A-League Newswires (Brenecia Domestic Football)

by **Brenecia** » Sat Mar 21, 2020 3:43 am

A-LEAGUE CYCLE 75 PREVIEW

League Run: 13th
Stadium: Russet Street (16,000)
Nickname: the Cavaliers
Manager: Sapphire Bullard
Captain: Larissa Canales
Top Scorer: Brooke Commons (3)
Likely Starting XI: (4-2-3-1) 1 - Texidor (26); 6 - Docherty (26), 22 - Faulkner (29), 13 - Connell (33), 3 - Graham (28); 4 - Miller (25), 7 - Canales (31, c); 19 - Commons (21), 15 - Crane (22), 16 - Novkovic (30); 10 - Bright (26)
In: Lukas Bright (Southside Wanderers, 2.5m), Andrya Novkovic (Crisisbless United, 2m), Leander Moran (Rozelle United, 250k), Pau Texidor (1923 Esca, free)
Promoted: Julia Clemence (GK, 19)
Out: Kinsella Morant (Saint Alexander, 1m), Leonidas Barrett (Mytos-Turin, free), Stefan Blake (Foretham Coven, free)
Retired: Casey Brown (GK, 37), Hercules Stafford (CB, 37))

BACKGROUND
An unpleasant and grey sort of place, Chafford is an industrial powerhouse that belies its relatively small size; as heavy industry retracts, it retains a foothold in the small city, but the locals remain nervous. It is in places such as these that football clubs come into their own; Chafford, the club, retains the absolute devotion of pretty much everyone in the city, and has remained relevant enough to keep childrens' eyes from straying to glamorous Union in nearby North Hall. It has rarely thrived, but generally maintained a professional standard in the top half of the national pyramid. They're the poor relation of nearby Scaffield, and hate them with a seething passion.

SUMMARY
How in God's name do you survive with a goal every three games? Chafford's 'feat', if it can be called that, is surely unprecedented, or close enough to. Three goals in the last 15 games. And yet they survived, by the skin of their teeth, a 1-0 win (of course) over Southern Star enough on a frantic final day. Manager Sapphire Bullard stays, but there's unsurprisingly (and thankfully) been movement in the window to bolster the goal threat, hapless striker Kinsella Morant busted back down to the second tier with the energetic Lukas Bright shanghaied to replace him, Andrya Novkovic offering the guile that was badly missing last season, while fringe (more realistically, former) Audioslavia international Pau Texidor steps up as the replacement to club stalwart Casey Brown. Say what you will about Chafford, that defence remains an imposing prospect, with Colwyn Faulkner particularly dominant, while Crane is actually developing into a half-decent playmaker if she can learn not to overcomplicate things, and Brooke Commons is end product away from providing danger. And she was still their top scorer last season. With three. Chafford look better this season than last, in that you might not want to stab your eyes out watching them.

PREDICTION - 13th.

League Run: 11th
Stadium: The Shieldwall (15,000)
Nickname: the Stalwarts
Manager: Lyn Crowley
Captain: Niall Rathburn
Top Scorer: Niall Rathburn (10)
Likely Starting XI: (5-3-2) 1 - Bruin (30); 17 - Weston (26), 5 - Pearce (27), 2 - Huesch (30), 13 - Farham (29), 3 - Townsend (26); 21 - Urionaguena (32), 8 - Chernych (27), 15 - Kelley (28); 10 - Rathburn (30, c), 16 - Vachimitsu (31)
In: Cole Bruin (Brigham, 1m), Laurentzi Urionaguena (AC Izotz Zubia, 500k), Kalevi Halena (FC Yassaca, free), Maxence Steward (Lodger Juniors, free)
Promoted: Arran Costly (GK, 20), Oran Drummoyne (RWB, 20), Rain Gillis (CM, 19), Tony Huxley (CB, 18)
Out: Alexandra Markgraf (Sabrefell Moths, 4m), May Quinn (Lotus Park, 3m), Robert Thornton (Rozelle Alliance, free), Lois Combeford (Kingstown Athletic, free), Tomas Spencer (Chrysler Town, free), Morgan Slavicka (Maltesa Rokishima, free)
Retired: Maura Powell (ST, 36), Ingrid Trudgeon (GK, 36)

BACKGROUND
Originally a tiny fishing town on Brenecia's south coast, Finbar has been swollen by the influx of Buyanese asylum seekers over the years, and is now a fairly respectable port. The progress of the Stalwarts, its only professional club, has been similarly abrupt, and they've been bankrolled to the top with ambitions to stay there. They've been unapologetically direct and route-one throughout, and there's a marked contrast between the lovely boutique stadium and the carefully maintained swamp in its centre. The consortium backing them bought important land before prices exploded; they believe there's still plenty of scope to grow.

SUMMARY
There, nothing to worry about, was there? The Stalwarts may not exactly have been goal machines, despite an early flurry that briefly convinced the world that maybe it'd been sleeping on Niall Rathburn this whole time (it hadn't), but they did stay up quite comfortably, twelve full points above danger. Their reward is the circling of vultures overhead; star goalkeeper Alex Markgraf picked up by the Moths after just a single year on these shores, a significant profit overall for the Stalwarts, and playmaker May Quinn departs for a Lotus Park side trying to overturn its recent slide. But they did reinforce to make up for it. Fringe Patriot Cole Bruin, in particular, is a steal at 1m - a proven Goldleague goalkeeper, though the wage bill is said to be hefty. And Urionaguena may be on the downswing, but he played a role in a dominant Zozi side for most of his career. Keep an eye on Halena, too, who might just play a larger part in this season than some suspect. The Stalwarts play a disciplined low block and aim to shut opponents out with a back five - or three, if you prefer, but the wingbacks are relatively conservative. There are few real standout stars left, but the sum is greater than its parts.

PREDICTION - 12th.

League Run: 14th
Stadium: Forharrow (21,000)
Nickname: the Jacks
Manager: Hecate Charing
Captain: Elsa Janosa
Top Scorer: Helena Murrough (7)
Likely Starting XI: (4-4-2) 1 - Brighton (26); 17 - Janosa (28, c), 21 - Rondeau (26), 6 - Foster (30), 3 - Sheen (25); 19 - Storrev (25), 14 - Lyston (28), 8 - Cooke (25), 16 - Harrington (28); 9 - Murrough (27), 10 - Kijanskas (25)
In: Jess Kijanskas (Southern Star, 2m), Ward Cooke (Coppersmith, 2m), Swain Caldridge (returned from loan)
Promoted: Neil Metcalf (CM, 19), Elaine Sutton (LM, 20), Martin Thurrock (RB, 19), Irvine Welles (GK, 18)
Out: Finn Townsend (North Hall, 4m), Alexis Martyn (AFC Swanbridge, 1.5m), Brenton Chilcott (AFC Swanbridge, free), Tomas Ebanks (Stourhead, free), Dai Saraband (Gallant Cross, free), Joshua Farrer (CF Outineau, free)
Retired: Curtis Renningbridge (GK, 37)

BACKGROUND
Representing the unofficial 'migrant quarter' of the vibrant, cosmopolitan city of Marque, Orient relish their hard-bitten, boot-strapping image, and the defensive, hard-to-beat image of their club. They are, essentially, a symbol of assimilation. They've spent almost all of their history as an established professional club across the top two tiers. Unsurprisingly, they clash with Marque on a geographical, stylistic and philosophical basis.

SUMMARY
Orient stayed up by the skin of their teeth, but in deeply satisfying fashion; a 2-1 win over rivals Marque on the final day, before edging Alliance 1-0 in the playoff. There's been a productive reshuffle of the side, with more goals in the side as squandered striker Jess Kijanskas finally gets her chance to move out of the shadows, but Ward Cooke is a pale replacement for Brenecia international Finn Townsend. More goals at both ends is great news for the neutrals, but maybe not Orient's survival. There's a few good talents here, though. Brighton's a sharp shot-stopper, Elsa Janosa somehow manages to give off a commanding aura from rightback, Storrev and Harrington rain down a bombardment of crosses and Harris Lyston, well, can take care of himself better than most expected from the fancy lad from Kingsgrove. The Jacks may have more of a threat, but don't expect Hecate Charing to exactly open up. Particularly with a vastly, vastly inferior defensive midfielder practically picked off the street. Survival will continue to be a victory.

PREDICTION - 15th.

League Run: 5th
Stadium: The Aspire (40,000)
Nickname: the Northerners
Manager: Russ Shorten
Captain: Vincent Verbeck
Top Scorer: Harvey Joyce (8)
Likely Starting XI: (4-2-3-1) 1 - Pardinho (27); 2 - Weaver (27), 4 - Blackwood (32), 22 - Grayndler (29), 3 - Redwood (28); 10 - Verbeck (29, c), 6 - Townsend (24); 7 - Speaker (21), 14 - Joyce (32), 11 - Mellin (28); 13 - Makai (26)
In: Adrian Makai (CA Paulinthal, 5m), Finn Townsend (Francisca Orient, 4m), Markus Mellin (FK Torpedo Pawlograd, 3.5m), Crispin Donagh (Falkner United, 1.5m)
Promoted: Gaheris Archer (AM, 20), Sander Connolly (CM, 20), Meadow Foreman (RM, 20), Cara Keegan (CB, 19)
Out: Ceridwen Fletcher (Holdenberg, 8m), Tamara Fowler (Kingsgrove, 7m), Selena Ninetails (Rozelle United, 1.5m), Lucius Card (Brasta FC, free), Bronwyn Taylor (Maltesa Rokishima, free)
Retired: Jancis Adrian (GK, 37), Portia Flahavan (AM, 35), Petro Valles (CM, 36, CEN)

BACKGROUND
Founded in the image of Muscular Christianity, Hall has always had a rather Puritan tint to it; formed by a well-meaning church group to help rehabilitate the corrupted youth of the area. The ghosts of this can be seen in their focus on physicality and discipline; the Northerners play fair, unlike cheating, superficially similar and nearby Union. North Hall the club will always claim to be the true club of North Hall the city, but nobody believes them. They've still enjoyed significant success over the years, always in the shadow of Union, outside the three glorious years their rivals spent in the wilderness.

SUMMARY
Close, but not quite there for Hall. Story of the club, really. They scored less than a goal a game and conceded fewer than one in two, so they weren't exactly many peoples' idea of a good time out. But they got the job done, and came close to squeezing Union out of the CL picture. Not quite, though. Work in the off-season has been extensive, with the belated completion of the long-delayed new stadium (a beauty, though), and fueled by the departures of their excellent wingers, Fletcher and Fowler. Fletcher openly wanted a move, to try and secure her place with the Patriots; Fowler was wrested away bloodily by the Royals, and 7m looks like a generous price for her. They've spent it fast. Adrian Makai should offer the goals that dried up for Turati, big but ultimately limited, Mellin is a curious and versatile winger or forward with a thunderous left boot, Townsend is the talk of the town as a bustling holding midfielder and Donagh isn't going to make a league start this season. So that's the state with Hall, a pretty boring, functional, high-class outfit. Pardinho's a sharp goalkeeper with shades of brilliance, ably defended by a back line for whom rightback Erica Weaver is the star despite a shortage of forward ambition. Vincent Verbeck's box-to-box running leaves an imprint on every match he's in, while Harvey Joyce is the best player in the league on his day. He hasn't had enough of his days over the past couple years. Russ Shorten's promised more goals and more thrills this season, but nobody's fooled; he'd take a 1-0 over a 5-4 any day.

PREDICTION - 5th.

League Run: Champions
Stadium: The New Road (24,000)
Nickname: the Stallions
Manager: Tana Colbright
Captain: Russ Linvoy
Top Scorer: Andre Naulo (16)
Likely Starting XI: (4-3-3) 12 - Eduun (31); 2 - Shepherd (21), 5 - Mathers (26), 6 - Linvoy (31), 18 - Watermark (21); 21 - Deal (21), 8 - Redweald (30), 10 - Drake (31); 13 - Lockston (26), 9 - Naulo (27), 11 - Rourke (26)
In: Caithe Shepherd (Twin Saints, 4m), Monika Rourke (AFC Westpike, 3m), Sherry Lockston (Old Boys Club, 3m)
Promoted: Crystal Earnshaw (CM, 20), Sheena Megson (RW, 20), Rurik Shea (LB, 19)
Out: Dani Carlin (Savojars Vinge Virkaja, 3m), Siobhan Bonner (Rosbank Town, 2m), Petr Isaev (Mytenar Reclamation, free), Lindsay Warner (Brisara FC, free), Damian Fletch (Burgess FC, free), Christian Kearnan (Bakermouth, free)

BACKGROUND
Formerly 'North Rathia', reflecting where they hail from; specifically, the north is mining territory, the more verdant and poorer south is farmland. The north likes to mock the south for its poverty, in a 'tallest pygmy in the village' kind of way, though both resent the big cities. The Stallions' history is starker than Star's; they were little use prior to their rebrand, but have been a constant presence at the top since. Based out of the northern crossroads of Ironstone, which is, appropriately, the centre of the mining trade east of the Hall.

SUMMARY
In the Stallions' bizarre history as a club, nothing quite sums them up so much as the greatest season in their history ending on twenty-one arrests, a reserve side getting obliterated 8-0 by Union on the final day, Deimne Watermark throwing up twice on the pitch... well, that's over with now, and Tana Colbright has arm-twisted a frugal board into securing their position as a serious contender. Petr Isaev's departure was unplanned, the veteran defender and captain moving back to Mytanija. Younger, fresher and more enterprising, Caithe Shepherd will have to step up fast. Up front, Lockston and Rourke both return to the A-League after relegation, in Lockston's case abroad and in Rourke's case after missing much of last season through injury. Each represents something of a gamble, but betwen Lockston's finesse and Rourke's improvisational flair, that's two more serious weapons to have. And the core is resoundingly solid, too; Redweald, Mathers and Linvoy are all proven Brenecia internationals, backed by a redoubtable veteran goalkeeper in Eduun. Watermark may not have a head for drink, but he's an increasingly confident defender who is ever so rarely beaten, while box-to-box man Cheney Deal adds necessary industry to an experienced midfield unit spearheaded by steady playmaker Drake. Up front, Andre Naulo has managed to add to his undoubted goalscoring gifts with an increased ability to support other phases of play, defend from the front and act as an out ball with his back to goal. Don't mistake this, though; first and foremost he's a thrilling player with his front to goal. Colbright's industrious and concussive side relies on overpowering its opponents, carving out spaces for its more devious operatives to thrive, and there's more than enough goal threat arrayed across the side to trouble any opponent. Expect great things.

PREDICTION - 4th.

by **Brenecia** » Sat Mar 21, 2020 3:43 am

League Run: 4th
Stadium: Redemption Park (50,000)
Nickname: Union
Manager: Dani Pendragon
Captain: Brun Carrack
Top Scorer: Vega Zeale-Riddick (19)
Likely Starting XI: (4-2-3-1) 1 - Farrell (27); 2 - Lonergan (24), 5 - Chaumancer (26), 6 - Horgan (30, c), 3 - Tambor (26); 8 - Robshaw (24), 4 - Capodanno (28); 21 - Garrard (28), 15 - Apelles (22), 26 - Pace (21); 9 - Zeale-Riddick (30)
In: Vincent Robshaw (Unioneers, 16m), Reeve Sheehan (AFC Swanbridge, 2.5m), Glenn Murnane (Rozelle United, 500k), Sorcha Lonergan (returned from loan)
Promoted: Alexandra Firth (LB, 20), Rhea Henderson (CB, 20), Gwynyth Hexham (AM, 20), Beckett Keeley (ST, 20), Arden Millar (GK, 20), Tricia Pace (LAM, 21)
Out: Triss Roscommon (Cornellians, 7m), Cormag Chester (Olympia Borograd, 4m), Dorian Bullock (Maal Angels, 3m), Erika Orston (1964 Briarcliff, free), Chris Fortune (Crater, free), Caomhan Tiller (Gallant Cross, loan)
Retired: Erika Blanton (GK, 37, SLL), Kiliko Riazen (ST, 40, VIL), Rikharthur Valdemarsson (DM, 36, COS), Rowan Varghese (AM, 36, COS)

BACKGROUND
Union are the biggest show in town. Everyone knows it. You're either with Union or against them, because they've specialised in taking all the big prizes and not made many friends along the way. Owned and fuelled by a mining magnate and favoured by the working class across North Hall and its surroundings, Union buy great players and back it up with ruthless, disciplined defence, and unapologetic gamesmanship. Famously, they were stripped of their 66 title and relegated to the fourth tier when they were found guilty of match-fixing, but they've recovered from that humiliation with suspicious pace. Still, even the hardest-hearted Brenecian has to admit that they do wonders for the UICA coefficient. Union's fiercest rival is Kingsgrove, their opposites in almost every way, but they hate bougie local North Hall as well.

SUMMARY
The Union behemoth trundles on. So what if it nearly failed to reach the top four? However, they'll be going without Erin Camden, who felt she needed a new challenge. Surprising some, that wound up being the challenge to get Cornellians to fulfil their undoubted potential - she poached promising leftback Roscommon on her way out to spark a bit of controversy. And in a window where she really was the main marquee name shopping around, Union wound up promoting from within. Step forward, Dani Pendragon, aiming to make the same smooth transition from playing to coaching to management that Camden herself hurdled so well. And she can't say the board hasn't backed her, splashing big on Vincent Robshaw, one of the most coveted prospects worldwide. He's a brilliant all-rounder and complement to Viola Capodanno; between them, the double pivot are ludicrously overqualified for the lower tier of A-League opposition. Murnane and Sheehan are backups, serviceable but unlikely to see much action. It says a lot that Union can spring over two million on a backup defensive midfielder. So. Cass Farrell is among the world's premier shot-stoppers, protected ably by hard-bitten internationals in the back line - a brute in Horgan, an intelligent calming force in Chaumancer, enterprising fullbacks in Lonergan and Tambor. The aforementioned double pivot dominates games and stops all flow behind them. Calindra Apelles is a genuine rising star in the world game, a brilliant and energetic playmaker only growing in confidence who might even have caught the eye of the few clubs better than Union out there, with Garrard bruising down the right and aptly-named Pace, fresh off cutting her teeth at the feeder club in Kirston, a lightweight but direct presence on the left. Vega Zeale-Riddick might never have entirely proved herself against the strongest opposition, but given an opening, she'll score. It makes her worth the full diva treatment she demands. And of course the bench is layered with quality as well, with probably at this stage the strongest youth development in the country underpinning it all. Union are still Union, even under new management. They'll battle anyone and claw their way up the league through bitter attritional football backed by excellent quality throughout the squad.

PREDICTION - Champions.

League Run: 9th
Stadium: Sandwash (26,000)
Nickname: the Kingfishers
Manager: Chandra Nalaar
Captain: Simen Haukland
Top Scorer: Graham Petrie (11)
Likely Starting XI: (4-3-3) 20 - Ghillis (27); 2 - Caulder (23), 4 - Ramsay (28), 6 - Haukland (31, c), 22 - Novac (29); 21 - Muuren (25), 23 - Ramirez (28), 8 - Padmore (30); 10 - Coghlan (28), 9 - Petrie (26), 13 - Kvaal (27)
In: Kerr Ramirez (Rushmore United, 4m), Alexander Caulder (Port Sebastian, 2m), Brii Muuren (Harbor, 1.5m)
Promoted: Eve Kindred (CM, 19), Carlton Seward (RB, 20), Murtagh Speed (CB, 19)
Out: Ambrose Karigomu (Pearlham SC, 2m), Grigor Todorov (Mytenar Reclamation, free), Randall Donachie (Maltesa Rokishima, free), Bridie Gryforth (Busukama Force, free), Wynne Alberwerth (Fishermen's Club, free), Beck Clayborn (Bombarralense, free)

BACKGROUND
Arguably the smallest of Westpike's three major sides, but undeniably the most successful; Pikemouth have inexplicably but consistently punched above their weight over the years, success begetting more success, careful investment and custodianship the key. The three-way struggle for dominance in Westpike is one of the more vicious at times, but the Fisherkings can console themselves with being by a distance the most successful. For all the flowery name, the club's identity is built on the Brenecian values of hard work and team play; not for them the flamboyant mainland-loving Westpike.

SUMMARY
A pretty dour and disappointing league season was salvaged by Grigor Todorov's penalty proving enough to beat Falkner United in a dour and disappointing Cup final. But that won't last forever; the pressure's on for Chandra Nalaar. That proved Todorov's last action for the club, one of many Mytenars returning home to support its struggling national league, but other news has been positive. Karigomu was a club hero, but he was also old, well past his best; strapping Schottic lad Caulder should knock a few heads about, but knows he needs to work on his attacking play. Muuren and Ramirez are similarly workmanlike, practical players to bolster the midfield. More than ever, this is a workmanlike, practical side. And that suits former referee Nalaar perfectly, a manager always happiest with a dogged 1-0, happy to trust a rearguard locked shut by the redoubtable duo of Ramsay and Haukland. Ghillis won his place over veteran Hoffmann; he might have an error in him, he might not be the best in the air, but he saves more than he gives away. Thorvald Padmore is the most likely link between the forward line and midfield, but do they even need one? The Fisherkings are happiest attacking on the break, letting the sheer burning pace of Coghlan, Petrie and Kvaal do the job for them. The wingers know a trick or two, and Petrie's a threat from anywhere. So yeah, don't expect fireworks, but the potential is there to improve. And there is, of course, the effect of the new stadium to consider...

PREDICTION - 6th.

League Run: Champions (B-League)
Stadium: Rosary Stadium (28,000)
Nickname: the Black Swans
Manager: Julia Penzance
Captain: Paula Bartram
Top Scorer: Keogh Bolivar (18)
Likely Starting XI: (4-4-2) 1 - Spires (27); 2 - Tyrone (29), 5 - Devon (28), 18 - Bartram (34, c), 19 - Richmond (24); 7 - Riflegreen (29), 4 - Renta (34), 8 - Nikolaidis (33), 21 - Bonner (24); 9 - Monaro (30), 14 - Finnan (26)
In: Siobhan Bonner (Northern Stallions, 2m), Dashiell Finnan (Scaffield, 1.5m), Lukas Tyrone (Westpike United, 1m), Athanasios Nikolaidis (Coret Hawks, free), Harper Casey (Zeppelin Foundation, free)
Out: Justine Brunskill (AFC Swanbridge, 750k), Ambrosia Chance (Bombarralense, free), Leod Stanton (Qet, free), Chevy Gosling (Saint Alexander, free)
Retired: Sheila Connell (CM, 36)

BACKGROUND
A large town in Rozelle's shadow, on the other side of Lake Liberator - you can get to the capital through a short trip on the ferry. But Rosbank has its own sense of pride, and the Black Swans, named for the notoriously aggressive seabirds that lurk the lake and menace tourists, have had a fair record bouncing between the top two divisions over the years. They have a proud record of youth development, and traditionally play attractive, attacking football. The club tradition, in essence, is to go down fighting, and they feel that sets them apart from the Scaffields and Franciscas of the country.

SUMMARY
The Black Swans almost ran out of steam late in the season, and a surefire title victory became a close-run thing by the end. Nevertheless, they got over the line, and look like they might have enough about them to avoid their usual yo-yo fate. Unfortunately, they'll be doing it without Sheila Connell, the B-League's Golden Ball winner last season; the former Rozelle player figured she was cooked. Her replacement is not exactly like for like, but Nikolaidis brings a wealth of Premiership experience combined with muscle, grit and graft, as well as being a cut above in terms of technique. Lukas Tyrone is a fairly routine signing, but Siobhan Bonner could be inspired - squeezed out of the Stallions, perhaps carrying a little more timber than a winger ought, but on her day the winger can change games and players of that quality don't come on trees for clubs like Rosbank. Finnan will need to step up into a goal threat immediately, but he's shown flashes in his cameos off the bench for Scaffield, too many to be allowed to rot there another year. Overall, they've strengthened well. The issue is that the defence looks... ordinary, no names that particularly stand out. That extends to goalkeeper Spires, but not to Zadok Renta, the hard-bitten veteran shielding them all. Riflegreen is a more reliable, orthodox, standard winger than Bonner. He tracks back, he hits crosses. A big man like Monaro eats them up, and has goal-scoring experience at this level. Expect Julia Penzance to rely on direct tactics a lot more this season than last, no longer having Connell or the space for her to operate, but still carrying plenty of threat across the side. Besides, the further the ball is away from that porous defence, the less it can be tested…

PREDICTION - 14th.

League Run: 2nd
Stadium: Rosary Stadium (38,000)
Nickname: the Saints
Manager: Derdriu Wright
Captain: Pia Levaani
Top Scorer: Ivo Romanov (13)
Likely Starting XI: (4-3-3) 12 - Drummond (34); 17 - Rusch (28), 5 - Given (25), 6 - Dybvik (26), 19 - Levaani (28); 14 - Falcon (26), 21 - Viablaine (32), 10 - Perrodien (23); 7 - Romanov (31), 13 - Mueller (26), 11 - Staunton (28)
In: Júlia Mueller (Cloudsdale Flyers, 10m), Marisha Staunton (Crisisbless, 5m)
Promoted: Avielle Foxborough (RW, 20), Ophelia Haywood (LB, 19), Rhombus Lucas (CB, 20), Ombre Pinnock (CM, 19), Dearbhla Smith (GK, 20)
Out: Tiferet Ashbrown (Lublova Reds, 3m), Ward Blackburn (Clayquot City, free), Christian Saunders (Anchors FC, free), Joscelyn Parrett (Border FC, free), Jasper Morant (Brasta FC, free)
Retired: Alora Heher (CM, 35, COS), Hamaad Siddique (LB, 35, EFL)

BACKGROUND
A large, successful powerhouse, if not quite the juggernaut of the Big Two. Rozelle's support base is a match for Kingsgrove's, and along with United they've managed to pretty much partition the entire capital between the three of them. They have much of the big-money flash of Union with none of the scandal, much of the style of Kingsgrove without the smugness; the Rozelle Way is just to win, and win well, with good players. A look at their trophy cabinet confirms that they've managed to achieve this with admirable consistency.

SUMMARY
Second at practically every milestone of the season; they ultimately overtook Kingsgrove, but fell behind the Stallions. A good season, a missed opportunity. Already, they've pushed out the boat to go that one step further. Landing Julia Mueller has to go down as a major coup, one of the most sought-after properties of the window, a jet-heeled finisher whose change of pace lets her gash defences time after time. Marisha Staunton replaces Tiferet Ashbrown; similar players, both high-class pure southpaw wingers, Staunton a touch younger, lighter, superior. And... that was it. But at 12 million net, that should be all that there needs to be. And there's trust in the personnel there, for good reason. Lenore Drummond is an exceptionally reliable goalkeeper, still holding off Tiarnan Cove's claim to the throne, with sturdy fullbacks in Rusch and Levaani who can do it at both ends of the pitch, Matheo Dybvik ensuring they'll never be exposed at the back. Viablaine might not quite be at her peak anymore, but the veteran defensive midfielder still does a job, mixing grace and fervour to snap into challenges and effortlessly clip beautiful passes over the top. Or she could slip it to Stemmon Perrodien, a rising star playmaker many clubs across the world have their eyes on, or the mercurial Sofia Falcon. Ivo Romanov is the final surviving link in the chain of the regular starting trident, but towering striker Jackie Crawford has serious teeth on the bench and genuine pedigree both at domestic and international levels. Wright's Saints smash at their opponents relentlessly, keeping up the pressure from all angles, but they'll never leave themselves exposed at the other end and know when to kill off the game. With Kingsgrove looking weak and Union in transition, keep a serious eye on the Saints.

PREDICTION - 2nd.

League Run: 10th
Stadium: Marble Grove (14,000)
Nickname: The Ironclads
Manager: Rowena Stamper
Captain: Conleth Ballantyne
Top Scorer: Isabelle Kruger (13)
Likely Starting XI: (4-2-3-1) 1 - Childress (34); 2 - Shields (29), 5 - Ballantyne (32, c), 21 - Vuurmeier (27), 20 - Crowborough (32); 6 - Ruffan (31), 15 - Lovelace (25); 7 - Rasmussen (30), 13 - Szymon (26), 16 - Berdesagar (30); 17 - Kruger (26)
In: Matt Ruffan (Holdenberg City, 1m), Jarret Openshaw (Proudcastle, 1m), Ketifa Cohen (Mount Salt Football Academy, free), Kenji Marsalis (Aswania-Syrenia JFC, free)
Promoted: Verity Sandler (LW, 21), Cromwell Thorne (CB, 19)
Out: Dashiell Finnan (Rosbank Town, 1.5m), Indiana Sloop (Lac Shore IFC, free), Cyrus Wickham (Christopher Park Rangers, free), Harris Foolscap (Yourougou FC, free), Naphtali Keegan (FK Pomorie, free), Gerhard Colvyn (Old Boys Club, free)

BACKGROUND
Just inland of the northeast coast, Scaffield has something of a reputation as a retirement home, though the club itself was founded from a shipworkers' factory; hence the nickname, the Ironclads, that they once produced. Success on the pitch has been limited over the years, but after turbulent periods of poor ownership, the worst appears to be behind them. Everyone needs someone to look down on, and so Scaffield regard the hicks of Chafford as beneath them.

SUMMARY
Scaffield just kind of coasted through last season, well clear of danger in 10th, not really doing a lot of anything. That represents excellence for a side that has the catchment to stay in the top flight but have traditionally underachieved. They've been understated in the window, apart from quietly-- how the hell is Matt Ruffan here? And for just a million pounds? 31 years old with 31 Brenecia caps, Ruffan is one of many players to bounce back from the Goldleague after a decent if unexciting spell. Openshaw for Finnan is just a downgrade in their backup strikers; fine-tuned powerhouse Isabelle Kruger is still the unquestioned spearhead of the team after continuing to build on her early successes. Most of the rest of the team is just... solid, really. There are a few stars - Bairn Vuurmeier has been yet another astute recent signing, and as a satyr centre-half is predictably a hulking brute. Rawboned Eve Lovelace is a clever operative between the lines with an enviable passing range, while Lukas Szymon is a serious threat, a rare dribbling player who can live with the league's bumpy pitches and expert at drilling short, reliable passes to feet. He's got a rapport with Kruger, and an eye for goal. Stamper was a rather more technical playmaker in her playing days, but she knows what this side does well, and that's what many Brenecian sides do well; keep focused, keep steady, keep strong, and be ready to smash home at set pieces and on the break. They'll stay up again.

PREDICTION - 11th.

League Run: 2nd (B-League)
Stadium: Whitegrove (11,000)
Nickname: the Mariners
Manager: Bastian Pearce
Captain: Catherine Lake
Top Scorer: Ruby Sutter (16)
Likely Starting XI: (4-3-3) 1 - Shay (27); 13 - Hakugi (23), 2 - Wakeford (25), 6 - Lake (30, c), 3 - McNeil (27); 4 - Lane (30), 8 - Forrest (30), 20 - Sommelier (28); 7 - Dajani (28), 9 - Sutter (25), 10 - Coleman (25)
In: Velvet Sommelier (Falkner United, 2m), Enaas Dajani (The Warriors, free), Connor McNeil (Blackfields, free)
Promoted: Marina Lowell (CB, 19), Loella Surrey (RB, 18)
Out: Connor Gordon (AFC Swanbridge, 750k), Barton Fisk (Otter Ferry, 600k), Vanessa Way (Bombarralense, free)
Retired: Clint Hampton (CB, 37), Werner Kirkegaard (RB, 35, AUD), Innocent Latemba (CM, 36, SEM)

BACKGROUND
River have had their moments over the years. The eponymous Snowden River runs through North Hall, with the sturdy little town of Snowden just to its southeast. It was once called Spearpoint, after the Nepharim general of that name who built the town as a staging post for her reign of terror over the north not long after the conquest of Brenecia, and only renamed to its current neutral title after the Liberation. The club is relatively young, and has fairly quickly established itself in the top two tiers with a reputation for finding cheap talent abroad. With a limited catchment - and the big city clubs looming just outside - recruitment has always been the key.

SUMMARY
Bastian Pearce's efficient, low-key Snowden side came out in second in an increasingly competitive B-League. They may have taken advantage of the inconsistency of the expected front-runners, but make no mistake; this side is competitive. Gone are the days of the humiliations endured by those at the bottom of the A-League, the sense that maybe there are only twelve good sides in the country. Now, that said, they do face an uphill struggle to survive. One of those struggling frontrunners, Falkner United, surrendered their mercurial playmaker Velvet Sommelier, while Enaas Dajani looks to replicate her undeniable promise at 18 a decade later. Neither is a sure thing, but you can't afford sure things at this level... not in the forward positions, anyway. Connor McNeil's as steady a defender as they come, and should slot right in. And that's rather more in the spirit of the side as a whole. Shay, the goalkeeper... is fine. Wakeford, Lake... fine. Lane and Forrest in midfield are perhaps the weak points, and River will be expecting to go more direct this season than last. Happily, up front, Ruby Sutter offers pace, power and prowess in equal measure, and if the bullets come, she'll stick them away. They'll be competitive. They'll be hoping that's enough.

PREDICTION - 16th.

League Run: 8th
Stadium: Southfield (16,000)
Nickname: the Lions
Manager: Orson Faulkner
Captain: Rico Hemnes
Top Scorer: Vauxhall Hayne (11)
Likely Starting XI: (4-4-2) 1 - Vanza-Jerat (33); 2 - Young (32), 5 - Yelto-Alfan (28), 6 - Krane (31, c), 24 - Creek (25); 15 - Ellis (29), 14 - Crowcliff (28), 8 - Caitiff (21), 11 - Callum (30); 7 - Hayne (31), 10 - Gray (20)
In: Dominic Ellis (Club Stein-los, 3.5m), Daisy Callum (Middletown City FC, 2.5m), Yelto-Alfan Ono (KF Koflir, free)
Promoted: Britt Kerry (RM, 19), Aidan Loxley (LM, 19), Maryam Roberts (ST, 19)
Out: Gareth Shotbolt (Parrhesia United, 1.25m), Bernard Gilson (Urrheddiao, 1m), Nailah Marrigan (Chalesm FC, free), Sarkozy Zsuska (Tentai Astros, free), Adamantine Xerxes (Sariirmakspor, free), Atha Troy (Falkner United, free)

BACKGROUND
Once 'South Rathia', the Lions bear the unfortunate distinction of having suffered the worst ever A-League season, attaining just three points over thirty miserable matches. The rebrand in its wake was as much about rebuilding a project that had turned stale, and more effectively rebasing in Lastcreek, the southern keystone of the sprawling Rathia region. On the pitch, a focus on doing a lot with a little has been replaced; they have the cash to throw, now. Their rivals are Northern Stallions (nee North Rathia), for fairly clear-cut reasons.

SUMMARY
This should be a big season for Star, and reason for Sara Fairhall to feel aggrieved. Last season, star signing Charlie Gray pulled up lame in preseason, and his absence was a cloud over the side throughout a goalshy season. They finished outside the IFCF places, Fairhall got the axe. Orson Faulkner, part of Brenecia's World Cup Hall of Fame, comes in from Artigliera - he now has the young star, eager to make an impact, and alongside it has experienced wingers in versatile Callum and irritable, arrogant but talented Ellis, players without time on their side. Oh, and Yelto-Alfan might be the best of all; free transfer or not, they're a seasoned World Cup veteran coming into their prime. The squad has talent, there's no mistaking it, though is perhaps light at fullback - no questions about Gareth Krane, though, an assured Nepharim centre-half who should prove a match for Yelto-Alfan. The two Esthers, Crowcliff and Caitiff, are both technicians at heart, but Crowcliff is a nippy and niggly professional fouler who is an expert in disrupting tempo, while the diminutive Caitiff moves brilliantly in tight spaces and has explosive talent at her fingertips. Hayne is the titan up front, but benefits from real, ruthless help. Gray needs to hit the ground running and make up for the lost year, exactly what he left Ulsa to avoid. Faulkner will have no excuses. Star need to build towards the top four, and IFCF qualification is the bare minimum.

PREDICTION - 7th.

League Run: 7th
Stadium: Shady Moorside (11,000)
Nickname: The Twins
Manager: Cristobal Madera
Captain: Lena Iserlohn
Top Scorer: Brunella Tafani (14)
Likely Starting XI: (4-1-4-1) 1 - Brando (31); 17 - Hartley (25), 5 - Bowerman (25), 6 - Mercer (28), 3 - Iserlohn (32, c); 13 - Monks (30); 23 - Nevay (27), 21 - Rouselle (23), 8 - Keane (26), 16 - Macbeth (32); 10 - Tafani (27)
In: Shara Hartley (AFC Westpike, 2.5m), Evander Bowerman (Guilder, 2m), Adelina Macbeth (Club Stein-los, 1.5m), Genevre Harker (W-D School Academy, free)
Promoted: Marnus Cubben (CB, 18), Lola Crossing (RM, 19)
Out: Caithe Shepherd (Northern Stallions, 4m), Markus Costello (Kingsgrove, 3m), Danielle Houston (Urukspor, free), Emily Christon (Targas City, free), Dirk Coppersmith (Exiles United, free), Elara Payne (Saint Alexander, free)

BACKGROUND
A fairly familiar tale in Brenecia's rapid growth, as two rival towns - Saints Wessex and Essex - wound up more or less blurring into one another, and with both clubs struggling to survive, merged into a single unit. 'Twin Saints' is now the name on the map, as well as of the surviving club, a small city on the western frontier. There's still friction between the two halves, but the club, among the most stable in the nation, has been a source of pride.

SUMMARY
Twin Saints, the adorable story of how two small, insignificant clubs can combine to become one decent-sized, relevant club, continue to chug to relevance. This season they're looking forward to tasting IFCF football for the first time, and you can't say they don't deserve it. They don't have stars, the Twins, they just marshal the most from limited resources. That said, this window hurt. Caithe Shepherd only made sixteen league starts last season, but that was enough for the Stallions to take the plunge on the young rightback; Shara Hartley is a strong replacement, but not her equal. Nor is Bowerman what Costello is; there's a reason Bowerman was at Guilder while Costello goes to Kingsgrove. Adelina Macbeth is the only clear effort to build rather than replace, and at 32, the former Brenecia international and son of BoF veteran James Macbeth does not have time on her side. She does, however, have two quick and elegant feet. The Twins do, however, still have a lot. Gioele Brando remains one of the premier goalkeepers in the league, last season having been genuinely spectacular, and it's a small miracle he wasn't whisked away as well. Lena Iserlohn's presence is no miracle - she's 32, and has already tasted the high lights with Sabrefell Athletic, but has come into her own as a steady, composed presence and model captain from leftback. David Monks kicks people, but will have to hold off the challenge of Tethys Ondrejko, who promises a more composed and complete skillset but at the moment remains, well, 20. Kirsty Nevay is the consistent and lively threat down the right, with a solid central midfield platform to cover her tail, while Brunella Tafani has settled into an athletic, energetic all-rounder to spearhead the team. Cristobal Madera knows how to get the most of this team, and it's not through overcomplicating things. Outside of his little training-ground 'ceremonies', anyway.

PREDICTION - 10th.

by **Brenecia** » Sun Mar 22, 2020 4:35 am

1. Gallant Cross
Manager: Medda Ringbill (BSE, 42)
(4-4-2) 1 - Keith Carney (30); 2 - Zsofika Sebeôk (25, PAS), 5 - Sutton Sullivan (27), 18 - Jake Lindsey (27, AUD), 3 - Holly Parker (21); 21 - Libra Sixfields (29), 4 - Karel Braithwaite (27), 11 - Yuria Taishizuno (24, HIN); 23 - Petros Mytaras (30), 16 - Valentijn Munson (31, QAD), 23 - Caomhan Tiller (22)
Notable Reserves: 20 - GK - Fraser Pearch (30); 6 - CB - Roland Glynn (33), 7 - RW - Cavalier Austen (31), 8 - CM - Sharon Galloweigh (28), 9 - ST - Rebecca Clive (35), 10 - LW - Rutger Caborn (29), 13 - LB - Van Van Vliet-Vaquera (34, AUD), 15 - RAM - Arran Berryman (27), 17 - RB - Dai Saraband (31)

Cross remain favourites to be promoted; they've been favourites for promotion for what feels like the past decade. This time, they've added Goldleague pedigree at the back in Carney and Lindsey and danger on the flanks in Mytaras and Tiller. Suffice to say there's more money here than anywhere else. But it hasn't been enough in the past...

2. Falkner United
Manager: Marissa Rathridge (55)
(4-3-3) 1 - Andrea Stack (22); 2 - Sherry Matthews (29), 22 - Atha Troy (32), 19 - Evan Kerraway (28), 3 - Dallas Riverton (32); 8 - Yvete (31, DAI), 4 - Hefina Riverstake (33), 11 - Simone Cantiff (21); 7 - April Matthews (24), 10 - Ophelia Love (24, CMT), 14 - Tore Na'Verii (26, COS)
Notable Reserves: 12 - GK - Warren Burchett (24); 5 - Orfeo Moretti (21, HIN), 6 - CB - Paul Crossman (34), 17 - ST - Jacqui Heath (26), 20 - RW - Heath Mayhew (33), 21 - CM - Ross Grandstaff (29), 26 - LB - Coe Staveley (25), 33 - ST - Zaza Cashmore (21)

Falkner are another side fresh off underachieving last season, and in fairness they have not acted so decisively as Cross They have a couple of promising talents, combined with a stalwart defence, but being overreliant on the counter won't work well in a league where they're the big guns. They need to get used to being the big guys.

3. Rozelle United
Manager: Jess Nawalka (44)
(4-3-3) 1 - Jarrod Dougan (32); 18 - Lewyn Colt (26), 13 - Selena Ninetails (27), 3 - Sharon Kerrigan (34), 11 - Ugochi Kekule (28, ABJ); 10 - Leyland Swift (30), 4 - Sarah Catscradle (30), 14 - Morant Crouch (25); 12 - Sheila Draper (27), 9 - Felix Gallan (28, SCT), 16 - Cuchulainn Reid (27)
Notable Reserves: 20 - GK - Soren Laverty (23); 3 - LB - Casey Fisken (21), 7 - RW - Gareth Malwick (22), 8 - LW - Alysia Keen (24), 15 - ST - Larissa Clarke (22), 17 - CB - Derek Corren (26), 23 - CM - Murray Evans (21)

United haven't been down here in an age, not since the Mareibat era. They have the quality at the back, to be certain, with Selena Ninetails a marquee figure at this level. The one thing they do worryingly lack is a real dedicated playmaker.

4. Rozelle Alliance
Manager: Kildare Harper (58)
(4-4-2) 1 - Kelly Chaplain (28); 13 - Mathieu Vance (24, CMT), 5 - Miona Rowlex (25, CMT), 22 - August Taylor (28), 3 - Erin Trafford (26); 7 - Antra Teika (30, COS), 15 - Celia Greene (23), 8 - Ara Klein (36, MRN, c), 16 - Linda Redthread (24); 18 - Manahaal Brimorii (21, MRN), 21 - Lorelei Komatsu (24, HIN)
Notable Reserves: 20 - GK - Markéta Banik (21, HIN); 2 - RB - Corren Wane (32), 4 - DM - Rhys Gilliam (29), 9 - ST - Robert Thornton (31)

Alliance are still a thrilling side, developing young bloods and putting their pace and energy to good use all across the pitch. Pace is the name of the game, bar the immovable tree-trunk of Ara Klein marshalling it all.

5. AFC Westpike
Manager: Esther Mallory (49, NPH)
(4-4-2) 12 - Aideen Carman (28, FPT); 2 - Claudia Marston (20), 18 - Karl Rodgers (32), 6 - Athelstan Cathrow (31, c), 3 - Johan Coalfield (23); 7 - Satordi Antoqana (21, AUD), 8 - Shrike Hagaz (29, SRS), 11 - Noor Na'Saan (27, COS), 16 - Lazuli Moore (21); 9 - Damon Anderson (32), 13 - Chris McKinsey (29, SCT)
Notable Reserves: 1 - GK - Malakai Rookwood (21); 4 - CM - Erin Scheuer (22), 5 - LB - Brunswick Green (34), 14 - CM - Sandy Rowling (20), 19 - CB - Morgan Rosencrantz (21), 22 - RM - Markus Chetwick (23)

Typical shagaboo Westpike pick up a Nepharim manager with a record of sporadic success to guide them back. They should have been too good to go down, but many of the players who made them so have left; still, Mallory's uncompromising playstyle has the meat to work here.

6. Proudcastle
Manager: Lyndon Carmichael (55)
(4-4-2) 12 - Lex Garratt (30); 2 - Ferry Noonan (33), 5 - Tana Kiln (21, YSP), 13 - Bedros Alsogaray (36, SRS), 3 - Myrrh Greenmoore (29); 7 - Marisa Kyon (28, HIN), 4 - Beau Eriksen (32), 23 - Hekara Steinacker (27, SRS), 11 - Ashe Kenlock (26); 9 - Stefan Harper (21), 21 - Rascal Kirrough (31)
Notable Reserves: 6 - CB - Esau Croll (34), 8 - CM - Avery Gunsway (31), 18 - CB - Justin Evatt (33)

Less hard at the back than hoped, but perhaps as a solution to an aging defence hiring some student is overkill. Improbably, they still have Marisa Kyon to draw an added dimension from their play; she's becoming something of a legend here.

7. Westpike United
Manager: Brady Heffernan (54)
(4-4-2) 1 - Chiron Bennett (26); 17 - Dean Becker (24), 22 - Cliff Sturrock (24), 6 - Eleanor Tristram (28), 19 - Catheline Selwyn (27); 7 - Ross Hunter (24), 14 - Camille Martinaux (24, CMT), 8 - Jacinth Mallory (29), 20 - Sharon Colpher (31); 15 - Tess Stocker (25), 10 - Brielle Grant (29)
Notable Reserves: 3 - LB - Sparrow Conifer (31), 9 - ST - Lance Roscoe (34), 16 - LM - Whistler Striguil (28)

Brielle Grant was the leading goalscorer in the league last season, but help elsewhere was limited. If the Pikemen keep fit and keep firing, and get the best out of talented strike partner Tess Stocker, they could be set for good things, but they're always just one injury from disaster.

8. AFC Swanbridge
Manager: Trouble Pearce (43)
(4-3-3) 1 - Filip Sabatka (32); 2 - Jasper Lowry (29), 13 - Nina Prowse (30), 6 - Brenton Chilcott (32), 3 - Casper Uprichard (25); 8 - Alexis Martyn (26), 4 - Justine Brunskill (26), 10 - Lufus Aurora (33, MBT); 7 - Connor Gordon (25), 21 - Anaara Baelli (21, MRN), 11 - Ruadri Broune (30)
Notable Reserves: 12 - GK - Rollo Varney (23); 5 - CB - Fergus Bennett (24), 9 - ST - Layla Chrome (28), 16 - LW - Coletta Antony (26), 20 - CM - Rick Magdalene (29), 36 - LB - Maurine Calley (21)

The Swans finally managed to crack down at the back, but was that at the cost of their goal threat? Matias Azedo, for all his good work, was cooked; the hope is that Anaara Baelli can develop into the demolisher they need again. A midfield overhaul may take time to bed in.

9. Saint Alexander
Manager: Kurtis Burgundy (50)
(4-2-3-1) 20 - Josiah Carmack (30); 16 - Chevy Gosling (32), 5 - Brett Halifax (33), 4 - Kris Weatherman (30), 3 - Belladonna Chilton (24); 4 - Gerald Carsley (29), 21 - Bard Oarsman (31); 13 - Elara Payne (29), 23 - Chardonnay Keating (25), 10 - Laura Berger (25); 9 - Kinsella Morant (26)
Notable Reserves: 1 - GK - Arran Gilstrap (32); 2 - RB - Curtis Hallissey (34), 7 - RW - Emery Hicks (27), 8 - CM - Brad Fabianski (31), 11 - ST - Cherith Torrell (33)

Saint Alexander only scored 20 league goals last season, and new man Morant managed precisely two for Chafford last season. And there's been cutbacks elsewhere. They've done their best to cobble together replacements, and should survive.

10. Guilder
Manager: Larissa Graves (46)
(4-2-3-1) 12 - Martyn Hickory (24); 2 - Virgil Bowen (32), 5 - Aran Morriston (31), 6 - Celeste Taunton (20), 22 - Koharu Soler (21, HIN); 15 - Orson Koss (32), 8 - Chris Bestler (32); 23 - Roland Sheen (23), 11 - Aoife Cresci (36), 13 - Dirk Fischer (23); 9 - Keogh Bolivar (35)
Notable Reserves: 1 - GK - Ardan Leonock (33); 3 - LB - Polly Collins (32), 16 - LAM - Beretta Lewisham (34)

A transition from the golden greybeards of the past to the promise of the likes of Taunton and Soler hasn't quite been smooth for Guilder, but if hulking Bolivar and clever Cresci can shake off the cobwebs again, the defence can handle the rest.

