzer 20', 86'
            
            Babuskare win 3-1 on aggregate
            
            
            Csiki Girls		0 - 2	Cam Hotspurs
            				Hammarskjöld 56'
            				Moisiuc 70'
            
            Cam Hotspurs		3 - 0	Csiki Girls
            Moisiuc 43'
            Trukhanava 50'
            Evudottir 77'
            
            Cam win 5-0 on aggregate
            
            
            Dial L for Ladies	1 - 2	Viking South Utsira
            Guilhe 24'			Fudida 12'
            				H.Hovland 67'
            
            Viking South Utsira	3 - 0	Dial L for Ladies
            B.Austrheim 61', 93'
            Moa Jönsson 67'
            
            Viking win 5-1 on aggregate
            
            
            Seba United FC		3 - 2	Kanjeng Ratu Kidul WFC
            Duque 53'			Pailloux 75'
            Raven 73'			Farisy 92'
            Gardner (pen) 87'
            
            Kanjeng Ratu Kidul WFC	2 - 2	Seba United FC
            Luangpruksachat 77'		Raven 13'
            Farisy 88'			Narraway 66'
            
            Seba win 5-4 on aggregate
            It’s been an impressive Cup run to date for Ullapool Northern Star. But could they extend it against Division 5 side Apan FC?
            Delicatemoth took her side on the road for the opening leg. If Ullapool were hoping for a solid, quiet start they would be disappointed as by the 16th minute they had fallen behind to a Babette Späth own goal and lost first choice ‘keeper Helen Hess to a 7-day injury. Hess, at least, is a pretty recent signing and the player she replaced in the side, Yiwar Atooraya, was ready and waiting on the bench.
            Atooraya was to be beaten twice herself though as Apan raced into a 3-0 lead before the hour. If they had held that it would have looked curtains for Ullapool, but a goal pulled back late on by Zebela Barkho raises a glimmer of hope. Just a glimmer, mind...
            With an away goal to play with Ullapool could risk attacking as one conceded wasn’t catastrophic. Though that didn’t make Constance Paine’s decision to award Apan a 25th minute penalty any less frustrating. Ninorta Kha levelled on the night on 34 minutes with a direct free-kick, which meant the glimmer was still flickering... until Apan extinguished it with their second just before the interval. After that it was just a question of how many, the final total being 2-7 on aggregate. Still reaching round 3 is a fine effort from a side at the beginning of their development.

            Round 3 pitted Erbil against Division 6 outfit Atalanta Calcio.
            As the higher seeds, Erbil were off to Italy for the opening leg. The match was typical for one in that country – hard fought and cagey with few chances at either end. The visitors were the better side, shading both possession and chances by were unable to find the away goal desired. Fortunately they didn’t concede either, leaving things evenly poised ahead of the return.
            The question for the hosts in the second leg was whether to play cagey and hope for a 1-0 or to be open and look to outscore their opponents. Obviously the best plan was to overwhelm Atalanta and win three-nil or some such, but that option was off the table as early as the 8th minute when a shot from distance put the Italians ahead.
            Suddenly Erbil needed two to stay afloat. The home crowd didn’t have to wait long for the first of these, Caroline Hinton equalising just three minutes after her side had fallen behind. Nor was the delay to the go ahead goal excessive either, Sandra Brundin styling in a direct free-kick with 25 on the clock.
            Mellissa James looked like she had eased manager Jdsx’s nerves when she made it 3-1 seconds after the restart, only for Atalanta to net their second long-ranger of the day just two minutes later. The match remained in the balance into the last ten minutes, when James finally put things to bed with her second of the day. It was the right result on the balance of play across the tie.
            With the loss of a round due to the league re-arrangement in the summer there are more game dates free, so two-legged matches continue for one more stage, though with a random draw rather than seedings for this one. Erbil’s next opponents will be Pepita´s Team of Division 6:50, the first leg at the Mirage Stadium.

            A cross-Division 4 encounter was served up for Drakaina as they clashed with Bajen Chics.
            The opening leg saw The Dragons on the road [on the wing??]. And it was a struggle initially for Etienne’s side as the hosts put in a strong first half performance. The good news for Drakaina was that the damage was limited to a single goal, but even that took a turn for the worse as the opening few minutes of the second half saw Maria Gudlandur depart the field with injury (9 days) and Bajen Chics make it two.
            At that point a defeat of such proportions that it could decide the tie seemed possible. However the Greeks dug in, and rather than shipping chances they began to fashion their own. That paid dividends four minutes from time, Alicia Keyshinhas sliding through a ball for Laria Sietaridis to race on to and finish. With that single passage of play, the second leg was rendered substantially more interesting.
            With that away goal in their pockets, The Dragons probed away in the return at Delphi. Just one strike would put them ahead on aggregate. It arrived on 55 minutes, Fionulla Mourne pouncing after a corner was only half-cleared. However that now swung the balance back the other way, with Bajen needing to score. It didn’t take them long, just five minutes in fact. And with that the game lurched again.
            Drakaina pushed for the strike to take the game to extra time, but also had to be wary of conceding again, which would be a killer. A high tightrope to walk, and one ultimately they didn’t manage as the back door was kept closed but the front one couldn’t be forced open. Time to concentrate on the league, then.

