Here we go then for the X11 Ladies League Season 51. And big changes have happened in the closed season, with the much needed clear out of most of the deadwood, which has seen the elimination of Division 7. It doesn’t feel like much of a loss, though it did mean the elimination of R1 byes for all but a handful of sides. These matchday 1 games were not the first matches of the season for the OTF sides therefore, but rather the opening league encounters.
From the moment that Velvet Android took over and relocated Viking South Utsira they have looked like a decent bet to get into the higher echelons of the leagues. However achieving that still takes some managing, many have taken over promising sides and mismanaged them to obscurity, so The Blood Eagles debut in the second tier following successive promotions was something to celebrate.
Their first opponents were established Division 1 outfit Spearwives of Ygritte, which sounds like it’s a Game of Thrones reference, or if it isn’t it ought to be. I wouldn’t know, I’ve never watched that particular show. Anyway, wherever their handle derives from, they would provide Viking with a proper trial by combat. That was something certain Blood Eagles, such as Manuças Fudida, have been waiting their whole careers for. Fudida wasn’t about the let the opportunity slip by, as she headed the opener on 21 minutes.
The visitors had the ball in the Utsira net almost immediately following, but Dick Tator wasn’t having it. He had no objections to their strike on 38 minutes however. That equaliser wasn’t really with the run of play, though, and the game was better represented after Heidi Hovland put the hosts back in front on 72 minutes.
And that was that. VSU being life in Division 1a with a win. Could it be the start of a third successive promotion winning campaign??
Season 51 brings us two Divisions with a pair of OTF teams in them, one of which is 4i. One of those sides is Coxy Ladies Wulpen, who opened their league campaign with a trip to Anfield to play Liverpool FCL.
The Waders sent out a strong starting XI and made headway on the back of it as they created the only two first half chances. However no goals were forthcoming, and then, approaching the hour, theWulpen Assisstant Manager took advantage of his free rein to sacrifice 33/14 midfielder Moreen Mahony for 19/6 sub Laetitia Roosens. As the crowd was absorbing this change, Liverpool had the ball in the net, but fortunately for Coxy Ladies it was disallowed. And then three minutes after that Zoe Leroy counteracted her benches folly by nobbling one of the hosts best players, forcing them into a similar change. Leroy got booked for that, but worth it!
The Waders took advantage of the re-levelled competition to strike the only goal of the game on 74 minutes, Ursula Madjarevic heading home after a corner. And that was that, apart from the Wulpen Assisstant giving boss Janik further kittens by taking off two more experienced players and replacing them with kids! More filters needed in the substitution strategy, I think.
The other 4i OTF side is of course Drakaina, who opened with a trip to Glasgow to take on Tartan Tawties FC.
For half-an-hour this looked like a challenging but potentially surmountable ask for Etienne’s girls. Yes, the Tawties had gone 1-0 up after 22, but the game was still pretty evenly balanced and getting something from the day didn’t appear to be passed The Dragons. That was still true following Florica Vulturescu’s 10-day injury on 29 minutes (this was distressing, but with Fionulla Mourne replacing Vulturescu don’t diminishing), but then the hope was snuffed out on 34 minutes when the first card shown of the game, to forward Sandrine Petit, was a straight red.
That was the first sending-off in the former Wulpen youth teamer’s career, so the chances are she will be back available in a few weeks time to take on her girlhood club. However she certainly sold her teammates down the river her as in her absence the Tawties added two more to leave Drakaina on the end of a harsh 3-0 final score.
How would Erbil take to the sixth tier following promotion last term? The first part of our answer to that would come against Watergate Bay Surfers.
This was certainly a good test for the credentials of Jdsx’s side as Bay had only missed out on promotion to Division 4 in last season’s play-offs. And the initial answer to how Erbil would settle was ‘just fine, thank you’ as Caroline Hinton and Sónia Curval had them two to the good after just 11 minutes. It was still 2-0 at the interval, with little sign of the excitement to come. However it was clear that Watergate were playing a full part in the match. If they pulled one back quickly it was game on. They scored within three minutes of the restart.
Now it was the hosts turn to run things, as they drew level on 56 minutes and then went ahead on 69. Having gone from 2-0 up to 3-2 down it would have been understandable if Erbil heads had dropped but no, they kept going and levelled themselves when Mellissa James’ 78th minute effort from distance nestled in the corner. Sandra Brundin laid that on, as she had Curval’s goal, so it was a surprise when Erbil’s assistant gave Brundin the hook two minutes later. However this would prove an inspired substitution as just four minutes into the game it was Brundin’s replacement, Leslie Levein, who was chopped down in the box to give Saga Isgren the chance to put her side ahead.
Now heads did drop, and they were Surfer ones. The effort was not just lack for a second come-back but also from defensive duties as first Harmony Lister found the target from range (88) and then James got her second with a header (91).
And that, finally, was that. Erbil had won their first Division 5:16 game 6-3 away at last season’s runners-up. As markers laid down go, that is a pretty formidable one!
Sockford Emollient were also looking to make a statement after promotion as they travelled to Gajas Sporting.