11. Rockridge Phoenix
Manager: Eloisa Motherford (46)
(4-2-3-1) 12 - Eidren Kalitas (25, SRS); 2 - Clement Nestor (26), 13 - Sjurd Eichhorn (33, SRS), 6 - Rolf Neill (28), 18 - Randolf Weil (23); 5 - Tremaine Barton (24), 8 - July Phelan (27); 7 - Mort Dixon (29), 10 - Martyn Ceath (28), 11 - Aife Redding (22); 14 - Iker Ariztondo (31, AUD)

Former A-League champions Rockridge (once Ridgeway) are back in the professional tiers where they belong. A true phoenix story. That said, it's a very difficult transition from third to second tier, and consolidating will be a victory.

12. Coppersmith
Manager: Lilith Cromwell (46)
(4-4-2) 12 - Darren March (24); 2 - Ashton Chaunce (27), 5 - Paul Mullen (27), 18 - Mark Chenery (30), 3 - Alastair Bramble (34); 22 - Ai Ueda (23, HIN), 4 - Claude Kittenhawk (23), 14 - Trefor Moraire (28), 13 - Mars Behan (22); 9 - Shane Guinness (30), 17 - Brad Ranford (30)
Notable Reserves: 1 - GK - Ignatius Crighton (30); 7 - RM - Aspen Waterwoods (30), 11 - LM - Morrigan Tearney (34), 13 - ST - Ross Gardyne (34)

Coppersmith stayed up relatively comfortably, but only due to the all-round terribleness of Mount Roland and Otter Ferry. Defence was the main concern, but that's not to say that Brad Ranford won't be a welcome addition up-front; March, meanwhile, has attracted top-flight eyes for his eye-catching saves.

13. Southrons-Errant
(4-4-2) 20 - Keith Sheridan (23); 2 - Rusty Warren (26), 22 - Jordan Gamble (32), 4 - Matt Fretsaw (28), 23 - Roscoe Grant (21); 15 - Emmet Harbaugh (30), 4 - Andreas Barton (26), 13 - Malachi Ashton (20), 11 - Sara Connell (22); 9 - Cedric Keane (24), 10 - Honey Lorcan (27)

Most of the focus has been on moneyed-up Phoenix, but a young and vibrant if uneven Southrons-Errant should have it in them to keep up. Eventually, the plan is to make it to the top and avenge themselves on Northern Union, who they're still convinced screwed them on the way up.

14. Stourhead
Manager: Irene Swain (65)
(4-4-2) 1 - Rickard Eagler (30); 2 - Angelina Willbank (31), 5 - Emet Steeden (29), 6 - Gerome Brandis (26), 19 - Sandra Mulder (24); 7 - Leigh Machliss (29), 23 - Kearney Foskett (30), 8 - Paul Llewelyn (25), 13 - Carsten Valley (24); 15 - Kendrick Northon (26), 9 - Tomas Ebanks (31)
Notable Reserves: 10 - ST - David Freshman (33), 22 - CB - Clara Newmarket (33)

The most important thing for Stourhead was to buy a new striker, which they did, even in the thoroughly bland figure of Ebanks. They're fighting to survive, but their general solidity will serve them. More like Dourhead.

15. Southside Wanderers
Manager: Aphrodite Whitesmith (46)
(4-2-3-1) 20 - Emerjade Mercer (30); 2 - Dirk Keltie (28), 22 - Mo Goddard (32, XAN), 18 - Rutger Tenth (31), 3 - Mary Westall (31); 6 - Valentin Hernandez (34, OSR), 15 - Rhyan Chisholm (26); 13 - Martyn Hickory (31), 16 - Matt Brougham (28), 21 - Destine Martin (24, CMT); 9 - Braddock Clucas (28)
Notable Reserves: 8 - CM - Ginger Retren (31), 11 - LAM - Diane Oxspring (33)

The Wanderers, the most forgettable side to occasionally make it to the top, are on a decidedly low ebb. Destine Martin is their shining creative talent, Hernandez their midfield controller... the rest are fairly crap.

16. Chrysler Town
Manager: Elaine Reilly (46)
(4-1-4-1) 1 - Russ Healey (26); 2 - Lydia Walker (25), 5 - Scott Marston (31), 19 - Tomas Spencer (33), 3 - Alyssa Kenneally (30); 4 - Adrian Long (30); 7 - Ellen Goldwash (23), 18 - Jack Cluskey (27), 8 - Connor Parris (23), 11 - Glenn Cameron (27); 10 - Kurt Hobilar (32)
Notable Reserves: 6 - CB - Bardolph Winslett (31), 16 - LM - Thea Dotton (33)

Town fired their way to safety last season, but can they really rely on the aging, stocky figure of Kurt Hobilar to fire home fifteen again? And at the back, they're pretty porous. And Jack Cluskey's still on professional terms somehow. Yeah, they're screwed.

by **Brenecia** » Mon Mar 23, 2020 9:43 pm

Uh-oh. Some memories are back in Ironstone. Northern Union are back and eager to recreate the 8-0 experience; fortunately, this time, they aren’t producing their U23s supplemented by a hungover Deimne Watermark. Watermark is, in fact, the best Stallion on the pitch, and sets up a debut goal for the jet-heeled Rourke; unfortunately, it’s the Stallions’ only goal of the game, while Vincent Robshaw’s hugely impressive debut gives Union the control to cruise to a win. VZR scores two, which isn’t five, but it’s still two, and enough. Snowden get smashed 3-0 by Kingsgrove, looking thoroughly out of their depth. Mostly because they are. Rook Shay does what he can in goal, and has a worryingly impressive performance given the scoreline; Enaas Dajani’s airswing from three metres denies her the chance at a debut consolation. Francisca edge the Marque derby, Steele Brighton having an inspired day in goal and Kijanskas nipping ahead of Whitfield to drive home the only strike, while the Twins go 2-0 up aganist Pikemouth, have Rouselle sent off in the 39th minute, get pegged back to 2-2 before a cruise missile from Adelina Macbeth snatches a win.

Julia Penzance’s verdict is straightforward, if underselling things a little. “We let them get at us” does not quite describe an 8-1 desecration on home soil, does it? Not adequately. Michael Ribbeck’s header, long shot that slipped past Spires, self-won penalty and tap-in grab him four of them; on this evidence he’ll adapt just fine to Brenecia. Chippy Nepharim veteran Nikolaidis gets the Black Swans’ goal to put them a mere 5-1 behind, and then a bitter hack on Parrish sees him pick up a second caution three minutes later. Orson Faulkner’s Star encounter teething problems against the Stallions, overawed in midfield and sluggish getting the ball forward, and the weakness of their fullbacks is exploited time and again by wingers Rourke and Lockston; 3-0’s the final score, and an overall terrible performance. Union and Rozelle go toe-to-toe, with wild card Tricia Pace opening the scoring after Robshaw caught onto her perfect undetected run, but a low cross from Staunton is ever so slightly deflected past Farrell by the dainty but lethal toe of Julia Mueller to level the scores.

Rozelle Archers, a Nepharim diaspora side in the D-League for the first time, take most of the headlines by taking Kingsgrove hard. Incredibly, it’s 2-2 by the hour mark, against an admittedly well-rested Royals; but Michael Ribbeck is on the bench, and Michael Ribbeck comes off the bench, and scores a brace to dash the fairytale. The sides freshly relegated from the top tier put up a fight, Fisken and Reid putting an end to an overly flat Francisca, but Westpike can’t quite outlast Rozelle after a heroic 90-minute performance. North Hall are almost toppled by Alliance as they fail to adapt to the graceful brutality of Manahaal Brimorii, but as goalkeeper Marketa Banik is Alliance’s hero in her first professional start, veteran shot-stopper Crispin Donagh is Hall’s in the shootout. Spearcove dumpster Alexavale 7-0 in one of those scorelines that’s big enough it just has to be mentioned, while Finbar and Chrysler go for each others’ throats in a 5-3 clusterfuck the Stalwarts win out through Rathburn’s hat-trick. Coppersmith beat down Chafford in clinical fashion, three goals from three shots all game. The defending league champions lose 2-1 to the defending Cup champions, while Park get edged out by Marque.

The promoted sides both get on the board. Rosbank’s 1-1 draw with Finbar is prosaic, though they’re aggrieved at what looked like the Stalwarts’ slightly soft penalty; Vachimitsu’s a clever veteran, he knows when to go to ground. River, meanwhile, triumph over Scaffield after a dull opening hour gives way to Velvet Sommelier’s strike outside the box cracking off the underside of the crossbar on its way past Childress, and the playmaker sets up Ruby Sutter for the clincher in injury time. Rozelle slaughter a disjointed Southern Star, with supposed stalwart centre-halves Krane and Yelto-Alfan left bickering with each other over responsibility for the third of Rozelle’s four goals. Any questions over whether Ivo Romanov still has it at 31 are answered as he slaughters Rufus Creek, ratcheting up a brace and an assist.

The Stallions have struggled with a tough early draw, but Tana Colbright calls for unity and confidence and her players answer. North Hall are shut down from head to tail, pressed out of the game altogether, with absolutely no release short of occasional optimistic high balls that don’t make it to Makai. Their resistance at the other end is brave, but it’s Russ Linvoy who crashes home a Drake corner to secure what’s always likely to be a decisive goal, before Andre Naulo somehow only now gets his first of the season in injury time, found masterfully by Deal and lofting a strike over the exposed Pardinho. Finbar and Kingsgrove play out a truly epic affair, as the resilience of the Stalwarts earns them many fans even if they can’t quite get over the line. Caspar Pardoner scores first and last, impressing on a rare start, while Laurentzi Urionaguena’s nous shines through for Finbar.

Southern Star and Marque literally just played out a scoreless draw in Lastcreek. There is, at least, a goal this time, through the exact kind of agriculture that Orson Faulkner would be proud of; teenager Aidan Loxley scoops out a high cross in the hammering rain, Vauxhall Hayne knocks it down and Charlie Gray toebashes it past Asdrubal Martin. Admittedly, Martin could probably have done something to have stopped the cross rather than, say, slipping in the mud, tripping on a divot and falling over. Coppersmith almost manage another strong result on home turf. Actually, a 1-0 defeat against Union is still a strong result, but a scuffed winner in the 92nd minute from Dakota Blaylock is still heartbreaking. Kingsgrove fall flat against the Twins, who bully them on a day of brutal windstorming. This wasn’t in the brochures of the foreign stars, was it? Well, maybe it was for Brunella Tafani, whose second-half brace makes the difference. Rosbank yet again only manage to scrape by lower-league opposition, but do at least scrape by, Rockridge’s nerve failing them in the shootout. Southside Wanderers beat North Hall in a surprisingly open game, with winger Destine Martin providing the finishing touch and the saves of Mercer and domineering of Valentin Hernandez giving them a chance in the first place.

Orient manage their first not 1-0 of the season. Today, they lose 2-0, Calindra Apelles slipping past Lyston, Cooke and Rondeau before knocking the ball gently between Brighton’s feet. Progress, of a sort. Southern Star have one of those ‘Football Manager’ days against Snowden River, utterly dominant, bombarding Rook Shay’s goal, but nothing goes through. Charlie Gray manages to shoot straight at him no fewer than three times before he’s hooked, and Vahn’s even less effective. Harriet Klein’s Lotus Park are off to a good start, but the Stallions become their glass ceiling. Inexperienced Foresters crash, hard. It is not a good day for goalkeeper Cairbre Dundalk, culpable for two goals… but as Harriet Klein says with a shrug, “they scored two others to our one, so I’m not gonna throw the lad under the bus.” And yet again the new Northern wingers look hugely impressive.

Pikemouth flare into action. Most of all, Simon Kvaal flares into action, a player who has moved in fits and starts since joining the Fisherkings… well, consider this a start. He threads an effortless assist for Coghlan on the opposite wing to open the scoring, before his pace and guile see him skin River defenders, leave them scattered in his wake… he has a good game, basically, and Sakae Hakugi looks badly out of her depth. Union shouldn’t have to benefit from the generosity of the referee to take down Scaffield, but were five minutes of injury time really necessary? But strong referees have buckled before to that baying home crowd, and Garrard nods home the winner at the 94th minute, nobody marking him at the far post. Cairbre Dundalk makes up for another rick against Rozelle with a truly brilliant save to deny Mueller minutes later, but the Saints still beat Lotus Park 2-1, while Kingsgrove are held by the Twins and the Stallions annihilate Rosbank 6-1.

No matter what happens, this season is already a success for Dani Pendragon. They did the most important thing; they went to Rozelle, they met with those bastards in purple, and they kicked their teeth in. Kingsgrove dominated the ball for the early period, but looked tentative and, worse, unable to meaningfully pass it through the midfield of Robshaw and Capodanno. Their wing play didn’t amount to much, either. They’re badly missing Lauren Cheney, someone who could have done more with an opportunity that Tamara Fowler sent into the side netting. And they had no answer to a beautiful cross from Tricia Pace that a masterful first touch from Zeale-Riddick traps, an excellent second cuts inside and sends Costello the wrong way before driving past Solaani. The Royals do, improbably, head into the break level; Apelles dwells on the ball and has it wrested away by Costello, then a swift passing move to Staunton, Kaba coming down the left, Corvey, then back to the rushing midfielder Claire Ruskin who curls a low strike across Farrell. Farrell’s forced into a couple good saves late in the first half, and honestly, the bell is a relief to Union. But it doesn’t last. Union come out with vigour and for vengeance in the second half, Robshaw tearing through a tentative Royals midfield to set up Garrard before scoring one himself, and Dakota Blaylock comes off the bench to remind people he’s still a serious presence in the side by scoring a crisp volley with his first touch. 4-1 the final score, bragging rights firmly in the north.

It’s Union’s to lose at the moment, a series of shocks lower down the table ensuring that their own comfortable 2-0 win in Lastcreek opens up a five-point gap already. Seven wins, no defeats, scoring over twice a game and conceding less than one in two. Nobody expects the Saints to concede against the Stalwarts, let alone for Rathburn’s goal to be enough to secure Finbar’s first win of the season, but it happens. The Stallions can only draw 2-2 with the Twins, and that’s still enough to take them to third after the Royals come unstuck in Chafford. The Cavaliers put three past Solaani, and are on track for a goal every game… that’s three times their goalscoring record last season. And new striker Lukas Bright already has more goals, scoring his second and third today, than the man he replaced managed all season.

Somehow, they’re outscoring Marque, who… just aren’t firing. Their vaunted attacking trident just isn’t working. And they even fall flat against Rosbank, who have been found out time and time again; the Privateers initially dominate play but can’t get the goals coming, before clinical strikes from Bonner and Nikolaidis show them how it’s done at the other end. Orient lose their sixth straight, though at least they do score against Hall. But that’s a Hall side with four goals in their past seven games - Adrian Makai looks a dreadful waste of money as things stand - knocking three past Brighton. Scaffield and River go down to tame 1-0 defeats; River have scored just twice, and badly misjudged their transfers on this evidence. Both those goals… came against Scaffield, in their only win.

Group B                                                      	NPH	BRE	NFX	LIS
1  Brinemouth           	NPH   6  3  1  2   8   4   4  10  	- 	0-1	2-0	2-0
2  Northern Stallions   	BRE   6  2  3  1   7   6   1   9 *   1-1 	- 	0-3	1-1 
3  Black Hawks NFX      	NFX   6  3  0  3   7   7   0   9 *   1-0	0-3 	- 	0-2  
4  AS Virtus 1904       	LIS   6  1  2  3   5  10  -5   5 	1-3	1-1	0-3 	-
Northern Stallions above Black Hawks NFX by goal difference

Group F                                                      	AFT	NPH	BRE	VLD
1  Wanda Island Wanderers   AFT   6  4  1  1  11   7   4  13 *	- 	1-0	1-0	4-2
2  Sabrefell Moths      	NPH   6  4  1  1  12   5   7  13 *   1-1 	- 	4-1	2-1
3  Rozelle              	BRE   6  2  0  4   8  10  -2   6 	3-1	1-2 	- 	3-1
4  AS Bezieres          	VLD   6  1  0  5   6  15  -9   3 	1-3	0-3	1-0 	-
Wanda Island Wanderers ahead of Sabrefell Moths by head to head results

Group H                                                      	APX	NPH	ZWZ	BRE
1  Oldem Knights        	APX   6  4  2  0   7   1   6  14  	- 	2-0	3-1	1-0
2  AFC Treason          	NPH   6  2  2  2   8   8   0   8 	0-1 	- 	3-3	2-1
3  Keppal Cosmos        	ZWZ   6  1  3  2   8  10  -2   6 	0-0	1-1 	- 	1-2
4  Kingsgrove           	BRE   6  1  1  4   4   8  -4   4 	0-0	0-2	1-2 	-

Despite the aberration of a 3-0 defeat on home soil against the Black Hawks, the Stallions emerge from their group. A group expected to be dominated by Brinemouth, Tana Colbright’s former club as a player, but the Stallions took four points from them including a heroic 1-0 win at the Brinemouth Eagles Club. Rozelle didn’t enjoy as much luck in Nephara, but proved enough of a handful on home soil to beat Bezieres to third place. They looked defensively fragile, but Julia Mueller looks a gun. Kingsgrove were disappointing, failing to win a game on home soil and largely just looking toothless despite generally dominating possession.

Group B                                                      	XAN	BRE	JUE	VIL
1  East End FC          	XAN   6  3  2  1   9   6   3  11  	- 	2-2	2-0	1-1
2  Marque               	BRE   6  3  1  2   7   5   2  10 	0-1 	- 	2-0	2-1  
3  AC Pomena            	JUE   6  2  1  3   6   9  -3   7 	2-3	1-0 	- 	1-0
4  Turoki Tide          	VIL   6  1  2  3   5   7  -2   5 	1-0	0-1	2-2 	-

Group K                                                      	BRE	NFX	VAL	MRN
1  North Hall           	BRE   6  4  1  1  10   5   5  13  	- 	1-1	2-1	2-1
2  University City      	NFX   6  2  2  2   5   7  -2   8 	0-2 	- 	1-0	0-2  
3  Juavi FC             	VAL   6  2  1  3   7   7   0   7 	2-1	1-2 	- 	2-0
4  Maal Dæmons          	MRN   6  1  2  3   5   8  -3   5 	0-2	1-1	1-1 	-

Both Marque and Hall have actually scored more goals in the groups than the league. The Privateers are left in the shadow of Xannerian newcomers East End, but still slot home three neat wins to come through in second; Hall top a tough group with hugely impressive home and away wins over Juavi and Maal.

   Group A                  	Pld  W  D  L  GF  GA  GD Pts 	BRE	EUR	NPH	BRN
1  Rosbank Town         	BRE   6  3  1  2   8   5   3  10 *	- 	0-0	0-1	0-1
2  Whitepill            	EUR   6  3  1  2   8   6   2  10 *   1-3 	- 	2-0	1-3
3  Leichhardt           	NPH   6  3  0  3   7   8  -1   9 	0-2	0-3 	- 	5-1
4  Dynamo Rogak         	BRN   6  2  0  4   7  11  -4   6 	2-3	0-1	0-1 	-
*  Rosbank Town ahead of Whitepill on head-to-head results

   Group G                  	Pld  W  D  L  GF  GA  GD Pts 	CBR	BRE	HIN	FID
1  Thor Jraxville       	CBR   6  4  0  2  14   7   7  12  	- 	1-2	2-0	3-0
2  Snowden River        	BRE   6  2  2  2   6   7  -1   8 	2-0 	- 	0-1	0-3
3  Tanukai Anurinanikai 	HIN   6  2  1  3   8   9  -1   7 *   1-2	1-1 	- 	4-0
4  Perobara Barat Rava  	FID   6  2  1  3  10  15  -5   7 *   2-6	1-1	4-1 	-
*  Tanukai Anurinanikai ahead of Perobara Barat Rava on head-to-head goal difference

Rosbank avenge Rozelle Alliance, beating Leichhardt in the Vale 2-0. Bizarrely, they don’t even manage to score at home, but they win all their away games to win their group. In an equally bizarre group, Snowden give leaders Thor their only two dropped results for their only two victories, and that’s enough to scrape through in second, a point above their peers.

Five goals against Proudcastle and Chrysler. Four against Westpike. Six unanswered in Swanbridge. Rozelle Alliance look unstoppable at the moment. Manahaal Brimorii, who wasn’t even really meant to return to the club for a second year, is currently on nine goals - over one a game! Westpike are also off to a bright start, that defeat to Alliance aside; they’re playing fast, direct and hard-bitten football, After that, it’s basically a scrum; Cross and Falkner slightly underachieving as always, Proudcastle making the most of a series of narrow victories with the centre-half partnership of Kiln and Alsogaray weirdly invincible against non-Alliance opponents, and Rockridge Phoenix seemingly making a bid for back-to-back promotions. Westpike United have disappointed, and Brady Heffernan’s job is supposedly under threat.

At the bottom, the haves are yet to fully separate from the have-nots. Swanbridge aren’t looking so robust, having conceded the most goals in the league, but they do have Anaara Baelli’s goals on their side. The moral seems to be ‘buy satyrs’. Coppersmith are saving their best performances for the cup, and Brad Ranford’s single goal is a little undershooting what they’d hoped from him, while for Saint Alexander it’s been all downhill since a spectacular 5-1 hammering of Southrons-Errant tricked people into thinking they were good. At least Kinsella Morant got a brace that game to equal her total from last season. Stourhead look tired at the back, clueless in midfield and toothless up front, not traditionally a good combination, while a Chrysler side that just seem unable to exert any sort of control are winless, already in deep trouble.

A-LEAGUE

Pos Team                    P  W  D  L For  Ag  +/- Pts
  1 Northern Union          8  7  1  0  18   3  +15  22
  2 Rozelle                 8  5  2  1  18   7  +11  17
  3 Northern Stallions      8  5  1  2  20   7  +13  16
  4 Kingsgrove              8  5  1  2  23  12  +11  16
  5 Pikemouth               8  4  2  2  14   8   +6  14
  6 Lotus Park              8  4  1  3  10   9   +1  13
  7 North Hall              8  4  1  3   7   8   -1  13
  8 Chafford                8  3  2  3   8   9   -1  11
  9 Twin Saints             8  2  4  2  10  10   +0  10
 10 Marque                  8  2  3  3   6   9   -3   9
 11 Southern Star           8  2  3  3   7  13   -6   9
 12 Rosbank Town            8  2  2  4   8  20  -12   8
 13 Finbar Stalwarts        8  1  3  4   9  14   -5   6
 14 Francisca Orient        8  2  0  6   3  11   -8   6
 15 Scaffield               8  1  1  6   6  15   -9   4
 16 Snowden River           8  1  1  6   2  14  -12   4

B-LEAGUE

Pos Team                     P  W  D  L For  Ag  +/- Pts
  1 Rozelle Alliance         8  6  2  0  28   8  +20  20
  2 AFC Westpike             8  6  0  2  19   8  +11  18
  3 Gallant Cross            8  5  1  2  13   7   +6  16
  4 Proudcastle              8  5  1  2  12   8   +4  16
  5 Rockridge Phoenix        8  4  3  1   9   4   +5  15
  6 Falkner United           8  4  3  1  13  10   +3  15
  7 Rozelle United           8  4  2  2  11   6   +5  14
  8 Southrons-Errant         8  3  2  3  12  18   -6  11
  9 Westpike United          8  2  3  3  10  13   -3   9
 10 Southside Wanderers      8  2  2  4   8  13   -5   8
 11 AFC Swanbridge           8  2  2  4  11  18   -7   8
 12 Guilder                  8  2  1  5   8  14   -6   7
 13 Coppersmith              8  1  3  4   5   9   -4   6
 14 Saint Alexander          8  1  2  5   9  13   -4   5
 15 Stourhead                8  1  2  5   8  17   -9   5
 16 Chrysler Town            8  0  3  5   6  16  -10   3

C-LEAGUE

Pos Team                    P  W  D  L For  Ag +/- Pts
  1 Fentonbridge            8  6  0  2  14   5  +9  18
  2 Spearcove Mariners      8  5  2  1  14   9  +5  17
  3 Mount Roland            8  4  4  0   7   2  +5  16
  4 Otter Ferry             8  4  2  2  16  11  +5  14
  5 Sharrow                 8  4  1  3  20  10 +10  13
  6 Randwick Town           8  4  1  3  12   8  +4  13
  7 Stonewash Town          8  4  1  3   7   6  +1  13
  8 Endeavour Brenecia      8  4  1  3  12  13  -1  13
  9 Shaleport Rangers       8  3  2  3  14  11  +3  11
 10 Knightstone FC          8  3  1  4  15  15  +0  10
 11 Silvershire Town        8  2  2  4   5  10  -5   8
 12 AFC Conomore            8  2  2  4  10  17  -7   8
 13 Townsend Raiders        8  2  1  5   7  13  -6   7
 14 AFC Lancet              8  2  1  5   9  18  -9   7
 15 Heathgrove              8  2  0  6   7  14  -7   6
 16 Razorback Hill          8  1  3  4   6  13  -7   6

D-LEAGUE

Pos Team                   P  W  D  L For  Ag  +/- Pts
  1 Marque Rovers          8  7  0  1  34   8  +26  21
  2 Falkner Crescent       8  6  2  0  21   6  +15  20
  3 Rushden                8  5  3  0  19  11   +8  18
  4 Suttonstrand FC        8  5  0  3  17  11   +6  15
  5 Alexavale FC           8  5  0  3  10   9   +1  15
  6 Rozelle Archers        8  4  2  2  19  15   +4  14
  7 Chafford Saracens      8  4  1  3  19  14   +5  13
  8 Platwood               8  4  0  4  10  10   +0  12
  9 Corder Town            8  3  3  2  11  15   -4  12
 10 Glendower River        8  3  2  3  10  10   +0  11
 11 Swayback               8  3  1  4   8  11   -3  10
 12 Northern Fist          8  2  2  4  12  21   -9   8
 13 Falkner Wanderers      8  1  2  5   5  13   -8   5
 14 Fisher Kings           8  0  4  4   6  11   -5   4
 15 Sharpe End             8  1  0  7   4  25  -21   3
 16 Crest                  8  0  0  8  10  25  -15   0

by **Brenecia** » Wed Mar 25, 2020 5:07 pm

Oh, Kingsgrove. You and that glass jaw. For the first half, the Royals dance freely around the pitch, successions of short passes bypassing Star players at will. Three times they walk the ball into the net, and Dominic Ellis’ rather beautiful leap to head home at the far post appears nothing more than a consolation, a distraction. Until Star score three more unanswered in the second half. Deserve it, too. And Union loyalist Orson Faulkner will love that, and does love that, and says in the press conference that “the issue with Kingsgrove is they’re never so secure as they think they are.” The Privateers are left incandescent after dragging out a scoreless draw against Finbar Stalwarts in a downpour, getting kicked left, right and centre. ‘Dark arts’, and all that. Predictably, Marque manager Colm Beckwith is upset, more upset than he should be given that late in the game Polyak punched in a cross from countryman Csapo, and substitute Hazeldean practically set a long jump record diving to make a missed tackle well outside the box look like contact well inside.

Pikemouth’s draw is basically the bullet in Valhallan roulette. Even so, the Fisherkings produce a masterful defensive performance to shut down Zozi… and it still isn’t enough. Hawk bursts clear of Kerr Ramirez for just a moment, Authbjoernsson gets one clear chance and buries it between Ghillis’ feet. Coghlan hammers a late strike against the post to give them a scare, but Gentle Breeze smothers the other optimistic long strikes, and Petrie doesn’t get a sniff.

A fierce North Hall derby sees both sides go home aggrieved. Hilariously, Union fans go home bitching about refereeing decisions. Yeah. Union. The rest of the league finds immense schadenfreude in that. But they have a point; Markus Mellin fairly transparently trapped Joyce’s unwieldy pass with his arm before slamming it past Farrell for the opener, and a Tricia Pace would-be leveller was called off wrongfully for offside. But Vega Zeale-Riddick’s neat little flick over sluggish Blackwood gives her the room to drive the actual equaliser past Pardinho to keep Union’s unbeaten record alive. Finbar manage to turn on the fireworks as they blast through Snowden 3-0, Andrya Novkovic’s spectacular free kick gives Chafford a point in Rozelle while Brii Muuren single-handedly shoves Pikemouth to get a point against a spicy but flaky Star.

Northern Union rest almost all their players and only barely edge ahead of Saint Alexander, Caitriona Hamilton - apparently still being wheeled out every now and then - cracking in a beautiful corner for Rhea Henderson to bundle home her first senior goal. Arden Millar’s kept worryingly busy in his first senior start, his gloves warmed by Berger and Keating, though Kinsella Morant can only toil uselessly up front as she had for Chafford. Twin Saints also have to dig deep to beat Otter Ferry, the C-League side 1-0 up in the 80th minute before a second yellow for Erin Caldwell lead to the roof falling in, goals from Bruce and Crossing stealing victory. A generous draw helps Southside Wanderers become the only lower-league side remaining, Aphrodite Whitesmith’s beleagured side lead by Martin and Martyn. Hickory. Curious to use a first-choice lineup but they clean up Razorback Hill 3-1 with little trouble, a distraction from struggles elsewhere. Rozelle are outmuscled by Star in the marquee clash of the round, Charlie Gray’s opportunism sealing a deserved win late on, while Rosbank will be cursing the two sloppy defensive errors that let Pikemouth back into the game in the second half before Cail Coghlan’s cheeky chip over Gloucester sealed the turnaround.

Pikemouth throw a spanner in the works early on, Padmore smashing a shot off the outside post, Cail Coghlan reacting lightning-quick to slide in, hook out a leg and clumsily hack the ball past Breeze. Pegasi aren’t fast on their… hooves. Corann Ghillis proves his worth at the other end, but Pikemouth just seem worn down by the end, and when Valrauncion’s clever flick with the outside of his boot to nobody isn’t to nobody but is in fact to Laborious Hawk, arriving on the edge of the box with perfect timing and striking home with perfect, perfect form...

Cairbre Dundalk’s been under fire in the Lotus Park net. Harriet Klein’s stood by the 21-year old, despite a perfectly good and reliable Chris Byrnford on the bench, one of the best backup goalkeepers in the league. But the sturdy little ‘keeper, almost a futsal figure, has always been ready to repay Park. He does so today. Save after save after save, including a penalty given away by the normally meticulous Monroy, including a one-on-one save with his legs against Zeale-Riddick. Elyn Hennessey eventually scores because someone was bound to, but May Quinn’s piledriver leaves Farrell no chance and hands Union their third straight 1-1 draw. Kingsgrove dumpster Pikemouth 6-1, the kind of performance Meriadoc Griffiths’ wet dreams are made of, the kind of performance the very memory of which probably kept Catherine Bardsley from breaking under torture. And yeah, Michael Ribbeck’s maybe shaping up to be better than Lindauer was. Even if he’s the same but able to jump, that’s better. Rozelle and the Stallions go toe-to-toe, the Saints dominant in the first half, the Stallions stabilising after the interval and clawing it back in front of their own fans towards the end, while Southern Star press and probe all across the pitch until Hall break under it, Charlie Gray converting two of the three with a brisk, easy confidence.

The Rozelle derby, and with United out of the picture there no longer needs to be specification which. The Saints dominate the play early on, bayed on by a vicious home crowd, snapping into challenges and keeping Kingsgrove off-balance. But the handy thing about having players of quality is that sometimes a Claire Ruskin can just abruptly break past three men, feint Drummond into shifting the wrong way and stab a pinpoint finish past her other side. Ribbeck makes it 2-0 with a flying near-post header, Kendrick Given infuriatingly falling asleep at the decisive moment as Kaba swung in the cross. Derdriu Wright was apoplectic. Marisha Staunton’s thunderous strike proved too hot for Solaani to handle and squeezed in, but uncharacteristically sturdy defending spared the satyr goalkeeper’s blushes and saved Kingsgrove the points. Union break their draw streak by predictably slamming three past Spires to come back from behind in beating the Black Swans, Kalevi Halena rewards her first start up front for Finbar with the first goal in a vital win over Scaffield, while Southern Star annihilate Lotus Park 5-2 as Esther Caitiff rules the roost.

It’s been coming. Two goals against Kingsgrove. One against Pikemouth, then Rozelle in the Cup. Braces, again, against North Hall and Lotus Park. And with a near-post header, a scything half-volley that cuts across Spires and an easy tap-in from one of Spires’ few saves. Eleven goals in Charlie Gray’s past six games; more than Chafford, The Football Club, managed in thirty league games last season. But for Star, who ultimately demolish the Black Swans with seven strikes only for Orson Faulkner to grouse about the three at the other end, it’s the sign of a turnaround. It’s working. Rozelle tear Marque to shreds, without any goals at the other end; Romanov, who continues to refuse to bend to petty things like ‘time’, scores two of the five on his 32nd birthday, both basically identical cut-inside-and-shoot jobs. Hall shut out Kingsgrove in the capital with a heroic rearguard effort, and towering centre-half Blackwood heads home both goals of the game from second-half corners. The Stallions’ inconsistency continues as a series of butchered efforts costs them victory over River, and they’re lucky just to take a point when Dinii Eduun bats away a poor penalty from Lane. Chafford beat Francisca 3-2 in a weirdly pulsating if unapologetically direct encounter; Chafford draw even with, then surpass, their league tally from last year. Andrya Novkovic has proven a revelation, Lukas Bright simply a man who can finish chances while not slacking on the workload.

Time for a change. Fiery young striker Kitty Hazeldean makes her first start for Marque and twice latches onto errors from a complacent Royals’ defence, twice rounds Solaani, twice rolls home. Fowler and Marshall trade blows in the second half; it ends 3-1 Marque, and how have Kingsgrove lost almost half their games? How? And Rozelle drop points in Snowden River - it’s appropriately snowing, hard, hard enough that Derdriu Wright can be heard bellowing for the game to be abandoned every few minutes, and River cope with it well, Ruby Sutter continuing her recent run of form in front of goal. And Orient hold the Stallions in a downpour, and even Star’s recent run of good fortune melts away in the face of an unlikely Finbar onslaught, the Stalwarts just dominant in midfield, Daisy Callum’s piledriver of a free kick earning them a barely-deserved point. Union alone keep cantering, stretched for an hour by the Twins until goals from Pace and Robshaw take the points.

Union’s joy is short-lived. Brooke Commons charges down a lax clearance from Tambor before cutting it across for Crane, who waits a crucial moment before slipping in Lukas Bright behind, and the Chafford striker hammers the ball gleefully past Cass Farrell. Four minutes in. Chafford defend like heroes, not well enough to prevent a somewhat ropey penalty being won by Pace and converted by Zeale-Riddick, but enough to take a point. Like Union, Rozelle go behind early to Orient. Unlike Union, they put four goals past Steele Brighton before the half is done and just chill for the second, while the Stallions ease past Scaffield with goals from Deal and Naulo. Star look a renewed force in recent days, and despite two disallowed goals Esther Caitiff does, finally, set up Ellis for an injury-time winner over the stubborn Twins. That helps them overhaul Pikemouth, after they draw with Finbar - the Stalwarts’ seventh so far - with North Hall and Kingsgrove chalking up routine wins to consolidate their top seven slots.

Kingsgrove’s win comes at the expense of Lotus Park, in poor form and looking shorn of confidence. Harriet Klein has fucked with most aspects of the formation at this stage, but she probably didn’t have to throw Dustin Blake to the wolves to realise he wasn’t the answer at rightback. At least Emmeline Riverside scores in a rare start, enforced by an injury to Banshee Strider. But they, and Finbar and Chafford, occupy a little island of mediocrity from eighth through twelfth; Scaffield are first on the island of danger. They’re a point above Snowden, who shut down an uninspired Marque but have struggled for anything more, but that point puts them above Orient, in turn a point above Rosbank. None of them have been awful, apart from very specifically Rosbank’s defence, which is shambolic. Paula Bartram has been so, so, so, so, so, SO found out.

Four shots slammed past Kelly Chaplain like hammerblows into Rozelle Alliance’s season. The top two facing off, all Alliance had to do was win to open up a six point gap. Falkner had other ideas. Falkner stomped all over them. Yvete, Riverstake and Cantiff ran the show in midfield, Love drove home an early brace and Alliance looked all at sea. 4-0! At home! Troy stopped Alliance’s strike partnership doing anything of note and Stack saved everything outside the box Alliance threw at her, increasingly desperate haymakers from outside the box. 4-0! So the gap’s three points, and Cross only a point further behind. Westpike, Proudcastle and a Rockridge side who have only conceded nine goals are in the chase. Rozelle United, disappointingly, are not.

It’s still kind of a chaotic scrum at the bottom, but back-to-back away defeats of 7-1 to Rozelle Alliance and 6-0 to Gallant Cross have given a sickly look to Southside Wanderers. Mo Goddard was sent off in both games. Saint Alexander looked dead men walking, but three wins and a draw from their last four - most recently a 4-1 hammering of Guilder to draw level with them - have saved Kurtis Burgundy’s job and made some wonder if commanding midfielder Bard Oarsman could still hack it in the top flight. Stourhead aren’t looking too good, two points adrift of the playoff place; Chrysler, on just eight points, look worse. Still, too early to talk about foregone conclusions. No side looks genuinely dreadful.

A-LEAGUE

Pos Team                     P  W  D  L For  Ag  +/- Pts
  1 Northern Union          15 10  5  0  31   9  +22  35
  2 Rozelle                 15  8  5  2  37  17  +20  29
  3 Northern Stallions      15  8  5  2  28  11  +17  29
  4 Southern Star           15  7  5  3  32  26   +6  26
  5 Pikemouth               15  7  5  3  25  20   +5  26
  6 North Hall              15  8  2  5  16  14   +2  26
  7 Kingsgrove              15  8  1  6  38  25  +13  25
  8 Twin Saints             15  5  5  5  21  22   -1  20
  9 Marque                  15  4  6  5  12  18   -6  18
 10 Chafford                15  4  5  6  13  16   -3  17
 11 Finbar Stalwarts        15  3  7  5  17  20   -3  16
 12 Lotus Park              15  4  4  7  16  23   -7  16
 13 Scaffield               15  3  3  9  13  25  -12  12
 14 Snowden River           15  2  5  8   6  22  -16  11
 15 Francisca Orient        15  2  4  9  10  23  -13  10
 16 Rosbank Town            15  2  3 10  16  40  -24   9

B-LEAGUE

Pos Team                      P  W  D  L For  Ag  +/- Pts
  1 Rozelle Alliance         15 10  3  2  46  20  +26  33
  2 Falkner United           15  8  6  1  30  16  +14  30
  3 Gallant Cross            15  9  2  4  32  17  +15  29
  4 AFC Westpike             15  7  4  4  22  14   +8  25
  5 Proudcastle              15  7  4  4  17  14   +3  25
  6 Rockridge Phoenix        15  6  5  4  14   9   +5  23
  7 Southrons-Errant         15  6  4  5  22  26   -4  22
  8 Rozelle United           15  6  3  6  23  20   +3  21
  9 Westpike United          15  4  6  5  20  24   -4  18
 10 Coppersmith              15  4  5  6  16  18   -2  17
 11 AFC Swanbridge           15  5  2  8  19  31  -12  17
 12 Saint Alexander          15  4  4  7  20  20   +0  16
 13 Guilder                  15  4  4  7  18  24   -6  16
 14 Southside Wanderers      15  4  3  8  13  32  -19  15
 15 Stourhead                15  3  4  8  16  28  -12  13
 16 Chrysler Town            15  1  5  9  17  32  -15   8

C-LEAGUE

Pos Team                     P   W  D   L For  Ag  +/- Pts
  1 Sharrow                 15  11  1   3  40  16  +24  34
  2 Spearcove Mariners      15   9  4   2  28  16  +12  31
  3 Fentonbridge            15   8  4   3  22  12  +10  28
  4 Shaleport Rangers       15   8  3   4  28  19   +9  27
  5 Randwick Town           15   8  2   5  26  14  +12  26
  6 Mount Roland            15   7  5   3  14  10   +4  26
  7 Endeavour Brenecia      15   8  2   5  25  22   +3  26
  8 Otter Ferry             15   7  4   4  26  17   +9  25
  9 Knightstone FC          15   7  2   6  27  23   +4  23
 10 Stonewash Town          15   5  3   7  16  20   -4  18
 11 AFC Conomore            15   5  3   7  17  24   -7  18
 12 AFC Lancet              15   4  3   8  19  31  -12  15
 13 Razorback Hill          15   2  7   6  12  20   -8  13
 14 Townsend Raiders        15   3  1  11  10  31  -21  10
 15 Heathgrove              15   3  0  12  12  32  -20   9
 16 Silvershire Town        15   2  2  11  10  25  -15   8

D-LEAGUE

Pos Team                    P   W  D   L For  Ag  +/- Pts
  1 Marque Rovers          15  12  0   3  49  15  +34  36
  2 Falkner Crescent       15  10  5   0  31  10  +21  35
  3 Suttonstrand FC        15  10  1   4  28  16  +12  31
  4 Rushden                15   9  4   2  30  24   +6  31
  5 Alexavale FC           15   9  1   5  24  16   +8  28
  6 Platwood               15   8  2   5  22  15   +7  26
  7 Chafford Saracens      15   7  2   6  34  24  +10  23
  8 Rozelle Archers        15   5  7   3  30  26   +4  22
  9 Swayback               15   6  3   6  18  21   -3  21
 10 Fisher Kings           15   4  6   5  17  18   -1  18
 11 Corder Town            15   4  5   6  22  32  -10  17
 12 Glendower River        15   4  4   7  18  21   -3  16
 13 Northern Fist          15   2  5   8  15  36  -21  11
 14 Falkner Wanderers      15   2  4   9  13  26  -13  10
 15 Sharpe End             15   2  1  12   9  36  -27   7
 16 Crest                  15   0  2  13  13  37  -24   2

by **Brenecia** » Sun Mar 29, 2020 8:23 pm

Nine minutes in. Union against Stallions. Tricia Pace shimmers into space, gets found by Apelles, dips inside then outside of Caithe Shepherd before cutting across, Shepherd puts out a boot and immediately pulls back but it’s too late, Pace is hurling herself to the ground like she’s just been creamed by a truck, the whistle blows… and Pace gets a caution for deception. Nothing throws Union off their game like a call not going their way at home. “Sometimes strange things happen here,” Tana Colbright says after the match, airily. “I’m glad the referee’s nerve held. There should be more like her.” And when wingers Lockston and Rourke put Union in the hole by half-time, only a single strike from Apelles late on offering Union any hope. Zeale-Riddick should level it in a generous injury time, but Linvoy comes flying in to body-block the strike and hand Union their first defeat of the season. Banshee Strider returns from injury with a vengeance, the raw-boned striker smashing home a confident hat-trick against Rosbank in a 6-2 Lotus Park victory, a scrappy late equaliser for Snowden winger Kate Stepford gives River a point against Kingsgrove in what is becoming everyone’s least favourite place to travel, and Harris Lyston’s sizzling free kick is topped off by an opportunistic little stab in the guts from Jess Kijanskas to ensure Orient do the double over rivals Marque.

Many important results but few actual exciting games. None, really - Kingsgrove beating Rosbank has lots of goals but it feels kind of like one of those preseason friendlies where Brinemouth or whoever go visit some low-ranked country and globetrot through unopposed. Jackie Crawford comes off the bench to strike for the Saints against Union, for whom defeat is apparently habit-forming. Satyr or not, you can’t just let someone turn your centre-halves like that! And a beautiful, crisp, instinctive volley is the only goal - indeed, really the only moment of quality - in the Rathia derby, Ruby Bronze’s strike securing the Stallions’ win.

The Twins’ 3-0 win over Lotus Park exposes, perhaps, the reason that current Foresters manager Harriet Klein left the Twins despite an exemplary record. Park are missing Vaila Hamilton, and they suffer dearly for it, Adelina Macbeth allowed to run the show from the left wing, Dustin Blake petrified of her for 56 minutes before being put out of his misery and replaced by Lachlan Crowder on the wrong flank, who does little better. After the game, Sander Bergman, the Twins’ assistant manager, goes to shake Klein’s hand and mumbles something in her ear. Klein, who promoted Bergman to the place in the first place, chuckles, nods and slams her fist into his jaw. Snowden have drawn six straight, form that Bastian Pearce has admitted he’d take right down to the end of the season. But this was important. A higher-class Scaffield side looked vulnerable at home, and simply couldn’t break out of Snowden’s patterns of pressing, and eventually Enaas Dajani let instinct take over for a beautiful finish that reminded everyone, just for a moment, of the player she might have been. Childress, who had already made a brilliant if scrappy double save to deny Sutter earlier, didn’t have a chance.

When Rosbank went to buy Siobhan Bonner, they knew they were buying a very good player weighed down both metaphorically by being kind of temperamental and mercurial and literally by being kind of chunky. But when she produces matches like this… Twin Saints’ rightback, Shara Hartley, is even a good player. She doesn’t even play particularly badly. But Bonner just has a way of being where she isn’t, where nobody is, whips two crisp finishes by Brando and sets up Finnan and Nikolaidis to finish it in the second half. Kingsgrove have several such players, all vastly better and more consistent and better-renumerated than Bonner or indeed anyone on Rosbank’s side. So when they have a good day, they dismember Finbar 5-0. Kendall Childress, Scaffield’s ordinarily consistent goalkeeper, somehow lets a weak header from Helena Murrough squirrel through her hands and kness, slumps down face-first into the mud and stays where awhile; it gets Orient back into the match 73 minutes in, and just five minutes later a heavily deflected strike from Lyston leaves Childress with no chance, secures the points and pushes the Ironclads further towards the edge.

The Stallions’ faithful have barely taken their seats when Brian Bond comes flying out of nowhere from the precise triangulated position of Shepherd, Mathers and Deal to chest down and smash home the opening goal. Odds of Eastweald victory, already generous, crank up. Shots keep flying at Eduun. But they hold firm after that, Rourke slips open Naulo who slips home Rourke again, who fires. Hesterine Mercator reacts quickly, pushes it against the post… but it only bounces as far as Naulo, who converts.

Three fairly dire matches. Rozelle’s poor finishing let them down, with Kendrick Given’s finishing far better than any of the forwards; the burly centre-half comes in flying to flick home a header off Staunton’s pinpoint corner, giving the Saints a late equaliser. Marque grind out a scoreless draw with Crisisbless, each side indebted to the poor finishing of the other, while in a flurry of crosses and long balls, neither Hall nor Keppal can take the advantage.

Snowden and Rosbank both dig up narrow victories in characteristic fashion. The poor Banijans don’t know what hit them - that good old proper Brenecian snow-slurry. While Rosbank and Kings Park just go all-out at each other, and Nikolaidis, a cut above, guides them gently but firmly to victory.

More Sander Bergman news; the Twins’ assistant manager takes to the bench in full kit, the number 50 on his back. Why? Because he’s ‘only’ 45, still in decent shape, and a bizarre string of injuries has shorn the Twins of their backup and third-choice goalkeepers, Forde and Clevinger. So inevitably Gioele Brando goes out… optimistically, to try and cut off Brighton Mattheus on the edge of the box, what soon becomes outside the box, and ploughs through him. Red card. Bergman sighs and trots out, and with eight minutes to play and Finbar unapologetically just trying to bombard him with shots, makes two routine saves and one honestly fairly impressive one, sprawling to tip Mattheus’ strike around the post with enough velocity that he remains down for some time. The former Rosbank, Adjurgen and Rosbank again man said wryly post-match that he’d hoped he’d retired a one-club man on these shores. And that maybe the Black Swans were in need of his services as a player. No matter - his former club do beat Chafford later that day, showing rare defensive solidity. Zadok Renta’s been shifted back into the back line alongside Devon, the least bad centre-half they have, with Casey providing extra mobility alongside Nikolaidis - the inelegant reshuffle works.

Another day, another Bond goal… but by this point, the Stallions have five by minute fifty-five and are cruising. Colbright’s countrywoman, Theresa Riether, looks throughout the occasion like she’s just bit into a raw onion. And that’s before Eastweald’s ragged defence lets Cheney Deal walk through a maze of missed tackles to blast the fourth between Mercator’s calves.