            Comment


              Coxy Ladies Wulpen were attempting to punch up a step when they took on Division 3 side Babuskare.
              For most of the opening leg at the Curlews’ Nest one would have been hard-pressed to identify the higher status outfit. The Waders were having less of the ball, but using it much better as they created a string of chances. One of these had to tell eventually, the breakthrough coming on 79 minutes when Moreen Mahony teed up Laetitia Vandenbergh.
              However that was just one goal, leaving Janik’s side vulnerable to a sucker punch. And that is exactly what they got when Babuskare’s first and it would turn out only shot of the day looped over Sarah Asselman, leaving the score 1-1 but possibly more importantly giving the visitors an away goals edge.
              The Waders came into the return on something of a downer following their first defeat of the season in the league four days previously. This feeling was exacerbated when they fell behind in this one to a direct free-kick after 20 minutes. Chances for Coxy Ladies were few and far between, though that hadn’t prevent Babuskare scoring in the opening leg... However this time there would be no anomalous result as the hosts added a second on 86 minutes. Wulpen also lost midfielder Alicia Leclercq to an 8-day injury with 20 minutes to play.

              The draw wasn’t kind to Csiki Girls as it paired them with Division 2 side Cam Hotspurs.
              The first leg was at A kertem, with the hosts aim being to keep the tie alive for as long as possible, maybe even to the return game. Ad Hoc’s charges were up for the challenge and put in a sterling defensive performance. Their resistance was finally broken in the 56th minute, which wouldn’t have been an absolute killer. 0-2 was a bit worse though, which is what the score became on 70 minutes. That was how it finished, which counts as a partial success in my book.
              Could the Csiki’s pull off an unlikely comeback in the return? Keeping things tight and scoring first was the plan, and for forty-odd minutes it was working. However with half-time looming the hosts made a breakthrough that essentially ended the tie as a contest. Cam added two more after the break to claim what was ultimately a straightforward aggregate win.

              For many teams, the Cup is change from the routine and a useful source of DV. Not so any more for Viking South Utsira, who are genuine contenders to win the Trophy as reflected in their seeding of 34. That puts additional pressure on confrontations against useful opponents like Division 4 outfit Dial L for Ladies.
              Dial L were clearly aware of the threat as they picked a 5-strong defence, but to their credit they used the 5-4-1 formation as a base for attacking rather than merely backs-to-the-wall stuff. It made for an entertaining game with chances coming regularly at either end, though tipped 2-1 in The Blood Eagles favour.
              The hosts needed every break going, so the disallowal of 2nd minute strike was rather a blow, one Viking made rawer by taking the lead themselves ten minutes later, Manuças Fudida heading home Kristin Hovland’s centre. To their credit Dial L took these setbacks in their stride and levelled on 24 minutes.
              The game continued in much the same pattern for the next hour or so, with the next goal likely to significantly affect the tone of the return. Next and only as it turned out, with Velvet Android the manager celebrating after Heidi Hovland fired home from distance midway through the second half. Two away goals means Utsira have considerable breathing space ahead for the second stanza at Ragnar Rock.
              For Dial L to have any chance they had to keep things close and then chip away at the gap. A first half where the Blood Eagles had no attempts on goal was part of that, and then on 55 minutes the second aspect looked to have been partially achieved when Filomena Aviz put the ball beyond Julie Alme. That was chalked off however, with VA responding with an (in no way pre-planned) triple substitution on 60 minutes.
              The game appeared to change immediately as within a minute Birgit Austrheim had put Viking ahead. Not that Austrheim had been one of the subs, mind. Neither was Moa Jönsson, but she now chose her moment to strike home a 67th minute direct free-kick and make it two. Austrheim headed a third in stoppage time from sister Asta’s cross to make the final score a comfortable looking 5-1.
              Next up for Viking is another Scandinavian derby as they face Division 4p outfit Gothenburg FC. The first leg is in Sweden.

