SBC.sch/sport (Domestic Sports Newswire of Schottia)

by **Schottia** » Tue Aug 09, 2016 10:38 am

Matchday one - twelve

Homecoming Cup II
The Homecoming Cup is a friendly tournament first held as part of Schottia's Homecoming Festival four years ago. The tournament is contested by teams who have Schottic nationals in their playing squads. The Original cup featured twenty teams from the four corners of the globe, and was eventually won by Chloe Rudden, and her Nepharim side North Laithland, who defeated Taeshani club Fadron Flight in the final.

Group A.
1860 Azoth 2–2 Willox Street Pirates
St Johns Arsenal 1–1 Crawford City

Willox Street Pirates 1–0 Crawford City
1860 Azoth 0–4 St Johns Arsenal

St Johns Arsenal 1–0 Willox Street Pirates
Crawford City 0–2 1860 Azoth

.                        Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
1 St Johns Arsenal         3    2   1   0     6    1   +5     7 Qualifies 
2 Willox Street Pirates    3    1   1   1     3    3    0     4 Qualifies 
3 1860 Azoth               3    1   1   1     4    6   −2     4
4 Crawford City            3    0   1   2     1    4   −3     1

Group B.
North Laithland 2–1 Centralis Heart
Cornellians 4–3 Olympic Nassau Bay

Centralis Heart 3–0 Olympic Nassau Bay
North Laithland 4–3 Cornellians

Cornellians 0–1 Centralis Heart
Olympic Nassau Bay 0–1 North Laithland

.                       Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
1 North Laithland         3    3   0   0     7    4   +3     9 Qualifies 
2 Centralis Heart         3    2   0   1     5    2   +3     6 Qualifies 
3 Cornellians             3    1   0   2     7    8   −1     3
4 Olympic Nassau Bay      3    0   0   3     3    8   −5     0

Semi-final
St Johns Arsenal 1–0 Centralis Heart
North Laithland 1–1 Willox Street Pirates (2–1 AET)

3ppo
Centralis Heart 1–1 Willox Street Pirates (1–1 AET) (0–2 pen.)

Final
St Johns Arsenal 0–0 North Laithland (0–0 AET) (5–4 pen.)
And after 120 goalless minutes, North Laithland's reign as Homecoming Cup Champions comes to an end. St Johns Arsenal, featuring up and coming star Corinne Martel-Burns, lift the title after a penalty shootout and get to add Schottia's favourite tin-cup to their trophy cabinet.

Globe Cup -- Prelim Round
(BRG) Iron Bridge FC 0–0 Dundee
(DUN) McKenzie FC 1–4 FC Soessch

Dundee and FC Soessch got us kicked off this campaign, with both sides in Globe Cup action. Dundee were away to Brigantii side Iron Bridge and put up a good performance in their first ever taste of international domestic football. Johnny Smith's first match in charge ended 0-0, Liam Goncalves going closest with a long distance drive. Soessch, on the other hand, had no difficulties in brushing past McKenzie FC in Dunnës. Young Quebecois starlet Viktor Lange scored a brace on his competitive debut for club, and there were also goals for Sara Foucault and Till Ümann.

SPL
Port James Athletic 1–0 Handon United
D'Itille 0–3 Port Sebastian
Mucusia 1–0 Hollin
New Island 1–1 Granton Vale
Cornellians 2–1 La Gorlions
Dundee 1–0 FC Soessch
Kings Park 1–2 New Belfast Warriors
Oak Park Celtic 2–2 Lammerton City
Marionville 1–0 Berwick United
Port Patrick United 0–0 Lammerton

We got our first glimpse of SPL action this weekend, as the 23-24 season got underway. Defending Champions Cornellians had a tricky start, going up against a new look La Gorlions side, in what was the Avelione brothers' first game in charge. Despite an early scare, where the Lions took the lead through Yelena Shostakovich, Alexander Pearce's players got over the initial blip, to see out the match 2-1. Kathryn Kvanderwyk, pulled them level on the stroke of half time, turning a cross from her brother Kit in at the far post; while Kel Koromin gave his side the full three points with a great solo effort ten minutes from time. Another team we were expecting to do well this season, Port Sebastian, made light work of newly promoted D'Itille. The side from the North Island really struggled to make any inroads despite playing at home, and seemed to have little answer to the Porty attack. Former Gloriaxian Eloisa Purinton was back reunited with Jock Sonny, and looked more like her old self, opening the scoring after only seven minutes. Another new signing, Steven Rexmont, doubled their lead on the hour mark, after making an excellent run into the box. And substitute Giancoma de Jerusalem rounded things off in stoppage time, heading in a cross from Anglatian teenager Andrya Novkovic. The most reassuring thing about this performance will have been the fact that Port Sebastian looked solid in every department. Other new signings Vera Cummings and Joon Ho Hwang, also gave good accounts of themselves in this match. We wondered how last season's third place side Dundee would fair this year, after manager Jock Sonny departed with two of their star players. The answer seems to be: Not to badly at all, if their win over last FC Soessch is anything to go by. Predictably it was David Hughes who grabbed the only goal of the game, latching onto a through ball from Gustav Fandrich. Most encouraging however, was the performance of 21-year-old Jim Gerrish, who was attempting to fill the very big boots of Vera Cummings. The young midfielder really stamped his authority on the game, battling hard against Till Ümann in the centre of the pitch. In other results, Handon United's woes continued, this time falling foul to a Joseph Preca goal in their 1-0 defeat at the hands of Port James. The Warriors got off to a good start with a 2-1 win away to Kings Park, Miki Kurugaya pouncing on a deflected Tomás Fierro strike late in the second half to seal the victory. And finally, Lammerton and Port Patrick played out a 0-0 draw, which tells us nothing really about either side's prospects.

Globe Cup -- Prelim Round
Dundee 2-0 Iron Bridge (BRG)
FC Soessch 0-1 McKenzie FC (DUN)

Both of Schottia's Globe Cup participants came into the second leg on the back of good results. Dundee, with a good defensive performance on the road, knew that a win at home would be enough to see them through. After a tense opening half hour their nerves were settled somewhat when Christopheran striker Jacques tapped in his first of the season from a Jim Gerrish pass. And it was Gerrish himself who resolved matters in the second half with a deflected strike from the edge of the D, to send Dundee into the second round of qualifying. Soessch were already defending a substantial lead, and even though they conceded a goal in the second half, they knew NcKenzie still needed another three if they were to do any damage. The result meant that joined Dundee in the second prelim draw.

SPL
Handon United 2–4 Lammerton
Berwick United 0–1 Port Patrick United
Lammerton City 2–4 Marionville
New Belfast Warriors 3–1 Oak Park Celtic
FC Soessch 2–0 Kings Park
La Gorlions 1–0 Dundee
Granton Vale 1–1 Cornellians
Hollin 0–0 New Island
Port Sebastian 3–3 Mucusia
Port James Athletic 3–1 D'Itille

Cornellians suffered a painful setback ahead of their Champions' Cup campaign, with a 1-1 draw at Granton Vale. The Beachcombers - back in the top flight after winning promotion last season - looked determined to make things as difficult as possible for the visitors, throwing in some meaty challenges from the start. Despite the robust tackles coming in from the home side, it was to be Cornellians who took the lead through a well executed move. Jade Irwin spotted the run of Eula Richard down the left wing, who reaching the by-line, managed to deliver a pin-point cross for Kathryn Kvanderwyk to score her second of the season. The Eagles probably thought they had done enough, and as the match wore on this indeed seemed to be the case. But five minutes from time, up popped Jack Hobbs to open his account for the season and send the home fans home happy. After a difficult opening week, Lammerton helped to heap more misery on Handon United, humiliating them with a 4-2 defeat at Harbour Hill. John Cooper got things started with a powerful goal shortly after the kick off, with Merry Osbourne and Mars Alexandersson adding a second and third shortly after. Handon United did get themselves back into the match with goals from Serge Mavididi, and Christian Lovenkrands, but as John Copper tucked home his second ten minutes from the end, the match was well and truly over. After the disappointment of the opening week, FC Soessch will have been glad to have bounced straight back with a 2-0 win over Kings Park. Viktor Lange scored his first SPL goal, and there was also a late second from new signing Ben Ross, who powered in a header from a Sara Foucault corner. In other matches: Jenny Lundergrand scored a double, as New Belfast Blues continued their good start with a win over Oak Park. Despite goals from Steven Rexmont, Eloisa Purinton, and Demba Traore, Port Sebastian only managed a point at home to Mucusia. And finally, a late Gaston Avelione goal gave La Gorlions all three points, leaving Dundee high and dry at Danu Parc.

Champions Cup -- Second Prelim Round
(TLI) Abingdon Celtic 1–2 Cornellians

Cornellains must have been braced for a tough match, as they took on the Licentian Isles champions Abingdon Celtic. While clearly not taking anything for granted, the Eagles looked well up for the match, and two second half goals from Kel Koromin and Kit Kvanderwyk gave them all three points in an otherwise tight encounter. A victory and two away goals, will give the Eagles fans cause for optimism as they approach go into the home leg.

Globe Cup -- Second Prelim Round Round
(VIL) Turoki United 2–0 Dundee
(KRY) Mercia Bromham 1–0 FC Soessch

For Schottia's Globe Cup hopefuls, there were also tricky ties, travelling to Atlantian Oceania to take on two sides from some of the world's top footballing nations. Dundee are a side with literally no UICA pedigree, and it showed as Turoki United eased past them comfortably with a 2-0 win. Failing to get the score sheet, the South Schottic side knew they would have their work cut out in the return leg. FC Soessch had a similarly tough time of it as they took on Kytenian side Mercia Bromham. A late goal from the home side was enough to take the first leg 1-0

SPL
D'Itille 2–3 Handon United
Mucusia 0–0 Port James Athletic
New Island 3–3 Port Sebastian
Cornellians 2–2 Hollin
Dundee 1–0 Granton Vale
Kings Park 0–1 La Gorlions
Oak Park Celtic 0–0 FC Soessch
Marionville 1–1 New Belfast Warriors
Port Patrick United 3–1 Lammerton City
Lammerton 2–1 Berwick United

Handon United would have been desperate to get three SPL points on the board, and they finally managed it, leaving it late against newly promoted D'Itille. United were pegged back twice in this match, as the North Island minnows showed they had nothing to lose. In the end it was a goal from substitute Mirka Shitakuari, which gave Karl Sorensen's side their first points of the season as the teenager showed great footwork to turn in Aya Bernman's cross. In a week with some otherwise strange results, Dundee managed to overcome a spirited challenge from Granton Vale. Jim Gerrish looked well up for it in the centre of the park once again, and he did his best to keep Hierholzer and Bitter quiet for most of the afternoon. Dundee scored the only goal of the match when Kevin Scougle jumped highest to convert a Liam Goncalves corner. Lammerton were another side who came out on top this week, as goals from Merry Osborne and Jasper Valaren helped them past Berwick United. United were definitely second best on the day, and the 2-1 scoreline flattered them somewhat. Cenian youngster, Valaren, put in a fives star performance, his winning goal the icing on the cake. There was huge disappointment for Port Sebastian, as for a second week running they drew 3-3. Steven Rexmont made it three in three with a well executed goal, and Demba Traore scored a second half double, but it wasn't enough for the much fancied side. Elsewhere: New Belfast Warriors were held 1-1 away to Marionville. Port Patrick defeated Lammerton City 3-1, with help from Tanya Yeats and William Shedden. And Cornallians blew a 2-0 lead, conceding two second half goals against Hollin.

Champions Cup -- Second Prelim Round
Cornellians 2-0 Abingdon Celtic (TLI)

Cornellians finished the job with a very professional home performance against Abingdon Celtic. Taking a 2-1 lead into the game, the early goal from Kathryn Kvanderwyk gave the Handon side a big safety net, after the youngster turned in Jade Irwin's threw pass. 16-year-old substitute Lara Wedderburn sealed victory with her first goal for the club on 74 minutes, after she got on the end of a Triffid Ramsey cross to send The Eagles into the third round.

Globe Cup -- Second Prelim Round Round
Dundee 1-0 Turoki United (VIL)
FC Soessch 1-0 Mercia Bromham (KRY) (2-0 AET)

Both Dundee and Soessch knew they needed to leave nothing out there if they were going to overturn first leg deficits and progress in the Globe Cup. Dundee managed a win over their Vilitan opponents, but David Hughes' goal wasn't enough, as his side went out of goal difference. Soessch had slightly more luck, defeating Mercia Bromham in extra time thanks to a late Konstantin Holstad goal. The Polar Islander put the North Island side through after Sara Foucault had originally given Die rote Teufel the lead.

SPL
Handon United 5–2 Berwick United
Lammerton City 3–4 Lammerton
New Belfast Warriors 4–3 Port Patrick United
FC Soessch 4–0 Marionville
La Gorlions 4–1 Oak Park Celtic
Granton Vale 2–2 Kings Park
Hollin 1–1 Dundee
Port Sebastian 2–0 Cornellians
Port James Athletic 0–0 New Island
D'Itille 2–4 Mucusia

Handon United seem to have well and truly gotten their act together now, with a 5-2 win over New Island side Berwick United. United looked in good shape, as three second half goals helped them to their second win on the bounce. The teams went up the tunnel at half time with the result evenly poised at 2-2, even if Handon United had had more of the possession. However, goals from Isaac Nketiah (2) and Nagisa Habane gave the side an important win as they look to put pressure on the sides at the top. The big match up this week however, was the battle between two of the bookies' favourites. Port Sebastian played host to Cornellians, in a match that many of us believed would go a long way towards deciding this season's outcome. The Eagles had been going well up until now, especially in the Champions' Cup, but Porty managed to find another gear from somewhere to win the match 2-0. The match was to be something of a Pearce and Sonny reunion with the two coaches who led Cornellians to glory in the MPL now in opposite dugouts. The home side were awarded a penalty after Joon Ho Hwang was adjudged to have been pushed as he jumped at a corner. Eloisa Purinton never misses from the spot, and looks calm as she scored her third of the season against her former charges. Despite the visitors pushing hard in the second half, they couldn't find the breakthrough, and were punished with a second goal late on. Joey Bia did well to get the better of Eula Richard, before playing the ball infield to Emeline Millet. The Ko-orens initial shot was saved, but Giancoma de Jerusalem was on hand to tuck away the rebound. The Lammerton derby is always the sort of match to put hairs on your chest, and this proved to be no different as The Hornets picked up a vital three points over City, with a 4-3 win. Lammerton opened the scoring with a Robard Horvat strike from the edge of the box, before doubling their lead moments later with a Merry Osbourne header. City tried hard to get back into the match, and found the back of the net through young Farf attacker Somuele der Pros, but Lammerton restored their two goal lead quickly thanks to a distance strike from Mars Alexandersson. In the second half City once again pulled one back through Callum Frir, but their optimism was to be short lived, as Hornets skipper John Cooper settled the matter. In other matches, Aimée Hétu had a good game for Mucusia, the Pasargan scoring two of their four goals in t 4-2 win over D'Itille. La Gorlions seem to have found a groove with the Avelione Brothers at the helm, beating Oak Park 4-1. And FC Soessch put in their best performance of the season so far, the Shearer (2), Lange, and Foucault all on target as they beat Marionville 4-0.

Champions Cup -- Third Prelim Round
Cornellians 2–0 Llerana SC (SAN)

The Eagles look as if they can't put a foot wrong in the Champions' Cup this season, as Pearce seems to be forming a team of players who can cut it on the big stage. Kathryn Kvanderwyk put in another solid performance as her side defeated Llerana SC 2-0 in Lochend. The Cosumarite scored the side's opener in the first half, then had a hand in the second, teeing up Tsumugi to slam in the second from the edge of the box.

Globe Cup -- Third Prelim Round Round
FC Soessch 0–0 Burnton 1963 (ETM)
(KRY) Avidia United 1–2 Lammerton

This round was our first chance to see Lammerton in action, a side we have had high hopes for this season. The Hornets were up against Krytenian side Avidia Utd, and we know there is no such this as an easy match in the Atlantian Oceania (well generally speaking that is). Despite going a goal down early on, Lammerton bounced back with goals from Merry Osbourne and Jasper Valaren, the Cenian wrapping up all three points with a well timed drive from the angle of the box. For FC Soessch however, they didn't have it all their own way when they took on top Electrumite side Burton 1963. While the Reds really went at their opponents in the second half, it was to no avail, as the match played out 0-0.

SPL
Mucusia 1–2 Handon United
New Island 0–1 D'Itille
Cornellians 3–2 Port James Athletic
Dundee 3–3 Port Sebastian
Kings Park 2–0 Hollin
Oak Park Celtic 2–1 Granton Vale
Marionville 1–0 La Gorlions
Port Patrick United 5–3 FC Soessch
Lammerton 0–0 New Belfast Warriors
Berwick United 3–0 Lammerton City

It is an interesting development in Schottic football, that we now talk about Dundee as potential title challengers, and they did their prospects no harm at all this weekend as they held Port Sebastian at Granier Road Park. For Porty players Vera Cummings and Steven Rexmont, it was the first time they had come up against their former club since making the switch in the summer, and both equipped themselves well. Rexmont opened the scoring for the visitors with his fourth goal in five matches, and was a handful for the Panners throughout the opening 45. Dundee managed to pull themselves level however, just before half time, when Mark Keane cut a neat ball inside for teammate Gustav Fandrich to finish from close range. Dundee looked much better in the second half, and took the lead through Jacques, before Demba Traore levelled once more for Port Sebastian. Dundee must have thought they'd won it with only five minutes to go, when David Hughes restored their lead, but it wasn't to be as Andrya Novkovic's stoppage time goal levelled things for the visitors. Handon United seem now to be on a strong run of form, and they put in a workmanlike performance to beat Mucusia 2-1 away from home. Mana Satō scored their first after a lung-bursting run from right back, and Quinn McEnithly grabbed the crucial second. Mucusia were never totally out of the game, but even though they pulled one back through Natalie Adams they never really tested United. Another side who are on a good run right now are Port Patrick, who year after year we have expected to struggle, following the loss of some key stars. However, once again, they are flying high and this 5-3 win over the highly fancied FC Soessch proves exactly what they can do. Tanya Yeats has looked good in a second spell at the club and was on the score sheet again today, as were Jane Swanson (2), Chiyoko Sakuraka, and rising star William Snedden. Also, Cornellians got a valuable win over a Port James side who have been enjoying a good start to the season. It made for a great match at Lochend Stadium, with The Eagles coming in straight off the back of a Champions' Cup win. Jade Irwin got the ball rolling with a delightful half volley from the edge of the box, after some composed play from left midfielder Eula Richard. Kel Koromin then doubled the side's lead after 30 minutes after a clever exchange with young strike partner Kathryn Kvanderwyk. The Seasiders managed to pull one back just on the stroke of half time, as Joseph Preca curled a sweet strike in at the far post. In the second half Athletic had the chance to pull level after Remaine Clarke got one on one with Jermey McNott, but the big keeper did well to keep the Semar out. The goal which sealed it for the Eagles came fifteen minutes from the end, as Rachel Mercurier played Kit Kvanderwyk through, the Cosumarite international took his chance with aplomb, finishing at the far post.

Champions Cup -- Third Prelim Round
(SAN) Llerana SC 3-1 a Cornellians

Cornellians needed to use a get out of jail free card, as Llerana SC pushed them all the way in San Llera. The Eagles took a 2-0 lead into the match, but early goals from their opponents quickly evened the scores. However, a seventy minute strike from man of the moment Kel Koromin, popping up to convert a Triffid Ramsey cross, left the home side needing another two. SC did score again to set up a grandstand finish, but Cornellians held strong, to go through on away goals.

Globe Cup -- Third Prelim Round Round
(ETM) Burnton 1963 2-1 FC Soessch
Lammerton 3-0 Avidia United (KRY)

It was the end of the road this week for Soessch however, as they became the second Schottic club to exit UICA competition, going down 2-1 to Burunton1963 in Electrum. Lammerton on the other hand, made light work of Avidia United at the Lammerton City Ground. John Cooper, Timo Düd, and Merry Osbourne all scored as the Hornets made their way into the next round with relative ease.

SPL
Handon United 0–0 Lammerton City
New Belfast Warriors 2–0 Berwick United
FC Soessch 0–2 Lammerton
La Gorlions 0–1 Port Patrick United
Granton Vale 0–0 Marionville
Hollin 3–1 Oak Park Celtic
Port Sebastian 1–0 Kings Park
Port James Athletic 3–2 Dundee
D'Itille 1–4 Cornellians
Mucusia 2–0 New Island

Lammerton's excellent run in all competitions continued this week, as they picked up an impressive in over FC Soessch on the road. The Hornets really don't seem to be able to do much wrong at the minute, and this assured display proved just how dangerous an opposition they can be. They got themselves up and running early in this match, with Mars Alexanderson long range effort deflecting kindly into the path of John Cooper to open the scoring. Lammerton had to wait until the second half for goal number two, despite have a fair chunk of the possession. Jasper Valaren played through a beautifully timed pass for Schottia cap Cooper to complete his double. Cornellians also kept themselves in the hunt for a record fourth title in a row with a 4-1 win away to strugglers D'Itille. Even with Koromin and Richard rested ahead of a no doubt full-blooded encounter with CD FAS, The Eagles were still too strong for their North Island opponents in every department. 16-year-old Lara Wedderburn took advantage of a rare start to grab another goal as she continues to get her career up and running. There were also goals for Kathryn Kvanderwyk, Jade Irwin, and Mabel Finnemark, in a match where Cornellians treated as to some eye-catching football. The Warriors look like they are also having a good season, and seem much more like their old selves under manager Graeme Collins. It has been a bit of a struggle for them with the vacuumed created by the departure of Ivan Archic, but so far they have adjusted well. Young Kirisakian Miki Kurugaya opened the scoring for them, in a 2-0 victory over Berwick United. Using her strength in the box, Kurugaya was able to nod home a Tomás Fierro freekick after 25 minutes, giving her side the lead. The Whalers then made it two shortly before the interval, Adrienne O'Callahan's surging run opened up the Gulls defence before the 25-year-old squared the ball for Jenny Lundergrand to score her third of the season. In other results, Vera Cummings scored Porty's only goals as they defeated Kings Park 1-0. Flora Klee and Ryuni got the goals as Mucusia overcame New Island, and Handon United's winning streak came to an end with a shock 0-0 draw at home to Lammerton City.

Champions Cup -- Play-off Round
Cornellians 2–1 CD FAS (SJG)

Cornellians came out all guns blazing for this one, and they knew they needed to, if they had any hope of progressing. There are no easy matches at this stage in the competition, and if they were going to progress, it was important to take three points into the away leg. Two second half goals from Tsumugi, and Kit Kvanderwyk helped to haul The Eagles over the line, with the slenderest of 2-1 wins.

Globe Cup -- Play off Round Round
Lammerton 2–2 Eastburg United (WRL)

Lammerton's literally flawless season hit a bit of a skid midweek, with a 2-2 draw at home to Eastburgh United. Despite going ahead twice in this match, with goals from Merry Osbourne and Mars Alexandersson, The Hornets were pegged back on both occasions. Jasper Valaren had a chance late on to give the home side the win, but the Cenian narrowly missed with an 88 minute strike, which hit the side netting.

SPL
New Island 3–5 Handon United
Cornellians 4–1 Mucusia
Dundee 1–0 D'Itille
Kings Park 1–3 Port James Athletic
Oak Park Celtic 1–1 Port Sebastian
Marionville 0–1 Hollin
Port Patrick United 2–0 Granton Vale
Lammerton 3–2 La Gorlions
Berwick United 2–2 FC Soessch
Lammerton City 1–3 New Belfast Warriors

Conellians look like they are going to retain the title in some style, if they are able to maintain their current form. The Eagles were almost reminiscing of their MPL days, as goals from Kel Koromin (2), Kathryn Kvanderwyk, and Mabel Finnemark gave them a resounding win over Mucusia. Pasargan, Aimée Hétu, did cancel out Koromin's opener, but the home side ran wild in the second half, producing a top performance. Pick of the bunch came from Fleftic midfielder Finnemark, who in a rare start curled in a fantastic goal from fifteen metres out. After last season, where they were neither here nor there, The Warriors have looked in much better shape, as another comprehensive victory on the road proved. Lammerton City have really been struggling so far this term, and it was clear to see that they were second best to their New Belfast opponents. Kirisakian target-girl Miki Kurugaya has been in fine form during the last six matches, and she opened the scoring again today with a trademark header from a Craig O'Maramy cross. Holly Addison doubled their lead shortly after, tucking away a clever pass from Tomás Fierro, and Quebecois winger Adrienne O'Callahan grabbed the third seven minutes from time, with a strike from a tight angle. With Cornellians playing so well at the moment, Lammerton cannot afford a single slip up if they are going to remain at the top of the table. The Avelione brothers' new-look La Gorlions side pushed them very hard this weekend at the city ground, with goals from Gaston Avelione, and Yelena Shostakovich. However, the Hornets pulled the win out of the bag once again, John Cooper (2), and Jasper Valaren keeping them on course for an historic win. In other results, David Hughes scored a wonder-goal as Dundee edged past D'Itille 1-0. Jane Swanson, and Chiyoko Sakuraka were on target for Port Patrick, in a 2-0 win over strugglers Granton Vale. And Serge Mavididi scored a hattrick in Handon United's 5-3 win at New Island.

Champions Cup -- Play-off Round
(SJG) CD FAS 0-1 Cornellians

Cornellians found themselves of the verge of qualification for the Champions' Cup for the first time, with the formidable CD FAS of San Jose Guayabal barring their path. There were definitely easier matches in multiverse football, and even with the good run they found themselves on, The Eagles knew they would be hard pressed to get a result in S.J.G. Despite coming into the game with a narrow lead, everything was still up for grabs. However, after some stout defending and a real fighting display, they managed to a crucial win in Esportiva. Kel Koromin showing some real striker's instincts on 78 minutes, when he reacted first to an over hit Jade Irwin cross. The Cenian, arching backwards, did just enough to loop the ball past the FAS keeper, to take the Lochend side into the Champions' Cup for the first time. Viva L'Cornellians!

Globe Cup -- Play off Round Round
(WRL) Eastburg United 3-0 Lammerton

There was utter dejection for Lammerton on Thursday night, as a 3-0 defeat in Eastburgh put pay to their chances of making the Globe Cup for the first time. The Hornets had very little to complain about, going out 5-2 on aggregate to a side who performed much better over the two legs.

SPL
Handon United 2–2 New Belfast Warriors
FC Soessch 1–0 Lammerton City
La Gorlions 2–1 Berwick United
Granton Vale 0–2 Lammerton
Hollin 1–1 Port Patrick United
Port Sebastian 2–1 Marionville
Port James Athletic 3–0 Oak Park Celtic
D'Itille 2–0 Kings Park
Mucusia 0–1 Dundee
New Island 0–1 Cornellians

One side who have been something of a surprise this season are Port James Athletic, who eight games in, would certainly not have expected to see themselves challenging up at the top of the table. One of this biggest differences this season is the addition of Elspeth Glendening, who seems to have natural strike partnership with Remaine Clake. The two of them combined to good effect again this weekend, grabbing a goal apiece as they helped their side to a 3-0 victory over Oak Park. Whether the Seasiders can keep this run of form going or not is another question, but as things stand, this win keeps them up near the top of the table. Cornellians and Lammerton are certainly not going to make things easy for Athletic, setting a frightening pace along side. The Eagles had to huff and puff a little, but left the New Island with all three points, thanks to a Eula Richard free kick just before half time. The Hornets had no such problems, and goals from Merry Osbourne and John Cooper earned them all three points against a Granton Vale side who never really got out of second gear. Port Sebastian claimed a much needed three points with a 2-1 win over Marionville. Demba Traore opened the scoring for Porty, getting on the end of an Esther Abner cross to tuck the ball past Pearce Brice. The home side added number two in the second half thanks to Eloisa Purinton, who converted from a set-piece. Michael Maxwell pulled one back for Marionville in stoppage time, but it was too little too late for the visitors. In other results: Handon United and New Belfast Warriors played out a pulsating 2-2 draw at Harbour Hill. United were ahead twice through Lovenkrands and Mavididi, but on both occasions they were pegged back with goals from Lundergrand, and Fierro. Dundee continued to look in good shape, Barry Drite's goal on 38 minutes was enough to secure a win away to Mucusia. And Soessch earned a very welcome 1-0 win at home to Lammeton City. Sara Foucault's strike on 36 minutes deflecting in off Chris Bishop to give them all three points.

Cornellians 0–0 Handon United
Dundee 2–0 New Island
Kings Park 5–4 Mucusia
Oak Park Celtic 0–0 D'Itille
Marionville 3–4 Port James Athletic
Port Patrick United 0–0 Port Sebastian
Lammerton 2–1 Hollin
Berwick United 1–0 Granton Vale
Lammerton City 1–4 La Gorlions
New Belfast Warriors 1–0 FC Soessch

This weeks big match proved to be a little bit of a disappointment, as Cornellians' cagey match with Handon United ended in a goalless draw. The result helps neither team in particular, as they both lost ground on the other pace setters. Despite the Eagles playing at home, they looked particularly nervous, and really struggled to carve out any gilt-edge chances. United probably had the best chance of the match, when Aya Berman's low cross went agonisingly close to the boot of Isaac Nketiah at full stretch. With Port Patrick and Port Sebastian also drawing 0-0, Lammerton must have been sensing blood as they played host to Hollin. The Belker Boys really dug their heels in, but when it came down to it, superior quality in the centre of the park gave the Hornets a clear edge. Hollin managed to make the scoreline look more respectable than it might well have been, but in truth 2-1 flattered them slightly, in a match they could have lost by a lot more. Kings Park have been finding the going tough this season, but a 5-4 win over Mucusia will have done the forwards' confidence a lot of good. The rapid Vormsian Kaija Koppel scored twice for the Royals, displaying the kind of pace that earned her caps at U21 level. There were also goals for Francis Keelinan, Sendoa, and Darren O'Brian, in what was a great match for the neutrals. New Belfast Warriors kept themselves just two points off the top with a 1-0 win at home to a Soessch side, who were playing with everything they had. In the end it was a diving header from the league's top scorer Miki Kurugaya which won them all three points, in dramatic fashion. Dundee are also pushing hard, with the new manager desperate to prove that last season's third spot was no fluke. David Hughes has been in stunning form so far this season, and he and strike partner Jacques were both on target in their 2-0 win over New Island. Elsewhere: Athletic keep themselves on the heels of Lammerton with a 4-3 win over Marionville. Gaston Avelione scored twice as he helped La Gorlions to a 4-1 win over Lammeton City in South Schottia. And finally, Berwick United got a surprising win against a Granton side who really need to start moving before they are left behind.

SPL
Handon United 1–1 FC Soessch
La Gorlions 0–1 New Belfast Warriors
Granton Vale 0–0 Lammerton City
Hollin 0–0 Berwick United
Port Sebastian 0–2 Lammerton
Port James Athletic 3–2 Port Patrick United
D'Itille 1–0 Marionville
Mucusia 3–0 Oak Park Celtic
New Island 0–0 Kings Park
Cornellians 3–0 Dundee

Cornellians probably expected a strong challenge from Dundee this week, given the way things have been going for the Panners this season. However, Alexander Pearce's side got the three points they needed to stay in touch with Lammerton thanks to a very convincing 3-0 win at Lochend Stadium. The Eagles have been relatively busy in the transfer market over the last five years, slowly rebuilding their squad after the collapse of the MPL. Now with his own players in place, Pearce really looks like he has found the right formula. One of his prodigies, Kathryn Kvanderwyk, was the star-girl upfront once again with two goals this weekend. We are used to seeing hard work and stamina from the 22-year-old, but today she also treated us to some of the more finessed side of her game, with a delightful chip-shot from a tight angle. She scored her second after a neat lay off from Jade Irwin moments after the restart; and Tsumugi had the final say, as the Kirisakian fans' favourite curled in a third with five minutes left on the clock. For Port Sebastian, they would have seen the match at home to Lammerton as a great chance to close the gap somewhat, but unfortunately, they didn't get the result they were expecting. Not many people would have expected Lammerton to have it so easy against the side who spent nearly $20 million in the pre-season, but the visitors never really looked in any trouble. Even Joon Ho Hwang, who has been so good for Porty this season, looked all at sea as the likes of Mars Alexandersson, and Jasper Valaren, pulled the defence this way and that. In the end, the match finished 2-0, with the Handon side having to ask themselves some big questions. New Belfast Warriors would not have been looking forward to the long climb up the North Island Mountains to visit the inform La Gorlions, but after something of a midfield scrap, they managed to get the all important goal. Fredrick Houben and Yelena Shostakovich are always up for a scrap in the midfield, meaning that Tomás Fierro and Holly Addison had to be at the top of their game out there. In the end it was a well-taken Jenny Lundergrand goal which separated the two sides, the Upper Sunrise Islander finding the back of the net with four minutes left on the clock. Finally, a Ryuni double helped Mucusia to a 3-0 win over Oak Park. Handon United suffered a setback, after drawing 1-1 with FC Soessch. And Elspeth Glendening was on target once again for Port James as they defeated Port Patrick 3-2.

SPL
Dundee 1–0 Handon United
Kings Park 0–0 Cornellians
Oak Park Celtic 1–2 New Island
Marionville 1–0 Mucusia
Port Patrick United 5–3 D'Itille
Lammerton 5–1 Port James Athletic
Berwick United 1–1 Port Sebastian
Lammerton City 1–2 Hollin
New Belfast Warriors 3–1 Granton Vale
FC Soessch 0–1 La Gorlions

Dundee fans must find it hard to even recognise the side, which were in the second tier of Schottic football three years ago. Now they are riding high in the table, and wining matches like this one against Handon United. Jim Gerrish's 63 minute goal, sent the home fans wild, with chants of Who are you? directed at the visiting support. The result keeps Dundee well and truly in the mix as the season begins to get going. Lammerton signalled a real statement of intent this week, by thrashing nearest rivals Port James 5 goals to 1 at the City Ground. With other results going the Hornets' way, they now find themselves in poll position as they continue to chase that elusive title. Merry Osborne had her scoring boots on once again, helping her self to two of the side's goals as Lammerton ran riot. For both Cornellians and Port Sebastian, they had to endure frustrating draws on the road. The Eagles found Kings Park unusually resolute at the back, and despite the best efforts of Kvanderwyk and Koromin, Eric Desmond's players managed to hold out for a valuable point. Port Sebastian on the other hand left it very late indeed to even salvage a point, with Joey Bia scoring from close range on 87 minutes. In the battle of the North Island's "Big-Two" La Gorlions came out the stronger, as the fixture went largely with form. Yelena Shostakovich's brilliant cross-field ball found Aredhel Neil in plenty of space, leaving the Chrisrtopherian free to slot home her fourth of the season. In other matches, The Warriors stayed in tough with Lammerton, as Adrienne O'Callahan, Miki Kurugaya, and Saskia Holden gave them a 3-1 win over Granton. Port Patrick looked in good shape with a 5-2 in over D'Itille. And a goal form Pasargan Vojnomir Nikolic was the difference between Marionville and Mucusia.

SPL
Handon United 1–0 La Gorlions
Granton Vale 1–1 FC Soessch
Hollin 3–0 New Belfast Warriors
Port Sebastian 0–0 Lammerton City
Port James Athletic 3–0 Berwick United
D'Itille 0–2 Lammerton
Mucusia 2–2 Port Patrick United
New Island 5–3 Marionville
Cornellians 1–1 Oak Park Celtic
Dundee 0–0 Kings Park

With many of the sides faltering round about them, it was left to Lammerton once again, to show everyone how it's done. Not phased by the trip up to the northern tip of Schottia, to face a club fighting for their lives, Lammerton kept their cool to open up a five point lead on New Belfast Warriors. With such an experienced strike force you know you have going to have someone up there who can take chances, and Merry Osbourne proved that again today. The Brenecian is enjoying the first lengthy run of first-team football in her career, and made the most of it again today, as she got herself on the score sheet in the 2-0 win. Port James Athletic remain just a point behind the Warriors in third with a 3-0 win over Berwick. Joseph Preca scored twice, and Elspeth Glendening grabbed the third as they picked up yet another comfortable win. Cornellians probably thought three points were in the bag today, but they were to be mistaken, as a Rhurie Long goal denied them a win at home to bottom side Oak Park Celtic. Despite Scott Burton's header giving the Eagles the lead, it wasn't enough, as a mistake at the back allowed the striker in to equalise. With other sides slipping up, Handon United got themselves back into a more favourable position, as midfielder Baffour Asante picked up the only goal of the game. Elsewhere: Both Dundee and Port Sebastian were held to 0-0 draws with Kings Park and Lammerton City respectively. The Warriors suffered an untimely collapse against Hollin in Belker, and New Island got their best win of the season, beating Marionville 5-2.

Monthly Awards:

.                        Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
 1 Lammerton              12   10   2   0    28   10  +18    32
 2 New Belfast Warriors   12    8   3   1    22   13   +9    27
 3 Port James Athletic    12    8   2   2    26   17   +9    26
 4 Cornellians            12    6   5   1    21   11  +10    23
 5 Port Patrick United    12    6   4   2    25   17   +8    22
 6 Dundee                 12    6   3   3    13   11   +2    21
 7 Port Sebastian         12    4   7   1    19   14   +5    19
 8 Handon United          12    5   4   3    21   17   +4    19
 9 La Gorlions            12    6   0   6    16   12   +4    18
10 Hollin                 12    4   5   3    14   11   +3    17
11 Mucusia                12    4   3   5    21   20   +1    15
12 Marionville            12    4   2   6    15   20   −5    14
13 FC Soessch             12    3   4   5    14   14    0    13
14 New Island             12    2   5   5    14   19   −5    11
15 Kings Park             12    2   4   6    11   17   −6    10
16 D'Itille               12    3   1   8    13   25  −12    10
17 Berwick United         12    2   3   7    11   19   −8     9
18 Oak Park Celtic        12    1   5   6    10   23  −13     8
19 Granton Vale           12    0   6   6     7   16   −9     6
20 Lammerton City         12    0   4   8    11   26  −15     4

Schottic Cup -- Round of 32

Marionville 1–0 Lammerton Wonderers
Oxlaey Park 0–1 New Belfast Warriors
Mucusia 0–0 Regional Development Side C (2–0 AET)
D'Itille 2–3 Kings Park
Port Patrick United 0–0 Handon United (0–0 AET) (2–4 pen.)
New Belfast Blues 1–0 Marionville Thistle
Kirk Preston United 1–2 Hillstreet
Cornellians 3–2 Dundee
New Island 4–2 Lammerton
Lammerton City 1–0 Port James
Port James Athletic 3–1 Snubbeck Rock
La Gorlions 0–1 Port Sebastian
Handon North 0–0 Oak Park Celtic (2–0 AET)
Regional Development Side A 2–2 FC Soessch (2–2 AET) (4–3 pen.)
Hollin 1–0 Granton Vale
Berwick United 1–4 FC Döllar

Round of 16

Kings Park 3–1 Lammerton City
Cornellians 1–0 Handon North
New Belfast Warriors 4–2 New Island
New Belfast Blues 1–0 FC Döllar
Port James Athletic 1–0 Mucusia
Regional Development Side A 1–0 Marionville
Port Sebastian 6–2 Hollin
Hillstreet 0–1 Handon United

by **Schottia** » Wed Aug 17, 2016 1:30 am

Matchday thirteen - twenty-five

SPL
Kings Park 1–2 Handon United
Oak Park Celtic 0–1 Dundee
Marionville 4–5 Cornellians
Port Patrick United 3–1 New Island
Lammerton 0–1 Mucusia
Berwick United 2–3 D'Itille
Lammerton City 3–2 Port James Athletic
New Belfast Warriors 1–2 Port Sebastian
FC Soessch 1–0 Hollin
La Gorlions 1–0 Granton Vale

It seemed almost unthinkable a couple of weeks ago, but Lammerton's winning run has finally come to an end with defeat to Mucusia. The Port James side, dug in from the start, seemingly determined to make it hard for the league leaders, and it worked. Not ever Merry Osbourne nor John Cooper could find that important breakthrough in a first half were the Hornets set up siege. In the second half Mucusia came out of their shells a little, and got their rewards on the 79th minute. The visitors looked dangerous on the counter attack throughout the match, with the likes of Natalie "Envy" Adams, and Flora Klee a constant threat. It was Gylian midfielder Gihaje Wehly however who got hir first goal for the club, giving his club a famous win. Cornellians grabbed this opportunity with both hands, scraping out a 5-4 win at strugglers Marionville. Despite going 2-0 down to a Vojnomir Nikolic double, The Eagles stuck too it, going 3-2 up in what was a pulsating opening 45. Kel Koromin scored their first, skipping round Dave Daller before slipping the ball in under the keeper. The Cenian then turned provider for the second, cleverly deflecting Kit Kvanderwyk's cross into the path of his sister Kathryn to pull the sides level. Marionville were then left utterly dejected as a sublime pass from Jade Irwin found Eula Richard coming in off the left wing to give her side the lead with an angled strike. In the second half the home team had it all to do, and things got even harder, when Johnny Birch was caught napping by Triffid Ramsey. The Nepharim born left-back, now representing Iskandervale, showed determination to drive the ball forward before sliding it through to Koromin for his second of the game. Marionville looked hung out to dry, so what happened next wasn't exactly expected. The Old Boys pulled one back firstly through Michael Maxwell, who reacted first to turn in an Alyssa Haight cross completely against the run of play. Marionville then remarkably pulled level, with Barry Steward slipping the ball through to Haight, for the Nepharim winger to score her fourth of the campaign. The goal set up a grandstand finish, with Cornellians desperate not to drop any further points, and Marionville not keen on the idea either. In the end it was the Eagles who made it count with Irwin's first goal of the game, a looping shot into the top corner. With Lammerton crashing to a rare defeat, it was a big chance for many of the chasing pack to close right up on them. Another side taking advantage of this were Port Sebastian, who battled to a 2-1 win over highflying New Belfast Warriors. Porty had been a little out of sorts for a few games coming into this one, so the trip to New Belfast will not have been one they were looking forward to. That said, they wasted no time in getting their noses in front, with a quick exchange between Traore and Bia leaving the Whalers defence flat footed, allowing Purinton to room to burry the ball past Nerio Teran. The Warriors responded, and star midfielder Tomás Fierro came close with a long range effort, before Jenny Lundergrand finally found the back of the net with a neat back heel flick. The match was finely poised going into the closing stages, but Port Sebastian did just enough, with substitute Andrya Novkovic continuing to impress, converting a Steven Rexmont cross from close range. The teenager from Anglatia has looked in good shape in her debut season in the first team, this week she was particularly impressive slotting in just behind the front two. In other results, Tanya Yeates helped inspire Port Patrick to a 3-1 over New Island with a commanding midfield display. Christian Lovenkrands continues to lake a name for himself with a well-taken goal in Handon United's 2-1 win over Kings Park. And a 1-0 win for Soessch over Hollin will relieve some pressure on manager Gary Stoot, Viktor Lange grabbed the goal on this occasion.

SPL
Handon United 6–2 Granton Vale
Hollin 1–0 La Gorlions
Port Sebastian 2–0 FC Soessch
Port James Athletic 5–1 New Belfast Warriors
D'Itille 2–3 Lammerton City
Mucusia 3–0 Berwick United
New Island 2–1 Lammerton
Cornellians 1–1 Port Patrick United
Dundee 1–0 Marionville
Kings Park 2–0 Oak Park Celtic

All of a sudden, out of no where Lammerton seem to be taking in water, as this 2-1 defeat to New Island showed us. Credit where it is due, New Island actually played very well in this game, Mikkel Jorberg in particular causing the Hornets problems with his low crossing into the box. But we have seen Lammerton under pressure before this season, and they have still pulled through. This week they just seemed helpless as they tried to put the home side under pressure, with Alexandersson and Valaran just not finding their stride in the centre. One side who have recaptured their form are Port Sebastian, and they followed up their victory over New Belfast with a 2-0 win over FC Soessch. The Porty midfield really got a strangle hold on the match quickly, with 24-year-old Vera Cummings justifying her $3m price-tag alongside Ko-oren player Emiline Millet. Steven Rexmont opened the scoring with a scorcher of a strike, the 20-year-old's first in four matches; before Demba Traore rounded things off, with a clever conversion from a Paul Doig long throw. Looking at the other results this weekend, Jock Sonny will be very happy with the three points picked up here. Handon United also made to close the gap with an impressive 6-2 win over Granton Vale. The Beachcombers seem utterly unable to get their act together this season, and they were completely torn apart by United today. Poor Dave Cranshaws must have needed a bucket of cold water for his feet after going up against Christian Lovenkrands; the rapid Semarlandic winger had him run ragged over the 90 minutes. Star of the Show however was Serge Mavididi, as his second half hatrick made the result look a lot more convincing. There was no such luck for New Belfast Warriors, who were well and truly flattened by a 5-1 defeat to Port James. The Whalers must have still been reeling from their 2-1 loss to Port Sebastian, as they simply weren't up to the pace. Elspeth Glendening further enhanced her credentials during the match, scoring two of her side's goals. In other results: Cornellians were held to a 1-1 draw with Port Patrick, Mucusia ran out 3-0 winners over Berwick United, and Kings Park impressed during a 2-0 win over Oak Park Celtic.

SPL
Oak Park Celtic 1–2 Handon United
Marionville 1–0 Kings Park
Port Patrick United 0–0 Dundee
Lammerton 2–0 Cornellians
Berwick United 0–0 New Island
Lammerton City 3–2 Mucusia
New Belfast Warriors 4–2 D'Itille
FC Soessch 2–2 Port James Athletic
La Gorlions 2–0 Port Sebastian
Granton Vale 1–0 Hollin

It was a result Lammerton desperately needed, and had they not suffered the same high profile setbacks recently, then the 2-0 win over Cornellians would have almost been enough to hand them the league on a plate. Like a wounded plesiosaur lying stranded on a beach, The Hornets weren't going to go down without a fight in this one, and at home they just had the edge. Merry Osbourne gave them the lead after a period of good possession, just before the half hour mark, when Timo Düd played the ball into the Brenecian's path. Despite The Eagles giving it a real go in the second half, Lammerton struck again, this time through Mars Alexandersson. In a quick passing exchange, Jasper Valaran found the feet of John Cooper with a forward ball, who disguised his lay off for the Sunrise Islander, who finished with her usual poise and composure. The Warriors also managed to reignite their spluttering season with a 4-2 win over D'Itille. Miki Kurugaya scored twice as the young Kirisakian continues to impress in her third season at the club; while the combination of Fierro and Addison also proved vital in the victory. D'Itille did make a go of it in the second half and came very close to pulling level with an ambitious strike from Jane Schramm. However two late goals from Fierro, and Adrienne O'Callahan put pay to any chance of a comeback. Port Sebastian’s recent upturn in fortunes came to a grinding halt, when they went down 2-0 up in La Gorla. The Lions are never an easy team to visit: the altitude, the long drive through the mountains, etc. And it proved to be the case again this week, as goals from Yelena Shostakovich, and Broad Dalehun were the Handon side's undoing. Shostakovich hit an absolute pile drive in this game fourteen minutes from the end, which all but put pay to any chance of a Porty comeback, the wind totally drawn from their sails. Handon United were one of the few from the "peloton" this week who came up with a positive result, and even that was a struggle of a 2-1 win against bottom side Oak Park. Carl Sorensen, who is clinging to his job by the skin of his teeth, had Aya Bernman to thank for her last minute intervention. The Young Schottian's mazy run took her past most of the Park defence, before she buried her shot in the top corner of the net. In other results, Mike Maxwell's goal gave Marionville a 1-0 win over Kings Park. Sara Foucault left it late to salvage a point for Soessch at home to Athletic. And the New Island derby ended with a bore 0-0 draw, after three players received yellow cards.

Champions' Cup -- Group Phase

  Group D                        Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
1 Raynor City United        VAL    6    5   1   0    12    6   +6    16
2 Turoki Tide               VIL    6    3   0   3     6    9   −3     9
3 Blades ex Magnaeus        MRT    6    1   2   3     9    9    0     5
4 Cornellians               SCT    6    1   1   4     8   11   −3     4

It was a first foray into the UICA's premier competition Cornellians, having missed out at the final qualifying stage on two previous occasions. While on the whole the SPL winners were given a bit of a rude awakening, it will no doubt go down as a useful exercise, as they continue their development into a side able to compete on the world stage. Drawn with Raynor City United, Turoki Tide, and the formidable Blades ex Magnaeus, it was never going to be an easy task. The Eagles will be glad to have avoided any rugby scores, while giving a decent account of themselves. As we mentioned; while this current side have been very well put together, there is a real lack of players with proven track records at the highest level. Pearce, to his credit, as made a real effort to chance that, spending $25 million on the likes of Koromin and Kit Kvanderwyk, but there is still some way to go. The highlight for Cornellians this time round would have been the 3-1 win over Blades ex Magnaeus, one of the top ranked sides in the world. In what was one of Cornellians' best performances at Lochend Stadium, the crowd were treated to some eye catching football, with a first half Kel Koromin double, and a Jade Irwin goal late in the second half giving them a convincing win. They then followed this up with a 1-1 draw in the return to Mertagne, Eula Richard grabbing the important equaliser on that occasion, following a spirited second half fight back. On the whole however, it would have been a somewhat frustrating experience for The Schottic Champs, losing home and away to both Turoki Tide, and Raynor City. With Cornellians finishing bottom of four, there was no consolation prize of the Globe Cup, meaning that there would be no Schottic teams lest in UICA competitions after Mid-winter.

SPL
Handon United 1–1 Hollin
Port Sebastian 3–1 Granton Vale
Port James Athletic 0–1 La Gorlions
D'Itille 3–3 FC Soessch
Mucusia 3–4 New Belfast Warriors
New Island 2–1 Lammerton City
Cornellians 1–0 Berwick United
Dundee 2–2 Lammerton
Kings Park 4–2 Port Patrick United
Oak Park Celtic 1–4 Marionville

After a very brief slip up last week, both Cornellians and Port Sebastian got over their respective niggles, to bounce back against Berwick and Granton Vale. Berwick United came to Lochend looking for a 0-0 from the kick-off, so much was obvious from the way the visitors set up. As the match wore on, you could see visible signs of frustration on the players' faces, as the defending champs went agonisingly close. The Eagles finally managed to take a sledgehammer to the wall eleven minutes from the end when Jade Irwin, so often the architect, matched the run of Tsumugi brilliantly with an over the top through ball. The Kirisakian then dropped the shoulder before rounding the keeper to score the game's only goal. Port Sebastian had much less trouble, after they got over early scare in their match with Granton. The Beachcombers have been really struggling this season, so they probably even surprised themselves when they went one up thanks to an Arron Marcie goal. Porty got their act together in the second half however, and after Eloise Purinton pulled them level with a fantastic solo effort, the floodgates began to open. Steven Rexmont took out some of the frustration at being benched, by scoring within four minutes of coming on, with a trademark left-footed blast form the angle of the box. The former Dundee man then doubled his tally for the day with his sixth of the season, after latching onto a layoff from Demba Traore. The shock result this weekend was Dundee's 2-1 win over Lammerton, as the Hornets seem to have suffered a bit of a dip on form. David Hughes, whom many are tipping for a call-up to the next World Cup squad, opened the scoring for his side early in the match, thanks to a great pass from Mark Keane. Lammerton got themselves back on level terms shortly after the restart, with John Cooper converting from the penalty spot, but the celebrations were to be short lived. Dundee worked their socks off, and got the goal they needed, when Gustav Fandrich rose highest to head in a Liam Goncalves corner. For The Warriors there was a chance to close right up on the league leaders as they made the difficult trip to Mucusia. In what was a wide-open match, the lead changed hands several times, with The Whalers just coming out on top. A pass from Tomàs Fierro found Craig O'Maramy out on the right touchline, giving the Schottia cap time and space to pick out a cross. Jenny Lundergrand was then on hand to tuck the ball away with a piece of acrobatics that gave her side all three points. In other matches, Jane Schramm scored a late equaliser to give her side a share of the points, as they took on North Island rivals Soessch. Handon United found themselves under even more pressure, with a 1-1 draw at home to Hollin. And a second half double from Francis Keelinan helped Kings to a 4-2 win over highflying Port Patrick United.