Three disappointing defeats in the Cup to follow on from first-leg draws, though in fairness to Marque, few gave them a chance against Crisisbless. Rozelle let slip of the game in the second half, Hall are just dominated by the Cosmos.

Snowden command the first half with an assertiveness they’ve rarely managed in the league, Velvet Sommelier with a cultured showing in midfield. Avetisyan and Sunder get Kings Park back into the tie with early strikes, and the collapse looks on, but Rosbank recover through another inspired performance from Siobhan Bonner, even without the stocky winger actually getting on the scoresheet. By the end it looks cruisier than it was.

Mercifully for the Twins, while Forde remains injured and Brando is now suspended, a half-fit Gareth Clevinger rushes back between the posts. Against Kingsgrove. In Rozelle. The 21-year old acquits himself well, protecting an early lead won against the run of play by livewire Lele Rouselle, but could perhaps have done better with a sizzling strike from Parrish before Ruskin finishes things from the spot. Northern Stallions look tired and jaded against Rosbank, and their former winger Bonner is all too eager to punish them. And, yes, she does celebrate. Rosbank have cause to celebrate too, more than just this win; they’ve won their past six in all competitions, with three clean sheets for an increasingly confident Daniel Spires. River, in similarly good form, beat Pikemouth 3-2 - albeit the third is blatantly offside from Enaas Dajani as she glides onto a deflected pass from Lane and slots it home. How was it missed? But then, her shot really shouldn’t have snaked under Ghillis, either, so in a way it was deserved.

Scaffield are a different beast in the Cup, aren’t they? Faced with Snowden River, a six-pointer in the league, they attack without fear or pressure. Eve Lovelace thrashes home from outside the box, Isabelle Kruger rises fearlessly to nudge the trajectory of a Berdesagar cross just subtly away from Taylor’s reach, and even Matt Ruffan, who has cut a frankly depressing figure this season, seems to have his moxie back. Defending champions Pikemouth endure a difficult, disjointed evening in defeat to Finbar, young midfielder Cale Lane with a rare start and rarer goal to clinch it. Star overcome the Twins fairly easily, a game mostly played on the wings and Star decidedly better at it. Teenage winger Aidan Loxley scores just his second senior goal, before setting up Caitiff to shimmer past two defenders and shank a strike past Clevinger. Puzzlingly, Southside Wanderers hold out against Union, under immense pressure. Glenn Murnane doesn’t face a shot on target; former Stallions keeper Emerjade Mercer faces eleven. But through the excellent work of her defence, most are frustrated, impatient efforts from outside the box, with a single truly spectacular save with a sweep of her feet to deny Vega Zeale-Riddick one-on-one.

Union’s form has wavered of late, but they’ll never be beaten easily at the Redemption. Let alone by those purple bastards from the south. The Royals come visiting and they’re out for blood. A line drive from Fowler puts Farrell on notice, but she’s well beaten soon afterwards by another grass-cutter from Corvey. All the while, Kingsgrove dominate the ball, choking Union out of the match. Ribbeck and Penhallow finish it in the second half. The Saints eat up the gap to Union both in terms of points and goal difference by smashing eight unanswered goals past Daniel Spires, brutally scything down their recent good form, Mueller with a brace before being substituted off on a precaution, with Crawford coming on to also score a brace. Rosbank were appalling. Victories for Hall, Stallions, Pikemouth and Star keep them in the top seven, in that order, with the Twins and, some way down, Lotus Park also victorious. So, yes, Union were the only team in the top nine not to win.

Mathematically, of course, that means the bottom seven all lose. The Twins are five points from IFCF but also eight points ahead of Park, and Park themselves are probably safe, now with six points buffer. Chafford’s goals have dried up, and bizarrely so have Marque’s. Colm Beckwith is facing the Sword of Damocles after Park put five past Scanlan Pritchard, and none of it’s working. Kress, Bristoll and Levein are old, Evans doesn’t have what it takes, Hazeldean is callow, Polyak is just bad… it’s rough. Rosbank and Snowden are also just above the drop, though River have scored just fourteen times, while Finbar despite so many respectable performances have just three wins. Orient, pulped 4-0 by Pikemouth, are in serious trouble. At the very bottom, Scaffield hold out Star for eighty-five minutes… and then Charlie Gray finds the target from just outside the box, putting an end to a recent barren run and extending the Ironclads’ losing streak to six. It looks seriously grim for them at the moment, with five points to make up in eight games just to reach the playoff.

Another assured fight between Snowden and Scaffield, neither team feeling the pressure. Lukas Szymon of Scaffield is a cut above, it has to be said, using his muscle, pace and finesse to bulldoze opponents and striking cleanly Scaffield’s decisive goal, and dogged striker Sutter gets a nice confidence-booster at the other end. Pikemouth go all-out to overcome the Stalwarts, Muuren running the show, Coghlan and Petrie with the finishing touches. Star finish the Twins fairly easily, a dull match enlivened only by centre-half Gareth Krane scuffing home an overhead kick from Ellis’ free kick, Clevinger seemingly too surprised to make the save. Southside dig in for another brutal slog, Union manager Pendragon pledging to give them ‘ninety minutes of hell’, which is a bit extra. They… don’t. The Wanderers nearly hold out, too, with only Tricia Pace’s vicious strike beating Mercer at her near post with sheer ferocity and velocity. And at the other end, Matt Brougham smashes a strike against the post, and late on an elegant passing move held together by grit and desperation finally gives Clucas a clear shot… and he can only send it into Murnane’s chest. The Wanderers can go home with their heads high. Union, less so.

With excellent recent form, Gallant Cross have cantered to the top of the league and now look a surefire bet to be promoted. They’ve won nine of the past ten, and players with top-class experience in Carney, Lindsey and the lethal wingers Mytaras and Tiller appear just a cut above. Alliance may have fallen back a bit, but they’re also going strong; Ara Klein’s form has slightly deteriorated, but, well, she’s very, very old. And Brimorii gets more lethal by the week. Falkner currently occupy third, holding off Westpike and Proudcastle. Rozelle United have recovered slightly, enough to keep Nawalka in a job, but a theoretically imposing forward line has just been less than the sum of its parts, undermined by a weak midfield suffering badly for Swift’s season-ending injury.

With just four points and four goals from their last nine games, the Phoenix have gone from looking up to back over their shoulders. The Squorn pair of spry goalkeeper Kalitas and sturdy defender Eichhorn continues to put them in good stead at the back but they just aren’t firing. Former Suttonville striker Ariztondo has been a disappointment, but hasn’t had the service. Coppersmith are a little aloof from true struggle, with the defence noticably sharpening after a damaging 5-1 defeat at home to Cross, goalkeeper March continuing to be a prized asset. Saint Alexander and Southside have struggled, while Swanbridge are supposedly on the verge of sacking Trouble Pearce, with a lamentably disordered defence despite theoretically strong personnel. Guilder haven’t scored since beating them a while back, and look in serious trouble. Cresci and Bolivar have just been asked to go on one year too long. Stourhead and Chrysler aren’t sunk, not yet, but have a lot of work to do. Whoever goes down, Spearcove Mariners are near-certain to replace them, eight points clear at the top of the third tier.

A-LEAGUE

Pos Team                     P   W  D   L For  Ag  +/- Pts
  1 Northern Union          22  14  5   3  42  18  +24  47
  2 Rozelle                 22  13  6   3  55  24  +31  45
  3 Kingsgrove              22  14  2   6  59  30  +29  44
  4 North Hall              22  13  4   5  24  16   +8  43
  5 Northern Stallions      22  12  6   4  40  19  +21  42
  6 Pikemouth               22  11  5   6  39  30   +9  38
  7 Southern Star           22  10  7   5  40  32   +8  37
  8 Twin Saints             22   9  5   8  31  30   +1  32
  9 Lotus Park              22   6  6  10  29  36   -7  24
 10 Chafford                22   4  9   9  17  24   -7  21
 11 Marque                  22   5  6  11  17  32  -15  21
 12 Rosbank Town            22   6  3  13  27  59  -32  21
 13 Snowden River           22   4  8  10  14  32  -18  20
 14 Finbar Stalwarts        22   3  9  10  19  32  -13  18
 15 Francisca Orient        22   4  5  13  16  36  -20  17
 16 Scaffield               22   3  4  15  17  36  -19  13

B-LEAGUE

Pos Team                      P   W  D   L For  Ag  +/- Pts
  1 Gallant Cross            22  15  2   5  46  23  +23  47
  2 Rozelle Alliance         22  14  4   4  56  24  +32  46
  3 Falkner United           22  12  6   4  43  24  +19  42
  4 AFC Westpike             22  11  6   5  38  20  +18  39
  5 Proudcastle              22  11  5   6  23  18   +5  38
  6 Westpike United          22   9  8   5  32  27   +5  35
  7 Rozelle United           22  10  5   7  29  25   +4  35
  8 Southrons-Errant         22   9  5   8  31  36   -5  32
  9 Rockridge Phoenix        22   7  5  10  18  18   +0  26
 10 Coppersmith              22   6  6  10  21  28   -7  24
 11 Saint Alexander          22   6  5  11  27  30   -3  23
 12 Southside Wanderers      22   6  5  11  19  41  -22  23
 13 AFC Swanbridge           22   6  4  12  27  43  -16  22
 14 Guilder                  22   5  6  11  19  32  -13  21
 15 Stourhead                22   4  6  12  22  40  -18  18
 16 Chrysler Town            22   3  6  13  28  50  -22  15

C-LEAGUE

Pos Team                     P   W  D   L For  Ag  +/- Pts
  1 Spearcove Mariners      22  15  5   2  51  22  +29  50
  2 Fentonbridge            22  12  7   3  37  17  +20  43
  3 Randwick Town           22  13  3   6  40  18  +22  42
  4 Sharrow                 22  13  3   6  48  29  +19  42
  5 Mount Roland            22  11  7   4  26  14  +12  40
  6 Otter Ferry             22  10  7   5  41  25  +16  37
  7 Endeavour Brenecia      22  11  4   7  39  37   +2  37
  8 Shaleport Rangers       22   9  6   7  38  31   +7  33
  9 Knightstone FC          22  10  3   9  37  34   +3  33
 10 Stonewash Town          22   7  6   9  24  30   -6  27
 11 AFC Lancet              22   8  3  11  32  45  -13  27
 12 AFC Conomore            22   6  5  11  22  40  -18  23
 13 Razorback Hill          22   2 10  10  15  30  -15  16
 14 Heathgrove              22   4  2  16  18  41  -23  14
 15 Silvershire Town        22   3  4  15  16  37  -21  13
 16 Townsend Raiders        22   3  3  16  20  54  -34  12

D-LEAGUE

Pos Team                    P   W  D   L For  Ag  +/- Pts
  1 Marque Rovers          22  17  1   4  66  25  +41  52
  2 Falkner Crescent       22  14  6   2  42  18  +24  48
  3 Rozelle Archers        22  12  7   3  47  32  +15  43
  4 Suttonstrand FC        22  13  2   7  47  29  +18  41
  5 Rushden                22  11  7   4  37  33   +4  40
  6 Swayback               22  11  4   7  28  26   +2  37
  7 Alexavale FC           22  11  2   9  30  24   +6  35
  8 Platwood               22  10  5   7  30  25   +5  35
  9 Chafford Saracens      22   8  6   8  43  35   +8  30
 10 Corder Town            22   8  5   9  34  43   -9  29
 11 Fisher Kings           22   7  7   8  23  23   +0  28
 12 Glendower River        22   7  5  10  27  29   -2  26
 13 Falkner Wanderers      22   4  4  14  20  35  -15  16
 14 Sharpe End             22   3  3  16  18  48  -30  12
 15 Northern Fist          22   2  6  14  26  64  -38  12
 16 Crest                  22   2  2  18  19  48  -29   8

by **Brenecia** » Thu Apr 02, 2020 3:57 pm

Union are finally unseated at the top! Orson Faulkner, a Union man at heart, must almost feel guilty to mastermind their demise, a dainty chip from Esther Caitiff sparking a comeback and Dominic Ellis finishing it with a violent, thrashed finish; Finbar Stalwarts roll over compliantly to be ravaged by Rozelle, offering no resistance to the divaish Sofia Falcon and letting her run the show, 3-0 the final scoreline and the Saints taking the top of the table. Rosbank pick themselves up from the humiliation of last time out against Rozelle to easily beat Marque 2-0. Beating Marque shouldn’t be easy, especially when your centre-halves both turn 35 this year and only one of them is actually a recognised defender.

The Privateers are in serious trouble. Their resolute inability to score goals continues to cost them time and again. It’s not like they don’t pepper Cole Bruin’s goal with shots, they’re just terrible shots. Kalevi Halena comes off the bench to score Finbar’s winner, an opportunistic little dagger between the ribs as Whitfield and Kress contrive to let a ball bounce between them. Colm Beckwith becomes, bizarrely, the first manager of the season to get the axe. He’s replaced by Justin Vauxhall, of Rozelle a couple years ago but jobless since. Solid, but uninspiring - but who wants to take risks with the drop a present danger? Snowden look unbalanced from the very start against Rosbank, thrown off by the intensity of the Black Swans’ pressing, and that isn’t helped when an early shot from Nuada Kerris takes a frankly unfortunate deflection off Hakugi’s knee to rocket past a stranded Shay. But there’s not a hint of luck in Rosbank’s next four; just taking ruthless advantage of openings, Harper Casey with his best showing of the season, Dashiell Finnan with a brace. They’ve now won eight of their last nine in all competitions… and lost the other match 8-0. Pikemouth peg back Union to another draw, Chafford get a smash-and-grab 1-0 win in Ironstone that has Tana Colbright fuming at the referee, while Kingsgrove come back from 2-1 down at the break to smash Star in the second half.

There is one obvious shock here. Even at full tilt, in this form, Scaffield shouldn’t have a prayer against the defending champions. Even at home. But they do. Fate plays a role - Crowborough’s cross is lost in the wind by Ghillis, who weakly flaps at it and lets Rasmussen steal in behind to knee home. But Szymon finishing off a decisive passing move that seemed to pass through the entire team? Rowena Stamper herself would’ve been proud of that in her playing days. And then a rather simple cross from Rasmussen is eaten up by Kruger, who buries it for a likely decisive 3-0 advantage, though there’s still time for Kendall Childress to fling herself to the corners and prove the worth of her old bones. Could easily have been 3-2, from the chances in the last five minutes alone. Union’s win is rather more pedestrian, and feels almost a foregone conclusion. Capodanno sets up countrywoman Apelles to drive the only goal past indifferent Cup goalkeeper Barrett Knock.

The title race switches hands again! Hall pull out all the stops against Union in the derby, a club that normally likes to present itself as the face to Union’s heel, but that takes a back seat; Townsend plays the spoiler with relentless vigour, kicking and scrapping in midfield, Nuada Speaker draws a generous penalty for Verbeck to slot away and while Vega Zeale-Riddick lashes home a vicious strike past Pardinho, who has an excellent game in goal, the diva contrives to have herself sent off. A caution for complaining that the referee needed to give her more protection - yeah, maybe - before, after being hauled down by Erica Weaver, spitefully kicking out at her face. Elsewhere, Rozelle are unstuck by a Chafford side with a surprising amount of teeth, while Kingsgrove barely edge out the Stallions, Penhallow’s free kick providing the moment of quality neither side could otherwise conjure. At the bottom, Scaffield, Snowden and Orient win their six-pointers against Park, Finbar and Rosbank, while Justin Vauxhall’s first match in charge at Marque sees a scrappy but efficient 1-0 win over the Twins.

Pikemouth fight back valiantly, but Scaffield hold the line, and with away goals in place not all are equal. A scorcher from Padmore eleven minutes in leaves Childress without a chance and puts the Kingfishers on track… ten minutes later, Kruger chests down a long ball in flight and guides it almost tenderly beyond Ghillis to level the score, put the game to 4-1 on aggregate and ensure the Kingfishers needed four more. They get one; Lovelace is forced into a rare error, domineered by Muuren, who plays a clever one-two with Coghlan and smashes home on the verge of half-time, but the dull second half is to the Ironclads’ advantage. Union, meanwhile, fall completely flat against a brave Star side willing to kick them in the teeth and pounce on defensive errors. Viola Capodanno, one of the finest defensive midfielders the competition has ever seen, is threatened by Caitiff, turning only to be flattened by Crowcliff from the other side. Caitiff takes the ball and threads it through for Charlie Gray to smash - into Farrell, but the rebound’s converted by former Union man Hayne. It goes to penalties; nine are flawless, but Knock beats away the other to cap off a heroic showing and see Star through to the final. Where they will very much be favourites.

The Stallions take an early lead through Lockston and double it with Deal; Naulo could make it three but Drake waits too long to put him through and he’s offside when he smashes it home. That just seems to throw the Stallions off; the Wanderers score in the 41st minute and draw level by the end, leaving the Stallions with it all to do again in the second leg and an unhelpful away goal deficit to boot.

Rosbank are cagey, off-balance and down a goal within the first 15 minutes , but Bonner wins a dubious penalty, Nikolaidis smashes it home with vigour and the Black Swans cling to it for the rest of the game. Snowden overcome a poor start against the Seniors on a match where Velvet Sommelier really struts her stuff.

The Saints slip at the top, unseated and unsettled by the hard pressing work of the Stallions. Sofia Falcon, always a player of swings and roundabouts, is dreadful, fails to track back as Cheney Deal streaks past where she should be to set up Rourke for the opener, throws a petulant fit when she’s hooked in the 44th minute and is given a match rating of zero stars by the Rozelle Observer. Kingsgrove find a 87th-minute winner over Pikemouth to break open a dire game, Tamara Fowler finding Ribbeck with a frankly spectacular cross, while Union run roughshod over Lotus Park. Marque’s recovery continues, sort of. Their defence conceding twice to Chafford, not great. Especially before half-time. But after it, with Chafford confidently sitting back, the Privateers have the wherewithal to break them, Claire Marshall a player revitalised between the lines, Csapo and Hazeldean applying uncharacteristically clinical finishes, 3-2 the final score. Scaffield break Rosbank’s back with three clinical counterattacks, Rosbank’s desperation proving their downfall, while Orient and Finbar play out the scoreless draw they were always going to.

The Stallions put on an assured performance, like if their first half last time around was stretched over a full game. They don’t get too much of the ball, but every Stallion pass counts, it sticks, and neat finishes from Lockston and Naulo secure the tie.

Rosbank, by contrast, do dominate the ball on home soil, but lack the inspiration to do much with it. But Nikolaidis comes crashing into a tackle late on, Bonner slips onto the rebound and fires in Riflegreen to cut inside and strike the leveller. Twelve unsaved penalties commence in the shootout, just one goes high and wide. Nothing happens in River’s game and that suits them perfectly.

In the two-bald-men-fighting-over-a-comb derby, Scaffield take an early lead, confident and capable on the ball, finally bringing their Cup form into the league. Iraunkor Berdesagar stutter-steps past an overcommittal Lilina Weston before firing low across Bruin, who shaves an elbow against it but can only deflect it deeper into the ground behind him. At the other end, Finbar get more and more desperate for a goal as Scaffield fail to make them pay, until Kalevi Halena comes off the bench - why was she on the bench? - Chernych bodies the shellshocked Ruffan, Kelley lumps in a desperate ball into the box, Rathburn and Vuurmeier collide, the ball bounces free and Halena digs it out past Childress. At the other end, the Rozelle derby is a scoreless affair, though certainly entertaining. That benefits Union, even on a scrappy day where they could only get a single goal against Rosbank. Vega Zeale-Riddick finds a way, she always does, and Farrell’s barely troubled at the other end.

The Ironclads, surprisingly, do the business. Faced with strong opposition in the Twins, they nevertheless have it in them to take the fight to them, punch them right in the teeth. And make Selena Mercer look like an idiot, dawdling on the ball a fatal second, swarmed on by Szymon and Berdesagar like a man being pecked to death by crows, the ball dug out over the top to where Rhyan Mailer could head home his first of the season. A low, whipped finish from Kruger on the stroke of half-time leaves Brando without a chance, securing the win. Derdriu Wright tells the press she’s sure Justin Vauxhall, the man she replaced in the Rozelle dugout, has no hard feelings. It’s all just business. Well, apparently there are hard feelings; after Marque canter to a 3-0 victory to leave the Saints shellshocked and star-struck, Vauxhall whips off his jacket, whirls it around his head, hurls it at Wright’s assistant and invites him to do something unspeakable. This causes a brawl, and while Vauxhall is sent off, so is Marisha Staunton for throwing a solid left hook at him, deadening the Saints’ remote comeback hopes. Hall and Kingsgrove cancel each other out, leaving Union to stretch their lead with victory in Finbar, as the Stallions overcome a 3-1 half-time deficit to beat Snowden with a near flawless 45 minutes.

Tana Colbright returns to Nephara with confidence, though, then, confidence is something of her trademark. It’s warranted; early on, the Stallions’ pressing game pays off, Wil Jabelon’s pass pounced on by Lockston, who plays in the dynamic leftback Deimne Watermark to slide home the winner. Drake and Naulo test Griffin before the first half is done, and the Moths look rattled. But they come out emboldened for the second half, snap into rigorous tackles, haul themselves back into the game and get handed a lifeline by a cracking strike from Cathal Turner just outside the box.

Oh. You!

Refreshingly given recent form, things at the top are… competent. Clerkly. The top four all win; Union smash the Twins aside to stay at the summit, and while Kingsgrove rely on an ugly Warner Luksha goal - the man only scores tap-ins - in injury time to beat Marque, they count the same. North Hall and Rozelle also scrape 1-0 victories against relegation material, and in so doing stretch their lead over fifth to secure Champions League football next year. The Stallions, Pikemouth and Star are also locked in for the Challengers Cup; Star are six points short of Pikemouth in 6th and twelve above the Twins in 8th. At the top, it will all come down to the title race, between Union and Kingsgrove. That just feels right.

Let us go back and amend a prior statement; Snowden lost to Rozelle, yes, but they aren’t relegation material. In fact, they’re all but mathematically secure. Marque’s safety is mathematically secure, thanks to Justin Vauxhall’s firefighting job. Chafford have probably done enough, too. Orient take a massive leap towards safety with an inspired victory over the Stallions in Ironstone, Murrough scrambling home an aesthetically horrible goal in the eighteenth minute, Steele Brighton booked for time-wasting before the hour mark, Cooke and Sheen both sent off by the end… shot after shot rains on goal but Orient survive, and take the points home. Park’s position is precarious, while Rosbank are in the shit. Finbar keep themselves in the fight through a dogged come-from-behind victory over Star, Kalevi Halena continuing her rise to club hero status with the 89th-minute winner and hurling herself into the away fans to celebrate. Scaffield remain at the foot, a 1-1 draw in Chafford good in isolation but not amazing here… but they’ve won three and drawn two of their last five in the league. If they win on the final day, survival is still, somehow, very much manageable...

A snap-shot from Swansea Reach whistles past Eduun just seven minutes in, Redweald fatally missing a step in pursuit, and the Moths seem content with that for the time being. After that, it’s mostly just a brawl; Haines ankle-taps Cronin, Drake hacks at Reach, Vicelich smashes Cronin and sees red for it. The Moths hold back and try to keep firm, but Naulo steals some of the newfound space to slide onto Ruby Bronze’s brilliantly-timed pass and drive it between Griffin’s feet. The Stallions hammer at the Moths relentlessly in extra time, but it comes to nothing. No matter. Dinii Eduun stands firm, watching countrywoman Solara Vol’s penalty skied past her and battering away Imriel Townsend’s to help the Stallions across the line. The first Champions League final of the new era… and it’ll be the old guard of 1830 Cathair against the new blood of the Stallions.

Snowden are safe and it shows with their squad selection… but Rosbank also go for it, hard. It comes to nothing. A slog of a first half makes way for a more open affair in the second, mercurial wingers Dajani and Bonner trade blows, before River edge the penalty shootout with a single decisive, brilliant save from Rook Shay. Club ESF await in the final.

Gallant Cross clinch the title in steady fashion with a 2-0 win over Rockridge Phoenix, utter calm and control at the back, Taishizuno and Mytaras with the goals up front. Finally. Finally. After years of edging, the champagne can finally be popped. Falkner United, who have dropped just two points in their past six games amidst Simone Cantiff’s sudden blazing into life, leapfrog Alliance into second following the Rozelle side’s second straight defeat. One of them was to Rozelle United, a 3-0 cudgelling with the parts finally clicking into gear. But United’s glass jaw shows and they drop to a 2-2 draw in Stourhead, confirming they will not be in the running for promotion. Neither will Southrons-Errant, but the following run of form deserves notice; a 6-2 win over Coppersmith, a 6-2 defeat to Falkner, and a 9-1 demolition of Westpike United! The Pikemen really are just two fine strikers with nothing to back them up.

Stourhead and Chrysler have been terrible all season, and predictably occupy the bottom two places. Fortunately, there’s still a three-way fight to avoid the relegation playoff. Southside is a point above Guilder with inferior GD, Guilder in turn a point above Saint Alexander with inferior GD themselves. The Saints actually have a better goal difference than Westpike United in 7th! They’ve given themselves a chance with a hard-fought 1-0 win over Southside, Laura Berger roaring like a lion after crisply hitting the back of the net; Guilder, for their part, took an impressive point from Proudcastle before a deceptive finish from Fischer late on proved the demise of Chrysler. Swanbridge are relieved not to be in the conversation.

A-LEAGUE

Pos Team                     P   W   D   L For  Ag  +/- Pts
  1 Northern Union          29  18   8   3  56  23  +33  62
  2 Kingsgrove              29  19   4   6  71  35  +36  61
  3 North Hall              29  16   8   5  31  20  +11  56
  4 Rozelle                 29  16   7   6  62  30  +32  55
  5 Northern Stallions      29  15   7   7  48  26  +22  52
  6 Pikemouth               29  15   6   8  51  36  +15  51
  7 Southern Star           29  12   9   8  51  45   +6  45
  8 Twin Saints             29   9   6  14  33  43  -10  33
  9 Marque                  29   8   7  14  25  39  -14  31
 10 Snowden River           29   7   9  13  24  44  -20  30
 11 Chafford                29   6  11  12  25  34   -9  29
 12 Francisca Orient        29   7   8  14  21  39  -18  29
 13 Lotus Park              29   7   6  16  35  52  -17  27
 14 Rosbank Town            29   8   3  18  37  68  -31  27
 15 Finbar Stalwarts        29   5  11  13  23  41  -18  26
 16 Scaffield               29   6   6  17  28  46  -18  24

B-LEAGUE

Pos Team                      P   W  D   L For  Ag  +/- Pts
  1 Gallant Cross            29  20  3   6  57  26  +31  63
  2 Falkner United           29  17  8   4  59  31  +28  59
  3 Rozelle Alliance         29  18  4   7  65  31  +34  58
  4 Rozelle United           29  16  6   7  44  29  +15  54
  5 AFC Westpike             29  15  7   7  46  26  +20  52
  6 Proudcastle              29  15  6   8  35  22  +13  51
  7 Westpike United          29  11  9   9  37  45   -8  42
  8 Southrons-Errant         29  12  5  12  52  54   -2  41
  9 Rockridge Phoenix        29   9  7  13  28  31   -3  34
 10 Coppersmith              29   9  6  14  31  40   -9  33
 11 AFC Swanbridge           29   9  5  15  40  56  -16  32
 12 Southside Wanderers      29   8  6  15  25  51  -26  30
 13 Guilder                  29   7  8  14  28  42  -14  29
 14 Saint Alexander          29   7  7  15  30  37   -7  28
 15 Stourhead                29   4  8  17  26  51  -25  20
 16 Chrysler Town            29   4  7  18  32  63  -31  19

C-LEAGUE

Pos Team                     P   W  D   L For  Ag  +/- Pts
  1 Spearcove Mariners      29  19  6   4  70  35  +35  63
  2 Randwick Town           29  18  3   8  57  24  +33  57
  3 Mount Roland            29  16  9   4  40  20  +20  57
  4 Sharrow                 29  17  5   7  64  35  +29  56
  5 Fentonbridge            29  16  7   6  46  22  +24  55
  6 Otter Ferry             29  15  7   7  62  36  +26  52
  7 Endeavour Brenecia      29  13  7   9  49  49   +0  46
  8 Stonewash Town          29  12  7  10  37  40   -3  43
  9 Shaleport Rangers       29  11  7  11  45  44   +1  40
 10 AFC Lancet              29  12  4  13  42  58  -16  40
 11 Knightstone FC          29  12  3  14  47  47   +0  39
 12 AFC Conomore            29   6  9  14  31  53  -22  27
 13 Townsend Raiders        29   5  5  19  31  73  -42  20
 14 Razorback Hill          29   3 10  16  16  39  -23  19
 15 Heathgrove              29   5  4  20  25  53  -28  19
 16 Silvershire Town        29   3  5  21  18  52  -34  14

D-LEAGUE

Pos Team                    P   W  D   L For  Ag  +/- Pts
  1 Marque Rovers          29  22  3   4  84  34  +50  69
  2 Falkner Crescent       29  19  7   3  58  22  +36  64
  3 Platwood               29  16  5   8  46  28  +18  53
  4 Suttonstrand FC        29  16  4   9  62  43  +19  52
  5 Rozelle Archers        29  14  8   7  54  46   +8  50
  6 Alexavale FC           29  15  3  11  45  30  +15  48
  7 Swayback               29  14  5  10  43  40   +3  47
  8 Rushden                29  13  7   9  47  51   -4  46
  9 Chafford Saracens      29  12  8   9  54  42  +12  44
 10 Glendower River        29  11  6  12  40  39   +1  39
 11 Fisher Kings           29  10  8  11  37  36   +1  38
 12 Corder Town            29   9  5  15  38  59  -21  32
 13 Northern Fist          29   5  8  16  36  76  -40  23
 14 Falkner Wanderers      29   5  5  19  24  46  -22  20
 15 Sharpe End             29   4  4  21  23  61  -38  16
 16 Crest                  29   2  4  23  27  65  -38  10

by **Brenecia** » Thu Apr 02, 2020 10:44 pm

LEAGUE FINALE
At the bottom, any of the bottom six could potentially still go down or stay up - mathematically, so too could River, though the goal difference swing involved would be nigh-impossible. They are, in the event, defeated 2-0 by Marque; Vauxhall has won four of his six matches for the Privateers, where before Beckwith had five wins from twenty-four. The openness of the relegation situation complicates matters at the top; Kingsgrove and Union have to contend with a Chafford and Park with survival on the line, not safe in midtable. Park go out hard as a result, and six minutes in Emmeline Riverside air-swings at a chance that the injured Nagy would have buried. No matter; she soon plays provider, shepherded out to the wing by Cascarine who figured he’d done enough, before Riverside chops back inside him and drills a ball to the far post for Ashvane to stick in the back of the net. Elsewhere, Pikemouth take an early lead against Finbar but a towering header from Rathburn wipes it out, while the Stallions stick a knife in Scaffield’s back, Rourke striking with shades of offside. Pikemouth retake the lead against Finbar in the 40th minute then twist the knife in injury time - where was the marking on Simon Kvaal? And that’s Finbar sunk; they’ll never retake the lead in an eventual 4-2 defeat.

Francisca, however, will not face relegation; by half-time they’ve battled their way to a 2-0 lead through bombarding mighty Rozelle with crosses and long throws. It becomes a faintly ridiculous three not long into the second half, Harris Lyston’s drive into the box taking a ridiculous deflection off Dybvik’s heel to beat the startled young goalkeeper, Tiarnan Cove. In Rosbank, a blistering strike from Gaheris Archer sizzles through Spires’ fingers to give North Hall the lead, one that’s doubled when Archer sets up Nuada Speaker who, for once, does have the end product required to dance past Richmond, round Spires and stick the ball away. That’s the Black Swans in third, looking nervously to Scaffield… and the Ironclads do score, through Eve Lovelace. But just the once. Not enough. With three goals in the second half, Kingsgrove do overcome Lotus Park, who tire too soon and break under the pressure. The Royals’ fans check their phones. What’s the scoreline in Chafford? Can the lowly Cavaliers hold out against the onslaught of Zeale-Riddick, Apelles and company?

Yes. Yes, they can.

PLAYOFFS
RAZORBACK HILL 1 - 0 PLATWOOD
SAINT ALEXANDER 1 - 2 MOUNT ROLAND
ROSBANK TOWN 0 - 2 ROZELLE ALLIANCE

The last game of the last regular season saw Rozelle Alliance polish off B-League champions Rosbank 3-1, warming up for defeat by Orient in the playoff. Now Alliance have repeated their impressive feat, while Rosbank have struggled, albeit in entertaining fashion. Alliance have the terrifying Manahaal Brimorii up front; Rosbank still have a 35-year old Zadok Renta playing valiantly out of position. Unfortunately, the result is predictable; once per half, an Alliance midfielder - first Redthread, then rightback Vance - picks out Brimorii, and Brimorii picks out the bottom corner. At the other end, Kelly Chaplain stands up to the scrutiny, with a fantastic double save to deny the Black Swans in the 86th minute and pretty much bury the tie. Alliance, then, have made it to the top tier for the first time. Julia Penzance endures a second relegation, but remains in credit.

CUP FINAL
Star are the standout favourites, but Scaffield come in both in bizarrely fantastic form and with nothing to lose. Rowena Stamper knows her job is forfeit at the end of the season - relegation should never have happened - but she still has the chance to go out on a high. For Star, this represents an opportunity to really stick the landing of Orson Faulkner’s first season in charge, to turn a quietly successful one into a triumph. They’re the more dangerous side early on, Caitiff too agile in midfield for Scaffield’s sluggish, past-it Matt Ruffan, dictating the play with a calm beyond her years. Twice she plays Gray through the lines but twice does Kendall Childress - a final is no time to keep backup goalkeepers match-fit - vindicate her restoration with agile one-on-one saves. A strike from Callum shaves the crossbar, Ellis on the other wing fires into the side netting, and… then Crowcliff hauls down Lukas Szymon from about twenty-seven yards. Szymon gets up, dusts himself off, and tacks another million onto his transfer fee with a thunderous free kick that just keeps rising and rising on its way past Vanza-Gerat.

The goal was blatantly against the run of play, yes, but with a goal advantage Scaffield did finally get their claws into the tie. Ruffan belatedly exerted control, and now it was Szymon running the show, a diffident little chip setting Berdesagar up for a chance he should have made, but the shot came too close to Vanza-Gerat and the Qusmi ‘keeper pushed it into the side netting. No matter; Szymon floated in the corner, Bairn Vuurmeier thundered past Yelto-Alfan, flicked his bull-necked head and lofted the ball past a stationary Vanza-Jerat, Gareth Krane trying desperately to hook it off the line with a lunge but only succeeding in hauling down Rasmussen, a clear penalty were it not already a goal. In the second half, all Scaffield have to do is hold on. Star create chances, but tire as the half wears on, and Childress looks more and more confident between the posts. With three minutes left, Ellis tries a shot that doesn’t beat the first man, but rather caroms off Ford’s shin; Gray acts fast, but rushes his shot, smashing it into the foot of the post from three yards. It’s no use. Scaffield may be bottom of the A-League, but they are, in a sense, Brenecian champions regardless. This is the part they’ll remember.

SCAFFIELD 2 - 0 SOUTHERN STAR

LBCT FINAL
The LBCT final is tightly contested, and produces mixed feelings for Castor Merchant, an experienced striker and River youth product sitting on the Club bench. But this will not be nostalgic. Both sides go for it, hard, in the opening stages; River’s physicality tells, as they hold Club back. Desire Coleman dances past two men before horribly screwing up what should be an easy finish, blazing over. Club don’t heed the lesson; three minutes later, a diving header from Ruby Sutter puts Snowden in front, and not long afterwards a silky flick and trick from Dajani followed by a neat, trusting backheel sets up Sommelier to drive past and shoot low beyond Nord, unmarked. Club recover strong, and equalise in the 42nd minute, a powerful strike from the veteran Fosse that Rook Shay looked to have tipped away but still scraped against the bottom of the crossbar on its way in. Snowden come out the second half the stronger, Navarette coming off the bench to add more poise and experience to midfield. It pays off; it’s her that cunningly sneaks the ball out from Oftedal’s feet and sends it skimming down the right to where Sakae Hakugi, the underrated rightback, is racing. She gets onto it, cuts inside and goes for goal herself, taking Nord by surprise and beating him at his near post. Time ticks by, River get more and more defensive, and Forrest is lucky not to be sent off for a scything reducer on Fosse. Castor Merchant lumbers off the bench. Igland sends in a cross. Wakeford dithers. Merchant rises. Could it be? Could it? The header is straight at Shay, who catches it on the full. It could not. Snowden River cap off a brilliant season not only by surviving comfortably, but with stalwart centre-half Catherine Lake lifting the inaugural IFCF Liga B trophy.

SNOWDEN RIVER 2 - 1 CLUB ESF

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE FINAL
Unfortunately, the first IFCF CL final is… well, it’s dire, isn’t it? It’s that stereotypical occasion where both sides are too nervous, trying not to make mistakes - the Stallions because they know they’re outclassed in quality by 1830, 1830 because they know that the Stallions, even when their hard pressing game isn’t as smooth today, can punish any slip-ups. The only incident of the first half is 1830 feeling they were denied what would have been a very soft penalty, Deimne Watermark breathing on his mark. The second is even worse. God forbid anyone for whom this was their first game. It comes, inevitably, to penalties, and while Tana Colbright mops her brow in tense relief - and she can justifiably be proud of her defence, who did brilliant work to stifle their opponents, and even the forward line defended ably from the front - 1830 are less exhausted and more used to the pressure of the big stage. Bronze misses their second and from there’s it’s catch-up, and they never do. But they can still be immensely proud of themselves. They’ve done so, so well by the league.

NORTHERN STALLIONS 0 - 0 1830 CATHAIR (0-0 AET, 2-4 pens)

A-LEAGUE

Pos Team                     P   W   D   L For  Ag  +/- Pts
  1 Kingsgrove              30  20   4   6  74  36  +38  64
  2 Northern Union          30  18   9   3  57  24  +33  63
  3 North Hall              30  17   8   5  33  20  +13  59
  4 Rozelle                 30  16   7   7  63  33  +30  55
  5 Pikemouth               30  16   6   8  55  38  +17  54
  6 Northern Stallions      30  15   8   7  49  27  +22  53
  7 Southern Star           30  13   9   8  52  45   +7  48
  8 Marque                  30   9   7  14  27  39  -12  34
  9 Twin Saints             30   9   6  15  33  44  -11  33
 10 Francisca Orient        30   8   8  14  24  40  -16  32
 11 Chafford                30   6  12  12  26  35   -9  30
 12 Snowden River           30   7   9  14  24  46  -22  30
 13 Lotus Park              30   7   6  17  36  55  -19  27
 14 Rosbank Town            30   8   3  19  37  70  -33  27
 15 Finbar Stalwarts        30   5  11  14  25  45  -20  26
 16 Scaffield               30   6   7  17  29  47  -18  25

AWARDS
Golden Boot (Goals Scored): Michael Ribbeck (KNG) - 21
Golden Ball (Player of the Year): Vincent Verbeck (NTH)
Golden Fist (New Player of the Year): Michael Ribbeck (KNG)
Golden Heart (U-21 Player of the Year): Dreigiau Parrish (KNG)
Team of the Year: Pardinho (NTH); Kielseng (KNG), Chaumancer (NTU), Dybvik (ROZ), Levaani (ROZ); Apelles (NTU), Verbeck (NTH), Ruskin (KNG); Lockston (NTS), Ribbeck (KNG), Staunton (ROZ)
Manager of the Year: Hecate Charing (FRO)

B-LEAGUE

Pos Team                      P   W  D   L For  Ag  +/- Pts
  1 Gallant Cross            30  20  3   7  57  27  +30  63
  2 Falkner United           30  18  8   4  62  33  +29  62
  3 Rozelle Alliance         30  18  4   8  67  34  +33  58
  4 Rozelle United           30  17  6   7  45  29  +16  57
  5 AFC Westpike             30  15  8   7  46  26  +20  53
  6 Proudcastle              30  15  7   8  35  22  +13  52
  7 Westpike United          30  12  9   9  39  45   -6  45
  8 Southrons-Errant         30  13  5  12  54  54   +0  44
  9 Rockridge Phoenix        30   9  7  14  28  32   -4  34
 10 Coppersmith              30   9  7  14  32  41   -9  34
 11 Southside Wanderers      30   9  6  15  26  51  -25  33
 12 AFC Swanbridge           30   9  5  16  40  58  -18  32
 13 Guilder                  30   7  9  14  29  43  -14  30
 14 Saint Alexander          30   7  8  15  31  38   -7  29
 15 Stourhead                30   4  9  17  27  52  -25  21
 16 Chrysler Town            30   4  7  19  32  65  -33  19

AWARDS
Golden Boot (Goals Scored): Manahaal Brimorii (RZA) - 18
Golden Ball (Player of the Year): Yuria Taishizuno (GAC)
Manager of the Year: Rowena Gowan (S-E)

C-LEAGUE

Pos Team                     P   W  D   L For  Ag  +/- Pts
  1 Spearcove Mariners      30  20  6   4  74  36  +38  66
  2 Randwick Town           30  19  3   8  59  24  +35  60
  3 Mount Roland            30  17  9   4  42  20  +22  60
  4 Sharrow                 30  18  5   7  67  37  +30  59
  5 Fentonbridge            30  17  7   6  49  23  +26  58
  6 Otter Ferry             30  16  7   7  65  37  +28  55
  7 Endeavour Brenecia      30  14  7   9  50  49   +1  49
  8 Stonewash Town          30  12  7  11  38  44   -6  43
  9 Knightstone FC          30  12  4  14  48  48   +0  40
 10 Shaleport Rangers       30  11  7  12  47  47   +0  40
 11 AFC Lancet              30  12  4  14  42  60  -18  40
 12 AFC Conomore            30   6 10  14  32  54  -22  28
 13 Townsend Raiders        30   5  5  20  32  76  -44  20
 14 Razorback Hill          30   3 10  17  16  40  -24  19
 15 Heathgrove              30   5  4  21  26  56  -30  19
 16 Silvershire Town        30   3  5  22  18  54  -36  14

D-LEAGUE

Pos Team                    P   W  D   L For  Ag  +/- Pts
  1 Marque Rovers          30  23  3   4  85  34  +51  72
  2 Falkner Crescent       30  20  7   3  60  23  +37  67
  3 Platwood               30  17  5   8  49  28  +21  56
  4 Suttonstrand FC        30  16  5   9  63  44  +19  53
  5 Rozelle Archers        30  14  9   7  55  47   +8  51
  6 Swayback               30  15  5  10  46  40   +6  50
  7 Alexavale FC           30  15  4  11  46  31  +15  49
  8 Rushden                30  13  7  10  47  54   -7  46
  9 Chafford Saracens      30  12  9   9  55  43  +12  45
 10 Glendower River        30  11  6  13  40  40   +0  39
 11 Fisher Kings           30  10  8  12  38  38   +0  38
 12 Corder Town            30   9  5  16  38  62  -24  32
 13 Northern Fist          30   5  9  16  37  77  -40  24
 14 Falkner Wanderers      30   6  5  19  26  47  -21  23
 15 Sharpe End             30   4  4  22  24  63  -39  16
 16 Crest                  30   2  5  23  28  66  -38  11
Promoted: Hall Spitfires, Skerrick Pathfinders

by **Brenecia** » Sun Jul 12, 2020 1:24 am

Welcome back to another glorious season in Brenecia, the land before competitive balance. At the top of the table, the axis is familiar, made more stark by the underperformance of a Rozelle side that sold Ivo Romanov and were unable to procure a replacement and are suffering badly for Viablaine’s march over the hill into her dotage. The Stallions have struggled as well, a very young squad outside of their front three. North Hall are fourth, but twelve points off the title pace and scoring under a goal a game. Harvey Joyce is past it, too, and they’re suffering for their failure to meaningly reinforce in the transfer window. So who is top? Yes, it’s Union and, just behind them, Kingsgrove - for whom Oscar Veloso has slotted in beautifully to the defence and young midfielder Dreigiau Parrish has started to step up..

Pleasingly, interlopers have taken advantage of the weakness of some of the more traditional second tier of giants. Twin Saints have always had the ability to give the big guns a bloody nose, and the signing of 29-year old winger Solstice Cronin from Northern Stallions has been a brilliant move. Not only can she reliably find Tafani, but she has the ability to rove forward and cause danger herself, too. Falkner United have also excelled since their return to the top flight, despite failing to find the striker they were hoping for; no matter, as Cashmore and Love have lived up to their bank-robber duo names and plundered defences all across the league. Amusingly, the Marque sides, Marque and Orient, are locked on 16 points. Mediocre, which is good for Orient but bad for the Privateers.

They’re both just a point above the playoff place, but Snowden and Chafford already look cut adrift. There is not a lot good to say about either side, with River’s demise curious given how objectively superior a unit they are now compared to last year. Their travails aren’t so difficult to work out; they’ve only managed sixteen goals between them so far. Cross and Alliance are locked on fifteen points and split by goal difference at 13th and 14th. For Cross, this is despite a 7-0 defeat to Kingsgrove… but for Alliance, this is because of a 9-1 defeat to the Stallions. And currently… well… it would take a brave man to bet against Finbar Stalwarts coming up. Marian Clut’s conceded just three goals, the Stalwarts as a whole have dropped just four points. Rozelle United, Rockridge Phoenix, Rosbank Town and Westpike are in pole position to join them.

A brutal winnowing of the A-League sides has left Northern Union as the standout favourites, with Gallant Cross - who freshly dispatched Kingsgrove - Chafford, Francisca Orient and Rozelle Alliance the other top-flight survivors. A rogue’s gallery that spans 12th through 16th, excluding only Snowden River from that range. Amidst such a field, Southrons-Errant and Rozelle United will fancy their chances, while a Lancet side currently getting pasted in the C-League are the sole semi-pros remaining.