              And finally we have an all Division 5 encounter between Kanjeng Ratu Kidul WFC and Seba United FC.
              There was something oddly familiar about the Seba line-up, which could be cleared up by realising they were Aspull Academicals up to a season ago and still retain most of the old squad. And indeed skill. Despite that it was The Sea Spirits counter-attacking play that was carrying the most threat, so it was rather against the run of play when the hosts went ahead with their first shot of the day on 57 minutes.
              Things went from bad to worse for SeanoftheShed’s girls when Seba made it two on 73 minutes, though it looked less bleak just 120 seconds later after Adèle Pailloux raced away to pull one back. Could Kanjeng get an equaliser that would be more than merited? Well, no, because three minutes from time Donald Scott pointed to the spot and Seba made it 3-1.
              That was three shots from three for the hosts, whilst Kanjeng’s return was one from six. However just when a complete travesty of a result looked on the cards, up popped Tia Farisy to drag it back to 2-3. Which is still mockery of the game it purports to represent, but not quite as complete a one as 3-1 would have been. However that did put The Sea Goddesses within striking distance for the return...
              What Kanjeng needed was to strike first at Merapi-Kraton-South Sea. What they got was the opposite, Seba moving further ahead again on 13 minutes. Once more The Sea Spirits were banging at the door, and once more frustration was piled upon frustration as Seba nicked yet another against the run of play midway through the second-half.
              With all away goals cancelled out, Kanjeng now needed three in a quarter of a match to force extra time. Hometown hero Thao-Ap Luangpruksachat got one of them when she poke home a loose ball in a post-corner goalmouth scramble on 77 minutes, and a grandstand finish was set up when Tia Farisy rose to head a second on 88. However that all important leveller wouldn’t come, which was the story of the tie and an extremely unfortunate exit from the competition.


              Code:
              [u]Round 4 draw[/u] - first listed teams home in opening leg
              Pepita´s Team (6:50)	vs	Erbil
              Gothenburg FC (4p)	vs	Viking South Utsira

              Comment


                Great work again Janik. I hadn't yet looked to see VSU's fourth-round opponents, so that's handy. I therefore also hadn't twigged it's another two-legged tie in Round 4, albeit with the random draw kicking in at this stage, until I read your report on Erbil's progress there. That's more bonus matches so great for DV though, potentially, and especially for junior keepers if one can afford to field them. My senior keeper Julie Alme is already on 17 for the season, remarkably, which is of course at least partly a side-effect of our playing some horribly strong teams in Division 1, but also of having some unexpectedly tough Cup opponents in the last two rounds meaning she's had some extra outings there. Another Div 4 opponent next time out could be a tricky one yet again, unfortunately, but that sounds like a great draw for Erbil at this stage.

                Comment


                  Final fixtures for MLX sorted. AA-S contest their first since the Cup in season 7. There will be a new winner in the Grand Final as well.

                  Meanwhile, I've allowed IKK to be rebranded. A sad moment but it wouldn't have been the same. I shall fondly remember their unique press releases and the lovable adventures of Iko. Their new manager has at least stayed in the alliterative spirit - did he receive coaching from certain quarters, I wonder?

                  Comment


                    Thanks to a suitably spawny final round, Lincolnshire Curly Coats are in Golden League Division 2 next season. I'm quite chuffed about this to be honest, although some demographic timebombs are ticking in the squad.

                    Comment


                      Oh wow, Hugh Callender is still going!

                      Comment


                        Just about.

                        Have some DVs, whether you want them or not:

                        Nakuru Warthogs (J4GL):
                        G Vecchiola 19/6 - 18
                        D Camara 34/12 - 10
                        D Marusi 33/11 - 11
                        D Valadres 25/11 - 16
                        D Cálvario 21/8 - 16
                        D Aschberg 17/4 - 17
                        M Monte 35/12 RET - 8
                        M Parman 34/13 - 8
                        M Popa 31/12 - 15
                        M Farrell 25/12 - 14
                        M Stasiak 23/10 - 16
                        M Livache 20/8 - 17
                        M Wargloo 17/4 - 17
                        F Estabrook 19/6 - 17
                        F MacAvish 17/4 - 17

                        Lincolnshire Curly Coats Golden League:
                        G Callender 34/16 - 10
                        D Guiñazú 34/14 - 10
                        D Sada 32/14 - 13
                        D Dunn 27/14 - 17
                        D Götesson 22/10 - 17
                        D van der Woude 18/5 - 18
                        M Florå 35/14 - 8
                        M Twigg 35/15 - 9
                        M Lima 33/17 - 11
                        M Sefton 29/16 - 16
                        M Cáceres 25/12 - 17
                        M Østergaard 23/12 - 16
                        M Dorsch 19/8 - 16
                        F Hundåla 20/8 - 17
                        F Nazarcu 17/4 - 17

                        Not sure whether MLX DVs could still change with friendlies to play before the CR, so I'll spare you.

                        Comment


                          Originally posted by Kevin S View Post
                          Oh wow, Hugh Callender is still going!
                          And threw in his best ever performance (rating 21) from 340 appearances in that last game yesterday, as the Curlies nicked their divisional title in the 88th minute of the final match. Amazingly, they scored four goals fewer across the season than the team they beat – who wound up 7th. Callender has an remarkable 61 clean sheets from the past four seasons alone, though, which points up the secret of their success: a tremendous defence that has let in just 7, 5, 7 and 6 league goals in those four seasons.