SPL
Marionville 0–0 Handon United
Port Patrick United 1–4 Oak Park Celtic
Lammerton 1–2 Kings Park
Berwick United 1–0 Dundee
Lammerton City 1–3 Cornellians
New Belfast Warriors 5–3 New Island
FC Soessch 1–0 Mucusia
La Gorlions 0–0 D'Itille
Granton Vale 2–0 Port James Athletic
Hollin 2–5 Port Sebastian

The title race really seems to be heating up now, with Lammerton continuing to lose ground, and the others taking advantage. Port Sebastian are finally putting in the kind of performances we were expecting to see at the start of the season, and this 5-2 win at Hollin underlined their title credentials. Eloisa Purinton was back to her very best, with two well-taken goals either side of half time, as past of a good all-round performance. Demba Traore also had his scoring boots on, holding off a strong challenge from Praxil Glasspool to get on the score-sheet, in what was a typical piece of play from the powerful Semar. Joey Bia, and Emiline Millet completed the rout for the North Handon side with late goals of their own. The result means that Jock Sonny's side can now begin to move up the SPL table, with the league trophy well and truly still up for grabs. Cornellians, after the disappointment of being knocked out of the Champions' Cup, also made progress, with the sole focus now on domestic football. The Eagles' two strikers came into this match having failed to find the net in their last three outings. Both will have been relieved to have gotten on the score-sheet this weekend, in this 3-1 win at Lammerton City. Kathryn Kvanderwyk was first to get the ball rolling, turning Chris Bishop, to break the deadlock. Jade Irwin then made it two on the half hour mark, timing her run well to volley in a looping cross from former Apoxian academy starlet Rachel Mercurier. Kel Koromin then broke his own goalless streak, sliding in to convert a clever pass from substitute Cosmin Dobrescu. Despite Lammerton going down 2-1 to Kings Park, the biggest shock of the weekend had to go to Granton Vale, who recorded a rare win over in form Athletic. The Beachcombers have found life tougher than many probably expected since their return to the top flight, but their three points here might be a first foot on the road to safety. Jack Hobbs, who has been a little quiet this season got the first of the evening, with Scott Cooper popping up with a second late on. Elsewhere: It was another hard draw to swallow for Handon United, who failed to find the net against Marionville. New Belfast Warriors put in a 5-star performance to get past New Island. And finally Berwick United managed a surprise win against Dundee.

SPL
Handon United 3–5 Port Sebastian
Port James Athletic 1–0 Hollin
D'Itille 1–0 Granton Vale
Mucusia 2–2 La Gorlions
New Island 3–4 FC Soessch
Cornellians 1–0 New Belfast Warriors
Dundee 0–0 Lammerton City
Kings Park 3–3 Berwick United
Oak Park Celtic 0–1 Lammerton
Marionville 1–1 Port Patrick United

The fans laid siege to Harbour Hill Stadium last night, in protest at yet another poor performance by Handon United, as they threw away a 3-1 lead to lose to 3-5 to a resurgent Port Sebastian in the Handon Derby. These matches are always a bloody affair and with eight goals, this one was certainly a spectacle. With fifty minutes played it couldn't have been going much better for United, as Serge Mavididi pounced for his second of the game. Unfortunately however, things went rapidly down hill from there, as Porty scored four second half goals to leave their opponents in a state of shock. It was the Port Sebastian forward line who did most of the damage once again, with Demba Traore adding another, to doubling hit tally for the afternoon, early in the second half. Moments later the visitors were level, with former Gloriaxian skipper Eloisa Purinton reacting quickly to turn in a cross from Joey Bia. With Handon United in a state of utter confusion, they found themselves a goal behind shortly after that, as Vera Cummings' shot bounced off the upright and landed at the feet of Purinton for her second. After the fourth goal went in, the result felt like a bit of an inevitability, so when Port Sebastian scored their fifth, there were already a few United fans making their way to the exits. Porty put the icing on the cake of a great win three minutes from time, as Steven Rexmont played in Quebecois substitute Giancoma de Jerusalem to score her third of the season. The result will of course pile the pressure on Carl Sorensen, whom you really have to feel for, given nothing has gone right for the Semar since he joined the club. For Lammerton, the relief must have been palpable as Merry Osbourne's late goal went in to give them a 1-0 win over Oak Park Celtic. The Hornets side from the first third of the season seem to have gone missing of late, with the wins drying up a little. There was nothing pretty about this one, it was down to pure hard work, as Oak Park really dug their heels in and made it difficult for the visitors. Arguably the most important result of the week must go to Cornellians, as Alexander Pearce's boys and girls managed to battle out a 1-0 win at home to form side the Warriors. In a match, which could have gone either way, The Eagles always looked like they had that extra 2% (probably what happens when you spend $30 on players in two years). Cornellians got the all-important goal on 65 minutes, when Tsumugi Narita robbed Tomás Fierro in the midfield, before playing Kel Koromin through to keep the Cenian in the hunt to retain the golden boot. In other results; Dundee will be a little upset by their failure to find the net against Lammerton City, despite plenty of chances in the second half. Mucucia and La Gorlions played out an entertaining match in Port James, which ended 2-2. And Athletic got back on the winning track, with a 1-0 victory over Hollin. The story of the week however, was perhaps Barry Gorman's return to management with FC Soessch. The maverick former Schottia manager, who has previously lead Port Sebastian to the SPL title, then Blue Coast 1981 to the S-L IV, takes up his first post in management following his sacking by the Christopherian club at the end of last season. The fifty year old has brought in former Porty captain Jack Baxter as an assistant, meaning it is a reunion for the two individuals pivotal to the 2017 title win. They got off to a reasonable start, coming out on top, 4-3, in a trip to face New Island. Young Viktor Lange was the star of the show up front, scoring two of his side's four goals.

SPL
Port Patrick United 0–1 Handon United
Lammerton 2–2 Marionville
Berwick United 1–0 Oak Park Celtic
Lammerton City 0–2 Kings Park
New Belfast Warriors 2–0 Dundee
FC Soessch 2–2 Cornellians
La Gorlions 1–1 New Island
Granton Vale 3–1 Mucusia
Hollin 0–0 D'Itille
Port Sebastian 3–3 Port James Athletic

As Soessch start life under their fourth manager in six years, there will no doubt be cause for a little optimism. After kicking things off with a win on the road, Barry Gorman has now delivered a 2-2 draw with current champions Cornellians. While not exactly the most conventional manager in world football, the former Schottia boss does tend to get results wherever he goes - and while there have been reports of mental breakdowns in the past, none of that was on display here today. The Reds opened the scoring in the 19th minutes, Till Ümann teeing the ball up nicely for Polar Islander Konstantin Holstad, who scored with a neat finish. Cornellians, as one would have expected, responded quickly to this by cranking up the pressure, Kit Kvanderwyk going close before the pulled level through Jade Irwin. The Nepharim girl now had seven goals and eleven assists to her name in all competitions this season, suggesting that the five million Cornellians paid for her might have been a bargain. The Eagles, now with their tails up went on and took the lead, thanks to 22-year-old striker Kathryn Kvanderwyk. Elder brother Kit cut the ball back for Rachel Mercurier who launched a long ball into the box, which seemed to catch out everyone except the Cosumarite, who managed to get enough of her knee to it to send the ball over the line. Gorman, animated as ever on the touchline must have drove his players on in the second half, as they managed to square things, thanks to a Sara Foucault volley with nine minutes left on the clock. In a week where Lammerton, Cornellians, Port Sebastian, and Port James all drew their matches, New Belfast Warriors made some precious headway in their search for a first title in six years. Dundee are no slouches at the moment, and they made The Whalers fight for every ball, but over the course of the 90 minutes, Graeme Collins' side probably just about deserved their 2-0 win. Girl of The Hour Miki Kurugaya has been on phenomenal goal scoring form this season, and the Kirisakian didn't disappoint with another well-taken goal today. Dundee scrambled hard for an equaliser, but it wasn't to be, as Tomás Fierro played in Adrienne O'Callahan for a goal which ended the contest. Port James Athletic - who have been letting their excellent form slip a little - made the long trip east to face Port Sebastian, in what was to be a great match for the neutrals. After a very open first 20, Port James took the lead through Palle Ellsmere, the big Polaaskan midfielder hitting a sweet strike from the edge of the area. Port Sebastian pulled level just before the interval, after an excellent run from Eloisa Purinton took her clear of the defenders, to slide the ball through to Demba Traore. Athletic then had to withstand a fair bit of pressure, as the home side could no doubt sense blood - however it was the visitors who retook the lead just before half time, through Remaine Clarke. Port Sebastian then pulled level once more, unsurprisingly, as Steven Rexmont's strike from the edge of the area deflected in at the back post. Porty must have thought they had it won, when Joon Ho Hwang's powerful header from a Esther Abner corner made it 3-2 with eight minutes left; but Elspeth Glendening popped up with seconds left on the clock, to square the tie. Finally: Handon United prolonged the tenure of manager Carl Sorensen for another week, with a 1-0 win at Port Patrick. Granton Vale seem to be finally putting together some form with a 3-1 win over Mucusia. And Kings Park looked a little more like their old selves with a 2-0 away to Lammerton City.

SPL
Lammerton 2–2 Handon United
Port Patrick United 3–1 Berwick United
Marionville 0–0 Lammerton City
Oak Park Celtic 0–2 New Belfast Warriors
Kings Park 3–2 FC Soessch
Dundee 1–0 La Gorlions
Cornellians 5–2 Granton Vale
New Island 0–0 Hollin
Mucusia 0–1 Port Sebastian
D'Itille 0–0 Port James Athletic

Lammerton are still struggling to string together the results right now, although a Handon United side fighting for their manager's job are not easy opponents. Lammerton definitely had the best of the early possession, moving the ball around cleanly in midfield, like they have been all season. Given the way they started the match, it would have come as little surprise to anyone, when the Hornets took the lead with a John Cooper goal. Some great play down the left wing by young Luke Svensson set the move rolling, the Llamian whipping the ball into the path of Mars Alexandersson who returned the ball back across goal for the team captain to nod home. Handon United were desperate for a result, and they knew that three points here would still keep them in the title race. United pressed hard, first with Mana Satō going close, then her countrywoman Nagisa Habane nearly sent Mirka Shitakuari through on goal with a well weighted through ball. United finally got the equaliser on 37 minutes however, as Alfred Seggerson's pass found Isaac Nketiah, who turned well before firing his shot low under Jim Black. Not long after the restart, United then took the lead, thanks to a piece of brilliance from 19-year-old Baffour Asante. The teenage Semar, did very well to rob Timo Düd of possession, before nutmeging Jasper Valaran, and setting Nketiah through on goal for his second of the match. Lammerton did their best to claw their way back into the game, and as the second half drew to a close, they got their reward. Valaran, making amends for earlier, played in a wonderful ball, which Cooper was able to cut back for his onrushing strike partner Merry Osbourne to finish in style. Final score 2-2. Cornellians kept the pressure on the top with a high scoring match against Granton Vale. The Beachcombers, to their credit, did push The Eagles very hard at points; but that attack-mindedness was to be their undoing, as three second half goals from the league champions, left the score line looking very one sided. It was in the centre of the park where Cornellians really made their advantage count, with Gerhard Bitter and Karl Heirholtzer chasing shadows for most of the match. Alexander Pearce also took the opportunity to give the highly rated Pasargan teenager Christian Berg a late run out, after the 16-year-old had been very impressive in the under-20s. For Port Sebastian the three points were a little less convincing, but they all count. Their 1-0 win away to Mucusia was a hard fought battle, but Porty kept their heads up, and Vera Cummings' goal five minutes from time was their reward for perseverance. In other matches: Holly Addison, and Craig O'Maramy helped The Warriors to make light work of Oak Park Celtic. There was in impressive double from veteran winger Willie McIntyre, as Port Patrick won 3-1 over Berwick United. And a Liam Goncalves free kick was all it took for Dundee to help themselves to all three points at home to The Lions.

SPL
Handon United 0–1 D'Itille
Port James Athletic 3–1 Mucusia
Port Sebastian 5–3 New Island
Hollin 1–2 Cornellians
Granton Vale 0–0 Dundee
La Gorlions 0–3 Kings Park
FC Soessch 3–0 Oak Park Celtic
New Belfast Warriors 0–1 Marionville
Lammerton City 1–1 Port Patrick United
Berwick United 0–2 Lammerton

With over half the season gone, there was still a lot at stake, with the UICA spots wide open. Port Sebastian had been making up ground over the last few weeks, and this continued today, with five goals on the New Island. The side from South Berwick made things difficult for Porty from kick off, some typically tigerish play from Nikita Clohessy giving Cummings and Millet food for thought. New Island did in fact go into the break with the scores levelled at 2-2, former Willox Street Pirates star Mikkel Jorgberg hitting an equaliser in one of the last actions of the first half. Port Sebastian came out of the blocks looking dangerous in the second half however, with three well-taken goals. The first, a half volley from Demba Traore, resulted from a Joey Bia cross from the edge of the area - this was closely followed by an angled strike from Steven Rexmont. With the result already in the bag, Anglatian teenager Andrya Novkovic rounded things off with neat effort minutes from the end. There certainly would have been alarm bells ringing for Lammerton, had they failed to take all three points against Berwick United. The league leaders got off to a strong start, as Robard Horvat teed himself up for a goal from the edge of the area, to give his side the lead. The Hornets had to wait until the 80th minute however, to secure all three points; Mars Alexandersson's corner setting up Marcel Smith-Hammond for a rare goal. Soessch pulled off a very convincing 3-0 win at home to Oak Park, as we start to see Barry Gorman slowly easing himself into the job. Soessch fans will be desperate for a period of stability now, after seeing some ups and downs over the last six years. Gorman will no doubt be weighing up the task ahead of him, and where he needs to strengthen; but on a positive note, the young strike force of Sara Foucault, and Viktor Lange seems to be baring fruit. The pair were in fine form today, bagging a goal apiece as they try to haul themselves back up into the top ten. Kings Park, another side who really needed points, got a fine win this week as they took on La Gorlions at Danu Parc. The Royals opened the scoring through a Francis Keelinan free kick, before second half goals from Erin Braden and Kaija Koppel gave them a win in this tricky fixture. Elsewhere, the Warriors suffered a major setback, losing 1-0 to a Johnny Birch strike in Marionville. Cornellians left it late to win 2-1 at Hollin. And finally, it was the end of the road for Carl Sorensen as Handon United manager. A 1-0 defeat to D'Itille sealed his fate, after four seasons in charge at the club. The media statement made it clear that the board were concerned by the fact that the club hadn't moved forward in the time he had been in charge, and they were now approaching new candidates. While there will likely be a long list of candidates coming forward, there is no doubting the fact that whoever comes in will be under a lot of pressure to make an impact.

SPL
Berwick United 0–4 Handon United
Lammerton 3–0 Lammerton City
Port Patrick United 0–0 New Belfast Warriors
Marionville 4–2 FC Soessch
Oak Park Celtic 0–2 La Gorlions
Kings Park 2–1 Granton Vale
Dundee 1–0 Hollin
Cornellians 3–5 Port Sebastian
New Island 3–3 Port James Athletic
Mucusia 2–0 D'Itille

So Handon United enter a period of liminal existence, with their manager of four seasons Carl Sorensen departing, and former player and coach Colin Donaldson taking over as interim manager. At the moment early favourites for the post include Former Schottia boss Jane Gullie, The Pirates' Jimmy Mitchel, and Lammerton man John Sedder (although it is unlikely the latter would be in place before the end of the season, were he to join). In the meantime United got down to business, Donaldson overseeing a 4-0 win over lowly Berwick United. In what must have been a tough day for the players, many of whom had been brought to the club by Sorensen, they managed to show some real courage and perseverance. In the end it was a very comfortable win with Christian Lovenkrads, quite unsurprisingly, making the headlines scoring one and creating another two. Away from the drama surrounding Handon United, their city rivals were embroiled in a fierce battle of their own. It was a case of reunions as Cornellians looked to avenge their defeat at the hands of Jock Sonny and Eloisa Purinton earlier in the season. We expected one hell of a match and that is what we got, however Alexander Pearce and Co. will need to wait for another day if they are going even the score, with Porty running out 5-3 winners. The Gloriaxian, Purinton, had the final say in this fixture, her goal on 81 minutes putting the tie beyond Cornellians. While the player refused to celebrate in front of her former fans, her and her new teammates dealt a chilling blow to The Eagles, with Porty now looking like a side who could take the SPL title. While there was a hiccup for Cornellians, Lammerton are still going strong at the top of the table - and with another 3-0 win this week in the local derby, they show no signs of letting up. Jasper Valaran opened the scoring with a delightful little chip shot at the start of the second half, with Lammerton City finally wilting under the pressure. Merry Osbourne then added a second moments later, sliding at full-stretch to turn in a Mars Alexandersson cross. Then the Sunrise Islander herself had the final say, skipping several challenges before converting into the bottom corner. In other matches: La Gorlions got a 2-0 win over an Oak Park side who look all but out of it. Barry Gorman's Soessch suffered a set-back against Marionville. And New Belfast Warriors lost precious points in a 0-0 draw with Port Patrick United.

SPL
Handon United 3–0 Mucusia
D'Itille 0–1 New Island
Port James Athletic 3–3 Cornellians
Port Sebastian 1–0 Dundee
Hollin 4–2 Kings Park
Granton Vale 1–0 Oak Park Celtic
La Gorlions 0–0 Marionville
FC Soessch 0–0 Port Patrick United
New Belfast Warriors 1–1 Lammerton
Lammerton City 1–0 Berwick United

Colin Donaldson's honeymoon period continued this week; as the 39-year-old picked up his second win in two, in his spell as caretaker manager. However, with the club saying they have received eight credible applications for the vacant position, it is not yet known how much longer the former club captain will be in charge. In terms of this week's performance... it was nothing fancy, but they got the job done, without really breaking into much of a sweat. Jacrian Ryaden was steady as a rock at the back; and young Baffour Asante - who seems to have taken the place of countryman Devon Carranza-Jones in the centre - is proof that the academy is doing its job. However, the one man who has been commanding the headlines this season is Christian Lovenkrands, and he added to his impressive tally, cutting in off the right, and rounding the keeper for the club's second today. The three points were in the bag with half an hour still to go, as Serge Mavididi headed in an Alfred Seggerson freekick, to make it 3-0. A 1-0 win over Dundee sent Port Sebastian to the top of the table, as draws for Lammerton and Cornellians, left them two and three points behind respectively. After a mini-slump a few games back, Jock Sonny seems to have found the right formula at Porty, and the money he has spent seems to be paying off. Dundee must have sensed they were in for a torrid time, as they set up in a very defensive 4-5-1 formation, prepared to soak up a fair bit of pressure. In a scrappy first half it was actually Dundee who came closest to drawing first blood however, as Mark Keane's speculative effort from twenty meters out clipped the top of the bar. Port Sebastian never lost their cool though, and as the match dragged on, they began to create more and more chances. They finally broke the deadlock with fifteen minutes to go, Emiline Millet finding Demba Traore with a well-weighted pass, for the Semar to send his side to the top of the SPL. You could see just how much it meant to Sonny on the touchline, the SPL trophy something he has never won as a player or a manager. Diverting our attention to an important game in the battle to avoid the drop. Granton Vale, back in the SPL after having to spend a season in the second tier, were not expected to struggle quite so much but finally they seem to have gotten a couple of points on the board. This week they played host to Oak Park Celtic, in a match they really couldn't afford to lose. Luckily for them they came through it with a win, and after a very nervous opening 45, the Beachcombers settled into the match. The only goal of the game came shortly after the restart, when Gerhard Bitter's long ball forward found Arron Marcie, who scored his third of the campaign to give Granton a fighting chance. Elsewhere: Cornellians failed to bounce back from last week's defeat, a 3-3 draw at Athletic was all they had to show for a hard afternoon's work. Soessch continue to find their range, with a respectable 0-0 draw at home to Port Patrick. And Hollin earned one of their best wins of the season, beating Kings Park 4-2 in Bleker.

SPL
Lammerton City 0–1 Handon United
Berwick United 0–1 New Belfast Warriors
Lammerton 2–0 FC Soessch
Port Patrick United 2–0 La Gorlions
Marionville 1–0 Granton Vale
Oak Park Celtic 0–1 Hollin
Kings Park 2–2 Port Sebastian
Dundee 2–0 Port James Athletic
Cornellians 5–2 D'Itille
New Island 0–0 Mucusia

Their stint at the top turned out to be relatively short, as Port Sebastian conceded a late goal at King Park, which allowed Lammerton to overtake them. Porty made the short trip to the city centre in high spirits following hard fought victories over Cornellians and Dundee, but they were to find a Royals side well up for the fight. In fact, Eric Desmond's side took the lead early on, in a lapse in concentration, which proved costly to the visitors. Cenian midfielder Sendoa, did exceptionally well to hold off the challenge of Vera Cummings, giving him time to pick out a pass to team captain Francis Keelanin. The Schottia cap is normally lethal through on goal, and he made light work of things, slotting the ball into the bottom corner. Port Sebastian needed to respond to this, and after half an hour they finally managed to get their act together. Cummings, making up for her earlier mistake, was the one to pull Porty level, sidestepping Peter Dachs before lifting her shot over the keeper and into the net. Jock Sonny's players then got more of a stranglehold on the match, with chances flying in from Steven Rexmont, Eloisa Purinton, and Demba Traore. Rexmont it was, in the end, who gave his side the lead cutting in off the left before sticking the ball past Gerry Ion, leaving the 25-year-old with no chance. Nothing is ever that easy though, and Kings Park, with their last throw of the dice pulled themselves level. It was Kaija Koppel who came back to haunt her former club, using her pace to get in behind Paul Doig, before giving Kings Park a hard won point. Lammerton were back on top, and it was more like the Hornets side from the first ten of fifteen matches we saw on display here. The midfield quartet, so important to the way the league-leaders play, were back in sync in this game, moving the ball about nicely and barely giving Soessch a sniff. A fantastic effort from Merry Osbourne nearly gave Lammerton the lead after only five minutes, Harry Gould at full stretch to keep it out - and everything really kicked off from there. With fifteen minutes on the clock, Alexandersson gave the home side the lead with a freekick from nearly 18 meters out, leaving Gould with no chance. And in the second half Osbourne finally found the target, positioning herself well to turn in a Robard Horvat cutback. Cornellians also pulled themselves back into the title race, two points off the pace with 25 matches played. Their 5-2 win over D'Itille was great display of attacking football, with rampaging wing-backs Rachel Mercurier, and Triff Ramsey causing all sorts of problems for the lime greens. Most of the damage was done in a twenty-minute spell at the start of the second half, when goals from Kel Koromin, Kathryn Kvanderwyk, and Jade Irwin put the result beyond the away side. Dundee, who had dropped a out of the race a little bit, kept themselves within striking range of the third Globe Cup spot too, as they defeated Athletic 2-0. David Hughes who was recently linked with a sensational return to Handon United, opened the scoring with a typical poacher's finish after forty minutes. Dundee were sure of all three points by midway through the second forty-five, when Liam Goncalves' cross for fellow Christopheran Jacques, allowed the 24-year-old to double the side's lead. In other matches: New Belfast Warriors kept their own title hopes alive with a 1-0 win at Berwick United. Collin Donaldson seems to be making some impact at United, they made it three wins on the bounce with a narrow victory at Lammerton City. And Port Patrick United stay 8th, despite a good 2-0 win over La Gorlions.

Monthly Awards:

.                        Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
 1 Lammerton              25   15   7   3    50   25  +25    52
 2 Port Sebastian         25   14   9   2    55   35  +20    51
 3 Cornellians            25   14   8   3    55   35  +20    50
 4 New Belfast Warriors   25   14   6   5    48   36  +12    48
 5 Handon United          25   13   7   5    48   30  +18    46
 6 Dundee                 25   12   7   6    22   17   +5    43
 7 Port James Athletic    25   11   7   7    48   40   +8    40
 8 Port Patrick United    25    9  11   5    42   34   +8    38
 9 Kings Park             25    9   7   9    42   40   +2    34
10 La Gorlions            25   10   4  11    26   25   +1    34
11 Marionville            25    9   7   9    33   33    0    34
12 Hollin                 25    7   9   9    25   26   −1    30
13 FC Soessch             25    7   8  10    34   36   −2    29
14 Mucusia                25    7   6  12    37   41   −4    27
15 New Island             25    5  11   9    35   44   −9    26
16 D'Itille               25    6   5  14    28   47  −19    23
17 Lammerton City         25    5   7  13    27   45  −18    22
18 Granton Vale           25    4   8  13    22   38  −16    20
19 Berwick United         25    5   5  15    20   40  −20    20
20 Oak Park Celtic        25    2   5  18    17   47  −30    11

Schottia Cup -- Quarterfinal

New Belfast Warriors 2–4 Cornellians
Kings Park 0–0 Port James Athletic (1–0 AET)
Regional Development Side A 0–2 New Belfast Blues
Port Sebastian 2–0 Handon United

Semi Final

Cornellians 3–2 Kings Park @ Harbour Hill Stadium
New Belfast Blues 1–4 Port Sebastian @ Lochend Stadium

by **Schottia** » Tue Aug 30, 2016 5:57 am

Matchday twenty-six - thirty-eight & Awards

SPL
Handon United 1–2 New Island
Mucusia 1–2 Cornellians
D'Itille 1–1 Dundee
Port James Athletic 1–1 Kings Park
Port Sebastian 4–3 Oak Park Celtic
Hollin 3–0 Marionville
Granton Vale 2–2 Port Patrick United
La Gorlions 3–3 Lammerton
FC Soessch 1–0 Berwick United
New Belfast Warriors 1–0 Lammerton City

The SPL season headed into the final third this week, and things tightened up even further as the gap between the top four reduced to just three points. The seesaw battle continued as Lammerton, once again, were knocked off the top spot, after finding the going difficult at La Gorlions. The Lions came from 3-1 down in a late flourish, the altitude no doubt becoming an issue fort the visitors, as Yelena Shostakovich and Gaston Avelione left the Hornets with a depressing descent from the North Mountains. Taking their place at the top were Port Sebastian, who after making a bit of a meal of things at home to Oak Park, eventually came out 4-3 winners. Completely unable to stamp any real authority on proceedings, Porty needed a late goal from substitute Giancoma de Jerusalem to give them all three points against the league's bottom side. It wasn't exactly pretty for Cornellians either, as they scraped through 2-1 at Mucusia. The Eusebians took the lead in this match, unsurprisingly through young Pasargan Aimée Hétu, before a piece of brilliance from Eula Richard allowed Kel Koromin to pull things level. It was a tense battle as we entered the second half, however Jade Irwin did what Jade Irwin does, dropping the shoulder to get past Gihaje Wehly before setting up Koromin for his second of the game. The result meant that Porty went top on 54 points, with Lammerton and Cornellians snapping at their heels on 53. New Belfast Warriors also kept themselves in the hunt, just a further two points behind, with a 1-0 win at home to City. The Lammerton side made a good show of things, but after Holly Addison gave the Whalers the lead on 68 minutes, there was only really one side left in it. In other results, Hollin continue to climb to safety with a 3-0 win at home to Marionville. Barry Gorman's Soecssch added another win, defeating Berwick 1-0. And rudderless Handon United were given a rude awakening, with a 2-1 defeat at home to New Island.

SPL
New Belfast Warriors 1–0 Handon United
Lammerton City 2–2 FC Soessch
Berwick United 1–1 La Gorlions
Lammerton 2–1 Granton Vale
Port Patrick United 4–2 Hollin
Marionville 1–0 Port Sebastian
Oak Park Celtic 0–2 Port James Athletic
Kings Park 2–0 D'Itille
Dundee 1–0 Mucusia
Cornellians 5–0 New Island

At the moment it feels like no one can really get that top spot pinned down for any length of time, with none of the SPL side looking particularly sure footed. It was Cornellians turn to take pole position this time, getting their noses aheat of Lammerton on Goals-for. The Eagles put in a mighty performance to defeat New Island 5-0 at Lochend stadium. Having now been eliminated from the Champions' Cup, Cornellians were giving the league title their full attention, and it seems to be helping. The strikeforce of Kvanderwyk and Koromin were both on target for their side, as New Island were really put through the mill in the first half. Shortly after the break it was the turn of brother Kit to get on the scoresheet, ghosting inside poor old Liam Sleas to finish at the near post. With a big score on the cards, even the defenders decided to get in on the act, and Triffid Ramsey - who had been moonlighting as a midfielder, they were under so little pressure - found the target with a looping effort from the edge of the box. Sub Lara Wedderburn then rounded things off, responding quickly to a fifteen-metre chip pass form Jade Irwin to slide the ball home under the keeper. Lammerton, back up to joint top now, had Merry Osbourne to thank for their 2-1 over Granton Vale. The Brenecian striker scored one and set up another, as the side recovered from going a goal down to a freak Scott Cooper strike early in the first half. Osbourne's first was an opportunistic goal from close range following a keeper error, then with fourteen minutes left she flicked on a Jasper Valaran cross for John Cooper to tuck away at the back post. New Belfast Warriors found themselves up against a Handon United team that has lost all belief in itself. United looked all over the place as Colin Donaldson tries to steady the rapidly sinking ship. This week saw unusual faces coming in, such as James Robertson at left-back, and a strike force of Mirka Shitakuari and Quinn McEnithly, but even the changing of the guard seemed to do little as The Whalers won out with a Tomas Fierro goal 20 minutes from time. In other results, Tanya Yeats, William Snedden, and Chiyoko Sakuraka (2) gave Port Patrick a solid win over Hollin. Somuele der Pros' late goal for Lammerton City gave them a share of the points as they played host to FC Soessch. And Elspeth Glendening, and Remaine Clarke were on target for Athletic, as they defeated Oak Park in Belker.

SPL
Handon United 3–5 Cornellians
New Island 0–1 Dundee
Mucusia 2–4 Kings Park
D'Itille 0–0 Oak Park Celtic
Port James Athletic 2–3 Marionville
Port Sebastian 1–4 Port Patrick United
Hollin 0–1 Lammerton
Granton Vale 1–0 Berwick United
La Gorlions 0–0 Lammerton City
FC Soessch 2–0 New Belfast Warriors

Things seem to be coming appart at the seams right now for Handon United, as they lost even more ground on Cornellians and Lammerton at the top. Collin Donaldson has even brought in 36-year-old free agent John McCann, released last year from Willox Street Pirates, in a bid to restore a little order to the dressing room. Back in his second spell at the club, McCann was on the bench, as a United side missing Jacrian Ryaden to a staved finger, let en five goals at home to Cornellians. The fact that United scored three themselves seemed of little consequences as The Eagles made it ten goals in two games with this resounding win. All this comes on a week where the United board have stepped up their talks with Lammerton's John Sedder, in their continuing efforts to bring the 49-year-old to the club. At present it is understood that Sedder is sticking to his guns, and feels that he has a job to finish at Lammerton. Meanwhile Sedder's side stay joint top on points, with a 1-0 win away to a tricky Hollin side. It feels like the media have been waiting for years for the Lammerton bubble to burst, but joint top with ten games to go, it looks like another good season is in store for the central side. Jasper Valaran got them the all-important goal after 40 minutes, when he slipped his marker, before letting fly from the edge of the area. The Hornets had to withstand a little pressure in the second half, however the back four held up well, giving them all three points. It was something of a turn up for the books when Port Patrick United travelled to Port Sebastian in the battle of Handon's ports. We expected Porty to come out all guns blazing after last week, but that just didn't really happen. Instead the Breakers proved just how dangerous they can be, putting four past the home side in the second half. Tanya Yeats seems to have now developed a good understanding with Connie Malone in the centre of the park, and the Brenecian was on target for a second week running, scoring the side's second and third. There were also goals from Jane Swanson, and Willie McIntyre in this match, with Eloisa Purrinton getting the consolation for Porty. In their bid to pull themselves away from the teams in the middle of the table, Kings Park put in a strong performance against Mucusia. The Royals actually came from a goal down twice to win the match 4-2. With the scores evenly poised going into the final quarter of an hour, a lovely piece of play by Sendoa sent Francis Keelian through to give the Handon side the lead. Kings Park then put the result beyond any doubt in stoppage time, as Darren O'Brian scored their fourth. Elsewhere, Soessch had a fantastic result, defeating title challengers the Warriors 2-0, Sara Foucault and Viktor Lange scoring the goals. Granton Vale earned a much needed win over Berwick, with Jack Hobbs grabbing the only goal of the game. And Dundee kept their UICA hopes alive as David Hughes gave them a 1-0 win over New Island.

SPL
FC Soessch 2–0 Handon United
New Belfast Warriors 0–0 La Gorlions
Lammerton City 0–1 Granton Vale
Berwick United 0–1 Hollin
Lammerton 1–3 Port Sebastian
Port Patrick United 2–2 Port James Athletic
Marionville 2–2 D'Itille
Oak Park Celtic 1–2 Mucusia
Kings Park 1–1 New Island
Dundee 0–2 Cornellians

Port Sebastian recorded a potentially pivotal result the title race this weekend; with a surprise 3-1 win over the Hornets in Lammerton. Porty had looked a little off colour over the last fortnight, but today they were much more like the side we have come to know, recording this stunning win. Eloisa Purinton got the ball rolling for the Handon side early in the first half, doing well to out turn Hammond-Smith, before beating Jim Black at his near post. Lammerton had been tied at the top going into this game, and there was no way they were going to give up without a fight. As a result the home side pushed Porty hard as the first half drew on, going close with a John Cooper effort. However, as Lammerton committed men forward, they left the kind of gaping holes which Steven Rexmont just loves to exploit, and that is exactly what happened three minutes from the half time whistle. After intercepting a pass from Paul Yarrow, Joon Ho Hwang spotted the left-winger in space down the flank, hitting the ball long. Rexmont was on to it like a flash, bursting into the Lammerton box to double the visitors' lead. Porty Sebastian weren't done there, and they rounded of a fantastic victory on 73 minutes, when Emiline Millet's through ball picked out Demba Traore who scored with a typically powerful strike. John Sedder's players were soundly beaten, but there was to be a consolation for them, as Mars Alexanderson popped up with five minutes left, to make the scoreline look a little more respectable. There has been a fair bit of speculation over the last seven days, that Lammerton boss John Sedder could be on the verge of agreeing a deal, taking him to Handon United. However on the face of things, the task awaiting him could be pretty daunting, as their 2-0 defeat to Soessch shows. It is now four defeats on the bounce for Schottia's biggest club, as their fall from grace continues. Soessch didn't even need break sweat in this match, as they continue to rebuild after a slow start to the season. Young Quebecois striker Victor Lange continued to show promise, getting himself on the scoresheet once again, as his strike partnership with Sara Foucault begins to look fruitful. Gorman's side sealed all three points in the second half, with Nepharim winger Johan Shearer getting the side's second. Cornellians took advantage of Lammerton's slip-up, holding their nerve away to Dundee to go three points clear. The Panners are certainly a side who are happy to get stuck in, but the Eagles midfield were not to be bullied, with Jade Irwin and Tsumugi Narita holding their own against the tigerish Jim Gerrish. Kathryn Kvanderwyk chipped the first one in from a tight angle, after Kel Koromin's initial shot had been deflected wide. Cornellians then rounded things off as Rachel Mercurier's cross met the head of Eula Richard coming in at the back post. Young substitute Lara Wedderburn could have added a third in stoppage time, but her strike was well saved by Gerhard Mackan. Finally, in other results: La Gorlions and New Belfast Warriors scraped things out in a hotly contested 0-0 draw. Granton Vale continue to lurch towards safety with a 1-0 win over Lammerton City. And Mucusia will be happy with a 2-1 win away to Oak Park, Poppy Fayrkirk and Natalie Adams getting the goals on this occasion.

SPL
Handon United 4–1 Dundee
Cornellians 1–0 Kings Park
New Island 6–4 Oak Park Celtic
Mucusia 1–1 Marionville
D'Itille 1–2 Port Patrick United
Port James Athletic 0–2 Lammerton
Port Sebastian 0–0 Berwick United
Hollin 1–0 Lammerton City
Granton Vale 0–0 New Belfast Warriors
La Gorlions 1–0 FC Soessch

So good news and bad news for United this week. First up John Sedder has finally ruled himself out of the race to become manager, the Lammerton boss sighting unfinished business with his current charges as the reason. But while it's back to the drawing board for the club in terms of the quest to find a new manager, they picked up a crucial win in the race to finish in the Globe Cup places. Securing UICA fooball could be critical in allowing them to attract the right kind of players over the summer, and the comprehensive 4-1 win over Dundee was a big step in that direction. It hasn't been the best of seasons for Handon United, and going into this match they were on a particularly woeful run of form. However after a turbulent start to the game, United got their noses in front thanks to a bullet header from Serge Mavididi. Things got even better for the home side after half an hour, when Alf Seggerson responded quickly to a Christian Lovenkrands pass, turning the ball past Macken to make it two. Dundee pulled one back in the second half, with Jacques scoring his 10th of the season, but late goals from Aya Bernman, and Mirka Shitakuari finally gave the fans something to cheer about. In terms of catching the sides at the top however, it was a result, which did very little for United, as both Lammerton and Cornellians stayed on course with narrow victories. League leaders, the Eagles, were given a tough ninety minutes as they played host to Kings Park, with the Handon side setting up camp in front of goal. It took an eighty-four minute strike from Kathryn Kvanderwyk break the deadlock, the 22-year-old scoring the game's only goal with a header from close range. Lammerton had it slightly easier, but they still needed to work hard for their 2-0 victory over Athletic. After their fine start, Port James have started to drop away in the second half of the season, and the defeat at home today further underlined this. Merry Osbourne got the ball rolling after seventeen minutes, the Brenecian showing great awareness when converted a Mars Alexandersson pass from four metres out. John Cooper then claimed the second, once again Alexandersson was the provider, this time from a corner kick. In the battle for the mid-table positions, La Gorlions landed an important blow this week, with a 1-0 win over FC Soessch in the North Island's big derby match. You would never bet against the Lions at home, and they came up with the goods once again, Broad Dalehun pouncing on a Fredrick Houben ball to give the Avelione brothers an important three points. Elsewhere, there was something of a goal-fest in South Berwick, with New Island defeating Oak Park 6-4 in a result which now all but secures them safety. Port Sebastian were left lamenting a series of missed chances, as they could only draw 0-0 with South Berwick. And finally Port Patrick, had a late Connie Malone goal to thank for their 2-1 win over D'Itille, giving them an outside chance of UICA football.

SPL
La Gorlions 2–0 Handon United
FC Soessch 1–0 Granton Vale
New Belfast Warriors 1–1 Hollin
Lammerton City 0–0 Port Sebastian
Berwick United 1–1 Port James Athletic
Lammerton 4–2 D'Itille
Port Patrick United 3–6 Mucusia
Marionville 2–0 New Island
Oak Park Celtic 2–3 Cornellians
Kings Park 0–0 Dundee

You'd have to say the game is probably now up for Port Sebastian, as they picked up a second 0-0 draw on the bounce, this time against Lammerton City. While Porty can and will still win it, the title chase just got that much harder for them, with Cornellians and Lammerton keeping up the winning momentum. Far from just a team of pampered superstars, the Eagles seem to be capable of digging pretty deep right now, and that is what we saw this weekend in Oak Park. Despite being hauled level twice, Cornellians didn't panic, and kept their cool to take the tie 3-2. The visitors had the patience to sit in wait, and when the opportunity arose, it was Jade Irwin who spotted the well timed run of Kit Kvanderwyk, releasing the Cosumarite to seal the result from a tight angle. It was a very similar story for Lammerton, as they welcomed D'Itille to the City Ground. We are getting to the business end of the season now, and the Hornets are showing that they still have plenty left in the tank. A double from Merry Osbourne either side of half time, put pay to any hopes the visitors might have had of mounting a comeback. It seems rather like a case of one step forward and two back for Handon United, as their trip up the mountains went unsurprisingly sour, against a La Gorlions side, who are never scared to roll up their shirt sleeves. It was one of those occasions where it became painfully obvious that one side simply wanted it more, and with half the United players probably wondering where they would be playing next season, the Lions stamped their authority on the match early on. Aredhel Neil, who is enjoying a decent start to life in the SPL following nine seasons with Blue Coast, opened the scoring with after a trademark run into the box left United terribly exposed. The Lions then shocked the visitors once again with ten minutes left on the clock, this time Yelena Shostakovich played a well timed through ball for Gaston Avelione to score his eleventh goal of the season. Despite the defeat, United can be grateful to Kings Park for holding Dundee to a 0-0 draw, meaning that they still have a good chance of claiming that final Globe Cup spot. Match of the day however, had to go to Mucusia and the six goals they scored on their visit to Port Patrick, in a game which ended 6-3. Aimée Hétu and Flora Klee both scored doubles in this match, which probably now guarantees the visitors another year of SPL football. In other results, Graeme Collins' Warriors seem to have now fallen out of the title race too, a 1-1 draw at Hollin now meaning that they require slipups from their rivals if they are going to catch them. Chris Dickson scored the only goal for FC Soessch as they beat Granton Vale at home. And Marionville looked a little more like their old selves, Vojnomir Nikolic and Michael Maxwell scoring the goals as they brushed past New Island.

SPL
Handon United 1–1 Kings Park
Dundee 1–0 Oak Park Celtic
Cornellians 1–1 Marionville
New Island 0–1 Port Patrick United
Mucusia 0–2 Lammerton
D'Itille 2–4 Berwick United
Port James Athletic 6–1 Lammerton City
Port Sebastian 2–0 New Belfast Warriors
Hollin 0–1 FC Soessch
Granton Vale 1–1 La Gorlions

In a surprise development, Jane Gullie was paraded as the new manager of Handon United this week. The former Schottia manager has been out of a job since she was sacked towards the end of last season, following Schottia's failure to qualify for the 75th World Cup. While the 48-year-old was on the clubs radar for some time, it was not believed that she was United's main target. However after Lammerton boss John Sedder turned them down two weeks ago, it is thought that the club turned their attentions to the former Warriors manager. Gullie, who has previously lead the Whalers to the league title in 2018, was watching from the stands this week alongside her assistant John Murray, with a view to taking over training on Monday morning. She will probably not have been overly pleased with what she saw, as the 1-1 draw with Kings Park meant that United have now won only one of their last seven matches. In Colin Donaldson's last game as caretaker, Handon United went down to a Kaija Koppel goal inside the opening ten minutes, after a great forward ball by Sendoa. It wasn’t until the 79th minute before United managed to pull level, Christian Lovenkrands bursting free down the right before unleashing a thunderous strike into the back of the net. While Gullie must be wonder what she can possible do to turn this sinking dreadnought around, United's rivals on the other side to the city were in more jovial spirits. After a couple of poor results Port Sebastian were back up and running with a 2-0 win over UICA rivals the Warriors. Demba Traore opened the scoring for Porty, latching onto a low driven cross from Steven Rexmont. Former Cornellians star Eloisa Purinton then reminded us exactly why she is so highly rated, with a fantastic piece of individual skill before drilling the ball under Nerio Teran. For league leaders Cornallians however, there was a major setback as they drew 1-1 at home to Marionville. The Eagles started of well, going one up after only 20 minutes. A clever dink cross from Kit Kvanderwyk found Triff Ramsey lurking at the angle of the box, allowing the Iskandervalian to pick out Kvanderwyk's younger sister Kathryn with an in-swinger to give their side the lead. It just wasn’t to be Cornellains' day though, and despite having plenty of chances to extent their lead, they eventually fell prey to a Barry Stewart equaliser. The result means that with Lammerton winning 2-0 at Mucusia, their is now only a single point separating the top two, with everything still to play for. Dundee went into this week desperately seeking three points, as it seemed like their season was slipping away from them. They faced bottom side Oak Park, but even then things were far from easy, and the match could have easily gone either way. In the end it was David Hughes, so often the man to come up with the goods, who popped up at the back post to nod in a Liam Goncalves cross. 1-0 was the final score, and Handon United areall of a sudden looking shaky in fifth place. In other results; Port Patrick looked in good shape with a 1-0 win at New Island. Berwick United picked up a potentially important three points with a 4-2 win over D'Itille. And Athletic got back to winning ways in spectacular fashion, with a 6-1 win over Lammerton City.

SPL
Granton Vale 0–1 Handon United
La Gorlions 4–0 Hollin
FC Soessch 0–1 Port Sebastian
New Belfast Warriors 5–3 Port James Athletic
Lammerton City 0–0 D'Itille
Berwick United 2–2 Mucusia
Lammerton 4–3 New Island
Port Patrick United 6–4 Cornellians
Marionville 0–1 Dundee
Oak Park Celtic 0–0 Kings Park

The Gullie effect must have taken hold at Handon United, as the side picked up only their second win in eight matches. To be fair it was against relegation threatened Granton Vale, but there were already a few signs on new life as the incoming manager looks to put her stamp on things. The only goal of the game came after 49 minutes, when James Robertson's cross from deep found Isaac Nketiah lurking around the six-yard-box. On the whole it was a pretty decent performance, Gullie reverting to a 4-5-1 with a back line of Ryaden, Satō, Robertson, Bueno-Wells and Kellermann; a midfield five of Lovenkrands, Seggerson, Asante, Shitakuari, and Bernman; with Nketiah as a lone striker. The 48-year-old said after the match that her number one priority is claiming the final Globe Cup spot, and stated that she was confident in achieving this. Incredible scenes at Galloway Lane saw Cornellians punted off of top spot with only five games to go, as the came out second best in a 10-goal-thriller. The Port Patrick fans certainly got their money's worth in an unbelievable first half, where their team scored five goals. In a turbulent 45 minutes, William Snedden (2), Tanya Yeats, Jane Swanson, and Chiyoko Sakuraka gave the home side a 5-1 lead. The Eagles were clearly shell-shocked, but they came out of the corner fighting in the second half, and after they had pulled the score back to 5-3 after a quick fire Kel Koromin double, it looked like a comeback could be on the cards. However, as Connie Malone blasted in the home side's sixth with ten minutes left, it was game over. The Eagles did score once more through Kathryn Kvanderwyk, but it didn't make any difference to the final outcome, in a match which will have given them much food for thought. So it was Lammerton back on top, after a bit of a battle with New Island at the City Ground. Despite conceding three goals, the Hornets looked good for the win, and going forward, proved that they are very much a force to be reckoned with. It is perhaps easy to see just why Sedder turned down Handon United, having put so much work into building up this current side. The synergy in the Lammerton midfield, coupled with an experienced strikeforce has shown to be a winning formula time and time again over the last three seasons. However, with Brenecian Merry Osbourne - who scored twice again today - not getting any younger, Sedder may need to pull another signing out of the bag in the next 24 months. With Cornellians and Lammerton battling it out at the top, Port Sebastian are left snapping at their heels, a 1-0 win today meaning that they at least make up a little ground on second. It was the first time Barry Gorman has faced the side he famously took to the 2016 title since leaving eight years ago, as his Soessch team played host to the Handon Club. Soessch definitely look more sturdy these days, and Johan Shearer, Sara Foucault, and Viktor all created chances in the opening half. However, a goal form Joey Bia settled matters, the Schottia international hitting a well aimed strike under Harry Gould at his near post. In other results, Miki Kurugaya is back atop the Golden Boot table, as she scored three poacher's goals in the Warriors 5-3 win over Athletic. La Gorlions looked like a very good side, as they made light work of Hollin, in a 4-0 win at Danu Parc. And lastly, Dundee kept themselves in with a sniff of fifth with a goal from Mark Keane helping them past Marionville.

SPL
Handon United 4–0 Oak Park Celtic
Kings Park 2–2 Marionville
Dundee 0–0 Port Patrick United
Cornellians 3–1 Lammerton
New Island 0–1 Berwick United
Mucusia 2–3 Lammerton City
D'Itille 0–1 New Belfast Warriors
Port James Athletic 2–4 FC Soessch
Port Sebastian 2–0 La Gorlions
Hollin 4–1 Granton Vale

Jane Gullie seems to be making some sort of an impact at Handon, so much was evident in a very composed 4-0 win over bottom side Oak Park. While the scoreline isn't much of a surprise, the performance as a whole looked much better, with the team passing the ball well, and four goals from four different scorers. That said, United fans have been here before, and they won't be holding their breath for a turn around just yet. It looks like at present the 4-5-1 is decided, and cruelly there was no place in the starting line up for Serge Mavididi once again, with Gullie seeming preferring Isaac Nketiah as lone striker. The young Semar was on the score sheet for a second week running, thanks to an assist from countryman Baffour Asante, for the side's third goal. Alf Seggerson, Christian Lovenkrands, and Quinn McEnithly were also on target in the win, and with Dundee and Port Patrick drawing 0-0, it may indeed be a crucial one. The yo-yoing at the top of the table seems to be a theme this year, and with Cornellians bouncing back with a 3-1 win at home to Lammerton, the lead changed hands once more. The Eagles really had something to prove after conceding six goals the week before, and looked to get a handle of things right from the kick-off. Jade Irwin got the ball rolling, slipping a neat pass through to Eula Richard, who came in off the left hand side to stroke the ball past Jim Black. Kel Koromin then doubled their lead with an excellent solo effort, finishing from all of nineteen metres out. Lammerton did respond early in the second half, and upped the intensity as they pushed to establish a foothold in the match. They got their reward after 60 minutes when Merry Osbourne's neat flick from an Alexanderssson corner found John Cooper lurking at the back post. The comeback ended up being short lived, with Kit Kvanderwyk crossing the ball in for teenager Lara Wadderburn to seal all three points for the Lochend side. Port Sebastian are clawing back ground, but it would seem that it is too little too late. All the same, a 2-0 win over the much-improved La Golions will have been well received by the home fans, and third spot is still very much up for grabs. Porty opened the scoring through Eloisa Purinton, the Gloriaxian refugee showing good reactions to touch in a Demba Traore pass. The home side faced a stiff challenge in the midfield, with La Gorlions fighting hard for every ball, but Vera Cummings was particularly impressive in the centre of the park. Traore grabbed the decisive second late on, with Steven Rexmont skipping a couple of challenges, before delivering a pinpoint cross for the Semar to nod home. Elsewhere, New Belfast Warriors are looking good for at least fourth spot, Thomás Fierro scoring the only goal in a tight match with D'Itille. Kings Park and Marionville played out an entertaining 2-2 draw, in a result which confines both sides to the middle of the table. And finally, Soessch's strong start under Barry Gorman looks set to continue with a great 4-2 win over Port James.

SPL
Hollin 0–0 Handon United
Granton Vale 3–4 Port Sebastian
La Gorlions 2–0 Port James Athletic
FC Soessch 3–1 D'Itille
New Belfast Warriors 2–3 Mucusia
Lammerton City 3–2 New Island
Berwick United 1–6 Cornellians
Lammerton 2–2 Dundee
Port Patrick United 1–0 Kings Park
Marionville 1–0 Oak Park Celtic

We could have perhaps seen an important moment in this year's title race, Cornellians recording an emphatic victory, while Lammerton were only able to muster a draw at home to Dundee. South Berwick turned out to be a happy hunting ground for the Eagles, who at times have looked devastating in front of goal this season. A complementary strike partnership in Koromin and Kvanderwyk, along with the kind of midfield who can create chances, meant that Berwick United never really stood much of a chance. Cenian star Koromin added another double, to his already impressive tally for this season, with a ruthless display, which was about way more than just the goals. There were also goals for both Kvanderwyks and Mabel Finnemark, while Jade Irwin, now on set-piece duties, cured in a beauty from twenty one metres out. Things could have easily been even worse for the New Island side, with Lara Wedderburn, and Triffid Ramsey both going close with the score at 6-1. For Lammerton it will be a bitter pill to swallow, as they could only manage a draw with Dundee, a side who are fighting tooth and nail for a Globe Cup spot. It's kind of hard to get your head around the fact that Dundee are such a force these day, but we really need to stop being so surprised when they are able to hold their own against the league's top sides. They were never really phased in this match even though Lammerton went ahead twice. Former Handon United star David Hughes scored twice for the Panners, as he looked intent to keep the pressure on his former side right up the final day. For Lammerton, they now know that matters are out of their own hands, as the finish line comes into view. The Hornets will also have to be careful that they keep the intensity up if they want that second Champions' Cup spot, as Port Sebastian are not too far behind them in third. The Handon side came through a tough match with Granton Vale, running out 4-3 winners. The winning goal, which came largely against the run of play, will have been a welcome show of character, from a side who have typically struggled to win matches when not at their best. Young Jack Hobbs looked on very good form in the first half, the former Schottia U21 star scoring two first half goals as his side looked in control. But Porty came back at them, and the pace of Rexmont and Bia proved to be their biggest asset, both players getting on the score sheet as they rescued the three points for their club. Elsewhere, Handon United had to make do with a draw at Hollin, as the Belker Boys poured a little cold water on their comeback. Amièe Hetu was the standout player as Mucusia upset the Warriors, probably confining them to fourth spot. And lastly Gaston Avelione, and Marcus Pfab were on target as La Gorlions defeated Port James Athletic.