A-LEAGUE

Pos Team                     P   W  D   L For  Ag  +/- Pts
  1 Northern Union          15  11  3   1  32   8  +24  36
  2 Kingsgrove              15  11  0   4  39  11  +28  33
  3 Southern Star           15   9  2   4  22  14   +8  29
  4 North Hall              15   6  6   3  14   9   +5  24
  5 Twin Saints             15   5  8   2  17  12   +5  23
  6 Falkner United          15   6  5   4  23  21   +2  23
  7 Rozelle                 15   7  2   6  23  23   +0  23
  8 Northern Stallions      15   6  4   5  26  20   +6  22
  9 Pikemouth               15   5  4   6  25  20   +5  19
 10 Lotus Park              15   4  6   5  19  29  -10  18
 11 Marque                  15   4  4   7  17  18   -1  16
 12 Francisca Orient        15   4  4   7  14  21   -7  16
 13 Gallant Cross           15   4  3   8  19  32  -13  15
 14 Rozelle Alliance        15   4  3   8  23  37  -14  15
 15 Snowden River           15   3  1  11   7  32  -25  10
 16 Chafford                15   1  5   9   9  22  -13   8

B-LEAGUE

Pos Team                      P   W  D  L For  Ag  +/- Pts
  1 Finbar Stalwarts         15  13  2  0  28   3  +25  41
  2 Rozelle United           15   8  5  2  25  12  +13  29
  3 Rockridge Phoenix        15   8  4  3  18   8  +10  28
  4 Rosbank Town             15   8  3  4  24  20   +4  27
  5 AFC Westpike             15   8  2  5  27  18   +9  26
  6 Proudcastle              15   6  5  4  17  11   +6  23
  7 Scaffield                15   5  5  5  14  12   +2  20
  8 Randwick Town            15   6  2  7  18  21   -3  20
  9 Southrons-Errant         15   6  2  7  21  26   -5  20
 10 Westpike United          15   5  3  7  25  26   -1  18
 11 Guilder                  15   3  6  6  16  16   +0  15
 12 Southside Wanderers      15   4  3  8  11  26  -15  15
 13 Mount Roland             15   4  2  9  12  23  -11  14
 14 Coppersmith              15   3  4  8  14  20   -6  13
 15 AFC Swanbridge           15   3  4  8  20  31  -11  13
 16 Spearcove Mariners       15   3  2 10  16  33  -17  11

C-LEAGUE

Pos Team                     P  W  D   L For  Ag  +/- Pts
  1 Fentonbridge            15 10  4   1  21   7  +14  34
  2 Otter Ferry             15  9  3   3  31  11  +20  30
  3 Saint Alexander         15  9  3   3  30  14  +16  30
  4 Endeavour Brenecia      15  8  6   1  28  16  +12  30
  5 Sharrow                 15  8  2   5  28  20   +8  26
  6 Knightstone FC          15  7  3   5  20  13   +7  24
  7 Stonewash Town          15  7  3   5  14  10   +4  24
  8 Shaleport Rangers       15  6  3   6  15  19   -4  21
  9 Stourhead               15  6  2   7  17  17   +0  20
 10 Townsend Raiders        15  5  3   7  19  25   -6  18
 11 Razorback Hill          15  4  4   7  12  20   -8  16
 12 Chrysler Town           15  3  5   7  11  18   -7  14
 13 Falkner Crescent        15  4  2   9  14  32  -18  14
 14 AFC Conomore            15  4  1  10  15  25  -10  13
 15 Marque Rovers           15  2  5   8  21  28   -7  11
 16 AFC Lancet              15  3  1  11  14  35  -21  10

D-LEAGUE

Pos Team                       P   W  D  L For  Ag  +/- Pts
  1 Rozelle Archers           15  13  2  0  49  13  +36  41
  2 Suttonstrand FC           15  10  2  3  29  16  +13  32
  3 Platwood                  15   9  2  4  31  18  +13  29
  4 Silvershire Town          15   8  2  5  28  18  +10  26
  5 Chafford Saracens         15   7  5  3  26  16  +10  26
  6 AFC Swayback              15   8  2  5  29  22   +7  26
  7 Fiana Cove                15   6  6  3  26  20   +6  24
  8 Alexavale FC              15   7  3  5  23  24   -1  24
  9 Rushden                   15   5  1  9  17  24   -7  16
 10 Corder Town               15   4  3  8  23  35  -12  15
 11 Hall Spitfires            15   4  3  8  23  38  -15  15
 12 Heathgrove                15   3  5  7  20  25   -5  14
 13 Skerrick Pathfinders      15   3  5  7  19  27   -8  14
 14 Glendower River           15   3  4  8  16  30  -14  13
 15 Fisher Kings              15   2  5  8  11  20   -9  11
 16 Falkner Wanderers         15   1  4 10   6  30  -24   7

by **Brenecia** » Sun Jul 12, 2020 1:46 am

As the season rolls on, Union are actually having to look over their shoulder, and Kingsgrove’s visit represented an opportunity for the Royals to overtake them on the summit. They’d won the leg in Rozelle 2-0, and came to the Hall with a point to prove. Neither side got the result they wanted, or even a goal; an energetic, technical affair without enough bite in the final third. That leaves the Royals two points behind with a superior goal difference… and it gives Rozelle, on five straight wins and three straight clean sheets, the chance to move just six adrift, with Star in the final Champions League place. The Stallions, Twins and Hall round out the top seven, as Falkner have, sadly, fallen off the pace.

Justin Vauxhall is a man under pressure at Marque. They’re running at well under a point a game, in the last safe place before the playoff and, worse, they’re a point worse off than fucking Orient. An absolutely dismal recent run of form hasn’t helped matters, thanks in part to an overreliance on young talent like Hazeldean, Csapo, and throwing teenage winger Longshore out as a Hail Mary. Alliance are two points worse off, but four better off than the usual suspects River and Chafford, seven behind. Sapphire Bullard’s been shown the door, and they’re on just one win so far. Finbar are still on course to replace them, though they’ve lost their undefeated record.

A-LEAGUE

Pos Team                     P   W  D   L For  Ag  +/- Pts
  1 Northern Union          22  14  6   2  39  14  +25  48
  2 Kingsgrove              22  14  4   4  48  15  +33  46
  3 Rozelle                 22  13  3   6  40  27  +13  42
  4 Southern Star           22  12  4   6  35  24  +11  40
  5 Northern Stallions      22  11  5   6  42  25  +17  38
  6 Twin Saints             22   8 10   4  24  18   +6  34
  7 North Hall              22   9  7   6  22  16   +6  34
  8 Pikemouth               22   8  7   7  40  29  +11  31
  9 Lotus Park              22   8  7   7  28  37   -9  31
 10 Falkner United          22   8  5   9  30  37   -7  29
 11 Gallant Cross           22   6  7   9  28  41  -13  25
 12 Francisca Orient        22   5  6  11  19  33  -14  21
 13 Marque                  22   5  5  12  21  27   -6  20
 14 Rozelle Alliance        22   4  6  12  31  53  -22  18
 15 Snowden River           22   4  2  16   9  40  -31  14
 16 Chafford                22   1  8  13  12  32  -20  11

B-LEAGUE

Pos Team                      P   W  D   L For  Ag  +/- Pts
  1 Finbar Stalwarts         22  18  2   2  35  10  +25  56
  2 Rozelle United           22  12  8   2  39  17  +22  44
  3 Rockridge Phoenix        22  13  5   4  30  10  +20  44
  4 Rosbank Town             22  13  3   6  38  26  +12  42
  5 AFC Westpike             22  12  4   6  40  23  +17  40
  6 Southrons-Errant         22   9  6   7  33  32   +1  33
  7 Proudcastle              22   7  9   6  24  19   +5  30
  8 Scaffield                22   8  5   9  21  24   -3  29
  9 Randwick Town            22   8  3  11  23  30   -7  27
 10 Westpike United          22   6  7   9  37  38   -1  25
 11 Guilder                  22   5  7  10  22  24   -2  22
 12 AFC Swanbridge           22   5  6  11  33  40   -7  21
 13 Spearcove Mariners       22   6  3  13  25  50  -25  21
 14 Southside Wanderers      22   5  4  13  14  40  -26  19
 15 Coppersmith              22   4  6  12  18  30  -12  18
 16 Mount Roland             22   4  4  14  16  35  -19  16

C-LEAGUE

Pos Team                     P   W  D   L For  Ag  +/- Pts
  1 Otter Ferry             22  15  3   4  48  17  +31  48
  2 Fentonbridge            22  13  6   3  29  13  +16  45
  3 Saint Alexander         22  13  5   4  40  17  +23  44
  4 Endeavour Brenecia      22  12  8   2  44  24  +20  44
  5 Stonewash Town          22  12  4   6  31  15  +16  40
  6 Sharrow                 22  11  3   8  41  29  +12  36
  7 Knightstone FC          22   9  6   7  28  23   +5  33
  8 Shaleport Rangers       22  10  3   9  28  27   +1  33
  9 Chrysler Town           22   7  6   9  16  24   -8  27
 10 Stourhead               22   7  5  10  23  27   -4  26
 11 Razorback Hill          22   6  6  10  24  33   -9  24
 12 AFC Conomore            22   7  2  13  22  34  -12  23
 13 Falkner Crescent        22   7  2  13  22  41  -19  23
 14 Townsend Raiders        22   5  5  12  23  37  -14  20
 15 Marque Rovers           22   3  6  13  27  47  -20  15
 16 AFC Lancet              22   3  2  17  16  54  -38  11

D-LEAGUE

Pos Team                       P   W  D   L For  Ag  +/- Pts
  1 Rozelle Archers           22  18  4   0  69  18  +51  58
  2 Suttonstrand FC           22  14  2   6  44  26  +18  44
  3 Silvershire Town          22  12  4   6  43  28  +15  40
  4 AFC Swayback              22  11  6   5  41  28  +13  39
  5 Alexavale FC              22  11  4   7  37  35   +2  37
  6 Platwood                  22  11  3   8  41  32   +9  36
  7 Chafford Saracens         22   9  7   6  37  28   +9  34
  8 Fiana Cove                22   8  8   6  36  31   +5  32
  9 Rushden                   22  10  2  10  29  31   -2  32
 10 Heathgrove                22   6  7   9  31  39   -8  25
 11 Hall Spitfires            22   6  4  12  36  52  -16  22
 12 Glendower River           22   5  6  11  28  45  -17  21
 13 Skerrick Pathfinders      22   4  8  10  25  37  -12  20
 14 Corder Town               22   5  5  12  30  47  -17  20
 15 Fisher Kings              22   4  6  12  19  36  -17  18
 16 Falkner Wanderers         22   1  6  15  12  45  -33   9

by **Brenecia** » Sun Jul 12, 2020 5:42 am

Chafford get the same zero shots on target against Kingsgrove as you’d expect in a 2-0 defeat. Alliance and Park batter each other around the pitch for an hour and a half, Banshee Strider with a second-half hat-trick. Orient find a surprising reserve of goals, too, thrice forced to chase Pikemouth and thrice making up the distance. Hall stick four past Cross as Harvey Joyce has a throwback day.

Union clear the gap at the top to four points, edging out Pikemouth as Kingsgrove stall at Star, while the Stallions clear a three-point gap in fourth to Star themselves. Snowden finally have the performance they’ve been waiting for, easily beating Marque, and Alliance’s 4-1 slaughter of Falkner makes things worse still for the Privateers; Justin Vauxhall meets the axe, his assistant promoted in the interim as a stopgap.

Rozelle stall out to a scoreless draw in Chafford, the only side in the capital to fail to win as Kingsgrove come from behind to beat the Stallions and Alliance beat Snowden in a tense affair, Ara Klein celebrating her 38th birthday with a thumping, vicious strike from outside the box. The North Hall derby is bruising as ever, exhausting to watch. Inevitably, Union triumph through a dodgy penalty. Alliance leapfrog Orient to safety.

Evgeni Bakalov becomes the toast of Union, the Pikemouth playmaker putting his studs on Kingsgrove’s throat in a hard-fought 2-1 victory. Union easily beat Lotus Park; the gap is now seven points. Falkner and Orient are both in terrible form, and sure play like it in a scoreless draw, as Alliance extend their margin of safety to four with victory over the Twins and Snowden put pressure on from the other end by beating 10-man Cross.

Union easily take down Falkner and have by now almost sealed the title; the Rozelle derby is a scoreless stalemate, both sides ending with ten men, and it now means that Union would need to lose every game to throw away the title. It won’t happen. Chafford get their second win of the season, Ponscak stabbing home an ugly, deflected corner from Novkovic to seal the points late on at Alliance’s expense. Orient’s win narrows the gap to Alliance and Marque.

North Hall hand the title to their hated local rivals, but if it has to happen, let it happen like this; they’ve little love for the glossed-up, overpaid Royals, either, and smashing their teeth in 5-0 is a beautiful day. The margin is now 12, and Rozelle are equal on points with them after beating Marque, who are in turn leapfrogged by Orient after Kijanskas, Palmer and Hall drag out a 3-0 mugging of the Twins, all goals in the first half before slamming the gates shut in the second. Union celebrate their title after beating Snowden River, reigning champions of the LBCT, whose relegation is confirmed.

Orient’s good form comes to a sudden and violent halt, already-relegated Chafford somehow edging out a win, but Alliance can’t take advantage, a late Jackie Crawford header sinking them against Rozelle prime. Union taunt the competition by only now dropping points to the Twins; it’s little consolation to Kingsgrove, beaten by a Marque side lethal on the counter, who confirm their safety. Falkner ship five goals to Pikemouth; having only won two games since the halfway mark, they’ll be grateful not to be in the conversation.

A-LEAGUE

Pos Team                     P   W   D   L For  Ag  +/- Pts
  1 Northern Union          29  20   7   2  51  15  +36  67
  2 Rozelle                 29  17   6   6  51  31  +20  57
  3 Kingsgrove              29  16   6   7  54  25  +29  54
  4 Northern Stallions      29  15   7   7  56  31  +25  52
  5 North Hall              29  14   7   8  37  19  +18  49
  6 Southern Star           29  14   7   8  43  34   +9  49
  7 Pikemouth               29  12   8   9  56  39  +17  44
  8 Lotus Park              29  10   8  11  39  53  -14  38
  9 Twin Saints             29   8  12   9  27  31   -4  36
 10 Gallant Cross           29   9   8  12  34  50  -16  35
 11 Marque                  29   8   7  14  28  33   -5  31
 12 Falkner United          29   8   7  14  34  52  -18  31
 13 Francisca Orient        29   7   8  14  28  43  -15  29
 14 Rozelle Alliance        29   7   6  16  47  68  -21  27
 15 Snowden River           29   6   3  20  16  50  -34  21
 16 Chafford                29   3   9  17  14  41  -27  18

B-LEAGUE

Pos Team                      P   W   D   L For  Ag  +/- Pts
  1 Finbar Stalwarts         29  22   3   4  51  18  +33  69
  2 Rockridge Phoenix        29  18   7   4  44  13  +31  61
  3 AFC Westpike             29  17   6   6  59  28  +31  57
  4 Rozelle United           29  16   9   4  52  24  +28  57
  5 Rosbank Town             29  17   6   6  53  31  +22  57
  6 Southrons-Errant         29  12   8   9  51  50   +1  44
  7 Westpike United          29  10   9  10  47  46   +1  39
  8 Proudcastle              29   8  12   9  29  32   -3  36
  9 Randwick Town            29  10   4  15  29  40  -11  34
 10 Scaffield                29   9   7  13  27  42  -15  34
 11 Guilder                  29   7  10  12  31  34   -3  31
 12 AFC Swanbridge           29   7   8  14  44  50   -6  29
 13 Coppersmith              29   7   6  16  27  40  -13  27
 14 Spearcove Mariners       29   7   3  19  32  68  -36  24
 15 Southside Wanderers      29   6   5  18  17  52  -35  23
 16 Mount Roland             29   4   7  18  21  46  -25  19

C-LEAGUE

Pos Team                     P   W  D   L For  Ag  +/- Pts
  1 Otter Ferry             29  19  5   5  59  23  +36  62
  2 Endeavour Brenecia      29  17  9   3  58  25  +33  60
  3 Stonewash Town          29  18  4   7  47  19  +28  58
  4 Saint Alexander         29  17  5   7  50  22  +28  56
  5 Fentonbridge            29  15 10   4  35  19  +16  55
  6 Sharrow                 29  15  5   9  52  35  +17  50
  7 Knightstone FC          29  12  8   9  40  31   +9  44
  8 Shaleport Rangers       29  12  5  12  37  39   -2  41
  9 Chrysler Town           29  10  7  12  35  37   -2  37
 10 Razorback Hill          29   9  7  13  33  47  -14  34
 11 Stourhead               29   8  7  14  30  37   -7  31
 12 AFC Conomore            29   9  3  17  28  45  -17  30
 13 Townsend Raiders        29   6  8  15  31  48  -17  26
 14 Falkner Crescent        29   7  4  18  25  55  -30  25
 15 Marque Rovers           29   5  7  17  34  68  -34  22
 16 AFC Lancet              29   4  4  21  19  63  -44  16

D-LEAGUE

Pos Team                       P   W   D   L For  Ag  +/- Pts
  1 Rozelle Archers           29  21   5   3  81  29  +52  68
  2 Suttonstrand FC           29  20   3   6  61  30  +31  63
  3 Silvershire Town          29  18   5   6  65  31  +34  59
  4 AFC Swayback              29  13  11   5  57  39  +18  50
  5 Platwood                  29  15   4  10  50  40  +10  49
  6 Chafford Saracens         29  13   9   7  52  37  +15  48
  7 Alexavale FC              29  14   5  10  46  47   -1  47
  8 Rushden                   29  12   4  13  38  41   -3  40
  9 Fiana Cove                29  10   9  10  45  44   +1  39
 10 Heathgrove                29   9   9  11  43  50   -7  36
 11 Glendower River           29   7   8  14  39  57  -18  29
 12 Hall Spitfires            29   8   5  16  47  71  -24  29
 13 Fisher Kings              29   7   7  15  26  46  -20  28
 14 Skerrick Pathfinders      29   5   9  15  31  52  -21  24
 15 Corder Town               29   6   5  18  36  64  -28  23
 16 Falkner Wanderers         29   2   6  21  16  55  -39  12

Leading up to a final day in which … well, there’s little room for intrigue.

A-LEAGUE
Lotus Park 1-0 Kingsgrove
Rozelle Alliance 3-0 Marque
Falkner United 1-1 North Hall
Gallant Cross 0-3 Rozelle
Snowden River 0-4 Pikemouth
Francisca Orient 0-2 Northern Stallions
Twin Saints 1-2 Southern Star
Northern Union 4-0 Chafford

While there’s some amusement to be found in the fact that Kingsgrove lose again to continue an absolutely wretched close to the season and contrive to come fourth in a two-horse race, and that the Union’s victory lap against Chafford ends in a predictable 4-0,

B-LEAGUE
Southside Wanderers 2-0 Guilder
Mount Roland 0-1 Proudcastle
Randwick Town 2-2 Westpike United
Spearcove Mariners 2-1 AFC Swanbridge
Scaffield 0-1 Coppersmith
Finbar Stalwarts 0-1 AFC Westpike
Rosbank Town 1-2 Rozelle United
Rockridge Phoenix 2-1 Southrons-Errant

Westpike go into the match holding third on goal difference, but the draw could not be worse; they visit runaway champions Finbar. But striker McKinsey plays provider for Lazuli Moore to round Clut and drive home the only goal of the game in the 22nd minute, and they hold on grimly. Spearcove and Southside, wretched all season, pull out final victories; Spearcove end narrowly on top. Finbar and the Phoenix are back in the top flight; Southside succumb, Mount Roland go straight back down.

C-LEAGUE
Sharrow 4-0 Shaleport Rangers
Falkner Crescent 0-1 Fentonbridge
Marque Rovers 0-1 Knightstone FC
Chrysler Town 1-1 Endeavour Brenecia
Stourhead 1-2 Stonewash Town
Saint Alexander 1-1 Otter Ferry
Razorback Hill 1-0 AFC Lancet
Townsend Raiders 2-0 AFC Conomore

D-LEAGUE
Rozelle Archers 1-1 Suttonstrand FC
Silvershire Town 2-1 Fisher Kings
Heathgrove 6-0 Glendower River
Falkner Wanderers 4-1 Hall Spitfires
Skerrick Pathfinders 0-1 Alexavale FC
AFC Swayback 4-1 Corder Town
Platwood 3-2 Rushden
Fiana Cove 0-3 Chafford Saracens

The only foreigners that care about the semi-professional leagues are gambling addicts. It’s not too late to get help.

PLAYOFFS
Falkner Crescent 1-0 Silvershire Town
Spearcove Mariners 2-2 Stonewash Town (3-3 AET, 4-5 pens)
Francisca Orient 1-2 AFC Westpike

Spearcove’s win is for nothing, though a brilliant, bludgeoning affair against Stonewash is a good way to go out. Westpike actually have an attacking thrust, and don’t get disheartened when poor marking at a corner lets Rondeau head home an equaliser just before half-time. They dominate the second half, go out for blood, and Crowley Mathers’ blocked shot is driven home by the opportunistic winger Satordi Antoqana to bring the shag-lovers back.

CROWN CUP
Relegated Orient, predictably, get cleaned out against a Union side in search of the treble. Well, they’re one step closer.

FRANCISCA ORIENT 0 - 2 NORTHERN UNION

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE FINAL
For all their dominance, domestic concerns have not been the priority for Northern Union, and inexperienced manager Dani Pendragon’s sights have been set on IFCF glory from the beginning. Union and Soldarian may not be the most heralded final, but Soldarian’s star defender - the veteran Garwyn Varney, a world champion with Brenecia - knows more than most about the power of an underdog. Soldarian’s might is frontloaded, and early on, Anton Dimitrov gives Cass Farrell a taste, scorching her fingertips with a low, powerful strike. Farrell’s furious with her midfield for laying off the pressure; they take the lesson to heart, and powerhouse midfielder Vincent Robshaw finds his way into the book just fourteen minutes in. No fear, though; when he dispossesses Blueman fairly a couple minutes later and sets Tambor to start shuttling down the right, he starts a move he will finish within the minute, surging into the box at the right moment to meet Pace’s cutback with full force, rifling low past Nygard with a slight bend that leaves him without a chance.

The rest of a concussive first half is rather less than easy on the eye; Union get what they want. And soon after the break, they get what they need. Cu Roi Garrard steams in on goal and tries a cutback, but Varney’s there, flying in to deny his old teammate with a scything sliding tackle that sends the ball out for a corner. But a corner is no respite against a powerful, disciplined Union; Apelles duly finds the colossal Horgan in the sea of bodies, who crashes home Union’s second. Now, Soldarian are in full charge mode; Jawara tests Farrell sorely with a strike deflected off Horgan’s shin, the goalkeeper scrambling to cover. Dimitrov and Parsa snatch at chances, once they’ll remember. But Dimitrov does at last make good, eighty-one minutes in; a cross from the left finds its way to him, somehow unmarked. He shapes for a functional rather than beautiful volley, smacked down into the ground on its way over the sprawling Farrell. Jawara rushes for the ball, and winds up in a shoving match with Horgan; all well and good, but in the melee, Tambor gets in a sneaky elbow on substitute Vilde Eriksson’s head that he must have assumed the referee missed. But the shag, Martel Streiber, doesn’t miss a damn thing, though his skilfully permissive refereeing has been a boon to Union throughout, and down the tunnel in disgrace goes Tambor. Brun Carrack rolls on for Apelles, the 35-year old tossed the armband and sent to her wrong flank. One last job, for another World Champion. All Union have to do is hold firm for ten minutes.

As if they hadn’t been doing that all season.

NORTHERN UNION 2 - 1 SOLDARIAN FC

A-LEAGUE

Pos Team                     P   W   D   L For  Ag  +/- Pts
  1 Northern Union          30  21   7   2  55  15  +40  70
  2 Rozelle                 30  18   6   6  54  31  +23  60
  3 Northern Stallions      30  16   7   7  58  31  +27  55
  4 Kingsgrove              30  16   6   8  54  26  +28  54
  5 Southern Star           30  15   7   8  45  35  +10  52
  6 North Hall              30  14   8   8  38  20  +18  50
  7 Pikemouth               30  13   8   9  60  39  +21  47
  8 Lotus Park              30  11   8  11  40  53  -13  41
  9 Twin Saints             30   8  12  10  28  33   -5  36
 10 Gallant Cross           30   9   8  13  34  53  -19  35
 11 Falkner United          30   8   8  14  35  53  -18  32
 12 Marque                  30   8   7  15  28  36   -8  31
 13 Rozelle Alliance        30   8   6  16  50  68  -18  30
 14 Francisca Orient        30   7   8  15  28  45  -17  29
 15 Snowden River           30   6   3  21  16  54  -38  21
 16 Chafford                30   3   9  18  14  45  -31  18

AWARDS
Golden Boot (Goals Scored): Andre Naulo (NTS) - 19
Golden Ball (Player of the Year): Vincent Robshaw (NTU)
Golden Fist (New Player of the Year): Oscar Veloso (KNG)
Golden Heart (U-21 Player of the Year): Ronan Schofield (ROZ)
Team of the Year: Eduun (NTS); Weaver (NTH), Chaumancer (NTU), Veloso (KNG), Levaani (ROZ); Perrodien (ROZ), Robshaw (NTU), Apelles (NTU); Ellis (STS), Naulo (NTS), Rourke (NTS)
Manager of the Year: Medda Ringbill (GLC)

B-LEAGUE

Pos Team                      P   W   D   L For  Ag  +/- Pts
  1 Finbar Stalwarts         30  22   3   5  51  19  +32  69
  2 Rockridge Phoenix        30  19   7   4  46  14  +32  64
  3 AFC Westpike             30  18   6   6  60  28  +32  60
  4 Rozelle United           30  17   9   4  54  25  +29  60
  5 Rosbank Town             30  17   6   7  54  33  +21  57
  6 Southrons-Errant         30  12   8  10  52  52   +0  44
  7 Westpike United          30  10  10  10  49  48   +1  40
  8 Proudcastle              30   9  12   9  30  32   -2  39
  9 Randwick Town            30  10   5  15  31  42  -11  35
 10 Scaffield                30   9   7  14  27  43  -16  34
 11 Guilder                  30   7  10  13  31  36   -5  31
 12 Coppersmith              30   8   6  16  28  40  -12  30
 13 AFC Swanbridge           30   7   8  15  45  52   -7  29
 14 Spearcove Mariners       30   8   3  19  34  69  -35  27
 15 Southside Wanderers      30   7   5  18  19  52  -33  26
 16 Mount Roland             30   4   7  19  21  47  -26  19

C-LEAGUE

Pos Team                     P   W  D   L For  Ag  +/- Pts
  1 Otter Ferry             30  19  6   5  60  24  +36  63
  2 Endeavour Brenecia      30  17 10   3  59  26  +33  61
  3 Stonewash Town          30  19  4   7  49  20  +29  61
  4 Fentonbridge            30  16 10   4  36  19  +17  58
  5 Saint Alexander         30  17  6   7  51  23  +28  57
  6 Sharrow                 30  16  5   9  56  35  +21  53
  7 Knightstone FC          30  13  8   9  41  31  +10  47
  8 Shaleport Rangers       30  12  5  13  37  43   -6  41
  9 Chrysler Town           30  10  8  12  36  38   -2  38
 10 Razorback Hill          30  10  7  13  34  47  -13  37
 11 Stourhead               30   8  7  15  31  39   -8  31
 12 AFC Conomore            30   9  3  18  28  47  -19  30
 13 Townsend Raiders        30   7  8  15  33  48  -15  29
 14 Falkner Crescent        30   7  4  19  25  56  -31  25
 15 Marque Rovers           30   5  7  18  34  69  -35  22
 16 AFC Lancet              30   4  4  22  19  64  -45  16

D-LEAGUE

Pos Team                       P   W   D   L For  Ag  +/- Pts
  1 Rozelle Archers           30  21   6   3  82  30  +52  69
  2 Suttonstrand FC           30  20   4   6  62  31  +31  64
  3 Silvershire Town          30  19   5   6  67  32  +35  62
  4 AFC Swayback              30  14  11   5  61  40  +21  53
  5 Platwood                  30  16   4  10  53  42  +11  52
  6 Chafford Saracens         30  14   9   7  55  37  +18  51
  7 Alexavale FC              30  15   5  10  47  47   +0  50
  8 Rushden                   30  12   4  14  40  44   -4  40
  9 Heathgrove                30  10   9  11  49  50   -1  39
 10 Fiana Cove                30  10   9  11  45  47   -2  39
 11 Glendower River           30   7   8  15  39  63  -24  29
 12 Hall Spitfires            30   8   5  17  48  75  -27  29
 13 Fisher Kings              30   7   7  16  27  48  -21  28
 14 Skerrick Pathfinders      30   5   9  16  31  53  -22  24
 15 Corder Town               30   6   5  19  37  68  -31  23
 16 Falkner Wanderers         30   3   6  21  20  56  -36  15

by **Brenecia** » Sat Oct 03, 2020 6:16 pm

A-LEAGUE CYCLE 77

Stadium: The Shieldwall (15,000)
Nickname: the Stalwarts
Manager: Lyn Crowley
Starting XI: (5-3-2) 1 - Marian Clut (27); 18 - Cooper Wainwright (27), 5 - Wulfric Pearce (27), 2 - Jakob Huesch (32), 19 - Kira Carlisle (24, c), 3 - Edwina Strijd (27); 21 - Edlin Bernau (25), 8 - Rurik Diamantas (24), 11 - Memphis Commons (25), 9 - Kalevi Halena (22), 22 - Brighton Mattheus (24)
In: Memphis Commons (FC Samotath, 3m), Edwina Strijd (De Commons, 1.5m), Edlin Bernau (Yassaca, 1.5m), Cooper Wainwright (Marque, free)
Out: Ovidijus Stubbs (FC Novonaya, free), Oran Drummoyne (Dalmarnock Rovers, free)
Retired: Laurentzi Urionaguena (CM, 36, AUD)

BACKGROUND
Originally a tiny fishing town on Brenecia's south coast, Finbar has been swollen by the influx of Buyanese asylum seekers over the years, and is now a fairly respectable port. The progress of the Stalwarts, its only professional club, has been similarly abrupt, and they've been bankrolled to the top with ambitions to stay there. They've been unapologetically direct and route-one throughout, and there's a marked contrast between the lovely boutique stadium and the carefully maintained swamp in its centre. The consortium backing them bought important land before prices exploded; they believe there's still plenty of scope to grow.

PREVIEW
On paper, it looked like Finbar had a solid if unspectacular core, many of them with A-League experience from their last stint. “Continuity is our watchword,” Lyn Crowley - another holdover from before - pledged. Memphis Commons looked like a compelling X-Factor, a Ceynes international with good experience in Cosumar.

REVIEW
It took Finbar twelve matches to win their first game, a messy 1-0 over Gallant Cross. They’ve scored just six goals. People not named Kalevi Halena have scored precisely two. The Stalwarts have dug themselves into a pit, and it’s difficult to see a way out. No matter what happens, Lyn Crowley is too unemployed to see it through with them. On the whole, the side just look callow in a league where experience often shines.

Stadium: The Vantage (22,000)
Nickname: Phoenix
Manager: Eloisa Motherford
Starting XI (4-4-2): 12 - Eidren Kalitas (27); 2 - Gabriel Farahani (28), 22 - Dean Zivkovic (28), 6 - Rolf Neill (30), 3 - Eve Reeve (21); 5 - Tremaine Barton (26), 13 - Sharon Erskine (22); 23 - Kristina Midtjaer (22), 11 - Ashling Brooks (22), 15 - Aife Redding (24); 9 - Jagoda Kovacevic (28)
In: Dean Živković (AC Holmenkollen, 3m), Sharon Erskine (Usmer, 3m), Jagoda Kovačević (Eastweald, 2m), Kristina Midtjaer (Dynamo Sjoedrhavn, 2m), Gabriel Farahani (ASC Arvika, 2m), Eve Reeve (Callodown, 1m)
Out: Joseph Harlin (Spearcove Mariners, free), Taggart Lane (Falkner United, free), Mort Dixon (Mancodas Athletic FC, free), Clement Nestor (Bikarish, free)
Retired: Iker Ariztondo (ST, 35, AUD), Sjurd Eichhorn (CB, 35, SRS)

BACKGROUND
Formerly Ridgeway United, a side that won a title early in the A-League’s life cycle. Then financial reality set in and they crashed and burned to the very bottom of the pyramid, only rising back up after rebranding and refurbishing.

PREVIEW
Easily the most interesting preseason of any side, the glorious return of Phoenix was presaged by, well… by a lot of money going to a lot of names, trying to paper over a thin squad for whom promotion had arrived earlier than expected. Six players, all expected to have key roles and needing to hit the ground running. That’s on-paper sure things like the Pasargans, up-and-comers like the Eurans and Midtjaer, mixed in with very ordinary players like Barton and Neill.

REVIEW
On the one hand the attack hasn’t fired, they’ve scored just ten goals, the fewest bar Finbar. It isn’t Kovacevic’s fault; she’s been starved of service. Fuck’s sake, she’s used to being at Eastweald. Midtjaer’s done decently after a rocky start, less so the locals going forward. Sharon Erskine has been one of the leading lights of the league so far, however, and is an essential part of Motherford’s hard-running system. They’re staying the course.

Stadium: Sandwash (26,000)
Nickname: the Kingfishers
Manager: Chandra Nalaar
Starting XI (4-3-3): 1 - Grace Connolly (25); 2 - Alexander Caulder (25), 4 - Ava Ramsay (30), 6 - Simen Haukland (33, c), 3 - Miles Austic (29); 21 - Brii Muuren (27), 23 - Kerr Ramirez (30), 11 - Evgeni Bakalov (27); 7 - Jamie Edwards (27); 9 - Graham Petrie (28), 13 - Simon Kvaal (28)
In: Jamie Edwards (Holdenberg, 2.5m), Miles Austic (Royal Garo, 1.5m), Chris Byrnford (Lotus Park, 750k)
Promoted: Tristan Redmond (LW, 20)
Out: Dani Maddox (New Bastion, 2.5m), Corann Ghillis (Twin Saints, 2m), Keriwyn Brighton (Sporting Jaglan, free), Byron Cashion (Ashburn United, free)

BACKGROUND
Arguably the smallest of Westpike's three major sides, but undeniably the most successful; Pikemouth have inexplicably but consistently punched above their weight over the years, success begetting more success, careful investment and custodianship the key. The three-way struggle for dominance in Westpike is one of the more vicious at times, but the Fisherkings can console themselves with being by a distance the most successful. For all the flowery name, the club's identity is built on the Brenecian values of hard work and team play; not for them the flamboyant mainland-loving Westpike.

PREVIEW
The glory days were past for Pikemouth, the league evolved (mercifully) past a place where a few experienced journeymen and a basic disciplined plan were all it took. But the side arrived in the new season looking promising. Chandra Nalaar knew discipline, sure - former referee, after all - but the injection of Jamie Edwards looked genuinely thrilling in an attack that had aspired to more than just hanging off the last man and countering.

REVIEW
In practice, this has meant they’ve been constantly countered by guys hanging off the last man. Pikemouth lost their first five games by a combined score of 14-1, and while that was a tough stretch on the whole that still included a 4-0 pulping at ahome by lowly Gallant Cross. If you consider that a weird blip, Nalaar’s done well to stabilise the team since that aberration. But they’ve left themselves a fair way to catch up to sixth.

Stadium: Royal Park (42,000)
Nickname: the Royals
Manager: Lilith Fife
Starting XI (4-3-3): 20 - Mia Ria (29); 2 - Eloise Kielseng (30), 6 - Markus Costello (28), 22 - Oscar Veloso (26), 3 - Aureliana Kaba (28); 7 - Claire Ruskin (29, c), 4 - Roisin Staunton (32), 13 - Dreigiau Parrish (22); 10 - Tamara Fowler (27), 9 - Michael Ribbeck (25), 11 - Setanta Ashvane (24)
In: Mia Ria (Cassandra City, 5m)
Promoted: Sonorous Lark (GK, 19)
Out: Felicity Wentworth (Francisca Orient, 1m)
Retired: Marcia Bannatyne (GK, 38)

BACKGROUND
The southern powerhouse of Brenecia, but perhaps not even the biggest side in Rozelle; still, Kingsgrove are a symbol, and the natural arch-rival to Union. The insufferable talk of the Southern Way - trust in youth, focus on pace and vivacious attack - pervades the atmosphere, and in fairness the club has produced many of the nation's finest players and managers while continuing to achieve success both domestically and abroad. While their catchment is in theory only Rozelle's richer districts, their youth scouts will pluck anyone from anywhere, and they're the favoured club of many rural southern sides too small to have a professional side of their own - much like Union, in the north.

PREVIEW
How do you recover from a poor season mired in fourth? Lose two goalkeepers and recruit one, apparently. But you can see where the logic lies. As is traditional, the Royals have a young and vibrant squad, elevated by the likes of goal machine Ribbeck and hard-nosed midfielder Ruskin. And Ria is one of the elite echelon of goalkeepers in the game at the moment, and able to play the passing game Fife wants to instil.

REVIEW
7th at the halfway mark is just unacceptable. With the coefficient where it is, that isn’t even in the IFCF places! Ribbeck’s kept firing, leading the charts on a faintly obscene 13 goals at the moment… but where is the support? If they don’t shape up, next season looms as a crossroads; will the likes of Dreigiau Parrish decide their ambitions are best served abroad, like Lauren Cheney before him? Or will the Royals accept that Union and even Rozelle are cantering ahead, and make moves to chase them down? Lilith Fife won’t be there to see it unless things improve, and one suspects were she not a former scion of the club she’d be out already.

Stadium: The New Road (24,000)
Nickname: the Stallions
Manager: Tana Colbright
Starting XI (4-3-3): 12 - Dinii Eduun (33); 2 - Caithe Shepherd (23), 5 - Keane Mathers (28), 6 - Russ Linvoy (33, c), 18 - Deimne Watermark (23); 21 - Cheney Deal (23), 8 - Pagan Redweald (32), 7 - Cyper Corr (22); 13 - Sherry Lockston (28), 9 - Andre Naulo (29), 11 - Monika Rourke (28)
Promoted: Larissa Ensign (RB, 18)
Out: Lois Pennant (Felswyr, 4.5m)

BACKGROUND
Formerly 'North Rathia', reflecting where they hail from; specifically, the north is mining territory, the more verdant and poorer south is farmland. The north likes to mock the south for its poverty, in a 'tallest pygmy in the village' kind of way, though both resent the big cities. The Stallions' history is starker than Star's; they were little use prior to their rebrand, but have been a constant presence at the top since. Based out of the northern crossroads of Ironstone, which is, appropriately, the centre of the mining trade east of the Hall. Once won the title and immediately lost 8-0 to Union due to a series of arrests and violent hangovers in the title party.

PREVIEW
Tana Colbright openly kvetched about the lack of investment, saying her team was ‘running on fumes’. Well, perhaps; but the side certainly looks like it has momentum on its side, young and fresh and full of ideas. Unless, of course, the continuity is making it stale. Still, there’s steadiness at the back, goals up front through Naulo and a lot of 23-year olds with a smattering of Brenecia caps.

REVIEW
Thus far, it’s been a resounding success story for the Stallions, though they may become victims of the Champions League drawbridge being pulled up. Draws against Union and Kingsgrove indicate they’re in a place to challenge the best, but they’ve also dropped points against smaller clubs a more clinical side would be burying. Naulo shoulders too much of the goalscoring burden, at present… but these are nitpicks. 4th, realistically, is fine. It’s just a shame for their fans that the team right in front of them is...

Stadium: Pride’s Run (24,000)
Nickname: the Lions
Manager: Orson Faulkner
Starting XI: (4-4-2) 12 - Cole Bruin (32); 2 - Fiona Marquess (32), 5 - Yelto-Alfan Ono (30), 6 - Gareth Krane (33), 3 - Blanka Antunovic (28); 15 - Dominic Ellis (31), 4 - Mathieu Corgnet (30), 8 - Esther Caitiff (23), 16 - Aidan Loxley (21); 9 - Sebastian Carreno (26), 10 - Charlie Gray (23)
In: Sebastián Carreño (Nacional, 7.5m), Mathiu Corgnet (FC Maritime Westporte, 3m), Blanka Antunović (Real Azuris, 3m), Axelv-Zorno Ivo (KFQ Qavazujzy, free)
Promoted: Chulainn Bauer (ST, 19)
Out: Casey Giltanan (Workers Union, 5m), Carsten Seymour (Crater Town, 1.5m)
Retired: Rico Hemnes (CM, 35, SCT), Clementine Raven (LB, 35, MRT/BRE), Jorm Vahn (ST, 36, MRN)

BACKGROUND
Once 'South Rathia', the Lions bear the unfortunate distinction of having suffered the worst ever A-League season, attaining just three points over thirty miserable matches. The rebrand in its wake was as much about rebuilding a project that had turned stale, and more effectively rebasing in Lastcreek, the southern keystone of the sprawling Rathia region. On the pitch, a focus on doing a lot with a little has been replaced; they have the cash to throw, now. Their rivals are Northern Stallions (nee North Rathia), for fairly clear-cut reasons.

PREVIEW
The fancy new stadium is up, and now Star are, it seems, ready to bankroll to secure their future. In a year where many of the top sides played it safe, Star went in heavy, the sale of deeply promising defender Giltanan to secure experienced sure things a sign of where their thinking lies. Orson Faulkner reckons they can go for the throat this season. But they haven’t just splashed cash mindlessly, either; there’s a sturdy defensive line, a series of veterans who aren’t losing their touch, backed by enough young industry to track back and stretch teams going forward.

REVIEW
They opened their year with about as bad a draw as possible, facing Union, Rozelle and the Stallions in quick succession and getting three draws. And then, well… then they hit their stride, massacring teams, absolutely putting them to the sword. Corgnet and Gray each have ten goals in a truly even strike partnership, with Caitiff finding new heights as a box-to-box midfielder, adding goals to her game where they weren’t before. The only concern is at the back, where they seem a little behind their contemporaries. But this is an exceptional start.

Stadium: Redemption Park (50,000)
Nickname: Union
Manager: Dani Pendragon
Starting XI (4-2-3-1): 1 - Cass Farrell (29); 2 - Sorcha Lonergan (26), 5 - Horatius Chaumancer (28), 6 - Garrett Horgan (32), 19 - Valence Ilya (28); 8 - Vincent Robshaw (26), 4 - Viola Capodanno (32, c); 21 - Cu Roi Garrard (30), 15 - Calindra Apelles (26), 10 - Tricia Pace (23); 9 - Vega Zeale-Riddick (32)
In: Valence Ilya (Eastweald, 6m)
Promoted: Pandora Finnerty (RB, 18)
Out: Alexandra Firth (Miners FC, 3m)
Retired: Brun Carrack (RB, 35), Glenn Murnane (GK, 36)

BACKGROUND
Union are the biggest show in town. Everyone knows it. You're either with Union or against them, because they've specialised in taking all the big prizes and not made many friends along the way. Owned and fuelled by a mining magnate and favoured by the working class across North Hall and its surroundings, Union buy great players and back it up with ruthless, disciplined defence, and unapologetic gamesmanship. Famously, they were stripped of their 66 title and relegated to the fourth tier when they were found guilty of match-fixing, but they've recovered from that humiliation with suspicious pace. Still, even the hardest-hearted Brenecian has to admit that they do wonders for the UICA coefficient. Union's fiercest rival is Kingsgrove, their opposites in almost every way, but they hate bougie local North Hall as well.

PREVIEW
The reigning domestic and world champions and for good reason. In a league where very few teams can nail together a squad of eleven truly great players, Union have sixteen. They’re built to fight on every front, ruthlessly shutting down opponents with their disciplined, brutish defence, and what can be forgotten is that they have a genuinely world-class midfield triangle of Robshaw, Capodanno and Apelles that can outclass any team in the world. And, well, just did last season.

REVIEW
“The season’s a failure,” Dani Pendragon said flippantly after a 2-0 derby defeat to Hall, and that helps dislodge the tension. That’s the level of dominance Union have become accustomed to. But they were legitimately outplayed in defeat to Rozelle, and a couple other times have looked mortal. But that’s not to say they haven’t looked the strongest outfit in the league. They have, all across the pitch, with perhaps the slowing of the diva, Zeale-Riddick, the only point of concern.

A-LEAGUE

Pos Team                     P  W  D  L For  Ag  +/- Pts
  1 Northern Union          15 10  3  2  24  11  +13  33
  2 Rozelle                 15  8  6  1  24  11  +13  30
  3 Southern Star           15  8  5  2  33  19  +14  29
  4 Northern Stallions      15  7  6  2  23  15   +8  27
  5 Marque                  15  7  4  4  27  20   +7  25
  6 North Hall              15  5 10  0  19  12   +7  25
  7 Kingsgrove              15  6  5  4  29  19  +10  23
  8 Lotus Park              15  6  3  6  22  20   +2  21
  9 Gallant Cross           15  4  6  5  18  20   -2  18
 10 Rozelle Alliance        15  5  2  8  21  27   -6  17
 11 Pikemouth               15  4  4  7  19  25   -6  16
 12 Rockridge Phoenix       15  4  4  7  10  18   -8  16
 13 AFC Westpike            15  3  4  8  14  24  -10  13
 14 Twin Saints             15  3  4  8  16  27  -11  13
 15 Falkner United          15  3  2 10  13  28  -15  11
 16 Finbar Stalwarts        15  1  4 10   6  22  -16   7

B-LEAGUE

Pos Team                     P   W  D   L For  Ag  +/- Pts
  1 Royal Westpike          15  13  1   1  41  14  +27  40
  2 Francisca Orient        15   9  3   3  32  15  +17  30
  3 Rosbank Town            15   7  6   2  24  18   +6  27
  4 Southrons-Errant        15   8  2   5  29  17  +12  26
  5 Rozelle United          15   7  5   3  28  20   +8  26
  6 Chafford                15   8  2   5  22  21   +1  26
  7 Scaffield               15   6  6   3  26  19   +7  24
  8 Snowden River           15   6  5   4  26  17   +9  23
  9 Proudcastle             15   6  5   4  17  15   +2  23
 10 Coppersmith             15   5  5   5  16  20   -4  20
 11 Guilder                 15   5  4   6  12  15   -3  19
 12 AFC Swanbridge          15   4  0  11  25  37  -12  12
 13 Stonewash Town          15   3  3   9  12  25  -13  12
 14 Randwick Town           15   2  3  10  18  28  -10   9
 15 Endeavour Brenecia      15   2  3  10  14  37  -23   9
 16 Otter Ferry             15   0  5  10  15  39  -24   5

C-LEAGUE

Pos Team                      P   W  D   L For  Ag  +/- Pts
  1 Saint Alexander          15  11  3   1  22   7  +15  36
  2 Spearcove Mariners       15   9  4   2  29  10  +19  31
  3 Shaleport Rangers        15   9  4   2  24  13  +11  31
  4 Rozelle Archers          15   8  3   4  27  17  +10  27
  5 Fentonbridge             15   8  3   4  22  12  +10  27
  6 Mount Roland             15   7  3   5  17  12   +5  24
  7 Stourhead                15   6  4   5  15  11   +4  22
  8 Sharrow                  15   5  5   5  18  19   -1  20
  9 Razorback Hill           15   4  6   5  12  14   -2  18
 10 Chrysler Town            15   5  2   8  24  29   -5  17
 11 AFC Conomore             15   5  2   8  14  19   -5  17
 12 Knightstone FC           15   4  4   7  13  23  -10  16
 13 Townsend Raiders         15   2  9   4  15  19   -4  15
 14 Southside Wanderers      15   1  7   7  12  21   -9  10
 15 Suttonstrand FC          15   2  3  10  10  23  -13   9
 16 Falkner Crescent         15   2  2  11  11  36  -25   8

D-LEAGUE

Pos Team                       P  W  D   L For  Ag  +/- Pts
  1 Glendower River           15 10  2   3  41  17  +24  32
  2 Platwood                  15 10  2   3  31  21  +10  32
  3 Silvershire Town          15 10  0   5  32  20  +12  30
  4 AFC Swayback              15  9  2   4  36  20  +16  29
  5 Fiana Cove                15  8  5   2  35  19  +16  29
  6 Chafford Saracens         15  9  2   4  25  17   +8  29
  7 Alnwick Glade             15  8  2   5  32  22  +10  26
  8 Rushden                   15  6  2   7  21  20   +1  20
  9 Heathgrove                15  6  1   8  19  20   -1  19
 10 Marque Rovers             15  5  3   7  22  25   -3  18
 11 AFC Cairnshore            15  4  5   6  15  21   -6  17
 12 AFC Lancet                15  4  3   8  20  36  -16  15
 13 Hall Spitfires            15  4  2   9  18  33  -15  14
 14 Alexavale FC              15  3  4   8  19  37  -18  13
 15 Skerrick Pathfinders      15  3  2  10  20  27   -7  11
 16 Fisher Kings              15  1  3  11  13  44  -31   6

by **Brenecia** » Sat Oct 03, 2020 6:39 pm

Things didn’t take long to get silly, with Westpike’s hitherto sturdy defence being ripped to shreds in a record 11-1 - yes, you’re reading that right - defeat to Kingsgrove. It was only 3-0 by half-time. Many fans twiied they hoped it wouldn’t be six by the end, and, well… they’d probably have taken it, when red cards to Hagaz and Coalfield meant Westpike were run absolutely ragged by the end, goalkeeper Aideen Carman visibly seeming to buckle to her knees and sob into the grass after Ribbeck’s fourth and Kingsgrove’s tenth slipped right through her fingers.

It was Carman’s last league appearance of the season, but Malakai Rookwood despite doing well enough for himself couldn’t revive Westpike’s fortunes; with only the final game left to play, Westpike are already locked into third-last. It could be worse. For Falkner and Finbar, it is; they’re down already, with the Stalwarts worthy of particular scorn for scoring just fourteen times all season. And that means that a number of sides can breathe sighs of relief; Phoenix, for whom relegation would have meant a financial implosion, definitely have some shopping to do in the window but were able to coast their powerful defence to safety, while Gallant Cross stay up thanks to back-to-back wins (convincing, too, 3-0 and 3-1) over the Stallions and Rozelle. Troegner’s already catching eyes, but the board are adamant; she stays, she develops, she will one day be sold for double digit multimillions.

Going into the last day, a four-way battle has emerged for the final two Challengers Cup places, and Marque just need a point against Westpike to clinch it. For the other three, failure will cap a disappointing season, hugely so for a Kingsgrove side that failed to kick on after the Westpike Incident. Anothre three-way battle has emerged for the two Champions League places. The Rathian sides, Star and Stallions, have kept their earlier momentum. Star in particular just don’t stop scoring. And currently, precariously, in second is… Union?