                          Fantastic work Sits, you'll do very well in Division 2 I'm sure. For what it's worth, your overall trajectory with LCC looks notably similar to mine with VNU, which is encouraging for the coming seasons, no?


                          Terrific DVs with the Warthogs, too. Mars Rovers' aren't anything to write home about at all, unfortunately, which makes me more glad we narrowly dodged promotion to the Championship tier on goal difference.

                          Comment


                            Originally posted by Sits View Post
                            Thanks to a suitably spawny final round, Lincolnshire Curly Coats are in Golden League Division 2 next season. I'm quite chuffed about this to be honest, although some demographic timebombs are ticking in the squad.
                            Well played Sits,a hearty Guzman to you. How did other OTFers do in the Golden League?

                            We got promoted in a division of zombies with some decent development values too. I'll be selling a couple of the squad once the change report comes in. I'm a bit wary of the possible culling of a division because that's going to make the cup tougher.

                            Comment


                              I had my first Round 1 Ultimate League cup match in living memory on Friday. Very weird. Was still a walk in the park against a Division 6 side who technically have a manager, but he "hasn't shown up yet".

                              The discovery from Janik's Xpert Ladies report that everything up to and including Round 4 is now two-legged in our newly reduced official leagues means that there's a decent chance of getting in 8 games before the competition really hots up, which is terrific news DV-wise. Previously an exit at the same stage has meant only 5 games played, so it's potentially 3 bonus matches to rotate all my midfield youths and my junior keeper in particular.

                              The latter though (Jens Hovland) got fielded this afternoon in our debut in the Ultimate League top flight, since my senior keeper Terrence Lisbie was out of form and on a red arrow, so since we were going straight up against the team who won three league titles in a row before coming second last season, House of Stark, I figured "Well, why not?"
                              I haven't yet plucked up the courage to see what happened. Suffice to say I'm expecting very little this season from our league results, so some great DVs and a solid Cup run are my chief ambition.

                              Comment


                                Originally posted by Antepli Ejderha View Post
                                Well played Sits,a hearty Guzman to you. How did other OTFers do in the Golden League)
                                Well let's go round the divisions shall we?

                                Lincolnshire Curly Coats (Sits): won Div 3b, PROMOTED

                                Fifth Column (MortalJoe): 4th in Div 3g

                                Csiki Little Bleeders (ad hoc): 8th in Div 3h, RELEGATED

                                Turd Derision (Auntie Beryl): 6th in Div 4g, RELEGATED

                                Violet-Weiss 1919 (_DRC/Sylkies): 7th in Div 4i, RELEGATED

                                Not Bothered Buzzards (Sean): 5th in Div 4j

                                Angmering Park (SDR): 5th in Div 4k

                                Chickens of Atlantis (Wiblflibl): 8th in Div 4k, RELEGATED

                                Y Pentan (IsThatcherDeadYet/Vicarious Thrillseeker): 3rd in Div 4n

                                Ellesmere Port Cement (Victor Boskovic/Cota): won playoff from Div 5:14, PROMOTED

                                Islay Inebriates (BillBones): won Div 5:16, PROMOTED

                                Nagasaki Towpath (Andrew7610): won Div 6:40, PROMOTED

                                Zeugma Gaskispor (Antep):won Div 6:50, PROMOTED

                                What's known as a mixed bag, there.

                                Comment


                                  Yeah the Bleeders had an awful season, and from about 5 games in it was clear that my best bet was playing for DVs

                                  Comment


                                    The one hand goes on clapping:

                                    Nakuru Warthogs (J4GL):
                                    G Vecchiola 19/6 - 18 > 20/7
                                    D Camara 34/12 - 10 > 35/12 RETIRING
                                    D Marusi 33/11 - 11 > 34/11
                                    D Valadres 25/11 - 16 > 26/12
                                    D Cálvario 21/8 - 16 > 22/9
                                    D Aschberg 17/4 - 17 > 18/5
                                    M Parman 34/13 - 8 > 35/13
                                    M Popa 31/12 - 15 > 32/12
                                    M Farrell 25/12 - 14 > 26/13
                                    M Stasiak 23/10 - 16 > 24/11
                                    M Livache 20/8 - 17 > 21/9
                                    M Wargloo 17/4 - 17 > 18/6
                                    F Estabrook 19/6 - 17 > 20/7
                                    F MacAvish 17/4 - 17 > 18/5