SPL
Handon United 4–0 Marionville
Oak Park Celtic 1–2 Port Patrick United
Kings Park 3–1 Lammerton
Dundee 3–0 Berwick United
Cornellians 1–1 Lammerton City
New Island 0–1 New Belfast Warriors
Mucusia 2–3 FC Soessch
D'Itille 1–2 La Gorlions
Port James Athletic 1–0 Granton Vale
Port Sebastian 3–2 Hollin

Had Cornellians beaten Lammerton City at home, they would have lifted the League trophy this weekend. However, as it was, the Eagles could only manage a 1-1 draw, despite an incredible 69% possession. All the same, three points clear with two games to go is a great position to be in, and the point this week brings them a step closer to becoming the first side in SPL history to win the four titles in a row. The most crucial development this week, however, was the fact that Port Sebastian have incredibly been able to now catch the Hornets in second place. What's more, they could even spring a late surprise and lift the title themselves. Eloisa Purinton (2), and Demba Traore were on target for them, as they won out in a tough match with Hollin at home. While they look in a strong position right now, it is probably worth remembering that they face Handon United in the Handon derby next week, and the outcome will be by no means a forgone conclusion. United will go into that match in high spirits following a 4-0 win over Marionville. 22-year-old leftback James Robertson seems to be having the time of his life under Jane Gullie, and put in another good performance here, scoring his first goal for the club. Gullie said mid-week that she wanted to see an end of Handon United's young players struggling to make it into the first team, then coming back to haunt them - so this perhaps suggests that Robertson's future at the club is secure. The real challenge for Gullie will begin next season however, when she has the pressure of chasing the clubs first title in ten years. Both Dundee and Port Patrick showed that they are intent on pursuing United for the fifth UICA spot right to the bitter end, as wins today keep them looked in a fierce three way race. Dundee put in a controlled performance, dominating Berwick United from start to finish, as they ended up 3-0 winners. Jacques opened the scoring following a Liam Goncalves pass, before the home side added a second and third thanks to Mark Keane and Jim Gerrish in the second half. For Port Patrick it was much more of a struggle, as Oak Park put up an unexpected fight in their match. But if there is one thing the Breakers have proven over the last four seasons, it's that they are a solid side, well organised, and able to get the results that matter. Jane Swanson it was who got the winning goal, after Tanya Yeats pulled them level with a side footed effort from just inside the box. For the Warriors they are now almost certain to finish up in fourth spot, which will be considered an on par performance for Graeme Collins' players. They picked up another three points today with a Jenny Lundergrand goal giving them a win away to New Island. In other matches: Barry Gorman has clearly transformed Soessch, who now look much more like a top half of the table side, a 3-2 win at Mucusia underling that fact. La Gorlions are another team who have strengthened considerable this season, and likewise, their 2-1 win over D'Itille will give them their best finish in a few years. And finally, Port James Athletic, who have had a seasons of ups and downs, managed a hard fought 1-0 win over Granton.

SPL
Port Sebastian 2–4 Handon United
Hollin 3–2 Port James Athletic
Granton Vale 3–0 D'Itille
La Gorlions 2–0 Mucusia
FC Soessch 2–0 New Island
New Belfast Warriors 2–5 Cornellians
Lammerton City 0–0 Dundee
Berwick United 3–0 Kings Park
Lammerton 2–0 Oak Park Celtic
Port Patrick United 0–2 Marionville

It was an action packed week in the SPL, as a little bit of history was made with Cornellians lifting their fourth consecutive title. The Lochend side also did it in style with a 5-2 win over fourth place New Belfast Warriors, giving them an unassailable lead going into the final fixture. There were probably a few nervous faces in the crowd, but the players seemed to take match in their stride, opening up a two-goal lead inside the opening twenty minutes. At a deafening Ashley Road, the Warriors fans had their chants of You'll never be a proper club silenced as Jade Irwin turned Holly Addison to give the Eagles the lead after only eleven minutes. The Warriors had been giving as good as they got in the initially stages of the match, but the opening goal seemed to take the wind out of them, and a second followed quickly after. Victoria Schute found herself dispossessed far to easily by Eula Richard, who then reached the by-line before crossing the ball onto the head of Kathryn Kvanderwyk to give her side one hand on the league title. It really felt as if the floodgates were going to open at this point, and Nerio Teran was forced into a great save from a Kel Kormin effort. The Warriors did play well in patches, and goals from Craig O'Marmay, and Miki Kurugaya will act as some consolation. However, this was Cornellians' day, and second half goals from Koromin, Finnemark, and Burton secured the side Champions' Cup football once again next season. As if that were not enough, emotions also ran high on the other side of the city as Handon United fans got some revenge for their defeat earlier in the season, beating Porty by four goals to two, knocking them out of the Champions' Cup spot. United of course still had everything to play for, and with fifth place very much in the balance, they knew how important three points were here today. Handon United looked in pretty good shape out there, and the fans will no doubt be encouraged by what they have seen. Jane Gullie has allegedly been told that her transfer funds will be largely dependent on whom she is able to move on, so the support will no doubt need to be patient in the close season. On this showing however, there is definitely a workable squad there, with young players such as James Robertoson, Christian Lovenkrands, and Baffour Asante again looking decent. There was also a brace from Sunriseian attacker Mirka Shitakuari, the teenager getting on for a half our run out at the end. For Porty it was a struggle from start to finish, with Demba Traore's 36 minute strike the only real highlight of the match for their fans. They will now need to rely on Lammerton slipping up in the last game of the season, if the are going to see a return to Champions' Cup football. Lammerton managed to avoid any banana skins with their 2-0 win over Oak Park. John Sedder's team have had another outstanding season, and the prospect of Champion's Cup football has no doubt been enough to keep the manager at the club. They are really going to need to rely heavily upon their wily old foxes, Cooper and Osbourne in the attack next season, if they are going to upset the odds and make the main draw. On this showing however, it is likely to take a good team from a big league to dispose of the Hornets. In other results, Granton Vale are still digging deep, trying to get themselves out of the relegation zone; a 3-0 win over D'Itille being a massive step towards that. FC Soessch and La Gorlions continued to battle it out for 8th and 9th with two good results today, both sides will be happy with their finishing positions for very different reasons. And finally, a 2-0 defeat by Marrionville will leave Port Patrick chasing a win at on form United if they are to make the Globe Cup.

SPL
Handon United 1–1 Port Patrick United
Marionville 1–2 Lammerton
Oak Park Celtic 0–0 Berwick United
Kings Park 3–0 Lammerton City
Dundee 0–1 New Belfast Warriors
Cornellians 3–0 FC Soessch
New Island 0–0 La Gorlions
Mucusia 2–3 Granton Vale
D'Itille 1–0 Hollin
Port James Athletic 1–1 Port Sebastian

So the sun goes down and yet another SPL season, and after what felt like weeks of jostling, everything kind of ended up the way we thought it would. Cornellians gave chances to Lara Wedderburn and Mable Finnemark as they completed their lap of hour with a 3-0 win over Soessch in front of the home crowd. Lammerton knew that a win, of any description, would be enough to get them into the Champions' Cup for the first time in their history, and Jasper Valaran's 81 minute goal against Marionville got them over the line. Marionville, have endured a torrid season, and will be looking forward to a much better showing next year. The result wouldn't have mattered in the end for Port Sebastian, but all the same they could only manage a draw with Port James. Jock Sonny will be hoping for a more consolidated title push next season, with his new signings hopefully starting to gel as a unit. It seemed fitting that it was Elspeth Glendenning who got their equaliser for Port James, the 20-year-old capping a great season, where she came from nowhere to score 25 goals in 31 appearances, and received a call up to the DBC. New Belfast Warriors finish in fourth, with a solid haul of points, and it will be a result they are relatively happy with - 3rd, 5th, 4th over the last three years is definitely were they want to be. They rounded off with a 1-0 win over Dundee, who missed out on the Globe cup by the skin of their teeth, unable to capitalise on a draw between Handon United and Port Patrick. La Gorlions ended the season with a 0-0 draw to New Island, but it will be a result the fans will be happy with. With the Avelione brothers now at the helm seems to have finally revitalised the Lions somewhat. Down at the bottom end of the table, Granton Vale left it extremely late, but a 3-2 win over Mucusia managed to lift them out of the mire, securing them another year's SPL football. We all know that Granton are better than a bottom three side, and we will hopefully see the best of them next season. So in the end, the three sides for the chop were Lammerton City, D'Itille, and surprise surprise, Oak Park Celtic. With the structural changes meaning that only three sides go down, Berwick United were given a stay of execution on goal difference.

Monthly Awards:

.                        Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
 1 Cornellians            38   24  10   4    96   53  +43    82 Champions' Cup; SPL Champions
 2 Lammerton              38   23   9   6    77   46  +31    78 Champions' Cup
 3 Port Sebastian         38   21  12   5    78   54  +24    75 Globe Cup
 4 New Belfast Warriors   38   20   9   9    63   52  +11    69 Globe Cup
 5 Handon United          38   18  10  10    71   47  +24    64 Globe Cup
 6 Port Patrick United    38   16  15   7    70   56  +14    63
 7 Dundee                 38   17  12   9    33   27   +6    63
 8 La Gorlions            38   16  10  12    44   33  +11    58
 9 FC Soessch             38   16   9  13    55   48   +7    57
10 Port James Athletic    38   14  11  13    71   65   +6    53
11 Marionville            38   14  11  13    49   51   −2    53
12 Kings Park             38   13  13  12    59   53   +6    52
13 Hollin                 38   12  11  15    42   44   −2    47
14 Mucusia                38   10   9  19    60   70  −10    38
15 Granton Vale           38    8  12  19    38   56  −18    36
16 New Island             38    7  13  18    49   70  −21    34
17 Berwick United         38    8  10  20    33   58  −25    34
18 Lammerton City         38    7  13  18    37   64  −27    34 Relegated
19 D'Itille               38    7   9  22    39   71  −32    30 Relegated
20 Oak Park Celtic        38    2   8  28    28   74  −46    14 Relegated

Player of Year:
The main, player, young player, and manager award winners are selected from a long-list of ten, which is created by the responsible members at the SPL committee. The eventual winner is voted for by prominent members of the Schottic footballing community.

1st: Jade Irwin -- Cornellians

It's difficult to say if the fact that an academy reject from a very average Nepharim side taking the SPL by storm is a worse reflection on the standard of our league, or Crissisbless United for letting her go. Jade Irwin's rags to riches story has been well publicised by now, and this award will come as little surprise to anyone who has watched her performances over the last four years. The 23-year-old has been outstanding - whether it has been in the SPL or en route to the Champions' Cup group stage - and has provided an important source of both goals and assists for her side.

2nd: Christian Lovenkrands -- Handon United

United have been all over the place this season, with three different managers, and another below par performance. The one real shining light however, has been the Semarliandic winger, who has terrorised defenders with his raw pace. United now face a summer of rebuilding work, where they will have a very limited amount of time to get ready for the new season, and you would imagine that keeping a hold of the 22-year-old will be their number one priority.

3rd: Vera Cummings -- Port Sebastian

Probably now a shoe in now to be named in the next Schottia squad, Cummings has been a fantastic addition to this Port Sebastian side. The midfielder started her career at Cornellians, although she never made an appearance back in the MPL - but after breaking through the ranks at Dundee is now finally playing at the highest level in her country. Cummings is a box-to-box midfielder; speedy intelligent, and a good passer of the ball.

4th: Jasper Valaran -- Lammerton

There had to be a member to the Lammerton Midfield on this list, and playmaker Valaran has arguably been the best. The Cenian has been putting in composed and mature performances in the SPL since the age of eighteen, but this season he has really come of age. His reward for this excellent work, like his teammates, is a taste of Champions' Cup football next season, where he will no doubt be excited by the challenge.

5th: Kel Koromin -- Cornellians

The Second Cornellians player on this list, and in truth there could have been even more. Koromin has been at the sharp end for Conellians all season, scoring the important goals at important times. The most expensive player in SPL history has been justifying his price tag once again, adding another impressive haul of goals to his tally.

Long-list: Kathryn Kvanderwyk (Cornellians), Joon Ho Hwang (Port Sebastian), Yelena Shostakovich (La Gorlions), Tomás Fierro (New Belfast Warriors), Steven Rexmont (Port Sebastian) Mars Alexandersson (Lammerton)

Golden Boot (Top Scorer):

1st: 30 Miki Kurugaya-- Lammerton

2nd: 29 Kel Koromin -- Cornellians

3rd: 25 Merry Osbourne -- Lammerton

| Elspeth Glendenning -- Port James Athletic

5th: 24 Demba Traore -- Port Sebastian

6th: 22 Isaac Nketiah -- Handon United

| | Eloisa Purinton -- Cornellians

8th: 20 Kathryn Kvanderwyk -- Cornellians

| Jane Swanson -- Port Patrick United

10th: 19 David Hughes -- Dundee

Young Player of The Year:
1st: Jasper Valaran -- Lammerton

See Player of the year Award.

2nd: Steven Rexmont -- Port Sebastian

Quick, direct, with an impressive eye for goal, Rexmont's own manager has made the claim that the 20-year-old is the best left sided player Schottia have at the moment. While Chloe Rudden might have something to say about that, there is no doubting the fact that Rexmont is one of the best young players in the league right now.

3rd: Mars Alexandersson -- Lammerton

Alexandersson has been an absolute revelation since joining Lammerton, the midfielder’s rise now synonymous with Lammerton's revival. She has had a consistent goal-scoring rate for the Hornets, but her real value lies in her ingenuity and her work from set-pieces. Like the rest of her team, she will be excited by the prospect of Champions' Cup football next season.

4th: Elspeth Glendenning -- Port James Athletic

Probably one of the more surprising names on this list, the 20-year-old has become an instant fans' favourite, since bursting onto the scene with her home town club. Intelligent, level-headed, and comes across well in interviews, the Seasiders will be desperate to keep a hold of this player. With a 25-goal debut season, there is hopefully much more still to come from the youngster.

5th: Tsumugi Narita -- Cornellians

A near permanent fixture on this list, it is hard to believe that Tsumugi is still only twenty. Having played in Schottia since she was a kid, the playmaker is an interesting fusion of Schottic and Kirisakian qualities, making her a very effective player. She has been sitting a little deeper over the last two seasons, following the inclusion of Jade Irwin, but it has not affected her performances.

Long-list: Victor Lange (Soessch), Miki Kurugaya (Warriors), Liam Goncalves (Dundee), Jim Gerrish (Dundee), Sendoa (Kings Park)

Manger of The Year:
1st:Alexander Pearce -- Cornellians

There must be very little left for Alexander Pearce to achieve domestically in Schottic football. Five League titles in six years, one Schottic Cup, and runs in both the Globe Cup and the Champions' Cup; the Cosumarite is already on the list of the nation's most successful managers of all times. The challenge facing him next season, will be working out where he can possibly strengthen the side, in a bid to make inroads in the UICA competitions.

2nd: John Sedder -- Lammerton

A very bold move from Sedder to turn down Handon United, and one which will have won him even more respect from the Lammerton fans. However in terms of his own career, we hope it was not a mistake. It's hard to really see how he can take Lammerton on from here, as you have to imagine the team are playing at full capacity. All the same, you can't blame him for wanting to have a crack at the Champions' Cup.

3rd: Des Pleent -- Port Patrick United

Shrewd signings, and excellent player development policies see Port Patrick lurch ever closer to becoming a top five club. Most of the superstars from a few seasons back are now gone but what is left is a side who can definitely be there or there abouts next season.

Signing of The Year:
This is awarded to the incoming player who made the biggest impact relative to price, profile, and reputation.

Tanya Yeats-- Port Patrick United

Signed from North Hall, free
Yeats seems to be a player Pleent is able to get the most out of, and the fans have certainly welcomed the North Hall midfielder back warmly. They have had issues to deal with, some of there best players getting older, as well as the loss of Cerys Kenicott, an important creative influence. However, Yeats has taken over that mantle brilliantly, and is clearly enjoying a return to first team football.

Team of The Year:
Differently to the player of the year awards, the official team of the year is voted for by the Schottic public. This is why the players can differ from those selected for the official awards, and normally come from the teams with the larger supports.

GK= Gerhard Mackan
DEF= Rachel Mercurier - Liam Goncalves - Joon Ho Hwang - Davy Keates
MID= Jade Irwin - Steven Rexmont - Christian Lovenkrands
FOR= Kel Koromin - Kathryn Kvanderwyk - Elspeth Glendinning

Schottic Cup -- Final

Port Sebastian 2–1 Cornellians @ Harbour Hill Stadium
Goals: 43" Traore, 78" Purinton; 63" Kit Kvanderwyk

The Schottic Cup final has rarely let us down, in terms of an end of season showpiece. This year we saw the meeting of two of the league's biggest sides, newly crowned four in a row SPL champions Cornellians, and Handon side Port Sebastian who were in the title chase right up until the end. After a hotly contested first half, it looked very much as is the sides were going to head up the tunnel, honours even, despite good chances at both ends. However, a well timed pass from Steven Rexmont, set rapid Semarlandic forward Demba Traore through on goal. The 24-year-old has scored over 100 goals in four season at Port Sebastian, and he showed exactly why, burying the ball in the bottom corner. The Eagles came out fighting in the second half, and eventually wore the Porty defence down, Cosumarite Kit Kvanderwyk using some great technical skill to elude Paul Doig, before looping his shot into the top corner for 1-1. At this stage it was end-to-end stuff, and extra time looked very unlikely. That indeed proved to be case when former Gloriaxian skipper Eloisa Purinton gave Scott Burton the slip to score the goal which denied her former teammates a league-cup-double.

MOTM: Joon Ho Hwang

by **Schottia** » Wed Aug 31, 2016 12:09 am

Regional Divisions - Second Tier
In a bid to make football more sustainable in Schottia the second tier is split into four Regional Divisions. This was in an attempt to cut down travel time for fans and players, while giving a greater number of sides a chance at promotion. The champions of each league win promotion to the SPL, and the side finishing bottom is relegated to the Regional Conference. Other sides may be relegated too depending on which sides come down from the SPL, keeping the number of teams in each league at ten.

Division A - Greater Handon, Marionville, New Belfast, and New Scotland.

.                               Pld    W   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
 1 Hillstreet                    35   23   7    76   46  +30    74 Promoted
 2 New Belfast Blues             35   23   7    68   40  +28    74
 3 West Holbrookdale             35   18  14    42   38   +4    57
 4 Regional Development Side A   35   17  14    65   47  +18    55
 5 Marionville Thistle           35   16  15    52   47   +5    52
 6 Oxlaey Court                  35   16  16    42   44   −2    51
 7 Kirk Preston United           35   13  17    39   47   −8    44
 8 Handon North                  35   12  19    47   60  −13    40
 9 Adelly Road                   35    9  19    25   48  −23    34
10 Dundee Rovers                 35    7  26    27   66  −39    23 Relegated

Regional Division A, Player of The Year:
1st: Elizabeth Addison, RDS:A
2nd: Andre Martineau, Kirk Preston United
3rd: Simon Johnson, Hillstreet

Division B - Central South Schottia, Lammerton, Eastern Eusebia, Port James, Belker, and the New Island.

.                               Pld    W   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
 1 Snubbeak Rock                 36   17   9    60   47  +13    61 Promoted
 2 Lammerton Wonderers           36   20  15    53   44   +9    61
 3 Bolton Green                  36   18  11    62   54   +8    61
 4 Coldstream Farmers Union      36   18  14    47   41   +6    58
 5 Regional Development Side B   36   16  11    67   60   +7    57
 6 Lamerton Eels                 36   17  15    60   53   +7    55
 7 Regional Development Side D   36   16  15    71   64   +7    53
 8 Port James                    36   15  16    40   42   −2    50 Relegated
 9 Port Newtown                  36   10  20    53   71  −18    36 Relegated
10 Gateney                       36    4  25    34   71  −37    19 Relegated

Regional Division B, Player of The Year:
1st: Nick James, Snubbeak Rock
2nd: Sandra Rune, Bolton Green
3rd: Chris Constable, Lammerton Eels

Division C - The North Islands, La Gorla, and Bergstadt.

.                               Pld    W   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
 1 FC Döllar                     36   21  10    54   37  +17    68 Promoted
 2 Regional Development Side C   36   20  10    44   35   +9    66
 3 Wolbeck                       36   17  13    60   52   +8    57
 4 Soessch 1990                  36   16  12    42   37   +5    56
 5 La Harve                      36   16  13    35   33   +2    55
 6 Stalker Bay                   36   16  15    53   49   +4    53
 7 Allous VB                     36   15  15    51   52   −1    51
 8 Anacy                         36   14  18    42   39   +3    46
 9 Sand                          36   11  20    46   67  −21    38 Relegated
10 Baumann VB                    36    4  24    41   67  −26    20 Relegated

Regional Division C, Player of The Year:
1st: Peter Hans Goulbre, FC Döllar
2nd: Kerstin Dornenberger, FC Döllar
3rd: Angus Willman, Wolbeck

FC Döllar, Snubbeak Rock, and Hillstreet Qualify for the Series B Champions' Cup

Youth Football - Junior Championship

.                               Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
 1 Handon United                 30   18   9   3    62   30  +32    63 Yth CC
 2 Regional Development Side A   30   17   6   7    54   30  +24    57
 3 Handon Ladies                 30   15   9   6    51   32  +19    54
 4 Port Sebastian                30   15   8   7    55   43  +12    53
 5 Regional Development Side D   30   14   8   8    42   32  +10    50
 6 Cornellians                   30   14   6  10    42   33   +9    48
 7 Regional Development Side B   30   13   6  11    43   38   +5    45
 8 FC Soessch                    30   11   8  11    48   40   +8    41
 9 Regional Development Side C   30   10  11   9    48   50   −2    41
10 Marionville                   30   12   5  13    40   53  −13    41
11 Kings Park                    30    9   9  12    36   37   −1    36
12 New Belfast Warriors          30    9   9  12    35   42   −7    36
13 Lammerton                     30    8   6  16    39   53  −14    30
14 Dundee                        30    6   7  17    38   58  −20    25
15 La Gorlions                   30    5   8  17    34   62  −28    23
16 Port James Athletic           30    4   5  21    30   64  −34    17

Junior Championship, Player of The Year:
1st: Dilon Bànach, Handon United
2nd: Christan Berg, Cornellians

3rd: Kara Ciogach, Handon Ladies

Minor Leagues - Non UICA

Womens' Super-League
The Womens' Super-League predates co-ed football in Schottia, but has been kept in place to help ease the transition for female players into the mixed game. The semi-professional set up has, however, produced some of the nations top stars in recent years, and many young women use it as a chance to get first team experience at an early age. With a surprisingly large niche following, the WSL has an exciting brand of football.

.                                 Pld    W   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
 1 West Coast Warriors             30   20   5    48   24  +24    65
 2 West Belker Picts               30   16   7    52   32  +20    55
 3 Lammerton City                  30   15   7    57   43  +14    53
 4 Handon Eagles                   30   16  10    51   40  +11    52
 5 South Berwick Auks              30   14   8    53   42  +11    50
 6 University of Soessch           30   15  10    55   45  +10    50
 7 Handon Ladies                   30   13   8    53   45   +8    48
 8 Marionville Reds                30   14  11    43   40   +3    47
 9 Handon Amazons                  30   14  13    33   35   −2    45
10 Soessch Ladies                  30   12  12    35   38   −3    42
11 Cornellians WFC                 30   12  13    47   47    0    41
12 New Belfast Institute of Arts   30   11  17    32   46  −14    35
13 Marsia Thunder                  30    8  19    32   52  −20    27
14 North Island Mountaineers       30    7  19    26   46  −20    25
15 PS Ladies                       30    7  19    34   56  −22    25
16 WFC Dundee                      30    5  21    36   56  −20    19

WSL | Player of The Year:

1st: Lilou Reid -- South Berwick Auks
2nd: Krista Morham -- West Coast Warriors
3rd: Nora Imrie -- West Coast Warriors
4th: Dee Lewis -- Lammerton City
5th: Elidh McArthely -- New Belfast Institute of Arts

The Football League of East-Vormsi
The tiny Schottic territory of East Vormsi, and its population of only thirty thousand, have a small largely armature football league. The ten registered sides fiercely contesting the trophy every year, have to battle against gale force winds, frozen pitches, and must occasionally fetch the ball out of the gardens of neighbouring houses.

Player of the year:

1st: Imants Kölleran, Sviby Vikings

2nd: Lena Grabuste, Athletics Club Ömborg

3rd: Benkè Oulonagawi, Sviby Vikings

Golden boot:

1st: 31 Imants Kölleran, Sviby Vikings

2nd: 24 Benkè Oulonagawi, Sviby Vikings

3rd: 19 Erika Wardenborg

Young player:

1st: Benkè Oulonagawi, Sviby Vikings

2nd: Ella Grear, Lääne Rovers

3rd: Derek Lochburn, Erstore Sailers

.                         Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
 1 Sviby Vikings           36   30   3   3    85   31  +54    93
 2 Athletics Club Ömborg   36   28   5   3    85   22  +63    89
 3 Sviby Saints            36   24   5   7    85   38  +47    77
 4 Lääne Rovers            36   19   7  10    63   41  +22    64
 5 FC Sviby                36   12   9  15    48   71  −23    45
 6 Kvhansborgers           36   11   6  19    37   56  −19    39
 7 SC Svortän              36    9   4  23    34   72  −38    31
 8 Erstore Sailers         36    6  10  20    35   65  −30    28
 9 Deriean                 36    6   6  24    34   66  −32    24
10 Treiskva                36    5   5  26    28   72  −44    20

by **Schottia** » Mon Dec 19, 2016 2:06 am

2024-25

Preview
-Part One-

Playing squads for the upcoming season, with provisional starting eleven, and notable reserves. Teams listed in no particular order.

With a record breaking four league titles in a row, and qualification for the Champions' Cup last season, it seems that Cornellians have finally made it. Managed by Cosumarite legend Alexander Pearce, the Eagles were head and shoulders above the rest for much of last term, finishing five points clear of nearest rivals Lammerton. Everything seemed to click for them, with the likes of Jade Irwin, Kel Koromin, and Kit Kvanderwyk looking word-class at points. Cenian international Koromin, will renew his fruitful partnership with Kvanderwyk junior, Kathryn. The 23-year-old sister of Cosumarite international Kit won rave reviews last season for her work rate and unselfish attitude in front of goal. Her no nonsense style of play, alongside the prolific Koromin, proved to be a destructive combination for Cornellians last time round. But as good as that pair were, star of the show last time round was Nepharim midfielder Jade Irwin, who has been like a player reborn since leaving Crisisbless United. Two years of roughing it in the North Mountains with La Gorlions, followed by another two competing on the UICA stage with Cornellians, have turned her into a real star. With Irwin pitted alongside Kirisakian midfielder Tsumugi in the centre of the park, Pearce's side have a midfield which cannot be rivalled domestically, in terms of passing ability. Fresh from the World Cup, Kit Kvanderwyk starts out wide right, and his accurate crosses more than make up for any slight lack of mobility. With a striker of Koromin's standard lurking in the box, this is one of the club's main sources of goals. Schottia fans will be painfully familiar with Echani international Marshawn Mercury, who joins from Sebo City for $8M. The left winger will provide competition for places, and hopefully help with another Champions' Cup push. In defence, they have the tried and tested centre pairing of Scott Burton and Stephen Gargo, flanked by former Apoxian Academy star Rachel Mercurier, and the very talented Triffid Ramsey. Between the sticks, as ever, is Schottia number one Jeremy McNott, who has been at the club since it's inception. Additionally, Cornellians managed to secure the services of the very highly rated Isla Sibučić, a 16-year-old Cosumarite, for whom working under Pearce was perhaps a draw. The teenager has been loaned out to FC Döllar for the first half of the season.

Prediction: 1st. The strongest squad in the league by quite some distance, and they have the added bonus of a winning mentality. Only something very special will be enough to dethrone this diverse and talented side.

Star player: Jade Irwin | Rising Star: Tsumugi Narita

International Competition: Champions' Cup

Almost unrecognisable from the side Karl Sorensen started with last season, Jane Gullie begins the unenviable task of winning Handon United's first league title in nine years. What seemed unthinkable to their fans back then, when they lost out to Port Sebastian on the last day of the season, has become reality, as year after year they have struggled to even make the UICA spots. The country's biggest and loudest group of supporters will accept nothing other that success and trophies, meaning that Gullie, who took over towards the end of last season, has little wriggle room. It could be a lot worse however, and Gullie has inherited a few very good players, and the skeleton of what could be a successful side. Cenian goalie Jacrian Ryaden has generally been very solid at the back, and club captain Alf Seggerson is a big presence in the centre of midfield. Of course, Semarlandic winger Christian Lovenkrands, who was outstanding last season, will be back to terrorise left backs up and down the country. With no fewer than five new signings, there will be a lot of players who need to hit the ground running. Bonesea internationalist JK Cottle is perhaps the highest profile player to have made his way to Harbour Hill Stadium this summer - but there will be more attention perhaps on talented young strikers, Hiroyo Nunez and Daniel Dostalok, with United's historic problem in the goal scoring department. Gullie has no doubt tried to counteract this with the $6M capture of Northern Sunriser Envy Adams, who has been very solid with Mucusia in the SPL. Finally Drawkish winger Rebecca Talla completes this line up, joining from Cove Port Cruisers. There are also three or four youth players whom you could throw into the mix, so plenty of talent for Gullie to work with. Critical to her side's performance however, will be finding the right combination quickly.

Prediction: 4th. Nothing was built in a day, so it may take more than one season for United to get up to speed. Fourth place, and a decent Globe Cup run would seem like a reasonable start, but whether or not it is enough for the board is another matter.

International Competition: Globe Cup.

Star Player: Christian Lovenkrands | Rising Star: Natalie "Envy" Adams

Despite a third place finish last season, Port Sebastian fans will have been relatively disappointed. With Jock Sonny taking over as manager at the start of the season, the fans certainly had the manager they all wanted; and optimism would have been even higher when they saw the board back him in the transfer market. For a team not used to spending big, the signings of Vera Cummings, Steven Rexmont, Joon Ho Hwang, and former SPL top scorer Eloisa Purinton would have been a pleasant change. Four big name stars, and a manager with a proven track record - it seemed like more than they could have hoped for. There were definitely points where Porty looked very effective, but too many dropped points in the middle third meant that the title inevitably eluded them. In the end however, the addition of their first Schottic cup in almost twenty years, will have left the majority of people associated with the club staring at a glass which is half full. There is quality running right the way through this side, and with another year to settle, Jock Sonny will no doubt have Globe Cup qualification as a main target. Keeper Chris Gonzaö, along with wingbacks Esther Abner and Paul Doig all have Schottia caps to their name; while Joon Ho Hwang was named in the last Quebec squad. In the midfield, Port Sebastian have pace to burn, with Joey Bia and Steven Rexmont a formidable pairing down the flanks. Anchoring things in the middle are the club's player of the year, Vera Cummings, and Ko-oren internationalist Emiline Millet. However, with young midfielder Michi Leonard being rescued following her release from Alnio in Chromatika, there will be completion for places. The 21-year-old, who was on loan at second tier side Ritter Town last season, will bring some much-needed energy to the midfield. In attack, Port Sebastian have the luxury of three very good strikers to call upon. Eloisa Purinton is the name which jumps off the teamsheet, a former Gloriaxian WC captain and league winner with Cornellians, she definitely has what it takes to shine in this side. With either powerful Semar forward, Demba Traore, or Quebecois veteran, Giancoma de Jerusalem to call upon in support, Porty are strong contenders for the title of best strike force in the SPL.

Prediction: 3rd. Probably embroiled in a tough battle with Cornellians and Lammerton, but Porty have every chance of pushing them hard.

International Competition: Globe Cup & Cup-Winners' Cup

Star Player: Eloisa Purinton | Rising Star: Steven Rexmont

With a trio of runners-up places for the Hornets, they are a club transformed. John Sedder's players are barely recognisable from the bunch of mid-table, no hopers, they have gradually replaced over the last five seasons. Having made little impact in UICA football, this will still be of major source of frustration to the players, who have been desperate to prove that they are more than just a consistent league side, and shake off that small team status. Key for Lammerton has always been in the midfield, which consists of four players who can offer a little bit of everything. The experienced Timo Düd serves as an effective anchorman, with the bustling Robard Horvat always busy doing the fetching and carrying. Cenian internationalist Jasper Valaran was the club's standout player last season, a bright and decisive playmaker, who can open up the defence with a single pass. Fans' favourite Mars Alexanderson plays just in front of him, constantly looking to make forward runs, drifting in-between the midfield and forward positions, causing havoc in the opposition defence. Young Schottian defender John van Cleef joins the back four of Marcel Smith-Hammond, Luke Svensson, and Paul Yarrow; while Schottia squad player Jim Black keeps his place in goals. A big part of Lammerton's success story has been the combination of veteran strikers Merry Osbourne and John Cooper. Neither will ever set the world alight, but they are tediously consistent, and rarely have ups or downs. In a bid to aid Lammerton's Champions' Cup push, the Hornets have enlisted the services of Starlings' Estrella Hawke, a 19-year-old who is tipped for big things with the Nepharim club.

Prediction: 2nd. We are done looking for the Lammerton bubble to burst, as we have been predicting it for the last four seasons, and are still waiting.

Star player: Mars Alexandersson | Rising Star: Jasper Valaran

International Competition: Champions Cup

Back, for another crack at the Globe Cup, as they continue to tread water in this UICA era of Schottic football. While the Warriors were a formidable force prior to the prize money and sponsorship that came with international domestic football, they have struggled to mount a title challenge ever since. After winning the SPL title seven year ago, the New Belfast club have struggled to find much consistency, and a series of high profile departures in terms of both managers and playing staff have taken their toll. With that in mind, last season's fourth spot will be seen as a big achievement for current boss Graeme Collins, who seems to have at least found some consistency. Despite the difficulties they face, they still remain a top side, and one with an outside chance of challenging for the title. The defence lines up similarly to last season, with Guayabalese keeper Nerio Teran, sat behind a back four of Schute, Holden, Dinara, and McDermot. Left-back, Saskia Holden, has several caps for Schottia at various youth levels, and Champions' Cup experience with Bayern Phoenix. On paper, the midfield should be up to the task this season, with Schottic internationalist Holly Addison, and highly-rated Cenian, Tomás Fierro in the centre. Schottic DBC winner Craig O'Maramy, and the creative Quebecois Project +90 graduate Adrienne O'Callahan, play wide right and left respectively. Whoever they play upfront will always be compared to club legend Ivan Archic, but they have at least found a near match in Kirisakian powerhouse, Miki Kurugaya. Joining her this year is talented Drawkish youngster (or young for someone from Drawkland), Iana Synder. On the whole, the Whalers are a very well balanced side, and the manager has worked hard to keep them competitive. A lack of spending ability is unfortunately allowing a gulf to open between them at the likes of Cornellians, however, and we age going to need to see them battle hard over the next twelve months, if they want to get back to the top.

Prediction: 6th. Very hard to predict, Warriors are probably one of a group of five sides who could feasibly challenge Cornellians.

Star Player: Tomás Fierro | Rising Star: Miki Kurugaya

International Competition: Globe Cup

Barry Gorman has absolutely gutted this Soessch side since coming in as manager. We have seen so many of the old guard head for the exit door, as he tries to breathe new life into this side. Former Nepharim U21 star Tamika November, and Bonesea's Currian Cort are the two which will cause the biggest stir, helping to plug a few of the gaps from last season. Gorman will have been extremely disappointed to have lost young Quebecois hotshot Viktor Lang however, a two million deadline day bid from St Johns Arsenal meant that the 22-year-old was on his way. A mad scramble for a striker saw Dundee's David Hughes brought in to pluck the gap, partnering Sara Foucault upfront. Former Mucusia striker Foucault has been a big player for Die rote Teufel over the last two seasons, and they will be looking to her once again. Alongside Cort in the midfield are: good old-fashioned right-winger Johan Shearer, veteran Polar Islander Konstantin Holstad, and 17-year-old Charlotte Ünterhausen. The fourth and final Ünterhausen sibling is prompted from the reserves, and unfortunately for her, the surname will mean that there is a lot of pressure to deliver. In defence, November will partner Schottic internationalist Ben Ross in the centre, in what looks like a very strong pairing at this level. On the flanks they have the combination of youth and experience, in the form of Ryan Stoner, and Naomi Blair. In goals, once more, is former U21 keeper Harry Gould, previously of Port Sebastian, who had a good season last year.

Prediction: 5th. Hopefully for them, Gorman can be the manager to put an end to the inconsistency, and deliver regular UICA football. Given some of the players he has brought it, Soessch have a decent chance.

Star Player: Johan Shearer | Rising Star: Charlotte Ünterhausen

It looks like there could be a difficult season lying in wait for the Royals, if they are hoping to climb back up to the top of the league. They have a similar problem to that of the Warriors, in that they lack the budget to really compete with the big teams. Kings Park have always been Handon's small team, but it hasn't stopped them pushing hard in the past, and with some very decent players on their books such as Cenian youth player Sendoa, and former Schottia internationals Francis Keelinan and Daren O'Brian, they won't be completely steamrollered. However, the loss of star midfielder Erin Braden will present them with problems, as the 26-year-old carried out a power of work for this side. The strike force of Keelinan and East-Vormsian Kaija Koppel can definitely pull their weight, and with the former's set-piece abilities, and the latter's pace, they have breadth of talent in that department. On the topic of pace, Kirisakian rightback-come-winger, Yuiko Kasugano, can be a real menace with her surging runs, and O'Brain, with 68 Schottia caps to his name, is a player of real quality. With the unenviable task of picking up where Braden left off, 18-year-old Andrew Thompson has kind of been thrown in at the deep end. Joining him in the centre is the attack minded former Myrmidon starlet Sendoa, who has been capped for Ceni at U21 level. Defensively, Kings Park have always been lacking a little bite, and the loss of Shalumite internationalist Thomas Carmichael will do nothing to help that. They just need to hope that his replacemtnt, Serenity Piper, will be up to the job.

Prediction: 11th. Right in the grinder in the middle of the league. The Royals will be hoping to come out at the top end pushing for fifth, rather than the bottom end looking down at the drop zone.

Star player: Sendoa | Rising star: Yuiko Kasugano

Eighth place in their first season with the Avelione brothers in charge will be seen a marked improvement for the Lions, in what is quickly becoming a very competitive league. The side from the North Island have a history of punching above their weight, and their high altitude home venue has always been worth an extra couple of points each season. Under Jago Avelione, La Gorlions have continued the direct, no nonsense approach to football, which they have been so famous for, and on a good day they can give the sides at the top a run for their money. They are very strong defensively, with Schottia cap Markus Pfab, and U23 star Vinod Purteer in the centre. Both Juan Velente and Christy Snell have represented their nation at U21 level also, meaning that they are on a par with top teams at the back. Protecting the back four is Cosumarite workhorse Fredrick Houben, who has been with the club for ten seasons, captaining them for the last three. Yelena Shostakovich was given the tough task on filling in for Jade Irvin after she completed a move to Cornellians three years ago. However, the Pridnestrovian has proven herself an apt replacement, and was arguably the side's best player last season. In a shrewd piece of business, La Gorlions have acquired the services of Andrya Novkovic on loan till the end of the season, and there is no doubt that the Anglatian can make impact here in the mountains. Upfront there is a three-pronged attack in the form or Aredhel Neil, Broad Dalehun, and Cephus Hunt. Former Blue Coast star, Neil, operates just behind the front two, where she can use her pace and skill to get in behind opponents. The strike force of Dalehun and Hunt is somewhat untested, but it is certainly something that they can build upon.

Prediction: 9th. A good, hard working side, but they lack a little bit of quality needed to challenge for the UICA spots.

Star player: Yelena Shostakovich | Rising star: Cephus Hunt

Marionville have been unwaveringly mid-table for decades - never likely to be crowned champions, never likely to finish lower that fifteenth, you might think it could start to get dull. This season could certainly get a little interesting however, with two stalwarts, Michael Maxwell, and Barry Stewart moving on. Their replacements Imants Kölleran, and Ruth Finch aren't exactly going to boost replica kit sales, but we feel manager Basil Bunton might have done a good bit of business here. Kölleran scored a barrel load last season with Sviby Vikings in the Vormsi-League, and if he can get anywhere near that here, then he'll be one to watch. Finch on the other hand, has been a very highly rated youngster at Port Patrick for a number of years, however the arrival of Tanya Yeates has restricted her game time. Other vitally important players for the Old Boys include young Pasargan no.10 Vojnomir Nikolic who is the side's main goal threat; and team captain David Daller, a centre-back who has been capped for Schottia in the past. Credit to Bunton, he is not content to see the side stagnate in the middle of the table, but lest hope, for him, that his tinkering has the desired affect.

Prediction: 10th. Probably a very similar finish to last year, with the sides around them improving similarly

Star Player: Vojnomir Nikolic | Rising Star: Alyssa Haight

Since their promotion, Port Patrick have been right at the sharp end of SPL football. With a manager who favours hard graft, and energetic football; the North Handon club have been a constant thorn in the side of the traditional top six. To date, UICA football has eluded them however, and you can see that it is a personal goal of Des Pleent to deliver that. It is easy to see why they have gained a reputation as a selling club, after seeing Heron Crew, Esther Abner, and Cerys Kennicot all move on, and subsequently receive call up's to the Schottia squad. Despite this, Pleent has used the funds wisely, maintaining a good balance in the squad, bringing in the likes of Tanya Yeates, Connie Malone, and Altavian Kalhoro all for very little. This season he has loosened the purse strings once again, bringing in experienced 95Xer Tameka Ninetyseventh from Handon United, journeyman striker Callum Frir from Lammerton City, and Amberian Island Internationalist Yegor Qimmiabruk. With the energy they have in the midfield from the likes of Malone, Yeates, and Kirisakian +90 star Chiyoko Sakuraka - and a stalwart defender in the form of Davy Keates - no one should be surprised if this is the year the breakers finally make it. After coming agonisingly close the top five on a number of occasions, you'd feel that all they need is one final push.

Prediction: 8th. We are going to stump for 8th, but it will be very close.

Star Player: Tanya Yeats | Rising star: William Snedden

by **Schottia** » Wed Dec 28, 2016 3:37 am

-Part Two-

Dundee stunned us all two seasons ago, when Jock Sonny lead them to third in the league on his return to SPL management. For those of us expecting it to be something of one off, we were to surprised yet again, when they followed it up with sixth place last season. Sonny is gone, replace by Johnny Smith, but the nucleus of the side is intact, and back for another year. In some respects, Dundee have been a victim of their own success, with Steven Rexmont, Vera Cummings, and now David Hughes all heading for the exit door for seven figure sums. Crucially they have managed to retain the services of Christopheran World Cup stars Jacques, and Liam Goncalves, however, as well as keeper Gerhard Mackan who has come up with some stunning form over the last two seasons. Other important players for the Panners include: Schottia U21 cap Jim Gerrish, former Darvale right-back James Berkeley, and the experienced Max Peterson. The deadline day sale of David Hughes will have come as a hammer blow to the club, leaving them with precious little time to find a replacement. In the end Smith settled upon Brenecian star Emma Keohane, a pacy 31-year-old who was looking for first team football abroad. A-League stars have done well in the past, dropping town to SPL level, so the Dundee fans will be desperately hoping she can make it work.

Prediction: 11th. They are going to have to adjust to the loss of Hughes, and we need to ask: How often can they keep selling their best players and get away with it?

Star Player: Liam Goncalves | Rising star: Jim Gerrish

For the Athletic fans, there is perhaps a horrible feeling beginning to dawn on them, and that is the fact that the club have found their place. On a par with clubs like Lammerton and the Warriors in terms of resources, it must have been a huge source of frustration that they were left behind. It then descends into something of a vicious cycle: Not successful enough to attract top players, and can't bring in the players to achieve that success. As it is, Port James normally find themselves down near the middle of the table, when they would much rather be top five. Last season was a marked improvement however, and for the first half, they were able to keep pace with the sides at the top, even if they fell away at the end. Another rare ray of light for the Seasiders was the emergence of homegrown talent, Elspeth Glendening. The 21-year-old striker is the first promising player to come out of the Athletic academy in a long time, and her goals were a crucial part of that early push in the league. She plays alongside Semar striker Remaine Clarke, five years her senior, who is solid if not outstanding. Much of the creative output in this side comes from Eusebian Islander Joseph Preca, who on his day, is as good a right sided player as any in the league. His opposite number on the left is former Cornellians star, and Di Bradini Cup winner, Ismal Keirut. And holding things together in the centre is Polaaskan powerhouse Palle Ellsmere, whose physical presence is a big part of the way the side shape up. He is joined this season by Handon United loanee, Dilon Bànach, a player who really made a big splash in the Youth Championship last season. The 17-year-old can play either in midfield or in attack, and will no doubt be an exciting addition. At the back, young keeper Brendan Hammer is going to need to be on his toes from the offset, as the Athletic defence have never been the most water tight. Jan Ümann comes in at left back after leaving Soessch, as part of Blackett's ongoing commitment to improving things in the defensive areas.

Prediction: 12th. There is nothing we have really seen during the window to indicate that there will be anything other than another tough season lying in wait.

Star Player: Joseph Preca | Rising Star: Elspeth Glendening.

The once proud side that is Hollin, seem to be in a steady state of disintegration at the moment, as year after year, they lurch a little closer to the bottom of the table. It's something of a recurring theme at the moment, that in the era of foreign players and UICA money, the teams with the resources to pay the wages are quickly rising to the top and the smaller sides sinking fast. Go back ten years and the face of Schottic football looked very different, but now its all about spending power, and infrastructure. When looking at the starting line up, there is obviously a massive dearth of quality in this side, and it is a matter of debate as to how long a strong defence, and a solid keeper can keep this side up. Long running manager Jack Hosker has taken steps towards strengthening the side with whatever resources he has, and the signing of Chris Dickson from Soessch is close to a club record at $600k. Whether or not the former U21 cap can inspire confidence in the side is still up for debate. In the past they have relied heavily on captain, Chris Jack, but the former Schottia star cannot do it alone, for all his talent. With 16-year old Colin Loweson coming into the midfield they potentially have a star in the making, with a player who is being touted at the next Thio Crillin.

Prediction: 16th. Holding on now by the skin of their teeth, but they'll stick around for another year.

Star player: Chris Jack | Rising Star: Colin Loweson

Mucusia's rise up the Schottic footballing pyramid has been remarkable in many ways, for a small fans co-operative. This is now their fourth season in the top tier, and they have been putting in the kind of performances worthy of being regarded an SPL side. They will have to adjust this season, to the loss of star midfielder Envy Adams, who is off to join Handon United in a six million move. Her replacement will be 16-year-old Kirisakian, Mako Sekine, who has formerly been called up to the U15 squad. Mucusia have always been dangerous going forward and the loss of Adams will do nothing to dampen the threat posed by Pasargan striker Aimée Hétu, and partner in crime Flora Klee. In the midfield, Daineri playmaker Ryuni is often better known for her looks than her talents unfortunately, given that she is a very tidy player. And starting alongside Sekine are Laura Smith, and Gylian midfielder Gihaje Wehly. At the back, club captain Poppy Fayrkirk often has a lot to deal with, but the former U21 cap is a reliable presence. 23-year-old keeper Diego joins after being one of the many players made jobless following the collapse of the Chromatik league, and should be a reliable pair of hands at the back

Prediction: 13th. Seem to have settled in the middle of the table.

Star player: Aimée Hétu | Rising star: Callum Norman

Despite what is in many ways a very good pool of players, Granton have been constantly embroiled in relegation battles. Many their quality players are the wrong side of 30, and one or two of their top stars haven't improved as well as was hoped, meaning that they lack skill to really break into the top half. Club captain Arron Marcie, back in his second spell at Sea Park, is the driving force in the midfield. Former U21 cap Jack Hobbs, was a once promising centre-forward, who has grown into steady enough player, and will always bag a couple of goals. On the left, Scott Cooper is in a similar boat, and after player for Cornellians in the MPL, his career has kind of stagnated. Other important players for the Beachcombers include: former Soessch midfielder Gerhard Bitter, Eastfield Lodge defender Tygo Pasha, and 95Xer Krista Till in goals. The club's only signing this season is Grace Hallman, from the WSL branch of the Cornellians franchise. She is a very good left back, who has represented her nation at U18 level, and should be able to make the step up. There will be concerns that this isn't enough, given the fact that they so narrowly avoided relegation last time round, but with their limited resources it will have to do.

Prediction: 17th. One of a number of sides, which we expect to be floating just above the relegation zone come the end of the season.

Star Player: Arron Marcie | Rising Star: Tygo Pasha

New Island have been extremely busy in the transfer window, with manager Judy Scott bringing in no fewer than five new players to bolster an aging squad. For many years, New Island were the quintessential yo-yo team - too good for Regional Division D, but unable to cling to a spot in the SPL. Since Scott's arrival that has changed however, and last season's restructuring meaning that only three now go down, has helped them build some consistency. Along with their top tier status has clearly come the power to attract players in their prime, as can bee seen in the signing of individuals such as Ian Wilson, Ikas Nike, and Lizzy Addison. Addison was a key player for Schottia at U21 level, and may have raised a few eyebrows when she joined the Pebbles following her graduation from Regional Development Academy. Nike has been a key player for Lammerton City over the last two years, but their relegation meant that the flying right-winger headed to the exit door. Other new signings include Northern Union veteran Lyn Fastolf, Warriors youngster Ian Wilson, and Schottia U18 left back Jano Jaeger. These newcomers will slot in alongside some half-decent players in the current squad: All action Brenecian Nikita Clohessy is the club captain, and has been a stand out player for New Island in her five years at the club. 18-year-old centre-half Grant Carlin is a very promising prospect at the back, and a player touted for bug things. And of course Mikkel Jorberg, Ramone Scotta, and Rachel Brennan all bring added experience to this side.

Prediction: 15th. They'll stay up for another season, barring any collapse, but the top half of the table is still well out of their reach.

Star player: Nikita Clohessy | Rising star: Grant Carlin

Despite a brand of football that would put even a connoisseur of the defensive game to sleep, and one of the most forgettable playing squads in the country, the Seagulls managed to stay up last season. This means that there are now three - yes three - clubs from South Brewick in the SPL. An incredible achievement for this club, and for the town in general. In terms of whom they can look to in their bid to stay up this time round, much of the pressure will no doubt fall on the shoulders of team captain Johnny McDonald. Brother of the Schottia captain Jenny, Johnny is of a similar mould, hard tackling, heavy challenges, and a determination to bring the ball forward. On the left wing, Justyna Eriksson has been an important player for them also, since signing from the Regional Development Academy. The 24-year-old has a very good cross on her, and is vital in the attacking third. This season, the club have brought in record signing Michael Maxell from Marionville, and it will be hoping that he can fire in the goals which keep them up. On the whole, if they are going to do it, it is going to have to be a team effort however, with everyone pulling together.

Star Player: Johnny McDonald | Rising star: Justyna Eriksson

Prediction: 19th. One of the favourites for the drop, and sadly, they won't be a huge miss.

There were probably a few folk surprised to see this lot back up, such was the way they were so unceremoniously dumped from the SPL last time. However, to give them credit, they did put on a good show in the second tier last season and ran out deserved champions. There is no denying that the Waders have a bit of fight about them, and their performances over the last twelve months have certainly shown that. 20-year-old right-winger, Nick James, took the league by storm last season, and his pace and directness where too much for the RD:C defences. How he is able to adapt football at a higher level could well be key here. Snubbeak Rock also have a good young striker in former Cornellians youth product, Chris McKinsey. The teenager also looked good last season, and he is going to be a big player for them again, if they are going to stay up. Traditionally in Schottic football, newly promoted teams have found the first season difficult, which was something the restructuring was designed to address. However, even with only three teams going down, it is very hard to see how a side, who five years ago were still mostly part-timers, can pull this off.