It isn’t as if there’s any shame to drawing to their bitter rivals, Kingsgrove, or losing to the Stallions, or Rozelle, or even Marque in this form. Not in isolation. But those were three consecutive defeats in a run of six games without a win, where the legs just seemed to go underneath jaded veterans and the unit stopped functioning… and Rozelle had no such blip, going from strength to strength. In the end, the Saints won the league at a canter. Nothing fancy. No big climax. Just pure consistency and the stamina to reach the end without blinking.

The theme appeared to be redemption for the Cup this season, setting up a Falkner derby in the final. Lotus Park have had a mediocre season, the kind that can only really be redeemed or livened up at all by a Cup run; knocking off Kingsgrove on the way proves they have the chops. Falkner, meanwhile, overcame Endeavour Brenecia after a startling 8-4 home leg, an Endeavour side struggling to make sense of immediate relegation out of the professional leagues - this after the Hunters stomped Union 4-0, and 7-2 on aggregate, in matches that may have proven the catalyst for Union’s staggering domestic decline. Park go in as favourites, as well as, unlike the Hunters, still being an A-League side.

A-LEAGUE

Pos Team                     P   W   D   L For  Ag  +/- Pts
  1 Rozelle                 29  19   7   3  52  21  +31  64
  2 Northern Union          29  14   9   6  42  26  +16  51
  3 Southern Star           29  14   8   7  58  33  +25  50
  4 Northern Stallions      29  13  11   5  43  28  +15  50
  5 Marque                  29  12   9   8  41  33   +8  45
  6 Kingsgrove              29  11   9   9  61  41  +20  42
  7 North Hall              29   9  15   5  33  29   +4  42
  8 Pikemouth               29  11   8  10  42  40   +2  41
  9 Lotus Park              29  11   5  13  45  46   -1  38
 10 Rockridge Phoenix       29   9   8  12  24  32   -8  35
 11 Rozelle Alliance        29  10   5  14  37  51  -14  35
 12 Twin Saints             29   9   7  13  32  47  -15  34
 13 Gallant Cross           29   8   8  13  34  43   -9  32
 14 AFC Westpike            29   6  10  13  32  56  -24  28
 15 Falkner United          29   6   6  17  26  50  -24  24
 16 Finbar Stalwarts        29   4   7  18  14  40  -26  19

B-LEAGUE

Pos Team                     P   W   D   L For  Ag  +/- Pts
  1 Royal Westpike          29  23   4   2  73  23  +50  73
  2 Francisca Orient        29  15   8   6  50  24  +26  53
  3 Southrons-Errant        29  16   4   9  61  36  +25  52
  4 Chafford                29  15   6   8  42  32  +10  51
  5 Snowden River           29  12  11   6  43  25  +18  47
  6 Rosbank Town            29  12   9   8  44  38   +6  45
  7 Rozelle United          29  11  11   7  43  32  +11  44
  8 Proudcastle             29  12   7  10  32  33   -1  43
  9 Coppersmith             29  11   9   9  33  36   -3  42
 10 Guilder                 29  11   7  11  28  29   -1  40
 11 Scaffield               29   8  13   8  44  36   +8  37
 12 Stonewash Town          29   9   5  15  29  53  -24  32
 13 AFC Swanbridge          29   6   5  18  37  58  -21  23
 14 Endeavour Brenecia      29   5   6  18  27  66  -39  21
 15 Randwick Town           29   5   5  19  28  48  -20  20
 16 Otter Ferry             29   2   8  19  22  67  -45  14

by **Brenecia** » Sat Oct 03, 2020 6:59 pm

A-LEAGUE FINALE
Lotus Park 1-4 Kingsgrove
AFC Westpike 0-0 Marque
Rockridge Phoenix 0-2 North Hall
Finbar Stalwarts 1-1 Rozelle
Rozelle Alliance 0-1 Pikemouth
Falkner United 1-5 Northern Stallions
Gallant Cross 0-3 Southern Star
Twin Saints 0-1 Northern Union

Okay, so Union didn’t choke quite that hard. In fact, everyone got the results they needed, which of course meant several missed out; Marque’s point was all they needed, while the other sides in the IFCF hunt all beat ones outside of it. Russ Shorten announces he’ll leave North Hall minutes after securing a victory over Rockridge that is only good enough for 7th; Kingsgrove announce Lilith Fife’s resignation minutes after victory over Lotus Park is only good enough for 6th, which it turns out is jumping the gun a bit as Fife goes to Twii to resolutely deny she jumped. Further acrimony aside, Rozelle celebrate victory by drawing to the side that have been bottom-feeding basically all season.

B-LEAGUE FINALE
Proudcastle 2-2 Guilder
Stonewash Town 2-1 Royal Westpike
Endeavour Brenecia 0-1 AFC Swanbridge
Otter Ferry 0-1 Coppersmith
Chafford 3-1 Rozelle United
Snowden River 2-0 Southrons-Errant
Francisca Orient 1-0 Rosbank Town
Randwick Town 1-0 Scaffield

C-LEAGUE FINALE
Sharrow 1-2 Shaleport Rangers
Suttonstrand FC 0-1 Fentonbridge
Rozelle Archers 1-1 Knightstone FC
Mount Roland 0-0 AFC Conomore
Southside Wanderers 1-2 Townsend Raiders
Spearcove Mariners 1-1 Razorback Hill
Falkner Crescent 0-1 Saint Alexander
Chrysler Town 1-1 Stourhead

D-LEAGUE FINALE
Glendower River 2-1 Fisher Kings
AFC Lancet 0-0 Hall Spitfires
Marque Rovers 2-1 Alexavale FC
Silvershire Town 3-0 Alnwick Glade
Heathgrove 0-1 Rushden
AFC Cairnshore 1-1 Chafford Saracens
Skerrick Pathfinders 4-3 Fiana Cove
AFC Swayback 2-1 Platwood

PROMOTION/RELEGATION PLAYOFFS
Southside Wanderers 2-2 AFC Swayback (2-2 AET, 3-1 PKs)
Randwick Town 1-0 Spearcove Mariners
AFC Westpike 0-1 Chafford

Westpike’s guns fall silent as a resilient Chafford who have retained many of last seaso’s players haul their way back into the A-League. Pau Texidor deserves the keys to the city after eight saves, but Westpike could really have stood trying to drill one into the corner at any point. Completing the ignominy, the newly-rebranded Ward-was-right Royal Westpike leapfrog the luckless Teamsters, as Orient complete the three promoted sides.

CUP FINAL
Lotus Park 2-1 Falkner United

Quality told at Kingsgarden. Falkner won an early penalty when Hamilton clipped Na’Verii’s ankles in flight, but the penalty was a poor one, Cordelier blasting it a metre over the bar. Lotus fire back twice in the first half, two clinical finishes from the edge of the box from Szesco Nagy showing the Hunters how it’s done, and only a spectacular fingertip save from Stack prevented a far-post Tiller header making it three by the interval. The Hunters seemed to get some composure back in the second half, but left it too late to put their play on the scoresheet, a deft curled finish from Ophelia Love in the 89th minute never threatening to be more than a consolation, though Natalia Legate did memorably sacrifice herself with a second yellow card for flagrant time-wasting.

A-LEAGUE

Pos Team                     P   W   D   L For  Ag  +/- Pts
  1 Rozelle                 30  19   8   3  53  22  +31  65
  2 Northern Union          30  15   9   6  43  26  +17  54
  3 Southern Star           30  15   8   7  61  33  +28  53
  4 Northern Stallions      30  14  11   5  48  29  +19  53
  5 Marque                  30  12  10   8  41  33   +8  46
  6 Kingsgrove              30  12   9   9  65  42  +23  45
  7 North Hall              30  10  15   5  35  29   +6  45
  8 Pikemouth               30  12   8  10  43  40   +3  44
  9 Lotus Park              30  11   5  14  46  50   -4  38
 10 Rockridge Phoenix       30   9   8  13  24  34  -10  35
 11 Rozelle Alliance        30  10   5  15  37  52  -15  35
 12 Twin Saints             30   9   7  14  32  48  -16  34
 13 Gallant Cross           30   8   8  14  34  46  -12  32
 14 AFC Westpike            30   6  11  13  32  56  -24  29
 15 Falkner United          30   6   6  18  27  55  -28  24
 16 Finbar Stalwarts        30   4   8  18  15  41  -26  20

AWARDS
Golden Boot (Goals Scored): Michael Ribbeck (KNG) - 24
Golden Ball (Player of the Year): Vincent Robshaw (NTU)
Golden Fist (New Player of the Year): Lucien Raeff (ROZ)
Golden Heart (U-21 Player of the Year): Ronan Schofield (ROZ)
Team of the Year: Pardinho (NTH); Shepherd (NTS), Raeff (ROZ), Dybvik (ROZ), Ilya (NTU); Riitsi (MAR), Robshaw (NTU), Perrodien (ROZ); Ellis (STS), Ribbeck (KNG), Csapo (MAR)
Manager of the Year: Igrene Cantor (MAR)

B-LEAGUE

Pos Team                     P   W   D   L For  Ag  +/- Pts
  1 Royal Westpike          30  23   4   3  74  25  +49  73
  2 Francisca Orient        30  16   8   6  51  24  +27  56
  3 Chafford                30  16   6   8  45  33  +12  54
  4 Southrons-Errant        30  16   4  10  61  38  +23  52
  5 Snowden River           30  13  11   6  45  25  +20  50
  6 Rosbank Town            30  12   9   9  44  39   +5  45
  7 Coppersmith             30  12   9   9  34  36   -2  45
  8 Rozelle United          30  11  11   8  44  35   +9  44
  9 Proudcastle             30  12   8  10  34  35   -1  44
 10 Guilder                 30  11   8  11  30  31   -1  41
 11 Scaffield               30   8  13   9  44  37   +7  37
 12 Stonewash Town          30  10   5  15  31  54  -23  35
 13 AFC Swanbridge          30   7   5  18  38  58  -20  26
 14 Randwick Town           30   6   5  19  29  48  -19  23
 15 Endeavour Brenecia      30   5   6  19  27  67  -40  21
 16 Otter Ferry             30   2   8  20  22  68  -46  14

AWARDS
Golden Boot (Goals Scored): Tess Stocker (ROW) - 21
Golden Ball (Player of the Year): Lanie Sarrazin (ROW)
Manager of the Year: Rowena Gowan (S-E)

C-LEAGUE

Pos Team                      P   W   D   L For  Ag  +/- Pts
  1 Saint Alexander          30  19   9   2  44  14  +30  66
  2 Shaleport Rangers        30  19   7   4  50  26  +24  64
  3 Spearcove Mariners       30  18   8   4  64  27  +37  62
  4 Fentonbridge             30  18   5   7  49  26  +23  59
  5 Sharrow                  30  15   8   7  53  35  +18  53
  6 Rozelle Archers          30  13   8   9  49  39  +10  47
  7 Stourhead                30  12  10   8  32  21  +11  46
  8 Mount Roland             30  12   6  12  28  28   +0  42
  9 Razorback Hill           30   7  13  10  25  31   -6  34
 10 Knightstone FC           30   8   8  14  37  50  -13  32
 11 Townsend Raiders         30   6  10  14  37  49  -12  28
 12 AFC Conomore             30   7   7  16  27  44  -17  28
 13 Chrysler Town            30   6   9  15  41  54  -13  27
 14 Southside Wanderers      30   5  11  14  27  41  -14  26
 15 Suttonstrand FC          30   5   7  18  22  51  -29  22
 16 Falkner Crescent         30   5   4  21  25  74  -49  19

D-LEAGUE

Pos Team                       P   W   D   L For  Ag  +/- Pts
  1 Fiana Cove                30  19   6   5  82  36  +46  63
  2 Silvershire Town          30  20   2   8  59  32  +27  62
  3 AFC Swayback              30  17   5   8  69  42  +27  56
  4 Glendower River           30  16   6   8  65  42  +23  54
  5 Platwood                  30  15   5  10  58  43  +15  50
  6 Alnwick Glade             30  15   5  10  53  42  +11  50
  7 Chafford Saracens         30  15   5  10  49  39  +10  50
  8 Marque Rovers             30  14   5  11  50  37  +13  47
  9 Rushden                   30  12   4  14  43  41   +2  40
 10 Heathgrove                30  10   4  16  35  45  -10  34
 11 Alexavale FC              30   7  11  12  36  52  -16  32
 12 AFC Lancet                30   8   7  15  35  66  -31  31
 13 Skerrick Pathfinders      30   6  10  14  44  54  -10  28
 14 AFC Cairnshore            30   7   7  16  26  55  -29  28
 15 Hall Spitfires            30   7   5  18  36  72  -36  26
 16 Fisher Kings              30   7   3  20  31  73  -42  24

by **Brenecia** » Wed Dec 30, 2020 4:38 am

A-LEAGUE CYCLE 78

Stadium: Russet Street (16,000)
Nickname: the Cavaliers
Manager: Teagan Bridges
Starting XI: (4-2-3-1) 1 - Pau Texidor (32, AUD); 2 - Lissa Hayward (23), 22 - Colwyn Faulkner (32), 18 - Brandon Ponscak (28, CBP), 3 - Jennica Graham (31); 4 - Tash Miller (28), 6 - Lukacz rue Pfareliele (23, FFD); 7 - Rose Evans (27), 14 - Harris Lyston (31), 10 - Griffin Kendall (29, NPH); 20 - Dakota Blaylock (32, COS)
In: Griffin Kendall (North Laithland, 3.5m), Dakota Blaylock (Northern Union, 3m), Lukacs rue Pfareliele (free agent)
Promoted: Dawn Connett (RB, 20)
Out: Liza Price (Northern Stallions, 3m), Lorraine Bright (Sitka Valley, free), Elizabeth Rhodes (Maal Daemons, loan)

BACKGROUND
An unpleasant and grey sort of place, Chafford is an industrial powerhouse that belies its relatively small size; as heavy industry retracts, it retains a foothold in the small city, but the locals remain nervous. It is in places such as these that football clubs come into their own; Chafford, the club, retains the absolute devotion of pretty much everyone in the city, and has remained relevant enough to keep childrens' eyes from straying to glamorous Union in nearby North Hall. It has rarely thrived, but generally maintained a professional standard in the top half of the national pyramid. They're the poor relation of nearby Scaffield, and hate them with a seething passion.

PREVIEW
Extremely sensible purchases made the Cavaliers favourites to stay up. With a solid defensive core - albeit one that lost redoubtable rightback Price to the Stallions - not messing around with that and instead focusing on a proven A-League goalscorer that complemented their muscular playing style, and a mercurial Premiership veteran on the wing, made sense.

REVIEW
Excessive caution has destroyed them. The ‘guaranteed goals’ of Kendall, Blaylock and some Farf provided exactly one goal from their first six matches. Kendall’s reportedly had a poor attitude, which hasn’t helped, while Blaylock just… isn’t getting the rub of the green. Their defence is adequate, but under constant pressure, and players like Faulkner and Graham are just slightly past their best in any case. Very little has gone right, and Chafford still await their first win.

Stadium: The Vantage (22,000)
Nickname: Phoenix
Manager: Eloisa Motherford
Starting XI (4-4-2): 12 - Eidren Kalitas (28, SRS); 2 - Gabriel Farahani (29, KSK), 22 - Dean Zivkovic (29, PAS, c), 4 - Miluose Oches (25, TIO), 3 - Eve Reeve (22, EUR); 21 - George Richards (27, EOT), 13 - Sharon Erskine (23, EUR); 23 - Kristina Midtjaer (23, SVJ), 8 - Camila Soria Luna (30, SCT), 15 - Aife Redding (25); 9 - Jagoda Kovacevic (29, PAS)
In: Miluose Oches (OMB, undisclosed), George Richards (Callodown, 4m), Camila Soria Luna (CA Paulinthal, free)
Out: July Phelan (Coppersmith, 750k), Martyn Ceath (Hofvinger, free), Payne Lewis (Luton City United, free)

BACKGROUND
Formerly Ridgeway United, a side that won a title early in the A-League’s life cycle. Then financial reality set in and they crashed and burned to the very bottom of the pyramid, only rising back up after rebranding and refurbishing. Now under the auspices of an ambitious Euran cartel, they’ve become known for ambitious and well-targeted foreign signings.

PREVIEW
Rockridge are showing zero signs of slowing down. Foreigners eight, nine and ten come through the door - and the cheapest has undoubtedly been the most hotly anticipated. Camila Soria Luna was, in her day, among the world’s best playmakers. This sort of player should be washing up at the Phoenix at, like, 34, not 30! And yet, they have her, and a rock-solid, disciplined defensive platform to support her and ensure she doesn’t have to do anything dirty like track back. What could it mean for the club?

REVIEW
Eloisa Motherford’s job is on the line. Safe to say the side have underperformed, not so much overall as in their recent form. Five from their last six have been dropped, including what should have been an easy win at home against Orient and, most recently and damagingly, a 7-1 humiliation at the hands of North Hall. Injuries haven’t helped, but no one player - with, arguably, the noble exception of Sharon Erskine - is playing with the consistency befitting their quality..

Stadium: The Aspire (40,000)
Nickname: the Northerners
Manager: Sienna Fallon
Starting XI (4-2-3-1): 1 - Sova Pardinho (30, SMB); 2 - Erica Weaver (30), 5 - Cheney Heneghan (34), 6 - Yngriit Kalabaan (24, MRN), 18 - Grey Merritt (22); 10 - Vincent Verbeck (32, SCT, c), 21 - Sander Connolly (23); 7 - Nuada Speaker (24), 8 - Gaheris Archer (23), 11 - Markus Mellin (31, SVJ); 13 - Adrian Makai (29, PAS)
In: Yngriit Kalabaan (AFC Hosingr, 6m), Jovani Cordier (Kanshiro University, free)
Promoted: Kurtis Mikoliunas (DM, 20)
Out: Finn Townsend (CdF Celtade, 9m)
Retired: Galahad Blackwood (CB, 35), Harvey Joyce (AM, 35, EUR)

BACKGROUND
Founded in the image of Muscular Christianity, Hall have always had a rather Puritan tint to it; formed by a well-meaning church group to help rehabilitate the corrupted youth of the area. The ghosts of this can be seen in their focus on physicality and discipline; the Northerners play fair, unlike cheating, superficially similar and nearby Union. North Hall the club will always claim to be the true club of North Hall the city, but nobody believes them. They've still enjoyed significant success over the years, always in the shadow of Union, outside the three glorious years their rivals spent in the wilderness.

PREVIEW
Russ Shorten felt he’d taken the side as far as he could, so Sienna Fallon’s been promoted from his assistant manager to try and rejuvenate the side. The transfer window saw a promising step in Kalabaan, an excellent young defender, but also an agonising wrench, in Brenecia’s defensive midfielder Townsend choosing to fight relegation in Audioslavia (‘looking for a new challenge’, as he inevitably put it) rather than stick around.

REVIEW
Shorten appears to have been right. A stale side playing largely stale football. Key players have gone on a year too long, while Kalabaan, undoubtedly full of promise, has made rash decisions from time to time that have compromised the defence. That said, a 7-1 annihilation in their most recent fixture sends the right kind of message.

Stadium: Royal Park (42,000)
Nickname: the Royals
Manager: Lilith Fife
Starting XI (4-3-3): 20 - Mia Ria (30, CMT); 17 - Felice Lovibond (22), 6 - Markus Costello (29), 22 - Oscar Veloso (28, AUD), 3 - Aureliana Kaba (29, APX); 7 - Claire Ruskin (30, c), 4 - Roisin Staunton (33), 21 - Constantine Wren (21, NPH); 10 - Tamara Fowler (28), 9 - Michael Ribbeck (26, STL), 11 - Setanta Ashvane (25)
In: Constantine Wren (Crisisbless, 3m)
Promoted; Quan Darragh (DM, 19), Patrick Fitz (CB, 19), Horan Parkes (RW, 20)
Out: Dreigiau Parrish (KT Itzalovalle, 7.5m), Phenalope Everett (Sterling City United, 4m)
Retired: Eoin Cascarine (CB, 36)

BACKGROUND
The southern powerhouse of Brenecia, but perhaps not even the biggest side in Rozelle; still, Kingsgrove are a symbol, and the natural arch-rival to Union. The insufferable talk of the Southern Way - trust in youth, focus on pace and vivacious attack - pervades the atmosphere, and in fairness the club has produced many of the nation's finest players and managers while continuing to achieve success both domestically and abroad. While their catchment is in theory only Rozelle's richer districts, their youth scouts will pluck anyone from anywhere, and they're the favoured club of many rural southern sides too small to have a professional side of their own - much like Union, in the north.

PREVIEW
Kingsgrove, as has ever been the case, remain simultaneously a powerhouse and a selling club. But they wanted another season with Parrish, their star prospect; Parrish did not. And who, exactly, will be the next cab off the rank? Of late, they’ve become a side that poach others’ prospects and build them up instead, like Union minus three years. So instead of Parrish, they get Wren, who made one league and two Cup appearances for Crisisbless last season and has never been in their senior squad. Rowena Gowan is a promising but unproven manager who has guided Southrons-Errant to respectability in the second tier.

REVIEW
MATCHDAY 8: beat Union 3-1 away from home. Huzzah!
MATCHDAYS 9 through 12: lost 5-1 to Southern Star, 2-0 to the Stallions, 2-1 to Pikemouth, 4-2 to Rozelle...

Stadium: The New Road (24,000)
Nickname: the Stallions
Manager: Tana Colbright
Starting XI (4-3-3): 12 - Dinii Eduun (34, MRN); 2 - Liza Price (25), 5 - Keane Mathers (29), 6 - Russ Linvoy (34, c), 18 - Deimne Watermark (24); 21 - Cheney Deal (24), 4 - Natalia Legate (23), 7 - Cyper Corr (25, BNJ); 13 - Sherry Lockston (29), 9 - Andre Naulo (30, SAJ), 11 - Monika Rourke (29)
In: Natalia Legate (Lotus Park, 5m), Liza Price (Chafford, 3m)
Promoted: Danand Tristram (ST, 20)
Out: Caithe Shepherd (Rozelle, 7m), Gareth Benedict (Blades ex Magnaeus, 3m)
Retired: Carsten Vincent (RW/ST, 35, SLL)

BACKGROUND
Formerly 'North Rathia', reflecting where they hail from; specifically, the north is mining territory, the more verdant and poorer south is farmland. The north likes to mock the south for its poverty, in a 'tallest pygmy in the village' kind of way, though both resent the big cities. The Stallions' history is starker than Star's; they were little use prior to their rebrand, but have been a constant presence at the top since. Based out of the northern crossroads of Ironstone, which is, appropriately, the centre of the mining trade east of the Hall. Once won the title and immediately lost 8-0 to Union due to a series of arrests and violent hangovers in the title party.

PREVIEW
A pretty boring window. Legate and Price are both young locals of reasonable pedigree, purchased in response to losing a far superior rightback and a somewhat inferior defensive midfielder. Carsten Vincent’s retirement will hurt, symbolically as much as anything. He was an excellent all-round forward, and the club’s captain, a task which now falls to World Cup-winning defender Linvoy.

REVIEW
Crisisbless came for Tana Colbright early on and the replacement, Larissa Graves from Guilder, is yet to find her feet. Graves has admitted it’s ‘strange’ to have quality at the front in her side for once, and judging by four straight defeats against four of the top sides in the league, she hasn’t quite figured out her bes shot. But there’s plenty of time for this to be better than a transitional year, though a lot of the squad either are or are creeping up to the wrong side of 30...

Stadium: Lotus Park (31,000)
Nickname: the Foresters
Manager: Harriet Klein
Starting XI (4-4-2): 12 - Satya Beisner (28, SRS), 17 - Freysa Monique-Pule (22, ZWZ), 13 - Justin Grezda (27), 18 - Luke Lemieux (29, RCN), 3 - Lachlan Crowder (26); 23 - Avielle Foxborough (23), 36 - Consaidin Garrard (19), 8 - May Quinn (28), 20 - Coamhan Tiller (25); 14 - Szesco Nagy (27, PAS), 9 - Banshee Strider (30)
In: Freysa Monique-Pule (Sapper Tech, undisclosed), Satya Beisner (Brantisvogan, 3m)
Promoted: Consaidin Garrard (DM, 19), Jess Vorobjovas (CB, 19)
Out: Natalia Legate (Northern Stallions, 5m), Cairbre Dundalk (Chenoworth Rovers, 4m), Dustin Blake (South Saints, 2m)
Retired: Diego Monroy (CB, 37, AUD)

BACKGROUND
One of the major sides in the key northwestern city of Falkner, Park blend the affluent, suburban side of town with the more bohemian area around the Falkner University (FU, fittingly), Brenecia's intellectual centre. The club has been mildly successful, even through the cut-throat merger years, generally finding a way to keep afloat, generally with an attractive brand of football. Despite Falkner's rather placid reputation, the local derbies against United are genuinely vicious, fuelled by Park's notorious tendency of stealing talents from United's natural catchment.

PREVIEW
A damaging window on the surface. Their excellent goalkeeper in Dundalk, their resolute holding midfielder in Legate… Beisner, a backup much of her career, has a lot to live up to. Freysa Monique-Pule, meanwhile, will have age on her side, with 32-year old former international Vaila Hamilton injured through much of pre-season and looking distinctly slower out the end of it. She will, it seems, get at least a shot at claiming her place.

REVIEW
Monique-Pule’s place is secure. She’s been a rock; so has Beisner. In fact, Harriet Klein’s side have been nothing short of spectacular in terms of results, if not necessarily flashy performances. Oh, yeah, and apparently Legate was nothing to worry about; this random kid, Garrard, has been a dominant figure in the holding role all year. Foxborough’s been spectacular, and young striker Rogue Lyrick’s scored four times from the bench. Both present and future look secure for a side that have endured hard times of late.

Stadium: Rosary Stadium (38,000)
Nickname: the Saints
Manager: Derdriu Wright
Starting XI (4-3-3): 12 - Tiarnan Cove (24); 2 - Caithe Shepherd (24), 22 - Lucien Raeff (26, QUE), 6 - Matheo Dybvik (29, VAL), 19 - Pia Levaani (31, MRN, c); 8 - Crane Avery (24), 4 - Ronan Schofield (21), 10 - Stemmon Perrodien (26, COS); 23 - Mathgamain Fife (21), 13 - Julia Mueller (29, PAS), 11 - Lazuli Moore (24)
In: Caithe Shepherd (Northern Stallions, 7m), Lazuli Moore (Rosbank Town, 4m)
Promoted: Ebony Carling (GK, 18), Harlan Davis (DM, 21), Sheena Glover (ST, 20)
Out: Chorus Wilhelm (Duke of the North, 4m), Marisha Staunton (Letson Town, 3m)
Retired: Jackie Crawford (ST, 35, DRK), Lenore Drummond (GK, 37), Viablaine (DM, 35, COS)

BACKGROUND
A large, successful powerhouse, if not quite the juggernaut of the Big Two. Rozelle's support base is a match for Kingsgrove's, and along with United they've managed to pretty much partition the entire capital between the three of them. They have much of the big-money flash of Union with none of the scandal, much of the style of Kingsgrove without the smugness; the Rozelle Way is just to win, and win well, with good players. A look at their trophy cabinet confirms that they've managed to achieve this with admirable consistency.

PREVIEW
The window was dominated by the news of there absolute heroes of the medium-term past for Rozelle; Crawford, Drummond and Viablaine were no longer crippling losses on paper, but in terms of legacy and culture, immense. In strict personnel terms, however, they found an unquestioned upgrade at rightback through fringe Patriot Shepherd, and exchanged vibrant youth for experience in bringing in Moore and shipping out Staunton.

REVIEW
It was always a bold move for the reigning champions to hand youth the reins, and performances haven’t been on championship pace, despite undoubted strength. The goals continue to fly in, but Schofield hasn’t quite hit last season’s heights in terms of dominating the midfield while, whisper it, perhaps the depth of the side is razor-thin in places, so that early injuries to Crane Avery and Sofia Falcon have been difficult to paper over. Still, with Avery coming back imminently, the Saints are in a good position to move forward provided their young guns can kick on.

]

Stadium: Pride’s Run (24,000)
Nickname: the Lions
Manager: Orson Faulkner
Starting XI: (4-4-2) 1 - Onish Vadaparthy (26, STB); 19 - Vivi Conlan (21), 5 - Yelto-Alfan Ono (31, QUS), 6 - Gareth Krane (34, NPH), 3 - Blanka Antunovic (29, PAS); 22 - Penumbra Till (23, NPH), 4 - Mathieu Corgnet (31, VLD), 8 - Simone Cantiff (24), 16 - Aidan Loxley (22); 9 - Sebastian Carreno (27, VLD), 10 - Charlie Gray (24, EUR)
In: Penumbra Till (Crisisbless, 6m), Onish Vadaparthy (Phraen Palace, 4m), Simone Cantiff (Falkner United, 4m), Vivi Conlan (Coppersmith, 3m)
Promoted: Rankin Prowett (LB, 20), Athelney Shrine (CB, 19)
Out: Esther Caitiff (Ulsa, 11m), Thaddeus Grant (Brisara FC, 3.5m), Britt Kerry (Real Atlantea, 2.5m), Rufus Creek (Rozelle Alliance, 2m)
Retired: Vanza-Jerat Gep (GK, 36, QUS)

BACKGROUND
Once 'South Rathia', the Lions bear the unfortunate distinction of having suffered the worst ever A-League season, attaining just three points over thirty miserable matches. The rebrand in its wake was as much about rebuilding a project that had turned stale, and more effectively rebasing in Lastcreek, the southern keystone of the sprawling Rathia region. On the pitch, a focus on doing a lot with a little has been replaced; they have the cash to throw, now. Their rivals are Northern Stallions (nee North Rathia), for fairly clear-cut reasons.

PREVIEW
Another extensive rebuilding job, under one of Brenecia’s finest players and now its finest manager. Till, unlike Kingsgrove’s Wren, isn’t just some guy but was a regular rotation option for Crisisbless over the past few years; Vadaparthy’s a Starblaydia international, Cantiff was one of Falkner’s finest players in a godawful season and Conlan… has promise. This combined probably just about makes up for Esther Caitiff, the outstanding box-to-box midfielder of the league, arguably superior even to Robshaw.

REVIEW
An unforgiving start to the season saw them face Union, Rozelle, the Stallions and Marque and take ten points… before immediately losing to Royal Westpike. But they picked themselves up, and results have been truly impressive - an 8-0 slaughter of Twin Saints, winning 5-1 in Kingsgrove - able to dominate all across the pitch and do lethal damage in the final third. The best news of all: Vadaparthy has been an absolute rock between the posts, with the colossus Krane playing a massive role in helping out. They’ve conceded just eight goals all season.

Stadium: Redemption Park (50,000)
Nickname: Union
Manager: Dani Pendragon
Starting XI (4-2-3-1): 1 - Cass Farrell (30); 2 - Sorcha Lonergan (27), 5 - Horatius Chaumancer (29, COS), 18 - Rhea Henderson (23), 19 - Valence Ilya (29, CMT); 8 - Gaia Penrith (25), 4 - Viola Capodanno (34, STB, c); 21 - Cu Roi Garrard (31), 15 - Calindra Apelles (28, STB), 10 - Tricia Pace (24); 14 - Scott Walker (25, EUR)
In: Scott Walker (Nukon, 8m)
Promoted: Iseult Conway (CM, 19), Iucharba Killen (CB, 19)
Out: Vincent Robshaw (AFC Treason, 25m), Constance Levy (Honeybadgers, 4m), Dakota Blaylock (Chafford, 3m), Reeve Sheehan (Latrobe AFC, 3m)

BACKGROUND
Union are the biggest show in town. Everyone knows it. You're either with Union or against them, because they've specialised in taking all the big prizes and not made many friends along the way. Owned and fuelled by a mining magnate and favoured by the working class across North Hall and its surroundings, Union buy great players and back it up with ruthless, disciplined defence, and unapologetic gamesmanship. Famously, they were stripped of their 66 title and relegated to the fourth tier when they were found guilty of match-fixing, but they've recovered from that humiliation with suspicious pace. Still, even the hardest-hearted Brenecian has to admit that they do wonders for the UICA coefficient. Union's fiercest rival is Kingsgrove, their opposites in almost every way, but they hate bougie local North Hall as well.

PREVIEW
A shockingly restrained window, though going out and finding a player who can actually get into their stacked squad is far easier said than done. Walker represents an intriguing option to challenge the diva, VZR, but will the failure to replace one of their star midfielders - and the continuing march of time on one of the others, their captain - come back to bite them?

REVIEW
No. The Union killbots are at it again. They’re four points clear at the top, have scored the most goals and conceded the second-fewest. Their two draws came in the first three matches, their defeat in the Classic which was quickly salved by scunnering the Stallions 5-1. If they’ve suffered unduly for the loss of Robshaw, the improvements in the rest of the team mean they aren’t, collectively, showing it.

A-LEAGUE

Pos Team                     P   W  D  L For  Ag  +/- Pts
  1 Northern Union          15  12  2  1  37  13  +24  38
  2 Southern Star           15  11  1  3  32   8  +24  34
  3 Rozelle                 15  10  3  2  26  13  +13  33
  4 Marque                  15  10  1  4  35  18  +17  31
  5 Lotus Park              15   8  2  5  21  15   +6  26
  6 Northern Stallions      15   8  1  6  24  19   +5  25
  7 Kingsgrove              15   7  2  6  27  25   +2  23
  8 North Hall              15   6  2  7  17  15   +2  20
  9 Pikemouth               15   5  4  6  23  29   -6  19
 10 Rozelle Alliance        15   4  4  7  25  32   -7  16
 11 Rockridge Phoenix       15   4  3  8  16  25   -9  15
 12 Twin Saints             15   4  2  9   8  27  -19  14
 13 Gallant Cross           15   3  4  8  12  19   -7  13
 14 Francisca Orient        15   3  4  8   9  17   -8  13
 15 Royal Westpike          15   3  2 10  18  40  -22  11
 16 Chafford                15   0  7  8   6  21  -15   7

B-LEAGUE

Pos Team                    P   W  D  L For  Ag  +/- Pts
  1 Falkner United         15  10  5  0  34   5  +29  35
  2 Snowden River          15  11  1  3  27  12  +15  34
  3 Rozelle United         15   8  4  3  22   8  +14  28
  4 Southrons-Errant       15   8  3  4  24  18   +6  27
  5 Guilder                15   8  1  6  16  16   +0  25
  6 Proudcastle            15   6  4  5  23  18   +5  22
  7 AFC Westpike           15   5  6  4  22  17   +5  21
  8 Rosbank Town           15   5  6  4  24  22   +2  21
  9 Randwick Town          15   4  6  5  15  23   -8  18
 10 Shaleport Rangers      15   5  3  7  14  23   -9  18
 11 Coppersmith            15   4  4  7  23  21   +2  16
 12 Finbar Stalwarts       15   4  3  8  10  21  -11  15
 13 Saint Alexander        15   3  6  6   8  23  -15  15
 14 AFC Swanbridge         15   3  4  8  15  29  -14  13
 15 Scaffield              15   3  2 10   9  16   -7  11
 16 Stonewash Town         15   2  4  9  13  27  -14  10

C-LEAGUE

Pos Team                      P   W  D   L For  Ag  +/- Pts
  1 Rozelle Archers          15  11  2   2  41  19  +22  35
  2 Fentonbridge             15  10  3   2  29  13  +16  33
  3 Mount Roland             15   8  4   3  20  14   +6  28
  4 Stourhead                15   8  4   3  20  15   +5  28
  5 Spearcove Mariners       15   7  6   2  35  17  +18  27
  6 Endeavour Brenecia       15   8  2   5  32  17  +15  26
  7 Chrysler Town            15   7  4   4  23  16   +7  25
  8 Otter Ferry              15   6  5   4  24  18   +6  23
  9 Sharrow                  15   6  4   5  28  26   +2  22
 10 Townsend Raiders         15   6  4   5  20  26   -6  22
 11 Southside Wanderers      15   3  4   8  12  20   -8  13
 12 Fiana Cove               15   4  1  10  18  27   -9  13
 13 Silvershire Town         15   3  3   9  19  36  -17  12
 14 AFC Conomore             15   2  4   9  11  25  -14  10
 15 Knightstone FC           15   2  2  11  11  45  -34   8
 16 Razorback Hill           15   1  4  10  11  20   -9   7

D-LEAGUE

Pos Team                       P   W  D  L For  Ag  +/- Pts
  1 Glendower River           15  11  2  2  31  16  +15  35
  2 Falkner Crescent          15   9  3  3  28  15  +13  30
  3 Suttonstrand FC           15   9  2  4  28  14  +14  29
  4 AFC Swayback              15   8  4  3  27  12  +15  28
  5 Platwood                  15   7  5  3  21  15   +6  26
  6 Marque Rovers             15   5  7  3  19  20   -1  22
  7 AFC Lancet                15   6  3  6  23  24   -1  21
  8 Chafford Saracens         15   5  5  5  19  19   +0  20
  9 Brackford Rovers          15   5  5  5  18  18   +0  20
 10 Marque Leichiai           15   5  3  7  23  23   +0  18
 11 Alnwick Glade             15   4  3  8  13  16   -3  15
 12 Skerrick Pathfinders      15   4  3  8  17  29  -12  15
 13 Alexavale FC              15   2  7  6  16  27  -11  13
 14 Heathgrove                15   4  1 10  15  29  -14  13
 15 AFC Cairnshore            15   2  6  7  14  20   -6  12
 16 Rushden                   15   2  5  8  12  27  -15  11

by **Brenecia** » Thu Dec 31, 2020 6:11 am

Anyone expecting Kingsgrove’s season to get better has been beset by one number: seven. They put seven goals past Royal Westpike in the first match after the restart to spark some hopes, then failed to win any of their next seven, largely against weak opposition and including a ludicrous 6-5 defeat to Gallant Cross. Now they sit… seventh, and seven wins short ot top place. That place is already secure with Northern Union in what was not the most thrilling of title races, just chalking up one routine win after another, with Rozelle and Southern Star (despite a bizarre 7-0 defeat to North Hall - that number again!) vying over the title of first loser’ and the Stallions rallying under their new manager to secure fourth before the final day. Hall, Marque and Kingsgrove are also locked in for the Challengers Cup, with the Royals ten points ahead of eighth-placed Phoenix.

That top seven is about as expected, and does not have room for a Pikemouth side that just looked… midtable. Their days as a serious contender appear over, though Chandra Nalaar’s job may be forfeit in the reckoning; it was certainly still disappointing, just a sign of the league’s increasing depth that a side with a 26-year old striker once-valued 15m is in the bottom half. Eloisa Motherford undoubtedly saved her job by making Rockridge sing in the second half of the season, and one suspects Gold League or Zenith sides might be looking covetously at young guns like Midtjaer and Erskine; Soria Luna, meanwhile, continues to weave her magic.

Gallant Cross are having perhaps the most fun of any side - the 6-5 in Kingsgrove was preceded by a 7-0 scunnering of Lotus Park - but in a competitive relegation dogfight, they aren’t safe yet. Royal have been addicted to scoring precisely one goal, be it a sequence of three straight 1-1 draws or their 7-1 defeat to Kingsgrove, or later 6-1 to Rozelle. But a recent come-from-behind win over Union that saw Hanna Selder play the game of her life and Tess Stocker finish both half-chances that fell to her feet showed they have heart. Orient and Chafford have been the standout bad teams of the year, though neither’s been truly awful. Chafford’s been wracked by infighting in the camp, Orient just lacked quality from the get-go, and one of their strikers, Morant, is on 27 appearances and still no goals. Cross will have to face high-flying Southern Star, while Royal visit Marque. Difficult fixtures, both.

In international competition, a season in which no nation - except Freeport, weirdly - really managed to stay consistent had a levelling effect, allowing Brenecia to slip back into the top four coefficients and reclaim their fourth CC slot. Union and Rozelle were the only sides to get past the groups, and neither got close to the final. But Union did claim the most glory for the nation, successfully defending their Cup Winners Cup title with a win on penalties against the Sabrefell Moths.

The two semi-finals came down to the sides willing to undergo sexy rebrands - the rejuvenated Rockridge Phoenix triumphing over the Stallions - and those that did not, with Marque setting down an early marquer by smashing five goals past North Hall in the first half of the first leg, being pulled back from 5-1 to 5-3, being a goal down away from home for most of the second leg before a reprieve when Archer struck home from offside, two minutes before Niko Longshore came off the bench and soothed nerves on the other end. En route, Phoenix started out hardest, taking down the Pikemen and Rozelle before getting the only surviving semi-pro side in the third round, and then the only surviving lower-league side in the quarters (and making unexpectedly tough work of it); Marque took until the quarterfinals to cross blades with A-League opposition. Nevertheless, they are the two that survived, and with nothing to play for on the final matchday expect both to keep their powder dry.

A-LEAGUE

Pos 
Team                     P   W  D   L For  Ag  +/- Pts
  1 Northern Union          29  21  3   5  61  22  +39  66
  2 Rozelle                 29  19  4   6  54  24  +30  61
  3 Southern Star           29  18  5   6  50  27  +23  59
  4 Northern Stallions      29  17  2  10  42  32  +10  53
  5 North Hall              29  14  6   9  46  26  +20  48
  6 Marque                  29  14  5  10  52  37  +15  47
  7 Kingsgrove              29  13  6  10  53  45   +8  45
  8 Rockridge Phoenix       29  10  5  14  34  38   -4  35
  9 Lotus Park              29  10  5  14  33  44  -11  35
 10 Pikemouth               29   9  8  12  33  46  -13  35
 11 Twin Saints             29  10  5  14  27  43  -16  35
 12 Rozelle Alliance        29   8  9  12  46  59  -13  33
 13 Gallant Cross           29   7  8  14  33  41   -8  29
 14 Royal Westpike          29   7  8  14  35  62  -27  29
 15 Francisca Orient        29   5  6  18  15  38  -23  21
 16 Chafford                29   3  9  17  16  46  -30  18

B-LEAGUE

Pos Team                    P   W   D   L For  Ag  +/- Pts
  1 Falkner United         29  19   7   3  63  21  +42  64
  2 Rozelle United         29  18   6   5  46  18  +28  60
  3 Snowden River          29  17   5   7  42  23  +19  56
  4 AFC Westpike           29  14   8   7  47  26  +21  50
  5 Southrons-Errant       29  14   5  10  39  36   +3  47
  6 Guilder                29  14   5  10  28  29   -1  47
  7 Rosbank Town           29  12  10   7  55  33  +22  46
  8 Proudcastle            29  12   9   8  40  31   +9  45
  9 Randwick Town          29   9  11   9  32  41   -9  38
 10 Shaleport Rangers      29  10   6  13  28  39  -11  36
 11 Coppersmith            29   7   7  15  33  42   -9  28
 12 Stonewash Town         29   7   7  15  31  51  -20  28
 13 Saint Alexander        29   6   9  14  19  47  -28  27
 14 Finbar Stalwarts       29   6   7  16  18  34  -16  25
 15 Scaffield              29   5   7  17  23  36  -13  22
 16 AFC Swanbridge         29   5   5  19  33  70  -37  20

by **Brenecia** » Thu Dec 31, 2020 6:34 am

A-LEAGUE FINALE
Lotus Park 2-3 Kingsgrove
Royal Westpike 3-3 Marque
Rockridge Phoenix 1-2 North Hall
Francisca Orient 3-2 Rozelle
Chafford 0-2 Pikemouth
Rozelle Alliance 1-1 Northern Stallions
Gallant Cross 1-4 Southern Star
Twin Saints 1-2 Northern Union

All that matters is the fight over the relegation playoff, though it might not have been that way if Orient had shown the fight they did to come back twice and beat Rozelle at, you know, any other point of the season. As it stands, it mostly just comes across as brace-scoring heroine Leticia Palmer’s audition for a better club. There’s a similar comeback spirit in Westpike, much to the chagrin of the hosts. Emily Christon, who has had a mixed first season, swings in a peach of a cross, nodded powerfully down and in by Tess Stocker - coming into form at the perfect time - but Marque strike back through Polyak mere minutes later. Late in the first half, a neat one-two between Sarrazin and Martinaux lets the former slide home Royal’s second; early in the second half, rightback Arnau Mata sweeps home another equaliser. Royal take a third and final lead in the 80th minute only to be cancelled out in injury time when Dean Becker, out of energy and options, hacks down Csapo in the box, Riitsi making no mistake from the spot. It’s all set for heartbreak… but the point is enough, with Cross demolished 4-1 by Star.

B-LEAGUE FINALE
Proudcastle 1-0 Guilder
Shaleport Rangers 1-0 AFC Swanbridge
Saint Alexander 1-0 Coppersmith
Stonewash Town 0-1 AFC Westpike
Falkner United 1-0 Rozelle United
Snowden River 3-1 Southrons-Errant
Randwick Town 2-0 Rosbank Town
Scaffield 4-0 Finbar Stalwarts

C-LEAGUE FINALE
Fentonbridge 4-2 Sharrow
Rozelle Archers 3-1 Knightstone FC
Fiana Cove 1-4 Endeavour Brenecia
Silvershire Town 1-5 Otter Ferry
Mount Roland 1-0 AFC Conomore
Southside Wanderers 2-2 Townsend Raiders
Spearcove Mariners 1-1 Razorback Hill
Chrysler Town 1-1 Stourhead

D-LEAGUE FINALE
Brackford Rovers 4-0 Suttonstrand FC
AFC Lancet 1-3 Glendower River
Marque Rovers 4-5 Marque Leichiai
Falkner Crescent 2-1 Alexavale FC
Heathgrove 2-4 Alnwick Glade
AFC Cairnshore 1-2 Rushden
Skerrick Pathfinders 1-3 Chafford Saracens
AFC Swayback 1-1 Platwood

PROMOTION/RELEGATION PLAYOFFS
Gallant Cross 3-0 Snowden River
Scaffield 1-1 Endeavour Brenecia (1-1 AET, 2-4 pens)
AFC Conomore 3-2 Falkner Crescent

Young and old combine for Cross to defend their place in the A-League; teenager Miriam Troegner and veteran striker Kit Kennedy both strike in the first half, and Charlotte Fasano’s brilliant one-handed penalty save denies Snowden on the brink of half-time to give Cross a massive morale advantage. It shows in a quiet second half, with Roimata Shehu (22) and Elyn Hennessey (35, in his last professional game) coming off the bench and combining with a slick one-two for Shehu to stab home the decisive third. Endeavour return to the second tier and stun a Scaffield side that never thought they’d be sucked in like this; Conomore defend their C-League place against hitherto yo-yo side Crescent.

CUP FINAL
Rockridge Phoenix 0-1 Marque

In the event, Marque faced more threat from the indignant Cross fans furious players were rested against Royal in anticipation of the Cup final than they actually did in the Cup final. The decision to keep faith in designated Cup goalkeeper Shea Horan (rather than the more experienced, Brenecia-capped and overall vastly superior Scanlan Pritchard) would probably have been scrutinised had he needed to make more than two saves, one a weak trickling strike from an off-balance Midtjaer on the outside of the box, another a thumping header from Kovacevic straight into his midriff. A third, ponderous Rockridge attack on the edge of the first half was answered by a ruthless counterattack, Csapo offering the finishing touch to Marshall’s searching diagonal, and it proved the only goal of a fairly dire game. Marque fans won’t complain, though, and nor should they, as Igrene Cantor caps off another marvellous season. They are back.