Just like the game above, this one was settled by goals in the last ten minutes. Prior to those strikes The Gatorsharks had been the better side, creating a number of chances and not giving any up. But it was still 0-0 with 85 minutes on the clock. The stage was set for a hero, and Sockford had just the woman in former Man City player Toni Duggan, who was Foxy265’s main closed season signing. Duggan got her head to Maci Conrad’s cross, the header bulleting into the net. Conrad wasn’t done as she set up another two minutes later, teeing the ball up nicely for Lotta Ericson to fire in from range.
That settled the issue as Framleyshire took possession of its first there Division 5:20 points.
The first OTF derby of the season took place on the opening day when Solent Sirens and Kanjeng Ratu Kidul WFC clashed at Mayfield Park in Division 5:21.
The sides had arrived at the game from very different directions, The Sirens after promotion from Division 6:42 via the play-offs and The Sea Spirits after a rather painful few months in Division 4k. Kanjeng were looking to move on the from that quickly, and had a chance within seconds when a foul in a dangerous position allowed Leila Azeite to line up a direct shot, but her radar was well off.
The rest of the opening half passed off without incident, with the next chance coming on 53 minutes. That was also for the visitors, but Jolanda Dennen’s header was high above the goal. Tia Farisy’s lob attempt on 68 minutes was also over, though rather closer, but what was needed was an effort actually on target. That finally arrived for SeanoftheShed’s side on 73 minutes when Azeite swung the ball over and Diksha Dalmiya threw herself at it to head home.
Dalmiya’s ‘reward’ for showing her teammates the way was to be subbed two minutes later, Rahma Ikmal coming on in her place. Ikmal’s only contribution to the game was to pick up a yellow card for brutal play after her 90th minute foul on Angela Cruchaga left the home player limping.
That was the last significant action as The Sea Spirits claimed a useful win. As for Andrew7610’s Sirens, they will hope for better returns (and at least a shot) in future games.
Code:
Division 1a Viking South Utsira 2 - 1 Spearwives of Ygritte Fudida 21' Macedos 38' H.Hovland 72' Division 4i Liverpool FCL 0 - 1 Coxy Ladies Wulpen Madjarevic 74' Tartan Tawties FC 3 - 0 Drakaina Walker 22' Berenger 59', 79' Petit (sent off) 34' Division 5:16 Watergate Bay Surfers 3 - 6 Erbil Klinkenberg 48' Hinton 8' Sterkx 56' Curval 11' de Borger 69' James 78', 91' Isgren (pen) 84' Lister 88' Division 5:20 Gajas Sporting 0 - 2 Sockford Emollient Duggan 85' Ericson 87' Division 5:21 Solent Sirens 0 - 1 Kanjeng Ratu Kidul WFC Diksha Dalmiya 73' Division 5:28 Orangeries 0 - 0 Menywod Maeshafn Division 5:31 Târnãveni 1 - 1 Csiki Girls Silva 61' Smet 48' Division 6:33 LNWR Locomotive 0 - 0 Stoke City Ladies XI Division 6:36 Arsenal LFC 3 - 0 Ullapool Northern Star Krona 1' Buendía 39' Ibrah (O.G.) 68' Division 6:39 Gidlow Stars Ladies 3 - 0 Invisible Ladies Ivy 65' Judd 86' Bocchetti 90' Alvington (missed pen) 49' Division 6:40 Brasil Ninjas FC 0 - 3 Witches of Chiswick Mercier 36' Mormont 49' Altstrand 60' Division 6:53 Chuchas United 0 - 3 Zeugma Dostluk Spor Fetele 47' Áláfinesse (pen) 65' Escobar 72' Division 6:56 The World Is Yours 0 - 2 Dublin City WFC Cruz 15' Dunganstown 60'
Their first opponents were established Division 1 outfit Spearwives of Ygritte, which sounds like it’s a Game of Thrones reference, or if it isn’t it ought to be. I wouldn’t know, I’ve never watched that particular show. Anyway, wherever their handle derives from, they would provide Viking with a proper trial by combat. That was something certain Blood Eagles, such as Manuças Fudida, have been waiting their whole careers for. Fudida wasn’t about the let the opportunity slip by, as she headed the opener on 21 minutes.
The visitors had the ball in the Utsira net almost immediately following, but Dick Tator wasn’t having it. He had no objections to their strike on 38 minutes however. That equaliser wasn’t really with the run of play, though, and the game was better represented after Heidi Hovland put the hosts back in front on 72 minutes.
And that was that. VSU being life in Division 1a with a win. Could it be the start of a third successive promotion winning campaign??
Season 51 brings us two Divisions with a pair of OTF teams in them, one of which is 4i. One of those sides is Coxy Ladies Wulpen, who opened their league campaign with a trip to Anfield to play Liverpool FCL.