Prediction: 20th. This season will only serve to worsen their troubles, as it will no doubt put Nick James in the shop window.

Star Player: Nick James | Rising Star: Chris McKinsey

For such a small team, Döllar really don't have that bad a track record in the Schottic regional divisions. The problem for them comes however, when the try to make the step up the SPL. Their close proximity to FC Soessch - who have somehow become the unofficial national team of the North Islands - means that they have always found it hard to draw the support they deserve. Over the past decade, the goals from Peter Hans Goulbre have been crucial to the club, with the towering centre forward standing out in the lower leagues. The last two seasons, they have had emerging star Kerstin Dornenberger come through the ranks, which has given them a bit of quality in the centre of the pitch alongside the rough diamonds that are Annie Robertson and Fritz Holts. Much of the excitement however, will centre on the loan signing of Isla Sibučić a young Cosumarite who has been sent out in search of first team football. If reports are to be believed, the 16-year-old is a very special talent. At the back, Henni Kellermann comes in from Handon United, and the girl who has been capped at U18 level should be a welcome addition to this side.

Star Player: Peter Hans Goulbre | Rising Star: Kerstin Dornenberger

Prediction: 18th. One of maybe five who could go down, they really need a successful season to help steady the ship.

After a long wait, the Hunters are back, with a new manager, and a side which is almost unrecognisable from the one which went down four years ago. They won a fiercely contested battle with fellow sleeping giants, New Belfast Blues, to claim a place amongst the big boys. It has certainly been a frustrating time for the side from Huntly, but under former Port Sebastian manager Conner Watts, they seem to have been regalvanised. There will of course be hopes that they can do a bit of a Port Patrick and storm to the top of the league, but while there is no doubt that this young side have something about them, it seems unlikely. Their star last season was former Handon United right back Simon Johnson, who's forward runs had many defences left scared. Also Kirisakian teenager Ichiko Tsukahara has made an impact on the right wing, and has proven to be one of the best players to come though the Hillstreet academy in a long time. Watts has brought in four new signings on their return to the SPL, most notably Schottia legend Bruno Schwartz. The powerful centre forward knows what it takes to score goals in the SPL, and at 33, perhaps has a year or two left him. Redvale's Will Castillo will partner him upfront, with Aleksander Heino-Watanabe who joins form rivals NBB, slotting into the midfield. Finally Christopheran leftback Sanchia Diaz will join the defence after completing a 100K deal, being deemed surplus to requirements at the Warriors.

Star Player: Simon Johnson | Rising Star: Ichiko Tsukahara

Prediction: 17th. Obviously it won't be plain sailing, but we feel they will stay up.

by **Schottia** » Thu Jan 05, 2017 7:36 am

Matchday one - six

Globe Cup -- First Prelim Round

Handon United 1–0 Chaten PC (FET)

Handon United got the season kicked off in earnest this week, was they welcomed Chaten to Harbour Hill. It what was a relatively cagy match, and with United's new look side trying to settle, the score line was understandably tight. Jane Gullie's side left it late, but last season's standout performer, Christian Lovenkrands, was the one who settled matters, burying his strike in the bottom corner, following a lay off from Alf Seggerson.

Series B Champions' Cup -- First Prelim Round

FC Döllar 1–0 Chamions (BVR)

FC Dollar were also in action this week, as they went out in the Series B Champion's Cup. Die Rotten made the most of home advantage, winning 1-0 thanks to a headed goal from Peter Hans Goulbre. Like United, Döllar must now be at the top of their game next week, if they are to hold onto this winning margin.

Globe Cup -- First Prelim Round

(FET) Chaten PC 1-2 Handon United

Despite a strong challenge from Chaten on home soil, United managed to extend their lead, and progress to the second round of qualifying. After the home side went ahead early on, United came back strongly, Envy Adams drawing them level after a darting run into the box. The visitors then sealed the win, with a goal from substitute Mirka Shitakuari, who showed her pace in getting on the end of a Mana Satō cross.

Series B Champions' Cup -- First Prelim Round

(BVR) Chamions 1-1 FC Döllar

And for Döllar, they too finished what they started, holding Chamions to a 1-1 draw. With a one goal lead going into this match, nerves were settled early on, as teenage attacker Isla Sibučić curled in a brilliant strike from fourteen metres out.

SPL
Dundee 7–0 Berwick United
Lammerton 2–3 Handon United
Port Patrick United 4–5 New Island
Snubbeak Rock 0–3 La Gorlions
Mucusia 1–1 Port James Athletic
FC Soessch 4–2 Hillstreet
Kings Park 1–1 Port Sebastian
FC Döllar 1–0 Hollin
Cornellians 2–4 New Belfast Warriors
Granton Vale 3–0 Marionville

Debuts don't get much better than this, with former Rozelle United star, Emma Keohane, making an instant splash for Dundee. In this 7-0 win over Berwick United, Panners fans were left saying: "David Hughes who?" Berwick did brilliantly well to stay up last season, but they were left looking second best in every department this weekend, as Dundee continue to punch well above their weight. The Breneican star scored a hattrick in her first competitive match for the club, and there were also goals for Jacques (2), Jim Gerrish, and pick of the bunch, a stunning free kick form Liam Goncalves. Johnny Smith's side looked solid at the back too, with the always rock solid defence barely giving the Seagulls a sniff. We were anticipating a tough season for Dundee, but if they produce more performances like this, then we may need to rethink that diagnosis. For four-in-a-row champions Cornellians however, there was to be a difficult start to the season, as they went down 4-2 at home to the ever-dangerous Warriors. In what was a storming start from the visitors, they went 2-0 up inside the opening fifteen minutes. Miki Kurugaya pounced on a Craig O'Maramy cross to open the scoring, before a distance effort from Tomás Fierro somehow slipped in at Jeremy McNott's far post. The Eagles did pull one back midway through the first half thanks to Kathryn Kvanderwyk, but new signing, Iana Synder, restored the two goal cushion with a fine strike in her first game in green and orange. Cornellians pushed hard in the second half, going close with shots from Jade Irwin and Kel Koromin, before substitute Mabel Finnemark made things 2-3. The Whalers rounded of a fantastic performance however, as Quebecois winger Adrienne O'Callahan curled in a left footed effort from the edge of the box. There was similar disappointment for last season's runners up Lammerton, as Jane Gullie's Handon United continued their good start to the season. First half goals from Christian Lovenkrands and JK Cottle stunned the Hornets support into silence - both strikes resulting from set-plays. Lammerton battled their way back into the match, firstly through a piece of Mars Alexandersson brilliance, and then with a Jasper Valaran pass, finding John Cooper in space level the scores. Just when the match looked like it was heading for a draw, up popped giant Redvali striker, Hiroyo Nunez, to tuck away an Envy Adams pass, and get United off to a winning start. Elsewhere, New Island came out surprise winners in a nine-goal thriller at Galloway Park. The match ended 5-4, with Cosumarite striker Ramone Scotta scoring twice. The new look Pebbles side looked very good going forward, with Lizzy Addison and Nikita Clohessy particularly strong in the centre of the park. Port Sebastian left it late to earn a share of the points away to Kings Park - Steven Rexmont it was who stabbed the ball home from a tight angle, after Kaija Koppel had opened the scoring for the Royals. And finally, Soessch continued their revival under Barry Gorman, with a 4-2 win over new kids, Hillstreet.

Champions' Cup -- Second Prelim Round

Lammerton 3–0 Willox Street Pirates (PCR)

This was not the match Lammerton wanted to cut their Champions' Cup teeth on. Taking on big spending Christopheran side, The Pirates, in what was a derby of sorts. However, to everyone's surprise, Jimmy Mitchel's side looked at sixes and sevens, as the Hornets ran out 3-0 winners. Jasper Valaran opened the scoring with a side footed effort, following a Merry Osbourne lay-off just before half time. In the dying stages Lammerton struck twice more, firstly through new loan signing Estrella Hawke, and then courtesy of a Mars Alexanderson free kick.

Globe Cup -- Second Prelim Round

New Belfast Warriors 2–0 Arrowhead Point (NGD)
(TLF) Aguiles 0-1 Handon United

It is never easy going up against Gelderlish sides, as many in international domestic football have found out over the past five seasons. Therefore the Warriors would have entered their match with Arrowhead Point with much trepidation. However, the New Belfast side put up a show on home turf, taking the lead early though an Iana Synder strike. Adrienne O'Callahan played a delightful ball across the face of the box for the Drawkish striker to tap home from close range. The Warriors worked hard in this match, and their grit and determination paid off when Holly Addison grabbed their second. The Schottian did well to get herself within a sniff of goal before pulling the trigger to seal all three points. Handon United rounded of a very good week for Schottic teams in the UICA, with a 1-0 win over Aguiles. Daniel Dostalok drifted onto the end of a Rebecca Talla pass, before cutting the ball into the net for the only goal of the game.

Series B Champions' Cup -- Second Prelim Round

(BVR) Saurt City 1–2 FC Döllar
(NGD) Lexington Conflagration 2-0 Snubbeck Rock

In the B Series, there were mixed fortunes however, with Döllar running out 2-1 winners at Saurt City - Sibučić, and Robertson getting the goals. Sunbbeck Rock on the other hand were on the receiving end of a 2-0 defeat to Lexington Conflagration.

SPL
Berwick United 3–6 Marionville
New Belfast Warriors 3–1 Granton Vale
Hollin 0–1 Cornellians
Port Sebastian 1–0 FC Döllar
Hillstreet 1–1 Kings Park
Port James Athletic 0–0 FC Soessch
La Gorlions 1–0 Mucusia
New Island 0–0 Snubbeak Rock
Handon United 3–1 Port Patrick United
Dundee 3–3 Lammerton

Cornellians got over their start of the season blip this weekend, with a hard fought 1-0 win at Hollin. The Belker Boys looked hell-bent on keeping the Champions out, and perhaps would have done so, were it not for a piece of Jade Irwin Magic. On one rare occasion that Hollin ventured out of their own half, they were caught out accordingly, as Sephen Gargo did well to rob Chris Jack of possession, before prodding the ball forward to the Nepharim playmaker. Irwin sidestepped young Colin Loweson before playing a perfectly weighted ball for Echani winger Marshawn Mercury. In only his first start for the Eagles, the former Sebo City player found himself in acres, and was able to look up and pick out Kel Koromin for the easiest of tap-ins. After the goal there was never much threat for Alexander Pearces side, given that their opponents had been playing for a 0-0 draw. One Eagles player who didn't fair so well however, was 16-year-old Isla Sibučić on loan at FC Döllar. Despite her side putting up a good fight at Dyerton Stadium, Jock Sonny's Port Sebastian side were too strong for the SPL newcomers, and a Demba Traore goal at the start of the second half was enough to give the much fancied side a first win of the season. A strong forward run from Esther Abner opened up some space down the right, allowing the 25-year-old to pick out Eloisa Purinton. The Gloriaxian then turned quickly, before her over the top through ball fell nicely for the Semar, Traore, who got his account up and running for 2024. Handon United, and Jane Gullie will be delighted to have made it two wins out of two, especially against another tricky side in the form of Port Patrick. United looked very composed against their fellow Handoners, and three goals from three of this year's new recruits will hopefully get the fans off the managers back a little. Despite spending big in the summer, there were sections of the support who were disappointed at the profile of the players coming in. With that in mind, a second goal of the season from woman-mountain, Hiroyo Nunez, will have been a welcome relief. The former FC Maris striker, opened the scoring with a bullet header, before Envy Adams doubled their lead from the penalty spot. Will Snedden pulled one back for the breakers, but Des Pleents side were always second best in a match where United looked back on form. Icing on the cake for the home fans would be Daniel Dostalok late strike, turning in a Christian Lovenkrands cross to give the Mercedinian teenager his first goal in the SPL. Lammerton continued to struggle domestically, although to be fair, Dundee is a hard place to go and get points. Much hyped Nepharim loanee, Estrella Hawke, got her account up and running with a second half double, filling in for the injured John Cooper, and Merry Osbourne was also on the score sheet after getting on the end of a Robard Horvat pass. None of this was enough however, as Dundee matched them every step of the way, with three of their own from Jacques, Mark Keane, and Emma Keohane - the latter finding herself now on four goals in two games. It will be a hard one for the Hornets to swallow, but once again, we can only marvel at the resilience of the boys and girls in dark-blue. In other matches: La Gorlions recorded yet another clean sheet at home to Mucusia, who are still trying to adjust to life after Envy Adams. A lovely piece of skill from Andrya Novkovic, on loan from Port Sebastian, sent Bonesea youngster Cephus Hunt through on goal for his second of the season. There was also a resounding win for Marionville, as they became the latest side to thump a barrel load past Berwick. Imants Kölleran, after receiving criticism during his performance in the 3-0 defeat to Granton, put on a much better display, scoring two of his side's goals. And Finally New Blefast Warriors stay at the top of the table, as their 3-1 win over Granton Vale showed that they meant business. There was another goal for Drawkish striker Iana Synder, who continues to make a big impression in Schottic football. Holly Addison was also in target for the Whalers, and a rare goal from Saskia Holden completed a good weekend for Graeme Collins' side.

Champions' Cup -- Second Prelim Round

(PRC) Willox Street Pirates 0-3 Lammerton

Lammerton must have went into this match expecting something of a backlash, but it was an unusually sedate Pirates side who took to the field at the Willox Street stadium. In the fiery heart of Port Christopher, Willox Street is probably one of the hardest places to go and play, yet somehow, Lammerton made it look easy. First half goals from Merry Osbourne and Jasper Valaran left the home side chasing six, and after that there seemed to be something of an implosion. The match could have easily been five of six nil to the Hornets, but they had to settle for just one more, with Estrella Hawke continuing her impressive start to life in Schottia, with a well-taken goal.

Globe Cup -- Second Prelim Round

(NGD) Arrowhead Point 3-1 a New Belfast Warriors
Handon United 2-3 a Aguiles (TFI)

There were mixed results for Schottia in the Globe Cup however, as the Warriors successfully defended their lead in New Gelderland, but United were ousted by a cruel late goal from Aguiles. Despite being on the back foot for much of the match, the Warriors got the all-important away goal, with Miki Kurugaya turning in a Tomás Feirro pass just before half time. For United, they must have thought that goals from Daniel Dostalok and Hiroyo Nunez would have been enough, but they were dumped out of UICA competition in the cruellest manner, by a stoppage time strike.

Series B Champions' Cup -- Second Prelim Round

FC Döllar a 0-1 Saurt City (BVR)
Snubbeck Rock 2-0 Lexington Conflagration (NGD) (4-3 pens)

In the Series B, both of Schottias sides progressed to the next round, by the narrowest of margins. Döllar went through on away goals despite a 1-0 defeat to Saurt City. While Snubbeck Rock went though 4-3 on penalties, after beating Lexington Conflagration 2-0 in South Berwick.

SPL
Lammerton 1–0 Berwick United
Port Patrick United 0–0 Dundee
Snubbeak Rock 1–1 Handon United
Mucusia 3–0 New Island
FC Soessch 2–0 La Gorlions
Kings Park 0–2 Port James Athletic
FC Döllar 1–2 Hillstreet
Cornellians 1–1 Port Sebastian
Granton Vale 3–1 Hollin
Marionville 0–0 New Belfast Warriors

This weekend's hotly anticipated encounter saw two of the title favourites go head to head, as Port Sebastian made the daunting trip to Lochend to take on Cornellians. We were expecting a real battle here and we weren't to be disappointed, in a match which produced seven yellow cards, and one red for Porty's Joey Bia. The Eagles had the edge in terms of quality, and that showed in the opening stages, with Tsumugi and Irwin getting the better of their opposite numbers. This superiority showed, when the young Kirisakian, Tsumugi, launched a long ball wide right to find Kit Kvanderwyk. The Cosumarite international turned quickly, outfoxing Paul Doig, before finding his sister Kathryn at the back post to put the home side ahead. Port Sebastian weren't put off by this, and as the match went on they searched hard for the equaliser, even after they were down to ten men. It is a hallmark of all Jock Sonny's sides, that they are full of pace and running: We saw it with Cornellians in the MPL, we saw it with Dundee, and Port Sebastian are no different. The energy of Michi Leonard has emphasised this approach, as well as confirming Sonny's eye for a bargain. Alongside Vera Cummings in the midfield, they really began to claw back at the Eagles through sheer hard work, and eventually they got their reward. A moment's laps in concentration from Scott Burton, allowed Purinton to exploit the space, threading a ball through for substitute Giancoma de Jerusalem to pull the trigger and earn her side a share of the points. In the traditional North Island derby, it was FC Soessch who came out on top, winning 2-0 at home to the Lions. In what proved to be a very even match, it came down to the sides' ability to finish, and that was where Soessch had the edge. The home side took the lead after Currian Cort's deflected strike bounced in off the back of Markus Pfab, completely wrong footing young Semar Mark den Karl in the Lions goal. The Bonesea winger then turned provider moments later, when a cross from deep found Sara Foucault in the area, to rubber-stamp the win. La Gorlions tried to come back, and there was a good opportunity for Aredhel Neil late on, but it would have been little more than a consolation. In a match which might well go a long way to deciding who stays up come the end of the season, it was Hillstreet who the advantage over FC Döllar. They are two evenly matched teams, who will be desperate to establish themselves in the top flight, but on this occasion Hillstreet just seemed to have a bit more bite. In Particular it was 34-year-old Bruno Schwartz, who caused the damage, scoring one and setting up another for Redvali strike partner Will Castillo. Isla Sibučić, and Kerstin Dornenberger both looked good for Döllar in the middle of the park, but at sixteen and twenty-one, there was only so much the manager could ask of them. Joe Vullermann pulled one back for the home side, but it was too little to late. Lammerton finally got a win on the board, after a less than impressive start to the season, but a 1-0 win at home to Berwick United won't exactly get people talking. It was once again Starling teenager, Estrella Hawke, who got the goal for the Hornets, bursting past Glen Gordon before applying the finish. In other results: Mucusia finally steadied the ship against a New Island who didn't really look at the races. Pasargan, Aimée Hétu, was the player who did the damage, a goal either side of half time putting the result beyond Jody Scott's side. Handon United were brought down to earth with a thump with a 1-1 draw at Snubbeak Rock. And Port James earned an important win on the road, goals from Elspeth Glendening and Joseph Preca helping them past Kings Park.

Champions' Cup -- Third Prelim Round

Cornellians 0–3 Iceicle City (FET)
Lammerton 2–0 KT Itzalovalle (AUD)

What's this? Alexander Pearce under pressure? Surely not - but there were a number on Cornellains fans left bitterly unhappy by this performance against Iceicle City. The usual fluidity was somehow missing for the Eagles, as they seemed unable to string two passes together in the centre of the park. What's more, some calamitous defending on three separate occasions let the City attack in to deliver what will go down as a humbling defeat. Lammerton on the other hand seemed to have no such troubles, as they took on Audioslavian side KT Itzalovalle. The Hornets did what the Hornets do best, keeping the intensity in the midfield area, pressing at every opportunity. In the end goals form Merry Osbourne and Estrella Hawke sealed a famous 2-0 win.

Globe Cup -- Third Prelim Round

Port Sebastian 2–1 US Scudelli (JUE)
(CEN) Whitehaven Triumph 3–2 New Belfast Warriors

The third round of qualifying saw Port Sebastian take to the stage on their return to UICA football. Taking on US Scudelli, Jock Sonny's side looked very impressive on home soil. Demba Traore opened the scoring on 32 minutes, heading home a Joey Bia cross, before Michi Leonard got her first goal of the club, prodding home at a goal line scramble. Porty will, however, have been disappointed to have let in an away goal, which they will need to pray doesn’t come back to haunt them. Meanwhile, the was heartbreak for the Warriors, as they went down 3-2 to Whitehaven Triumph in Ceni. Despite goals from Craig O'Maramy, and Miki Kurugaya the i-League side were just too strong at home for the Whalers.

Series B Champions' Cup -- Third Prelim Round

(AZA) Glenwood Town 2–1 Snubbeck Rock
FC Döllar 0–2 AC Hartdale (VAL)

Elsewhere, in the B-Champions' Cup, there was a double defeat for Schottia's small teams, with both Snubbeck and Döllar tasting defeat.

SPL
Berwick United 0–0 New Belfast Warriors
Hollin 0–2 Marionville
Port Sebastian 1–1 Granton Vale
Hillstreet 1–3 Cornellians
Port James Athletic 4–1 FC Döllar
La Gorlions 1–0 Kings Park
New Island 1–0 FC Soessch
Handon United 4–2 Mucusia
Dundee 1–0 Snubbeak Rock
Lammerton 2–2 Port Patrick United

Cornellians got the bit back between their teeth this week, as their fans packed into Flodden Road, for a visit to SPL new boys, Hillstreet. The Hunters, making their long awaited return, have been looking in good shape since Conner Watts took charge, midway through last season. However, against a side with their eyes on a second consecutive Champions' Cup appearance, it was several steps too far for the newly promoted side. Cornellians stamped their authority on this one early on, with a stunning goal from Marshawn Mercury.The 21-year-old's strike nearly burst the back of the net, as some of the fans were still finding their seats. The Echani winger picked up the ball in the centre circle, before beating three players, and hitting a low drive into the bottom corner. Hillstreet were really struggling to keep pace by this point, so Will Castillo's equaliser no doubt came a shock to both sides. However, Cornellians knew they needed a big result following their defeat in the Champions' Cup midweek, and came back strongly in the second half. First Nepharim playmaker Jade Irwin restored their lead, outwitting Phillip Hannalii, before curling the ball home. Substitute Lara Wedderburn than wrapped up all three points, turning in a Kit Kvanderwyk cross moments before the final whistle, to keep Cornellians in touch at the top. In Handon United's match with Mucusia, there was an awkward reunion for Natalie Adams, as the 20-year-old took on her former club. United looked extremely dangerous, just as they have been all season; and with the height and strength they have in the box, Alf Seggerson's freekicks and corners are proving to be an important source of goals. It was from one such set-piece that Hiroyo Nunez found the opener. Built more like a basketball player than a footballer, the Redvali striker gave poor Poppy Fayrkirk no chance. United doubled their lead just before the break, as Christian Lovenkrands made short work of the Mucusia defence, to slot the ball into the back of the net. In the second half, the visitors came out of their shell slightly, and got themselves back into the game with a goal from Daineri midfielder Ryuni. However, the goal counted for little in the end, as goals from Daniel Dostalok and Mirka Shitakuari rounded things off. Adams was denied a goal against her former charges in the dying minutes, as her 18-metre drive clipped the top of the crossbar. While Flora Klee did pull another one back for the Eusabians, it was too little too late. With both sides looking desperately for all three points, the 2-2 draw between Lammerton and Port Patrick will be a compromise that will please neither. The Breakers took the lead in this match, thanks to a goal from new signing Callum Frir, the journeyman striker getting onto the end of a Chiyoko Sakuraka cross. The Hornets needed a big response given their current league standing, and they got it, with John Cooper heading in Mars Alexanderson's cross as the first half drew to a close. Lammerton then found the lead thanks to Estrella Hawke, who bustled clear of Davy Keates before sidefooting the ball into the net past Altavian Kalhoro for 2-1. However, things are rarely ever that simple in football and the away side pulled level late on, as Connie Malone's neat lay-off for Tanya Yeats meant it finished all square. Dundee also kept themselves in contention, up at the top of the table, with a 1-0 win over Snubbeak Rock. Once again, the pace and directness of Emma Keohane had Dundee's opponents tied in knots, as they seemed to be finding this injection of pace difficult to deal with. It was old fan's favourite Barry Drite who had the final say in this match however, the right winger grabbing his first goal of the season in the 67th minute. In other results, Cephus Hunt nodded in an Andrya Novkovic cross to give La Gorlions all three points against Kings Park. A late goal for Jack Hobbs earned his side a share of the points away to Port Sebastian. And finally, Elspeth Glendening scored a brace in Port James' 4-1 win over FC Döllar, as the 21-year-old continues to stake her claim for a Schottia call up.

Player and Manager of The Month Awards -- Month One

Player: Emma Keohane -- Dundee
It was an absolute whirlwind of a start for this young woman, and with a debut like hers, who else could you hand the award to. Perhaps not the most glamorous of picks for player of the month, but what attributes the Dundee striker has, she uses to good effect, and that's really all you can ask.

Young Player: Elspeth Glendening -- Port James Athletic
This young striker has picked up the way she left off last season, and based on these performances, she must surely be destined for greater things. Some thought that she was unlucky to be overlooked for a move to Handon United in the summer, but it is unlikely to be long now until she is on her travels.

Manager: Jane Gullie -- Handon United
Given the sheer pressure this woman must have been under going into the new season, you have to give her credit. There were a few who questioned her signings, but they seem to have made a difference, with United looking their most competitive in years.

Champions' Cup -- Third Prelim Round

(FET) Iceicle City 1-0 Cornellians
(AUD) KT Itzalovalle 5-0 Lammerton

This will go down as one of the darkest days in Schottia's short time in UICA football, with both clubs limping out at the third round of qualifying. Cornellians will need to go away and do some real soul searching, as their 1-0 defeat to Iceicle City will be hard to take for their ambitious fans. Lammerton on the other hand, were on the receiving end of a 5-0 thumping from Audioslavian side KT Itzalovalle, meaning that their Champions' Cup adventure also comes to a close.

Globe Cup -- Third Prelim Round

(JUE) US Scudelli 0-2 Port Sebastian
New Belfast Warriors 1-2 Whitehaven Triumph (CEN)

Port Sebastian managed to lift some of the gloom, by finishing the job they started last week. Jock Sonny's side made light work of US Scudelli, as thy tried to reach the group stages for the first time. Eloisa Purinton scored goals either side of half time, as Porty put in one of their best performances so far this season. For the Warriors on the other hand, there was to be no late celebration as they were eliminated by Cenian side Whitehaven. Despite a Jenny Lundergrand goal, the Whalers went on to lose 2-1.

Series B Champions' Cup -- Third Prelim Round

(VAL) AC Hartdale 2-0 FC Döllar
Snubbeck Rock 2-0 Glenwood Town (AZA)

In the Series B Championship, it was also the end of the road for Döllar, who despite a hard fought match, just couldn't make an impact against their Valanoran opponents. Snubbeak Rock had slightly better luck however, Nick James and Audrey Clifton scoring the goals which sent them through.

SPL
Port Patrick United 1–0 Berwick United
Snubbeak Rock 3–5 Lammerton
Mucusia 0–1 Dundee
FC Soessch 0–1 Handon United
Kings Park 1–0 New Island
FC Döllar 0–4 La Gorlions
Cornellians 0–0 Port James Athletic
Granton Vale 4–1 Hillstreet
Marionville 4–6 Port Sebastian
New Belfast Warriors 1–1 Hollin

Match of the day was undoubtedly the goal fest at Marionville. The Old Boys and Porty played out a ten-goal thriller, in which the lead changed hands several times. Port Sebastian were two goals up inside seven minutes, with Demba Traore converting a Steven Rexmont cross, before Eloisa Purinton doubled their lead from the spot. The visitors were on cruise control at that point, but Marionville weren’t going to make it easy for them, and struck back with goals from Imants Kölleran (2) and Vojnomir Nikolic. After that it was the home side's turn to crank the screw, and for Porty, the break couldn't come quick enough. In the second half however, they got themselves back level, as Steven Rexmont slammed in a left footed drive from a tight angle. The goal must have taken the wind from the Marionville sails somewhat, but to their credit, they kept fighting and retook the lead with a goal from Alyssa Haight. Just when we were starting to question whether Port Sebastian were up for the title push this year, they gave us the answer, with a three goal flourish to win the match 6-4. Purinton pulled them level with her second, before late goals from Michi Leonard and Joon Ho Hwang finally settled the matter. In a weekend laced with some high scoring matches, one potentially pivotal result was Handon United's 1-0 win at Soessch. Apart from the early Globe Cup exit, United have been looking pretty resilient this season, and this win completely against the balance of play showed some real guts. A clever passing move involving Adams and Talla, sent Dostalok down the line. The Mercedinian striker then had the awareness to square the ball for Nunez, who scored to secure all three points for her side. Meanwhile, on the North Island, La Gorlions continued to look strong as they made the short trip down the mountains to face FC Döllar. There was quite a bit of excitement surrounding the newly promoted side this season, but once again they looked all at sea as they found themselves on the end of a 4-0 hammering. Bonesea's Cephus Hunt scored a first half double, and second half goals from Aredhel Neil and Yelena Shostakovich ensured a very comfortable day at the office for Jago Avelione's side. Lammerton managed to get back to winning ways, as they visited the New Island to take on Snubbeak, but they were certainly made to work for it. In an incredible flourish to this match, Nick James scored two and set up another, as he nearly salvaged a point for his side. However, Robard Horvat and Estrella Hawke struck late on to restore the Hornets' lead. Elsewhere: Jacques helped Dundee to another narrow win, this time over Mucusia, which keeps them in touching distance. Cornellians were forced to endure a frustrating afternoon, as Port James dug deep for a 0-0 draw. And lastly, Will Snedden was in the right place at the right time to convert a Willy McIntyre cross, giving the Breakers a 1-0 win over Berwick United.

Globe Cup -- Play-off Round

(JSY) Lisda Lokado Goji Salamjĭ 1–1 Port Sebastian
Cornellians 4–0 Moltons (TLF)
Lammerton 1–2 Ousevale Borough (KRY)

Cornellians definitely had a score to settle as they welcomed Moltons to Lochend in the play-off round of the Globe Cup. After their showing in the Champions' Cup, the 4-0 win here will have gone some way towards restoring faith in the side. Kel Koromin score one either side of half time, in what was a very lively display from the Cenian; and as the game entered the closing stages, the Eagles added two more with goals from Lara Wedderburn and Triffid Ramsey. Koromin had a great chance to complete his hattrick late in the match, when he got on the end of a Kit Kvanderwyk cross, but he pulled his shot just wide. For Port Sebastian they will be reasonably happy with an away goal at Lisda Lokado Goji Salamjĭ. In what was a very accomplished defensive showing, Porty got the slight upper hand when Vera Cummings slid the ball through to Demba Traore for the Semar to level the match. For Lammerton there was yet more disipointment, as they went down 2-1 at home to Krytenian side Ousevale Borough.

Series B Champions' Cup -- Play-off Prelim Round

(SLL) Nandaozhou Sharks 1–0 Snubbeck Rock
(OSR) Violia FC 0–0 Hillstreet

Neither of Schottia's wee teams managed to shower themselves in glory - nor did they find the net for that matter. Snubbeak lost 1-0 at Nandaozhou Sharks. while Hillstreet found the going tough in Osarius, drawing 0-0 with Violia FC.

SPL
Berwick United 2–3 Hollin
Port Sebastian 1–0 New Belfast Warriors
Hillstreet 0–3 Marionville
Port James Athletic 5–2 Granton Vale
La Gorlions 1–2 Cornellians
New Island 2–1 FC Döllar
Handon United 2–0 Kings Park
Dundee 2–1 FC Soessch
Lammerton 1–1 Mucusia
Port Patrick United 2–1 Snubbeak Rock

If there is one thing La Gorlions know how to do, it's digging in on home soil. This weekend they faced four-in-a-row champions Cornellians, and really made Alexander Pearce's side work for the three points. The Eagles took the lead after thirty minutes, when they finally broke down the Lions's defence. Jade Irwin's cross come shot was too much for Mark den Karl to deal with, and the Semar ended up swatting the ball into the path of Kathryn Kvanderwyk for the young Cosumarite to open the scoring. La Gorlions fought hard to get back level, and early in the second half they got their reward. Yelena Shostakovich's through ball for Andrya Novkovic was brilliantly well timed, and the Anglatian was able to flick the ball across to Broad Dalehun to even up the scores. As the match entered the final stages, there were chances for both sides to win it. Fredrick Houben went close with a strike from distance, and the on form Cephus Hunt was unlucky to see his sidefooted effort spin just wide. Meanwhile, at the other end, Kel Koromin rattled the bar for the Eagles, and Marshawn Mercury fired just wide after a cross field ball from Rachel Mercurier found him in space at the angle of the box. In the end however, it was to be substitute Eula Richard who had the final say, her sweeping strike from just inside the area sneaking under den Karl to give her side a very important victory. Dundee also kept the pressure on the sides at the top, with David Hughes having a somewhat unhappy return to his former stomping ground. The 24-year-old actually opened the scoring for Soessch, rising highest to head in a Currian Cort cross, but on a whole it was a disappointing day for Barry Gorman's side. Dundee pulled level thanks to a Liam Goncalves freekick just after the restart, and then Emma Keohane scored her fifth of the season, bursting in to finish, after some good work from Mark Keane. The result left both clubs probably in the opposite position we expected them to be in at the start of the season; with Soessch unfathomably going backwards, and Dundee once again challenging at the top of the table. Athletic are another side who are having good start to the new season, and this week they put five past Granton Vale. Dilon Bànach showed why Handon United rate her so highly, as the 17-year-old loanee scored one and set up two in this comprehensive victory. There were also goals for Elspeth Glendening, Ramine Clake (2) and Joseph Preca - with Jack Hobbs and Scott Cooper scoring for the Beachcombers. Bànach's parent club, United, are now almost unrecognisable from the side which struggled over the last three seasons, as their comfortable win over Kings Park showed. Christan Lovenkards, so often the architect, was at his best again, turning Mario Modrich inside out before squaring the ball for Nunez to score her sixth of the season. Natalie Adams then settled the matter, with a goal fifteen minutes from the end. The highly rated Sunrise Islander showed a great change of pace, bursting into the box to finish, after James Robertson's well-timed through ball. In other matches: An Imants Kölleran double helped Marionville to a 3-0 win at Hillstreet. Goals from Liz Addison and Ian Wilson gave New Island a valuable win over Döllar. And finally, a late Aimée Hétu goal denied Lammerton all three points, as their season continues to nosedive.

.                        Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
 1 Handon United           6    5   1   0    14    6   +8    16
 2 Dundee                  6    4   2   0    14    4  +10    14
 3 Port James Athletic     6    3   3   0    12    4   +8    12
 4 La Gorlions             6    4   0   2    10    4   +6    12
 5 Port Sebastian          6    3   3   0    11    7   +4    12
 6 Cornellians             6    3   2   1     9    7   +2    11
 7 Marionville             6    3   1   2    15   12   +3    10
 8 Granton Vale            6    3   1   2    14   11   +3    10
 9 New Island              6    3   1   2     8    9   −1    10
10 New Belfast Warriors    6    2   3   1     8    5   +3     9
11 Lammerton               6    2   3   1    14   12   +2     9
12 Port Patrick United     6    2   2   2    10   11   −1     8
13 FC Soessch              6    2   1   3     7    6   +1     7
14 Mucusia                 6    1   2   3     7    8   −1     5
15 Kings Park              6    1   2   3     3    7   −4     5
16 Hollin                  6    1   1   4     5   10   −5     4
17 Hillstreet              6    1   1   4     7   16   −9     4
18 FC Döllar               6    1   0   5     4   13   −9     3
19 Snubbeak Rock           6    0   2   4     5   12   −7     2
20 Berwick United          6    0   1   5     5   18  −13     1

by **Schottia** » Fri Jan 06, 2017 1:11 am

Matchday seven - twelve

Globe Cup -- Play-off Round

Port Sebastian 3-0 Lisda Lokado Goji Salamjĭ (JYS)
(TLF) Moltons 2-1 Cornellians
(KRY) Ousevale Borough 1-0 Lammerton

Lammerton's miserable run was complete midweek, as they a 1-0 defeat in Krytenia saw them dumped out of UICA competition once again. The Hornets were never really at the races, and manager John Sedder will no doubt have some explaining to do when he gets back. Cornellians on the other hand, were defending a mighty lead going into this match, and after securing an away goal early on, they had little to fear from Moltons. Despite the goal from Kel Koromin, the Eagles went on to lose the match, however the 2-1 scoreline did nothing to change the result. For Port Sebastian there was much celebration however, as they defeated Lisda Lokado Goji Salamjĭ 3-0. Everyone in this Porty side seem to be pulling together, working for each other, and it shows in the results. Steven Rexmont's goal was the pick of the bunch as it looped over the keeper and into the net from the corner of the box. There were also goals for Eloisa Purinton, and Emeline Millet, as the Handon side booked their place in the qualifying round.

Series B Champions' Cup -- Play-off Prelim Round

Snubbeck Rock 3-1 Nandaozhou Sharks (SLL)
Hillstreet 1-2 Violia FC (OSR)

With Hillstreet's exit from the competition, Snubbeak were left as the only Schottic side remaining. There would have been no surprises that it was Nick James who came up with the goods as they out muscled Nandaozhou Sharks to book a place in the group draw. There will likely be some very puzzled faces in South Berwick, if James isn't included in the national squad at some point following these performances.

SPL
Snubbeak Rock 3–3 Berwick United
Mucusia 0–1 Port Patrick United
FC Soessch 2–1 Lammerton
Kings Park 0–1 Dundee
FC Döllar 2–5 Handon United
Cornellians 3–2 New Island
Granton Vale 0–0 La Gorlions
Marionville 2–0 Port James Athletic
New Belfast Warriors 2–0 Hillstreet
Hollin 1–4 Port Sebastian

Feature match this week was a bottom of the table clash - the South Berwick derby as Snubbeak Rock took on Berwick United. There were a number of scouts sat in the stands, no doubt there to see Nick James - and possibly Chris McKinsey also. For those who made the trip to this bleak corner of the islands, they weren't disappointed, as right winger, James, showed the pace and guile which have won him a legion of followers. The 20-year-old set up the first goal on twenty minutes, crossing for Audrey Clifton, before he doubled the home side's lead with a strike of his own from a tight angle. Watching this young lad play, would make you think that the Rock should be up near the top of the table, but unfortunately this masks a whole other story. Seeping in goals everywhere, the home side quickly found their lead evaporate, as first Michael Maxwell, then Johnny McDonald pulled the gulls level. Justyna Eriksson sent the travelling support into raptures, as her deflected shot from all of 25 metres bounced in off a defender to give United the lead. All was not lost however, as Chris McKinsey popped up in the dying seconds to salvage a share of the points, on this cold autumn afternoon. Far from this scrappy affair on the New Island, Port Sebastian were riding on the crest of a wave as they put four past a sorry looking Hollin side. The pace and strength Porty have in attack at the moment is hard to deal with, and Demba Traore wasted no time in smashing his side in front. The central-midfield pairing of Vera Cummings and Michi Leonard seemed to have the run of the pitch at points, as the inexperienced Hollin midfield had something of an off day, with Neil Brown in particular looking pathetic. Leonard doubled her side's lead, as she picked up a through-pass from Esther Abner, before slotting the ball past Varry Coen, who was seen punching the turf in frustration. A darting run from Joey Bia created Port Sebastian's third, as the Dahamy born winger skipped two challenges before finding the net. Nick Man grabbed a consolation goal for Hollin, but Eloisa Purinton had the final say as she angled a Steven Rexmont cross into the back of the net. Cornellians also kept themselves well placed to pounce, with a 3-2 win over New Island. The Pebbles are looking like a whole other proposition this season, and they made the Eagles work accordingly. Liz Addison shocked a few people in Schottic football when she joined up with Judy Scott's team rather than trying to go overseas - however, it would seem that the Schottia U21 star is thriving at her new club. The little sister of Schottia star, Holly, was at the top of her game once again, as she gave Irwin and Tsumugi a run for their money. Former Lammerton City star, Ikas Nike, gave New Island the lead in Lochend, only to see goals form Kathryn Kvanderwyk, and Kit Kvanderwyk cancel that out. Ramone Scotta did well to outmuscle Stephen Gargo, and pull his side level once more, however Jade Irwin had the final say, latching onto a Kit Kvanderwyk pass to make sure all three points stayed with the home side. In other results: Daniel Dostalok found the net twice in Handon United's very impressive 5-2 win at Döllar, a late Peter Hans Goulbre goal making the scoreline look more respectable. Dundee kept up their relentless march at the minute, with Emma Keohane once again on target, as a single goal was enough to sneak past Kings Park. And lastly FC Soessch got a much needed three points as then compounded Lammerton's misery; Sara Foucault and Johan Shearer were both on target for the North Island side.

Globe Cup -- Qualifying Round

Port Sebastian 2–0 Holdenberg (EUR)
Cornellians 5–2 Marketnewton FC (BRG)

After a somewhat disappointing campaign so far, Schottia's two remaining clubs were left celebrating a great night in UICA football. Port Sebastian were really up against it as they welcomed Euran side, Holdenberg, to Dyerton Stadium, but they pulled of one of their best performances to win the match 2-0. Captain Eloisa Purinton was at her very best, scoring a double in this match, but the real heroes were at the back, with Joon Ho Hwang and Sloane Kirkland handling everything that was thrown at them. For Cornellains it was even better, as they put five past Marketnewton FC. The Eagles had their deadly duo up front to thank for putting them in a commanding position, with Koromin and Kvanderwyk jnr each coming away with two goals. 14-year-old Sumireko Karuizawa scored the fifth on her debut for the club.

SPL
Berwick United 0–1 Port Sebastian
Hillstreet 0–2 Hollin
Port James Athletic 1–1 New Belfast Warriors
La Gorlions 2–1 Marionville
New Island 4–2 Granton Vale
Handon United 1–5 Cornellians
Dundee 1–0 FC Döllar
Lammerton 4–1 Kings Park
Port Patrick United 2–0 FC Soessch
Snubbeak Rock 1–2 Mucusia

Handon United were knocked from top spot, and sent back down to earth with a bang, as they lost 5-1 at home to Cornellians. It was as if the last two months hadn't happened, as United seemed to completely fold to the Eagles, who made it 13 goals in three games. Kathyrn Kvanderwyk now has five in three, with her double in this game, as the Cosumarite seems to have really come of age. The first goal came from a Jade Irwin corner swung in at the near post, and the second was the result of a great solo effort. Rebecca Talla pulled one back for Handon, but in the second half, goals from Kel Koromin, Lara Wedderburn, and Irwin meant that they were dealt a humiliating defeat. This result will be a bitter blow for Jane Gullie's side, who it seemed had began to turn a corner. There is obviously no shame in losing to Cornellians, but 5-1 at home is not the kind of result that will inspire much confidence. Dundee took full advantage of Handon United's disgrace, as they kept yet another clean sheet to leapfrog their big-spending opponents. Despite his advancing years, Gerhard Mackan has been putting in some outstanding performances in blue and white, with the Nepharim looking solid as a rock between the sticks. He had to be at his best again today, turning a freekick from Isla Sibučić over the bar, with the scored at 0-0. Dundee's goal came courtesy of Jim Gerrish, whose well timed run to the edge of the box gave him the room he needed to drill the ball home and win his side all three points. In terms of performances, New Island seem to have really turned a corner, and a 4-2 win over Granton Vale is an excellent result for the Pebbles. The combination of Clohessy in Addison in midfield seems to be working, and with the pace the have in the wide areas, they are clearly capable of doing damage. Burly Cosumarite striker, Ramone Scotta, had a good game also scoring two of his side's four as he continues be a handful for defenders. Young centre-back Grant Carlin scored the third, heading in a Jorberg corner, and Ikas Nike grabbed the fourth with a strike from the edge of the area. The improvements in this side are plain for all to see, and while at the start of the season we thought they might be drawn into a relegations battle, they are now looking like a mid-table side. There was also a convincing win for Lammerton, one which they very much needed. The Hornets made light work of another struggling side, Kings Park, who are currently sitting down in the relegation zone. Jasper Valaran was back to his best in the centre of midfield and that seemed to make a difference, as the Cenian had been a little out of sorts in the opening third. The young playmaker scored one, and had a hand in another two, as Lammerton looked like the side from last season. As for Kings Park, the pressure will continue to mount for manager Eric Desmond. Despite a great start to his managerial career, the club seem to be standing still now under the former player, and it would appear that it is now time for him to move on. In other results: Eloisa Purinton's first half free kick was enough to take all three points for Port Sebastian at Berwick United. In the battle for the last Globe Cup place, La Gorlions won an important battle with Marionville. And Calum Frir and Tanya Yeats gave the Breakers a hard fought 2-0 win as they played host to FC Soessch.

Player and Manager of The Month Awards -- Month Two

Player: Eloisa Purinton -- Port Sebastian
As much for her exploits in the Globe Cup as it is for her league performances, the Gloriaxian refugee is a deserved recipient of this award. Jock Sonny really seems to be a manager who can get the best out her, and she has shown real maturity in matches this month.

Young Player: Hiroyo Nunez -- Handon United
The only thing that can match Nunez's height is her ego, and with plenty of players in the United team who can deliver a ball into the box, the Redvali striker has been clearing up. Gullie was criticised for spending so much on a relatively untested 20-year-old from an unranked nation, but Nunez has helped prove their doubters wrong.

Manager: Jock Sonny -- Port Sebastian
Great performances this month from Port Sebastian, as they really look like a side that could challenge at the top. Sonny has a very good blend in this team right now, a relatively young side with bags of energy.

Globe Cup -- Qualifying Round

(EUR) Holdenberg 0-2 Port Sebastian
(BRG) Marketnewton FC 0-3 Cornellians

Both Schottia's remaining sides secured their place the Globe Cup draw, with excellent away wins. It is the first time that Schottia have ever had two clubs at this stage in UICA football, and further proof of the league's development. Port Sebastian took a 2-0 lead into the away leg in Eura, but they would have been mindful of the fact that Holdenberg still represented a huge threat. Porty made their lives a whole lot easier however, as they grabbed an early away goal, thanks to Demba Traore. They managed to weather the storm, and sealed their place with a late goal form Quebecios substitute, Giancoma de Jerusalem. Cornellians seemed far more relaxed as they faced Marketnewtown, in their return fixture. The Eagles now seem to be pulling together much better as a unit, and goals from Kel Kormin, Mabel Finnemark, and Jade Irwin gave them a very comfortable win.

SPL
Mucusia 0–0 Berwick United
FC Soessch 4–0 Snubbeak Rock
Kings Park 2–1 Port Patrick United
FC Döllar 1–0 Lammerton
Cornellians 1–0 Dundee
Granton Vale 0–0 Handon United
Marionville 1–0 New Island
New Belfast Warriors 2–2 La Gorlions
Hollin 1–1 Port James Athletic
Port Sebastian 6–0 Hillstreet

There were some crucial results this week, as the SPL started to take shape after nine matches. Dundee were dealt a first defeat of the season, although to be fair, it was at Lochend Park. Cornellians must have been riding the crest of a wave after making the Globe Cup, and set up very offensively, determined to break down the stubborn Panners defence. Gerhard Mackan seems to be unbeatable between the stick right now, but even he needed his crossbar to save him early on, as Jade Irwin cracked a shot off the horizontal from 18 meters out. Dundee were struggling under a lot of pressure for much of the match, and were unable to use the likes of Keane and Keohane effectively in attack. Eventually Cornellians wore them down, and got the crucial goal, with Koromin sliding in to convert a low Mercury cross. With other results going their way, the win put The Eagles equal top for the first time this year. Another club who managed to capture the momentum were Port Sebastian, who followed up their midweek success with a 6-0 win over Hillstreet. The Hunters seem to be struggling more than we had expected this season, and manager Conner Watts will find this defeat to his former club a bitter pill to swallow. Porty ran rampage in the first half, with Demba Traore in particular causing the visitors a lot of problems. The Semar scored two in fifteen minutes, while Vera Cummings and Joey Bia added two more to put the home side 4-0 up at half time. In the second half, Eloisa Purinton and Michi Leonard completed the rout, as the club joined Dundee, Cornellians, and Handon United at the top of the table. And it was goodbye to Eric Desmond this week, as he parted company with Kings Park after five years at the club. With results which had seen the Royals drop into the relegation zone, it was deemed time for him to go. Grant Nean has emerged as an early favourite to replace him, with some suspicion that sacked Pirates manager Jimmy Mitchel could be an outside contender as well. Either way, Kings Park got a little bit of a bounce this week, with Sendoa, and Kaija Koppel both scoring in a 2-1 win over city rivals Port Patrick. With little to cheer about this season, the win will certainly come as some welcome relief. FC Soessch also got a result they really needed, with a 4-0 win over Snubbeak Rock. Barry Gorman's side had David Hughes to thank for a first half double, which seemed to break the visitors' spirit. His first was a well-timed header from a Currian Cort cross, and for the second, he showed great awareness to pounce on a loose ball, following a Konstantin Holstad strike. In the second half Sara Foucault and Tamika November added two more, to give the North Island side a comfortable home win. Elsewhere: Handon United were frustrated at Granton Vale, as the Beachcombers put another dent in their revival, holding them to a 0-0 draw. A distance strike from wonderkid Isla Sibučić must have felt like a gut punch to Lammerton, as they continue to struggle this season for no apparent reason - on this occasion, Döller were the side who benefited. And lastly Marionville continue to make progress this year, a 1-0 win over New Island the latest in a long line of good results.

SPL
Berwick United 1–2 Hillstreet
Port James Athletic 4–2 Port Sebastian
La Gorlions 1–2 Hollin
New Island 1–2 New Belfast Warriors
Handon United 4–0 Marionville
Dundee 4–0 Granton Vale
Lammerton 0–1 Cornellians
Port Patrick United 0–1 FC Döllar
Snubbeak Rock 1–2 Kings Park
Mucusia 1–0 FC Soessch

Matchday ten, and as we sit around waiting for Dundee to drop off the pace, there is still no let up. Despite having one of the smallest squads in the league, and having sold their top goal scorer, they seem to be holding on tight. Another clean sheet, and this time four goals over a Granton Vale side that managed to keep United honest in their last game. The Panners got the ball rolling after only five minutes, when Jacques showed the Beachcombers defenders a clean set of heels to score his fourth of the season. By half time Dundee were 3-0 up, after both Jim Gerrish and Emma Keohane added to the tally. The home side's slow, patient build up seems to be really working for them, and once again, they showed composure, keeping it tight in the second half before adding a final goal to make it four. Barry Drite made a lung-bursting run to the edge of the box before hammering the ball across the face of goal for David Galmore to stab home. After a couple of very difficult results, Handon United bounced back this weekend, with a 4-0 win of their own. Jane Gullie's side played host to Marionville, a side who have been having a good season so far. However, United were just too strong for the Old Boys, and second half goals from Christian Lovenkrands and Daniel Dostalok, and Mirka Shitakuari made the scoreline look all the more emphatic after what was actually a close first half. United's season has not been perfect by any means - but had they been told they would be equal top after ten games at the start of the season, then they undoubtedly would have taken it. Port Sebastian missed a great chance, as they slipped down to fourth, following a 4-2 defeat to Port James Athletic. Porty had been riding high, but were definitely second best to an Athletic side who took the opportunity to close to within six points. Again it was Elspeth Glendening who caused the damage for the home side, just as she has done all season. There were a few Schottia fans out there that thought the 21-year-old was unlucky not to get a call-up during the Independents Cup, and her double today will do her chances no harm at all. The visitors never really looked at the races, and they needed second half goals from Abner and Traore to keep the score line respectable. Last season it would have been a hotly anticipated encounter, but you always had a feeling, given the way the Hornets are playing, that Cornellians were going to take something from their visit to the Lammerton City Ground. To their credit Lammerton kept things tight for much of the match, and had chances of their own with Estrella Hawke and Jasper Valaran both going close. However it was the Eagles who had the final word, with Kit Kvanderwyk scoring the only goal of the game. The result leaves Lammerton eleven points adrift, meaning that they are all but out of the title race already. Elsewhere: New Belfast Warriors had a late Jenny Lundergrand goal to thanks for three points at New Island. The Döllar bounce continues with a 1-0 win over Part Patrick. And a stoppage time header from Will Castillo gave Hillstreet a potentially vital three points in the race to beat the drop.