A-LEAGUE

Pos Team                     P   W  D   L For  Ag  +/- Pts
  1 Northern Union          30  22  3   5  63  23  +40  69
  2 Southern Star           30  19  5   6  54  28  +26  62
  3 Rozelle                 30  19  4   7  56  27  +29  61
  4 Northern Stallions      30  17  3  10  43  33  +10  54
  5 North Hall              30  15  6   9  48  27  +21  51
  6 Marque                  30  14  6  10  55  40  +15  48
  7 Kingsgrove              30  14  6  10  56  47   +9  48
  8 Pikemouth               30  10  8  12  35  46  -11  38
  9 Rockridge Phoenix       30  10  5  15  35  40   -5  35
 10 Lotus Park              30  10  5  15  35  47  -12  35
 11 Twin Saints             30  10  5  15  28  45  -17  35
 12 Rozelle Alliance        30   8 10  12  47  60  -13  34
 13 Royal Westpike          30   7  9  14  38  65  -27  30
 14 Gallant Cross           30   7  8  15  34  45  -11  29
 15 Francisca Orient        30   6  6  18  18  40  -22  24
 16 Chafford                30   3  9  18  16  48  -32  18

AWARDS
Golden Boot (Goals Scored): Júlia Mueller (ROZ) - 22
Golden Ball (Player of the Year): Calindra Apelles (NTU)
Golden Fist (New Player of the Year): Penumbra Till (STS)
Golden Heart (U-21 Player of the Year): Miriam Troegner (GAC)
Team of the Year: Vadaparthy (STS); Shepherd (ROZ), Heneghan (NTH), Chaumancer (NTU), Watermark (NTS); Riitsi (MAR), Capodanno (NTU), Apelles (NTU); Till (STS), Mueller (ROZ), Csapo (MAR)
Manager of the Year: Orson Faulkner (STS)

B-LEAGUE

Pos Team                    P   W   D   L For  Ag  +/- Pts
  1 Falkner United         30  20   7   3  64  21  +43  67
  2 Rozelle United         30  18   6   6  46  19  +27  60
  3 Snowden River          30  18   5   7  45  24  +21  59
  4 AFC Westpike           30  15   8   7  48  26  +22  53
  5 Proudcastle            30  13   9   8  41  31  +10  48
  6 Southrons-Errant       30  14   5  11  40  39   +1  47
  7 Guilder                30  14   5  11  28  30   -2  47
  8 Rosbank Town           30  12  10   8  55  35  +20  46
  9 Randwick Town          30  10  11   9  34  41   -7  41
 10 Shaleport Rangers      30  11   6  13  29  39  -10  39
 11 Saint Alexander        30   7   9  14  20  47  -27  30
 12 Coppersmith            30   7   7  16  33  43  -10  28
 13 Stonewash Town         30   7   7  16  31  52  -21  28
 14 Scaffield              30   6   7  17  27  36   -9  25
 15 Finbar Stalwarts       30   6   7  17  18  38  -20  25
 16 AFC Swanbridge         30   5   5  20  33  71  -38  20

AWARDS
Golden Boot (Goals Scored): Ophelia Love (FLK) - 24
Golden Ball (Player of the Year): Eriu Crowe (ROU)
Manager of the Year: Finn Artell (SPR)

C-LEAGUE

Pos Team                      P   W  D   L For  Ag  +/- Pts
  1 Rozelle Archers          30  22  6   2  82  32  +50  72
  2 Fentonbridge             30  19  6   5  54  25  +29  63
  3 Endeavour Brenecia       30  19  4   7  69  33  +36  61
  4 Spearcove Mariners       30  16  9   5  58  35  +23  57
  5 Otter Ferry              30  14 10   6  55  38  +17  52
  6 Stourhead                30  13  7  10  33  33   +0  46
  7 Chrysler Town            30  13  6  11  42  37   +5  45
  8 Mount Roland             30  11 10   9  30  29   +1  43
  9 Sharrow                  30  11  8  11  55  51   +4  41
 10 Townsend Raiders         30  11  8  11  41  48   -7  41
 11 Southside Wanderers      30   8  7  15  32  40   -8  31
 12 Fiana Cove               30   9  2  19  38  56  -18  29
 13 Razorback Hill           30   4 10  16  22  39  -17  22
 14 AFC Conomore             30   5  7  18  23  47  -24  22
 15 Knightstone FC           30   6  4  20  23  77  -54  22
 16 Silvershire Town         30   4  6  20  34  71  -37  18

D-LEAGUE

Pos Team                       P   W   D   L For  Ag  +/- Pts
  1 AFC Swayback              30  20   6   4  61  22  +39  66
  2 Glendower River           30  20   6   4  68  36  +32  66
  3 Falkner Crescent          30  16   7   7  48  32  +16  55
  4 Suttonstrand FC           30  16   5   9  59  34  +25  53
  5 Platwood                  30  12  12   6  43  36   +7  48
  6 Marque Rovers             30  12  11   7  53  46   +7  47
  7 Marque Leichiai           30  11   7  12  49  43   +6  40
  8 Chafford Saracens         30  10   9  11  39  40   -1  39
  9 AFC Lancet                30  11   6  13  37  42   -5  39
 10 Alnwick Glade             30   9  11  10  30  28   +2  38
 11 Brackford Rovers          30   9   9  12  37  40   -3  36
 12 Alexavale FC              30   9   8  13  45  69  -24  35
 13 Skerrick Pathfinders      30   9   6  15  33  52  -19  33
 14 Rushden                   30   6   6  18  29  58  -29  24
 15 Heathgrove                30   6   5  19  32  56  -24  23
 16 AFC Cairnshore            30   2  10  18  21  50  -29  16

by **Brenecia** » Sat Mar 27, 2021 4:27 am

A-LEAGUE - CYCLE 78 PREVIEW

Stadium: Redemption Park (50,000)
Nickname: Union
Manager: Dani Pendragon
Starting XI (4-2-3-1): 1 - Cass Farrell (31); 2 - Sorcha Lonergan (28), 5 - Horatius Chaumancer (30, COS), 18 - Rhea Henderson (24), 19 - Valence Ilya (30, CMT); 21 - Liam Armstrong (34, EUR), 13 - Sharon Erskine (24, EUR); 22 - Kendra Carpenter (22), 15 - Calindra Apelles (30, STB), 10 - Tricia Pace (25); 14 - Scott Walker (26, EUR)
In: Sharon Erskine (Rockridge Phoenix, 8m), Severa Conleth (Chatswood, 2m), Liam Armstrong (1830 Cathair, 1m)

BACKGROUND
Union are the biggest show in town. Everyone knows it. You're either with Union or against them, because they've specialised in taking all the big prizes and not made many friends along the way. Owned and fuelled by a mining magnate and favoured by the working class across North Hall and its surroundings, Union buy great players and back it up with ruthless, disciplined defence, and unapologetic gamesmanship. Famously, they were stripped of their 66 title and relegated to the fourth tier when they were found guilty of match-fixing, but they've recovered from that humiliation with suspicious pace. Still, even the hardest-hearted Brenecian has to admit that they do wonders for the UICA coefficient. Union's fiercest rival is Kingsgrove, their opposites in almost every way, but they hate bougie local North Hall as well.

PREVIEW
Union keep being themselves. On top of the league for basically the entire season, it never really looked likely that they'd be stopped from winning their twelfth title. Better still, they had an obvious weakness to patch over in the window; while they weren't able to acquire a top-class right winger as was the plan - Conleth is an odd but reasonable depth signing in that regard - they made up for the sorely-felt departure of Vincent Robshaw a year ago by signing two of his countrymen. Sharon Erskine's arguably the finest holding midfielder in the league and, at 24, has plenty of room to improve and fill Capodanno's immense shoes; Liam Armstrong, meanwhile, has continued to rise into his thirties as Starling have continued to fall without him, the decision he was 'past it' being probably the worst in the club's history. Union rarely thrill, but can still bring a smile to your face if you just watch the football and forget they're the best-paid team in the country and it isn't even close. Or, you can have the relationship with them most Brenecians do: hope every team in the country humiliates them, but secretly cheer on their every win in international tournaments.

B-LEAGUE
1. AFC Westpike
Last Season: 4th
Home Colours: All black with red and white trim
Away Colours: White / black / white
Stadium: Gardengate (23,000)
Nickname: the Ibis
Manager: Aisling Chester (43)
(4-4-2) 12 - Aideen Carman (32, FPT); 2 - Claudia Marston (24), 18 - Gisela Alberon (30, SRS), 6 - Godfrey Hawes (25), 3 - Johan Coalfield (27); 7 - Satordi Antoqana (29, AUD), 4 - Erin Scheuer (26), 8 - Adone Gennaro (22, OSR), 23 - Erika Leander (22); 9 - Cwenthryth Harper (21), 10 - Crowley Mathers (27, CYI)
Notable Reserves: 20 - GK - Markus Kattegat (21); 11 - CM - Noor Na'Saan (31, COS), 13 - ST - Chris McKinsey (33, SCT), 14 - CM - Sandy Rowling (24), 15 - ST - Helena Aubrey (24), 17 - RB - Niki Castolo (32), 22 - LB - Litany Ainsworth (21), 24 - CB - Kitty Borden (22)

Westpike boast a quality and depth that mark a testament to the increasing quality in Brenecia's pyramid since recent iterations in broadcast deals. The Ibis boast a tough spine, sharp youth and near-guaranteed goals. A lack of consistency cost them at times last season, though, as did injury; the added depth they now boast should serve as some sort of insurance.

2. Rosbank Town
Last Season: 8th
Home Colours: Black / black / orange
Away Colours: White / black / white
Stadium: Rosary Stadium (28,000)
Nickname: the Black Swans
Manager: Casey Brown (41)
(4-4-2) 12 - Fabian Snæþórsson (27, GRF); 17 - Jacqui Greening (24), 5 - Helena Devon (32), 22 - Joanna Rollins (26), 19 - Daniel Richmond (28); RM - Nils Chapel (28), 4 - Harper Casey (25, KOR), 8 - Mhairi Jansen (24), 11 - Elaine Sutton (24); 21 - Mordecai Rourke (24), 10 - Anaara Baelli (25, MRN)
Notable Reserves: 1 - GK - Daniel Spires (31); 2 - RB - Lukas Tyrone (33), 6 - CB - Mark Watson (28), 11 - LM - Anders Harrington (32), 13 - CM - Alexis Claspen (24), 14 - ST - Stefan Punnett (23)

Hugely disappointing last season - though their goal difference was bizarrely high for their points tally - the Black Swans have finally fired Julia Penzance, an undeniably good manager who just stayed too long and ran out of ideas. Casey Brown, reserves manager at North Hall, is an avant-garder replacement highly regarded within the coaching fraternity. Additional grunt added at either end of the park should do something to help refresh an outfit that had grown stale, with Rourke and Baelli certainly having the potential even if they haven't quite lived up to it thus far.

3. Proudcastle
Last Season: 5th
Home Colours: Yellow and navy stripes / navy / yellow
Away Colours: White and sky stripes / navy / white
Stadium: Gardengate (23,000)
Nickname: the Oathmen
Manager: Lyndon Carmichael (59)
(4-4-2) 1 - Felipe de Anglada (27, TEQ); 2 - Yohan Gauthier (24, CMT), 5 - Tana Kiln (25, YSP), 18 - Kari Hollows (31), 19 - Sandra Mulder (28); 22 - Gergő Antalik (24, FFD), 8 - Chardonnay Keating (29), 23 - Hekara Steinacker (31, SRS), 11 - Ashe Kenlock (30); 9 - Stefan Harper (25), 10 - Josie Raynor (32)
Notable Reserves: 12 - GK - Lex Garratt (34); 3 - LB - Myrrh Greenmoore (33), 7 - RM - Marisa Kyon (32, HIN), 20 - ST - Gemma Urban (32)

Proudcastle offered basically what was expected from them, tough at the back and uninspired going forward. That in mind, they've recruited quite shrewdly, though it's left them in the position where their most entertaining player might actually be their goalkeeper. Veteran operators in Hollows and the lethal poacher Raynor sharpen both ends of the pitch, but the lack of a real playmaker - unless the mercurial Antalik can find consistency - may be what costs them promotion.

4. Guilder
Last Season: 7th
Home Colours: Pink and black stripes / black / white
Away Colours: All white with black trim
Stadium: Gardengate (23,000)
Nickname: the Masons
Manager: Andrea Rohan (46)
(4-2-3-1) 1 - Martyn Hickory (28); 16 - Aspar Brink (24, FFD), 5 - Ruye Pentakota (32, COS), 6 - Alessia Giribaldi (26, SVG), 22 - Koharu Soler (25, HIN); 13 - Dimitri Pent (24), 21 - Kahitana Kandadija (23, FFD); 23 - Roland Sheen (27), 15 - Paul Llewelyn (29), 13 - Dirk Fischer (27); 9 - Villanelle Rizzari (24, COS)
Notable Reserves: 7 - RW - Caitlyn Batt (33), 10 - AM - Martyn Ceath (32)

It's pretty hard to get promoted if you don't score more than a goal a game. Guilder brought in a new manager but have not exactly done a lot to help reinforce her, with the same fairly inadequate attacking midfield trident to supply Rizzari, a player of talent but lacking confidence by the end of last season. In a very competitive promotion race, the stagnant Masons look a step behind, but at least they won't concede often.

5. Chafford
Last Season: 16th (A)
Home Colours: White and red stripes / black / white
Away Colours: All black with white trim
Stadium: Russet Street (16,000)
Nickname: the Cavaliers
Manager: Daniel Snowden (56)
(4-2-3-1) 1 - Pau Texidor (34, AUD); 2 - Lissa Hayward (24), 22 - Colwyn Faulkner (33, DOG), 18 - Brandon Ponscak (29, CBP), 3 - Jasper Redwood (32); 4 - Tash Miller (29), 6 - Lukacs rue Pfareliele (24, FFD); 7 - Rose Evans (28), 14 - Harris Lyston (32), 11 - Elizabeth Rhodes (23); 20 - Dakota Blaylock (33, COS)
Notable Reserves: 12 - GK - Russ Cale (25), 25 - GK - Julia Clemence (23); 5 - CB - Ruth Bensom (26), 8 - CM - Grant Edelweiss (25), 13 - ST - Bennett Moore (24), 15 - DM - Karel Tanzer (20), 17 - RB - Dawn Connett (21), 19 - LB - Sterling Forbes (21), 21 - AM - Rhyan Carson (22), 23 - RW - Louise Gunn (25), 26 - CB - Candice Mellan (21)

Dakota Blaylock is far too good for this level. Or... is he? He scored just five goals last season as Chafford went down with rather more whimper than bang, and in the way of relegated sides look weaker than they did before. Daniel Snowden's come in as manager, an experienced operator within the top two tiers and a reliable hand at the tiller. Not thrilling words, but he'll do.

6. Francisca Orient
Last Season: 15th (A)
Home Colours: Sky / navy / sky
Away Colours: All green with yellow trim
Stadium: Forharrow (21,000)
Nickname: the Jacks
Manager: Griffin Ascroft (42)
(4-4-2) 1 - Felicity Wentworth (26); 17 - Elsa Janosa (32, SCT, c), 21 - Theodore Rondeau (30, CMT), 13 - Emeline Pons (26, EFL), 5 - Laula Gardener (25); 7 - Llywela Hall (22), 10 - Connor Parris (27), 8 - Ward Cooke (29), 14 - Lara Mayer (22); 9 - Kinsella Morant (30), 11 - Warner Luksha (29)
Notable Reserves: 12 - GK - Irvine Welles (22); 2 - RB - Martin Thurrock (23), 4 - CM - Neil Metcalf (23), 6 - CB - Douglas Foster (34), 15 - CM - Strut Alnwick (22), 18 - CB - Rory Drayman (22), 23 - ST - Gared Serafinowicz (31), 30 - ST - Elizabeth Blanc (19, SVG), 33 - RM - Sadhbh Mark (19)

Following Orient is a largely miserable experience, full of goalless draws, joyless 1-0 wins and crushing relegations. It's not easy being a yo-yo club. This season's vintage does not offer many counter-arguments.

7. Snowden River
Last Season: 3rd
Home Colours: White and green chequers / green / white
Away Colours: All black with green trim
Stadium: Whitegrove (11,000)
Nickname: the Mariners
Manager: Alison Hawkes (45)
(4-3-3) 1 - Roisin Black (24); 13 - Sakae Hakugi (27, KIR), 5 - Cole Amundson (25), 6 - Catherine Lake (34, c), 19 - Pamela Corder (24); 8 - Ashley Turner (26, ETN), 4 - Capricorn Marlowe (33), 20 - Velvet Sommelier (32); 15 - Clovis Moran (23), 9 - Ruby Sutter (29), 16 - Kate Stepford (24)
Notable Reserves: 12 - GK - Laslow Taylor (31); 2 - RB - Loella Surrey (22), 11 - LW - Destine Martin (26, CMT), 18 - CB - Marina Lowell (23), 22 - ST - Murray Kean (25), 24 - ST - Arran Gerrard (22)

Starting to rebuild and really ensure they're ready for promotion, though there's still a certain complacency in how club officials seem to regard this as an inevitability. The forward line could probably use some refurbishment, too - unless Stepford's learned some useful tricks from her stint in Quebec.

8. Southrons-Errant
Last Season: 8th
Home Colours: Red / black / red
Away Colours: White / red / white
Stadium: Grand Marquee (9,000)
Nickname: the Southrons
Manager: Bram Merchant
(4-4-2) 20 - Keith Sheridan (27); 19 - Etta Cornelian (22), 6 - Jayce Tanner (29), 22 - Nicola Clark (22, CBR), 23 - Roscoe Grant (25); 7 - Aidan Lindegartner (24), 4 - Andreas Barton (30), 13 - Malachi Ashton (24), 11 - Sara Connell (26); 9 - Cedric Keane (28), 16 - Seneca Kemp (23, CYI)
Notable Reserves: 2 - RB - Rusty Warren (30), 4 - CB - Matt Fretsaw (32), 10 - ST - Honey Lorcan (31)

Eyes on the prize, and a rare youthful squad in Brenecia. The likes of Clark and Kemp show immense promise, but is there the bloody-mindedness to make a serious show at promotion? And if they somehow did make it, would they realistically avoid a massacre?

9. Coppersmith
Last Season: 12th
Home Colours: Orange / black / orange
Away Colours: All blue with orange trim
Stadium: The Dredge Sluice (12,000)
Nickname: the Smiths
Manager: Lilith Cromwell (50)
(4-4-2) 12 - Darren March (28); 2 - Lemuel Lowther (23, KOR), 5 - Paul Mullen (31), 6 - Greven Arist (29, SRS), 3 - Belladonna Chilton (28); 22 - Ai Ueda (27, HIN), 4 - Claude Kittenhawk (27), 14 - July Phelan (31), 13 - Mars Behan (26); 7 - Silban Kihiyaborda (23, ASG), 23 - Thompson Bastin (23, TKT)
Notable Reserves: 1 - GK - Ignatius Crighton (34); 18 - CB - Mark Chenery (34)

A side on the rise, Lilith Cromwell's Smiths wisely shook things up in attack, two young, foreign strikers and a defence sharpened with a Ko-orenite. Shrewd recruitment can only go so far, however, and the fear is that injuries could cripple the squad.

10. St. Alexander
Last Season: 11th
Home Colours: Red and blue stripes / blue / white
Away Colours: All white with blue trim
Stadium: Saint’s Row (16,000)
Nickname: the Paladins
Manager: Uther Corren (48)
(4-4-2) 12 - Murphy Collins (30); 2 - Jan Keel (31), 5 - Forde Carver (28), 6 - Steiner Neill (23), 22 - Tristan Duval (29, NAC); 13 - Kimura Suzu (28, SQR), 4 -- Largo Bond (33), 21 - Mauriac Keane (30), 16 - Sistine Monroe (21); 23 - Nikolai Jalmarisson (29, GRF), 10 - Larissa Clarke (26)

A seasoned, forceful squad with a hard core. Legs creaking in places, and they scored by a distance the fewest goals of any surviving club; if the new signings can help their case, they'll stay up easily.

[b]11. Shaleport Rangers
Last Season: 10th
Home Colours: Blue / black / blue
Away Colours: All white with blue trim
Stadium: Swain Street (7,500)
Nickname: the Rangers
Manager: Finn Artell (47)
(4-3-3) 20 - Lennon Wood (25); 19 - Roman Rios (25, SNL), 5 - Celest Beid (29, TSA), 6 - Stret Harley (33), 3 - Erin Trafford (31); 8 - Stefan Rafaelsson (24, GRF), 4 - Keen Murray (26), 7 - Kent Dulwich (27); 13 - Cherish Mills (22), 15 - Bronwyn Taylor (31), 10 - Nagisa Habane (31, SCT)
Notable Reserves: 23 - RW - Janna Gerrard (33)

The most 'there' of the second-tier's sides, the Rangers defended well last season but struggled for goals. This season, that state of affairs will probably remain the same. You imagine the fans will be happy enough.

12. Randwick Town
Last Season: 9th
Home Colours: Slate / black / slate
Away Colours: All white with slate trim
Stadium: The Drag (8,000)
Nickname: the Grinders
Manager: Leon Ingris (49)
(4-4-2) 1 - Greig Martyn (25); 2 - Tony Hustle (31), 31 - Archer Flat (18, AUD), 6 - Thrush Prewett (29), 3 - Chadwick Latham (27); 22 - Beckett Carney (21, CYI), 4 - Catubodua Jones (23), 15 - Garrett Keown (28), 20 - Taaliah Haq (24, ETN), 7 - Carolina Russo (26, SVG), 10 - Sligo Morse (29)

Known hemi-affectionately as the armpit of Brenecia, the depressing industrial wasteland that is Randwick became an unlikely cause celebre for foreigners over the window - or, at least, a meme - and with it managed to attract an actually decent player in Flat. Judging by last season, they've adapted well to this level.

13. Endeavour Brenecia
Last Season: 3rd (C)
Home Colours: Red / white / red
Away Colours: White / navy / white
Stadium: Canal's Overwatch (11,000)
Nickname: the Torchmen
Manager: Aoife Cresci (41)
(4-3-3) 12 - Léòkadío Rüvündêwâ (26, FFD); 2 - Johanna Cauldron (24), 5 - Reuben Cornwell (24), 6 - Jana Thurrock (24), 3 - Kyra Skein (24); 8 - Séraphin Szilágyi (26, FFD), 13 - Paula Farquhar (34), 11 - Reeve Stanton (24); 7 - Tormod Butcher (24), 9 - Aurelio Yeseta (23, FFD), 20 - Talin Anxosi (23, SRS)
Notable Reserves: 1 - GK - Markus Brendan (23); 4 - DM - Hank Hampton (24, DAR), 10 - LW - Robyn Price (23), 14 - CM - Cara Lance (24), 17 - ST - Halyos le Gall (22, APX), 18 - LB - Ioghan Sprightley (24), 21 - ST - Vanda Gerô (21, PAS), 22 - RW - Lewyn Katter (23), 23 - CM - Jarek Nerkko (23, COS)

Endeavour still look like a glorified youth setup, because they basically are. Except for Paula Farquhar, a highly-credentialled player hoping to elevate the children around her. And even those children are coming into their prime years, now; while it surely means a few are headed for the exit, it's a good sign in the here and now, too.

14. Rozelle Archers
Last Season: Champions (C)
Home Colours: Jade / blue / jade
Away Colours: White / jade / white
Stadium: The Range (10,000)
Nickname: the Archers
Manager: Marisha Cade (41, NPH)
(4-2-3-1) 12 - Alisander Sandford (23, NPH); 2 - Milesia Stephens (28), 5 - Harvus Banner (32, c), 22 - Susheela Kaur (22, SRS), 19 - Lexi Holmes (23, HAN); 4 - Chloe Sorley (29), 8 - Avril Wisnyewski (28, CBP); 13 - Ivanna Hartley (24, NPH), 11 - Nikita Crowe (33), 16 - Ano Ishimaki (25, KOR), 9 - Garrick Malcolm (28)

Not everyone's a fan of the shag-lovers' politics, but it has to be admitted their playing style is very easy on the eye. Can they haul themselves to safety, or will a vulnerable defence cave in?

15. Stonewash Town
Last Season: 13th
Home Colours: Blue / black / blue
Away Colours: All white with blue trim
Stadium: Swain Street (7,500)
Nickname: the Bakers
Manager: Asa Spendthrift (52)
(4-2-3-1) 20 - Sorcha Tanner (22); 2 - Lydia Walker (30), 5 - Gail Hatch (27), 6 - Marley Jackson (31), 19 - Adelaide Bright (21); 7 - Wolfe Riflegreen (33), 21 - Sustusmul Porildherinden (29, KOR), 4 - Warner Moon (25), 11 - Cleander Seerey (28); 9 - Jasper Morant (31), 10 - Donijan Darow (29, ZRH)

It's a sign of the improvement of the B-League that a side containing a former Rozelle striker, other former A-League players and, in Tanner, someone top-flight sides will be very interested in, is probably set for the drop. Nevertheless, here we are.

16. Fentonbridge
Last Season: 2nd (C)
Home Colours: Black / black / orange
Away Colours: White / black / white
Stadium: The Crossing (6,000)
Nickname: the Shoremen
Manager: Ander Collingwood (51)
(4-4-2) 12 - Joan Garland (26); 17 - Eagle Privett (24), 5 - Kyle Carlisle (31), 18 - Fabian Nilsson (33, GRF), 3 - Catheline Selwyn (31); 7 - Esther Justin (24), 4 - Bruno Coleraine (29), 14 - Lucius Card (32), 11 - Luton Parkes (25), 16 - Matt Armitage (26), 10 - Cain Beardsley (25)

You know how with every batch of promoted sides, one just doesn't really reinforce outside of guys in their thirties-plus and just doesn't look ready for the rigours of the league they are now in? That's Fentonbridge.

by **Brenecia** » Sat Mar 27, 2021 5:55 pm

Union are sixth. They’ve lost a third of their games so far! Instead, the top three at the halfway mark of the season are Marque (!), a Rozelle side that were hugely depleted in the window and Sienna Fallon’s North Hall, trying to turn over a new and more attacking leaf to some limited success. All three have built their brand on successfully controlling games - something that a fun but anarchic Kingsgrove seem incapable of, scoring goals by the bushel - indeed, they have the best goal difference in the league - but already nine points behind the pace. A 4-0 defeat to Union intensified calls for Rowena Gowan’s head. It’s telling that Marque are narrow favourites for the title.

At the bottom of the table, the Twins re looking like they’ll make it with relative ease, and so too an impressive Gallant Cross. Five sides are going at less than a point a game, and while Lotus Park probably ought to have the quality to surive, the same can’t be said for a Rozelle United side who can’t score for shit, or an Alliance that keep haemorrhaging goals. Not so badly as Royal, though, who have let forty-two fly past the beleagured Finn Nichols; without him, you’re looking at fifty. Falkner prop up the table, having hugely disappointed so far. Their unexpectedly 3-0 win over Rozelle United remains their only victory. Sylvia Wright scores when she gets the service, and Lanzafame’s done remarkably well between the sticks, but there’s just nothing in between.

In the second tier, Westpike set the pace. Their young, vibrant side up front is complemented by a disciplined back line, and so far they remain head and shoulders above the competition. Shockingly, Lilith Cromwell’s Coppersmith are second, the Smiths benefiting from unearthing two of the most lethal young strikers in the comp. Kihiyaborda currently leads the league with eleven goals, with Bastin no slouch, either. But it must be said, they’ve been fortunate with injuries thus far. Rosbank Town have thoroughly disappointed on paper, but they’re just four points out of automatic promotion in a tight-knit top half. Proudcastle, however, will be absolutely spewing. Josie Raynor was meant to guarantee goals; she’s scored two from thirteen games, and the team as a whole have less than a goal a game. Randwick Town are surprising everyone, well clear of the drop, Archer Flat surely doing everything possible to impress his paymasters back in Audioslavia. Fentonbridge and Stonewash have surprised nobody, which is to say they’re terrible. Fentonbridge have scored just seven goals to go with their seven points, while Stonewash are on track to concede over a goal a game.

A-LEAGUE

Pos Team                     P   W  D  L For  Ag  +/- Pts
  1 Marque                  15  11  1  3  28  12  +16  34
  2 Rozelle                 15   9  4  2  27  16  +11  31
  3 North Hall              15   9  3  3  21  10  +11  30
  4 Southern Star           15   8  3  4  29  12  +17  27
  5 Kingsgrove              15   8  1  6  43  25  +18  25
  6 Northern Union          15   7  3  5  33  16  +17  24
  7 Pikemouth               15   6  6  3  20  20   +0  24
  8 Rockridge Phoenix       15   5  8  2  16  12   +4  23
  9 Northern Stallions      15   7  2  6  28  25   +3  23
 10 Gallant Cross           15   6  3  6  17  17   +0  21
 11 Twin Saints             15   4  6  5  16  20   -4  18
 12 Lotus Park              15   3  4  8  19  26   -7  13
 13 Rozelle United          15   3  2 10  10  32  -22  11
 14 Rozelle Alliance        15   2  4  9  15  36  -21  10
 15 Royal Westpike          15   2  4  9  19  42  -23  10
 16 Falkner United          15   1  4 10  13  33  -20   7

B-LEAGUE

Pos Team                     P  W  D   L For  Ag  +/- Pts
  1 AFC Westpike            15 10  4   1  33  13  +20  34
  2 Coppersmith             15  9  2   4  28  16  +12  29
  3 Saint Alexander         15  7  6   2  29  13  +16  27
  4 Chafford                15  8  3   4  22  11  +11  27
  5 Guilder                 15  8  3   4  17  10   +7  27
  6 Snowden River           15  7  4   4  26  16  +10  25
  7 Francisca Orient        15  7  4   4  22  12  +10  25
  8 Rosbank Town            15  7  4   4  26  19   +7  25
  9 Proudcastle             15  6  4   5  14  10   +4  22
 10 Randwick Town           15  6  2   7  18  21   -3  20
 11 Shaleport Rangers       15  5  3   7  17  20   -3  18
 12 Southrons-Errant        15  4  4   7  23  28   -5  16
 13 Rozelle Archers         15  4  2   9  20  38  -18  14
 14 Endeavour Brenecia      15  3  3   9  19  33  -14  12
 15 Fentonbridge            15  2  1  12   7  32  -25   7
 16 Stonewash Town          15  2  1  12  17  46  -29   7

NO FUN ALLOWED. Union storm back to the top of the table, demolishing anything and everything in their path to put the title’s fate in their own hands going into the final day, smashing Twin Saints 3-0 as Hall crumble to defeat in bloody Falkner. The Hunters were playing for their lives, and the win is their best performance of the season, brilliant scrambling, goalline clearances… all for nothing, as Alliance won theirs in the 92nd minute, Gianmarco Dutto meeting Belanger’s corner for what will probably be the centre-half’s final touch as an Alliance player. Still, Hall and Marque remain in the top three. Kingsgrove slaughter Lotus Park on the final day 5-1, but Rowena Gowan’s departure is announced less than an hour later. Star also finished outside the top three, leading to Orson Faulkner openly grumbling about not being backed by the board, and wouldn’t it be a shame if another side out there could give him the support he needed… Gallant Cross, in the end, were nowhere near the drop zone; Medda Ringbill was arguably unfortunate not to receive Manager of the Year billing. Royal, too, managed to stabilise after playing themselves into trouble, with Lotus basically reverting to the mean. So that means, despite much fanfare, the sides that came up fall back down.

Perennial yo-yo sides Westpike and Rosbank will come up. This is particularly impressive for the Black Swans, who kept the faith in their young manager Casey Brown and were rewarded as they absolutely rocketed to the promotion places in the second half of the season. The Ibis, meanwhile, just kept their stranglehold on the top throughout. Coppersmith, sadly, fell away once injuries did start to roll in, but the noble sides of the second tier will have to put up with visiting Randwick another year longer. Ugh. Stoneawsh and Fentonbridge did not recover, while the Archers struggled throughout the season to get consistency together.

PROMOTION/RELEGATION PLAYOFFS
Glendower Rovers <C> 0-1 Knightstone FC <D>
Rozelle Archers <B> 0-1 Scaffield <C>
Rozelle Alliance <A> 1-0 Chafford <B>

DO NORTHERN UNION WIN THREE CUP WINNERS CUPS IN A ROW
No. FC Teussen Stelberg win the Final 1-0.

CUP FINAL
Royal Westpike 3-1 North Hall

Hall are relegated to bridesmaids yet again, as a rejuvenated Royal side fire their way to their first Cup win. Hanna Selder opens the scoring with a hugely deflected strike, but Mara Sand’s crisp drive from the corner of the box leaves no questions about quality. Hall fight back in the second half, Nichols with a hugely impressive save from Speaker that he can only palm down straight into the path of Escandon… who manages a truly breathtaking miss, spooning the rebound over the bar. Royal throw on Brielle Grant, now 34, who with her first touch guides a neat header past Pardinho to make it 3-0. A Union youth product, you bet she enjoys that. Markus Mellin comes off the bench for Hall to at least pull one back, and Archer falls for what might be, but isn’t, a penalty. Even so, it’s a convincing enough win in the end.

A-LEAGUE

Pos Team                     P   W   D   L For  Ag  +/- Pts
  1 Northern Union          30  18   6   6  56  22  +34  60
  2 North Hall              30  17   6   7  39  19  +20  57
  3 Marque                  30  17   5   8  50  27  +23  56
  4 Rozelle                 30  16   7   7  49  27  +22  55
  5 Southern Star           30  16   5   9  58  33  +25  53
  6 Kingsgrove              30  16   1  13  79  55  +24  49
  7 Pikemouth               30  12  11   7  42  36   +6  47
  8 Northern Stallions      30  13   6  11  51  50   +1  45
  9 Rockridge Phoenix       30   9  13   8  31  30   +1  40
 10 Gallant Cross           30   9  11  10  38  44   -6  38
 11 Twin Saints             30   7  10  13  31  43  -12  31
 12 Royal Westpike          30   8   6  16  36  67  -31  30
 13 Lotus Park              30   7   8  15  36  54  -18  29
 14 Rozelle Alliance        30   4  12  14  32  59  -27  24
 15 Falkner United          30   6   6  18  31  60  -29  24
 16 Rozelle United          30   6   5  19  25  58  -33  23

AWARDS
Golden Boot (Goals Scored): Michael Ribbeck (KNG) - 24
Golden Ball (Player of the Year): Lavinia Riitsi (MAR)
Golden Fist (New Player of the Year): Nestoras Galatanos (NTH)
Golden Heart (U-21 Player of the Year): Miriam Troegner (KNG)
Manager of the Year: Igrene Cantor (MAR)

B-LEAGUE

Pos Team                     P   W   D   L For  Ag  +/- Pts
  1 AFC Westpike            30  18   8   4  58  28  +30  62
  2 Rosbank Town            30  18   5   7  57  29  +28  59
  3 Chafford                30  15   7   8  45  22  +23  52
  4 Francisca Orient        30  15   6   9  39  25  +14  51
  5 Coppersmith             30  15   5  10  40  29  +11  50
  6 Guilder                 30  14   7   9  36  22  +14  49
  7 Snowden River           30  13   9   8  45  28  +17  48
  8 Proudcastle             30  12   9   9  28  21   +7  45
  9 Saint Alexander         30  11  11   8  45  29  +16  44
 10 Southrons-Errant        30  12   6  12  43  45   -2  42
 11 Randwick Town           30  11   5  14  31  40   -9  38
 12 Shaleport Rangers       30  10   7  13  31  38   -7  37
 13 Endeavour Brenecia      30   9   5  16  38  66  -28  32
 14 Rozelle Archers         30   6   7  17  37  67  -30  25
 15 Stonewash Town          30   6   3  21  33  76  -43  21
 16 Fentonbridge            30   2   6  22  13  54  -41  12

AWARDS
Golden Boot (Goals Scored): Crowley Mathers (WSP) - 20
Golden Ball (Player of the Year): Harper Casey (RBT)
Golden Heart (U-21 Player of the Year): Archer Flat (RWT)
Manager of the Year: Lilith Cromwell (CPS)

C-LEAGUE

Pos Team                      P   W  D   L For  Ag  +/- Pts
  1 Spearcove Mariners       30  20  7   3  81  30  +51  67
  2 Finbar Stalwarts         30  20  3   7  44  19  +25  63
  3 Scaffield                30  19  4   7  61  25  +36  61
  4 Otter Ferry              30  19  1  10  64  34  +30  58
  5 AFC Swanbridge           30  16  6   8  61  37  +24  54
  6 Stourhead                30  17  3  10  45  38   +7  54
  7 Mount Roland             30  13  9   8  33  30   +3  48
  8 Sharrow                  30  12  6  12  46  41   +5  42
  9 Chrysler Town            30  10  6  14  53  52   +1  36
 10 Razorback Hill           30   9  8  13  28  43  -15  35
 11 Fiana Cove               30   9  8  13  37  57  -20  35
 12 Southside Wanderers      30   8  7  15  27  43  -16  31
 13 AFC Swayback             30   8  4  18  36  60  -24  28
 14 Glendower River          30   6  5  19  37  68  -31  23
 15 AFC Conomore             30   6  3  21  21  53  -32  21
 16 Townsend Raiders         30   5  6  19  33  77  -44  21

D-LEAGUE

Pos Team                        P   W   D   L For  Ag  +/- Pts
  1 Alnwick Glade              30  20   6   4  54  26  +28  66
  2 Falkner Crescent           30  19   7   4  76  32  +44  64
  3 Knightstone FC             30  19   5   6  57  23  +34  62
  4 Suttonstrand FC            30  17   9   4  71  33  +38  60
  5 Platwood                   30  15   8   7  48  35  +13  53
  6 Chafford Saracens          30  15   5  10  52  49   +3  50
  7 Marque Rovers              30  14   7   9  52  41  +11  49
  8 Marque Leichiai            30  13   6  11  49  40   +9  45
  9 Alexavale FC               30  10   7  13  49  49   +0  37
 10 Silvershire Town           30   9  10  11  49  52   -3  37
 11 Hall Spitfires             30   8   5  17  37  52  -15  29
 12 Skerrick Pathfinders       30   5  11  14  41  59  -18  26
 13 Rushden                    30   7   4  19  32  70  -38  25
 14 Brackford Rovers           30   5   7  18  16  46  -30  22
 15 FC Solidarity Falkner      30   5   6  19  31  53  -22  21
 16 AFC Lancet                 30   3   9  18  26  80  -54  18

by **Brenecia** » Mon Jul 05, 2021 4:03 am

SYNOPSIS OF ‘IN THE MOUTH OF THE PIKE’* SEASON 1
THE PITCH
Other football shows have concerned themselves with the movers and shakers at the top of the table, but ITMOTP is centred around the other end of the table, stories that are often overlooked. As Northern Union almost certainly run away with the fucking league again** continue their reign of dominance, the three main clubs of the west coast city - AFC Westpike, Royal Westpike and Pikemouth - are struggling just to survive in an atmosphere of austerity. ITMOTP takes a deep dive into the insignificant lives of nothing clubs in the middle of nowhere.

* Name is shit, do we still have time to change this in post?

** Unprofessional! if true

EPISODE 1
AFC Westpike introduced as hard-scrabble working-class club, deeply entrenched in Nepharan traditions. Persons of interest: new signings Enrico Lanzafame, fresh off relegation with Falkner United, and Ava Washington, actual Nephar. Within days of Washington’s arrival, her apartment is found by Royal Westpike fans, who are lovely patriots who are mysteriously shy about having their names or identities revealed as they let off fireworks outside the flat at 3am. One spirited fan puts her fist through the camera.

Royal Westpike explored as club full of passion and many fun customs. Much made of spirited celebrations after the Cup victory, such as setting Nepharan flags on fire. Despite this, almost every key player is a foreigner; pre-season sees two more arrive in Tesarik and Yerron. Fans are scornful of arrival of newly-promoted AFC. Word ‘shag’ repeated enough times to completely lose all meaning.

Once-relevant club Pikemouth desperately attempt to portray selves as not in terminal decline, without success. Satyr manager Chandra Nalaar sits through long board meeting where she is essentially told, no, there is no money, and yes, anyone saleable wil be told. Star player Seeler sold. Captain Haukland released. Crowds dwindling. Camera builds an affinity for Dome Odoma, relentlessly hopeful despite being completely past it at 28, missing a number of key shots in a pre-season match.

EPISODE 2
AFC get off to extremely strong start to season. Despite fears at the start of the season, bold and physical approach leads to seven points in first three games, including 1-1 draw against high-fliers Kingsgrove. Fans anticipate great things, immediately before defeat to Gallant Cross. Royal Westpike fans talk extensively about the importance of winning the Cup, the glory this brought to the city, the level of respect it brought the club, shortly before second-tier Guilder beat them 2-1 to knock them out at the First Round. AFC heroically hold out a scoreless draw against Northern Union. Despite the fact that Lanzafame makes eight saves, including a penalty, Aisling Chester confidently states Westpike’s defence is up with the best of them. They then concede six goals to Northern Stallions. Pikemouth, for their part, float in ennui.

A-LEAGUE

Pos Team                    P  W  D  L For  Ag  +/- Pts
  1 Northern Union          8  7  1  0  21   3  +18  22
  2 Rozelle                 8  6  2  0  15   6   +9  20
  3 Northern Stallions      8  5  2  1  19   9  +10  17
  4 Kingsgrove              8  4  3  1  24  13  +11  15
  5 Marque                  8  4  3  1  17  12   +5  15
  6 Southern Star           8  4  2  2  19   8  +11  14
  7 Gallant Cross           8  4  1  3  12  15   -3  13
  8 AFC Westpike            8  2  3  3  11  14   -3   9
  9 Royal Westpike          8  2  3  3  11  15   -4   9
 10 Twin Saints             8  2  3  3   7  13   -6   9
 11 Pikemouth               8  2  2  4   9  13   -4   8
 12 Rozelle Alliance        8  2  2  4  14  21   -7   8
 13 Lotus Park              8  2  0  6   9  13   -4   6
 14 North Hall              8  2  0  6   7  11   -4   6
 15 Rockridge Phoenix       8  1  1  6   5  13   -8   4
 16 Rosbank Town            8  1  0  7   4  25  -21   3

B-LEAGUE

Pos Team                    P  W  D  L For  Ag  +/- Pts
  1 Southrons-Errant        8  8  0  0  27   6  +21  24
  2 Guilder                 8  6  1  1  17   1  +16  19
  3 Proudcastle             8  5  3  0  14   7   +7  18
  4 Falkner United          8  5  1  2  14   7   +7  16
  5 Chafford                8  4  2  2   9   5   +4  14
  6 Snowden River           8  2  4  2   8   7   +1  10
  7 Finbar Stalwarts        8  3  1  4   9  11   -2  10
  8 Rozelle United          8  3  1  4  10  14   -4  10
  9 Francisca Orient        8  2  3  3   9  10   -1   9
 10 Coppersmith             8  2  3  3   8  10   -2   9
 11 Randwick Town           8  3  0  5   8  13   -5   9
 12 Saint Alexander         8  2  2  4  10  13   -3   8
 13 Scaffield               8  1  4  3  12  18   -6   7
 14 Spearcove Mariners      8  1  3  4   7  21  -14   6
 15 Endeavour Brenecia      8  1  1  6   9  19  -10   4
 16 Shaleport Rangers       8  0  3  5   3  12   -9   3

EPISODE 3
First major flashpoint of the series. As high-flying AFC visit Royal, the city becomes a cavalcade of colour, AFC’s black and red against Royal’s blue and pink. There is a festive street-fight. This time, an AFC fan punches through the camera. On the pitch, there’s a physically intensive clash, but AFC rise above it in the second half. Washington’s cross finds Crowley Mathers’ leap, and the Nepharan leftback taunts the Royal fans by imitating a drying cormorant’s posture, and a grass-cutter from Erika Leander kills off the game in injury time as AFC win 3-1.

Two days after the game, Aisling Chester signs a contract with Rockridge Phoenix, who were just buried 4-0 by Rosbank Town and turfed out former Brenecia assistant Jess Curtin. Royal fans celebrate by throwing coins at their own players when they lose 7-2 to theoretically relegation-battling Gallant Cross. Pikemouth are brought up only briefly, in the context of a heroic 4-3 win in Kingsgrove, followed immediately by an ACL injury to striker Piotra Brookfield in training that forces Dome Odoma back into regular starts.

A-LEAGUE

Pos Team                     P   W  D   L For  Ag  +/- Pts
  1 Northern Union          15  14  1   0  39   5  +34  43
  2 Rozelle                 15  10  3   2  26  16  +10  33
  3 Southern Star           15   9  3   3  30  15  +15  30
  4 Northern Stallions      15   9  2   4  32  16  +16  29
  5 Kingsgrove              15   7  5   3  38  24  +14  26
  6 Marque                  15   6  5   4  27  22   +5  23
  7 Gallant Cross           15   6  3   6  24  25   -1  21
  8 North Hall              15   6  2   7  17  17   +0  20
  9 Twin Saints             15   5  5   5  15  20   -5  20
 10 Pikemouth               15   5  3   7  20  24   -4  18
 11 Rozelle Alliance        15   5  3   7  24  35  -11  18
 12 Lotus Park              15   4  2   9  23  27   -4  14
 13 AFC Westpike            15   3  5   7  18  25   -7  14
 14 Rockridge Phoenix       15   2  3  10  13  29  -16   9
 15 Royal Westpike          15   2  3  10  18  41  -23   9
 16 Rosbank Town            15   2  2  11  13  36  -23   8

B-LEAGUE

Pos Team                     P   W  D   L For  Ag  +/- Pts
  1 Southrons-Errant        15  13  0   2  43  11  +32  39
  2 Proudcastle             15   9  4   2  21  11  +10  31
  3 Guilder                 15   9  3   3  25   7  +18  30
  4 Chafford                15   9  3   3  21   8  +13  30
  5 Falkner United          15   9  2   4  24  14  +10  29
  6 Francisca Orient        15   7  4   4  20  14   +6  25
  7 Randwick Town           15   8  0   7  19  20   -1  24
  8 Rozelle United          15   6  3   6  20  25   -5  21
  9 Coppersmith             15   5  4   6  15  18   -3  19
 10 Snowden River           15   4  5   6  16  16   +0  17
 11 Finbar Stalwarts        15   5  2   8  17  26   -9  17
 12 Scaffield               15   3  5   7  18  26   -8  14
 13 Saint Alexander         15   3  4   8  13  22   -9  13
 14 Shaleport Rangers       15   3  3   9  13  26  -13  12
 15 Spearcove Mariners      15   2  5   8  15  34  -19  11
 16 Endeavour Brenecia      15   1  1  13  12  34  -22   4

EPISODE 4
A brief segment is devoted to relegation rivals Rosbank Town, the Black Swans. A fan historian talks in loving terms about the side’s proud history of attacking football, and although they lost 8-1 to Kingsgrove in the first match of the season there’s some hope that the weakness of their near rivals would allow them some hope. Rosbank promptly lose 7-0 to Kingsgrove. They then host Royal, and come away with a 1-1 draw. Royal manager Brady Heffernan is fired. New manager Uther Corren arrives from St. Alexander pledging change and the lash. His first training session sees a vocal falling-out with his new players, and veteran defender Eleanor Tristram punches goalkeeper Finn Nichols in the face. Royal promptly beat Kingsgrove 2-1 in his first match in charge.

At a fan forum, AFC board members assure the fans they aren’t cheapskates running on a shoe-string, one day before appointing Chester’s assistant manger, Florian Burnes, from caretaker to full-time replacement. Pikemouth employ a psychologist to try and resolve Dome Odoma’s issues in front of goal. During a Rorschach test, Odoma perceives a sequence of twelve different images as each portraying ‘missing an open goal’. For all that, they are the only one of the three out of relegation danger.

A-LEAGUE

Pos Team                     P   W  D   L For  Ag  +/- Pts
  1 Northern Union          22  21  1   0  56   8  +48  64
  2 Rozelle                 22  14  4   4  35  21  +14  46
  3 Southern Star           22  12  3   7  38  22  +16  39
  4 Northern Stallions      22  12  3   7  42  27  +15  39
  5 Marque                  22  11  6   5  40  27  +13  39
  6 Kingsgrove              22  10  6   6  62  36  +26  36
  7 Rozelle Alliance        22   9  4   9  36  45   -9  31
  8 Twin Saints             22   8  6   8  25  35  -10  30
  9 North Hall              22   9  2  11  27  28   -1  29
 10 Pikemouth               22   8  3  11  28  31   -3  27
 11 Gallant Cross           22   7  5  10  30  38   -8  26
 12 Royal Westpike          22   6  4  12  28  50  -22  22
 13 Rockridge Phoenix       22   5  4  13  23  38  -15  19
 14 AFC Westpike            22   4  6  12  25  41  -16  18
 15 Lotus Park              22   5  2  15  27  44  -17  17
 16 Rosbank Town            22   4  3  15  22  53  -31  15

B-LEAGUE

Pos Team                     P   W  D   L For  Ag  +/- Pts
  1 Southrons-Errant        22  17  2   3  60  19  +41  53
  2 Guilder                 22  14  5   3  42  11  +31  47
  3 Proudcastle             22  13  5   4  34  15  +19  44
  4 Chafford                22  11  7   4  27  12  +15  40
  5 Falkner United          22  12  4   6  35  22  +13  40
  6 Francisca Orient        22  10  4   8  27  23   +4  34
  7 Randwick Town           22  10  3   9  27  30   -3  33
  8 Finbar Stalwarts        22   9  4   9  28  30   -2  31
  9 Snowden River           22   7  8   7  27  21   +6  29
 10 Coppersmith             22   7  6   9  24  30   -6  27
 11 Rozelle United          22   7  6   9  24  39  -15  27
 12 Saint Alexander         22   5  6  11  20  31  -11  21
 13 Scaffield               22   4  8  10  25  41  -16  20
 14 Shaleport Rangers       22   5  4  13  22  38  -16  19
 15 Spearcove Mariners      22   3  5  14  21  48  -27  14
 16 Endeavour Brenecia      22   2  3  17  19  52  -33   9

EPISODE 5
The focus is primarily on AFC as their season completely erodes to dust. Injuries are piling up, and Ava Washington shows up utterly wasted to training right before the derby. The tabloids are running stories that Washington has slept with roughly half the city; “back home, they’d be congratulating me,” Washington gripes. Predictably, Royal beat them in the derby, though it’s a closer-run thing than expected; they think they have a last-minute equaliser after a 3-3 thriller, but Cwenthryth Harper was incorrectly called offside. An AFC fan says that at least they remain the only side to have taken points off Northern Union this season. Three days later, Marque draw 1-1 with Union. A couple more weeks down the line, Union do finally lose. To Royal.