The Waders sent out a strong starting XI and made headway on the back of it as they created the only two first half chances. However no goals were forthcoming, and then, approaching the hour, theWulpen Assisstant Manager took advantage of his free rein to sacrifice 33/14 midfielder Moreen Mahony for 19/6 sub Laetitia Roosens. As the crowd was absorbing this change, Liverpool had the ball in the net, but fortunately for Coxy Ladies it was disallowed. And then three minutes after that Zoe Leroy counteracted her benches folly by nobbling one of the hosts best players, forcing them into a similar change. Leroy got booked for that, but worth it!
The Waders took advantage of the re-levelled competition to strike the only goal of the game on 74 minutes, Ursula Madjarevic heading home after a corner. And that was that, apart from the Wulpen Assisstant giving boss Janik further kittens by taking off two more experienced players and replacing them with kids! More filters needed in the substitution strategy, I think.
The other 4i OTF side is of course Drakaina, who opened with a trip to Glasgow to take on Tartan Tawties FC.
For half-an-hour this looked like a challenging but potentially surmountable ask for Etienne’s girls. Yes, the Tawties had gone 1-0 up after 22, but the game was still pretty evenly balanced and getting something from the day didn’t appear to be passed The Dragons. That was still true following Florica Vulturescu’s 10-day injury on 29 minutes (this was distressing, but with Fionulla Mourne replacing Vulturescu don’t diminishing), but then the hope was snuffed out on 34 minutes when the first card shown of the game, to forward Sandrine Petit, was a straight red.
That was the first sending-off in the former Wulpen youth teamer’s career, so the chances are she will be back available in a few weeks time to take on her girlhood club. However she certainly sold her teammates down the river her as in her absence the Tawties added two more to leave Drakaina on the end of a harsh 3-0 final score.
How would Erbil take to the sixth tier following promotion last term? The first part of our answer to that would come against Watergate Bay Surfers.
This was certainly a good test for the credentials of Jdsx’s side as Bay had only missed out on promotion to Division 4 in last season’s play-offs. And the initial answer to how Erbil would settle was ‘just fine, thank you’ as Caroline Hinton and Sónia Curval had them two to the good after just 11 minutes. It was still 2-0 at the interval, with little sign of the excitement to come. However it was clear that Watergate were playing a full part in the match. If they pulled one back quickly it was game on. They scored within three minutes of the restart.
Now it was the hosts turn to run things, as they drew level on 56 minutes and then went ahead on 69. Having gone from 2-0 up to 3-2 down it would have been understandable if Erbil heads had dropped but no, they kept going and levelled themselves when Mellissa James’ 78th minute effort from distance nestled in the corner. Sandra Brundin laid that on, as she had Curval’s goal, so it was a surprise when Erbil’s assistant gave Brundin the hook two minutes later. However this would prove an inspired substitution as just four minutes into the game it was Brundin’s replacement, Leslie Levein, who was chopped down in the box to give Saga Isgren the chance to put her side ahead.
Now heads did drop, and they were Surfer ones. The effort was not just lack for a second come-back but also from defensive duties as first Harmony Lister found the target from range (88) and then James got her second with a header (91).
And that, finally, was that. Erbil had won their first Division 5:16 game 6-3 away at last season’s runners-up. As markers laid down go, that is a pretty formidable one!
Sockford Emollient were also looking to make a statement after promotion as they travelled to Gajas Sporting.
Just like the game above, this one was settled by goals in the last ten minutes. Prior to those strikes The Gatorsharks had been the better side, creating a number of chances and not giving any up. But it was still 0-0 with 85 minutes on the clock. The stage was set for a hero, and Sockford had just the woman in former Man City player Toni Duggan, who was Foxy265’s main closed season signing. Duggan got her head to Maci Conrad’s cross, the header bulleting into the net. Conrad wasn’t done as she set up another two minutes later, teeing the ball up nicely for Lotta Ericson to fire in from range.
That settled the issue as Framleyshire took possession of its first there Division 5:20 points.
The first OTF derby of the season took place on the opening day when Solent Sirens and Kanjeng Ratu Kidul WFC clashed at Mayfield Park in Division 5:21.
The sides had arrived at the game from very different directions, The Sirens after promotion from Division 6:42 via the play-offs and The Sea Spirits after a rather painful few months in Division 4k. Kanjeng were looking to move on the from that quickly, and had a chance within seconds when a foul in a dangerous position allowed Leila Azeite to line up a direct shot, but her radar was well off.
The rest of the opening half passed off without incident, with the next chance coming on 53 minutes. That was also for the visitors, but Jolanda Dennen’s header was high above the goal. Tia Farisy’s lob attempt on 68 minutes was also over, though rather closer, but what was needed was an effort actually on target. That finally arrived for SeanoftheShed’s side on 73 minutes when Azeite swung the ball over and Diksha Dalmiya threw herself at it to head home.
Dalmiya’s ‘reward’ for showing her teammates the way was to be subbed two minutes later, Rahma Ikmal coming on in her place. Ikmal’s only contribution to the game was to pick up a yellow card for brutal play after her 90th minute foul on Angela Cruchaga left the home player limping.
That was the last significant action as The Sea Spirits claimed a useful win. As for Andrew7610’s Sirens, they will hope for better returns (and at least a shot) in future games.
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