                                    Lincolnshire Curly Coats Golden League:
                                    G Callender 34/16 - 10 > 35/16
                                    D Guiñazú 34/14 - 10 > 35/14
                                    D Sada 32/14 - 13 > 33/15
                                    D Dunn 27/14 - 17 > 28/15
                                    D Götesson 22/10 - 17 > 23/11
                                    D van der Woude 18/5 - 18 > 19/7
                                    M Florå 35/14 - 8 > 36/14 RETIRING
                                    M Twigg 35/15 - 9 > 36/15
                                    M Lima 33/17 - 11 > 34/17
                                    M Sefton 29/16 - 16 > 30/16
                                    M Cáceres 25/12 - 17 > 26/13
                                    M Østergaard 23/12 - 16 > 24/12
                                    M Dorsch 19/8 - 16 > 20/9
                                    F Hundåla 20/8 - 17 > 21/9
                                    F Nazarcu 17/4 - 17 > 18/5

                                    Some nice high valued players at the Curlies, but the Age Bomb has now well and truly gone off.

                                    Comment


                                      Thanks for the round up Sits, it's hard to keep track of so many teams & their respective divisions.

                                      The goal for Angmering Park next season is to mount a promotion challenge - this was our third season in Div 4 and this time we ended up comfortable after a tricky start. Time to step up to the next level hopefully.

                                      Comment


                                        If anyone wants to watch the MLX Grand Final spoiler-free, here's your link:

                                        Season 15 MLX Championship final – Radomiak Radom Randoms v Velours Vandals Vatican

                                        It's actually a bit of a belter, in shocking contrast to almost all major finals previously!

                                        Comment


                                          Originally posted by Various Artist View Post
                                          If anyone wants to watch the MLX Grand Final spoiler-free, here's your link:

                                          Season 15 MLX Championship final – Radomiak Radom Randoms v Velours Vandals Vatican

                                          It's actually a bit of a belter, in shocking contrast to almost all major finals previously!
                                          I'm glad I got out in time, before we lost the charm of tense scoreless finals. These new teams just shit on all MLX traditions, don't they?

                                          Comment


                                            X11 Ladies Matchday 6 report.


                                            Code:
                                            Division 1a
                                            
                                            Viking South Utsira	1 - 2	Eternal Wars
                                            Fudida 80'			Anbacken 5'
                                            				Fielder 63'
                                            
                                            Division 4i
                                            
                                            Coxy Ladies Wulpen	0 - 0	Kongo BK
                                            
                                            Drakaina		1 - 0	Q.P.R Ladies
                                            Atum 19'
                                            
                                            
                                            Division 5:16
                                            
                                            Erbil			1 - 1	Renegades Ladies
                                            Bullock 18'			Sheppard 66'
                                            
                                            
                                            Division 5:20
                                            
                                            Luculenus LFC 		1 - 1	Sockford Emollient
                                            Colby 92'			Ericson 81'
                                            
                                            
                                            Division 5:21
                                            
                                            Kanjeng Ratu Kidul WFC	3 - 0	Glada Märsta Ladies
                                            Borot 27'
                                            Willockx 35'
                                            Dalmiya 50'
                                            
                                            Solent Sirens		0 - 1	Mawenzi
                                            				Kale (pen) 10'
                                            
                                            
                                            
                                            Division 5:28
                                            
                                            Menywod Maeshafn	1 - 0	Juventus Ladies F.C.
                                            Boye 67'
                                            
                                            
                                            Division 5:31
                                            
                                            S Team			0 - 0	Csiki Girls
                                            
                                            
                                            Division 6:33
                                            
                                            Sunhilla Ladies FC 	0 - 2	LNWR Locomotive
                                            				Heart 3'
                                            				Steglander (O.G.) 77'
                                            
                                            
                                            Division 6:36
                                            
                                            Special Ladies 		1 - 2	Ullapool Northern Star
                                            McCabe 66'			Wendel 41'
                                            				Sehlstedt 77'
                                            
                                            
                                            Division 6:39
                                            
                                            Invisible Ladies	0 - 0	MSV Duisburg Damen
                                            
                                            
                                            Division 6:40
                                            
                                            Witches of Chiswick	2 - 0	Marselle
                                            Altstrand 43'
                                            Matzuoka 61'			Mäki (missed pen) 83'
                                            
                                            
                                            Division 6:53
                                            
                                            GGW FC			0 - 4	MONTPELLIER HERAULT S C
                                            				Hirsch 9'
                                            				Vialle 23', 89'
                                            				Merigot 81'
                                            
                                            FC Unicorn 		0 - 2	Zeugma Dostluk Spor
                                            				Áláfinesse 36', (pen) 53'
                                            