SPL
FC Soessch 1–0 Berwick United
Kings Park 3–1 Mucusia
FC Döllar 1–0 Snubbeak Rock
Cornellians 4–5 Port Patrick United
Granton Vale 3–2 Lammerton
Marionville 4–0 Dundee
New Belfast Warriors 2–3 Handon United
Hollin 0–1 New Island
Port Sebastian 2–1 La Gorlions
Hillstreet 0–0 Port James Athletic

Handon United found themselves back on top following an extremely hard fought win over New Belfast Warriors at Ashley Road. United had to come from behind twice in game which saw eight yellow cards issued. The battle between the two neighbouring cities was heated from the offset with a bitter war of words between sections of the support, as Jane Gullie looked to take on the club at which she made her name. Drawkish striker, Iana Synder, put the home team in front after sixteen minutes turning in a Craig O'Maramy cross, only for Daniel Dostalok to level the game with a strike from just inside the box. Warriors retook the lead early in the second half, this time Tomás Fierro came up with the goods, looping the ball over countryman Jacrian Ryaden. United were having the better of the possession by this stage, however, and they made that count six minutes from time, when Christian Lovenkrads managed to pull them level from an impossible angle. Just when it looked like the match was heading for 2-2, up popped Mirka Shitakuari, on for Nunez, to win the match for the visitors with an excellent drive cutting in from the left. And Port Sebastian were up to second, after coming out on top in a gutsy battle with La Gorlions. Port Sebastian are possibly the league's on from side at the moment, but The Lions have never been a side lay down easily, and they made it very tricky for the Noth Handoners. Demba Traore rocketed Porty ahead midway through the first half, beating Markus Pfab to the ball to header in an Eloisa Purinton corner. Jago Avelione's side responded in the second half though, after captain Fred Houben played in Anglatian youngster Andrya Novkovic, to level the scores against her parent club. It looked as if Novkovic could have been headed for an embarrassing reunion with her clubmates when she got back from her season long lone, until Joey Bia spared her blushes with a late goal. This season took another dramatic twist however, as the seemingly unassailable Dundee were hammered 4-0 away to Marionville. For a side who had only conceded five goals in total going into this game, the score line was highly surprising, and will leave a few Panners fans scratching their heads. Imants Kölleran has blown hot and cold in his time at Marionville, since joining from the Sviby Vikings, but today he firing on all cylinders as he blazed a double past Gerhard Macken. The goals seemed to send Dundee into a state of panic, which they never quite recovered from as the match went on. Pasargan, Vojnomir Nikolic, added a third shortly after the restart, and Alyssa Haight made it four as her over hit cross drifted under the cross bar. The Nepharim's goal, just as Dundee were really cranking up the pressure, will have come as a final slap in the face for Johnny Smith's side, who had to go away and work out what went wrong. It wasn't just Dundee who were left in pieces this week, Cornellians were also on the wrong end of a 5-4 score line when they took on Port Patrick United. The Champions were by far the better team for the first hour, but somehow Des Pleent's side managed to hang on for dear life, despite being played off the park. There was a twist in the tale though, as two goals in the last ten minutes from Callum Frir, and Chiyoko Sakuraka handed the Breakers all three points. You could have heard a pin drop inside Lochend Park, as the Kazamatsuri born midfielder curled her goal in, and the look on Alexander Pearce's face told the whole story. In other results, Pacal Voitle got off to a winning start on his return to management, as his Kings Park side won 3-1 against Mucusia. Lammerton are still left looking for points, as they lost to Granton Vale, despite an Estrella Hawke double. And Döllar moved a step closer to safety with a 1-0 win over Snubbeak Rock.

SPL
Berwick United 0–1 Port James Athletic
La Gorlions 5–0 Hillstreet
New Island 0–1 Port Sebastian
Handon United 4–3 Hollin
Dundee 0–1 New Belfast Warriors
Lammerton 2–0 Marionville
Port Patrick United 3–0 Granton Vale
Snubbeak Rock 2–5 Cornellians
Mucusia 1–0 FC Döllar
FC Soessch 4–2 Kings Park

The wheels seem to have completely come off the wagon now for Dundee, as a Miki Kurugaya's goal at the end of the first half saw them lose at home for the first time this season. The Warriors were also chasing the UICA spots, and this win will allow them to keep in touch, following the disappointing result last week at United. Dundee pushed the New Belfast club hard in the first half, with both Jacques, and Jim Gerrish going close in their efforts to break the deadlock. However, it was to be the Whalers who got their noses in front, when the big Kirisakian striker spotted the through ball from Adrienne O'Callahan. Kurugaya used her pace and strength to get the better of the normally resolute defenders, and give her side the lead. Dundee did their best to get back into the game, but they certainly seem to have trouble coming from behind to get results, and this showed today. Emma Keohane did have a chance to level the scores in the dying minutes, but her shot was well saved by SJG's Nerio Teran. We are getting into the thick of the season now, and new-look Handon United are still going strong near the top of the table. A 4-3 win over a tricky looking Hollin side, further enhanced Jane Gullie's side's credentials, as for a second week running they showed real character in coming from behind to win. Things looked bad for United at half time after Fred Dawson, and Colin Loweson struck to overturn Daniel Dostalok's opener against the run of play. However United came out fighting in the second half, and quickly pulled level when Rebecca Talla found Redvali striker Hiroyo Nunez in space in the box. United scored two more in quick succession, firstly as JK Cottle pounced to convert a Envy Adams corner, then again, as substitute Baffour Asante got his first goal of the season latching on to a Dostalok layoff. Hollin did pull one back through Nick Mann. But it was too little to late to save the Belker Boys. If there were ever a side who needed a win, it was Lammerton. The Hornets finally put a little distance between themselves and the bottom of the table with a 2-0 win over Marionville. John Sedder's side have been inexplicably poor this season, with their normally exceptional midfield looking in tatters at points. Their one shinning light seems to be Nepharim youngster Estrella Hawke, who unfortunately is only here on loan. Lammerton were much more solid today however, and settled into the game after Mars Alexandersson's opener. The home side were desperate to finish the game off, and both Hawke and John Cooper went close before Cenian international Jasper Valaran curled in a fantastic strike from the edge of the area. La Gorlions continue to look extremely dangers - and a good outside bet for the Globe Cup spots - as they put five past Hillstreet. On this occasion The Lions outwitted The Hunters, with goals from Cephus Hunt (2), Aredhel Neil, Yelena Shostakovich, and Broad Dalehun. The big Bonesman, Hunt, incredibly worked part time as a shelf stacker until he signed for the Lions this season - but on this occasion it was nice to see him put his height to better use. Elsewhere, it was a particularly dramatic week in SPL football, with Cornellians putting five past Snubbeak, as they continue their defence of the title. Sara Foucault, and David Hughes both scored doubles, as Soessch put an end to Kings Park's mini-revival. And a single Steven Rexmont goal gave Port Sebastian all three points to keep them in poll position.

Player and Manager of The Month Awards -- Month Three

Player: Kit Kvanderwyk -- Cornellians
The Cosumarite star has been consistent, week in week out, for the Eagles over the last could of seasons, and it was about time he got the recognition. He played a big part in his side's impressive win over Handon United, and is quite possibly the best right midfielder in the league right now.

Young Player: Cephus Hunt -- La Gorlions
Switching to two upfront has worked well for the Lions this season, and this young man has been a lot of the reason. A strong player, with a big presence in front of goal, the Boneman could turn out to be a real find for Jago Avelione

Manager: Karla Blackett -- Port James Athletic
The Athletic board have been rewarded for showing patience, and sticking with a young woman whom they had ample grounds to sack. With the emergence of players like Glendening, the Port James side have risen up the table to become UICA contenders.

.                        Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
 1 Handon United          12    9   2   1    31   18  +13    29
 2 Port Sebastian         12    8   3   1    27   13  +14    27
 3 Cornellians            12    8   2   2    28   17  +11    26
 4 Dundee                 12    7   2   3    20   10  +10    23
 5 Port James Athletic    12    5   6   1    19   10   +9    21
 6 La Gorlions            12    6   2   4    21   11  +10    20
 7 New Belfast Warriors   12    5   5   2    18   12   +6    20
 8 Port Patrick United    12    6   2   4    22   18   +4    20
 9 FC Soessch             12    6   1   5    18   12   +6    19
10 Marionville            12    6   1   5    23   20   +3    19
11 New Island             12    5   1   6    16   18   −2    16
12 Lammerton              12    4   3   5    23   20   +3    15
13 Mucusia                12    4   3   5    12   13   −1    15
14 Granton Vale           12    4   3   5    19   24   −5    15
15 Kings Park             12    4   2   6    13   19   −6    14
16 FC Döllar              12    4   0   8     9   20  −11    12
17 Hollin                 12    3   2   7    14   21   −7    11
18 Hillstreet             12    2   2   8     9   32  −23     8
19 Snubbeak Rock          12    0   3   9    12   29  −17     3
20 Berwick United         12    0   3   9     9   26  −17     3

Schottic Cup Last-32
New Island 1–0 Kirk Preston United
La Gorlions 2–4 New Belfast Warriors
Lammerton City 1–0 Snubbeak Rock
Marionville 3–1 Regional Development Side C
Kings Park 3–2 Dundee
West Holbrookdale 2–0 New Belfast Blues
Lammerton 2–3 Berwick United
Granton Vale 0–4 Hollin
Regional Development Side B 0–0 FC Soessch (1–0 AET)
Cornellians 4–1 Wolbeck
Port Patrick United 3–2 Lammerton Wonderers
Port Sebastian 2–2 Oak Park Celtic (2–2 AET) (5–4 pen.)
Handon United 5–1 Mucusia
FC Döllar 0–0 Port James Athletic (1–2 AET)
Handon Ladies 3–2 Hillstreet
West Coast Warriors 5–3 D'Itille

by **Schottia** » Tue Jan 10, 2017 12:22 pm

Matchday thirteen - eighteen

Globe Cup -- Group Phase

Port Sebastian 2–1 Mliona-Lpaka (TUR)
Cornellians 0-0 Eterna Stars (VLD)

There could be no complaints in terms of the performances, as Schottia's clubs got off to a strong start in their respective groups. Eloisa Purinton showed just why she is regarded a world-class striker, as her well-taken goal gave Port Sebastian the lead over Mliona Lpaka. The former Gloriaxian then had a hand in the second goal, playing in teammate Joey Bia to secure all three points for the Handon side. Cornellians also showed some real grit as they held Eastern Stars to a 0-0 draw at Lochend Stadium. The Eagles, did push hard for a goal in the second half, but were unable to find the net.

SPL
Kings Park 6–3 Berwick United
FC Döllar 0–2 FC Soessch
Cornellians 2–0 Mucusia
Granton Vale 2–0 Snubbeak Rock
Marionville 1–1 Port Patrick United
New Belfast Warriors 3–0 Lammerton
Hollin 0–2 Dundee
Port Sebastian 1–2 Handon United
Hillstreet 0–1 New Island
Port James Athletic 0–0 La Gorlions

The 'Big Handon Derby' - one of many Handon derbies for that matter - is always a hotly anticipated match, between two of the nation's oldest rivals. Porty and United were both riding high at the top of the league, and despite the former having the better fortunes over the past four or five years, this one promised to be different. While the Port Sebastian defence are very solid, they are not the tallest, and they had a lot of problems dealing with eight-footer, Hiroyo Nunez. With the quality of delivery United have in the midfield, it was inevitable that the Redvali striker would get on the end of something, and she did just that on 27 minutes to give the visitors the lead. Port Sebastian had the better of the exchange when the ball was kept on the turf though, and their ability to break at pace had the United defence on edge. The Home side pulled level thanks to a brilliant through ball from Vera Cummings, which was met equally well by Demba Traore, for the Semar to slot home under Jacrian Ryaden. There were chances for both sides as the game entered its final stages, but in the end Natalie Adams settled matters as she left Michi Leonard for dead, before drilling the ball past Chris Gonzaö to make it 2-1. In a very high scoring match, Kings Park defeated Berwick United by six goals to three to ease their relegations worries. Pascal Voitle continues to make improvements at the side, who have been really suffering, following the sale of two key players. Cenian, Sendoa, has really taken over the mantel from Erin Braden in the midfield this season, and as well as scoring one of the goals, he had a big role to play in this match. Striker, Kaija Koppel, also continued her impressive form this season, scoring two herself, in a very competent attacking display. There was no UICA hangover for Cornellians, as they welcomed the unpredictable Mucusia to Lochend. Kathryn Kvanderwyk and Jade Irwin both scored late in the first half to give the Eagles an unassailable lead. You get the impression that the Eagles are simply easing up through the gears at the moment, as they close in on the top of the table. The club, who are chasing an incredible five in a row, still look like they are holding something in reserve. Lammerton also slipped down to fourteenth in the table with a 3-0 defeat at New Belfast Warriors, as pressure will be starting to take its toll on John Sedder. The Hornets seemed to be minus their sting, as Graeme Collins had Miki Kurugaya (2) and Iana Synder to thank for the goals which lift the club up to a very respectable fifth. For the Lammerton board, they are faced with a difficult dilemma: Sedder might be the one who transformed them into title challengers, but the club are on an awful run, and have limped out of the Champions' Cup, Globe Cup, and Schottic Cup already this season. In other news: Dundee finally got back up to steam with a 2-0 win at Hollin. FC Soessch won 2-0 at neighbours Döllar. And Ian Wilson's goal gave New Island a good win at Hillstreet.

Globe Cup -- Group Phase

(NPH) Creed United 3-1 Port Sebastian
(NFX) SC Oceanside 0-0 Cornellians

Port Sebastian were given a taste of the standard of football outside the SPL this week, as they went down 3-1 to Creed United in Nephara. After all the talk about how Purinton was going to be their big weapon, the striker never really got a sniff at goal. A Steven Rexmont goal served as consolation for Jock Sonny's side. For Cornellians they had to endure another scoreless draw, as their strikers continue to misfire.

SPL
Berwick United 1–1 La Gorlions
New Island 1–0 Port James Athletic
Handon United 0–2 Hillstreet
Dundee 2–7 Port Sebastian
Lammerton 1–0 Hollin
Port Patrick United 2–1 New Belfast Warriors
Snubbeak Rock 2–3 Marionville
Mucusia 3–1 Granton Vale
FC Soessch 1–0 Cornellians
Kings Park 4–0 FC Döllar

There were yet more twists and turns this week, as we slowly creep towards the half-way point, and the pressure begins to intensify. Port Sebastian might have looked a little out of their depth as they took on Creed United, but they were certainly more than a match for a Dundee side that look like it has ran out of both steam, and ideas. The North Handon side put seven past the highflying South Schottia side, as they moved back to within a point on the league leader. Eloisa Purinton added to her already impressive tally with three of her side's goals, and the team captain could have easily had another two. Demba Traore got in on the act with two goals of his own, and Steven Rexmont and Michi Leonard rounded of what was an incredible day for their side. Dundee must have been running on empty for some time now, and yet another heavy defeat will be cause for concern. Their strong start to the season means that they at least don't have to worry too much about relegation, but make no mistake, this performance was poor. Handon United probably thought that going into this round of fixtures, it would be a good opportunity to extend their lead on the Port Sebastian. However, newly promoted Hillstreet had other ideas, as they inflicted a 2-0 defeat on the league leaders. Former United right-back, Simon Johnson did a lot of damage early on, with his trademark forward runs, and he helped set up the opening goal for Kirisakian winger Ichiko Tsukahara. Despite a spirited fight back in the second half, Will Castillo wrapped up all three points for the Hunters, latching onto a Bruno Schwartz layoff as he earned his side a famous win. Back-to-back 1-0 wins for New Island, and they suddenly good in very good shape. In what was generally a very good performance, they defeated Port James side, Mucusia, thanks to a Nikita Clohessy strike. The Brenecian's shot took a bit of a deflection on its way it, but the Pebbles deserved their win nonetheless. There was a shock result for Cornellians also, as they suffered a 1-0 defeat to Barry Gorman's Soessch side. The Eagles were perhaps the better team, but as we have seen a few times this season, the opposition managed keep them at bay. November and Ross were solid at the back throughout, and it allowed for Sara Foucault to take the one chance which came her way, earning the North Island side a valuable three points. Elsewhere: Frir and Yeats were on target for Port Patrick as they stole a march on the Warriors. Kings Park blew Döllar away with four goals, as they only now seem to be getting their season up and running. And lastly an Aimée Hétu double ensured that Mucusia took all three points against Granton Vale.

Globe Cup -- Group Phase

(TAE) Fadrön Flight 0-4 Port Sebastian
Cornellians 6-0 Olympique Charmat (GAD)

After taking a little time to get warmed up, Schottia's sides seem to have gotten the hang of this Globe Cup thing. Port Sebastian, and Purinton in particular, made amends for their poor showing last week against Creed United, by hammering Fadrön Flight 4-0 in Taeshan. Purinton scored one and set up one as Jock Sonny's side did their prospects of making the knockout stages no harm at all. For Cornellians, they had their best result of the season as they scored six for no reply, against highly rated newcomers Olympique Charmat. Koromin went home with the match ball, but it was in fact a team effort that got the Eagles over the line so convincingly. On five ponts from their first three games, Alexander Pearce's side have given themselves an excellent chance of progression.

Cup Winners' Cup -- First Round

Port Sebastian 2-0 Langlois Océanic (KSK)

Port Sebastian made it three wins in five days, as their no doubt exhausted players welcomed Langlois Océanic to Dyerton Stadium. In what was an otherwise cagey match, Porty had to rely on second half goals from Demba Traore and Vera Cummings to give them a lead going into the away leg.

SPL
FC Döllar 3–3 Berwick United
Cornellians 0–0 Kings Park
Granton Vale 1–3 FC Soessch
Marionville 1–0 Mucusia
New Belfast Warriors 3–1 Snubbeak Rock
Hollin 0–1 Port Patrick United
Port Sebastian 0–0 Lammerton
Hillstreet 5–3 Dundee
Port James Athletic 0–1 Handon United
La Gorlions 4–1 New Island

In a week where a lot of teams at the top seemed to struggle, it was Handon United who extended their lead at the top of the table, with a 1-0 win at Port James. The Seasiders were expected to be strong, and they had a number of chances to take the lead before the visitors scored the game's only goal. Jane Gulie seems to have made a massive impact at United, who will feel that they are now back where they belong. In terms of the match itself, it could have gone either way, but that will largely be forgotten. What mattered in the end was Alf Seggerson's 56 minute free kick, which looped over Jack Rulver and into the back of the net. Dundee slipped yet further down the table this week, as a fired up Hillstreet side put five past them in the South Schottia derby. The Hunters have been hit and miss since they returned to the SPL, but this result, which lifts them out of the relegation zone, will be something for their fans to cheer about. Will Castillo scored one either side of half time, and there were also goals for Bruno Schwarts, Ichiko Tsukahara, and Sanchia Diaz as fatigue seems to have finally caught up with Dundee. Although Dundee did manage to pull level just after the restart through a Jacques goal, they were rarely in the match, and the scoreline perhaps does Hillstreet a disservice. Meanwhile two other sides, fighting for their lives at the bottom of the table locked horns, as Döllar took on Berwick United. While both sides are in equal peril, they each seem to be dealing with it in different ways, and Döllar seem by far the more willing to take risks. They found themselves undone on this occasion however, as a late Michael Maxwell goal salvaged a share of the points for the New Island side. Döllar had been 3-1 up at one point, thanks to goals from Peter Hans Goulbre, Isla Sibučić, and Kerstin Dornenberger, but they perhaps over stretched themselves. In the end, both sides will be grateful for the point, but the Home side will consider it an opportunity missed. One of the few sides to come out of this week with a positive result were FC Soessch, who managed a 3-1 win over Granton Vale, as the eye a return to UICA football. The Reds looked by far the more composed side, with players such as young Charlotte Ünterhausen, Currian Cort, and Sara Foucault all putting in good performances. Barry Gorman will be desperate to get the club back challenging at the top of the table, and goals from Cort, Foucault, and David Hughes will go a long way towards achieving that. In other results: Both Cornellians and Port Sebastian suffered shock results. Porty were held to a 0-0 draw at home to Lammerton, while the Eagles were given the same treatment by Kings Park. La Gorlions kept plugging away in their quest for a top five finish, and a 4-1 win over New Island will have gone down well with the home support. And Finally Port Patrick's 1-0 win over Hollin moves them up in to contention as the season enters its second third.

Globe Cup -- Group Phase

Port Sebastian 2-0 Fadrön Flight (TAE)
(GAD) Olympique Charmat 1-1 Cornellians

The halfway point in UICA football, and there were positive results for both Schottia's sides. Port Sebastian completed the job they started against Fadrön, a side who sport a familiar face in the form of Jon Fotan. The former Schottia international was helpless to prevent his team's defeat, as goals from Steven Rexmont and Eloisa Purinton gave Porty all three points. Charmat seemed to get their act together in the seven days since Cornellians put six past them, but a 1-1 draw on the road was still enough to keep Alexander Pearce's side on course to make the round of 64.

Cup Winners' Cup -- First Round

(KSK) Langlois Océanic 0-3 Port Sebastian

Port Sebastian completed the job they started last week, to make it through to the second round of the Cup Winners' Cup, this time putting another three past Langlois. Demba Traore grabbed two of his side's goals, in what was an excellent night for the Semar, while Nephaim youngster, Michi Leonard, grabbed the third.

SPL
Berwick United 0–1 New Island
Handon United 2–2 La Gorlions
Dundee 0–2 Port James Athletic
Lammerton 5–1 Hillstreet
Port Patrick United 2–1 Port Sebastian
Snubbeak Rock 1–2 Hollin
Mucusia 3–1 New Belfast Warriors
FC Soessch 2–2 Marionville
Kings Park 5–3 Granton Vale
FC Döllar 0–4 Cornellians

Match day sixteen was a very productive one for Cornellians, as the champs pulled back some ground on Handon United, while leapfrogging Port Sebastian at the same time. As they prepared to face Döllar, the biggest threat to the Eagles was ironically posed by their own player, Isla Sibučić. However, the visiting defence did a pretty good job of keeping the 16-year-old loanee quiet on the way to a 4-0 win. The North Island side actually caused Cornellians very few problems, as the Eagles seemed sharper than their opponents in every department. Cenian star Kel Koromin opened the scoring as he headed in a Triffid Ramsey corner, before Kathryn Kvanderwyk doubled their tally on the stroke of half time. In the second half a Jade Irwin free kick, followed by a late Lara Wedderburn strike gave the Lochend side a convincing win. With Cornellians still going strong in the Globe Cup, and now moving up to second in the league, they will be eyeing another strong finish. For Port Sebastian there was disappointment however, in the North Handon derby, as they went down 2-1 at Port Patrick United. Port Sebastian seem to be falling by the wayside in the league right now, perhaps the result of currently playing football on four different fronts. Whatever the reason, they can't have had too many complaints about the result, as Tanya Yeats and Co. were by far the better side in this match. The Brenecian, Yeats, has been on fine form since she began her second spell at the club, and once again showed good vision to create the opening goal for Callum Frir. Porty managed to pull level with Giancoma de Jerusalem turning a Joey Bia cross in from close range, but it was only to delay the inevitable, as Tameka Ninetyseventh headed in a corner to give the Breakers all three points. Lammerton's 5-1 win at home to Hillstreet may have helped make their position look a little more respectable, but it will have done little to win over the club's doubters, who have seen a plummet in form this season. Captain John Cooper looked fired up as he slammed home a first half double to get the ball rolling for the Hornets. In the second half, the home team quickly put the result beyond any doubt, thanks to an Alexandersson free kick, and a fantastic solo effort from Estrella Hawke. Hillstreet had Bruno Schwartz to thank for pulling one back - but in the end it made little difference, and Jasper Valaran converted from close range to complete the rout in the dying seconds. Languishing down in thirteenth, Lammerton now need to put together a string of wins, if they are going to have any chance of making a return to UICA football next season. In other results: A Natalie Adams double wasn't enough to claim all three points for United at home, as Cephus Hunt, and Aredhel Neil salvaged a point for the Lions. Port James continued to kick Dundee when they were down, with Clarke and Glendening scoring for the Seasiders. And a double from Aimée Hétu earned Mucusia an unlikely win over the Warriors.

Player and Manager of The Month Awards -- Month Four

Player: Natalie Adams -- Handon United
I don't think many of us had any doubts that the Northern Sunriser could step up to plate at Handon United, so this award will come as little surprise. The former Mucusia girl has really energised this side, with her passing, and willingness to go forward, giving the side a chance at the league title for the first time in nine seasons.

Young Player: Micha Leonard -- Port Sebastian
After their spending last season Port Sebastian had little room to bring anyone in this time round, yet it seems like they have managed to improve their side with this young players. Pace, stamina, and natural leadership - Leonard is never going be the star player at Porty, but every good team needs a few characters like her.

Manager: Jago Avelione -- La Gorlions
It's not going to be easy for La Gorlions this season, as it seems the teams around the middle of the table are very evenly matched. However, the side combine grit, determination, and some eye-catching talent meaning they have as good a chance as any of springing a surprise come the end of the season.

Globe Cup -- Group Phase

Port Sebastian 0-0 Creed United (NPH)
Cornellians 4-1 SC Oceanside (NFX)

Another very good week in the Globe Cup saw Schottia's clubs pick up points once again, as they took on sides from some of the world's top ranked associations. First of all Port Sebastian redeemed themselves a little after their 3-1 defeat to Creed United, with a resolute performance at Dyerton. Meanwhile Cornellians made surprisingly short work of 95Xers, Oceanside, defeating them 4-1. The Eagles will now be hoping for a good result in their final fixture, to go through the entire group unbeaten.

SPL
Cornellians 6–1 Berwick United
Granton Vale 3–1 FC Döllar
Marionville 0–1 Kings Park
New Belfast Warriors 3–2 FC Soessch
Hollin 1–0 Mucusia
Port Sebastian 6–2 Snubbeak Rock
Hillstreet 0–1 Port Patrick United
Port James Athletic 1–2 Lammerton
La Gorlions 0–1 Dundee
New Island 5–4 Handon United

Cornellians upped their tally to fourteen in three, as they put six past Berwick United in Lochend. For a second week running in the SPL, the Eagles found the going all too easy, in a match where the score line could have been even higher. Kathryn Kvanderwyk opened the scoring heading home a Marshawn Mercury cross, before Jade Irwin doubled their lead from the penalty spot. The Nepharim playmaker then doubled her own tally shortly before the break, running onto a sloppy Millie Feltman back-pass, before rounding the keeper. In the second half the Gulls did their best to stem the tide, but there was little they could do as Cornellians put another three past them. First Kel Koromin curled one in from the edge of the box, before Tsumugi Narita pounced on a Kit Kvanderwyk pass to make it five. Lara Wedderburn added another late on, in a result that saw the Eagles go top on goal difference, after what has been a lengthy climb. Given the quality they possess, most people associated with Schottic football will now be expecting them to build on this and push for a fifth championship in a row. Two points behind, and on a good run of their own, Port Sebastian are likely to push Alexander Pearce's side all the way though. The team from Handon scored six of their own against another New Island side in the form of Snubbeak Rock. The Waders actually took the lead in this match, when Nick James crossed the ball in for Chris McKinsley, but it didn't take long for the home side to stamp their authority on the game. First Purinton, then Traore struck, as both strikers got their names of the score sheet, as the Waders were caught out time and time again at the back. Purinton then added her second, the Gloriaxian scoring with a free kick, after Joey Bia was brought down on the edge of the box. In the second half, Cummings played Rexmont through brilliantly for four - and despite Nick James pulling one back, Porty struck again through de Jerusalem and Leonard to wrap up a resounding win. Making his debut between the sticks was 17-year-old, MG Grumbla, the young Bonesman filling in for the injured Chris Gonzaö. This week, Handon United saw much of their hard work undone, as they were edged out by a tenacious New Island side in South Berwick. Both these sides have invested heavily over the summer and are much improved. However, it was Judy Scott's team who pulled it off, as they caused a bit of a shock. United have been battering teams into submission this season with their set pieces, and the first goal came from one such instance, with JK Cottle showing his strength as he headed his side in front. New Island are targeting a top half finish though, and they weren't going to give up without a fight. First Lizzy Addison set up Ian Wilson for the equaliser, then a Mikkel Jorgberg cross found Ramone Scotta unmarked at the back post to give their side the lead. United cranked things up accordingly, and pulled level just before the break, when Envy slotted the ball through to Hiroyo Nunez, who tucked her shot away in the far corner. In the second half it was much the same, as the tit-for-tat battle continued, with Scotta grabbing his second, before Daniel Dostalok got onto a Rebecca Talla cross to level once more. United retook the lead with Dostalok's second of the game, however, late goals from Ikas NIke, and Addison meant that all three points stayed on the New Island. In other results: Dundee got a desperately needed three points with Gustav Fandrich's goal helping them win a real battle in La Gorla. Lammerton continue their recovery with a 2-1 win at highflying Port James. And a late goal from Iana Synder helped the Warriors edge an otherwise cagey match at home to FC Soessch.

Globe Cup -- Group Phase

(TUR) Mliona-Lpaka 0-1 Port Sebastian
(VLD) Eterna Stars 1-1 Cornellians

In what has been an incredible turn around in the fortunes of Schottic clubs in international football, we saw both sides march into the knockouts of the Globe Cup. Port Sebastian left it very late to beat Turori side, Mliona-Lpaka, with Esther Abner the hero of the hour. The Schottia cap's hopeful strike from the edge of the box found it's way through a wall of legs and into the back of the net. For Cornellians, they had the added pleasure of going through their group undefeated, finishing top on ten points. A 1-1 draw with the highly rated Eterna Stars would serve as yet another feather in their cap.

Cup Winners' Cup -- Last 16

(OSR) Alissar Phoenix 1-2 Port Sebastian

Port Sebastian are somehow keeping up the momentum, with an impressive win on the road over Alissar Phoenix. With Eloisa Purinton suddenly back at her best, Porty are reaping the rewards, and the captain was inspirational yet again in this match. With their backs covered by the hard working midfield of Cummings and Leonard, the Port Sebastian attack have been enjoying an easy time of it this season.

SPL
Berwick United 2–3 Handon United
Dundee 2–0 New Island
Lammerton 2–1 La Gorlions
Port Patrick United 3–3 Port James Athletic
Snubbeak Rock 3–2 Hillstreet
Mucusia 1–5 Port Sebastian
FC Soessch 2–0 Hollin
Kings Park 0–2 New Belfast Warriors
FC Döllar 0–2 Marionville
Cornellians 1–2 Granton Vale

What the hell is this? Lammerton, out of nowhere, back in the top half. A 2-1 win over La Gorlions was enough to move the side back up to ninth, and what's more, they are now only three points off of fifth. It had been an utterly disastrous start for Hornets, but three wins back-to back, in a league where even Cornellians are struggling to do that - has made their points tally look a lot more respectable. John Sedder's side were made to work for it, as the hard hitting Lions side didn't pull any punches. Neither team made much headway in the opening forty-five minutes, but shortly after the restart, Lammerton made the breakthrough. Jasper Valaran managed to cut the visitors apart, finally, with a well aimed pass into the feet for veteran striker Merry Osbourne. The Brenecian was left with only the keeper to beat, and was never going to miss from three metres out. La Gorlions were far from dead and buried by this stage, and they managed to get themselves level, as a shot from Andrya Novkovic squeezed in at Jim Black's near post. FC Soessch have also had a good run in, and as we reach the third-of-the-way mark, they are kind of where we were expecting at the start of the season. Goals from Sara Foucault and Konstantin Holstad ensured that Barry Gorman's rebuilding work with the club continued. Above all, it has been the style of play, and the brand of football, which have impressed fan most at Gannon Park, as Gorman continues to heal their wounds. The top seven in the table are now separated by just seven points, as Handon United found their way back to the top. United were given another work out against a New Island club, and this time it was Berwick United who put them through the mill. On this occasion however, Jane Gullie's side came out on the right end of the result, beating the Gulls 3-2. Player of the month, Adams, kept her good run of form going and had a hand in two of her side's goals today. With the players they have going forward, United have consistently been able to win matches they would have lost last season. A frosty afternoon down on the south coast can't have been easy, but the United fans would have went home happy following this one. And Port Sebastian move up to second following a 5-1 win at Mucusia. The West Coast side showed once again that they lack the fight, and the ability to adapt their passing game when taking on the big teams, as Jock Sonny's side ripped them apart time after time. Port Sebastian were 3-0 up within half an hour at the Pllier Ground, and while Laura Smith pulled one back for the Eusebians, Porty struck twice more in the dying stages, in a result that will further improve their goal difference. Elsewhere, Dundee finished strongly thanks to goals from Mark Keane, and Emma Keohane as they recorded a 2-0 win over New Island. New Belfast Warriors won 2-0 at Kings Park, with Fierro and Kurugaya scoring the goals. And Cornellians received a massive spanner in the works as they lost 2-1 at home to Granton Vale.

.                        Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
 1 Handon United          18   12   3   3    43   30  +13    39
 2 Port Sebastian         18   11   4   3    47   22  +25    37
 3 Cornellians            18   11   3   4    41   21  +20    36
 4 Port Patrick United    18   10   4   4    32   24   +8    34
 5 FC Soessch             18   10   2   6    30   18  +12    32
 6 New Belfast Warriors   18    9   5   4    31   20  +11    32
 7 Dundee                 18   10   2   6    30   24   +6    32
 8 Marionville            18    9   3   6    32   26   +6    30
 9 Lammerton              18    8   4   6    33   26   +7    28
10 New Island             18    9   1   8    25   28   −3    28
11 Kings Park             18    8   3   7    29   27   +2    27
12 La Gorlions            18    7   5   6    29   18  +11    26
13 Port James Athletic    18    6   8   4    25   17   +8    26
14 Granton Vale           18    7   3   8    31   37   −6    24
15 Mucusia                18    6   3   9    19   24   −5    21
16 Hollin                 18    5   2  11    17   28  −11    17
17 Hillstreet             18    4   2  12    19   45  −26    14
18 FC Döllar              18    4   1  13    13   38  −25    13
19 Snubbeak Rock          18    1   3  14    21   47  −26     6
20 Berwick United         18    0   5  13    19   46  −27     5

Schottic Cup Last-16

Kings Park 0–0 Marionville (0–0 AET) (4–5 pen.)
West Coast Warriors 1–3 Port Sebastian
Handon United 5–2 New Island
Lammerton City 0–0 Hollin (0–0 AET) (4–5 pen.)
New Belfast Warriors 4–1 Berwick United
Cornellians 1–0 Regional Development Side B
Handon Ladies 1–3 Port James Athletic
West Holbrookdale 2–2 Port Patrick United (2–2 AET) (5–6 pen.)

by **Schottia** » Fri Jan 13, 2017 8:00 am

Matchday nineteen - twenty four

Cup Winners' Cup -- Last 16

Port Sebastian 0-0 Alissar Phoenix (OSR)

Port Sebastian did what they needed to do, keeping things tight in their match with Osarius' Alissar Phoenix, as they progressed to the quarterfinal of the Cup Winners' Cup. Porty are still in the hunt for four trophies, in what is shaping up to be an outstanding season for them.

SPL
Granton Vale 1–2 Berwick United
Marionville 1–5 Cornellians
New Belfast Warriors 1–1 FC Döllar
Hollin 1–3 Kings Park
Port Sebastian 2–1 FC Soessch
Hillstreet 0–2 Mucusia
Port James Athletic 2–0 Snubbeak Rock
La Gorlions 2–1 Port Patrick United
New Island 0–2 Lammerton
Handon United 2–2 Dundee

Port Sebastian's win over Soessch lifted them to the top of the table this week, as it begins to look as if we could have a break away of the top three. United, Cornellians and Porty are now merely separated by a single point, with Port Patrick United a further five points off the pace. There was nothing easy about the three points for Jock Sonny's side however, as Soessch, who are themselves well in the hunt for UICA football, put up a stiff resistance. Port Sebastian's team of international stars seemed to give them a narrow advantage though, and they battled to get their noses in front through Joey Bia. Die Rote Teufel fought hard to keep pace, and managed to pull level after Tamika November rose highest to head home Konstantin Holstad's corner kick. The match was finely balanced but Port Sebastian hit with a set piece of their own, Eloisa Purinton whipping the ball into the box for Steven Rexmont to tuck away at the back post. Things were slightly more straightforward for Cornellians, as they scored five away from home against a Marionville side who seem to have gone quiet. The Eagles sent a firm message to Globe Cup rivals RGS Athletic, with what was a ruthless attacking display. The probing balls from wide men, Kvanderwyk and Mercury, caused The Old Boys problems all day long, as they struggled to deal effectively with crosses into the box. When you give a striker like Kel Koromin this kind of service he is always going to score goals, and the Cenian added another two to his impressive haul. Eula Richard stared this match, no doubt in a bid to keep Vojnomir Nikolic quiet, and it was a ploy that inevitably worked. Kvanderwyk jnr was also on the score sheet, doing well to turn David Daller before finding the net: And there were late goals from Jade Irwin, and Mabel Finnemark as Alexander Pearce's side closed the gap on United to just one point. Port Patrick realised this week just how hard it could be keeping pace with the sides at the top. They lost 2-1 to La Gorlions, in the North Mountains, in a match they could have easily won. The Breakers were by far the better side going forward, but a couple of slips at the back were enough to allow Jago Avelione's side to take all three points. There was perhaps a degree of good fortune in Cephus Hunt's goal in the 73rd minute, which sealed the result for the Lions. Yelena Shostakovich's cross was perhaps intended as more of a shot, but the big striker was on hand to steer it into the net with a protruding knee. Lammerton continued to close the gap, as they made it four wins out of four. This was what we had been expecting all season from the boys and girls in yellow and black, as they finally seem to be getting down to playing some football. Estrella Hawke is looking like a perfect fit in this young side, her bustling presence giving Mars Alexandersson and Jasper Valaran something more mobile to aim for. The three of them succeeded in giving the New Island defence plenty to think about, making even Schottia U21 cap, Grant Carlin, look out of his depth. Alexanderson opened the scoring with header from well-aimed Robard Horvat ball, before John Cooper deflected in the second, after a Hawke strike cannoned back off the bottom of the post. In other results: Ports James looked very comfortable in their 2-0 win over Snubbeak. Aimée Hétu was at it again, as Mucusia beat Hillstreet by the same margin. And a late goal from Mirka Shitakuari saved a precious point for United, as they looked on the verge of defeat against Dundee.

SPL
Berwick United 2–3 Dundee
Handon United 2–1 Lammerton
New Island 0–1 Port Patrick United
La Gorlions 1–1 Snubbeak Rock
Port James Athletic 0–0 Mucusia
Hillstreet 0–2 FC Soessch
Port Sebastian 5–2 Kings Park
Hollin 1–0 FC Döllar
New Belfast Warriors 2–1 Cornellians
Marionville 1–0 Granton Vale

Cornellians will be left kicking themselves, as yet again one careless result allowed the league leaders to slip off the hook. You have to feel, looking at some of their results, that if Cornellians were able to concentrate in some of these low-key games, they would have almost had the title wrapped up by now. As it were, a determined looking Warriors side managed to raise there game and take all three points at home. The Whalers have been a bit of a mixed bag this season, but this win over the reigning champions keeps them firmly in the race. The New Belfast side had Tomás Fierro in particular to thank for the result, as the Cenian did a good job of keeping Jade Irwin in check in the midfield. Cornellians must have thought they were well on their way, when a Kathryn Kvanderwyk put them in front, pouncing on a nod down from strike partner Kel Koromin. However, the Warriors made good use of home advantage and pulled level in the second half with a well timed Iana Synder header. There may well be a few more question marks hanging over the heads of Scott Burton and Stephen Gargo after this one, as the defensive pairing haven't showered themselves in glory this season. It was once again sloppiness at the back, which allowed Craig O'Maramy through to slot home the winner, leaving Cornellians with it all to do once more. Lammerton's brilliant run of late came to an end, albeit at Harbour Hill Stadium. The national stadium is bouncing once again, with resident club, Handon United firing on all cylinders. This win keeps them equal top, although Port Sebastian have a vastly superior goal-difference. United drew first blood after only five minutes, when Hiroyo Nunez turned John van Cleef before drilling her shot into the bottom corner. Lammerton are playing with much more confidence at the moment, and the fought hard to get themselves back on level terms, Jasper Valaran expertly lifting the ball over the defence, for Mars Alexanderson to pounce. This was one of those matches which could have went either way, but it was Jane Gullie's side who came out on top, a rare James Robertson goal ensuring that they left with all three points. Port Sebastian, it seems, just can't stop scoring right now, and despite a surprisingly strong performance from Kings Park, they increased their lead at the top with a 5-2 win. Traore and Purinton are almost unstoppable when they play like this, and the pair of them got their names on the score sheet once again. Pick of the goals however, was a Francis Keelinan free kick for the Royals - although this would have been one of the few bright spots for the visitors, who were otherwise second best in every department. Elsewhere: Dundee seem to have gotten over their mini-blip, as they showed a bit of fight to beat Berwick United away from home. Soessch kept themselves in touching distance of the UICA spots with a 2-0 win at Hillstreet. And after promising so much, the Port James derby ended in a somewhat dull, nil-nil draw.

Player and Manager of The Month Awards -- Month Five

Player: Tomás Fierro -- New Belfast Warriors
A very steady central midfielder, who brings both fight and creativity to the midfield. While the Warriors have been up and down a little this season, the Cenian - and midfield partner Holly Addison in particular - have kept the ship on course.

Young Player: Nick James -- Snubbeak Rock
We can say without any doubt that this youngster is the best player the Rock have ever produced. Too young to make much of an impact last time they were in the SPL, he will earn himself a move even if he doesn't manage to keep them up.

Manager: Graeme Collins -- New Belfast Warriors
The Warriors have been quietly going about their own business this season, and now find themselves well placed in the league. Collins doesn't have the biggest budget in the SPL, but he has done well with the little bit of money he has, creating a side capable challenging at the top.

Globe Cup -- Sixteenth Final

Port Sebastian 2–1 Matthew Senators (USI)
(EFL) RGS Athletic 0–2 Cornellians

So far so good, as both Port Sebastian and Cornellians recorded wins in their opening Globe Cup knockout matches. Both sides came through tough tests, even if Porty's 2-1 lead over Matthew Senators is a fragile one. Cornellians however, take a 2-0 lead into the return leg at Lochend Stadium, after defeating RGS Athletic in Eastfield Lodge.

SPL
Marionville 5–2 Berwick United
Granton Vale 0–1 New Belfast Warriors
Cornellians 3–3 Hollin
FC Döllar 1–3 Port Sebastian
Kings Park 5–4 Hillstreet
FC Soessch 1–1 Port James Athletic
Mucusia 0–1 La Gorlions
Snubbeak Rock 0–0 New Island
Port Patrick United 1–1 Handon United
Lammerton 2–0 Dundee

In yet another good week for Port Sebastian, the Handon side went two points clear at the top of the table with several of the sides around them dropping points. Jock Sonny's boys and girls had no such problems of their own, as they made light work of FC Döllar in Bergstadt. On of the problems facing the Rotten boss, Janus Gootla, will undoubtedly be the expiry of Isla Sibučić's loan next week, and apparently they are working hard behind the scenes to extend the deal with the Cosumarite. Today however, ever her prodigious talent wasn't enough, as her side were thoroughly beaten. Goals from Purinton, de Jerusalem, and Cummings saw Porty comfortably in front after an hour, and despite a late Joe Vullermann strike, there was little for the club from the capital to deal with in defence. For Cornellians, the domestic-rut continued, as they threw away a 3-1 lead at half time, to end up drawing with Hollin. Jade Irwin (2) and Lara Wedderburn put the Eagles ahead early on, and the champions appeared to be well on course. However a well-taken Chris Jack goal, and a late Fred Dawson strike mean that Hollin rescued an invaluable point. We mentioned that Marionville had slipped of the radar a little following their good start to the season, but the Old Boys were far better today, as they put five past Berwick United, who continue to sink without a trace. Imants Kölleran has certainly had his scoring boots on, since switching from Sviby Vikings at the start of the season. The 22-year-old is far from the full package, but he has a good eye for goal, and with Haight and Nokolic in the attack who can both deliver a good ball, he is getting plenty of opportunities. Lammerton also got back on the winning trail, as they defeated Dundee 2-0 at the City Stadium. Estrella Hawke made up for her lack of goals in the previous two matches by opening the scoring here. The Hornets had to battle hard in this one, and they would have been hugely relieved when Merry Osbourne made it two. Mars Alexandersson's tantalising cross found the former Kingsgrove star in space, and she then volleyed past Macken to give her side all three points. In other results: Handon United were held to a 1-1 draw by city neighbours Port Patrick United. Aredhel Neil scored the only goal of the game, as the Lions battled to a 1-0 win at Mucusia. And Miki Kurugaya ensured that the Warriors took home all three points from their visit to Granton Vale.

Globe Cup -- Sixteenth Final

(USI) Matthew Senators 1-3 Port Sebastian
Cornellians 1-1 RGS Athletic (EFL)

There were big celebrations around both Handon and Lochend last night, as Schottia's Globe Cup hopefuls eased into the last sixteen of the tournament. Port Sebastian knew they had work to do as they travelled to the Sunrise Islands to take on Matthew Senators, but they managed to finish the job they started, winning 3-1 on the night. A first half Puinton penalty, putting Porty 2-1 up, made things almost impossible for the Senators to come back. And Cornellians kept things tight, and saw out the result with RGS, to join their countrymen and women in the draw.

SPL
Berwick United 1–3 Lammerton
Dundee 2–0 Port Patrick United
Handon United 5–3 Snubbeak Rock
New Island 0–1 Mucusia
La Gorlions 0–0 FC Soessch
Port James Athletic 2–4 Kings Park
Hillstreet 1–1 FC Döllar
Port Sebastian 0–0 Cornellians
Hollin 1–2 Granton Vale
New Belfast Warriors 4–0 Marionville

New Belfast Warriors jumped ahead of Cornellians and up to third with a resounding 4-0 win over Marionville, which simultaneously put a massive dent in their opponents Globe Cup prospects. The Whalers, without really playing their best football, have found themselves right back in this title race, and jumping ahead of the champions like this will give them some real confidence. The home side took the lead through Holly Addison, when the Schottia international curved her shot past Pearce Brice on the 23rd minute. They found themselves 2-0 up a few moments later, when Miki Kurugaya converted a Adrienne O'Callahan cross, and added a third when Iana Synder found herself in space to add to her own tally. By the second half the Warriors were firmly in control, and Miki Kurugaya's second rounded off an excellent win for the club. With the big match ending 0-0 between Port Sebastian and Cornellians, Handon United were another side who took advantage of the situation, as they moved up level on points with their old city rivals. In a particularly high scoring match, Snubbeak Rock pushed United hard from start to finish, and on another day might have gotten some sort of a result. Nick James, once again, performed well on the biggest stage in Schottia, proving that his performances during the promotion push were no flash in the pan. However some assured displays, particularly from teenager Daniel Dostalok were enough to ensure Jane Gullie's side went away with all three points. Dundee were back up to fifth, with a 2-0 win over Port Patrick United, as they continue to stake a claim for a Globe Cup spot. Johnny Smith's side put in one of their best displays this season, as they barely gave the Breakers a sight at goal. Jim Gerrish was a composed presence in the midfield, the 22-year-old playing with all the wisdom and determination of a seasoned veteran. Gerrish also had a hand in the first goal, threading the ball through to Emma Keohane, for the Brenecian to get their side off the mark. Dundee then wrapped things up in the second half, when Max Peterson headed in a corner kick from Liam Goncalves. Lammerton found themselves just a single point off fifth place, as a comfortable 3-1 win over Berwick United meant they finally bridged the gap to the sides at the top of the league. John Sedder's team are now unrecognisable from the one that struggled so badly in the opening fifteen matches. While lack of experience was perhaps costing them results early on, their young side now suddenly seem to be bustling with confidence. In other results, Kings Park pulled off a surprise 4-2 victory when they travelled to Port James Athletic. La Gorlions and Soessch played out a 0-0 draw on the North Island. And Isla Sibučić, on the day she found out that her loan had been extended to the end of the season, scored the goal which earned Döllar a share of the spoils against Hillstreet.

Globe Cup -- Eighth Final

Cornellians 1–1 Neuville Scythers (USI)
Port Sebastian 2–0 Pikemouth (BRE)

Schottia's sides once again faced very stiff competition in their bid to reach the last eight of the Globe Cup. Cornellians were held to a 1-1 draw by Sunrisers, Neuville Scythers, in what was a very competitive match, with neither side giving anything away. Port Sebastian, who are on an incredible run at the moment, took on the always dangerous Pikemouth of Brenecia. Jock Sonny's players got the result yet again, as the combination of a solid defence, hard working midfield, and a pacy attack seems to be allowing them to punch above their weight.

SPL
New Belfast Warriors 3–0 Berwick United
Marionville 1–0 Hollin
Granton Vale 2–4 Port Sebastian
Cornellians 3–1 Hillstreet
FC Döllar 3–4 Port James Athletic
Kings Park 3–4 La Gorlions
FC Soessch 1–1 New Island
Mucusia 4–2 Handon United
Snubbeak Rock 1–3 Dundee
Port Patrick United 1–2 Lammerton

Port Sebastian restored the gap at the top of the table to three points this week with a 4-2 win, as they made the short journey to Granton, to take on the Beachcombers. While the home side put on a good show of it in the first half, with goals from Jack Hobbs, and Scott Cooper, the league leaders were inevitably too strong for them, and finished strongly with two late goals to give themselves a little breathing room at the top. With the scores at 3-2, there were still chances for Granton Vale to get back into this one, but Emiline Millet's late strike from the edge of the area put the result firmly to bead. Cornellians stay fourth, but they are now back to three points off second, with a 3-1 win over Hillstreet. Kel Koromin seems to be averaging about a goal a game at the moment, and the lethal Cenian was predictably on target here. The Kvanderwyk siblings also combined to good effect, with younger sister Kathryn laying the ball off for Kit to fire home from fifteen metres out. Hillstreet were not entirely overwhelmed however, and experience striker Bruno Schwartz pulled one back for them in their bid to stay in the SPL. But it would be the Eagles who had the final say, with Marshawn Mercury teeing up Tsumugi Narita brilliantly, for the young Kirisakian to round off the scoring with a left footed effort. New Belfast Warriors showed no signs of letting up, as thy clung onto third with yet another good performance at Ashley Road. Berwick United, after performing a great escape last season, are really toiling now. This showed today, as the Gulls had little answer to the Whalers in the attacking third. The strike force of Kurugaya and Synder continued to come up with the goods, as both young women were on target in this match. The Warrior's third came from a good bit of play between Fierro and O'Maramy, who once again opened the United defence right up, before substitute Jenny Lundergrand scored her fourth of the season from point blank range. Handon United on the other hand, continued to stutter as they slowly but surely seem to be losing a little of their early momentum. A 4-2 defeat at Mucusia really wasn't on the cards for Jane Gullie as she travelled to the west coast side. There were good points and bad points to take away from this match for United, as for all their effectiveness going forward, it was in the defensive midfield area where they looked to be missing someone. This will no doubt be an area where they will need to strengthen, as Laura Smith and Ryuni got far too much time on the ball to open up the visitors. In other results: Lammerton earned a well deserved 2-1 win over the breakers, thanks to Estrella Hawke and John Cooper, who came up with the goods. Dundee were simply too strong for Snubbeak Rock, as they won 3-1 on the road. And a late goal from Broad Dalehun meant that La Gorlions took all three points from their match with Kings Park, as they met their former manager, Pascal Voitle for the first time since he left the club three seasons ago.

Globe Cup -- Eighth Final

(USI) Neuville Scythers a 0-0 Cornellians
(BRE) Pikemouth 0-1 Port Sebastian

It was both heartbreak and triumph as Cornllians went out on away goals, while for Port Sebastian, the adventure continued for at least another two weeks. Despite a late charge, the Eagles were unable to get the crucial goal, which would have seen them go through against Neuville Scythers. Meanwhile Port Sebastian managed to get that away goal, which they knew was always going to leave Pikemouth with a mountain to climb.