A-LEAGUE

Pos Team                     P   W  D   L For  Ag  +/- Pts
  1 Northern Union          29  26  2   1  72  12  +60  80
  2 Rozelle                 29  17  5   7  54  33  +21  56
  3 Southern Star           29  17  3   9  52  28  +24  54
  4 Marque                  29  15  9   5  54  33  +21  54
  5 Northern Stallions      29  15  5   9  54  36  +18  50
  6 North Hall              29  13  3  13  38  35   +3  42
  7 Rozelle Alliance        29  12  6  11  41  49   -8  42
  8 Kingsgrove              29  11  7  11  70  56  +14  40
  9 Pikemouth               29  12  3  14  40  40   +0  39
 10 Gallant Cross           29  11  5  13  41  48   -7  38
 11 Royal Westpike          29  10  5  14  39  59  -20  35
 12 Twin Saints             29   9  7  13  29  45  -16  34
 13 Rockridge Phoenix       29   8  5  16  30  46  -16  29
 14 Lotus Park              29   8  4  17  37  54  -17  28
 15 AFC Westpike            29   4  7  18  32  57  -25  19
 16 Rosbank Town            29   4  4  21  28  80  -52  16

B-LEAGUE

Pos Team                     P   W  D   L For  Ag  +/- Pts
  1 Guilder                 29  20  6   3  56  12  +44  66
  2 Southrons-Errant        29  20  3   6  71  30  +41  63
  3 Falkner United          29  18  4   7  52  28  +24  58
  4 Proudcastle             29  17  6   6  47  23  +24  57
  5 Chafford                29  14  9   6  37  19  +18  51
  6 Finbar Stalwarts        29  13  6  10  37  33   +4  45
  7 Francisca Orient        29  13  5  11  36  33   +3  44
  8 Rozelle United          29  11  7  11  34  49  -15  40
  9 Snowden River           29   9 10  10  34  26   +8  37
 10 Coppersmith             29  10  7  12  32  38   -6  37
 11 Randwick Town           29  11  4  14  32  42  -10  37
 12 Saint Alexander         29   8  7  14  29  42  -13  31
 13 Shaleport Rangers       29   5  6  18  25  51  -26  21
 14 Scaffield               29   4  9  16  29  57  -28  21
 15 Spearcove Mariners      29   5  5  19  31  72  -41  20
 16 Endeavour Brenecia      29   5  4  20  32  59  -27  19

A-LEAGUE FINAL DAY
Lotus Park 1-1 Kingsgrove
Rosbank Town 3-1 Marque
AFC Westpike 0-2 North Hall
Royal Westpike 2-2 Rozelle
Rockridge Phoenix 1-1 Pikemouth
Rozelle Alliance 1-2 Northern Stallions
Gallant Cross 0-4 Southern Star
Twin Saints 2-1 Northern Union

B-LEAGUE FINAL DAY
Proudcastle 0-1 Guilder
Scaffield 0-1 Coppersmith
Finbar Stalwarts 0-1 Southrons-Errant
Spearcove Mariners 0-1 Randwick Town
Rozelle United 1-1 Snowden River
Falkner United 0-1 Saint Alexander
Endeavour Brenecia 0-1 Shaleport Rangers
Chafford 0-0 Francisca Orient

EPISODE 6
Frustrating the showrunners, the final matchday sees nobody have anyone left to play for. The closest thing to a narrative is former AFC manager Aisling Chester helping guide Rockridge to safety, owing to a hard-fought 1-1 draw with Pikemouth. Chester is regretful about what happened to AFC without her, but not as regretful as AFC fans themselves. Pikemouth fans, judging by interviews, feel absolutely nothing about anything anymore. Pikemouth defender Erskine Ruddock talks for four minutes on the subject of Sisyphean torture, with all the eloquence of a drugged ogre.

Talk turns to the future. The board delivers to Chandra Nalaar the news that they might be forced to sell star winger Garin Velat. Nalaar has mastered the smile that does not reach her eyes. AFC fire Florian Burnes, who lands on his feet with an assistant role back in Nephara. Ava Washington is found comatose in a gutter with a Royal badge crudely scrawled on her face in henna. At Royal, club legend striker Brielle Grant hangs up the boots, expressing misgivings about the way fan culture at the club has evolved. Other veterans at the club wait in limbo for extensions that never come. Uther Corren, it seems, has plans of his own.

The final cut of the season shows the sun at last rise over Westpike. And then, it begins to rain.

RELEGATION PLAYOFFS
AFC Swayback 2 - 0 Marque Leichiai
Scaffield 1 - 2 Fiana Cove
Lotus Park 0 - 2 Falkner United

CROWN CUP FINAL
Rozelle Alliance 1 - 0 Guilder

A-LEAGUE

Pos Team                     P   W  D   L For  Ag  +/- Pts
  1 Northern Union          30  26  2   2  73  14  +59  80
  2 Southern Star           30  18  3   9  56  28  +28  57
  3 Rozelle                 30  17  6   7  56  35  +21  57
  4 Marque                  30  15  9   6  55  36  +19  54
  5 Northern Stallions      30  16  5   9  56  37  +19  53
  6 North Hall              30  14  3  13  40  35   +5  45
  7 Rozelle Alliance        30  12  6  12  42  51   -9  42
  8 Kingsgrove              30  11  8  11  71  57  +14  41
  9 Pikemouth               30  12  4  14  41  41   +0  40
 10 Gallant Cross           30  11  5  14  41  52  -11  38
 11 Twin Saints             30  10  7  13  31  46  -15  37
 12 Royal Westpike          30  10  6  14  41  61  -20  36
 13 Rockridge Phoenix       30   8  6  16  31  47  -16  30
 14 Lotus Park              30   8  5  17  38  55  -17  29
 15 AFC Westpike            30   4  7  19  32  59  -27  19
 16 Rosbank Town            30   5  4  21  31  81  -50  19

AWARDS
Golden Boot (Goals Scored): Scott Walker (NTU) - 26
Golden Ball (Player of the Year): Sharon Erskine (NTU)
Golden Fist (New Player of the Year): Kuma Bultum (NTU)
Golden Heart (U-21 Player of the Year): Esther Sidle (ROZ)
Manager of the Year: Kildare Harper (RZA)

B-LEAGUE

Pos Team                     P   W   D   L For  Ag  +/- Pts
  1 Guilder                 30  21   6   3  57  12  +45  69
  2 Southrons-Errant        30  21   3   6  72  30  +42  66
  3 Falkner United          30  18   4   8  52  29  +23  58
  4 Proudcastle             30  17   6   7  47  24  +23  57
  5 Chafford                30  14  10   6  37  19  +18  52
  6 Finbar Stalwarts        30  13   6  11  37  34   +3  45
  7 Francisca Orient        30  13   6  11  36  33   +3  45
  8 Rozelle United          30  11   8  11  35  50  -15  41
  9 Coppersmith             30  11   7  12  33  38   -5  40
 10 Randwick Town           30  12   4  14  33  42   -9  40
 11 Snowden River           30   9  11  10  35  27   +8  38
 12 Saint Alexander         30   9   7  14  30  42  -12  34
 13 Shaleport Rangers       30   6   6  18  26  51  -25  24
 14 Scaffield               30   4   9  17  29  58  -29  21
 15 Spearcove Mariners      30   5   5  20  31  73  -42  20
 16 Endeavour Brenecia      30   5   4  21  32  60  -28  19

AWARDS
Golden Boot (Goals Scored): Seneca Kemp (S-E) - 23
Golden Ball (Player of the Year): Ide Usano (GDR)
Golden Heart (U-21 Player of the Year): Sadhbh Mark (FRO)
Manager of the Year: Fiona Catlin (FIS)

C-LEAGUE

Pos Team                      P   W   D   L For  Ag  +/- Pts
  1 Otter Ferry              30  21   7   2  72  26  +46  70
  2 Rozelle Archers          30  19   5   6  84  32  +52  62
  3 Fiana Cove               30  18   8   4  71  29  +42  62
  4 Stourhead                30  14  12   4  42  24  +18  54
  5 AFC Swanbridge           30  14   9   7  73  43  +30  51
  6 Sharrow                  30  14   8   8  56  41  +15  50
  7 Stonewash Town           30  14   6  10  54  40  +14  48
  8 Razorback Hill           30  10   7  13  33  41   -8  37
  9 Chrysler Town            30   9   9  12  39  50  -11  36
 10 Mount Roland             30   7  11  12  26  36  -10  32
 11 Falkner Crescent         30   9   5  16  31  73  -42  32
 12 Fentonbridge             30   6  10  14  23  39  -16  28
 13 Alnwick Glade            30   7   4  19  29  59  -30  25
 14 AFC Swayback             30   6   6  18  28  57  -29  24
 15 Southside Wanderers      30   5   9  16  15  47  -32  24
 16 Knightstone FC           30   4  10  16  29  68  -39  22

D-LEAGUE

Pos Team                       P   W   D   L For  Ag  +/- Pts
  1 Glendower River           30  21   4   5  78  36  +42  67
  2 Suttonstrand FC           30  20   6   4  72  38  +34  66
  3 Marque Leichiai           30  17   9   4  70  21  +49  60
  4 Chafford Saracens         30  15  10   5  48  30  +18  55
  5 Townsend Raiders          30  15   8   7  63  34  +29  53
  6 Platwood                  30  16   5   9  56  36  +20  53
  7 Hawk Reach                30  13   7  10  43  39   +4  46
  8 Brackford Rovers          30  11  10   9  39  31   +8  43
  9 AFC Conomore              30  10   7  13  28  34   -6  37
 10 Skerrick Pathfinders      30  10   6  14  49  65  -16  36
 11 Silvershire Town          30   7  11  12  36  38   -2  32
 12 Hall Spitfires            30   8   8  14  47  65  -18  32
 13 Rushden                   30   7   3  20  27  62  -35  24
 14 AFC Cairnshore            30   6   5  19  29  68  -39  23
 15 Marque Rovers             30   6   2  22  31  68  -37  20
 16 Alexavale FC              30   4   7  19  33  84  -51  19
Promoted: FC Solidarity Falkner, Lastcreek Ramblers

by **Brenecia** » Sun Sep 19, 2021 5:30 am

There’s something different and exciting in the air tonight: Northern Union have dropped points. That’s right, everyone’s least favourite flat-track bullies may have cunted their way to the top once again on the strength of the off-cuts of proper leagues, which is in fairness the best they can do given that most sane people react to the news of moving to northern Brenecia by self-immolating, but they are at least within cooee of credible opposition, or at least Southern Star.

That’s right, Star are hot in the fight as Orson Faulkner’s pleas to do anything else with his life other than continually finish second go unanswered. On the right wing, Penumbra Till has the league on its knees like a politician three days from stepping down from major office, while young guns Conlan, Shrine and Seeler are doing daddy Orson proud. Kingsgrove have also decided that it would be good to be relevant again, with marquee names like Mia Ria, Miriam Troegner and that’s basically it. Fucking nobody is anywhere near, but Marque are best of the rest despite their Nepharan manager having fucked off at the first opportunity for one of the few places colder, greyer and more infested with beasts of the undersea, they crawl into my dreams than Brenecia.

At the bottom of the table, Phoenix, Alliance, Southrons and Falkner are all shit.

A-LEAGUE

Pos Team                     P   W  D  L For  Ag  +/- Pts
  1 Northern Union          15  11  2  2  31  11  +20  35
  2 Southern Star           15  11  2  2  28   8  +20  35
  3 Kingsgrove              15  11  1  3  39  18  +21  34
  4 Marque                  15   7  5  3  23  16   +7  26
  5 Rozelle                 15   6  5  4  28  22   +6  23
  6 Pikemouth               15   7  1  7  23  26   -3  22
  7 Gallant Cross           15   5  5  5  23  20   +3  20
  8 North Hall              15   5  5  5  16  16   +0  20
  9 Northern Stallions      15   6  2  7  26  28   -2  20
 10 Guilder                 15   5  5  5  18  20   -2  20
 11 Twin Saints             15   5  2  8  21  27   -6  17
 12 Royal Westpike          15   4  5  6  16  22   -6  17
 13 Rockridge Phoenix       15   2  6  7  11  17   -6  12
 14 Rozelle Alliance        15   3  3  9  24  38  -14  12
 15 Southrons-Errant        15   3  2 10  23  43  -20  11
 16 Falkner United          15   2  3 10  15  33  -18   9

B-LEAGUE

Pos Team                    P   W  D   L For  Ag  +/- Pts
  1 AFC Westpike           15  11  2   2  27   7  +20  35
  2 Rozelle Archers        15  10  1   4  27  22   +5  31
  3 Rosbank Town           15   8  4   3  33  17  +16  28
  4 Chafford               15   8  4   3  22  12  +10  28
  5 Proudcastle            15   7  5   3  20  10  +10  26
  6 Francisca Orient       15   6  6   3  16  10   +6  24
  7 Rozelle United         15   7  3   5  21  16   +5  24
  8 Lotus Park             15   7  2   6  25  16   +9  23
  9 Coppersmith            15   7  1   7  15  15   +0  22
 10 Saint Alexander        15   5  5   5  19  21   -2  20
 11 Snowden River          15   5  3   7  20  24   -4  18
 12 Finbar Stalwarts       15   5  1   9  14  22   -8  16
 13 Otter Ferry            15   3  5   7  13  23  -10  14
 14 Shaleport Rangers      15   3  1  11   7  29  -22  10
 15 Randwick Town          15   2  2  11  10  26  -16   8
 16 Fiana Cove             15   1  5   9  16  35  -19   8

For the first time since the dawn of fucking time a club from outside the capitals is on top of the table at some arbitrarily significant landmark time. Yes, Southern Star are a mighty 1st, fuelled by the fact that Charlie Gray, a man who seemingly snaps an MCL every time he tries to eat a fucking sandwich, has actually started every game for them and duly thrashed home 17 goals. Wow! The other teams in the top three are basically as they were. Union’s midfield of Erskine, Conway and Liam ‘holy shit, he’s still playing?’ Armstrong continue to massacre all-comers in their way, but the creativity in the side has been lacking ever since everyone in the multiverse caught on to Tricia Pace’s one trick: ‘knock it past the fullback, cross at Walker and inshallah’. The Champions League will be poorer for their absence.

Alliance have ceased to be shit thanks to an unexpected goal flurry from Alida Petrov. Despite sharing a surname, nationality and gender with one of the greatest strikers of her generation, Alida has only sporadically managed to mirror Lyzolda’s talent, however, she’s faked it enough to give Alliance the best goal record outside of the IFCF places, and fire them clear-ish of the drop. Southrons-Errant are cute first-timers learning the cruel ways of the world: that Jayce Tanner is not an A-League leel centre-half, stop trying to make her a fucking thing. Rockridge Phoenix continue to be God’s plaything; having already mowed through Jess Curtin’s managerial debut, they’ve now axed Aisling Chester. What could have caus-- oh, Soria Luna picked up an ACL in pre-season. At least they aren’t Falkner United.

A-LEAGUE

Pos Team                     P   W  D   L For  Ag  +/- Pts
  1 Southern Star           22  15  3   4  39  17  +22  48
  2 Kingsgrove              22  14  3   5  55  30  +25  45
  3 Northern Union          22  14  3   5  40  19  +21  45
  4 Marque                  22  11  5   6  38  27  +11  38
  5 Gallant Cross           22  10  6   6  42  31  +11  36
  6 Rozelle                 22   9  6   7  38  33   +5  33
  7 North Hall              22   9  6   7  24  20   +4  33
  8 Pikemouth               22  10  3   9  32  34   -2  33
  9 Guilder                 22   8  8   6  27  27   +0  32
 10 Twin Saints             22   7  4  11  31  42  -11  25
 11 Northern Stallions      22   6  5  11  33  39   -6  23
 12 Rozelle Alliance        22   6  5  11  41  49   -8  23
 13 Royal Westpike          22   6  5  11  28  44  -16  23
 14 Southrons-Errant        22   5  4  13  33  54  -21  19
 15 Rockridge Phoenix       22   3  9  10  18  29  -11  18
 16 Falkner United          22   3  5  14  20  44  -24  14

B-LEAGUE

Pos Team                    P   W  D   L For  Ag  +/- Pts
  1 AFC Westpike           22  17  3   2  43  10  +33  54
  2 Rozelle Archers        22  13  3   6  38  36   +2  42
  3 Francisca Orient       22  11  7   4  28  14  +14  40
  4 Lotus Park             22  12  2   8  40  24  +16  38
  5 Proudcastle            22  10  7   5  29  15  +14  37
  6 Chafford               22   9  9   4  30  20  +10  36
  7 Snowden River          22  10  4   8  29  29   +0  34
  8 Rosbank Town           22   9  6   7  40  26  +14  33
  9 Coppersmith            22  10  2  10  23  22   +1  32
 10 Rozelle United         22   9  3  10  27  27   +0  30
 11 Otter Ferry            22   7  6   9  24  30   -6  27
 12 Saint Alexander        22   6  8   8  25  29   -4  26
 13 Finbar Stalwarts       22   6  4  12  18  29  -11  22
 14 Randwick Town          22   4  3  15  18  41  -23  15
 15 Fiana Cove             22   2  8  12  23  47  -24  14
 16 Shaleport Rangers      22   3  1  18  11  47  -36  10

While there were originally slated to be tables here, the A-League’s commitment to avoiding any thrills on the final day is beyond reproach and there’s basically nothing to fight for going into the final stages.

A-LEAGUE FINALE
Marque 4-2 Kingsgrove
Falkner United 1-1 North Hall
Southrons-Errant 1-1 Rozelle
Guilder 2-1 Pikemouth
Royal Westpike 1-2 Northern Stallions
Rockridge Phoenix 3-2 Southern Star
Rozelle Alliance 1-2 Northern Union
Gallant Cross 2-1 Twin Saints

B-LEAGUE FINALE
Coppersmith 0-3 Proudcastle
Fiana Cove 2-2 Randwick Town
Rozelle Archers 3-5 Snowden River
Otter Ferry 1-2 Saint Alexander
Rosbank Town 3-1 Shaleport Rangers
AFC Westpike 1-0 Francisca Orient
Lotus Park 2-1 Chafford
Finbar Stalwarts 1-1 Rozelle United

Southern Star complete their ascent to the title in true Brenecian fashion: by losing to the Phoenix, who have managed to steer clear of the drop thanks to the crocked Soria Luna turning player-manager. Said Soria Luna about her achievement: ”The sooner I can let a qualified professional take over, the better for my sanity. I just want to get playing again.” You go, Cami. That achievement lifts them over Royal, whose resolute refusal to defend set pieces or respect human rights has not yet doomed them, and Alliance take the playoff while Southrons/Falkner go down. Northern Union still sneak into 2nd because God is dead.

RELEGATION PLAYOFFS
Glendower River 0-0 Chafford Saracens (0-0 AET, 4-1 pens)
Fiana Cove 1-1 Endeavour Brenecia (1-2 AET)
Rozelle Alliance 1-1 Francisca Orient (1-1 AET, 1-3 pens)

Literally nobody is happy to see that Francisca Orient, traditionally one of the A-League’s dullest and most stagnant teams, replace Alliance, who people were actually kind of excited to see liven up the capital, where away fans actually want to go. The aircraft carrier that is Fiana Cove fail to coax their Euran paymasters into bombing Endeavour Brenecia, who yo-yo back into the second tie. Some semi-pros beat the other semi-pros.

CROWN CUP FINAL
Rozelle Alliance 2-1 Gallant Cross
But thanks to strikes from Petrov and Belanger, Alliance make this a season to remember regardless. Arguably even sweeter: beating Union 3-0 in North Hall in the semifinal. That’ll attract some suitors…

wait how the fuck did gallant cross finish fourth--

A-LEAGUE

Pos Team                     P   W   D   L For  Ag  +/- Pts
  1 Southern Star           30  19   5   6  57  25  +32  62
  2 Northern Union          30  18   6   6  53  26  +27  60
  3 Kingsgrove              30  17   4   9  66  42  +24  55
  4 Gallant Cross           30  15   8   7  58  38  +20  53
  5 Marque                  30  14   8   8  49  36  +13  50
  6 Rozelle                 30  12  10   8  45  42   +3  46
  7 North Hall              30  12   9   9  40  31   +9  45
  8 Guilder                 30  10  10  10  35  38   -3  40
  9 Pikemouth               30  12   4  14  44  50   -6  40
 10 Northern Stallions      30  11   6  13  51  48   +3  39
 11 Twin Saints             30  10   5  15  41  56  -15  35
 12 Rockridge Phoenix       30   7  12  11  33  38   -5  33
 13 Royal Westpike          30   8   6  16  41  59  -18  30
 14 Rozelle Alliance        30   7   6  17  47  72  -25  27
 15 Southrons-Errant        30   6   7  17  42  69  -27  25
 16 Falkner United          30   6   6  18  30  62  -32  24

AWARDS
Golden Boot (Goals Scored): Roimata Shehu (GAC) - 22
Golden Ball (Player of the Year): Penumbra Till (STS)
Golden Heart (U-21 Player of the Year): Kestutis Garrett (NTS)
Manager of the Year: Medda Ringbill (GAC)

B-LEAGUE

Pos Team                    P   W  D   L For  Ag  +/- Pts
  1 AFC Westpike           30  22  3   5  55  18  +37  69
  2 Lotus Park             30  19  2   9  61  32  +29  59
  3 Francisca Orient       30  16  9   5  40  20  +20  57
  4 Proudcastle            30  16  8   6  45  18  +27  56
  5 Rozelle Archers        30  16  5   9  54  50   +4  53
  6 Chafford               30  12 10   8  40  35   +5  46
  7 Rosbank Town           30  12  8  10  53  37  +16  44
  8 Snowden River          30  13  5  12  40  41   -1  44
  9 Coppersmith            30  13  4  13  33  34   -1  43
 10 Rozelle United         30  12  5  13  38  36   +2  41
 11 Otter Ferry            30  10  7  13  32  40   -8  37
 12 Saint Alexander        30   9  9  12  36  43   -7  36
 13 Finbar Stalwarts       30  10  6  14  28  37   -9  36
 14 Fiana Cove             30   3 10  17  32  65  -33  19
 15 Randwick Town          30   4  5  21  28  65  -37  17
 16 Shaleport Rangers      30   4  2  24  19  63  -44  14

C-LEAGUE

Pos Team                     P   W  D   L For  Ag  +/- Pts
  1 Stourhead               30  20  6   4  53  19  +34  66
  2 AFC Swanbridge          30  18  7   5  62  33  +29  61
  3 Endeavour Brenecia      30  16 10   4  68  38  +30  58
  4 Scaffield               30  16  9   5  48  20  +28  57
  5 Stonewash Town          30  16  5   9  56  25  +31  53
  6 Spearcove Mariners      30  13  8   9  44  36   +8  47
  7 Sharrow                 30  12  6  12  43  43   +0  42
  8 Mount Roland            30  12  6  12  36  39   -3  42
  9 Chrysler Town           30  11  6  13  46  48   -2  39
 10 Razorback Hill          30  11  5  14  30  40  -10  38
 11 Fentonbridge            30   8 10  12  31  41  -10  34
 12 AFC Swayback            30   8  7  15  42  64  -22  31
 13 Falkner Crescent        30   9  4  17  35  60  -25  31
 14 Glendower River         30   7  7  16  40  69  -29  28
 15 Alnwick Glade           30   6  8  16  28  44  -16  26
 16 Suttonstrand FC         30   3  4  23  30  73  -43  13

D-LEAGUE

Pos Team                        P   W  D   L For  Ag  +/- Pts
  1 Marque Leichiai            30  20  5   5  75  32  +43  65
  2 Knightstone FC             30  19  6   5  69  23  +46  63
  3 Chafford Saracens          30  19  5   6  56  28  +28  62
  4 Platwood                   30  18  5   7  43  29  +14  59
  5 Hawk Reach                 30  17  7   6  43  20  +23  58
  6 AFC Conomore               30  13  7  10  44  40   +4  46
  7 Townsend Raiders           30  12  9   9  49  37  +12  45
  8 Brackford Rovers           30  12  8  10  32  25   +7  44
  9 FC Solidarity Falkner      30  12  6  12  33  34   -1  42
 10 Hall Spitfires             30   8  7  15  50  60  -10  31
 11 Skerrick Pathfinders       30   7  8  15  36  46  -10  29
 12 Southside Wanderers        30   7  8  15  25  37  -12  29
 13 Silvershire Town           30   8  4  18  32  69  -37  28
 14 AFC Cairnshore             30   7  5  18  33  65  -32  26
 15 Lastcreek Ramblers         30   5  7  18  32  62  -30  22
 16 Rushden                    30   6  3  21  22  67  -45  21

by **Brenecia** » Wed Dec 15, 2021 5:06 pm

SEASON 82 - A-League Preview

1. Northern Union

Last Season:
Home Colours: White with blue sash / blue / white
Away Colours: All blue with orange trim
Stadium: Redemption Park (50,000)
Nickname: Union
Manager: Dani Pendragon (49)
(4-2-3-1) 1 - Cass Farrell (34); 2 - Sorcha Lonergan (31), 5 - Altzibar Sarrible (29, ASG), 18 - Rhea Henderson (27), 3 - Otoln-Prant Ezi (24, QUS); 13 - Iseult Conway (23), 13 - Sharon Erskine (27, EUR); 22 - Kitty Hazeldean (28), 8 - Gaia Penrith (29), 10 - Tricia Pace (28); 14 - Scott Walker (29, EUR)
Notable Reserves: 12 - GK - Karar-Falax Zev (23, QUS), 25 - GK - Phoebe Corder (24); 5 - CB - Horatius Chaumancer (33, COS), 9 - ST - Jadwiga Lofthouse (21), 11 - LW - Oriole Blacklock (24), 16 - DM - Rhapsody Lane (24), 17 - RB - Pandora Finnerty (23), 19 - LB - Valence Ilya (33, CMT), 20 - ST - Brighton Mattheus (29), 21 - CM - Liam Armstrong (37, EUR), 23 - RW - Severa Conleth (33, NPH), 26 - CB - Ibilx-Irtix Ono (25, QUS)

Background Union are the biggest show in town. Everyone knows it. You're either with Union or against them, because they've specialised in taking all the big prizes and not made many friends along the way. Owned and fuelled by a mining magnate and favoured by the working class across North Hall and its surroundings, Union buy great players and back it up with ruthless, disciplined defence, and unapologetic gamesmanship. Famously, they were stripped of their 66 title and relegated to the fourth tier when they were found guilty of match-fixing, but they've recovered from that humiliation with suspicious pace. Still, even the hardest-hearted Brenecian has to admit that they do wonders for the UICA coefficient. Union's fiercest rival is Kingsgrove, their opposites in almost every way, but they hate bougie local North Hall as well.

Preview Union gonna Union. They stole their way into the top two on the final day, even without really firing to their full potential this season. The squad has been allowed to erode slightly from their imperious peak - it's doubtful Liam Armstrong at 37 will be the shot in the arm he was a couple of years ago - but a strong core of Brenecia internationals have been supplemented by the hardened defender Sarrible. Pity an extravagant bid for Valrauncion came to nothing, but keep an eye on the reserve striker, Jadwiga Lofthouse, increasingly influential off the bench.

2. Kingsgrove

Last Season: 3rd
Stadium: The New Royal (48,000)
Nickname: the Royals
Manager: Uther Corren (51)
(4-3-3) 20 - Mia Ria (34, CMT); 17 - Felice Lovibond (26), 19 - Hidawi (26, SHT), 5 - Reina Turnbull (26, NPH), 18 - Deimne Watermark (28); 14 - Anlysa Morland (22), 4 - Markus Teamster (32, NPH), 21 - Constantine Wren (25, NPH); 10 - Miriam Troegner (23, VAL), 9 - Jessica Siafik (31, SAJ), 24 - Rhona Leonard (25)
Notable Reserves: 1 - GK - Sonorous Lark (24); 2 - RB - Sonya Stezhenskaya (20, PYA), 3 - LB - Aureliana Kaba (33, APX), 6 - CB - Markus Costello (33), 8 - DM - Quan Darragh (23), 11 - LW - Setanta Ashvane (29), 13 - CM - Neal Windlass (26), 15 - ST - Shyanna Garrock (27), 23 - RW - Horan Parkes (24)

Background The southern powerhouse of Brenecia, but perhaps not even the biggest side in Rozelle; still, Kingsgrove are a symbol, and the natural arch-rival to Union. The insufferable talk of the Southern Way - trust in youth, focus on pace and vivacious attack - pervades the atmosphere, and in fairness the club has produced many of the nation's finest players and managers while continuing to achieve success both domestically and abroad. While their catchment is in theory only Rozelle's richer districts, their youth scouts will pluck anyone from anywhere, and they're the favoured club of many rural southern sides too small to have a professional side of their own - much like Union, in the north. But they've arguably grown decadent, and allowed Union to steal a march.

Preview Uther Corren's first season in charge of Kingsgrove went... okay. Certainly it was not akin to the humiliations of recent years, and Corren appeared comfortable making the step up in class from Royal Westpike. The Royals themselves had serious attacking riches on display, but there was a certain weakness in midfield which did at times lead to collapses in defence. 42 concessions wasn't acceptable, and as Mia Ria winds down her time between the sticks, Corren will need to sharpen things at the back if the Royals are to make a serious title shot.

3. Southern Star

Last Season: Champions
Stadium: Pride's Run (24,000)
Nickname: the Lions
Manager: Lenore Drummond (41)
(4-4-2) 1 - Onish Vadaparthy (34, STB); 2 - Vivi Conlan (25, CYI), 18 - Axelv-Zorno Ivo (27, QUS), 6 - Athelney Shrine (23), 13 - Mynah Seeler (24); 22 - Penumbra Till (27, NPH), 4 - Rurik Deimantas (29), 8 - Simone Cantiff (28), 16 - Aidan Loxley (26); 9 - Sebastián Carreno (31, VLD), 10 - Charlie Gray (28, EUR)
Notable Reserves: 12 - GK - Sorcha Tanner (25); 3 - LB - Rankin Prowatt (24), 5 - CB - Yelto-Alfan Ono (35, QUS), 17 - ST - Maryam Roberts (26), 20 - ST - Chulainn Bauer (24), 23 - CM - Josie Winter (24)

Background Once 'South Rathia', the Lions bear the unfortunate distinction of having suffered the worst ever A-League season and indeed one of the worst seasons in the history of modern top-flight football, attaining just three points over thirty miserable matches. The rebrand in its wake was as much about rebuilding a project that had turned stale, and more effectively rebasing in Lastcreek, the southern keystone of the sprawling Rathia region. On the pitch, a focus on doing a lot with a little has been replaced; they have the cash to throw, now. Their rivals are Northern Stallions (nee North Rathia), for fairly clear-cut reasons.

Preview Our unlikely hick champions! Orson Faulkner got what he came for, then fucked off to chase his destiny in Audioslavia, leaving his assistant, Drummond, to take up the slack. And there's a platform for success, here, largely in the young blood of Shrine and Seeler, with Till one of the most relentless attacking talents in the league and, up front, Charlie Gray producing wonders... when fit. It would, however, be an outside shot to defend their title, and they're in need of a bit more of a shot in the arm if they're to take on Union regularly. But with the league generally lacking a bit of top-end quality these days, this could be their chance to anchor themselves as CL regulars.

4. Rozelle

Last Season: 6th
Stadium: Meade Row (44,000)
Nickname: the Saints
Manager: Derdriu Wright (51)
(4-3-3) 1 - Tiarnan Cove (28), 2 - Esther Sidle (22), 22 - Lucien Raeff (30, QUE), 6 - Matheo Dybvik (33, VAL), 3 - Nimue Culpepper (21); 8 - Crane Avery (28), 4 - Annika Miller (26, NPH), 15 - Tyoma Laurette (23, CMT); 23 - Mathgamain Fife (25), 7 - Felix Sebastian (28, NPH), 11 - Lazuli Moore (28)
Notable Reserves: 12 - GK - Dearbhla Smith (27), 20 - GK - Ebony Carling (22); 5 - CB - Kendrick Given (32), 9 - ST - Sheena Glover (24), 10 - AM - Stemmon Perrodien (30, COS), 13 - LW - Cohen Devine (28), 14 - CM - Sofia Falcon (33, CEN), 18 - CB - Rhombus Lucas (27), 19 - LB - Pia Levaani (35, MRN), 21 - DM - Harlan Davis (25)

Background A large, successful powerhouse, if not quite the juggernaut of the Big Two. Rozelle's support base is a match for Kingsgrove's, and along with United they've managed to pretty much partition the entire capital between the three of them. They have much of the big-money flash of Union with none of the scandal, much of the style of Kingsgrove without the smugness; the Rozelle Way is just to win, and win well, with good players. A look at their trophy cabinet confirms that they've managed to achieve this with admirable consistency.

Preview A pretty bad season for Rozelle, as they continue to try and rebuild from having lost many of their old stars. Still, there's signs of a generation coming through, with two young local fullbacks emerging and, in Tyoma Laurette, the arguable star of this crop of collegiate players. They have an impressive core, though, and failing to reach IFCF will be regarded as a crushing disappointment. Rozelle have a reputation to uphold, after all.

5. North Hall

Last Season: 7th
Stadium: The Aspire (40,000)
Nickname: the Northerners
Manager: Charles Hunter (49, EUR)
(4-2-3-1) 1 - Hekima Drenel (30, SRS); 17 - Rurik Cole (29), 5 - Nestoras Galatanos (25, VDR), 6 - Cara Keegan (26), 3 - Grey Merritt (26); 4 - Kurtis Mikoliunas (24), 20 - Tanya Messenger (25); 7 - Nuada Speaker (28), 8 - Gaheris Archer (27), 11 - Rudi Moisander (29, NPH); 9 - Valentino Escandon (29, AUD)
Notable Reserves: 13 - ST - Adrian Makai (33, PAS), 14 - AM - Jovani Cordier (25, EFL), 19 - RW - Meadow Foreman (27), 23 - LW - Donal Chance (30)

Background Founded in the image of Muscular Christianity, Hall have always had a rather Puritan tint to it; formed by a well-meaning church group to help rehabilitate the corrupted youth of the area. The ghosts of this can be seen in their focus on physicality and discipline; the Northerners play fair, unlike cheating, superficially similar and nearby Union. North Hall the club will always claim to be the true club of North Hall the city, but nobody believes them. They've still enjoyed significant success over the years, always in the shadow of Union, outside the three glorious years their rivals spent in the wilderness.

Preview Hall seem oddly content to just hover in the top half, of late. Solid and stolid doesn't get it done anymore in the league - which is, make no mistake, absolutely for the better - and there seems little appetite to change that dynamic. No, getting a 29-year old winger from Valladares doesn't change that. They have lost their talismanic stopper Sova Pardinho, leaving after well over a decade for the club, but on paper the Confederate international Drenel ought to be a fitting replacement.

6. Marque

Last Season: 5th
Stadium: Goodship Road (32,000)
Nickname: the Privateers
Manager: Marian Ironside (43)
(4-3-3) 1 - Scanlan Pritchard (32); 19 - Arnau Mata (28, DEL), 5 - Svante Whitfield (32, EFL), 6 - Celeste Taunton (27), 22 - Pavel Lockhart (26, NPH); 8 - Lavinia Riitsi (31, MRN), 23 - Murgen Conrad (27), 10 - Armand Cariou (26, AUD); 7 - Niko Longshore (24), 12 - Bjorn Cohen (25, SNL), 16 - Pellegrin Csapo (28, PAS)
Notable Reserves: 20 - GK - Cennetig Bullen (25); 2 - RB - Leanne Miller (25), 3 - LB - Tess Meyer (24), 9 - ST - Rook Sawyer (25), 11 - CM - Claire Marshall (29), 14 - CM - Rodrik Penn (25), 18 - CB - Rurik Grade (24), 21 - CB - Sara Inverness (27), 24 - LW - Matilda Kerry (25)

Background The roguish, explosive Privateers cultivate an image as Brenecia's second club, based out of the nation's key eastern port. Something is always going on there. The football has to be entertaining, there has to be a pathway for local talent, and winning ugly or boring just isn't enough. Well, unless there's silverware at the end of it. As a result, Marque have generally underachieved their potential, but the fans are happy. They like to bring some colour to bear against their stale local rivals, Orient.

Preview Marian Ironside, apprentice to the beloved Igrene Cantor, performed well in her first season at the helm. It was a surprisingly sane and disciplined performance, the Privateers actually scoring the fewest goals of any other IFCF-qualifier, but still leapfrogging Rozelle and North Hall comfortably. They're a side that excel at control, and while that's a little weird to have that applied to the orange and burned sienna, well... here we are.

7. Northern Stallions

Last Season: 10th
Stadium: The New Road (24,000)
Nickname: the Stallions
Manager: Larissa Graves (53)
(4-3-3) 1 - Clarisse Pike (29); 2 - Larissa Ensign (23), 5 - Keane Mathers (33), 6 - Alan Tarakov (26, STL), 3 - Rurik Shea (26); 13 - Kestutis Garrett (21), 4 - Natalia Legate (27), 7 - Cyper Corr (33, BNJ); 26 - Brooke Urbanik (22), 16 - Danand Tristram (24), 10 - Miloš Simeoniwic (29, ZRH)
Notable Reserves: 20 - GK - Garth Buckell (24); 8 - CM - Susan Monaghan (20, TMB), 9 - ST - Andre Naulo (34, SAJ), 11 - LW - Aspen Kennard (25), 15 - ST - Buck Panzer (25), 19 - CB - Andras Heward (25), 23 - RW - Sheena Megson (27)

Background Formerly 'North Rathia', reflecting where they hail from; specifically, the north is mining territory, the more verdant and poorer south is farmland. The north likes to mock the south for its poverty, in a 'tallest pygmy in the village' kind of way, though both resent the big cities. The Stallions' history is starker than Star's; they were little use prior to their rebrand, but have been a constant presence at the top since. Based out of the northern crossroads of Ironstone, which is, appropriately, the centre of the mining trade east of the Hall. Once won the title and immediately lost 8-0 to Union due to a series of arrests and violent hangovers in the title party.

Preview A pretty dreadful season for the Stallions, beset by injury and mediocrity in equal measure to finish a lowly 10th. Worse still, their rivals, Star, won the league. Larissa Graves faces a fight to keep her job. A number of players just had their form fall off a cliff; will they return to relevance? The only real upside was the emergence of Urbanik and especially Garrett, the Golden Heart winner.

8. Gallant Cross

Last Season: 4th
Stadium: Cruxhall (12,000)
Nickname: the Gallants
Manager: Medda Ringbill (48, BSE)
(4-3-3) 1 - Charlotte Fasano (31, SVG); 17 - Curtis Holman (25, KSK), 22 - Sawda Bedrosian (24, SRS), 5 - Vance Commodore (32), 3 - Holly Parker (28); 21 - Kira Lorinc (23, PAS), 4 - Konda-Ralox Saf (32, QUS), 13 - Gwynyth Hexham (26); 23 - Cuan Redruth (23), 16 - Roimata Shehu (25, SRS), 10 - Radoslav Cherganski (28, ZRH)
Notable Reserves: 20 - GK - Hilda Granville (25); 2 - RB - Zsofika Sebeok (32, PAS), 7 - CM - Sara Russet (30), 8 - DM - Magnus Bertrand (26), 9 - ST - Banshee Strider (34), 11 - AM - Yuria Taishizuno (31, HIN), 12 - ST - Mags Curbishley (25), 14 - CM - Candica Batton (25), 15 - RW - Sherry Lockston (33), 18 - CB - Betti Trevelyan (25), 19 - LB - Leyland Howell (24)

Background Cross are what feels like a rarity in the upper echelons of Brenecian football; the only professional representative of regional town Stourhead, they’ve traditionally taken pride in their resilience and work ethic, but always had room for a damaged-goods flair player somewhere along the line.

Preview A complete surprise star last season, the Gallants were tipped for midtable at best and instead reached the top four, winning ten of their last fifteen league games - with Roimata Shehu hitting the form of her life, with fourteen goals in that time. They have, surprisingly, kept ahold of her despite interest from Northern Union, reinforcing the squad with up-and-comers in Lorinc and Holman, though it seems a stretch to suggest they'll be able to compete seriously on three fronts.

9. Rockridge Phoenix

Last Season: 12th
Stadium: The Vantage (22,000)
Nickname: the 'Nix
Manager: Morcillo Clamidia López (45, FFD)
(4-2-3-1) 1 - Aarif Muhammad (26, FVA); 17 - Vaidas Salter (23), 22 - Dean Zivkovic (33, PAS), 4 - Miluose Oches (29, TIO), 3 - Kyra Skein (27); 21 - George Richards (31, EOT), 10 - Oscar Andrade (29, TKT); 23 - Kristina Midtjaer (27, SVJ), 8 - Camila Soria Luna (34, SCT), 16 - Corban Green (25, SNL); 15 - Beckett Keeley (27)
Notable Reserves: 12 - GK - Eidren Kalitas (32, SRS), 20 - GK - Gretel Harris (24); 2 - RB - Gabriel Farahani (33, KSK), 5 - CM - Tremaine Barton (31), 9 - ST - Jagoda Kovacevic (33, PAS), 11 - AM - Ashling Brooks (27), 13 - CM - Jerome Mettis (30, CMT), 18 - CB - Zara Sinclair (21, TLI), 19 - LW - Aoife Freemason (24), 24 - ST - Casper Forthright (25)

Background Formerly Ridgeway United, a side that won a title early in the A-League’s life cycle. Then financial reality set in and they crashed and burned to the very bottom of the pyramid, only rising back up after rebranding and refurbishing. Now under the auspices of an ambitious Euran cartel, they’ve become known for ambitious and well-targeted foreign signings.

Preview Rockridge went through three managers - Jess Curtin, Aisling Chester and in an unhappy caretaker stint, Camila Soria Luna - and only barely squeaked to safety. The project to win back their rightful glory is hitting a serious hitch. On top of that, Eve Reeve left back for Eura, in her efforts to become the left back for Eura. Lopez arrives not exactly as a visionary but as a fresh face who would have done anything to leave Farfadillis; if he has to take a job with the current car-crash Nix to get a work visa, so be it. Soria Luna, then, returns to the field as something of a takilante.

10. Lotus Park

Last Season: 2nd (B)
Home Colours: Green / black / green
Away Colours: White / green / white
Stadium: Lotus Park (31,000)
Nickname: the Foresters
Manager: Russ Shorten (56)
(4-4-2) 1 - Ezina Swain (25, EFL); 2 - Freysa Monique-Pule (26, ZWZ), 18 - Luke Lemieux (33, DEL), 6 - Jess Vorobjovas (23), 3 - Lachlan Crowder (30); 23 - Avielle Foxborough (27), 24 - Nadira Pool (23, CMT), 8 - Praline Jansen (25), 16 - Coamhan Tiller (29); 9 - Orazio Canova (26, SOR), 21 - Kara Ciogach (33)
Notable Reserves: 30 - GK - Victoria Jones (19, TMB); 4 - DM - Rain Gillis (28), 5 - CB - Tomas Hull (26), 11 - LM - Nelida Steere (23, EFL), 14 - ST - Szescõ Nagy (31, PAS)

Background One of the major sides in the key northwestern city of Falkner, Park blend the affluent, suburban side of town with the more bohemian area around the Falkner University (FU, fittingly), Brenecia's intellectual centre. The club have been mildly successful, even through the cut-throat merger years, generally finding a way to keep afloat, generally with an attractive brand of football. Despite Falkner's rather placid reputation, the local derbies against United are genuinely vicious, fuelled by Park's notorious tendency of stealing talents from United's natural catchment.

Preview The Foresters are back, having surprisingly found former Manager of the Year Russ Shorten to staple them back together. This time, Shorten's focus is on scoring goals. They scored the most of any B-League side, and that isn't enough firepower, it seems, since an all-new strike partnership of Canova and Ciogach (!) has been brought in to fire their way to safety. They'll be hard-nosed and doughty enough to stay up, and should know their way around this level.

11. Guilder

Last Season: 8th
Stadium: Sandstone Avenue (23,000)
Nickname: the Turbines
Manager: Andrea Rohan (49)
(4-2-3-1) 12 - Helaia Sivitri (33, SRS); 16 - Aspar Brink (27, FFD), 22 - Iucharba Killen (23), 6 - Alessia Giribaldi (29, SVG), 22 - Koharu Soler (28, HIN); 8 - Ide Usano (24, ASG), 21 - Kahitana Kandadija (26, FFD); 7 - Moira Kenny (21, EUR), 4 - Dimitri Pent (27), 11 - Kate Stepford (27); 9 - Villanelle Rizzari (27, COS)
Notable Reserves: 1 - GK - Martyn Hickory (31); 13 - LW - Dirk Fischer (30), 15 - AM - Paul Llewelyn (32), 23 - RW - Roland Sheen (30)

Background A small southern town, Guilder sits approximately at the crossroads of Rozelle, Marque and Falkner, starting out as a trading post that grew in the industrial era. In more recent times, Guilder's earned an odd reputation for environmental affairs; the nickname 'the Turbines', after the wind farms built to try and even out all the mines in Brenecia, has been reclaimed and stuck. The club are something of a yo-yo side traditionally.

Preview 5-5-5 at the halfway mark, 10-10-10 at the end of the season. Guilder's balanced performance made for an excellent return season, in truth, and the hope is that the addition of mercurial wingers Kenny and Stepford will add more bite up front, and more depth to a side that looked very vulnerable whenever any key player was injured; Sivitri and Killen played every league minute of last season, Usano and Soler started every league match, and a rare poor run of form coincided with an injury to Rizzari, top scorer on nine goals.

12. Twin Saints

Last Season: 11th
Stadium: Shady Moorside (11,000)
Nickname: the Twins
Manager: Cristobal Madera (51, OSR)
(4-1-4-1) 1 - Gareth Clevinger (28); 2 - River Clemence (26), 5 - Evander Bowerman (32), 19 - Marnus Cubben (25), 3 - Genevre Harker (25, EFL); 4 - Czigany Vas (24, PAS); 7 - Elida Jaranogi (26, SRS), 21 - Lélé Rouselle (30, KOR), 8 - Xabat Legarza (32, AUD), 11 - Sela Saotisohi (26, SRS); 9 - Uathach Walker (28)
Notable Reserves: 20 - GK - Marian Clut (32), 25 - GK - Evan Reid (24); 10 - ST - Brunella Tafani (34, JUE), 13 - RM - Lola Crossing (26), 15 - CM - Michaeli Roberts (29), 17 - RB - Shara Hartley (32), 18 - LB - Louise Brine (22), 22 - ST - Lynton Talbot (25), 23 - CB - Merric Arnold (23)

Background A fairly familiar tale in Brenecia's rapid growth, as two rival towns - Saints Wessex and Essex - wound up more or less blurring into one another, and with both clubs struggling to survive, merged into a single unit. 'Twin Saints' is now the name on the map, as well as of the surviving club, a small city on the western frontier. There's still friction between the two halves, but the club, among the most stable in the nation, has been a source of pride.