                                            
                                            Division 6:56
                                            
                                            Dublin City WFC		4 - 1	Secunda FC
                                            Cruz 12'			Ward 65'
                                            Kåmark  31', 36'
                                            Tyrell 50'
                                            This week brought arguably the toughest challenge yet for Viking South Utsira as they took on Division 1a leaders and Cup Semifinalists from last season Eternal Wars at Ragnar Rock.
                                            The Blood Eagles chances in the game suffered a serious blow as early as the 5th minute, which was how long it took for Eternal Wars to go ahead. That allowed the visitors to sit back and absorb whatever Velvet Android’s side could throw at them before going further by making on 63 minutes.
                                            Viking continued to battle, and pulled one back with ten minutes to play when Manuças Fudida rose highest to head home. That set-up a grandstand finish, but the big pay-off was lacking as Utsira were beaten.
                                            Despite the loss, the Blood Eagles remain fourth in the table. They have, however lost 3 points on each of the leading two, and are now closer to the drop zone (2 points) than the play-offs (4).

                                            Having lost the derby last week, Coxy Ladies Wulpen had a second go at showing their fans how they had got themselves top against Kongo BK.
                                            The visitors weren’t the team that Wulpen boss Janik would have chosen, with their reputation as draw specialists. The Waders tried to break through the barrier to the Kongo interior, but found the way impassable despite three attempts. It meant a second underwhelming showing for The Curlews’ Nest crowd, though at least this time their heroines at least got a point for their efforts.
                                            Meanwhile Drakaina were looking to build on their impressive performance in Flanders as they hosted Q.P.R Ladies.
                                            Despite the Hoops lowly position in the table, they are a handy side. But it was up and Atum for The Dragons as Silvia Atum of that ilk gave Etienne’s side a 19th minute lead. Jiminy Jillikers! Drakaina produced chances to add to their advantage after this, didn’t take them but it didn’t matter as that early strike was enough to see them to victory.
                                            It was a win that saw the Greeks vault up the Division 4i table to top spot, displacing Coxy Ladies who drop to second. Both have a point advantage on third-placed Kongo.

                                            Erbil’s excellent run face an interesting challenge when they took on Renegades Ladies, who were only a point adrift of Jdsx’s side at the start of play.
                                            That was an advantage the hosts looked like they might extend when Sharyn Bullock’s 25-yarder gave them an 18th minute lead. However Renegades were not so easily thrown off, kept their belief in their cause high and levelled midway through the second-half.
                                            That was all the scoring as Erbil were held for a third time this season. That saw them drop from the leadership of Division 5:16 to second spot, two points behind the new tab-toppers and one ahead of now-third placed Renegades.

                                            A steady course rather than a spectacular one has sufficed for Sockford Emollient. That has been enough for The Gatorsharks to stake out a mid-table spot, which they travelled to Luculenus LFC looking to protect.
                                            Or build on, indeed. In fact that looked more likely for most of the game as Sockford were well on top. All that was lacking was a goal, and that eventually arrived on 81 minutes, Lotta Ericson sending Foxy265 jigging down the touchline. 1-0 is an extremely narrow advantage though – it only takes on mistake of a bit of luck and it’s gone. Which is what happened to Emollient in the second minute of stoppage time.
                                            Despite the frustration at two points being stolen away undeservedly, the draw did keep The Gatorsharks in the Division 5:20 mid-table zone. They slipped a place to fifth, but remain two points clear of the drop zone, and only three behind the play-off spot.

                                            The week 6 challenge for Kanjeng Ratu Kidul WFC was to make an expected win over bottom-of-the-table Glada Märsta Ladies into a reality.
                                            The Sea Goddesses were probing away for that from the opening whistle. A breakthrough seemed inevitable, and it came after 27 minutes from a somewhat unexpected source, young midfielder Tyan Borot getting just her second career goal. A more established scorer, Jennifer Willockx, added to this eight minutes later and when Diksha Dalmiya headed a third five minutes after the break it was a cruise for SeanoftheShed’s side.
                                            Elsewhere in the same section things were rather more stressful for Solent Sirens who were hosting leaders Mawenzi.
                                            The Sirens were absolutely desperate for a win, but a match against the 100% league leaders was hardly what boss Andrew7610 would have ordered. He would also have preferred is useful ref Charlie Fender hadn’t been appointed to the match, seeing as the soft blind bastard gifted Mawzeni a 10th minute penalty they definitely didn’t need.
                                            It was scored and with that The Sirens realistic hopes for a win died. They did cling to the possibility of a point until the death, but couldn’t break Mawzeni down. They weren’t aided in that attempt by an 8-day injury suffered by one of their better players, Evelyn Högardh.
                                            The defeat left Solent still seventh in the Division 5:21 table, but now seven points from safety. They face back-to-back matches against Glada Märsta next, with six points the demand from the team. Meanwhile Kanjeng’s win over the same opposition has lifted them to second in the standings, one point ahead of third but quite a large six adrift of Mawzeni.