SPL
Berwick United 1–1 Port Patrick United
Lammerton 5–0 Snubbeak Rock
Dundee 1–1 Mucusia
Handon United 3–1 FC Soessch
New Island 1–0 Kings Park
La Gorlions 3–2 FC Döllar
Port James Athletic 0–1 Cornellians
Hillstreet 3–1 Granton Vale
Port Sebastian 0–1 Marionville
Hollin 0–3 New Belfast Warriors

Lammerton became the latest side to inflict a heavy defeat on Snubbeak Rock, as they lifted themselves up to fifth, by scoring five for no reply. The Hornets are now right back in this after their dismal start to the season - however, they still have work to do if they are going to reclaim a Champions' Cup place. There is no doubting that when they are on song, Lammerton can be very effective going forward, with both the quality and diversity they have in attack. As for the Waders, despite a couple of flashes, they have been largely out of their depth thus far, and they were most certainly second best today. Estrella Hawke got the home side of the mark after three minutes, bursting free down the right before angling a low shot under the keeper. Merry Osbourne added a second shortly after, and Mars Alexandersson's free kick ensure that Lammerton were 3-0 up heading into the break. In the second half Hawke lunged in to grab her second, following an ambitions cross-field ball from Jasper Valaran, and John van Cleef scored with a header in stoppage time to round off an excellent win. Cornellians got back on track, even if it was far from convincing against Port James Athletic. In what was an especially tight game, the Eagles need a piece of magic from Kit Kvanderwyk to win them the match. The Cosumarite turned inside one defender before cracking in a goal of the month contender from all of 20 metres out. Handon United move back up to equal top with what was arguably one of their best wins of the season over FC Soessch. Two former Schottia managers went head to head, as Barry Gorman's side paid a visit to Jane Gullie's United. Despite a well-taken Johan Shearer goal early on for Soessch, United looked firmly in control. Natalie Adames, Hiroyo Nunez, and Rebecca Talla all scored for the home side as they finished the match strongly; their superior depth of squad proving to be a strong advantage in terms of freshness. There was a rare slip up from Port Sebastian however, as the Handon side seem to be running out of steam perhaps. The fans were probably expecting another win as they piled into Dyerton Stadium for the visit of Marionville. However, it wasn't to be, and - despite a strong start from Poty where Purinton and Rexmont both saw shots saved by Brice - it was in fact the visitors who scored the games only goal. A neat lay-off from Ruth Finch gave Vojnomir Nikolic the time and space he needed on the edge of the box, and the Pasargan took his chance accordingly. Elsewhere: The Warriors stayed third with another comfortable win, this time over Hollin. Dundee and Mucusia played out a very competitive 1-1 draw. And Ramone Scotta scored with a header, to give New Island a 1-0 win over Kings Park.

.                        Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
 1 Port Sebastian         24   15   5   4    61   29  +32    50
 2 Handon United          24   15   5   4    58   42  +16    50
 3 New Belfast Warriors   24   14   6   4    45   22  +23    48
 4 Cornellians            24   14   5   5    54   28  +26    47
 5 Lammerton              24   13   4   7    48   30  +18    43
 6 Dundee                 24   13   4   7    41   32   +9    43
 7 Marionville            24   13   3   8    41   37   +4    42
 8 La Gorlions            24   11   7   6    40   25  +15    40
 9 Port Patrick United    24   11   6   7    37   32   +5    39
10 FC Soessch             24   11   5   8    36   25  +11    38
11 Kings Park             24   11   3  10    46   44   +2    36
12 Port James Athletic    24    8  10   6    34   26   +8    34
13 New Island             24   10   3  11    27   33   −6    33
14 Mucusia                24    9   5  10    27   28   −1    32
15 Granton Vale           24    8   3  13    37   49  −12    27
16 Hollin                 24    6   3  15    23   40  −17    21
17 Hillstreet             24    5   3  16    28   59  −31    18
18 FC Döllar              24    4   3  17    21   51  −30    15
19 Berwick United         24    1   6  17    27   62  −35     9
20 Snubbeak Rock          24    1   5  18    26   63  −37     8

Player and Manager of The Month Awards -- Month Six

Player: Mars Alexandersson -- Lammerton
The clean sweep for the Hornets in this months awards, as four wins have pushed them right back into the title race from out of nowhere. Mars has, as always, been at the heart of everything they do. The Sunriser is formidable going forward, whether it is setting up the goals or scoring them.

Young Player: Estrella Hawke -- Lammerton
In on loan from Starling, and the Nepharim striker who was perhaps signed to take the pressure off the aging strike force has ended up become the driving force in this attack. The player obviously has some way too go, but she has been too much for the slightly less able SPL defenders. Securing her services next season should be the club's main priority right now, but attracting top players to Schottic football has proven a tall order in the past.

Manager: John Sedder -- Lammerton
Living proof that mangers aren't given enough time in football - Sedder has at last managed to turn things around with the Hornets. The league title still looks like a tall ask, but they will now be odds on for a Globe Cup spot.

by **Schottia** » Thu Jan 19, 2017 6:52 am

Matchday twenty five - thirty

Globe Cup -- Quarter Final

(NFX) Twentytwo Cacti 0–0 Port Sebastian

It was the furthest any Schottic side had ever been in International domestic football, as Port Sebastian took on Twentytwo Cacti in the quarterfinal of the Globe Cup. Nil-nil will make it hard in the second leg, with Porty now probably needing a win. However, they have certainly given themselves a fighting chance.

SPL
Hollin 3–1 Berwick United
New Belfast Warriors 2–5 Port Sebastian
Marionville 1–1 Hillstreet
Granton Vale 2–2 Port James Athletic
Cornellians 1–1 La Gorlions
FC Döllar 0–2 New Island
Kings Park 1–1 Handon United
FC Soessch 1–0 Dundee
Mucusia 1–0 Lammerton
Snubbeak Rock 0–3 Port Patrick United

Dundee missed the chance to move up into the Globe Cup places, as they lost a hard slog of a match in Soessch. Both sides looked fired up for it, and in a very even contest, it was perhaps fate that David Hughes would score the goal to sink his former club. Charlotte Ünterhausen found Currian Cort out of the left flank, who then brushed past James Berkeley before swinging a dangerous ball across the face of goal. No one in blue and white was able to deal with it, and in the end it fell to Hughes to blast the ball into the open net. Despite the tempo of the match, chances in front of goal were few and far between, and the game finished 1-0. Results really couldn't have gone much better for Port Sebastian this week, as not only did they get a phenomenal win against the Warriors, but all their near rivals slipped up. New Belfast Warriors have been on an excellent run this season, but Porty showed themselves to be a cut-above in terms of quality. Just why the Handon side have gone so far in UICA football was clear for all to see, as despite he Whalers best efforts, they were unable to get any sort of a foothold in the match. Most of the damage was done early on, when goals from Traore (2) and Cummings put the visitors comfortably in front. Miki Kurugaya pulled one back for the Warriors shortly after half time to give them a glimmer of hope, only for the door to be firmly slammed in their faces, when Purinton struck back immediacy to make it 4-1. With only minutes left on the clock, Tomás Fierro slammed one in from out of nowhere, entirely against the run of play - but there was to be no reprieve for the home side, as a stoppage time goal from Leonard meant they were subject to a humbling result. Port Patrick United were a side desperately looking for a result this week, and faced a team that were fighting for their very existence, when they travelled to Snubbeak Rock. Any fight, however, was very thin on the ground, as the Breakers coasted to a comfortable 3-0 win. Callum Frir has been reborn this season, and scored two more, as he continues his revival under his new manager. Connie Malone scored the third in a result, which surely makes survival all but impossible. In other results: Handon United were unable to take all three points from their match with Kings Park, with a late Kaija Koppel goal denying them. New Island keep their faint hopes of a top half finish alive, as Lizzy Addison and Ian Wilson scored the goals in their 2-0 win over FC Döllar. And finally, a Flora Klee goal gave Mucusia a memorable win over Lammerton, to put a dent in the Hornets ambitions.

Globe Cup -- Quarter Final

Port Sebastian 1-1 a Twentytwo Cacti (NFX)

It was a brave fight while it lasted, but a 1-1 draw at Dyerton Stadium saw Port Sebastian finally eliminated from the Globe Cup. With the Handon club conceding an early away goal they were always going to be up against it, and despite pulling level through Steven Rexmont, it was not enough.

SPL
Berwick United 0–1 Snubbeak Rock
Port Patrick United 2–0 Mucusia
Lammerton 0–0 FC Soessch
Dundee 1–0 Kings Park
Handon United 4–1 FC Döllar
New Island 0–2 Cornellians
La Gorlions 2–0 Granton Vale
Port James Athletic 2–0 Marionville
Hillstreet 1–2 New Belfast Warriors
Port Sebastian 1–1 Hollin

The chasing pack managed to pull Port Sebastian in a little this week, as they followed up their Globe Cup exit with a draw at home to Hollin. Jock Sonny's players had previously been walking on water, and this result will have come somewhat out of the blue. By halftime everything was going to plan, with the home side a goal to nil up, and seemingly coasting. However, as the match progressed, it became more and more apparent that things were slipping away from Porty, and they allowed Hollin to go close with a number of efforts before they finally pulled level. Nick Man it was, who on the 84th minute, hit them with the sucker punch that earned his own side a much-needed point. This is proving to be the closest SPL season yet, in terms of the number of teams all competing for the same five places. With that in Mind, Cornellians will be pleased to have come away from their trip to the New Island with all three points, given the backs to the wall performances Judy Scott's players have been putting in. The Eagles opened the scoring after a pit of trickery from Echani winger, Mershawn Mercury, opened the Pebbles up at the back. In the end Kathryn Kvanderwyk was left with the easiest of tap-ins to put the champions 1-0 up. The match developed into something of a tussle in the second half, and it wasn't until ten minutes before the end, that Alexander Pearce's side managed to seal the win. Ghosting into the box, Jade Irwin left Lizy Addison completely for dead, before dinking the ball to the side for Kel Koromin to blast home number two from close range. Handon United also moved a little closer to the top, as they chase that elusive next title: their 4-1 win over FC Döllar having barely brought them out in a sweat. United were all over the North Island side, with Lovenkrands and Talla doing what they do best, giving the fullbacks much to deal with. It didn't take long for the constant probing to pay off, as Daniel Dostalok opened the scoring, before his strike partner Hiroyo Nunez doubled their lead going into the break. In an explosive second half, United added two more, as their passing game seemed to click into place. A somewhat fortuitous strike from Kersten Dornenberger denied Jacrian Ryaden a clean sheet, but it will have done little to salvage any pride. Port Patrick are a side who have had the pedal firmly to the metal recently, and they continued their good run of form with a 2-0 win at home to Mucusia. Des Pleent's players performed with ruthless composure as first Will Sneden and then Tanya Yeats scored the goals that keep them in touch at the top of the table. Elsewhere: Soessch and Lammerton were both looking for wins when the two of them met at the City Ground, however, they would have to settle for a 0-0 draw. La Golions continued their very steady season so far, with a polished performance at home to Granton Vale. And finally, Elspeth Glendening had her scoring boots on yet again, as her double helped the Seasiders to a 2-0 win over Marionville.

Cup Winners' Cup -- Quarter Final

(AUD) Eletti Valligiani 0-0 Port Sebastian

Despite giving it their all in Audioslavia, Port Sebastian found themselves in the familiar position of having it all to do in the second leg of an international competition. On their visit to Eletti Valligiani, Jock Sonny's side will be frustrated not to have found the target.

SPL
Port Sebastian 5–3 Berwick United
Hollin 0–1 Hillstreet
New Belfast Warriors 2–1 Port James Athletic
Marionville 2–1 La Gorlions
Granton Vale 3–1 New Island
Cornellians 1–0 Handon United
FC Döllar 0–2 Dundee
Kings Park 2–3 Lammerton
FC Soessch 1–0 Port Patrick United
Mucusia 0–0 Snubbeak Rock

Handon United's defeat to Cornellians saw them pumped down to fourth, as Port Sebastian re-established a three point lead at the top. United knew they wouldn't have it all their way as they travelled west to Lochend Stadium, and the reigning champs piled on the pressure from the start. Just how close it was, says everything about how far Handon United have come, given the fact that the Eagles finished 18 points ahead of them last term. Jane Gullie's side certainly had chances of their own, and could have taken the lead after half an hour, as Natalie Adams shaved the post with her shot from the edge of the area. In the second half however, the Eagles' slight advantage in terms of personnel began to tell, and it was all too apparent that for all their improvement, United don't have anyone of the quality of Irwin or Kit Kvanderwyk. Another player they could have done with was Kel Koromin, but unfortunately the Cenian was on the opposition side, and he silenced the travelling support with the games only goal five minutes from the end. With a breakaway top four, the rest of the sides are now competing for the remaining fifth place, and the Globe Cup spot that comes with it. Realistically speaking, you would have to say that there are as many as six teams fighting for that one place, with Dundee currently in poll position. The Panners reaffirmed their UICA credentials today with a 2-0 win at lowly Döller, as Johnny Smith's side always looked like the team in control. Much has been made of young midfielders, Sibučić and Dornenberger, but the tigerish Jim Gerrish did an excellent job of keeping these young women quite. Hard work in the midfield meant that Emma Keohane had the freedom to hit Döllar hard, and her pace was eventually the home side's undoing. The Brenecian got the first, with Mark Keane scoring Dundee's second as this continues to look like a very good season for the club. Lammerton kept the pressure on Dundee though, as the resurgent club will probably be favourites to leapfrog them at some point. They faced a visit to a Kings Park side who are greatly improved under new manager Pascal Voitle. Sendoa curled in a peach of a strike to put the Royals 1-0 up, but the Hornets just had too much quality, and pulled level through Jasper Valaran, before Merry Osbourne headed them in front. Francis Keelinan must have thought he had salvaged a point, as the home side pressed in the second half, but Lammerton took advantage and sprung the counter attack. Estrella Hawke bursting free of Peter Dachs, latched on to a Mars Alexandersson pass, slotting home from a tight angle to keep Lammerton in the hunt. In other results: Port Sebastian were back amongst the goals, as a Traore hattrick helped them to a 5-3 win over Berwick United. New Belfast Warriors saw themselves move up to third, after they had just enough in the tank to edge out Port James Athletic. And finally, Hillstreet perhaps dealt a knock out blow in the battle to stay up, as a screamer from Aleksander Heino-Watanabe earned them a 1-0 win over Hollin to move them six clear of Döllar

Cup Winners' Cup -- Quarter Final

Port Sebastian 0-1 Eletti Valligiani (AUD)

So Port Sebastian's lengthy run in international domestic football came to an end this week, as an early goal for Audioslavian side, Eletti Valligiani, meant that Porty now need to focus on domestic football.

SPL
Berwick United 0–4 Mucusia
Snubbeak Rock 2–3 FC Soessch
Port Patrick United 2–4 Kings Park
Lammerton 4–2 FC Döllar
Dundee 0–1 Cornellians
Handon United 1–1 Granton Vale
New Island 0–0 Marionville
La Gorlions 1–3 New Belfast Warriors
Port James Athletic 2–0 Hollin
Hillstreet 3–3 Port Sebastian

Brave Hillstreet battled to yet another point in their courageous bid to stay in this division, this time putting three past Port Sebastian. Porty, as expected, threw everything at them, but the Hunters set up in determined fashion, and took practically every chance that came their way. The league leaders were left shaking their heads, as Ichiko Tsukahara's long range pass for Will Castillo sent the young striker through to give the Hillstreet the lead. Port Sebastan eventually got themselves back in front, and with the scores at 3-2 they would have been looking forward to consolidating their lead at the top. However, as the match entered the closing stages, the visitors' defence looked increasingly shaky, and after picking up the ball just inside the D, Bruno Schwartz turned and fired home for 3-3. Lammerton moved up to fifth in the league, as their second half of the season seems to be going as well as the first went badly. They came up against a Döllar side fighting for their lives, yet despite a hotly contested first half, the Hornets proved just too good for their opponents. Peter Hans Goulbre got a head on a Isla Sibučić corner to level at 1-1 just before half time, at the end of a good Döllar spell of possession. However, that was as good as it got for the visitors, as Estrella Hawke and John Cooper both scored in the opening five minutes of the second half to put the result beyond them. Cornellians' visit to Dundee was a fascinating battle, and one for football annalists to really get their teeth into. On one side you had Irwin and Tsumugi with all their creativity, possession-football, and Hollywood-passing - and on the other, the quintessential hatchet man, Jim "the hacker" Gerrish. In the end - and some might say thank goodness - the beautiful game won out, and Eula Richard's strike from the outside of the her left boot moved Cornellians to just two points behind the league leaders. The game was as close as the single goal score line suggested; and in some respects, Jim the Hacker might be a little undeserving of his nickname, given that he can be a force going forward. That said, this was a big win for the Eagles, who may feel now like the momentum is with them. Elsewhere: New Belfast Warriors perhaps surprised a few people, with what was a very good win at the ever-tricky Danu Parc. Iana Synder was the hero on the day, as the Darwkish striker's double helped them to a 3-1 win. Handon United felt the sting of a late Jack Hobbs goal, as they could only manage a draw with the Vale. And Sara Foucault's injury-time winner helped Soessch up to seventh, with a 3-2 win at Snubbeak Rock.

Player and Manager of The Month Awards -- Month Six

Player: David Hughes -- FC Soessch
It's taken a while for this young man to build himself up following his release from Handon United four seasons back, but he is finally fulfilling some of his early promise. With every match that goes by, be is looking more and more like a complete striker.

Young Player: Steven Rexmont -- Port Sebastian
It's hard to believe that Rexmont still qualifies as a "young player" given the fact that he has been around for so long. His career has been going from strength to strength, and with some solid performances for his country now under his belt, he can really strike on from here.

Manager: Conner Watts -- Hillstreet
Conner Watts is most likely on the verge of completing phase one of his mission, in managing to keep Hillstreet in the top flight. He has also done this with some eye-catching football and with survival nearly secured, he has the prospect of bringing a few new faces in over the summer too.

SPL
Hillstreet 4–2 Berwick United
Port Sebastian 2–0 Port James Athletic
Hollin 0–2 La Gorlions
New Belfast Warriors 0–0 New Island
Marionville 4–1 Handon United
Granton Vale 0–3 Dundee
Cornellians 4–1 Lammerton
FC Döllar 1–4 Port Patrick United
Kings Park 3–2 Snubbeak Rock
FC Soessch 3–1 Mucusia

Cornellains are in the middle of four matches, which will largely define their season. Narrow wins over both Dundee and Handon United, have now been followed up with a thumping 4-1 victory over Lammerton, as the champions look in pretty good shape. This match had all the makings of another tooth-and-nail battle, with the likes of Hawke, Valaran, and Alexandersson all on fine form. However, the Hornets' lacked the same fight as Dundee in the middle of the park, and the Eagles' ended up turning them over. Given the way Jim Gerrish broke up play so well in the previous match, Lammerton should be perhaps adding another name to their scouting list, because Timo Düd really struggled to lay a glove on Jade Irwin, as she cut the Hornets open time after time. Despite the pressure Lammerton were under, they managed to keep the scores at 0-0 until midway through the second half, when in a fifteen minute collapse, Jim Black ended up picking the ball out of his net three times. Lammerton made a change at half time, bringing off club captain John Cooper for Merry Osbourne, and the Brenecian seemed to make some difference, setting up Alexandersson to make it 3-1. Any comeback was short lived though, as Kel Koromin scored his second of the afternoon to keep his side within spitting distance of Port Sebastian. One side taking advantage of Lammerton's slip-up were Dundee, who went back up to fifth with a stunning 3-0 win at Granton Vale. The Panners carried over their strong performance against Cornellians, and the pressure was too much for the Beachcombers, who promptly folded like a house of cards. Firstly Mark Keane opened the scoring with half-volley from just outside the area. Christopheran striker, Jacques, doubled their lead with a real poachers finish minutes later, before Emma Keohane latched onto a Keane cross to wrap things up for the South Schottia side. After Handon United's 4-1 defeat at Marionville you could see the anger on the face of Jane Gullie, as she gave her post match interview. Her choice of words would also suggest that heads would roll, as the humbling result saw them slip five points off the pace. Vojnomir Nikolic ripped United a new one in the midfield, as captain Alf Seggerson sadly looked well off the pace. One player who most certainly was on the pace though, was Imants Kölleran who scored another two today as he looks more and more like a bargain signing, at 800K. And FC Soessch went up to sixth, as they put on a very good display in their 3-1 win over Mucusia. Die Rotte Teufel finally look like a team to be feared once again under Barry Gorman, as one or two of his new signing seem to be finding form. While we were not overly impressed with David Hughes at the start of the season, but the former Dundee man seems to have raised his game, and was on target once again today, as he looked to help haul-in his former charges. Sara Foucault grabbed the second, and Ben Ross headed in a Konstantin Holstad free kick, to complete a very good day at the office for the North Island side. Elsewhere: Port Sebastian eased to a 2-0 win over Port James, to stay a point clear of Cornellains. Port Patrick slammed four past Döllar, as they kept themselves in that six-way fight for fifth. And finally, Hillstreet are now well and truly safe with a 4-2 win over Berwick United.

SPL
Berwick United 0–4 FC Soessch
Mucusia 1–3 Kings Park
Snubbeak Rock 3–4 FC Döllar
Port Patrick United 4–3 Cornellians
Lammerton 4–3 Granton Vale
Dundee 0–1 Marionville
Handon United 3–2 New Belfast Warriors
New Island 2–0 Hollin
La Gorlions 0–2 Port Sebastian
Port James Athletic 5–1 Hillstreet

The swings and roundabouts in the chasing pack continued, as FC Soessch took their turn at sitting in fifth place. After a good match last weekend, they followed up with a 4-0 win over bottom side Berwick United. David Hughes riffled in another goal, as he helped get the ball rolling. There were also from Sara Fouclault (2) and Currian Cort, as their fan can perhaps start to believe that a return to international domestic football is on the cards. What's more, with several sides around them taking points off one another, Soessch have the possibility of climbing further up the table. The big upset of the weekend was Cornellians 4-3 defeat at the hands of Port Patrick United, as the prospect of catching Port Sebastian in the remaining eight matches starts to look quite remote. We saw the best and the worst of the Eagles in this match, with some excellent flowing football, but there were points when they were unable to cope at the back. It's hard to criticise a team who are going for five SPL titles in a row, and reached the last-16 of the Globe Cup, but if one were being completely honest, they could really do with a top-class central-defender and a no-nonsense holding midfielder. On this occasion, watching her try to go up against Tanya Yeats, we were left wondering if Tsumugi Narita is really a defensive midfielder. Port Sebastian, by contrast, showed them exactly how it should be done, as they scored two for no reply against La Gorlions. There was still snow on the streets up in the North Mountains as Porty braved the altitude, but it didn't seem to affect their performance as Eloisa Purinton, and Joey Bia scored the goals that helped extend their lead at the top of the table. It's interesting here to compare the Port Sebastian and Cornellians midfields, and while Cummings and Leonard don't have anywhere near the quality of Irwin and Narita, what they do contribute is pace and endless running, which certainly made a difference in this match. Handon United pulled themselves back equal on third, with a 3-2 win over nearest rivals, New Belfast Warriors. There is certainly very little between these two clubs, which made it a real six-pointer. The biggest difference on the day was perhaps Semarlandic winger, Christian Lovenkrands, who got his name on the score sheet with a delightful volley from the angle of the box. In other results, Lammerton made up for their defeat last week, with a 4-3 win over Granton Vale. New Island made Hollin fans a little more nervous as they hover near the bottom, with a 2-0 win. And a double from Remaine Clarke helped Port James on their way to a 5-1 victory over Hillstreet at the City Stadium.

.                        Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
 1 Port Sebastian         30   19   7   4    79   38  +41    64
 2 Cornellians            30   18   6   6    66   34  +32    60
 3 New Belfast Warriors   30   17   7   6    56   33  +23    58
 4 Handon United          30   17   7   6    68   52  +16    58
 5 FC Soessch             30   16   6   8    48   28  +20    54
 6 Lammerton              30   16   5   9    60   42  +18    53
 7 Marionville            30   16   5   9    49   42   +7    53
 8 Dundee                 30   16   4  10    47   35  +12    52
 9 Port Patrick United    30   15   6   9    52   41  +11    51
10 La Gorlions            30   13   8   9    47   33  +14    47
11 Kings Park             30   14   4  12    59   54   +5    46
12 Port James Athletic    30   11  11   8    46   33  +13    44
13 New Island             30   12   5  13    32   38   −6    41
14 Mucusia                30   11   6  13    34   36   −2    39
15 Granton Vale           30    9   5  16    46   62  −16    32
16 Hillstreet             30    7   5  18    39   72  −33    26
17 Hollin                 30    7   4  19    27   49  −22    25
18 FC Döllar              30    5   3  22    29   70  −41    18
19 Snubbeak Rock          30    2   6  22    34   76  −42    12
20 Berwick United         30    1   6  23    33   83  −50     9

Schottic Cup -- quarterfinal

Port Sebastian 3-1 Marionville
Handon United 1-0 Hollin
New Belfast Warriors 3-4 Cornellians
Port James Athletic 1-1 Port Patrick United (2–1 AET)

by **Schottia** » Sat Feb 04, 2017 7:21 am

Matchday thirty one - thirty eight

SPL
Port James Athletic 1–1 Berwick United
Hillstreet 2–3 La Gorlions
Port Sebastian 3–4 New Island
Hollin 1–2 Handon United
New Belfast Warriors 0–1 Dundee
Marionville 1–2 Lammerton
Granton Vale 1–1 Port Patrick United
Cornellians 3–2 Snubbeak Rock
FC Döllar 0–0 Mucusia
Kings Park 3–2 FC Soessch

A huge upset at Dyerton Stadium, meant that any title celebration plans Port Sebastian's supporters have been harbouring, might have been a little premature. There would have been few expecting that the visit of New Island was going to cause the league leaders any problems. Perhaps we should have seen this one coming though, with the Pebbles certainly having their best season in recent years, looking up the table for once, as opposed to looking over their shoulders. It was one of New Island's new signings who got them off the mark in this match, with former Warriors striker, Ian Wilson, sliding in to convert a Martin Jorborg cross. The visitors more than held their own in this one, and despite shipping in three goals at the back, they managed to prevail. If Cornellians were to retain their title they had to take all three points against Snubbeak Rock, but remarkably, it was a close run thing. As we have mentioned, there seems to be something not quite clicking for the Eagles, who player for player, easily have the best squad in the league. In spite of their patchy form they needed three points, and that's what they got, with Kathryn Kvanderwyk working some of her magic in the 83rd minute. Cornellians were pegged back twice, as first Kel Koromin, then Mershawn Mercury put them in front. The no nonsense running of Nick James caused them serious problems though, and even the experienced Triffid Ramsey looked to struggle at points. Despite the fact that it seemed unthinkable four months ago, Lammerton are now closing in hard on fourth place with a 2-1 win over Marionville. The Hornets seem to have more than made up for their poor start to the season, and now only a lack of remaining games seems to be standing in their way. Marionville have looked good this season, especially at home, so make no mistake about how good a result this was. Estrella Hawke seems to have really found her grove, and alongside the somewhat wizened John Cooper, the pair were an effective combination throughout the 90 minutes. The home side did have chances to level things as the match drew to a close, but Lammerton did just enough to win and keep the pressure on the Warriors. Speaking of the New Belfast Warriors, they would have been extremely disappointed to go down 1-0 at home to Dundee. The Whalers were all over the visitors for almost the entire match, however, an early goal from Jacques turned out to be an unassailable margin. The result means that the Panners jump up to fifth, just a single point off the UICA places. In other matches, a Dostalok double gave Handon United a narrow win over Hollin, as they look to cling on at the top. FC Soessch left themselves with a lot to do, as they ended up losing 3-2 on their visit to Kings Park. And finally La Gorlions, scrapped their way to a 3-2 win at Hillstreet, as they keep the slim UICA chances alive.

SPL
Berwick United 1–2 Kings Park
FC Soessch 2–1 FC Döllar
Mucusia 2–1 Cornellians
Snubbeak Rock 0–0 Granton Vale
Port Patrick United 2–0 Marionville
Lammerton 4–1 New Belfast Warriors
Dundee 2–0 Hollin
Handon United 3–2 Port Sebastian
New Island 1–0 Hillstreet
La Gorlions 0–0 Port James Athletic

Just when we thought this season couldn't get any closer, with six games to go there is now only one point separating the three teams at the top of the league. What's more, the chasing pack, who are fighting it out for fourth down to seventh are only two apart. How this one will end is anyone's guess, but this week's main talking point would have been the Handon derby, with United once again gaining the bragging rights. Whatever happens now for Jane Gullie in her first season in charge, winning both matches over Port Sebastian will be a massive feather in her cap. The tensions were running high from the start, with the match delayed as fans scuffled outside. Things weren't much better inside the stadium either, with the atmosphere almost palpable. In terms of the football, the players managed to keep their cool, and while the match was tight, things never really boiled over. Although the Port Sebastian had the better things for the first 60 minutes, United had the final say, with Hiroyo Nunez thumping in the winner ten minutes from the end. This should have been the chance Cornellians were waiting for, but once again they fell short when the top spot was theirs for the taking. This time it was Mucusia who threw the spanner in the works, but to be fair, the Eusebians can be pretty dangerous at home. On this instance though, it was a case of three shots on goal, two shots on target, and two goals - with Aimée Hétu leading the line well. Cornellians produced a number of chances at the other end, but unusually, Koromin and Kvanderwyk didn't have their scoring boots on. The Eagles are now one point adrift of the Handon two, but they possibly have a slightly easier run in. With Lammerton's 4-1 win over New Belfast, they are most certainly now favourites now to finish fourth ahead of the team they beat so convincingly. Jasper Valaran was the man of the match, as the Cenian scored one and set up one. It's going to be a tall ask for the Hornets to make up the remaining points and catch the top three; but the match with Port Sebastian in a fortnight will be pivotal. John Sedder said after the match that should his players be able to go the remainder of the season unbeaten, then they would win the league - that remains to be seen. Dundee are now equal on points with the Warriors, following a 2-0 win home to Hollin. Had it not been for the Panners' dip in form in the middle third, they may have even been challenging for the title right now. Emma Keohane kept up her impressive scoring rate in the SPL with a double in this one, although the star of the show was once again the very impressive Jim Gerrish. In other matches: New Island are now sitting on a very respectable 47 points, after Ramone Scotta's goal gave them a 1-0 win over Hillstreet. The writing seems to now be on the wall for FC Döllar in their bid to stop yo-yoing through the divisions, a 2-1 defeat to Bergstadt neighbours Soessch all but condemns them to relegation. And Port Patrick were impressive once again, as Will Snedden, and Chiyoko Sakuraka scored the goals that move them up to 8th.

Player and Manager of The Month Awards -- Month Eight

Player: Tanya Yeats -- Port Patrick United
Never going to be the quickest player in the SPL, but she more than makes up for that with her passing, and sharp eye for goal. Des Pleent seems to be a manager who can get the best out of the former North Hall girl, and if they are able to push into the top five come the end of the season, Yeats' performances will have been a big factor.

Young Player: Daniel Dostalok -- Handon United
The rising star of Merdecinian football has made a big impression in his first season here, and the future looks bright for the teenager. We weren't 100% sure how much he would feature this year, but towards the end of the season he has established himself as the main man upfront.

Manager: Jane Gullie -- Handon United
United are closing in on a return to the big time, and Champions' Cup football would be an incredible way to round off this season. Even if Jane Gullie doesn’t lift the title at the first time of asking, it's hard to deny the fact that her side are the most improved.

SPL
La Gorlions 3–2 Berwick United
Port James Athletic 0–1 New Island
Hillstreet 1–2 Handon United
Port Sebastian 2–1 Dundee
Hollin 0–1 Lammerton
New Belfast Warriors 0–1 Port Patrick United
Marionville 0–1 Snubbeak Rock
Granton Vale 3–4 Mucusia
Cornellians 1–0 FC Soessch
FC Döllar 4–2 Kings Park

The big matches are coming thick and fast now for our three/four title hopefuls, as a single slip at this stage could mean curtains. For this reason, Port Sebastian could not have been relishing the visit of Dundee, knowing that the pesky South Schottians have been the ruin of many a side this season. Jock Sonny, Vera Cummings, and Steven Rexmont were reunited with their former teammates for this one, in what was the meeting of two very well organised sides. Port Sebastian were the ones with the superior firepower, and that showed in a lively first half, when Rexmont stuck the boot into his former club, as powerful Demba Traore strike from the edge of the box came back off the legs of a defender and into the 21-year-olds path for 1-0. Dundee did struggle a little in the final third, however they had their own chances, and both Jacques and Mark Keane went close with efforts of their own before Nepharim, Gustav Fandrich, pulled them level on the hour mark. Porty are still very much in the championship race though, and they stepped up their game in the closing stages, with Eloisa Purinton grabbing the winner. Cornellians had an equally daunting task on their hands, as another side harbouring UICA ambitions, Soessch, made the visit to Lochend. Despite being the away side, there were points where Barry Gorman's players looked like the ones with the momentum, Konstantin Holstad going agonisingly close to opening the scoring. However the Eagles got the bit back between their teeth in the second half, and Jade Irwin powered her effort in past Harry Gould to keep Cornellians one point off the top. At the other end of the table, there was a rare win for FC Döllar, which at least gives them something to play for over the last five matches. They actually looked pretty good as they took on Kings Park, but they may have left it a little late to start playing football. Joe Vullermann cracked in a first half double, as he took his tally to eight for the season; and a distance strike from Isla Sibučić ensured that their side went into the interval 3-0 up. Kings Park got their act together in the second half scoring two of their own through Francis Keelinan and Sendoa, but Kerstin Dornenberger rounded things off with Döllar's fourth. Kings Park have definitely improved under Pascal Voitle, but the manager is going to need to bring someone in during the summer if they are going to be challenging up at the top of the league again. In other results, Andrya Novkovic scored twice, as the loanee midfielder helped Port Sebastian to a 3-2 win over Berwick United, to keep their Globe Cup chances alive. Port Patrick United secured arguably the best win of the week, with a 1-0 win at the Warriors, which moves them equal on points - Tanya Yeats was the hero on this occasion. And finally, Handon United stay joint top with goals from Envy Adams and Christian Lovenkrands helping them to a 2-1 win over Hillstreet.

Schottic Cup -- Semis
Handon United 0-1 Port Sebastian @ Lochend Stadium
Cornellains 3-4 Port Patrick United @ Gannon Park

SPL
Berwick United 4–3 FC Döllar
Kings Park 0–3 Cornellians
FC Soessch 1–4 Granton Vale
Mucusia 1–1 Marionville
Snubbeak Rock 0–2 New Belfast Warriors
Port Patrick United 1–1 Hollin
Lammerton 0–3 Port Sebastian
Dundee 1–1 Hillstreet
Handon United 4–3 Port James Athletic
New Island 0–0 La Gorlions

This was a big chance for Lammerton this week, but they well and truly blew it, as they were utterly humbled at the hands of league leaders Port Sebastian. It has been a topsy-turvy season, but eight points off the pace with four games to go is probably a bit of a stretch for the Hornets, who got a bit of a wake-up call in this match. In the end it came down to taking your chances, and that is something Port Sebastian have been doing all season. Experience probably showed for Porty, with Traore and Purinton now looking like a well oiled machine in the attack. Equally important were the players at the back, with Joon Ho Hwang particularly impressive. Cornellians made the trip to Kings Park, where they probably expected to face a stiff resistance, however they came up against a side who have seemingly given up already. The Eagles took control early on, and eased to a two goal lead with strikes from Eula Richard and Kathryn Kvanderwyk. It has proven fatal in the SPL this season, for sides that have failed to press Cornellians in the middle of the pitch, and Kings Park really needed to do more homework before going into this one. Cornellians rounded the result off with substitute Lara Wederburn slipping the ball through to Cenian star Kel Koromin who kept his golden boot chances alive with his side's third. Handon United had a very lucky escape as they kept themselves equal on points with their city rivals at the top of the table. Jane Gullie's team left it very late to take all three points from their match with Port James; two goals in the closing stages helping them win a very even contest. Containing former transfer target, Elspeth Glendening, proved to be the first point of order for United, and they struggled at points as the Schottia U21 cap scored twice at the start of the second half. With the score at 3-2 as we approached 90 minutes, the home side really needed to pull something out the bag, and as Daniel Dostalok and Hiroyo Nunez struck to give them the win, the relief within the stadium was palpable. In a week where many of the chasing pack dropped points, New Belfast Warriors stole a march on their opponents with a 2-0 win over Snubbeak Rock. We'd almost forgotten the Waders were still alive down there, and they showed exactly why they have been struggling so much. The only thing you could say against the Whalers in this one was the fact that they really should have scored more, but goals from Miki Kurugaya and Adrienne O'Callahan were more than enough for all three points. Elsewhere: La Gorlions and New Island played out a fierce battle in which neither side gave anything away, as it finished 0-0. Jack Hobbs scored twice for Granton Vale as they upset Soessch in a shock 4-1 win. And a late goal for Chris Jack denied Port Patrick the chance to go fifth in the battle for the last Globe Cup spot.

SPL
New Island 1–0 Berwick United
La Gorlions 0–2 Handon United
Port James Athletic 1–1 Dundee
Hillstreet 0–2 Lammerton
Port Sebastian 3–3 Port Patrick United
Hollin 1–0 Snubbeak Rock
New Belfast Warriors 1–0 Mucusia
Marionville 0–1 FC Soessch
Granton Vale 2–0 Kings Park
Cornellians 2–0 FC Döllar

The North Handon derby has never been known as the most explosive in Schottic football. However this meeting of the two ports certainly had an explosive outcome, as Port Sebastian saw themselves knocked off top spot. Port Patrick set up like they meant business, and despite not having the same big names as their next door neighbours, Callum Frir still managed to cause their defenders problems. The Breakers have been consistently strong since their return to the SPL, and they are a great example of how - without endless resources - you can still piece an effective team together. After a very strong first half, the visitors found themselves 3-1 up, with goals from Malone, McIntyre, and Frir giving them a solid lead. Porty got themselves back level with well-taken goals from both Leonard and Purinton, but it wasn't enough to rescue the win. So Handon United go top with three games to go, and their fans will be dreaming of a return to their golden age, a decade past. They had to do it the hard way though, with La Gorlions' Danu Parc never an easy place to get points. Despite this United fought hard, and they took the game to the Lions from the outset, playing some exciting, flowing football. Rebecca Talla, opened the scoring for United with a long, sweeping striker from the angle of the box, and Alf Seggerson put the icing on the cake with a bullet free kick, which took a wicked deflection off Markus Pfab to make it 2-0. There is still work to be done, but with the visit to Dundee in the last week of the season the only tricky fixture remaining, it would appear Handon might have this one. Cornellians also moved up to second, just a point off of United, with 2-0 win over third from bottom, Döllar. The Eagles have been chasing hard in recent weeks, and it will be of some relief that they have at least gotten themselves back into the Champions' Cup places. Kel Koromin gave them the lead, as he tapped in a Mershawn Mercury pass at the back post, before Jade Irwin picked out Kit Kvanderwyk on the wide right, for the Cosumar star to complete the win. With three winnable games left to play, they too will have their eyes on the United vs. Dundee fixture, which represents there best chance of snatching the title out from under Jane Gullie's nose. New Belfast Warriors increased their lead in fifth spot ahead of next weeks make or break match with FC Soessch. They prevailed by a single goal against a gutsy Mucusia, who had plenty of chances of their own to snatch it. A goal from Jenny Lundergrand was the difference between the sides, however, as she tucked away her sixth goal of the season from just inside the box. In other matches: an Ikas Nike goal meant that New Island came out on top in the old South Berwick Derby. A David Hughes strike gave FC Soessch an important three points as they took on Marionville. And Lammerton will fancy their chances of holding onto fourth spot now, as goals from Mars Alexandersson and Estrella Hawke gave them a 2-0 win over Hillstreet.

SPL
Berwick United 1–3 Cornellians
FC Döllar 2–2 Granton Vale
Kings Park 2–1 Marionville
FC Soessch 1–0 New Belfast Warriors
Mucusia 3–0 Hollin
Snubbeak Rock 2–3 Port Sebastian
Port Patrick United 2–1 Hillstreet
Lammerton 0–2 Port James Athletic
Dundee 2–3 La Gorlions
Handon United 0–1 New Island

Cornellians go top with two games to go! We didn't see this one coming at all, as Handon United slipped up at home to New Island. It really was United's to throw away, and it would now seem that they need a miracle to break their SPL curse. Harbour Hill stadium was packed to the rafter as their fans piled in to see what could have been their team lifting the title, had results gone their way. However, just when the fans really needed them to show up, United fell flat on their face, as they became the latest side to fall victim to this rejuvenated New Island team. United had the best of the first half chances, the most notable being an Adams free kick that went just wide. However they failed to make the most of their early pressure, and were hit by an Ian Wilson goal on 70 minutes; leaving them to pick up the pieces. Cornellians faced bottom side, Berwick United, in a match we all expected to be very one-sided. That indeed proved to be the case, and despite conceding an early goal, the Eagles marched to a convincing win. There is still work to do, and with two matches left to play nothing should be taken for granted, but Alexander Pearce will now be brimming with confidence. Michael Maxwell scored inside the opening ten minutes for the Gulls, but in a rampant second half display, Irwin, Kath Kvanderwyk, and Waderburn all found the target for the champions. There seems like little doubt now that this season is going to go to the wire, but for the first time in several weeks, Lochend fans will be beginning to look out their "Five-in-a-row" t-shirts. If you thought things were close at the top, then the battle for the final Globe Cup place is even closer. The Warriors, Soessch, and Port Patrick are now separated by a single point, with Dundee a further three behind. With Soessch recording a 1-0 win over New Belfast this week, it makes the whole thing even tenser, as these clubs prepare to battle until the end. Barry Gorman's Soessch side have looked very strong at home all season, and they were good for their result today. Some strong running from Johan Shearer had Saskia Holden in all sorts of trouble, before he delivered the killer ball into the box for Sara Foucault to convert. Dundee, on the other hand, missed out on a great chance to pull themselves to within one point, as they fell foul to a late Cephus Hunt goal, when his side played host to La Gorlions. Dundee probably thought they had done enough when they went 2-1 up just after half time. However, The Lions struck twice in quick succession, firstly with a distance drive from Aredhel Neil, and then the Bonesman, Hunt, got on the end of a long ball from Fred Houben to move the North Island side to within two points of their opponents. In other results: Port Sebastian moved up to second, despite conceding twice away to Snebbeak. Koppel was the hero on the day for Kings Park, as they beat Marionville 2-1. And Port James firmly put their foot through Lammerton's slim Champions' Cup chances, with a 2-0 win away from home.

Player and Manager of The Month Awards -- Month Nine

Player: Jade Irwin -- Cornellians
Arguable not quite at the same dizzying heights as last season, but it's impossible to deny that Irwin is a quality player. This self-made woman is Cornellians' main source of assists, but has also chipped in with a fair amount of goals.

Young Player: Kerstin Dornenberger -- FC Döllar
This eccentric little player has been very solid of Döllar all season, despite the club's difficulties. She contributes goals, running, and some strong link up play - when Döllar inevitably go down, they have some trouble holding onto her.

Manager: Alexander Pearce -- Cornellians
It wasn't the most straightforward season for Pearce's boys and girls, but how the Cosumarite keeps his team at the top of the league, year in year out, has to be admired.

SPL
Handon United 3–3 Berwick United
New Island 1–4 Dundee
La Gorlions 0–2 Lammerton
Port James Athletic 0–2 Port Patrick United
Hillstreet 0–0 Snubbeak Rock
Port Sebastian 2–0 Mucusia
Hollin 1–1 FC Soessch
New Belfast Warriors 2–4 Kings Park
Marionville 3–2 FC Döllar
Granton Vale 2–6 Cornellians

It's match point Cornellians, as they wait until the second last game of the season to play some of their best football, with a comprehensive 6-2 drubbing of Granton Vale. There was a hat-trick for Kel Koromin, as well as goals for Kathryn Kvanderwyk, Tsugumi Narita, and Triffid Ramsey, but if anything the Eagles could have even scored more. Port Sebastian will push until the final minute next weekend, but with Cornellians at home to the lacklustre Marionville, it may well be out of their hands. Make no doubt about it, this was a firm statement of intent from league-leaders, and if anyone thought they were going to struggle on their visit to the Vale, then they were very much mistaken. Porty also came out on top, with a 2-0 win at home to Mucusia. Jock Sonny's side will feel that in many ways they have been robbed of the title this season, having possibly been a victim of their own success. There is little doubt that reaching the quarterfinals of both the Globe Cup and Cup Winners' Cup had a pejorative affect on the side's performances in the middle part of the season. That, combined with the fact that they don't have the same quality of reserves as either the Eagles or United, meant that this was always a tall ask for them. However they had no such problems as they welcomed Mucucia to Dyerton, rather fittingly it was prolific strikers Purinton and Traore who grabbed the goals. Port Patrick have also perhaps secured themselves a first ever UICA spot, with an excellent 2-0 win over Port James Athletic. It completes an epic transformation for the club, who ten years ago looked dead and buried in the lower leagues. Since winning promotion six year back, they have become a regular top half side, with sheer hard work. Considering that most of their team was put together out of free transfers, it is a testament to the players that they have come so far. Journeyman striker Callum Frir, Tany Yeats, Chiyoko Sakuraka, Davy Keates: all of these players are in with a shout of player of the year nominations. Another side who recorded a good win this weekend were Dundee, although Johnny Smith's side may have just left things a little too late. It's not mathematically impossible for them to finish fifth, but it would mean a lot of results going their way. They continued to close out the season in style, with a 4-1 win over New Island. We've given up trying to second-guess the Panners, as they seem like they are here to stay as a top eight side. Emma Keohane scored twice, and there were also goals for James Berkeley and Barry Drite as they moved up to a point behind Soessch and the Warriors. In other results: Marionville geared up for the visit to Cornellians next week with a 3-2 win over relegated Döllar. The Warriors received a slap in the face of their fifth place hopes with a 4-2 defeat at the hands of Kings Park. And Lammerton kept themselves in fourth with a strong 2-0 win over La Gorlions.

SPL
Berwick United 0–0 Granton Vale
Cornellians 5–2 Marionville
FC Döllar 1–6 New Belfast Warriors
Kings Park 0–2 Hollin
FC Soessch 0–1 Port Sebastian
Mucusia 1–2 Hillstreet
Snubbeak Rock 1–3 Port James Athletic
Port Patrick United 1–0 La Gorlions
Lammerton 3–0 New Island
Dundee 2–1 Handon United

There has probably never been so much to play for in the SPL as we went into the final match of the season. Cornellians and Port Sebastian, separated by a single point at the top of the table, there was no room for slipups, it was all or nothing. Cornellians went into this in the more favourable position of having a one-point advantage, and being at home to a bottom half of the table side. However, from what we have seen already this season, they could afford to take nothing for granted. They went into the game in a positive manner, and duly took the lead early on thanks to a Kel Koromin header from close range. The Eagles were 2-0 up shortly before the break and their ever-growing legions of fans were in fine voice, and as Jade Irwin hooked in a trademark free kick, everything was looking rosy. However, things are rarely so easy in football, and straight out of their corner in the second half, Marionvill knocked the league leaders for six (or should we say two) as Alyssa Haigh and Ruth Finch scored in quick succession. Well.... as you could imagine the place was in a state of panic, with the home fans on their feet in disapproval. Yet somehow, with very little in the way of vocal encouragement, the Eagles pulled things back level, with Irwin grabbing her second of the game, running onto a Mershawn Mercury pass. After the goal went in there was definitely something in the air, and as much as it lifted Cornellians, it seemed to deliver a sucker punch to Marionville. The end result was that the SPL trophy made its way to Lochend for the fifth consecutive year, as Alexander Pearce's side closed out the match, 5-2. It has been an incredible achievement for the club, and despite Port Sebastian going so close this time round, we need to ask ourselves how on earth they can be stopped. There have been rumours that manager Alexander Pearce could be one of the favourites to take over the Cosumarite national team, with Gethin Ramsey slowly reaching retiring age - and were that to happen, it would definitely be a blow to the Eagles. Port Sebastian stay second with a 1-0 win away to FC Soessch, which also meant that their opponents would miss out on Globe Cup football. It has certainly been an emotional season for Porty, and despite missing out on their second UICA-era title by a single point; Eloisa Purinton's goal ensured that they at least had Champions' Cup football as a consolation. For Handon United the final game of the season ended in loss, but it's hard to blame them for a 2-1 defeat at Dundee. On the whole, United will be happy with Jane Gullie's first season in charge, and with a fresh set of players, she did much to turn the sinking ship around. United are a young side, and they can definitively improve this next season, with one of their key objectives being Globe Cup qualification. Lammerton needed a win to cement fourth spot, and they achieved in style, with a 3-0 win over the up and coming New Island. Despite their poor start to the season, which actually saw them in relegation trouble, the Hornets will finish up here on a high with UICA football to look forward to once again. They really need to thank Starling striker Estrella Hawke for pulling them over the line, and though it will be difficult to keep her at the club, John Sedder needs to at least try to make her loan permanent. Port Patrick United snatched the fifth spot with a 1-0 win at home to La Gorlions, although New Belfast Warriors will feel like they lost it, as much as the Breakers earned it. There were no surprises as to who the scorer was, with Callum Frir bursting in eight minutes from time to dispatch a Connie Malone through ball. It has been an incredible season for the 31-year-old, and we have to wonder whether a Schottia cap could finally be in the offing..?

At the other end of the table, the writing has been on the wall for a number of weeks now, with Hillstreet the only promoted side that managed to pull of the great escape. For some reason, staying up in the SPL seems like one of the hardest things in the world, with only a handful of sides managing it over the last ten years. For Hillstreet, they will now need to strengthen their squad over the summer, and hope they can seize this opportunity. However, for proverbial yo-yos Snubbeak, Döllar, and Berwick, they will go away and lick their wounds, but somehow I doubt this will be the last we see of them.

.                        Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
 1 Cornellians            38   25   6   7    90   43  +47    81 Champions
 2 Port Sebastian         38   24   8   6    98   51  +47    80 Champions' Cup, Cup Winners' Cup
 3 Handon United          38   22   8   8    85   65  +20    74 Globe Cup
 4 Lammerton              38   22   5  11    74   49  +25    71 Globe Cup
 5 Port Patrick United    38   20   9   9    65   47  +18    69 Globe Cup
 6 New Belfast Warriors   38   20   7  11    68   45  +23    67
 7 Dundee                 38   20   6  12    61   44  +17    66
 8 FC Soessch             38   19   7  12    56   39  +17    64
 9 La Gorlions            38   16  10  12    56   44  +12    58
10 Kings Park             38   18   4  16    72   71   +1    58
11 Marionville            38   17   6  15    57   58   −1    57
12 New Island             38   17   6  15    41   48   −7    57
13 Port James Athletic    38   13  14  11    56   43  +13    53
14 Mucusia                38   14   8  16    45   46   −1    50
15 Granton Vale           38   11   9  18    60   76  −16    42
16 Hollin                 38    9   6  23    33   59  −26    33
17 Hillstreet             38    8   7  23    46   84  −38    31
18 FC Döllar              38    6   5  27    42   91  −49    23 Relegated
19 Snubbeak Rock          38    3   8  27    40   88  −48    17 Relegated
20 Berwick United         38    2   9  27    45   99  −54    15 Relegated

Player of Year:
The main, player, young player, and manager award winners are selected from a long-list of ten, which is created by the responsible members at the SPL committee. The eventual winner is voted for by prominent members of the Schottic footballing community.

1st: Joon Ho Hwang -- Port Sebastian

The Quebecois has been key to Port Sebastian's success this season. The epitome of an intelligent, modern defender; the 24-year-old has been both a springboard for the attack, and a last line of defence. He is the first centre-back to win this award, with the short list normally dominated by attackers and midfielders: this fact alone should illustrate just how central he is to this side.

2nd: Natalie Adams -- Handon United

There must have been a lot of pressure on this 20-year-old, making the step up from Mucusia, to a United team who were challenging for the league title. Not only did Adams cope, but she also raised her game becoming the main creative outlet in the centre of the park. Manager, Jane Gullie, put a lot of faith in this Northern Sunriser, and she was certainly rewarded.

3rd: Jade Irwin -- Cornellians

There is something about the Schottic culture, which means we love a good, old, rags to riches story. That idea of the plucky underdog, prevailing against all the odds to reach the top, is something embodied in this young Nepharim woman. Irwin is never going to be perfect, but if you focus on what she does do as opposed to what she doesn’t, then she is quite arguably world-class. Her eighteen goals from the midfield might have been the difference between Cornellians and Port Sebastian in the end.

4th: Eloisa Purinton -- Port Sebastian

Port Sebastian and Cornellians players dominate the award lists this season, and there are few more deserving than Gloriaxian refugee Purinton. It's a travesty that this young woman has missed the last four World Cups, and is set to miss the next. An excellent, natural goal scorer, who is so much more than just a striker: In this spell at Port Sebastian she has succeeded in recapturing some of her early form.