Preview These days the Twins are just kinda... there. An essentially capable side playing essentially competent football, with a decided defensive slant. Uathach Walker has blossomed into a powerful all-round striker, while the commanding axis of Rouselle and Legarza in midfield excel at taking control of matches. Really, though, the Twins are just too good to go down but a stretch to actually accomplish anything.

13. Pikemouth

Last Season: 9th
Stadium: Sandwash (26,000)
Nickname:
Manager: Fyrcynn Gerfalcon (40)
(4-3-3) 1 - Alain Donnet (29, CMT); 2 - Alexander Caulder (30, SCT), 5 - Murtagh Speed (26), 6 - Erskine Ruddock (28), 18 - Camilla Auskas (31); 21 - Brii Muuren (32, MRN), 4 - Mhairi Jansen (27), 11 - Evgeni Bakalov (32, STL); 7 - Garin Velat (25, SRS), 9 - Piotra Brookfield (26, APX), 16 - Tristan Redmond (25)
Notable Reserves: 20 - GK - Lisbeth Fellowes (25); 3 - LB - Miles Austic (34, CMT), 8 - CM - Eve Kindred (26), 10 - ST - Dome Odoma (30, COS), 13 - LW - Simon Kvaal (33, VAL), 19 - DM - Antonio Bozic (33, PAS)

Background Arguably the smallest of Westpike's three major sides, but undeniably the most successful; Pikemouth have inexplicably but consistently punched above their weight over the years, success begetting more success, careful investment and custodianship the key. The three-way struggle for dominance in Westpike is one of the more vicious at times, but the Fisherkings can console themselves with being by a distance the most successful. For all the flowery name, the club's identity is built on the Brenecian values of hard work and team play; not for them the flamboyant mainland-loving Westpike.

Preview Pikemouth's modestly impressive start to the season did not last, and could not turn into a serious IFCF push. It's the kind of situation where you may as well say fuck it and hand the job to a 40-year old novice, Fyrcynn Gerfalcon having done an impressive job with Union's reserves. His main job will be to oversee a shift from seasoned professionals like Kvaal and Austic into a new order... but where is the young talent coming from? Don't expect much from Dome Odoma; a man who once cost RCU fifteen million notched up just four goals last season, and Brookfield's been favoured in preseason.

14. AFC Westpike

Last Season: Champions (B)
Stadium: Sedgwick Park (26,000)
Nickname: the Teamsters
Manager: Florian Burnes (44, NPH)
(4-4-2) 12 - Udalaitz Altabegoiti (26, ASG); 2 - Claudia Marston (27), 18 - Gisela Alberon (33, SRS), 24 - Kitty Borden (25), 3 - Ava Washington (28, NPH); 15 - Llywela Hall (25), 5 - Sarah Reid (27, TLI), 8 - Adone Gennaro (25, OSR), 23 - Erika Leander (25); 9 - Cwenthryth Harper (24), 16 - Morten Christensen (27, FVA)
Notable Reserves: 1 - GK - Markus Kattegat (24); 4 - DM - Erin Scheuer (29), 6 - CB - Godfrey Hawes (28), 10 - ST - Crowley Mathers (30, CYI), 11 - CM - Noor Na'Saan (34, COS), 14 - CM - Sandy Rowling (27), 17 - ST - Helena Audrey (27), 19 - RB - Icarus Vibes (21), 22 - LB - Litany Ainsworth (24)

Background In these times, it's bold for a Brenecian club to proudly show its Nepharan roots, but unsurprisingly the western port of Westpike is by a distance the strongest-influenced by the homeland, and AFC Westpike in particular were founded by Nepharan labourers. As rhetoric has dialed up, so too have the club, now officially displaying the Nepharan form 'AFC' in their title. This doesn't make them popular, but it does help them stand out. Arrayed against Pikemouth and especially Royal, Westpike's fans engage in the Nepharan tradition of pyrotechnics despite the best efforts of police.

Preview The Teamsters bounced back immediately from relegation, and after strengthening their side markedly in the window they should make a far better shift of staying up this time. In large part this is due to their defence; the stern partnership of Borden and Alberon helped Westpike concede just 18 times last season, and now Reid and Altabegoiti arrive on either side of them to further stiffen the sinew of the squad, while Harper and another new signing, Christensen, should make for a dynamic and direct strike partnership. Burnes' side look like one of the strongest promoted teams in recent memory.

15. Royal Westpike

Last Season: 13th
Stadium: Elan Court (24,000)
Nickname: the Cavaliers
Manager: Kendall Childress (41)
(4-4-2) 12 - Finn Nichols (31, CMT); 2 - Theresa Klaus (24, VAL), 5 - Aldred Sparr (26), 18 - Numbers Ruddock (30), 19 - Erich Marks (30, STL); 7 - Ivy Yerron (25, CMT), 4 - Siegfried Franz (24, VAL), 20 - Hanna Selder (27, SVJ), 11 - Lanie Sarrazin (28, OAM); 9 - Roman Tesarik (24, DEL), 21 - Mara Sand (30, CMT)
Notable Reserves: 1 - GK - Chiron Bennett (33); 3 - LB - Emily Christon (34), 7 - RM - Ross Hunter (31), 8 - CM - Vicente Escobeda (21, FFD), 14 - CM - Camille Martinaux (31, CMT), 17 - RB - Dean Becker (31), 22 - CB - Cliff Sturrock (31)

Background Formerly ‘Westpike United’, the city is anything but these days. Royal are, as the rebrand suggests, aggressively in support of Brenecian independence and values, and aggressively reject Nepharan influence. Among the oldest clubs in the nation, they have their origins in Muscular Christianity, and have always attracted a right-wing fanbase. Predictably, AFC Westpike - who stand against everything they believe in - are their fierce rivals.

Preview One of the several sides in the A-League to put their trust in a managerial novice, after Corren left for Kingsgrove, Childress - a goalkeeper in her playing days of some respectable renown - understandably focused on cracking down in defence. While two relegated sides scored more goals than Royal, thanks in part to Mara Sand's form slowing, it was a more stable Royal that kept their heads above water, and will likely repeat the feat.

16. Francisca Orient

Last Season: 3rd (B)
Stadium: Forharrow (21,000)
Nickname: the Jacks
Manager: Griffin Ascroft (45)
(4-4-2) 1 - Felicity Wentworth (29); 2 - Martin Thurrock (26), 21 - Theodore Rondeau (33, CMT), 13 - Emeline Pons (29, EFL), 5 - Laula Gardener (28); 7 - Sadhbh Mark (22), 10 - Connor Parris (30), 15 - Strut Alnwick (25), 14 - Lara Mayer (25); 21 - Alcina Yeardley (25), 16 - Elizabeth Blanc (22, SVG)
Notable Reserves: 12 - GK - Irvine Welles (25); 4 - CM - Neil Metcalf (26), 9 - ST - Kinsella Morant (32), 11 - ST - Warner Luksha (32), 18 - CB - Rory Drayman (25), 22 - ST - Natalia Ward (25, HAN)

Background Representing the unofficial 'migrant quarter' of the vibrant, cosmopolitan city of Marque, Orient relish their hard-bitten, boot-strapping image, and the defensive, hard-to-beat image of their club. They are, essentially, a symbol of assimilation. They've spent almost all of their history as an established professional club across the top two tiers. Unsurprisingly, they clash with Marque on a geographical, stylistic and philosophical basis.

Preview Orient look by a distance the weakest side in the league, and their playoff win over the far more swashbuckling Cup winners Alliance was met with exasperation by neutrals. They're oddly stacked with experienced talent up front - though it's youngster Blanc who is the most prolific of them, their top scorer with twelve goals last season - but as ever Orient will lean primarily on a miserly defence to have any hope of staying up.

B-League Preview

1. Rozelle Alliance
Colours: White and blue
Nickname: Alliance
Manager: Kristijan Markowić (48, ZRH)
Key Players: Kelly Chaplain (GK, 34), Markéta Banik (GK, 28, HIN), Mathieu Vance (RB, 31), Nessie Kendall (RB, 24), Duke Albright (CB, 34), Miona Rowlex (CB, 32, CMT), Garvin Platton (CB, 26), Orhan Mataras (CB, 25, SRS), Rufus Creek (LB, 32), Peter Andreassen (LB, 24, NRH), Daniel Belanger (RM, 28, KSK), Adam Kraljic (CM, 33, MRC), Jana Larionov (CM, 25, SVJ), Alivia Rivera (CM, 22, EFL), Laurentzi Arenaza (LM, 32, AUD), Mikaela Kjellsen (LM, 25, SVJ), Lorelei Komatsu (ST, 31, HIN), Alida Petrov (ST, 29, SRS), Kate Burnside (ST, 22)

2. Southrons-Errant
Colours: Red and black
Nickname: the Southrons
Manager: Bram Merchant (46)
Key Players: Keith Sheridan (GK, 30), Gabríella Hárlaugsdóttir (GK, 26), Rusty Warren (RB, 33), Etta Cornelian (RB, 25), Jayce Tanner (CB, 32), Nicola Clark (CB, 25, CBR), Roscoe Grant (LB, 28), Aidan Lindegartner (RM, 27), Geré Manaudou (CM, 28, KOR), Malachi Ashton (CM, 27), Sara Connell (LM, 29), Cedric Keane (ST, 31), Seneca Kemp (ST, 26, CYI)

3. Proudcastle
Colours: Yellow and navy
Nickname: the Oathmen
Manager: Lyn Crowley (54)
Key Players: Felipe de Anglada (GK, 30, TEQ), Yohan Gauthier (RB, 27, CMT), Kari Hollows (CB, 34), Tana Kiln (CB, 28, YSP), Sandra Mulder (LB, 31), Gergő Antalik (RM, 27, FFD), Hekara Steinacker (CM, 34, SRS), Chardonnay Keating (CM, 32), May Quinn (CM, 32), Natanael Malmqvist (LM, 28, NRH), Graham Petrie (ST, 33, SCT), Jacqui Heath (ST, 33), Stefan Harper (ST, 28)

4. Rosbank Town
Colours: Black and orange
Nickname: the Black Swans
Manager: Jancis Adrian (44)
Key Players: Fabian Snæþórsson (GK, 30, GRF), Jacqui Greening (RB, 27), Mark Watson (CB, 31), Marie-Louise Daucourt (CB, 29, CMT), Joanna Rollins (CB, 29), Adelaide Bright (LB, 23), Nils Chapel (RM, 31), Harper Casey (CM, 28, KOR), Alexis Claspen (CM, 27), Elaine Sutton (LM, 27), Anaara Baelli (ST, 28, MRN), Stefan Punnett (ST, 26)

5. Chafford
Colours: Red and white
Nickname: the Cavaliers
Manager: Daniel Snowden (59)
Key Players: Julia Clemence (GK, 26), Lissa Hayward (RB, 27), Dawn Connett (RB, 24), Brandon Ponscak (CB, 32, CBP), Ruth Bensom (CB, 29), Candice Mellan (CB, 24), Tova Chiswick (LB, 25), Sterling Forbes (LB, 24), Tash Miller (DM, 32), Karel Tanzer (DM, 23), Grant Edelweiss (CM, 28), Lukacs rue Pfareliele (CM, 27, FFD), Louise Gunn (RW, 28), Yassin Vega (AM, 26, SNL), Rhyan Carson (AM, 25), Elizabeth Rhodes (LW, 26), Bennett Moore (ST, 27)

6. Falkner United
Colours: White and black
Nickname: the Hunters
Manager: Emerald Sheehan (47)
Key Players: Arden Millar (GK, 27), Olwyn Fife (GK, 21), Corsica Greene (RB, 32, CYI), Coriander Lewis (RB, 26), Orfeo Moretti (CB, 28, HIN), Cromwell Thorne (CB, 26), Oran Keller (CB, 22), Heward Stone (LB, 32), Kelleher Vintner (LB, 23), Faith Northwest (RM, 26), Danielle Cordelier (CM, 32, KSK), Eloise Hourihane (CM, 26), Miller West (CM, 25), Tore Na'Verii (LM, 33, COS), Holly Steer (LM, 27), Tess Stocker (ST, 32), Sylvia Wright (ST, 31, NPH), Tamsin Caphrey (ST, 25)

7. Rozelle Archers
Colours: Jade and blue
Nickname: the Archers
Manager: Marisha Cade (44, NPH)
Key Players: Alisander Sandford (GK, 26, NPH), Milesia Stephens (RB, 31), Promise Kellow (CB, 25), Susheela Kaur (CB, 25, SRS), Lexi Holmes (LB, 26, HAN), Catubodua Jones (DM, 26), Chloe Sorley (CM, 32), Avril Wisnyewski (CM, 31, CBP), Ivanna Hartley (RW, 27, NPH), Ano Ishimaki (AM, 28, KOR), Garrick Malcolm (ST, 31), Dima Camille (ST, 23, CMT)

8. Rozelle United
Colours: White and blue
Nickname: the Eels
Manager: Tash Nawalka (51)
Key Players: Soren Laverty (GK, 30), Sebastian Rashica (RB, 33, NPH), Selena Ninetails (CB, 34), Tuireann Luther (CB, 25), Casey Fisken (LB, 28) Manannan Coulter (DM, 26), Murray Evans (CM, 28), Desdemona Ndlovu (CM, 25, CBR), Gareth Malwick (RW, 29), Stella Bradman (ST, 27), ), Eriu Crowe (LW, 26)

9. Coppersmith
Colours: Orange and black
Nickname: the Smiths
Manager: Lilith Cromwell (53)
Key Players: Darren March (GK, 31), Royce Gannon (GK, 24), Lemuel Lowther (RB, 26, KOR), Paul Mullen (CB, 34), Greven Arist (CB, 32, SRS), Renato Lindsey (CB, 26, CMT), Belladonna Chilton (LB, 31), Ai Ueda (RM, 30, HIN), Claude Kittenhawk (CM, 30), Haile Gabwen (CM, 26, SRS), Mars Behan (LM, 29), Silban Kihiyaborda (ST, 26, ASG), Thompson Bastin (ST, 26, TKT)

10. Endeavour Brenecia
Colours: Red and white
Nickname: the Torchmen
Manager: Aoife Cresci (44)
Key Players: Léòkadío Rüvündêwâ (GK, 29, FFD), Johanna Cauldron (RB, 27), Reuben Cornwell (CB, 27), Jana Thurrock (CB, 27), Hank Hampton (DM, 27, DAR), Séraphin Szilágyi (CM, 29, FFD), Reeve Stanton (CM, 27), Jarek Nerkko (CM, 26, COS), Tormod Butcher (RW, 27), Halyos le Gall (ST, 25, APX), Vanda Gerô (ST, 24, PAS), Nasrin Jain (LW, 25, SRS)

11. Finbar Stalwarts
Colours: Teal and yellow
Nickname: the Stalwarts
Manager: Fiona Catlin (44)
Key Players: Russ Cale (GK, 28), Arran Costly (GK, 27), Cooper Wainwright (RB, 32), Ketifa Cohen (RB, 25, EFL), Kira Carlisle (CB, 29), Tony Huxley (CB, 25), Axel Norris (CB, 24), Dirk Sheen (LB, 32), Ryn Ness (RM, 31, CMT), Edlin Bernau (CM, 30, TSA), Cale Lane (CM, 28), Nyna Reeve (LM, 26), Maxence Steward (ST, 25, EFL), Edelweiss Carson (ST, 24)

12. Snowden River
Colours: White and green
Nickname: the Mariners
Manager: Alison Hawkes (48)
Key Players: Roisin Black (GK, 27), Sakae Hakugi (RB, 30, KIR), Loella Surrey (RB, 25), Cole Amundson (CB, 28), Marina Lowell (CB, 26), Pamela Corder (LB, 27); Ashley Turner (CM, 29, ETN), Clovis Moran (CM, 26), Murray Kean (ST, 28), Arran Gerrard (ST, 25), Destine Martin (LW, 29, CMT)

13. Otter Ferry
Colours: Green and yellow
Nickname: the Ferrymen
Manager: Hercules Stafford (44)
Key Players: Grace Connolly (GK, 30), Aisha Waxcandle (CB, 31), Clarine Bellamy (CB, 26), Lewyn Colt (LB, 33), Ombre Pinnock (CM, 26), Junipero Cordobes (AM, 33, FFD), Rímân Âlamans (LW, 26, FFD), Amable Kecskán (ST, 31, FFD)

14. AFC Swanbridge
Colours: White and purple
Nickname: the Swans
Manager: Emlyn Chilford (41)
Key Players: Rollo Varney (GK, 30), Brittany Horton (RB, 27, HAN), Jaroslava Marchenko (CB, 28, CMT), Maurine Calley (LB, 28), Alexis Martyn (CM, 33), Miguel Almanzar (CM, 28, FFD), Fisher Hilton (ST, 33), Carina Bruce (ST, 32)

15. Stourhead
Colours: Blue and yellow
Nickname: the Masons
Manager: Teagan Bridges (51)
Key Players: Markus Brendan (GK, 26), Eliwulf Tambor (LB, 33), Esther Justin (CM, 27), Alysia Keen (LW, 31), Scott Matthews (ST, 27)

16. St. Alexander
Colours: Red and blue
Nickname: the Paladins
Manager: Artur Garrick (49)
Key Players: Murphy Collins (GK, 33), Colton Rivers (GK, 25), Forde Carver (CB, 31), Steiner Neill (CB, 26), Tristan Duval (LB, 32, NAC), Mauriac Keane (CM, 33), Kimura Suzu (CM, 31, SQR), Armando Govella (CM, 26, FFD), Sistine Monroe (RW, 24), Larissa Clarke (LW, 29), Nikolai Jalmarisson (ST, 32, GRF), Sarissa Packer (ST, 30)

by **Brenecia** » Thu Dec 16, 2021 6:02 pm

With half the season played, the top of the table has a familiar look. Yes, it’s Kingsgrove and Union fighting it out. The Royals are easily the most prolific in front of goal, managing at least four goals on four occasions, and while it’s sometimes not the most tactically sophisticated, having a frontloaded squad just surge forward at the enemy is getting results. The only concerns are that behind the scenes the ‘shag clique’ of Teamster, Turnbull and Wren are rumoured to have formed a temporary polycule, and have allegedly caused a rift within much of the rest of the squad. But that’s just an allegation - one stemming from the red-tops, and one which the trio deny - and performances haven’t dropped, in any case.

Union are naturally best of the rest, despite what fans largely consider their weakest squad in years. Dani Pendragon’s tactics are pretty straightforward, but it’s enough to put most any team into a complete chokehold. The issue has been sticking the ball in the net, lacking the clear break-open-the-game options of the Royals, and Liam Armstrong’s been starting more and more often against the big teams even as his 38th birthday rapidly approaches. The Lions remain in the fight, extremely tight at the back; they lost their second, third and fourth matches against tough opposition but have done well to recover.

Rounding out the top five are Hall and the Stallions. Hall have been surprisingly open at the back (all things relative, of course; they’ve only conceded 15) but their direct tactics are brutally effective. Everyone knows Moisander will drop a cross on Escandon’s head, but nobody can stop them; Escandon’s scored eleven of their 24 goals. The Stallions have been a lot more open, with plenty of young talents (Garrett, Urbanik) kicking on, and Tristram the league’s leading scorer on thirteen. Rozelle have kicked on after a weirdly goal-shy start to the season, Wright transitioning to a 4-2-2-2 with Sebastian and Glover in tandem up top; the two combined for a brace apiece in a 4-0 demolition of Lotus Park, and their defensive partnership of Raeff and Dybvik have been absolutely rock-solid throughout.

Three sides already seem to be somewhat entrenched in midtable, though things can change quickly in a 30-match league. Marque are fresh off three punishing defeats. Few were expecting fireworks from a run of fixtures of the Stallions, Rozelle and Kingsgrove, but shipping 6, 2 and 5 isn’t great. Lotus Park have hit the ground running upon their return to the top flight, their experienced core (and manager) paying dividends, not at all looking overawed. Best of all, Kara Ciogach has indeed barely lost a step by 33, just ghosting through defences constantly. Nine goals - albeit with two penalties - is a more than decent return for the veteran. Ciogach netted a hat-trick against Gallant Cross, who languish three points behind but still probably safe from the drop, last season’s wild success proving unsustainable, but they’re still here for the ride.

Dropping below the ‘point-per-game’ line, Rockridge haven’t been dreadful, which is an improvement over last season, but nor have they exactly flourished, with nine defeats thus far. When they’re good, they’re great - a 4-0 hammering of Royal Westpike possibly saving Lopez’s job, though the manager was quoted as saying, “Even if I’m fired, I intend to hide in the woods and overstay my visa.” They also stood up credibly against Northern Union, undone only at the end by a thunderbastard from their former player, Sharon Erskine. They’re above Guilder on goals scored. Little to say about the Turbines, really. They’re doing fine, but really need depth in attack, with almost no threat to bring off the bench.

Royal have had four wins, and also four instances of fans rioting in the streets, which qualifies as ‘a normal one’. The abrupt failure to score goals is holding them back, but the midfield pivots of Selder and Franz are keeping them afloat. AFC Westpike have struggled somewhat despite high hopes on paper, and naturally the Westpike derby was hugely contentious. The Teamsters lead early, Cwen Harper lashing a shot against the far post only for Christensen to slam home the rebound, and only a couple of fingertip saves from Nichols denied them further. Then a contentious red card for Leander was followed up by a very uncontroversial one for a homicidal Sarah Reid challenge that did very much endear her to the fans. AFC’s nine men were unable to hold on, and when Mara Sand stabbed home Royal’s late winner, the away fans in all their wisdom set the stadium on fire. It could be worse. We’ll get to that.

Orient have been pretty terrible, after a bright start; they’ve managed just four points in their last eleven games. That’s a run of results which has included a truly appalling 4-0 defeat to local rivals Marque, who were all over them from the off, and more damning still a 3-0 shelling at home by Pikemouth. But on paper they’re the worst side in the league, so Griffin Ascroft’s job remains safe. And they aren’t even in the bottom two. The Twins are struggling to adapt to a very competitive bottom half. They’d be doing okay - and a plausible sequence of results could have them rocket up to 10th next matchday - were it not for their truly awful form in front of goal. Uathach Walker is their equal top scorer, with two goals in thirteen matches. Genevre Harker has two as well, having played every game. She’s a leftback. Legarza, Roberts, Cubben and Own Goal have accounted the other four. Pikemouth have been complete dogshit, but the few players they have with talent have still managed to dig out a result or two along the way, not least the hammering of Orient. Garin Velat’s been the main bright spot, but injuries in defence - at one point, Pikemouth brought out a back three including two aging leftbacks, Austic and Auskas - have crippled their ability to be competitive.

Across the first half of the season, Southrons-Errant have put themselves in a commanding position to earn promotion. Despite looking overawed in their first top-flight season, that chastening experience has put them as a cat amongst pigeons at this level. Seneca Kemp slots in goals easily, while Gabríella’s saves at the other end have bailed them out many times as their concussive pressing style occasionally leaves gaps. The Black Swans are the only team to have beaten them, and currently sit second; Alliance’s clever veterans, Kraljic, Rowlex and Komatsu, are keeping them thick in the fight, however, with Proudcastle just about clinging to relevance but hamstrung by easily the weakest attack of the top four.

It’s for the most part a free-for-all at the bottom, with many surprised to see the Swans keeping their heads above water. They’ve somehow lost five games either 4- or 5-0, but somehow remain in the playoff place. Stunningly, Rozelle United - a title contender not so long ago - are level on points with them, Otter Ferry are already adrift at the bottom, earning five points in their first three before results quickly and decisively turned against them, having won just three points in their last twelve games. That’s included a 7-0 shellacking from Southrons-Errant and 5-0 by nominal relegation rivals Finbar.

CROWN CUP
First Round
Scalps and Close Calls
Northern Stallions 2-2 Stonewash Town (4-3 AET)
Southern Star 3-2 Endeavour Brenecia

Hammerings
Rozelle United 8-0 Suttonstrand FC
Marque 7-0 AFC Conomore
Knightstone FC 9-1 Townsend Raiders

AL vs. AL
Northern Union 2-2 Guilder (2-3 AET)
Lotus Park 2-1 North Hall

Second Round
Scalps and Close Calls
Mount Roland 2-1 Pikemouth
Knightstone FC 0-0 Lotus Park (1-0 AET)
Rozelle Alliance 2-2 Rozelle (2-2 AET, 2-3 PKs)

Hammerings
Glendower River 5-0 Alexavale FC

AL vs. AL
Twin Saints 0-1 AFC Westpike
Southern Star 1-1 Kingsgrove (2-1 AET)

Third Round
Scalps and Close Calls
Saint Alexander 1-1 AFC Westpike (1-1 AET, 3-1 PKs)

Hammerings
Glendower River 6-1 Razorback Hill

AL vs. AL
Guilder 1-1 Marque (1-1 AET, 3-0 PKs)
Gallant Cross 3-0 Royal Westpike

Quarterfinalists
Northern Stallions vs. Saint Alexander
Gallant Cross vs. Southern Star
Guilder vs. Rockridge Phoenix
Glendower River vs. Rozelle

A-LEAGUE

Pos Team                     P   W  D  L For  Ag  +/- Pts
  1 Kingsgrove              15  11  2  2  43  12  +31  35
  2 Northern Union          15  10  4  1  26  10  +16  34
  3 Southern Star           15   9  3  3  23   9  +14  30
  4 North Hall              15   9  3  3  24  15   +9  30
  5 Northern Stallions      15   8  5  2  30  19  +11  29
  6 Rozelle                 15   7  6  2  19   8  +11  27
  7 Marque                  15   7  2  6  28  28   +0  23
  8 Lotus Park              15   6  2  7  22  22   +0  20
  9 Gallant Cross           15   4  5  6  16  26  -10  17
 10 Rockridge Phoenix       15   4  2  9  17  24   -7  14
 11 Guilder                 15   3  5  7  14  21   -7  14
 12 Royal Westpike          15   4  1 10  13  30  -17  13
 13 AFC Westpike            15   2  6  7  15  23   -8  12
 14 Francisca Orient        15   3  3  9   9  26  -17  12
 15 Twin Saints             15   2  5  8   8  18  -10  11
 16 Pikemouth               15   3  2 10  14  30  -16  11

B-LEAGUE

Pos Team                     P   W  D  L For  Ag  +/- Pts
  1 Southrons-Errant        15  11  3  1  40  16  +24  36
  2 Rosbank Town            15  10  4  1  33  15  +18  34
  3 Rozelle Alliance        15   9  4  2  35  13  +22  31
  4 Proudcastle             15   8  3  4  22  12  +10  27
  5 Coppersmith             15   7  3  5  21  15   +6  24
  6 Chafford                15   6  3  6  23  16   +7  21
  7 Endeavour Brenecia      15   4  8  3  20  17   +3  20
  8 Falkner United          15   5  5  5  22  20   +2  20
  9 Rozelle Archers         15   5  5  5  29  32   -3  20
 10 Snowden River           15   4  6  5  13  21   -8  18
 11 Finbar Stalwarts        15   4  4  7  21  22   -1  16
 12 Stourhead               15   4  2  9  14  24  -10  14
 13 Rozelle United          15   2  7  6  19  23   -4  13
 14 AFC Swanbridge          15   4  1 10  18  46  -28  13
 15 St. Alexander           15   3  3  9  17  31  -14  12
 16 Otter Ferry             15   1  5  9   9  33  -24   8

by **Brenecia** » Sat Dec 18, 2021 1:52 am

Kingsgrove blinked.
There were signs of it early on. Francisca Orient took them deep, and it was only with the traditional… generosity that referees show Brenecian teams that the Royals got a fifth minute of what was supposedly four minutes of extra time, former Royal Wentworth beaten at her near post by Leonard. They raced to a 2-0 half-time lead against Lotus Park but then took their foot off the gas, Ciogach hammering a shot from outside the bar past Ria before earning and converting a penalty, and again a late winner from Leonard was required. But then they stumbled, firing a blank against Guilder thanks in large part to Helaia Sivitri’s brilliance in goal, Moira Kenny setting Stepford up for a deft far-post winner, before dropping points to Royal and Cross.

By contras, Union flattened Southern Star 3-0 away from home, putting a pin in Star’s resurgence. They’ve had some hard-earned, tight results, but they’ve edged them all, and now have an advantage of six points. The title is theirs to lose. North Hall sniff hungrily at second place, beating three challengers in the Stallions, Rozelle and Marque back-to-back-to-back. The four underneath them - those clubs, plus the reeling Star - have fallen out of contention, and now seemingly only have the ChC places to fight over.

The relegation picture has partially clarified. The Nix and Guilder have pulled themselves clear of trouble, most likely, with Lotus Park also ensconced in midtable. Yet no side have really been cut adrift. AFC Westpike beat a 10-man Royal 3-2 at home - the away fans reacted by knocking down a statue of Theresa Riether, who managed AFC at the start of her managerial career before later going on to win the 74 World Cup with Nephara, a victory the Teamsters have always inexplicably claimed as their own - but four wins in 22 mean they’re hardly secure.

Indeed, the bottom five all have 4 or 5. The Twins still aren’t scoring - though Walker doubled her tally for the season with a brace in a 2-0 win over Lotus Park - but have done just about enough to scrape ahead of the top three at the moment, with Royal occupying the playoff place. Orient are still largely terrible, and Pikemouth remain bottom. But it’s tight as anything, just four points splitting the five of them, and Pikemouth’s better players are starting to become fit. If they can ignore the fans now routinely showing up at training to pelt them with fruit and beer bottles, they’re still in with a chance.

The top two are no longer in doubt. Rosbank and SE have been massacring everyone in sight, the latter in particular notching up a scarcely credible 63 goals, Seneca Kemp actually driving home more than a goal a game at this point. So who will take third? At this point, likely one of Alliance, Proudcastle or Coppersmith. Alliance were in a commanding position, but have lost their last three - including to local rivals United and the Archers. The Smiths have tended to edge tight games, their uninspiring squad getting a lot of points for their modest goal difference, and very few real stars.

It’s possible Stourhead or the Stalwarts could be dragged into the relegation scrap but there’s a relatively comfortable gap between them and danger. Stourhead have a tough-tackling, uncompromising side, with former Union defender Tambor playing a pivotal role in defensive midfield; the Stalwarts have a lot of A-League experience, albeit no creativity. By contrast, St. Alexander are sluggish, Swanbridge can’t defend at all - conceding a laughable 60 goals thus far - and the Ferrymen just lack the quality in midfield, having some quality at each end completely undermined by a lack of control in the centre, former Rozelle midfielder Pinnock’s MCL injury crippling them as much as herself.

Crown Cup Quarterfinals
Northern Stallions 2-1 Saint Alexander
Saint Alexander 2-2 Northern Stallions
Northern Stallions win 4-3 on aggregate.

Gallant Cross 0-2 Southern Star
Southern Star 0-2 Gallant Cross (0-3 AET)
Gallant Cross win 3-2 on aggregate.

Guilder 1-2 Rockridge Phoenix
Rockridge Phoenix 0-2 Guilder
Guilder win 3-2 on aggregate.

Glendower River 0-4 Rozelle
Rozelle 2-1 Glendower River
Rozelle win 6-1 on aggregate.

A-LEAGUE

Pos Team                     P   W  D   L For  Ag  +/- Pts
  1 Northern Union          22  17  4   1  38  13  +25  55
  2 Kingsgrove              22  15  4   3  57  20  +37  49
  3 North Hall              22  14  4   4  37  20  +17  46
  4 Northern Stallions      22  11  6   5  41  31  +10  39
  5 Southern Star           22  11  4   7  31  21  +10  37
  6 Marque                  22  11  3   8  41  34   +7  36
  7 Rozelle                 22   9  8   5  28  18  +10  35
  8 Gallant Cross           22   7  8   7  27  34   -7  29
  9 Rockridge Phoenix       22   8  3  11  26  31   -5  27
 10 Guilder                 22   6  7   9  21  27   -6  25
 11 Lotus Park              22   7  3  12  28  35   -7  24
 12 AFC Westpike            22   4  7  11  24  38  -14  19
 13 Twin Saints             22   4  6  12  13  26  -13  18
 14 Royal Westpike          22   5  3  14  21  41  -20  18
 15 Francisca Orient        22   4  5  13  14  35  -21  17
 16 Pikemouth               22   4  3  15  20  43  -23  15

B-LEAGUE

Pos Team                     P   W  D   L For  Ag  +/- Pts
  1 Rosbank Town            22  17  4   1  54  22  +32  55
  2 Southrons-Errant        22  16  5   1  63  27  +36  53
  3 Rozelle Alliance        22  11  6   5  43  23  +20  39
  4 Proudcastle             22  11  6   5  34  20  +14  39
  5 Coppersmith             22  11  4   7  28  23   +5  37
  6 Chafford                22  10  3   9  34  25   +9  33
  7 Falkner United          22   8  8   6  33  28   +5  32
  8 Endeavour Brenecia      22   6 10   6  26  26   +0  28
  9 Rozelle Archers         22   7  7   8  36  40   -4  28
 10 Rozelle United          22   6  8   8  29  32   -3  26
 11 Snowden River           22   6  8   8  21  30   -9  26
 12 Stourhead               22   6  4  12  21  32  -11  22
 13 Finbar Stalwarts        22   5  5  12  26  33   -7  20
 14 St. Alexander           22   4  4  14  18  37  -19  16
 15 AFC Swanbridge          22   5  1  16  24  60  -36  16
 16 Otter Ferry             22   3  5  14  15  47  -32  14

by **Brenecia** » Sat Dec 18, 2021 4:47 pm

Union finish the job, and ti’s not even close. They dance on Kingsgrove’s heads en route to an almost uninterrupted dominance in the back end of the season. Well, almost. Rozelle have the means to expose them, with the kind of ruthless counterpressing that’s been so elusive in a difficult season, and canter to a 3-0 win aided by peerless finishing. Weirder still, that match was preceded by Gallant Cross burying the Saints 5-0. Nine men or not, Shehu hat-trick or not, that’s a disgrace. Otherwise, though, there’s no touching Union. North Hall have come closest; indomitable in their last few games, four straight clean sheets. The latest came in Rozelle, against Kingsgrove, where a thumping header from Escandon and a lashed half-volley from the substitute Cordier secured the Northerners’ CL berth, at the Royals’ expense. Kingsgrove have easily the best goal difference in the league, but it’s been mostly earned by racking up the goals against weak teams, not getting the results against their peers they needed.

Twin Saints won their last three games scoring eight goals without reply, and in so doing have condemned, well, 2.5 of the bottom 4 to the drop. Those being: a Royal Westpike that have lost their usual ability to find the net and constantly haemorrhage goals through inexplicable defensive errors, an ill-disciplined and fractious Westpike who have the league’s worst defensive record, Pikemouth, who shitcanned the novice Gerfalcon and hired the more experienced Liang Bo in an effort to undo the slide, but it’s clearly an issue that extends well beyond the coaching staff, and Francisca Orient, who have lost their last eight. Most recently, that includes a defeat to Pikemouth themselves, Dome Odoma (!) somehow scoring (!!) a brace off the bench (!!!) which dumps Orient at the foot of the table.

Pikemouth will now go to AFC Westpike on the final day. If Westpike win and Royal lose, they’ll overtake them to safety. If Westpike draw and Orient, er, fail to win by seven clear goals against North Hall, they’ll remain in the playoff place. If Pikemouth win, they’ll have another chance at safety, against either Proudcastle or Alliance.

It’s been a hectic fight for supremacy in the B-League; Rosbank lost their hold on the top with an aberration of a result, hammered 4-0 by the Archers, and swooned to just one point in the next two games, but clawed their way back into contention, not least with a come-from-behind win away against their rivals, SE. Baelli’s late winner - and decisive wins for both in the penultimate matchday - means they can still capitalise on a Southron failure to win on the last day. Proudcastle, meanwhile, have drawn three of their last four, meaning Alliance are within striking distance of the playoff. Swanbridge shaped up and played themselves out of trouble - their defence was even almost adequate for a time! - dumping Stourhead in 14th, and sealing the fate of Otter Ferry and St. Alexander.

Crown Cup Semifinals
Northern Stallions 3-0 Gallant Cross
Gallant Cross 0-3 Northern Stallions
Northern Stallions win 6-0 on aggregate.

Guilder 2-0 Rozelle
Rozelle 2-1 Guilder
Guilder win 3-2 on aggregate.

The Stallions mercilessly destroy last season’s surprise package Cross home and away, while a late and decisive strike from Ide Usano, sliding in to hook home a loose ball in the 89th minute slung in by Soler, sinks Rozelle and condemns them to a deeply disappointing season.

A-LEAGUE

Pos Team                     P   W  D   L For  Ag  +/- Pts
  1 Northern Union          29  23  4   2  52  19  +33  73
  2 North Hall              29  20  5   4  49  21  +28  65
  3 Kingsgrove              29  18  6   5  70  25  +45  60
  4 Southern Star           29  16  6   7  41  24  +17  54
  5 Marque                  29  16  4   9  51  37  +14  52
  6 Rozelle                 29  13  9   7  41  27  +14  48
  7 Northern Stallions      29  12  9   8  51  44   +7  45
  8 Rockridge Phoenix       29  13  3  13  33  35   -2  42
  9 Gallant Cross           29   9 10  10  39  44   -5  37
 10 Guilder                 29   9  7  13  25  34   -9  34
 11 Lotus Park              29   9  6  14  38  48  -10  33
 12 Twin Saints             29   8  6  15  22  36  -14  30
 13 Royal Westpike          29   6  4  19  29  61  -32  22
 14 AFC Westpike            29   4  7  18  27  51  -24  19
 15 Pikemouth               29   5  3  21  22  54  -32  18
 16 Francisca Orient        29   4  5  20  17  47  -30  17

B-LEAGUE

Pos Team                     P   W   D   L For  Ag  +/- Pts
  1 Southrons-Errant        29  21   6   2  80  32  +48  69
  2 Rosbank Town            29  21   5   3  65  30  +35  68
  3 Proudcastle             29  15   9   5  49  25  +24  54
  4 Rozelle Alliance        29  15   8   6  54  26  +28  53
  5 Coppersmith             29  14   5  10  34  30   +4  47
  6 Falkner United          29  12   9   8  42  35   +7  45
  7 Chafford                29  13   5  11  41  29  +12  44
  8 Rozelle Archers         29  11   7  11  47  46   +1  40
  9 Endeavour Brenecia      29   8  12   9  33  34   -1  36
 10 Rozelle United          29   8  11  10  32  42  -10  35
 11 Snowden River           29   7  10  12  26  40  -14  31
 12 Finbar Stalwarts        29   8   6  15  31  38   -7  30
 13 AFC Swanbridge          29   9   2  18  37  68  -31  29
 14 Stourhead               29   7   4  18  23  44  -21  25
 15 Otter Ferry             29   4   6  19  19  62  -43  18
 16 St. Alexander           29   4   5  20  19  51  -32  17

A-LEAGUE FINALE
Marque 3-1 Kingsgrove
Francisca Orient 1-1 North Hall
Lotus Park 1-0 Rozelle
AFC Westpike 0-0 Pikemouth
Guilder 2-0 Northern Stallions
Royal Westpike 2-1 Southern Star
Rockridge Phoenix 0-1 Northern Union
Gallant Cross 3-1 Twin Saints

All the intrigue is in the bottom four, with all things at the top accounted for. Francisca Orient gut out a point against North Hall, Blanc earning and Yeardley lashing home a penalty just 13 minutes in that they cling desperately onto, but just before half-time, Moisander tries his luck from distance under no pressure and finds the top corner. Hall are eventually reduced to ten, Mikoliunas with a straight red for a flying elbow on Parris, but the Northerners hold out; a point isn’t good enough for Orient. Royal, surprisingly, come from behind to beat an indifferent Southern Star, guiding them to safety.

So that leaves it to elsewhere in Westpike, the showdown between the Teamsters and Whalers, the Dockside Derby. It’s a stultifyingly dull affair, one that works to Westpike’s advantage. In the 91st minute, a poor pass from Gennaro and a missed challenge from Reid allow a ball from the veteran Bakalov to split the defence in half. Through it all runs Dome Odoma, the fifteen-million man, the one-time prodigy, clear of his markers, looking up, seeing only Altabegoiti in his way, no other pressure around as he outraces the veteran Alberon. All he’s got to do is put the ball in the net and Pikemouth will be within a game of safety.

He spoons it over.

B-LEAGUE FINALE
Coppersmith 1-1 Proudcastle
Falkner United 0-2 Snowden River
Southrons-Errant 3-0 St. Alexander
Rozelle Alliance 1-0 Chafford
Endeavour Brenecia 1-1 Rozelle United
AFC Swanbridge 1-1 Finbar Stalwarts
Stourhead 2-2 Rosbank Town
Rozelle Archers 8-1 Otter Ferry

The title race is nominally in doubt, but rampaging Southrons-Errant just need a win against bottom club St. Alexander. Strikes from Kemp, Manaudou and the teenage winger Maerhen Wake are driven home in the first half and there’s no serious challenges at the other end, allowing them to canter trivially to victory. Rozelle Alliance win ugly against a determined Chafford, Mikaela Kjellsen digging an impressive chip over Clemence on the turn, under serious pressure, for the only goal of the game in the 72nd minute. It’s enough, as Proudcastle stutter to a draw in Coppersmith, a late double-save from Smiths keeper Darren March denying Malmqvist and Petrie to force Proudcastle out of the playoffs.

RELEGATION PLAYOFFS
Glendower River 0-3 Alnwick Glade
Stourhead 1-0 Scaffield
AFC Westpike 4-3 Rozelle Alliance

Alliance lose their ability to gut out desperate wins. It’s a close scoreline in the end, but they’re left chasing the game the entire match against Westpike. Leander chips in a cross, Christensen loses his marker and heads home in the seventh minute; shell-shocked, Alliance don’t get a body to the ball two minutes later when Gennaro’s thumping strike hits Rowlex in the face. Mataras should be on that, but instead, Harper drives home the second. Kraljic leads by example, tackling (probably fouling) Gennaro and driving home a goal back on the edge of half-time, racing to collect the ball and running back to half-way, fist pumping, but it doesn’t translate onto the pitch. Christensen and Kjellsen trade blows before the hour, Hall and Petrov after it, but at no point do Alliance level the scores… though Kjellsen’s free kick in injury time does force Altabegoiti at full stretch to flick it over the bar with fingertips.

CUP FINAL
Northern Stallions 1-3 Guilder

It may no longer be the Stallions’ golden era - few would rank them in the top five of the league, anymore - but there’s still a chance for silverware, and they’re determined not to snatch at it. They’re determined to give it their best shot. They’re determined to leave nothing to chance, leave it all on the line, strain every sinew. At least, that’s probably what was going through Rurik Shea’s mind when he stretched out for a homicidal challenge that sent Moira Kenny arse over tit in the seventh minute, an immediate red card the result. From there, Guilder dominated, and while it took some time to unpick the Stallions’ defence - the Lastcreek side even scored first, Corr dropping a free kick onto Tarakov’s head to give some hope - it took just three minutes for Guilder to equalise, Kenny’s substitute Fischer setting up Stepford to stab home at the near post. In the last ten minutes, the Stallions flagged, lost control of the midfield, and Kandadija finished the job, before Stepford played provider for Rizzari to twist the knife in injury time.

A-LEAGUE

Pos Team                     P   W  D   L For  Ag  +/- Pts
  1 Northern Union          30  24  4   2  53  19  +34  76
  2 North Hall              30  20  6   4  50  22  +28  66
  3 Kingsgrove              30  18  6   6  71  28  +43  60
  4 Marque                  30  17  4   9  54  38  +16  55
  5 Southern Star           30  16  6   8  42  26  +16  54
  6 Rozelle                 30  13  9   8  41  28  +13  48
  7 Northern Stallions      30  12  9   9  51  46   +5  45
  8 Rockridge Phoenix       30  13  3  14  33  36   -3  42
  9 Gallant Cross           30  10 10  10  42  45   -3  40
 10 Guilder                 30  10  7  13  27  34   -7  37
 11 Lotus Park              30  10  6  14  39  48   -9  36
 12 Twin Saints             30   8  6  16  23  39  -16  30
 13 Royal Westpike          30   7  4  19  31  62  -31  25
 14 AFC Westpike            30   4  8  18  27  51  -24  20
 15 Pikemouth               30   5  4  21  22  54  -32  19
 16 Francisca Orient        30   4  6  20  18  48  -30  18

AWARDS
Golden Boot (Goals Scored): Jessica Siafik (KNG) - 21
Golden Ball (Player of the Year): Sharon Erskine (NTU)
Golden Heart (U-21 Player of the Year): Ruadri Wheater (PKM)
Manager of the Year: Charles Hunter (NTH)

B-LEAGUE

Pos Team                     P   W   D   L For  Ag  +/- Pts
  1 Southrons-Errant        30  22   6   2  83  32  +51  72
  2 Rosbank Town            30  21   6   3  67  32  +35  69
  3 Rozelle Alliance        30  16   8   6  55  26  +29  56
  4 Proudcastle             30  15  10   5  50  26  +24  55
  5 Coppersmith             30  14   6  10  35  31   +4  48
  6 Falkner United          30  12   9   9  42  37   +5  45
  7 Chafford                30  13   5  12  41  30  +11  44
  8 Rozelle Archers         30  12   7  11  55  47   +8  43
  9 Endeavour Brenecia      30   8  13   9  34  35   -1  37
 10 Rozelle United          30   8  12  10  33  43  -10  36
 11 Snowden River           30   8  10  12  28  40  -12  34
 12 Finbar Stalwarts        30   8   7  15  32  39   -7  31
 13 AFC Swanbridge          30   9   3  18  38  69  -31  30
 14 Stourhead               30   7   5  18  25  46  -21  26
 15 Otter Ferry             30   4   6  20  20  70  -50  18
 16 St. Alexander           30   4   5  21  19  54  -35  17

AWARDS
Golden Boot (Goals Scored): Seneca Kemp (SOE) - 31
Golden Ball (Player of the Year): Seneca Kemp (SOE)
Golden Heart (U-21 Player of the Year): Maerhen Wake (SOE)
Manager of the Year: Aoife Cresci (ENB)

C-LEAGUE

Pos Team                     P   W  D   L For  Ag  +/- Pts
  1 Shaleport Rangers       30  20  4   6  75  35  +40  64
  2 Fiana Cove              30  18  5   7  74  42  +32  59
  3 Scaffield               30  17  7   6  47  23  +24  58
  4 Fentonbridge            30  18  4   8  46  26  +20  58
  5 Stonewash Town          30  17  5   8  49  35  +14  56
  6 Randwick Town           30  16  7   7  54  30  +24  55
  7 Chrysler Town           30  15  3  12  52  46   +6  48
  8 AFC Swayback            30  14  3  13  52  40  +12  45
  9 Sharrow                 30  11  6  13  56  39  +17  39
 10 Mount Roland            30   9 10  11  26  26   +0  37
 11 Razorback Hill          30  10  4  16  32  44  -12  34
 12 Spearcove Mariners      30   7  8  15  36  61  -25  29
 13 Marque Leichiai         30   8  4  18  32  66  -34  28
 14 Glendower River         30   7  2  21  38  72  -34  23
 15 Knightstone FC          30   5  8  17  26  64  -38  23
 16 Falkner Crescent        30   6  4  20  24  70  -46  22

D-LEAGUE

Pos Team                        P   W  D   L For  Ag  +/- Pts
  1 Hawk Reach                 30  22  5   3  57  19  +38  71
  2 Townsend Raiders           30  22  4   4  68  30  +38  70
  3 Alnwick Glade              30  20  2   8  48  28  +20  62
  4 Suttonstrand FC            30  18  5   7  62  32  +30  59
  5 Brackford Rovers           30  15  6   9  37  30   +7  51
  6 Chafford Saracens          30  15  4  11  73  46  +27  49
  7 FC Solidarity Falkner      30  14  6  10  39  37   +2  48
  8 Platwood                   30  14  5  11  39  31   +8  47
  9 Hall Spitfires             30  11  5  14  44  53   -9  38
 10 AFC Conomore               30  12  1  17  33  45  -12  37
 11 Kearney Township           30  11  3  16  43  53  -10  36
 12 Skerrick Pathfinders       30   9  7  14  43  54  -11  34
 13 Alexavale FC               30   6  6  18  35  60  -25  24
 14 Southside Wanderers        30   6  5  19  32  46  -14  23
 15 Silvershire Town           30   6  3  21  33  68  -35  21
 16 AFC Cairnshore             30   3  5  22  28  82  -54  14

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