                                            Menywod Maeshafn were trying to get back on the winning track against Juventus Ladies F.C. following a draw last time out.
                                            The young ladies playing for an old one were only a point behind Maeshafn at kick-off with the sides both towards the middle of a congested table. The day played out like things were almost evenly matched; almost but not quite. IsThatcherDeadYet’s side shaded things on possession, chances and the only one that matters, goals scored, the only one of the game coming from Lisha Boye misway through the second-half.
                                            The clean sheet for the Welsh side arrived despite losing key defender Shelly Gibbs to an 11-day injury seconds into the second period. The scale of the loss can be shown by Gibbs still getting the Man-of-the-Match award despite playing only half the game!
                                            Where did this win leave Maeshafn in the Division 5:28 standings, you ask? Well, it shot them up to top spot is the answer as the two sides ahead lost and drew. It also diverged Maeshafn from Juventus, who are now four points behind and have dropped to seventh. Fine margins.

                                            Csiki Girls were on the road as they looked to keep themselves peering down at the rest of Division 5:31. To do that they needed a result at, ugh, S Team.
                                            Ad Hoc’s side made a very decent fist of it, controlling possession, not allowing a shot at Emma Laude’s goal and creating enough chances to have merited the win. All that was lacking was the conversion of one of them. And that was partly referee Michael Steen’s fault after his disallowed Saoirse McInns’ 40th minute strike.
                                            However it will go down in the books as a stalemate, even if the match itself was much more unbalanced than that. And with it Csiki Girls slipped to second spot in the standings. They sit one point behind Cowgirls IF and one ahead of Târnãveni.

                                            LNWR Locomotive were up against a famous name in Xpert Ladies League circles when they headed for Sunhilla Ladies FC.
                                            This isn’t a vintage Sunhilla side though, and The Steamers were quick to put the hosts on the back foot, Phrigit Heart firing Viktor Boskovic’s charges ahead after only three minutes. Karlo Perätalo thought she had made it two on 17, but Constance Paine intervened, which left Locomotive fans on edge up until Sunhilla’s Nelly Steglander put through her own net with 13 plus stoppages left.
                                            Leaders Warriors FC were being beaten at home elsewhere, which meant the win lifted The Steamers to the Division 6:33 summit. They hold a two point advantage over Stoke City Ladies XI and three over the previous leaders.

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                                              Some team names are appropriate. Others maybe inversely so. Ullapool Northern Star’s week 6 opponents Special Ladies are in the latter category.
                                              The weakness of their hosts meant this was an opportunity for still developing Star to get some confidence going after a run of five without a win. Pernilla Andersson thought that she had put her side on track for just that on 35 minutes only to be sawn off by Ann Onym. No matter, Vanja Wendel popped up six minutes after this to score one that counted.
                                              Despite their lead and superior talent, Delicatemoth’s side were finding Special Ladies pesky. It was with the run of play when they equalised on 66 minutes, in fact. However West Scots are made of stern stuff (one has to be to live in that climate) and they gritted their teeth and re-established the lead 11 minutes later through Astrid Sehlstedt.
                                              That proved to be the winner, with the three points gained edging Ullapool closer to the sides above them in the Division 6:36 table even if it didn’t gain them any actual spots.

                                              Invisible Ladies were looking to either leapfrog themselves into the Division 6:39 promotion picture, or at the very least stop it moving further away when welcomed leaders MSV Duisburg Damen to The San Seethrough.
                                              The match was nip-and-tuck throughout. Duisburg shaded possession and eventually chances, but The See-Throughs were not without opportunities themselves. However overall defences were on top, with Invisible boss Pebblethefish having to be satisfied with a point from a scoreless draw.
                                              So no ground lost, then. Or not much, as another side did move above Duisburg. It leaves The See-Throughs fifth, one point out of the play-off spot and three behind the leaders.

                                              Two sides hovering near the top of the Division 6:40 table clashed at Field Lane as Witches of Chiswick took on Marselle.
                                              I can’t decided if the visitors name is an attempt at a pun or just a bad misspelling. That wasn’t something The Bewitched were giving too much thought to as they worked extremely hard to prevent Marselle’s possessional dominance translating into something more damaging.
                                              The Bewitched were helped in that regard by referee Donald Scott disallowing a 25th minute visitors strike, and also awarding the direct free-kick in shooting range that Sarah Altstrand opened the scoring from on 43 minutes. Tomiko Matzuoka made it two just past the hour when she fired home a worked corner routine. That had Chiswick far enough ahead that Scott’s attempt to even things up by awarding Marselle a penalty in the last ten minutes was too scary, particularly when Miyuki Kurihawa beat away Annika Mäki’s tame attempt.
                                              It was something of a smash-and-grab win if we are honest, but however it came it lifts The Bewitched over their vanquished foes and into second in the standings. Leaders Papperhavna will take some catching mind as they are still at 100% and five points ahead.