5th: Kit Kvanderwyk -- Cornellians

Without a doubt the elder Kvanderwyk sibling has had his best season in Schottic football. Although we knew just how good he could be, he has had a couple of quiet seasons before finally settling in. The Cosumar internationalist has excellent awareness and ball control - furthermore, his crosses from right flank have been a major source of goals for the SPL Champions

Long-list: Kathryn Kvanderwyk (Cornellians), Steven Rexmont (Port Sebastian), Estrella Hawke (Lammerton), Kel Koromin (Conellians), JK Cottle (Handon United), Tanya Yeats (Port Patrick)

Golden Boot (Top Scorer):

1st: 32 Eloisa Purinton -- Port Sebastian

2nd: 30 Kel Koromin -- Cornellians

3rd: 23 Demba Traore -- Port Sebastian

|

4th: 22 Estrella Hawke -- Lammerton

=5th: 21 Elspeth Glendenning -- Port James Athletic

| Kathryn Kvanderwyk -- Cornellians

=7th: 19 Hiroyo Nunez -- Handon United

| Callum Frir -- Port Patrick United

| David Hughes -- Dundee

= 10th: 18 Jade Irwin -- Cornellians

| Jack Hobbs -- Granton Vale

| Iana Synder -- New Belfast Warriors

| Cephus Hunt -- La Gorlions

Scorers below equal tenth not listed

Young Player of The Year:
1st: Natalie Adams -- Handon United

Se Player of The Year Awards

2nd: Steven Rexmont -- Port Sebastian

The 21-year-old looks set to make a big impact at the World Cup next year, and will no doubt push Chloe Rudden hard for that role on the left wing. Rexmont is a big strong player, who rides challenges well, and isn't afraid to have a crack at goal. He also performed well on the world stage, both in the Globe Cup and Cup Winners' Cup.

3rd: Estrella Hawke -- Lammerton

At only nineteen, Hawke is the youngest player picking up an award at the annual ceremony - and was also long-listed for the senior-award. Her tally of 22 goals is even more impressive when you consider Lammerton's slow start to the season, and it's safe to say the Nepharim is destined for bigger and better things. The Lammerton's faithful have drawn comparisons between Hawke, and former player John McCormack, for her powerful running and eye for goal - however, that is probably more of a compliment for McCormack, given they way she has performed.

4th: Cephus Hunt -- La Gorlions

It's easy to see why the manager Jago Avelione seems to like this big striker, as the similarities between the Bonesman, and the club's all-time top scorer are quite remarkable. Hunt has that kind of all round physicality, which makes him hard to defend against, and he is working under precisely the right manager to help him improve further. Looks like a very good signing, eighteen goals in his first season is impressive.

5th: Nick James -- Snubbeak Rock

It's not a surprise to see James' name here somewhere, although fifth seems perhaps a little high. The rapid winger has definitely been a breath of fresh air however, and he has given a lot of left-backs food for thought. The only question hanging over his head now, is where he will be playing football next season.

Long-list: Hiroyo Nunez (Handon United), Elspeth Glendening (Port James Athletic), Jasper Valaran (Lammerton), Mershawn Mercury (Cornellians), Micha Leonard (Port Sebastian)

Manger of The Year:
1st: Jock Sonny -- Port Sebastian

Just getting the nod here above Pearce, Gullie, and perhaps Pleent. Sonny has really galvanised Porty over the last two seasons, turning them from a good side, into a top side, capable of performing on the world stage. He was given a little money two years ago, and he spent it wisely, bringing in players who do exactly what is asked of them. Very unlucky not to have picked up the title this season, but they will be looking forward to next year already.

2nd: Alexander Pearce -- Cornellians

The problem with being indisputably at the top of the pile is that the only way from there is down. There is not much else really for Pearce to achieve at the Eagles, although he might be a little disappointed not to have had a real crack at the Globe Cup. Five titles in a row says it all though, there is nothing more that you can ask.

3rd: Jane Gullie -- Handon United

She was charged with transforming United, and few could argue that she hasn't. The way the season ended will obviously be disappointing for Gullie, but most of her star players are young, and they will be back even stronger next season. They didn't manage to deliver the league title, but they were in the race right up until the final matches.

Signing of The Year:
This is awarded to the incoming player who made the biggest impact relative to price, profile, and reputation.

Cephus Hunt -- La Gorlions

Signed from Athletic Spit
Gone from part time shelf-stacker, to an eighteen-goal debut season at a club not exactly famed for scoring goals. Hunt was a great find, and he has really plugged a gap in that department, with Dalehunt not looking up to much the season before. With La Gorlions' reputation as a selling club, there are undoubtedly going to be teams sniffing about the Bonesman over the summer.

Team of The Year:
Differently to the player of the year awards, the official team of the year is voted for by the Schottic public. This is why the players can differ from those selected for the official awards, and normally come from the teams with the larger support bases.

GK= Harry Gould
DEF= Esther Abner - Triffid Ramsey - Joon Ho Hwang - Tamika November
MID= Jade Irwin - Steven Rexmont - Natalie Adams
FOR= Kel Koromin - Eloisa Purinton - Estrella Hawke

Schottic Cup -- Final

Port Sebastian 3-2 Port Patrick United @ Harbour Hill Stadium
Traore, Purinton, Rexmont; McIntyre, Frir

The north of Handon descended, en masse, to the city centre for this year's Schottic Cup final, with defending champions Port Sebastian taking on their close neighbours, Port Patrick United. One a shipbuilders yard, the other a breakers yard, the two ports are separated by less than a kilometre, meaning that the final had something of a parochial feel to it. Port Sebastian were firm favourites to retain their title, however as this season's surprise package, Port Patrick posed a very real threat. This was a proper, old-fashioned cup final, with both sides going at it from the start. Port Sebastian drew first blood, after a move started by Schottic international Vera Cummings. The former Dundee girl picked out captain, Eloisa Purinton, with a well-aimed pass, before the Gloriaxian slipped the ball into the path of Demba Traore. The Semar then showed great strength to outmuscle Davy Keates before sending the Porty end of Harbour Hill Stadium crazy, as he rifled home from close range. The reigning champions might have had their noses in front, but the Breakers were giving it everything they had, and pulled level just before half time through Willie McIntyre. Chiyoko Sakuraka showed great vision in picking out the former Cornellians man with a cross-field ball, before the veteran winger pulled them level. Port Sebastian came out of the blocks flying in the second half, as a Purinton freekick instantly restored their lead. Once again however, Port Patrick pegged them back, as Tanya Yeats played Callum Frir through on goal. The 31-year-old Schottian has been on deadly form all season, and he left Chris Gonzaö with no chance at all. In the end though, Steven Rexmont had the final say, as the 21-year-old ran onto a Micha Leonard through ball, to tuck his strike under Altavian Kalhoro. Back-to-back cup wins don't seem to come around too often in Schottic football, so this result will cap of what has definitely been a successful season for Jock Sonny's boys and girls.

MOTM: Vera Cummings

Regional Divisions - Second Tier
In a bid to make football more sustainable in Schottia the second tier is split into three Regional Divisions. This was in an attempt to cut down travel time for fans and players, while giving a greater number of sides a chance at promotion. The champions of each league win promotion to the SPL, and the side finishing bottom is relegated to the Regional Conference. Other sides may be relegated too depending on which sides come down from the SPL, keeping the number of teams in each league at ten.

Division A - Greater Handon, Marionville, New Belfast, and New Scotland.

.                               Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
 1 Kirk Preston United           36   20   6  10    55   40  +15    66 Promoted
 2 New Belfast Blues             36   19   8   9    54   30  +24    65
 3 West Holbrookdale             36   20   4  12    54   40  +14    64
 4 Regional Development Side A   36   19   5  12    60   41  +19    62
 5 Marionville Thistle           36   15   9  12    44   39   +5    54
 6 Handon North                  36   15   8  13    58   56   +2    53
 7 Toll Cross Academy            36   12   8  16    47   60  −13    44
 8 Handon Ladies                 36   10   9  17    49   58   −9    39
 9 Adelly Road                   36    8  11  17    53   71  −18    35
10 Oxlaey Court                  36    4   8  24    41   80  −39    20 Relegated

Regional Division A, Player of The Year:
1st: Oliver Helling, Kirk Preston United

2nd: Thomas Sanchez, New Belfast Blues

3rd: Flasymar, Kirk Preston United

It must be said, that the standard of football on show in this division was particularly high, as the area surrounding Schottia's capital city continues to set the benchmark for the nation's football. Regional Division A was billed as a two-way battle between sleeping giant, New Belfast Blues, and the vastly improved, Kirk Prestion United. In what seemed to be a mirror image of the SPL season, this one went down to the wire, with Ross Killanen's side winning by a single point. Since their mysterious fans' takeover, the Holly Men have seen the ranks bolstered over the summer and former Handon United star, Oliver Helling, was a particularly effective addition. That, combined with 27-goal striker Flasymar, was in the end too much for NBB, who will be gutted at the prospect of another season in the regional divisions.

Division B - Central South Schottia, Lammerton, Eastern Eusebia, Port James, Belker, and the New Island.

.                               Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
 1 Lammerton City                36   19   7  10    59   48  +11    64 Promoted
 2 West Coast Warriors           36   17   9  10    55   40  +15    60
 3 Central Stars                 36   15   9  12    50   46   +4    54
 4 Bolton Green                  36   14  10  12    58   56   +2    52
 5 Lammerton Wonderers           36   14   9  13    52   48   +4    51
 6 Redional Development Side D   36   14   8  14    57   57    0    50
 7 Lammerton Eels                36   12  12  12    57   61   −4    48
 8 Regional Development Side B   36   11  10  15    53   56   −3    43
 9 Coldstream Farmers Union      36    9  11  16    50   61  −11    38 Relegated
10 Oak Park Celtic               36    7  11  18    45   63  −18    32 Relegated

Regional Division B, Player of The Year:
1st: Somuele der Pros, Lammerton City

2nd: Antonia Aktar, West Coast Warriors

3rd: John Delanson, Central Stars

In Regional Division B, Lammerton City secured their return to the SPL after a tussle with the West Coast Warriors. A much-depleted Princes side can count themselves lucky that they still had the inspirational Farf midfielder, Somuele der Pros, on their books, as the 23-year-old hauled them over the line. Surprise package were former Womens' Super League side, West Coast Warriors, who finished much better than expected in second. West Coast captain Antonia Aktar said that the side were determined to establish themselves as a side in their own right, and shake of the WSL tag. With no one particularly strong coming down from the SPL, next season may well be their chance to seal promotion.

Division C - The North Islands, La Gorla, and Bergstadt.

.                               Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
 1 Regional Development Side C   36   19   8   9    68   54  +14    65
 2 Jena VB                       36   15  11  10    62   49  +13    56 Promoted
 3 D'Itille                      36   13  11  12    55   44  +11    50
 4 Soessch 1990                  36   14   8  14    41   45   −4    50
 5 Wolbeck                       36   13  10  13    63   64   −1    49
 6 Stalker Bay                   36   12  12  12    53   57   −4    48
 7 Soessch Mountaineers          36   12  10  14    52   54   −2    46
 8 Anacy                         36   11  11  14    49   61  −12    44
 9 La Harve                      36   11  10  15    57   64   −7    43
10 Allous VB                     36    9  11  16    37   45   −8    38 Relegated

Regional Division C, Player of The Year:
1st: Jessica Grey, Soessch 1990

2nd: Viktor Greary, Regional Development Side C

3rd: David O'Brien, Wolbeck

A lot of the sides in this league can count themselves lucky that they are not in Division A or B, because the standard here has been slipping somewhat. RDS:C completely ran away with this one, as teenage winger, Viktor Grear proved too hot to handle. With the development side ineligible for promotion, Jean VB go up in second to make it back to back promotions. Top goal scorer was Osarian striker Jessica Grey, who managed an impressive haul of 23 goals. Jena will now be looking forward to a return to the SPL, however, they are going to need to really improve if they are to stand any chance of staying up.

Youth Football - Junior Championship

.                               Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
 1 Handon United                 30   17  10   3    48   27  +21    61 Champions
 2 Cornellians                   30   16   9   5    47   32  +15    57
 3 Regional Development Side C   30   15   9   6    47   36  +11    54
 4 Regional Development Side A   30   13  10   7    38   26  +12    49
 5 Regional Development Side D   30   14   7   9    45   37   +8    49
 6 Lammerton                     30   14   7   9    51   44   +7    49
 7 Port Sebastian                30   11  10   9    47   38   +9    43
 8 Marionville                   30   11   8  11    34   32   +2    41
 9 Handon Ladies                 30   11   6  13    39   39    0    39
10 Kings Park                    30   11   6  13    44   48   −4    39
11 FC Soessch                    30   10   9  11    31   35   −4    39
12 Regional Development Side B   30    9   5  16    40   49   −9    32
13 Port James Athletic           30    7  10  13    29   42  −13    31
14 New Belfast Warriors          30    8   4  18    26   39  −13    28
15 La Gorlions                   30    6   8  16    30   47  −17    26
16 Dundee                        30    5   6  19    28   53  −25    21

Junior Championship, Player of The Year:
1st: Alex Pearce, Cornellians

2nd: John Hare, Handon United

3rd: Jack Avelione, La Gorlions

by **Schottia** » Wed Apr 26, 2017 2:11 am

2025-26

Preview
-Part One-

Playing squads for the upcoming season, with provisional starting eleven, and notable reserves. Teams listed in no particular order.

After lifting their fifth league title on the bounce, following yet another nail biting run-in, Cornellians will face their toughest challenge yet in the SPL. Objectively speaking, the standard in the league is on the rise, and there is precious little the Eagles can do to stop the likes of United and Porty making improvements to their already very strong squads. Things are going to be made all the more tricky, following the departure of long serving manager Alexander Pearce, who left in the summer to take up the top job at Cosumar. Given that Pearce has had a long time to put his own personnel in place, whomever it was that took over was going to be confronted with the difficult job of maintaining the same high standard, while beginning to shape their own side. The man the board brought in as Pearce’s successor was Reinhard Shale, someone they will be hoping has the experience to handle the kind of pressure that comes with being at the top. Despite an almost flawless WCQs, the former Nepharim boss was let-go from the national setup at the end of the last campaign. Freak results against Schottia and SJG were perhaps enough to have forced the Nepharim FA's hand.

Shale inherits a good side, with a strong starting eleven, and a couple of handy looking young players coming through the ranks. In the attack, Kel Koromin is a world-class striker on a good day, and his scoring rate for club and country would attest to that. The Cenian has been wonderfully consistent since joining from Tir Snake Strike in a $15M move, and is an almost guaranteed 20-plus goals a season. Alongside him is Kathryn Kvanderwyk, brought in by Pearce five seasons ago from the lower leagues in her native Cosumar. Younger sister of NT-star, Kit, she is the kind of player you would imagine that other strikers love to play alongside. Fast, hard-working, unselfish; Kathryn is never going to be a world-beater, but her energy and professionalism have helped her win her first cap at the AO-Championships. In reserve, teenager Lara Wedderburn is a striker with a big future for Schottia. With U-21 caps to her name, and goals in UICA competition, she is a very decent understudy in this team. The star in the centre of the park is Shale's countrywoman, Jade Irwin, whom he gave a first call up to last cycle. The former Crisisbless United reject made it to the top the hard way, but is now the one pulling all the strings in this side. Alongside her in the middle is deep-sitting-playmaker, Tsumugi. The Kirisakian does a lot of the tidying up, as well as being creative with her distribution. On the right wing, Kit Kvanderwyk probably had his best season in white and green last year. The Cosumarite might not be the quickest, but his skill and delivery more than make up for that. His opposite number on the left is Echani winger Marshawn Mercury, who looked like a very decent addition, after making the switch from Sebio City last season. Waiting in the wings are Isla Sibučić and Eula Richard; both more than capable of coming in and making a difference. Sibučić, brought in by Pearce at the start of last season is a prodigious talent, so expect to see a fair bit from this lively number ten type over the course of the season. At the back, they have two solid yet unremarkable centre-backs in the form of Scott Burton and Stephen Gargo. Neither have featured a great deal for their countries, but they are a steadfast combination at SPL level. Right-back is Shale's only big money signing, Nepharim squad player, Maeon Vlahos. The club forked out $6M for the 25-year-old, who they hope will be able to add a toughness to the defence. On the left is newly appointed club captain, Triffid Ramsey. The left back who wishes she were a wing-forward, is now a wily battle hardened competitor, who has been terrorising defences in the SPL for seven seasons. Cornellians also have a fair amount of cover at the back, with Alex Pearce Jr and rising Pasargan star Christian Berg both pushing hard for starts. In goals, is the Schottia keeper, Jeremy McNott. No one would describe him as the best in the business, but he is good enough -- and despite the odd error, he has a habit of pulling off some fingertips saves.

Prediction: 1st. You would have to say they are still favourites, even though Shale will need time to assess this squad. As far as the board are concerned, a strong title challenge, and a good UICA run would earn him another bite at the cherry, but the fans are likely to be less patient.

Star player: Jade Irwin | Rising Star: Isla Sibučić

International Competition: Champions' Cup

Despite finishing third, there was a feeling last season, that a cloud was beginning to lift from Harbour Hill stadium. Former Schottia manager, Jane Gullie, seems to have made the side harder to beat, and on top of that sustained a title challenge right up until the last couple of weeks. With nothing in the way of big money players coming in, Gullie has instead opted to work with the younger players already at the club, something her predecessors were criticised for not doing in the past.

The jury is possibly still out on the strike force of Daniel Dostalok and Hiroyo Nunez, despite the fact that they both performed well in spells last season. Both are rising stars with their respective nations, and Gullie has understandable given them another season together to settle as a unit. Redvali woman-mountain, Nunez, was especially strong at the start of last season, and her prowess in the box certainly gave defenders much food for thought. Mercedinian striker, Dostalok, also comes back a little older and wiser, and will be looking to really hit the ground running this time round and show us what he can do. Former USI U21 internationalist, Mirka Shitakuari, is likely to remain back up for this season, although there is very little between the three senior strikers. Depending on whom they are facing, Gullie may opt for a different combination in the forward possessions. If United are going to win their first title in a decade, we are going to need to see some big performances from the midfield, and Natalie Adams in particular. The former Mucusia midfielder was outstanding in her first season at the club, and will need to reproduce that creativity and drive again here. Alongside her is the highly versatile 19-year-old, Dilon Bànach, who returns from a very successful loan spell at Port James. Although she started out as a striker, she played most of last season in the centre of midfield, putting in some very gutsy performances. For many, Christian Lovenkrands, on the right-wing, is the star of the show. The Semar certainly has an eye-catching brand of football, which has lead to him being capped by his country, and enables him to get in behind the defenders to do some real damage. Drawkish winger, Rebecca Talla, was another very good performer last season, and Gullie will be hoping the Drawkish player can continue to provide the same quality of delivery this time round. On the bench, Baffour Asante is a very good holding player, who may be preferred to Bánach on one or two of the big occasion, while Kirisakian Nagisa Habane may also have a part to play. The defence is dominated by club captain, JK Cottle. The big Bonesea international made the team of the year last season, and had a physicality that causes smaller strikers real problems. Alongside Cottle, Nathaniel Bueno-Wells is good enough, and generally very consistent. One of the players brought in by Sorensen a few years back, he has really stamped his claim on that place. Left-back, James Robertson, had a big breakthrough season two years ago, but was a little quieter last time round. The 25-year-old has a big future at the club though, and just needs to knuckle down. Right-back, Mana Satō, is one of those players who offers next to nothing at the back, but makes up for it going forward, where she combines well, overlapping with Lovenkrands. In reserve, United also have 19-year-old Louis Hordern, who had a good spell on loan at Central Stars last term. In goals, United have a safe pair of hands in the form of Cenian, Jacrian Ryaden. The 33-year-old is rock solid; making it one position Jane Gullie has no need to worry about.

Prediction: 3rd. There is utterly no doubt that United could win it, but it isn't going to come without hard work. They have some very good players, but whether or not they have the right personnel in the key positions is another matter. It is now ten long, miserable years since United last lifted the title - something that would have been unthinkable at the time.

International Competition: Globe Cup.

Star Player: Natalie "Envy" Adams | Rising Star: Dilon Bànach

Port Sebastian will still be reeling from missing out on the title last season, given that other than a poor run at the mid-way point, they were probably the best performers. Manager Jock Sonny will be desperate to add the SPL title to his already impressive CV, and with Cornellians changing management, he may sense a solitary drop of blood in the water. Sonny's pre-season has not been without problems however, with Schottic international Stevie Rexmont slapping down a transfer request after the Wold Cup. The return of Anglatian youth internationalist, Andrya Novkovic, from a very good loan spell at La Gorlions may have given Sonny some consolation however. The headline grabber for Port Sebastian, during the window, was the signing of Quebecois star Leonard Conavacio (his Porty supporting wife perhaps being a factor).

It's hard to see exactly where Conavacio will slot into the already pretty lethal Porty forward line, but you would imagine it's a headache Jock Sonny is happy to have. He will be competing with team captain, and former Gloriaxian star, Eloisa Purinton, who can probably thank the war in her homeland for the fact that her international career has been so limited. The third wheel upfront is Demba Traore, who with a handful of Semarland caps, is another very accomplished centre forward. A Conavacio/Purinton strike force would look best on paper, but Sonny will be aware of the problems Traore's strength and directness caused the opposition last season. In the midfield Porty have pace by the bucket load, and while the loss of Rexmont will put a dent in that, they still have other sources. Vera Cummings and vice-captain Michi Leonard are a hard running duo in the centre, with the former providing more technical input, and the latter contributing more in physical and mental toughness. Long serving right winger, Joey Bia, is now going into his eleventh season at Porty. His ability to cut in and shoot means that he contributes much in the way of goals. On the left, Andrya Novkovic has been knocking on the door for a while, and after a successful year out on loan, she looks a cert to be handed an oppertunity. She is also capable of playing thought the middle, but Sonny will likely look to her as Rexmont's replacement. Port Sebastian's player of the season last year was Joon Ho Hwang, who went on the start for Quebec in the World Cup. He is luckily back for another season, and will once again partner former Schottia U21 star, Sloane Kirkland at centre-back. The right and left wingback positions are occupied by two Schottia internationals, Paul Doig and Esther Abner. Both are very strong in their respective positions, with Doig's long throw-ins a big feature of the Porty attack. Between the sticks, we have the only real wildcard of sorts, in what is an otherwise very solid looking side. Former student, MG Grumbla, has big boots to fill, stepping in for Chris Gonzaö, but the manager has shown a huge amount of faith in the 19-year-old, handing him the number-one jersey.

Prediction: 2nd. Probably a close second on paper, but they will be a few people's favourites this season. They had a good year both domestically and in the UICA last year, and the addition of Conavacio is a potential game changer.

International Competition: Champions' Cup & Cup-Winners' Cup

Star Player: Joon Ho Hwang | Rising Star: Andrya Novkovic

Most pundits would probably agree that John Sedder has taken Lammerton as far as he can. He has built up a very strong side - for the most part bringing through young players - and had them punching at the top end of their weight category for seven seasons now. They have been consistently finishing near the top of the league, but both the title, and a strong run in UICA competition have thus far eluded them. Last season they finished fourth, and despite the fact that things never really clicked into place for them, Starling Loanee Estrella Hawke's goals no doubt glossed over a fair few cracks. This season they are minus Hawke, and after seeing a bit of a clear out of their aging personnel, it will be interesting to see how this side fair.

Hawke, and her 22 goals, are a big hole to fill, so Hornets fans will be glad to see a bit of ambition from the club, who splashed out the cash in search of a permanent replacement. 21-year-old Chromatik striker, Kaytlyne Victoriane, joins the club in a big money move from Tihon, and certainly has the ability to be a hit in the SPL. She will start alongside Wallace Solway, who has been a bit part player in her five years with the club so far, but impressed with a string of good performances at the tail end of last season. Neither a striker nor a midfielder, the enigmatic Mars Alexandersson will also be a big source of goals for the club. The Sunrise Islander has an all-action approach to the game, which is always popular with the fans. Lacing things together in the central midfield of three, is Cenian internationalist, Jasper Valaran. Joining the club as an 18-year-old, the classy playmaker has been consistently outstanding in his sort time in Schottia, and a key player for Lammerton. Robard Horvat is the water carrier in the midfield. The 25-year-old Cosumarite was plucked from obscurity five seasons ago by John Sedder, and has gone on to prove his worth in the engine room of this midfield. Finally, after 33-year-old Timo Düd made the decision to leave the club, Boney, Menhennick Goff, comes in to complete what is now a very young midfield. Sedder does have teenager, Dan Renkart on the bench who is supposedly one to watch, but this may be one season too early for the former U18 cap to make an impact. In defence, Marcel Smith-Hammond is now the linchpin, playing alongside 19-year-old centre-back, John van Cleef. Versatile defender, van Cleef, is also tipped for big things, but at such a tender age, concentration can be an issue. At right-back, Paul Yarrow is a decent enough player, who will never set the world alight. And Llamaian left-back Luke Svensson is slowly coming on to some good form on the opposite flank. Keeper, Jim Black, has Schottia caps to his name, and has the leadership to hold things together at the back.

Prediction: 5th. It is going to be very hard for Lammerton to win the league this time round. However they are most definitely top five material, and will be in the hunt, should any of the top sides slip up.

Star player: Mars Alexandersson | Rising Star: Kaytlyne Victoriane

International Competition: Globe Cup

After an uninspired finish to the season, which saw them miss out on UICA football, Warriors manager Graeme Collins knew he had to change something. The sale of Holly Addison to New Island came as a shock to all of us, but it inevitably freed up the funds needed to bring in the highly impressive Somuele der Pros from Lammerton City. Collins has definitely brought stability in his time at the club, but unfortunately, it looks like being stably 5th or 6th, rather than title challengers.

The Whalers looked pretty strong upfront last season with Kirsakian target girl, Miki Kurugaya, playing just in front of (young for a Drawkish player), Iana Synder. The combination seemed to work pretty well, with Synder naturally migrating to the wide area, and opening up space for the Kirisaki international to exploit. New Belfast also have Jenny Lundergand, a feisty Upper Sunriser who can pack a punch, so they have better quality cover than most sides in this position. It will be exciting to see how der Pros plays alongside Cenian star, Tomás Fierro, in the centre of midfield, as this has all the potential to be a very strong pairing. The Farf midfielder was outstanding for Lammerton City last season as they won promotion, with his pinpoint passing, and ball-winning more than justifying the $1M price tag. Fierro, on the other hand, has been with the Warriors for a number of years now, and is fast becoming a steady, highly composed, and cultured midfield player. On the right of midfield, one club man Craig O'Maramy continues to impress. The former DBC winner might have fallen out of the NT squad, but he is still one of the best, natural, right-wingers in the league. On the left, Quebecois Adrienne O'Callahan has all the skills and trickery you would expect from a player in her position; her seven goals last season were a good contribution to the side's over all tally. Wingbacks, Victoria Schute and Saskia Holden, both have been capped at U21 level for Schottia, and offer solid cover in this position. Holden in particular brings some big match experience to the side, having previously played for Bayern Phoenix in Taeshan. Giordi Dinara is an experienced centre-half, who will hopefully anchor things well, while new recruit, Anna Lombardi, settles in. Lombardi was picked up from the newly emerging Iron Forge academy, and it will be interesting to see what kind of skill set she has come out with. And finally, now nationless Nerio Teran keeps the gloves for another season. The former Guayabalese national has proven himself to be very good when called into action
Prediction: 6th. Probably just going to miss out on the Globe Cup spots, but they are in a chasing pack of four or five, who are very difficult to place.

Star Player: Tomás Fierro | Rising Star: Miki Kurugaya

Under the stewardship of former Schottia and Blue Coast boss, Barry Gorman, we have most definitely seen improvements in FC Soessch. For a long time they were one of the "Big Four" but the UICA era seemed to bring them difficulties. While probably not back in the title race, they are surely the strongest they have been for years, with Gorman working hard to bring in strong players in every position. They were also quite busy in the transfer window, bringing in Cosumarite rightback, Temasso Tenebrosa, and former Döllar star, Kerstin Dornenberger.

How David Hughes hasn't been capped for Schottia yet is a mystery, as the centre forward has been at the top of his game for three seasons now. An old-fashioned number-9 type player, he leads the line very well with former Mucusia girl, Sara Foucault. Foucault has a little more movement about her, and the pair compliment each other well, presenting defenders with some real problems to deal with. There will be big things expected of Dornenberger, coming into the side after her valiant attempt at keeping Döllar up last season. The exocentric 23-year-old, will start beside the younger sister of her partner, Mark Ünterhausen, which should be an interesting dynamic. The fourth and final Ünterhausen sibling, Charlotte was a little young last year to make much of an impact, but at 19 she should be more effective in the holding midfield role. On the right of midfield Soessch have one of those straight forward (and generally a little underrated) wingers, Johan Shearer. Picked up from the Nepharim Project +90 a few years back, Shearer has been a key player in providing the ammunition for the strikers. Currian Cort also had a good debut season last time round, after making the step up from amateur football in the Boreal Islands. The 28-year-old Bonesea winger probably surprised a few in the SPL, with just how well he adapted to the pace. Soessch have always had a healthy tradition of youth development, and young Stephan Kraus is the latest to come through the ranks. The young midfielder, who can play left or centre, will be an important reserve this season. Where Soessch are particularly strong is at the back, where they might even have the best defensive line in the league on paper. Former Schottia U15 captain, Ben Ross, has been tapping into a very rich vein of form, alongside Nepharim U21 cap, Tamika November. The two of them showed a good understanding last season, and Gorman will be hoping for more of the same this time round. 30-year-old, Tenebrosa, looks like a player who may prove to be an excellent addition at right-back, after joining from the now in-decline Sarian league. The Cosumarite is hugely experience at top-level football, and will improve this side without a doubt. Form the sundrenched shores of Venta de la Masillia, Naomi Blair has been adjusting well in her three season here in Schottia. The young left-back definitely carries her weight, and looks to be improving. The centrepiece of this defence, right now, is goalkeeper Harry Gould. The Schottia cap has been sensational for the past three seasons, and looks a cert to add to his caps tally.

Prediction: 4th. We are predicting a little bit of a shocker here, and we're going to say Gorman will pull some something out of his hat. Fourth place, and a very strong challenge.

Star Player: Johan Shearer | Rising Star: Charlotte Ünterhausen

Kings Park fans will be hoping that thinks are about to get better. Pascal Voitle came in as boss towards the end of last season, and there is some evidence he might have been a factor in their improvement. The last couple of seasons have been tricky to say the least, and the exit of Erin Braden certainly didn't help. Young midfielder, Andrew Thompson, looked severally out of his depth last season, and the introduction of former Northern Union kid, Meghan Hartsdown, will be a big upgrade in that department.

Voitle has stuck with the existing strike force of Kaija Koppel and Francis Keelinan. Former Schottia U23 captain, Keelinan, is now approaching veteran status and is always a threat with his power, and dead-ball expertise. Pacey Vormsian forward, Koppel, on the other hand is the kind of player who likes the ball played into her feet, and isn't afraid to take her opponents on. Brencian, Hastsdown, will join former Myrmidon midfielder, Sendoa, in the centre of the pitch, in what looks like the makings of a good partnership. The Cenian's drive going forward was a large ingredient in the Royals' play last season, and he will be hoping to pick up again from there. Left midfielder, Darren O'Brian, is probably reaching the end of his distinguished career. With seventy Schottia caps to his name, he is something of a club legend, and the cultured winger will be looking to go out with a bang. On the right, they have Kirisakian squad player, Yuiko Kasugano, who is very capable on the ball, but perhaps lacks a little substance. Andrew Thompson will likely have to settle for a spot on the bench this season, but at 20-years-old, he is far from dead and buried. At the back, Voitle has put a lot of faith (and no doubt pressure) on the shoulders of 19-year-old Akiheiro Amono. The Schottian centre-back played exceptionally well for them in the reserve league last season, but this will be a big step up. He is pitched in with the big, and somewhat ponderous, Richard Dachs. The Royals have a couple of promising kids in the wingback positions, Damukuni right-back Serenity Piper, and Cosumarite left-back Mario Modrich. Gerry Ions is a bone-average keeper, who retains his place between the sticks.

Prediction: 11th. It's ridiculously hard to predict where "Handon's Wee Team" will finish. As always, they could be pushing for a UICA place, or could be looking over their shoulders.

Star player: Sendoa | Rising star: Meghan Hartsdown

It's probably going to be another tough season for the team from the North Island Mountains, but then again, it always is. They might be one of the grittiest teams in the division, but they don't always have the quality to go with it. Since the sale of Irwin to Cornellians and the retirement of Gaston Avelione, they have lacked someone with the skill to really hurt their opponents.

In a transfer window that saw very little movement at Danu Parc, Kirsten Gemmill was the club's only summer signing. The striker is pretty much untested in senior football, but then again, so was another young Nepharim woman who joined the club not that long ago. She will find a strike partner in the form of Boney, Cephus Hunt, who by most objective opinion had a very good season last time round. Playing just behind them is Port Christopher star, Aredhel Neil, who in the absence of Novkovic is the clubs only real attacking midfielder. Just behind Neil, the Lions play a central midfield three with more bite that a barrel of piranhas. Captain Fredrick Houben has been at the club since the age of 19, and is the rock in the middle of the three. Just in front of him, Yelena Shostakovich and Tamar Dunn generally have the job of doing more of the fetching and carrying. Dunn will be starting for the first time since making her breakthrough from the youth side, and the 19-year-old will really need to hit the ground running. At the back, Markus Pfab has been in the Schottia squad as recently as WC75, but only has the one cap to his name. Vinod Punteer is of a similar mould, big, burly, and with a vicious temper. While the wingbacks, Christy Snell and Juan Velente have both been capped for Schottia at U21 level. Semarlandic keeper, Mark den Karl, showed some really good handling in spells last season and will need to recreate that.

Prediction: 10th. There's not really any danger of the Lions going down, but similarly, anything higher than mid table seems a bit farfetched.

Star player: Yelena Shostakovich | Rising star: Cephus Hunt

Popular wisdom would say: Marionville are in a spot of bother. A manager who has been in the job too long, a run down squad, and most of their players either too old or not quite good enough. The UICA era of Schottic football has not been kind to this once great side, and they were in serious need of shot in the arm this season, but it never materialised.

One of the shining lights of this team is loan striker, Imants Kölleran. The 24-year-old Vormsian's 16 goals last season helped the club to a stronger finish than they might have otherwise had. Playing in the hole just behind him, is Pasargan playmaker Vojnomir Nikolic. He has been an important link between the midfield and the attack in his time at the club, and also contributes a reasonable goal tally. The Old Boys normally play with two holding midfielders, Ruth Finch and Johnny Birch, sitting considerably deeper than Nikolic. Both are those tireless midfield types, who make up for any lack of refinement with their sheer energy. Jarred Clotterman on the right, despite being capped a couple of times at various youth levels, is average at best. Left winger, Alyssa Haight, is slightly more effective than Clotterman, the tall, rangy Nepharim woman being capable of causing the opposition problems with her pace. Club captain David Daller is the man who holds the defence together. The 34-year-old was a regular in the Schottia squad until WC73, and definitely knows his way around the pitch. His partner, Artjom Järvinen, can be a little accident prone, but he has a good head on him, and gets the ball away from danger consistently enough. Wingbacks, Ümann and Scott, have both been called up to the same DBC squad, although neither featured much. Jan Ümann, the younger brother of Till, joined this season from Port James. Former Schottia keeper, Chris Gonzaö, is their flagship signing this season, but at 34, it is questionable how effective he will still be.

Prediction: 15th. We have a feeling these guys will be down near the bottom half of the table, but the club are just too big to go down.

Star Player: Vojnomir Nikolic | Rising Star: Alyssa Haight

It's going to be a huge season for the Breakers, as they embark on a Globe Cup campaign for the first time. Des Pleent's side have been knocking hard on the door since they made their return to the SPL seven years ago, and there would be few who would grudge them this opportunity. Pleent plays a hard pressing, very attacking style, and he deserves a lot of credit for turning this relatively small side into Globe Cup hopefuls. As to whether their UICA commitments affect their SPL form, it will be interesting to see.

Prolific Callum Frir is back to lead the line this season, and to be fair, it would have been cruel if the journeyman striker had missed out on the Globe Cup chance. The 32-year-old's goals were vital last season, but he is now the wrong side of 30, so will fitness be an issue. Port Patrick have forked out $250K (a lot for them) on his new striker partner, Ouissal Tahar. The former New Dundee Star player is undoubtedly good enough at this level, but she'll need to adjust to the longer schedule. They still have Will Snedden, but the 22-year-old will likely have to settle for a spot on the bench at this season. Tanya Yeats in the midfield is the one they look to, to make things happen. The former North Hall squad player is the best passer in this side, and her long-range shots give then another avenue of attack. She is complimented by the spirited Connie Malone, whose determination in tracking back is hard to match. This season, Port Patrick have seen veteran right winger Willy McIntyre hang up his boots, with young Chromatik, Whitney Kelly, handed the responsibility of replacing him. It is a lot on the shoulders on the Project +90 star, so it will be interesting to see what she is made of. Left winger, Chiyoko Sakuraka, is another +90 graduate, but comes with far more experience, and a proven track record at this level. At the back, Davy Keates is the name that springs off the page. The Schottia cap, and team captain, is now a cultured and highly consistent central defender. Alongside him are 20-year-old Danny Herzogenrath, Yegor Qimmiabruk, and Robert Torry. Keeper, Altavian Kalhoro, completes the line up at the back.

Prediction: 8th. Unlikely to scale the same heights as last season, but they will still be a force to be reckoned with.

Star Player: Tanya Yeats | Rising star: Whitney Kelly

by **Schottia** » Thu Apr 27, 2017 11:19 am

-Part Two-

With attendances at an all time high, and the club established as a regular top half of the table side, things have never looked better for Dundee. Their incredible rise in prominence has helped to ensure that the SPL is now more competitive than ever. Given that Johnny Smith has had to watch his best players head to the exit door in his first two seasons in charge, his biggest pre-season triumph is perhaps the fact that he managed to hold onto the likes of Gonclaves and Gerrish.

In Sett Horn, Smith will be hopeful that he has bagged himself a real gem of a striker. The powerful, Cosumarite teenager made the headlines after scoring five goals in a King's Cup match, and Smith has described his capture as "a real coup." Horn will partner Christopheran international Jacques, in what has all the makings of a potent attack. Everyone associated with Dundee will be delighted to see Jim Gerrish back for another season. Now with two Schottia caps to his name, the 24-year-old is proper destroyer of midfielder, the kind opponents hate going up against. The creativity in midfield is likely to be provided by new recruit Heidi Spearing. The collapse of the Project +90 programme has been Dundee's gain in this instance, as Smith took the opportunity to add another young talent to his ranks. Fans' favourite, Barry Drite will once again be back on the right hand side, and former Schottia U21 cap Mark Keane keeps his place on the left. On the bench, Nepharim journeyman Gustav Fandrich is a very good level of substitute for a club of Dundee's size. It's all change in the normally resolute Panners defence, with captain James Berkeley and Max Peterson both retiring. The club have forked out a record sum in search of a replacement, with Mucusia captain, Poppy Fayrkirk coming in at centre-back alongside Kevin Scougle. In place of Berkeley, Dundee have promoted highly rated youth player, Jeremy Buckthorn on the right. The jewel in the crown of this side, however, is Liam Goncalves. The Christopheran 22-year-old is a top quality left-back, and could easily play at a much higher level. Keeper Gerhard Mackan has been brilliant for Dundee over the last four seasons, but at 37, has his time come to an end?

Prediction: 9th. Dundee are right in the mixer. They undoubtedly have the potential to finish high, you'd say somewhere between 5th and 10th.

Star Player: Liam Goncalves | Rising star: Sett Horn

Port James have been desperately resisting the assertion that they have become a mid-table side. Some might say they are burying their heads in the sand, others might say they have been a little unlucky; but however you look at it, the only way to rectify the situation is by improving their performances. In the close-season manager Karla Blacket exited the door (possibly before she was pushed), with Jimmy Mitchel coming in as her replacement. The former Pirates boss will need time to sort things out, but most would say he has gotten off to a good start.

Mitchel's first signing as manager was Derick Mason, who spent seven seasons in the NSI with Matthew Rangers. The former Regional Development graduate is a powerful centre forward, and can hopefully provide the battering ram that the team have been missing. He will of course start up front with the star of this side, Elspeth Glendening, whose three Schottia caps are testimony to how good she has been. The Seasiders fought hard over the summer to convince the 23-year-old to stay on, amidst much speculation that she would be moving on. Marquee signing, is $500K midfielder Evangeline Querón, who makes the move from Q-League outfit, Trojana Condommakers. Querón, who last played in the SPL with Handon North four years ago, will be trying to replicate the kind of form which saw her attract the attentions of Trojana in the first place. She'll start in a central midfield three, as is Mitchel's preferred formation, alongside Greer Hyrman, and Palle Ellsmeer. Ellsmeer is a very powerful Polaaskan who is used to break up play, while 21-year-old Hyrman is something of an unknown package. With Mitchel going for a back three, there needed to be changes in defence, with Kelsey Merchants stat, Laura Dixon, coming in to bolster the team of Tomoaki Neyama and Pat Purnel. 23-year-old Nepharim, Brendan Hammer, keeps his place in goals.

Prediction: 7th. In the form of Mitchel, they have a tried and tested winner. He has had the recourses to bring in his own people, and the Seasiders will be pushing for a UICA spot.

Star Player: Elspeth Glendening | Rising Star: Greer Hyrman

Every season, it seems to get harder and harder for Hollin to attract the kind of players they need to improve their side. Edging ever closer to the drop zone, year in, year out, you feel that relegation at some point will be inevitable.

Nick Man and Fred Dawson are a bog standard strike combination, which will get the job done to an extent. However, you'd imagine they will struggle up against some of the league's more seasoned defenders. Star of the show is Chris Jack in the midfield; the right-winger having been a promising Schottia international in his youth. And Christopher Dickson, on the left, was part of Schottia's DBC winning team form 12 years back. Neil Brown is your typical, lower lever, thuggish central midfielder, whereas Colin Lowel alongside him admittedly has a little bit of potential. Cosumarite centre-back, Praxil Glasspool, is a very solid player at the back, and a cut above everyone else they have. Robert Morris and Derek Loya were good players once upon a time, but they are now on their last legs. As for Andy Seal, we'll really just need to wait and see what he is capable of.

Prediction: 17th. It is probably only a matter of time until Hollin go for a little trip to the second tier, but we think they possibly have one more life left.

Star player: Chris Jack | Rising Star: Colin Loweson

Lilly Kitman's Mucucia side pride themselves on playing attractive football. They might not be the best team in the league, and they certainly aren’t the biggest, but they set up to take teams on, and look to create chances. This small fans' co-operative have seen their attendances growing steadily as a result, and their rise in prominence has seemed to mirror the decline of their city neighbours, Athletic.

For a side who regularly finish around mid to lower-half of the table, the Eusebains have a very good forward line. Flora Klee is a former top goal scorer in the WSL, and alongside her Aimée Hétu is a player who has some very real potential. The Pasargan managed fifteen goals, and five assists last season, not bad for a team that finished 14th. Ryuni came from her homeland in Dainer with a reputation for her looks, and little else. The attacking midfielder has rectified that here in Schottia, with some very accomplished performances. Laura Smith, in the centre, has grown into a composed operator in midfield, while Mako Sekine and Gihaje Wehly sure things up, sitting just in front of the back four. If Smith were only to offer a little more defensively, you would imagine she could be playing at the top level. In defence, Mucusia have had to wave good bye to team captain, Poppy Fayrkirk, who left to join Dundee in a 650K deal. Fayrkirk, who has been with the club since they were set up, was a calming presence at the back, with good distribution, and will be a massive miss. The best player they have at the back now is U15 WC winner Callum Norman, who has the potential to plug that gap.

Prediction: 13th. They'll be right bang in the middle of the table. Staying up seems to be something they've mastered, but they slip up too often to make an assault on the top of the table.

Star player: Aimée Hétu | Rising star: Callum Norman

Granton Vale are going to have to work pretty hard this season, if they want to avoid being drawn into a relegation battle. The retirement of club captain, Arron Marcie makes the job all the more difficult, and a lack of funds has forced manager Dan Brown to look to his reserves, as opposed to splashing the cash.

U15 and U21 cap, Jack Hobbs, generally ploughs a lonely furrow for the Beachcombers in attack. He has been with the club for nine seasons now, and is a tireless servant up front. In the supporting role, we will get a look at the highly rated John Fyfe, who at only 17, will need to try and keep his feet on the ground. Fyfe undoubtedly has some promise, but Marcie's retirement means he has been thrust into the limelight very young. Gerhard Bitter and Kurt Hierholzer are a strong pairing in the centre of the pitch, but at 32 former Soessch man, Bitter, has seen better days. On the left, the Vale have Scott Cooper, back at his second spell for the club, having previously had stints at Cornellians and the Warriors in his prime. On the right is young winger, Carly Ellice, who showed some promise on loan at West Coast Warriors last season. At the back Tygo Pasha runs the show for Granton Vale, with the Eastfielder a big player for them over the last three years. Alongside him, Norman Norkin his a bit of a blunt instrument, but he gets the job done.

Prediction: 16th. It will be another case battling to stay up, but when is it ever not. Optimistically speaking, 12th would be a good target for them.

Star Player: Jack Hobbs | Rising Star: John Fyfe

When Judy Scott came to the club five years ago, and said she planned to turn New Island into a side capable of challenging for the Globe Cup spots, few would have believed her. To be honest, back then, just staying in the top flight appeared to be a bridge too far for a Pebbles side that seemed to act more like a yo-yo than a football team. However, to everyone's surprise, she seems to be on the verge of doing just that - last year's twelfth place, and a haul of 57 points, was a very commendable score line. The current crop of players look to have captured the imagination of the entire city of South Berwick, with attendances at their highest since the 1980's. The increased revenues, along with the decreased risk of relegation, have also prompted the board to loosen the purse strings a little.

We will see Scott go with her trusted 'little and large' combination up front, which served New Island so well last season. Gargantuan Cosumarite striker, Ramone Scotta, and former Warriors man, Ian Wilson, were a very effective double act last year, and there is no reason to suggest that will have changed. Scotta has also been handed the captains armband this season, following the retirement of Nikita Clohessy, underlining his importance to the side. The player tasked with filling in for Clohessy in the midfield is Holly Addison, who joins up from the Warriors, in an $800k move. Schottia international, Addison, who will now join up with her younger sister, Elizabeth, is a real statement of intent from New Island, and one that will have raised a few eyebrows. On top of that, Judy Scott has brought in Cenian +90 talent, Nova Kymeri, for a club record fee of $1m. Former national academy coach, Scott, has a proven track record in bringing young players through, and she has undoubtedly seen some promise in Kymeri. Keeping his place on the right is ex-Lammerton City winger, Ikas Nike, who made a big difference last season with his pace and directness. In defence, the Pebbles have a blend of youth and experience, with Schottic U21 centre-back, Grant Carlin, starting alongside the 32-year-old Gary Hamilton. Similarly in the wide areas, former Breakers youngster, Jano Jäger, will retain his place at leftback, with ex-Northern Union bench-warmer, Lyn Fastolf, on the right. With Rachel Brennan's retirement, New Island have brought in Jansberg second choice keeper, Seong Min Courtois, who at 32, should be able to hit the ground running.

Prediction: 12th. A similar finish to last season would be seen as a good season, but we have a feeling Judy Scott is looking for better. Might be as high as 8th.

Star player: Holly Addison | Rising star: Grant Carlin

Last season's mission for Hillstreet was simply to stay up, as the club made a return to the SPL after a long leave of absence. Possibly their best signing over the past three years has been former Port Sebastian boss, Conner Watts, a former SPL title-winning manager. Watts seems to have been able to draw the best out of the small team, who finished an impressive eight points clear of the drop zone last time round.

We had some concerns before the start of last season, as to whether the Hunters' striker force would cut the mustard. A 34-year-old Bruno Schwartz (who was never the fittest player in his prime), and young Will Castillo, from the non-WCC accredited Redvale. However, the pair of them more than stepped up to the plate, with Castillo, who joined on a free transfer, looking like a very decent find. Aleksander Heino-Watanabe is a very good midfielder, who could easily play for a mid-table side, and this season he with joined by the clubs only signing, Astrogrth's Dunixi Izambizaga. Hillstreet rely a great deal on the creativity of Ichiko Tsukahara on the right side - the girl of Kirisakian parentage being their real shining light last season. As a smaller side, Hillstreet need to keep things tight at the back, and luckily they have managed to retain the services of ex-Handon United youth player, Simon Johnson. There were some who even felt the right-back was unlucky to miss out on a Schottia call up. On the opposite flank, they also have 20-year-old Sanchia Diaz, the former Warriors kid, who has a couple of Port Christopher caps to her name.

Prediction: 18th. Perhaps just going to find themselves creeping into the relegation zone, but they won't go down without a strong fight. No forgone conclusion.

Star Player: Simon Johnson | Rising Star: Ichiko Tsukahara

Propping up the table is likely to be their lot this season, but strange things have happened before. Rodger Green resigned as manager two seasons ago, paving the way for former Handon United, Kings Park, and Schottia player, Jack Gordon to come cut is managerial teeth. The Princes looked very impressive last season in Regional Division C, but that was with Somuele der Pros. Lammerton City are going to need to do a lot of defending if they are to stay up.

The signing of former Soessch striker, Broad Dalehun, will come as some comfort to the fans; a player who can score goals at this level. He will start out partnering one-club-man, Geoff Bentley, a pacey sort of striker who can play wide left or centre. In the midfield Alan Pertson has been brought in to plug the gap created by der Pros' $1M move to the Warriors, but to be honest, he is not of the same standard. Pertson comes into a midfield consisting of William Hamilton-Gordon, Katie Smart, and Matt Pecking, who all did well last season, but might suddenly find themselves out of their depth. City are a club who have a history of bringing through good defenders, and it looks like Dougie Farquharson could be the next one to follow in the footsteps of Scott Burton and Chris Bishop. Gordon Centon, Brock Fuller, and Duncan Scront are all very experienced players around him, and that will certainly be called upon this season. Goalkeeper David Prince has been in the Cornellians reserves for the last nine years, and at 28, this is his big chance.

Prediction: 19th. Down and out, but it would be nice if they made a good fight of it.

Star player: Broad Dalehun | Rising star: Katie Smart

It has been an interesting journey for the Mountaineers since they were last in the SPL, as they even found themselves in the Regional Division II at one point. The have somehow bounced back though, and despite the sale of Robyn Yamazoki to San Jose Sharpedoes two years ago, the managed to secure promotion to the top flight once again.

The club's best forward is James Tegg, 25, who plays alongside teenage hopeful Felix Gallan. The two of them managed 31 goals between them last season, so not a bad haul. The side have added a couple of veteran SPL stars in the form of Timo Düd and Davy Galmore. Düd in particular, who has been a big part of Lammerton's recent good fortunes, will definitely be a welcome addition to the midfield. He will join John Jones in the centre of the park, meaning that Jena will at least not be wanting for work rate. In defence, Horst Stülmeir was a stand out player last season, and he will need to be at this best once again. Seasoned goalkeeper, Chris Poole starts in goals once again.

Prediction: 20th. They aren't a bad side, so maybe it's fair to say, Jena are just the worst of a good bunch.

Star player: Marko Simonsen | Rising star: Kurt Hierholzer

Managed by Ross Killanen, Kirk Preston are most certainly an interesting addition to this SPL line-up. The Regional Division A champions have benefited greatly from a fan group buy-out, which has made a huge difference to their finances. They earned promotion last season by the skin of their teeth, and have since gone on to bolster their squad with no fewer than five new signings.

Matthewsianian striker, Flasymar, was the top goal scorer in the league last season, as Kirk Preston were promoted, and should be able to handle himself at this level. Leopoldo Ramirez is probably also a sharp signing, with the former SSC Honneur, and Eikborg Club striker capable of scoring goals. Ramirez seemed to perform alright in the Legaskari, in what was his first season at senior level. In the midfield it is pretty obvious what Killanen is going for, with two cold-blooded killers in the middle of the park. Oliver Helling was a formidable force last season in the second tier, where as new signing Ian Long will add some much needed experience to the side. Long was a league winner in San Llera with Llerane SC, and at 29 he still has a lot to offer. The team is also built on solid foundations at the back, Thomas Barr and Frazer Mata, who were so important last season, are going to be a big part of their survival chances. Meanwhile, youngsters Russ Linvoy and Jayden Fox have some real potential, and are a sign that the club are building for the future. Keeper Tom Ireland, signed from the Blue Coast reserves, should be capable enough.