                                              Not a lot to report from GGW FC’s match against MONTPELLIER HERAULT S C given GGW boss SouthdownRebel’s protest regarding the team name. His directionless side were unsurprisingly easily beaten 4-0.
                                              Let’s focus instead on the side in this section who have had the opportunity to re-brand, Zeugma Dostluk Spor. They took their burgeoning campaign to FC Unicorn for a vital top-of-the-table clash.
                                              Zeugma were the leaders at the start of play, two points ahead of their hosts. The opening few minutes saw Antepli Ejderha’s side shading possession, but with no chances at either end. But then, on 28 minutes, the ball dropped unkindly in the Anatolian side’s penalty area and was fired home. Ah nuts... but what’s this, the ref is signalling a foul?!? *phew*
                                              One has to make the most of let-offs, and Zeugma did precisely that. Referee Al Beback was involved in both of them, first awarding a free-kick in shooting range on 36 minutes that Merdaleiro Áláfinesse despatched and then going one further with a spot kick after 53 that Áláfinesse also converted.
                                              From then on there was only one team going to score as Zeugma got further and further on top, ultimately completely deserving their 2-0 win. Beback remains rather unpopular amongst the Unicorn fans, though.
                                              Zeugma’s advantage at the top of Division 6:53 is now five points as Unicorn stay second but only on goal difference. GGW are also unmoved, in seventh.

                                              Flying Dublin City WFC hosted struggling Secunda FC looking to keept heir 100% record going.
                                              There seemed little doubt about that as Dublin put in a scintillating first half performance, notching three times through Rita Cruz (12 minutes) and a brace by Veronica Kåmark (31 and 36). Making this more impressive is that Secunda are not a bad side despite their position in the bottom half of the table, and were competing strongly in general play.
                                              Mortal Joe’s charges kept the pressure up after the break... for five minutes. That was as long as it took for Nancy Tyrell to head a fourth. At that point Dublin took their collective foot off the gas, which was a liberty too far against Secunda who scored a consolation on 65 minutes. Both an irrelevance, the outcome was never in doubt, and a shame as it was the first goal The Dubs have conceded in the league this season.
                                              That ever so minor blot aside, Dublin remain imperious in Division 6:56, seven points clear of second and eight ahead of third. Promotion is surely there for the taking...

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                                                What's that saying about being promoted just above the level of your own incompetence? The new Golden League season has been drawn and I've done a quick check as to where Lincolnshire Curly Coats stand in 2a. It's not great. There's a team with an 18-skill goalie.

                                                Adversity awaits, I've no money and still need a stop gap defensive 30yo.

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                                                  A quick run through of the Dragons teams:

                                                  Cardiff Dragons began their Division 1 in the Ultimate League season with a decent win. We are aiming to avoid relegation, anything else would not just be a bonus but frankly incredible. Progress in the cup over managerless Malaga has come at the cost of a substantial injury in each game.

                                                  Janik's round-ups mean there's not much need to update you on Drakaina, but two wins have propelled us from a relegation spot to top spot. Tough division, could still finish anywhere from 1st to 7th.

                                                  Following our win over Eriskay Expression, I'm going to note that is now 31 games unbeaten for Amwythig - 27 of them competitive. I'm going to get my bragging in when I can as our next game is Dandy Town away, which is both where I expect the sequence to end, and the location of our last defeat.

                                                  In the Chaos Cartel, Nguékhokh Ninkinànka are nicely placed for promotion to the top flight despite perennial financial difficulties. I still find it hard to get too excited about them.

                                                  Sans Culottes in the Xpert Zone have won their opening game. It's an extremely tough league, but we've got a good side, though better defensively than offensively. Next up are VA's Tiree Automatic, the most valuable side in the division, so the game should be a useful barometer.

                                                  In the Heineken, Sárkányok have had an extremely dull season of mid table mediocrity as we seek to rebuild in Division 5.

                                                  Suffragette City face a title decider game against Great Ouse Town, where anything other than a win for us will surely give them the title. They lead by 3, but it is effectively 4 points given their vastly better goal difference. We have two of our best team suspended, they are at full strength.

                                                  Zalec Zmaj have had a mediocre CR and are falling behind the strongest teams in MLX. In particular, we only have 3 decent midfielders and 3 decent defenders. I suspect relegation may follow.

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                                                    I had forgotten about the Change Report in MLX, so hadn't trained anyone and consequently the Malouins' form is lagging behind somewhat ahead of the new season.

                                                    The CR saw Oscar Gineste announce his impending retirement. A member of our starter squad, Gineste has played 283 games, including the unofficial play-offs (251 starts and 32 subs), and scored 44 goals. He finished the season with four goals in the three MLX Trophy games and is only 34, so it feels a bit premature.

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