Prediction: 14th. Actually, the Holy Men will probably be fine, and might even go on to surprise us. Obviously it's difficult to tell how their new players will settle, but if they do, they could push for a top ten spot... maybe.

Star Player: Ian Long | Rising Star: Jayden Fox

by **Schottia** » Wed May 03, 2017 1:34 am

Matchday one - six & UICA Qualifiers

Champions' Cup -- First Prelim Round
(EFL) Olympia FC 1–1 Port Sebastian

The opening shots of the SPL season were fired, as Port Sebastian travelled to Eastfield Lodge for the first round of Champions' Cup qualifying. Their only other run in this tournament yielded very little, so Jock Sonny's players would have been keen to get off to a good start this time round. In a closely contested match, there were no clear winners, but Eloisa Purinton's equaliser in the 59th minute secured an away goal, and a positive result on the road for the Handon side.

Globe Cup -- First Prelim Round
Lammerton 3–1 SL Benfica (LUS)
(KRG) Dirmet 0–0 Port Patrick United

In the Globe Cup, Schottia's sides were pitched against two lesser-known teams, as they got their own UICA campaigns underway. For The Hornets it was a reasonably straightforward win over SL Benfica, with three goals early in the second half securing victory. There was a debut goal from Chromatik striker, Kaytlyne Victoriane, as Lammerton built up a good lead to take into the away leg. Port Patrick United were, by contrast, experiencing their first taste of Globe Cup football. The Breakers may be left to rue missed chances however, as a 0-0 draw with Dirmet leaves them vulnerable.

Series B Champions' Cup -- First Prelim Round
(JSY) South Coast United 1–1 Jena VB

And there was a 1-1 draw for Jena VB at South Coast United in the Series B. James Tegg's goal on the hour mark now gives them a great chance of going through.

Champions' Cup -- First Prelim Round
Port Sebastian 1-0 Olympia FC (EFL)

Port Sebastian held their nerve and got the job done as they welcomed Olympia FC back to Dyerton Stadium. Although they were slightly the better team, Porty were left on a knife edge with the scores at 0-0. The jitters of the crowd were settled with ten minutes to go, however, as substitute Leonard Conavacio played a great ball through for Demba Traore to send their side into the next round.

Globe Cup -- First Prelim Round
(LUS) SL Benfica 1-2 Lammerton
Port Patrick United 1-1 a Dirmet (KRG)

Lammerton completed the job they started in the Globe Cup, with a 2-1 win at Benfica. Wallace Solway opened the scoring for them just before half time, and despite the home side drawing level, Jasper Valaran curled home peach of a strike early in the second half to give the Hornets a comfortable win. For Port Patrick, however, it was a bitterly disappointing night, as they saw their dream come to an end before it had even got going. Despite a late goal from Ouissal Tahar, the Breakers were never able to recover from going down early on.

Series B Champions' Cup -- First Prelim Round
Jena VB 3-1 South Coast United (JSY)
And Jena continued the preparations for their return to the SPL, with a impressive 3-1 win at home to South Coast United. Davy Galmore's goal, shortly after the restart, was the pick of the bunch for the Mountaineers.

Champions' Cup -- Second Prelim Round
Cornellians 3–1 Sheepville (COL)
Port Sebastian 3–1 Chapeleta de Desportos (CPV)

This week Cornellians entered the fray, and looked very comfortable, as they set about giving Sheepville an introduction to international domestic football. Kel Koromin pulled the Eagles ahead early on after latching onto a Jade Irwin pass, before the Nepharim doubled the lead from the penalty spot shortly after. The SPL Champs were looking pretty good under new manager Reinhard Shale, with new signing, Maeon Vlahos, putting in a gutsy performance on the right side. The Eagles sealed the win in the second half, with a well-taken goal from 18-year-old substitute, Isla Sibučić, who already looks like a class player. There was an equally comfortable scoreline for Port Sebastian, as they dispatched Chapeleta de Desportos by the same margin. Some great play from Vera Cummings set up the first goal for Eloisa Purinton, before Andrya Novkovic, on her return to the club, fired the second in from a tight angle. The third and final goal came from another returning player, Leonard Conavacio, as the Quebecois forward nodded in a Esther Abner freekick five minutes from time.

Globe Cup -- Second Prelim Round
(DKI) Fujiwara Electra 4–5 Handon United
(ESH) Parisia 0–0 Lammerton

Handon United got off to a flying start in a nine goal thriller against Damakuni side, Fujiwara Electra. 3-1 down at one stage, Jane Gullie's players managed to claw the result back in the second half, in what will go down as one of the club's best UICA nights. With the scoreline reading 4-4 with six minutes left on the clock, Dilon Bànach slid the ball though to Merdecinian striker, Daniel Dostalok, to give United a valuable away win. Lammerton's match with Echani side, Parisia could not have been more different, with neither set of players able to find the back of the net. The result will mean John Sedder's side need to be on their toes in the return leg.

Series B Champions' Cup -- Second Prelim Round
Lammerton City 2–0 Union Orange (SOL)
(MRC) Sporting Rafelonia 0–0 Jena VB

There was also a couple of good display's from Schottia's wee teams in the Series B, with Lammerton winning 2-0 at home, and Jena drawing 0-0 with Sporting Rafelonia in Mercedini. Broad Dalehun and Matt Pecking were on target for the Princes.

SPL
La Gorlions 0–1 Dundee
Kings Park 3–3 Port Sebastian
New Belfast Warriors 2–2 Hollin
Granton Vale 2–0 Marionville
Port James Athletic 0–2 Handon United
Jena VB 0–1 Lammerton City
Port Patrick United 1–2 Cornellians
New Island 4–1 Mucusia
Kirk Preston United 1–1 Hillstreet
FC Soessch 0–0 Lammerton

What promised to be one of the most hotly contested SPL season's got underway in earnest this week, as Schottia's legions of fans headed back to the sport after the summer break. Reigning champions Cornellians faced a tough match as they looked to make it an incredible six in a row. Former boss, Alexander Pearce, had set the bar dizzyingly high, and Port Patrick away was gong to be stiff test of Reinhard Shale's managerial abilities early on. Fortunately for the former Nephara boss, the players seemed well up for the task, as they ran out victorious by two goals to one. Kit Kvanderwyk got things underway for the Eagles, as his well-worked cross found its way through to his younger sister Kathryn at the back post. Despite have little in the way of possession, the Breakers found a way back into the game half way through the second forty-five. Tanya Yeats' pinpoint pass found Whitney Kelly in space on the right, who in turn sent her cross fizzing across the face of goal for Callum Frir to turn in. The Eagles kept up the tempo, however, and got their just rewards in the closing stages. Jade Irwin's clever chip pass released Lara Wedderburn, who showed good composure to finish under the advancing Altavian Kalhoro.

There was also a very difficult game for Handon United, as they travelled to Port James, to take on a much-changed Athletic side. Jimmy Mitchel may have overhauled the Seasider during the window, but it seemed to have made little difference to the outcome, as United ended up looking very comfortable. Natalie Adams opened the scoring with a long range effort, before a piece of brilliance from Christian Lovenkrads set up Hiroyo Nunez for a tap in. 2-0 was the final score, and early on United were already looking like title contenders, with the likes on Bánach, Adams, and Talla also looking good in the midfield.

We had a sneaking suspicion that New Island could be a bit of a force this season, and on early inspections, that would seem to be the case. Judy Scott's side cruised to a 4-1 win over Mucusia in front of their home fans, to give them a taste of what they could expect this year. Ramone Scotta put in a powerful performance upfront, scoring one and setting up another, as the Pebbles raced to an early lead. Elizabeth and Holly Addison looked calm and collected in the second half, controlling the game as New Island opened up an unassailable lead with two more goal from Ian Walker, and Nova Kymeri. Teenager, Kymeri, is the club's record signing, and on this showing looks like $1 million well spent. Aimée Hétu, pulled one back for Mucusia in the closing stages, but the Pasargan's strike was little more than a consolation.

Another side we are expecting to do fairly well were Dundee, and they looked at their usual, resolute best, as they beat La Gorlions 1-0 at Danu Parc. The North Island Mountains are never an easy place to go a get points, but Johnny Smith's side came out on top, thanks to a goal from Christopheran striker Jacques. A nice exchange between Heidi Spearing and Jim Gerrish opened up the opportunity for 27-year-old to get his account up and running.

Elsewhere: Port Sebastian well pegged back twice, as they could only manage a 3-3 draw at Kings Park. A memorable goal from 17-year-old John Fyfe helped Granton Vale to a 2-0 win over Marionville. And a nil-nil draw between Lammerton and FC Soessch will come as a source of frustration to both sides, on a day their strikers failed to make the breakthrough.

Champions' Cup -- Second Prelim Round
(COL) Sheepville 1-2 Cornellians
(CPV) Chapeleta de Desportos 2-1 Port Sebastian

Switching back to UICA action, both Schottia's Champion's Cup hopefuls secured a spot in the Qualifying round. Cornellians were first up, and they looked un phased by the trip to Coldfield, winning 2-1 against Sheepville. After an early scare, when the Eagles found themselves a goal down, Kel Koromin quickly levelled the scoring. The Cenian internationalist showed his marker a clean pair of heels, before burying his strike in the bottom corner. Cornellians then ensured that they took away all three points, as Isla Sibučić scored her second of the completion, after some good work from Maeon Vlahos who crossed the ball from deep. Port Sebastian might have lost 2-1 on the night, but it was enough to see them through. After a slow start, a goal from Joey Bia made the scoreline look a little more respectable. Vice-captain, Michi Leonard, had a chance to pull things level in the closing stages, but the busy midfielder saw her shot deflected just wide.

Globe Cup -- First Prelim Round
Handon United 4-1 Fujiwara Electra (DKI)
Lammerton 4-0 Parisia (ESH)

Handon United just can't stop scoring at the moment, and their young team look to be finding their groove. They took up where they left off in this tie, dishing out four goals as they worked their way past Fujiwara Electra. Natalie Adams, and Dilon Bánach might just have an average age of forty, but the two of them took the game in their stride in the centre of midfield. Another young player, wingback Louis Hordern, made an impressive debut as he looks to make the step up from United's formidable youth team. Daniel Dostalok (2), Rebecca Talla, and Hiroyo Nunez scored the important goals. Lammerton's striker's got over the temporary glitch, which saw them fail to find the target in their last two outings. Chromatika internationalist, Kaytlyne Victoriane, scored one either side of half time in a lively display, as the Hornets progressed at the expense of Parisia.

Series B Champions' Cup -- Second Prelim Round
Jena VB 0-0 Sporting Rafelonia (MRC) (1-3 pen)
(SOL) Union Orange 1-0 Lammerton City

In what was a difficult night for Schottia's Series B teams, Jena went out on penalties following a 0-0 draw with Sporting Rafelonia. Yet, despite a 1-0 defeat to Union Orange, Lammerton City progressed to the next round, 2-1 on aggregate.

SPL
Dundee 2–5 Lammerton
Hillstreet 0–1 FC Soessch
Mucusia 3–0 Kirk Preston United
Cornellians 1–0 New Island
Lammerton City 0–1 Port Patrick United
Handon United 1–0 Jena VB
Marionville 3–4 Port James Athletic
Hollin 2–2 Granton Vale
Port Sebastian 0–0 New Belfast Warriors
La Gorlions 1–1 Kings Park

Lammerton definitely had the best result of the weekend, as they put five best the normally very strong Dundee. Mars Alexanderson was up to her old tricks, setting up Wallace Solway for the opening goal of the game, before scoring her side's second from the penalty spot. Kaytlyne Victoriane made it three just before halftime, after outmuscling Poppy Fayrkirk to score a goal that already had the Dundee fans heading for the exit. There was something of fight back in the second half, but the damage was already done. New signing Sett Horn scored his first SPL goal after breaking free of the defence, before Heidi Spearing added a second to give the Panners a lifeline. With the home side pouring forward, it was inevitable that that they would leave themselves exposed, and Jasper Valaran's cutting pass played Victoriane through to make it 4-2. The game was very much Lammerton's and they added a fifth, thanks to a thumping strike from Bonesman, Menhennick Goff, who has already made a steady start to life with the Hornets.

Far from the goal-fest at Granier Road, Handon United saw just how tough it could be when a team turned up with the intention of playing for a 0-0 draw from the kick off. Jena might have achieved it too, had it not been for a deflected Rebecce Talla strike fifty minutes in. Timo Düd, in the Mountaineers’ midfield, is a player who knows a thing or two about breaking up play, and United's very young midfield will have learned an important lesson today in hard work and patience.

Port James Athletic bounced back from their opening day defeat with a 4-3 win in Marionville, to give Jimmy Mitchel his first points as boss in the SPL. Marionville looked very poor in the opening match of the season, and despite scoring three goals here, they were unable to take anything from a much-improved Athletic side. The Old Boys were up against it almost from the kick off, as former Matthew Rangers man, Derick Mason, got his first goal on his return to Schottic football after a seven year absence. Imants Kölleran managed to pull back level for the home side, before Evangeline Querón played in Elspeth Glendening to restore the Seasiders' lead. Shortly after the restart, Glendening was on target once again, after a Joseph Preca corner fell kindly for the Schottia internationalist in the six-yard-box. Ruth Finch responded with another goal for Marionville, but it failed to sound the rallying call that was required, and with a fourth goal for Athletic, this time from young Greer Hyrman, the result was already on the cards. Kölleran did find the net once more for Marionville, but a draw would have been desperately unfair on Athletic, who were the better side.

Having seen New Island in action against Mucusia last week, there was every reason for Cornellians to be apprehensive ahead of their meeting this weekend. The Pebbles did look convincing in the opening forty-five, but as the game wore on it became apparent that Cornellians were the better side. Echani winger, Marshawn Mercury, went close with a strike from the edge of the box, before Kathryn Kvanderwyk teed up Jade Irwin to blast home the only goal of the game.

In other results: We were expecting big things from FC Soessch this year, but so far we have very little to go on, as a less than convincing 1-0 win at Hillstreet was all they could manage this week. Mucusia got over their poor start to the season with a 3-0 win at home to newly promoted Kirk Preston; Klee, Hétu, and Smith grabbing the goals. And finally, Port Sebastian are yet to get three points on the board, as New Belfast Warriors kept them out at Dyerton

Champions' Cup -- Play-Off Round
Cornellians 0-0 Tannenberg FC (VLD)
Port Sebastian 1–1 1830 Cathair FC (AUD)

Schottia's hopes of having a side in the group draw of the Champions' Cup now teeter in the balance, with both Cornellians and Port Sebastian recording draws. The Eagles will fancy their chances however, after a very respectable 0-0 draw to Tannenberg. Shale's side created a fair few chances in the first half, and they know that an away goal in Valladares will give them a great chance of going through. For Port Sebastian it was the opposite problem however, as they conceded an away goal to Audioslavian giants, 1830 Cathair.

Globe Cup -- Play-Off Round
(ASG) Athletic Club Yungoitio 1–2 Handon United
(CMT) Tihon 2–1 Lammerton

Handon United have won all their matches so far this season, in all competitions, so they were going to need to ward off complacently as they travelled to face Athletic Club Yungoitio. United managed to hold it together though, and two away goals from Christian Lovenkrands, and JK Cottle went a long way towards seeing them through. For Kaytlyne Victoriane and Lammerton, it was a bitter reunion with her former club, Tihon. Despite finding the net in this match, the Chromatik was unable to do anything about the Hornets' UICA curse.

Series B Champions' Cup -- Play-Off Round
(DKI) Free States FC 2–3 Kirk Preston United
Lammerton City 2–2 Wheathampton Warriors (SLL)

It's been a tricky start to life back in the SPL for Kirk Preston United, but they at least managed to record their first win of the season in the Series B. Flasymar scored a double in this match, with Eura teenager, Jayden Fox, putting in a man-of-the-match performance at left-back. For Lammerton City, they'll have to wait and see what happens next week, after recording a 2-2 draw with Wheathampton Warriors.

SPL
Kings Park 1–2 Dundee
New Belfast Warriors 1–0 La Gorlions
Granton Vale 0–3 Port Sebastian
Port James Athletic 3–1 Hollin
Jena VB 4–2 Marionville
Port Patrick United 1–4 Handon United
New Island 3–0 Lammerton City
Kirk Preston United 2–2 Cornellians
FC Soessch 0–0 Mucusia
Lammerton 3–1 Hillstreet

This weekend we witnessed a real surprise result, as Cornellians were held to a draw at newly promoted Kirk Preston. The Holy Men haven't looked particularly impressive this season, but a midweek win in the Series B Champions' Cup must have given them a little bit of a lift. Ross Killanen's side have parted with a fair bit of cash over the summer, and the physicality of his team seemed to cause the Eagles problems. The home side were in danger of getting passed off the park in the opening ten minutes, but they surprised everyone in the stadium by taking the lead. Andre Martineau got the better of Triffid Ramsey before playing the ball through to Leopoldo Ramirez. The former Legaskari striker did just enough to hold off Scott Burton, before launching his strike beyond Jeremy McNott. Cornellians tried to rally after this, but Ian Long and Ollie Helling in the Kirk Preston midfield weren't budging an inch. The Eagles did eventually find the equaliser just before halftime though, after a good exchange between Kel Koromin and Kathryn Kvanderwyk sent the former through to draw level. In the second half, Shale through Christian Berg in to the defensive midfield in place of Tsumugi, as he looked for someone who could go toe-to toe with the Long and Helling. The move seemed to make a difference, and his presence freed up Jade Irwin, who was able to turn the game on its head. The Nephara squad player sent an excellent ball forward into the path of Kit Kvanderwyk, who really got his foot round it, leaving Thomas Ireland with no chance. Cornellians must have thought it was mission accomplished, but there was to be a sting left in tail of this match, as Jayden Fox whipped a delightful ball into the box for Flasymar to nod home.

While Cornellians faltered, Port Sebastian got themselves up and running, with a 3-0 win at Granton Vale. Young John Fyfe had looked impressive for the Beachcombers in the opening two matches, but Michi Leonard ensured that he was totally ran out of the game in this one. Andrya Novkovic turned a Vera Cummings pass in at the back post for the first of the afternoon, before an Eloisa Purinton freekick, and a late Sloan Kirkland header ensured a comfortable win. After a rocky start, Jock Sonny's side seem to now be getting their act together, with the side looking like an impressive unit.

There was yet another win for Handon United, as this weekend Jane Gullie's boys and girls dished out a hammering to last seasons fifth place side, Port Patrick. Louis Hordern was handed another start, and the young right-back took the game to the Breakers from the start, with his lung bursting forward runs. It was a piece of magic from Natalie Adams that got things moving though, as the Sunrise Islander found Hiroyo Nunez with a pinpoint cross for 1-0. In a spell of intense United pressure, they added two more. First Dilon Bánach slid onto the end of a James Roberson cross, before a thundering header from JK Cottle bounced back of the upright and into the feet of Daniel Dostalok for three. Substitute, Mirka Shitakuari, completed the scoring in the dying minutes, after some good build up play from Rebecca Talla.

In other matches: Lammerton made light work of Hillstreet at the City stadium, thanks to goals from Victoriane, Solway, and Goff. Elspeth Glendening was at her best for Athletic, as they defeated Hollin 3-1 at home. And lastly, Holly Addison continues to look like a top signing, as the 30-year-old had a hand in all three of New Island's goals against Lammerton City.

Champions' Cup -- Play-Off Round
(VLD) Tannenberg FC 1-1 a Cornellians
(AUD) 1830 Cathair FC 1-0 Port Sebastian

It was so far so good for Reinhard Shale and Erica Brewer, as they guided Cornellians back to the Champions' Cup, fulfilling half of the job description. In what was a very even game, it took an away goal from Eula Richard to see the Eagles through to the group phase for the second time. There was no such luck for Port Sebastian however, as they lost 1-0 to 1830 Cathair. A late strike from Leonard Conavacio might have taken the tie to extra time, but the Quebecois could only look on in despair as his strike bounced back off the post.

Globe Cup -- Play-Off Round
Handon United 1-0 Athletic Club Yungoitio (ASG)
Lammerton 2-2 Tihon (CMT)

Seven wins from seven for Jane Gullie and Handon United, and they find themselves just one tie away from booking a place in the Globe Cup for the first time. A goal from Daniel Dostalok ensured they finished the job, as they welcomed Athletic Club Yungoitio back for the return leg in Handon. For Lammerton though, it was a very different story as a 2-2 draw with Chromatik side, Tihon, saw them crash out of UICA competition once again.

Series B Champions' Cup -- Play-Off Round
Kirk Preston United 2-0 Free States FC (DKI)
(SLL) Wheathampton Warriors a 1-1 Lammerton City

Kirk Preston seem to be on some form right now, as does 22-year-old striker, Leopoldo Ramirez, as his double sent them through against Free States FC. Lammerton City, on the other hand, went out on away goals following a 1-1 draw with Wheathampton Warriors.

SPL
Dundee 2–1 Hillstreet
Mucusia 1–0 Lammerton
Cornellians 3–0 FC Soessch
Lammerton City 4–2 Kirk Preston United
Handon United 6–3 New Island
Marionville 0–3 Port Patrick United
Hollin 4–0 Jena VB
Port Sebastian 4–2 Port James Athletic
La Gorlions 1–2 Granton Vale
Kings Park 0–1 New Belfast Warriors

Turning our attentions briefly away from the high-fliers this week -- a third win from four represents another very good start to the season for Johnny Smith's Dundee. Sett Horn has made the step up from the lower-leagues in Cosumar, and looks to be another good find, as he opened the scoring against Hillstreet. The powerful young striker rose high above Zack Cobb, to head in a head in a Mark Keane cross 19 minutes in. Hillstreet managed to pull themselves back level in a rare foray forward, as Dunixi Izambizaga got the better of Jim Gerrish, before finding Bruno Schwartz with a long ball into the box. The veteran striker did well to nod the ball into the path of his Redvali striker partner, Will Castillo, who tucked away his first of the season. Dundee looked solid throughout the match, however, and they managed to get the decisive goal fifteen minutes from time, as a Liam Goncalves cross was expertly turned in by countryman, Jacques.

A little further round the South Schottic coast, Handon United seem now to be scoring goals for fun, as they racked up yet another win, this time at the expense of New Island. In what was a terrific game of football, the Pebbles pulled level twice but they were eventually overrun, as United finished in three-goal flourish. Last season, Handon were very much reliant of Seggerson's set pieces, but they seem now to be much better at scoring from open play - something which has made a big difference.

This weekend, FC Soessch got to find out exactly what happens when a side opens up and tries to play football against Cornellians. Letting Irwin off the hook in the midfield is never a good idea, and she, Kit Kvanderwyk, and Mershawn Mercury really punished the visitors in the opening half. We had big hopes for the 07-08 champions, but on this evidence they will need get a lot tighter in the midfield. Isla Sibučić sealed the win for the Eagles, with a great individual goal, as the young Cosumarite looks more and more like the real deal.

In other matches: Port Sebastian overcame a glitch in the middle, to beat Port James 4-2, Traore (2), Conavacio, and Leonard claiming the goals. Port Patrick were helped out by a five-star display from young winger, Whitney Kelly, as they went on to defeat Marionville 3-0. And Finally, Farf midfielder Somuele der Pros scored his first goal since joining New Belfast Warriors, as they narrowly beat Kings Park 1-0.

Player and Manager of The Month Awards -- Month One

Player: Ramone Scotta -- New Island
New Island have looked like a different side over the last twelve months, and this recognition for their captain is very much deserved. Scotta's strength and presence up front have been an important factor in the team's transformation. In the matches we have seen so far he has caused even the top defenders in the league a lot of problems.

Young Player: Dilon Bánach -- Handon United
Some great performances from the young Schottia U21 player mean she is a worthy recipient of this award. She's been handed a massive amount of responsibility in a side where second best isn't good enough - and that makes her success all the more impressive.

Manager: Jane Gullie -- Handon United
She won the first manager of the month award last season, and four wins from four means that Gullie retains this title. A very impressive run, including the Globe Cup qualifiers, mean that the start the club have made, will have exceeded all expectations.

Globe Cup -- Qualifying Round
(WRL) Navel Sharks 3–0 Handon United
Port Sebastian 3–3 Samaj FC (COS)

Brought down to earth with a thump, it suddenly looks like the end of the road, once again, for Handon United. The side from the capital have never had a great deal of luck in UICA football, and that looked to continue as they were utterly done over by Navel Sharks in the first leg of their qualifying round tie. As for Port Sebastian, they are still alive and kicking, but only just, as Samja FC held them to a 3-3 draw at Dyerton. With the away goals now as they are, nothing other than a win is likely to do for Porty as they travel to Cosumar.

SPL
New Belfast Warriors 1–0 Dundee
Granton Vale 1–3 Kings Park
Port James Athletic 3–4 La Gorlions
Jena VB 0–1 Port Sebastian
Port Patrick United 0–0 Hollin
New Island 2–1 Marionville
Kirk Preston United 1–1 Handon United
FC Soessch 3–0 Lammerton City
Lammerton 0–1 Cornellians
Hillstreet 2–3 Mucusia

This weekend's big match saw Lammerton play host to Cornellians, in a contest that would give us a good idea of how this season was going to pan out. The Eagles had been looking good so far, with three wins and a draw, as well as securing qualification for the Champions' Cup. The Hornets, by contrast, had been struggling a little, and hand already seen their Globe Cup aspirations go up in flames. After what was a cagey start to the game, Lammerton began to make a few inroads, and went close on 54 minutes, with a Mars Alexanderson strike, which was turned wide by McNott. A few minutes later, the Sunrise Islander must have thought she'd played Victoriane through on goal, but the 21-year-old pulled her shot just wide. One of the hallmarks of great champions, however, is how they perform when the chips are down, and Cornellians capitalised on a moment of indecision at the back, to steal all three points. Kel Koromin, bursting free of the attentions of John van Cleef, picked out substitute, Lara Wedderburn for the only goal of the game.

FC Soessch bounced back from their hammering last week, recording a very comfortable win over Lammerton City. Kerstin Dornenberger had looked a little off colour since making the switch from Döllar, but in this match she looked much more like the player Barry Gorman must have thought he had signed. The 23-year-old set up the first, finding David Hughes with a forward ball, before almost finding the net herself with a distance effort. Soessch doubled their lead as Currian Cort's cross come shot defected in off the outstretched keeper, and made it three with twelve minutes to go, as Sarah Foucault found the bottom corner for her first goal of the season.

Port James Athletic seem to like the hefty score lines this season, and at the moment it seems anyone's guess as to which end the will come out on. On this occasion they welcomed the Lions to the City of Port James Stadium, a side not exactly renowned for producing high scoring results. La Gorlions were sitting on a single point going into this match, so there would have been a few raised eyebrows in the crowd when the side took a 2-0 lead. Clephus Hunt headed in an Aredhel Neil corner, before a Yelena Shostakovich strike rebounded into the path of Kirsten Gemmill for the young striker's first of the season. By this stage, Jimmy Mitchel was looking animated on the touchline, and the former Pirates manager perhaps succeeded in driving the team forward. First Elspeth Glendening pulled one back for the Seasiders with a close range striker, before big Derick Mason clipped in a Evangeline Querón cross to pull them level. Lions captain, Fred Houben, hammered his side back in front just after the break with a pile driver of a shot from the edge of the area, only to see Querón level things once more. Just as we thought things were heading for a draw, 21-year-old Gemmill's second, as another opportunistic strike, gave the North Islanders all three points.

In other results: Handon United failed to win for the first time this season, after a goal from Ian Long earned Kirk Preston a share of the points. Demba Traore struck late to give Porty a 1-0 win over Jena, in a match were Leonardo Conavacio was red carded in the opening ten minutes. And Marionville's woeful start to the season continued as Nova Kymeri and Ramone Scotta gave New Island the win.

Globe Cup -- Qualifying Round
Handon United 5-1 Navel Sharks (WRL)
(COS) Samaj FC 1-3 Port Sebastian

Jane Gullie knew her players needed a big performance if they were going to finally make the Globe Cup, and that's exactly what they got. However good Navel Sharks were in the first leg, it seemed to completely evaporate at Harbour Hill. After Dilon Bánach and Hiroyo Nunez both scored in the opening ten minutes there was a visible change in the crowd, who began to believe a come back could be on the cards. Natalie Adams, Christian Lovenkrands, and James Robertson all struck in the second half to earn United a famous 5-1 win. And United's archrivals joined them in the main draw, as they somehow conjured up a 3-1 win over Cosumarite side Samja. After his sending off in the previous league match, Conavacio redeemed himself with a second half double.

SPL
Dundee 1–0 Mucusia
Cornellians 4–0 Hillstreet
Lammerton City 1–3 Lammerton
Handon United 3–0 FC Soessch
Marionville 2–5 Kirk Preston United
Hollin 0–2 New Island
Port Sebastian 2–4 Port Patrick United
La Gorlions 5–2 Jena VB
Kings Park 1–0 Port James Athletic
New Belfast Warriors 3–0 Granton Vale

Six matches in and already it looks as if Handon United and Cornellians are going to be the teams to beat this season. This point was further underlined as both sides recorded impressive wins to stay joined top. The Eagles had a very straightforward afternoon against struggling Hillstreet. The Hunters looked half a metre off the pace all afternoon, and Reinhard Shale's side soon opened up a commanding lead. Kel Koromin was first to find the net turning in a Triffid Ramsey cross at the back post, before Kit Kvanderwyk floated a ball in for Jade Irwin, who was onto it in a flash to make it two. Hillstreet did their best to get grip of the game, but despite some fierce displays from the likes of Izambizaga, and Heino-Wanatabe, they were powerless to prevent the Eagles going further in front. First Tsumugi tested the keeper from distance, before Kathryn Kvynderwyk capitalised on some indecision in the defence to score her side's third. The truth of the matter is, the result could have actually been a lot worse, and as Koromin scored his second, there was probably a sense of relief for Conner Watts that there weren't any more goals.

On the other side of the Greater Handon Peninsula, Handon United were in similarly good form, as they put three past a very disappointing FC Soeesch. Dilon Bánach put them in front with only ten minutes on the clock, before a Rebecca Talla cross, driven in at pace, was turned in by Hiroyo Nunez. The Redvali striker was then unlucky not to double her tally, as her header on the stroke of half time, bounced off the crossbar. Once the second half got underway, it didn't take long for United to seal the win, as November and Burton looked increasingly out-numbered at the back for Soessch. Christian Lovenkrads showed Naomi Blair a clean set of heels, before drilling the ball across the face of goal, for Mirka Shitakuari to prod home.

After a spluttering start, New Belfast Warriors have seemingly gotten their act together, and now sit third, just two points off the top. Graeme Collins' side have been going about their business quietly, and their convincing 3-0 win over Granton vale is their reward for perseverance. Somuele der Pros has looked very comfortable, slotting in to the midfield alongside Tomás Fierro this season, and the Farf player had a hand the game's opening goal. The 24-year-old spotted the run of Miki Kurugaya, picking the Kirisakian out expertly, to get things off and running. Young Drawkish striker, Iana Synder, then doubled the Whalers' lead mid-way through the first half. The Vale were taking in water by this point, and as Fierro played in Craig O'Maramy for the third, there was no way back for the visitors.

Elsewhere: Port Sebastian were handed a thumping by the Breakers in the North Handon derby, leaving Jock Sonny's side off the pace early on. Leopoldo Ramirez and Flasymar both scored doubles, in a pulsation 5-2 win for Kirk Preston over Marionville. And a Jasper Valaran double helped the Hornets to a 3-1 win in the Lammerton derby.

.                        Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
 1 Handon United           6    5   1   0    17    5  +12    16
 2 Cornellians             6    5   1   0    13    3  +10    16
 3 New Belfast Warriors    6    4   2   0     8    2   +6    14
 4 New Island              6    4   0   2    14    9   +5    12
 5 Dundee                  6    4   0   2     8    8    0    12
 6 Port Sebastian          6    3   2   1    13    9   +4    11
 7 Lammerton               6    3   1   2    11    6   +5    10
 8 Port Patrick United     6    3   1   2    10    8   +2    10
 9 Mucusia                 6    3   1   2     8    7   +1    10
10 Kings Park              6    2   2   2     9    8   +1     8
11 FC Soessch              6    2   2   2     4    6   −2     8
12 La Gorlions             6    2   1   3    11   10   +1     7
13 Granton Vale            6    2   1   3     7   12   −5     7
14 Hollin                  6    1   3   2     9    9    0     6
15 Kirk Preston United     6    1   3   2    11   13   −2     6
16 Port James Athletic     6    2   0   4    12   15   −3     6
17 Lammerton City          6    2   0   4     6   12   −6     6
18 Jena VB                 6    1   0   5     6   14   −8     3
19 Hillstreet              6    0   1   5     5   14   −9     1
20 Marionville             6    0   0   6     8   20  −12     0

by **Schottia** » Tue May 09, 2017 11:59 am

Matchday Seven - Twelve & UICA Group Phase

SPL
Granton Vale 1–1 Dundee
Port James Athletic 2–1 New Belfast Warriors
Jena VB 0–1 Kings Park
Port Patrick United 1–2 La Gorlions
New Island 0–0 Port Sebastian
Kirk Preston United 1–2 Hollin
FC Soessch 0–0 Marionville
Lammerton 3–1 Handon United
Hillstreet 3–3 Lammerton City
Mucusia 2–2 Cornellians

In a bizarre week of results Lammerton were the biggest benefactors, as they leapt up to fourth, with a very strong win over in form Handon United. United went into the game on a high, sitting top of the league, and having just secured Globe Cup qualification. This weekend, however, they were a pale comparison of that side, as they were taken apart by a fast improving Hornets team. Wallace Solway continues to grow as a player, and the 23-year-old has began to repay some of the faith the manager showed in her, opening the scoring in this game. Kaytlyne Victoriane added a second shortly before half time, after a back-heel pass from Mars Alexandersson found it's way through to the Chromatik, just outside the six-yard-box. Rebecca Talla probably thought she'd gotten the visitors back in the game, as she tucked away a layoff from Hiroyo Nunez to make it 2-1 with an hour on the clock. However, John van Cleef headed home in the dying stages to secure a moral boosting win for Lammerton.

Cornellians faired slightly better against Mucusia, but they left it very late in drawing level. Lilly Kitman's side played some very good football, at points giving the champions a very good run for their money. There was a standout performance from Laura Smith in the midfield, and the Schottian had a big hand in Aimée Hétu's opening goal. The Pasragan was on hand to turn in Smith's long ball forward to give Mucusia the lead. Things got worse for Cornellians, as a slip up at the back allowed Ryuni through on goal, the Daineri attacker showed fantastic composure to finish past Jeremy McNott from a tight angle. This seemed to spur Reinhard Shale's side into action, and after a double change, the Eagles looked to get themselves back into the match. Isla Sibučić pulled one back from close range, following a layoff from Mershawn Mercury, before Kel Koromin found the net in the dying seconds to ensure he salvaged a point for his side.

Port James Athletic also recorded a vitally important win over the Warriors, as they look to finally be getting up and running. Elspeth Glendening showed us exactly why she is so highly rated, as she turned Anna Lombardi to give her side the lead with a strike from the edge of the area. Glendening looks to have now found a strike partner in the form of Derick Mason, and the two of them combined well all afternoon. Mason set up the all important second goal for the Seasiders, flicking a Joseph Preca cross into the path of Evangeline Querón, for the midfielder to score the goal, which ultimately secured all three points.

In other results: Port Sebastian were held to a 0-0 draw at New Island, despite a huge amount of second half pressure. Kirsten Gemmill's second half strike earned the Lions a brilliant win away to Port Patrick, taking them to equal points with their rivals on ten. And finally, Hollin recorded a highly significant win in the race to avoid the drop, beating Kirk Preston away, thanks to goals from Fred Dawson, and Chris Jack.

SPL
Dundee 1–4 Cornellians
Lammerton City 3–3 Mucusia
Handon United 1–1 Hillstreet
Marionville 1–3 Lammerton
Hollin 0–1 FC Soessch
Port Sebastian 4–1 Kirk Preston United
La Gorlions 0–1 New Island
Kings Park 1–3 Port Patrick United
New Belfast Warriors 2–0 Jena VB
Granton Vale 2–3 Port James Athletic

It is amazing just how quickly things can turn around in football, with Handon United going from seemingly unassailable, to a side in a spot of bother. A hefty defeat at the hands of Lammerton, followed by a draw at home to Hillstreet will have drawn the first groans from frustrated fans. Jane Gullie's side went a goal up after only ten minutes, but failed to make their superior possession pay. Daniel Dostalok slid in to turn a Christian Lovenkrands cross over the line, in what was the first of a long list of United attacks, but the only one to yield a goal. It was one of those games where you could almost see it coming, and with literally Hillstreet's only venture up the pitch, Ichiko Tsukahara played the ball through to Will Castillo, who was never going to miss, as he stuck his shot past the outstretched Jacrian Ryaden.

Port Sebastian, and Cornellians managed to bounce back, however. Both recording impressive 4-1 victories. Leonardo Conavacio and Eloisa Purinton starred for Porty, in a match where they were always going to come out on top. Kirk Preston simply weren't at the races, as Jock Sonny's side looked ruthlessly efficient. Despite Russ Linvoy heading in a Jayden Ross corner just before half time, goals from Purinton (2), Conavacio, and Bia ensured a straightforward win.

Cornellians' result was all the more notable, considering it came against Dundee, away. Despite Sett Horn blasting in an equaliser, after a Jade Irwin freekick gave the Eagles the lead, that was as good as it got for Johnny Smith's side who were utterly out played in the second half. Irwin left Spearing and Gerrish for dead, slotting home her second of the afternoon, before Kit Kvanderwyk played in Kel Koromin brilliantly for the side's third. By this stage Cornellians were on easy street, and as super-sub Isla Sibučić saw her shot cannon back off of Poppy Fayrkirk, Mershawn Mercury was there to tuck away the rebound.

Lammerton also continued their climb up the table, with a 3-1 win at Marionville. The result is more bad news for the Old Boys, who seem to be struggling even worse than we had predicted this season. With the signings of Goff and Victoriane, Lammerton look much more rounded than they were last year, and both players got on the score sheet in this match. It seems we may have written them off a little too soon when we predicted fifth place, as they seem well and truly in this title race.

Elsewhere: New Island continued their excellent run this season, as Nova Kymeri cracked in an effort from distance to see them to 1-0 at La Gorlions. A Callum Frir hattrick gave Port Patrick a 3-1 win at Kings Park, as they continue to look like a force to be reckoned with. And lastly, Elspeth Glendening tucked away a double, as Port James Athletic made it back-to-back wins in the league, with a 3-2 victory at Granton Vale.

Player and Manager of The Month Awards -- Month Two

Player: Jade Irwin -- Cornellians
As Cornellians opened up a gap at the top of the table, it was once again their midfield talisman who set the pace for the Lochend side. The playmaker will be hoping to work her way into Amethyst Fegelein's plans, after missing out on the Copa Rushmori.

Young Player: Kaytlyne Victoriane -- Lammerton
The young Chromatik striker has made a very strong start to life in the SPL. The Hornets took a big risk in splashing the cash for this young woman, but so far it looks to have been money well spent.

Manager: Judy Scott -- New Island
With three wins and a draw this month - only equalled by Cornellians - New Island are most certainly a team on the up. Their only dropped points this month have been against Port Sebastian, as the side continue to look solid in every department.

SPL
Port James Athletic 0–0 Dundee
Jena VB 1–2 Granton Vale
Port Patrick United 2–1 New Belfast Warriors
New Island 1–1 Kings Park
Kirk Preston United 2–4 La Gorlions
FC Soessch 1–1 Port Sebastian
Lammerton 2–1 Hollin
Hillstreet 0–1 Marionville
Mucusia 1–3 Handon United
Cornellians 4–0 Lammerton City

La Gorlions heaped further misery on the Kirk Preston, as Ross Killanen's side failed once again to hit the ground running in the SPL. Despite going in at half time with the scores at 2-2, the Lions pulled away in the second half to leave the Holy Men only one win in their first eight matches. A great run from Euran, Jayden Fox, helped Kirk Preston take the lead, after the teenager set up Leopoldo Ramirez for the opening goal. La Golions then pulled level thanks to a solo effort from Christopheran international, Aredhel Neil. Killanen's players were the better team in the first half, and it came as no surprise that they retook the lead through a long-range strike from Quebecois veteran, Andre Martineau. However, despite their domination, the home side were pegged back once more as Clephus Hunt powered in a header on the half hour mark, in an incredible start to the match. In the second half the visitors pulled away, their third goal coming as the result of a mix up at the back, allowing Fredrick Houben to capitalise, firing past Ireland from close range. With the match well and truly slipping away from Kirk Preston, Kirsten Gemmill added salt to their wounds, as the Nepharim youngster latched onto a Yelena Shostakovich through ball to make it 4-2.

Cornellians barely broke into a sweat as they brushed newly promoted Lammerton City aside at Lochend Stadium. Kit Kvanderwyk had Brock Fuller tied in knots the entire afternoon, and put in a man of the match performance, setting up two of the four goals. His sister, Kathryn also got in on the act with a first half double, further underlining her importance to the side. On a week where the Eagles were missing top goal scorer, Kel Koromin, Lara Wedderburn stepped up admirably. While the teenager failed to get on the score sheet, she partnered Kvanderwyk jnr well in the attack. In a match, which ensured Cornellains stayed top, Reinhard Shale also handed a debut to Alex Pearce, the son of his predecessor Pearce snr. Coming on for countryman, Stephen Gargo, the teenager had very little to do in the ten minutes he was on the pitch.

Handon United also returned to winning ways, as they recorded a somewhat flattering 3-1 scoreline over Mucusia. The side from Port James have looked very good so far this season, and it will come as little surprise when we say they held their own throughout most of the game. In the end though, it came down to which team was most decisive in front of goal, and that was Jane Gullie's young side. Laura Smith verses Dilon Bánach was a fascinating battle in the centre of the pitch, but one in which the latter probably came out on top. Christian Lovenkrands opened the scoring for United, before Daniel Dostalok, and Baffour Asante added a second and third, to give them a convincing victory.

Elsewhere in the SPL: Port Sebastian were held to a 1-1 draw, as they lost further ground on Cornellians and Handon United, as David Hughes struck late to give FC Soessch a share of the points at Dyerton Stadium. Whitney Kelly, and Ouissal Tahar scored for Port Patrick, to give them a 2-1 win over New Belfast Warriors. And Marionville got a first win of the season, as a Ruth Finch helped them to a narrow victory at Hillstreet.

SPL
Dundee 2–0 Lammerton City
Handon United 4–3 Cornellians
Marionville 1–3 Mucusia
Hollin 1–1 Hillstreet
Port Sebastian 1–2 Lammerton
La Gorlions 0–1 FC Soessch
Kings Park 3–3 Kirk Preston United
New Belfast Warriors 1–0 New Island
Granton Vale 4–3 Port Patrick United
Port James Athletic 2–1 Jena VB

This weekend's big match was Cornellians' visit to Handon United, and the meeting of this season's pace setters didn't disappoint. A seven-goal thriller, which saw the lead change hands several times, will be a great advert for the Schottic game. When the match finally settled down, after a frantic opening five minutes, it was the visitors who drew first blood. Mershawn Mercury's cross-field ball found Jade Irwin on the edge of the box, before the 26-year-old smashed the ball past Ryden to give her side the lead. United responded almost immediately, with Natalie Adams playing the ball through for Hiroyo Nunez to level the scores. United then got their noses in front, as a Rebecca Talla connected with a cross from Louis Hordern, leaving McNott no chance at all with her effort. It was during this, United's best spell in the game, that Cornellians equalised however. Kel Koromin jumped highest to head home a Jade Irwin corner, after his initial shot was blocked wide off JK Cottle. Shortly after the restart, United were back in front once more, as Mercedinian striker Daniel Dostalok showed why he is so highly rated, angling a Alf Seggerson cross past the keeper. In what turned out to be a grandstand finish, Cornellians pulled level yet again through a Scott Burton header, before Dostalok had the final say, scoring his second of the game to propel his side right back into the title race.

Dundee have been enjoying another successful season, with the new signings of Horn, Spearing, and Fayrkirk all making good starts to life at Granier Road. This weekend they took on a Lammerton City side who had got off to a bit of a mixed start. Generally speaking the Panners are very solid at home, and they looked very well drilled in all areas of the pitch as they opened up an early lead. Heidi Spearing played a long ball to Barry Drite on the right, who looked up, picking out Jacques for the opening goal. In a game that Dundee were rarely tested at the back, they sealed all three points midway through the second half with a Sett Horn strike. The young Cosumarite, who was perhaps a little disappointed not to have been called up the Di Bradini Cup, showed good strength getting to the ball ahead of Gordon Centon to nod past the keeper. The result keeps Dundee right in the hunt for a Globe Cup spot, as they try to prove that the third place finish of three years ago was no fluke.

One side who haven't had it all their own way however, are Port Sebastian. They fell foul of yet another poor home result this weekend, as they lost to title rivals Lammerton. The Hornets are seemingly much improved this year, and they deserved this win. Mars Alexandersson rocket her side ahead early on, before Demba Traore pulled Porty level on the fifty-minute mark. Jock Sonny's side had their chanced to pull out in front, but in the end it was Kaytlyne Victoriane goal, eight minutes from time, which secured all three points for Lammerton.

In other results: Kirk Preston scored twice in the last four minutes to salvage a 3-3 draw with Kings Park in Handon. Aimée Hétu was at her deadly best, as Mucusia beat Marionville 3-1. And young John Fyfe bagged a brace, as Granton Vale defeated Port Patrick by four goals to two.

Champions' Cup -- Group Phase
(NPH) Starling 0–2 Cornellians

Cornellians recorded possibly the greatest result in their history this week, with a 2-0 win away to Nepharim superstars, Starling. The SPL champs' win in Rushmore is further proof of how far they have come as a side, and their continued improvement under Reinhard Shale. The Eagles looked strong at the back, with Gargo, Burton, Vlahos, and Ramsey not giving a centimetre; but it was an all-round team performance that got them over the line.

Globe Cup -- Group Phase
(AUD) AC Izotz Zubia 2–1 Handon United
Port Sebastian 2–0 Chapeleta de Desportos (CPV)

Handon United had an extremely difficult introduction to UICA football, as they made the journey to Audioslavia to take on Izotz Zubia. Despite a strong display from United, especially in the closing stages, there was only ever going to be one winner in this game, and the match ended 2-1. Port Sebastian, by contrast, had a very good evening, as they welcomed Chapeleta de Desportos to the chilly Handon Autumn. Goals from Joey Bia and Demba Traore meant that Jock Sonny's side got off to a great start in their bid to reach the knockouts.

Series B -- Group Phase
Kirk Preston United 4–3 Castle United (VLE)

And while Kirk Preston seem to be having all sorts of problems adjusting to life in the SPL, the Series B seems to be a whole different proposition. They had another good result, as they defeated Redvali side, Castle United in Schottia.

SPL
Jena VB 0–1 Dundee
Port Patrick United 1–0 Port James Athletic
New Island 3–0 Granton Vale
Kirk Preston United 2–3 New Belfast Warriors
FC Soessch 0–0 Kings Park
Lammerton 5–4 La Gorlions
Hillstreet 2–0 Port Sebastian
Mucusia 3–0 Hollin
Cornellians 2–1 Marionville
Lammerton City 2–4 Handon United

Handon United took the momentum from their win over Cornllians into their visit to Lammerton City, where they survived an early scare to run out deserved winners. Nothing we had seen from the Princes up until now had done anything to suggest that this was going to be anything other than a difficult season. However, they silenced the travelling fans when Broad Dalehun converted a Katie Smart cross after eleven minutes, in a whirlwind start. At first United were slow to respond, and City could have gone further ahead before JK Cottle met a Natalie Adams corner to head United level against the run of play. The goal seemed to take the wind from the Princes' sails, and Hiroyo Nunez saw a good effort saved, before Christian Lovenkrads gave them United the lead. A long ball forward from Mana Satō set the Semar free to score his third league goal of the season, slotting the ball in the bottom corner. After the restart, Rebecca Talla's cross was headed in by Nunez for three, before Adams added a fourth following a great solo run. Katie Smart pulled a goal back for City late on, but it did little other make the score line look a little more respectable.

Conner Watts' reunion with his former club ended up being a little embarrassing, as his current charges, Hillstreet, inflicted a 2-0 defeat on Port Sebastian. Ex Schottic internationalist Bruno Schwartz rolled back the clock, to score the Hunters' first of the game, latching onto a well-played ball from Sanchia Diaz. Port Sebastian, who seem to be missing Steven Rexmont's directness this season, tried hard to get back into the match, back there was something amiss with Jock Sonny's side. In the end, Hillstreet actually went on to double their lead, Dunixi Izambizaga firing one in from the edge of the box to earn her team a famous win.

New Island moved up to fifth with 3-0 win at home to Granton Vale, as the Pebbles continue to live up to this season's high billing. Ikeas Nike was a handful for the entire match, causing the Beachcombers all sorts of problems with his strength and running down the right. It was his opposite number, Nova Kymeri, who opened the scoring however, as the Cenian left-winger continues to justify her $1M price tag. Ramone Scotta headed in a second after Lizzie Addison's long-range effort forced a corner from Vale keeper, Krista Till. And Grant Carlin made it a very good day at the office for Judy Scott's club, as he chested a Kymeri corner into the back of the net.

Elsewhere: New Belfast Warriors had to work extremely hard for all three points against a Kirk Preston side who continue to just come up short. Aimée Hétu made it four goals in two, as she helped Mucusia to a 3-0 win over Hollin. And Lammerton and La Gorlions played out a nine-goal thriller at the City Ground, with the Hornets winning the game in the dying seconds, thanks to a Wallace Solway strike.

Champions' Cup -- Group Phase
Cornellians 5–4 Centralis Heart (ETM)

Eagles fans could surely get used to this. First an incredible win over Starling in Nephara, and now edging former Champions' Cup semi-finalists, Centralis Heart, in a nine-goal-showdown. Cornellians welcomed Schottians Cerys Kennicot and John McCormack to Lochend, but the former SPL stars went home disappointed as Kel Koromin's late goal denied the Electumites a share of the points.

Globe Cup -- Group Phase
(NPH) Parrhesia United 1–2 Handon United
(PAS) CA Paulinthal 1–2 Port Sebastian

Handon United got their account up and running this week, as they faced Nepharim side Parrhesia United. Jane Gullie was reunited with Quinn McEnithly, a player she released upon joining the club, who has since found some decent form in the Premiership. United managed to do just enough to take home a valuable three points though, with second half goals from Lovenkrands and Nunez. And Port Sebastian made it two wins from two, as they recorded a perhaps more impressive win, at Pasargan side CA Paulinthal. Leonardo Conavacio proved himself to be the big game player Porty fans would have hoped they'd signed, his double in this game clearly making the difference.

Series B -- Group Phase
Kirk Preston United 0–3 San Diego Iguanas (COM)

For Kirk Preston their was a rather humbling experience, as they went down 0-3 to San Diego Iguanas. In a match were literally nothing went right for the Holy Men, they would have been glad to have gotten off the pitch.

SPL
Dundee 0–0 Handon United
Marionville 1–1 Lammerton City
Hollin 2–5 Cornellians
Port Sebastian 1–0 Mucusia
La Gorlions 0–1 Hillstreet
Kings Park 2–4 Lammerton
New Belfast Warriors 1–2 FC Soessch
Granton Vale 0–3 Kirk Preston United
Port James Athletic 0–0 New Island
Jena VB 0–1 Port Patrick United

The SPL season was fast approaching the third-of-the-way stage, and Cornellians seized upon a slip up by Handon United, to head back to the top of the league. With Jane Gullie's side finding the going tougher than expected in Dundee, the Eagles took full advantage, dispatching of strugglers Hollin. When Cornallians have been good this season, they have been very good indeed. Reinhardt Shale's players really took the game to the Belker Boys in the first half, with Jade Irwin in particular causing Praxil Glasspool and Andy Seal problems at the back. The Nepharim set up two, as her side went up the tunnel at half time with a more or less insurmountable 3-0 lead. The second half was far more of a contest however, and after the visitors extended their lead with a Kit Kvanderwyk goal shortly the restart, Hollin finally sprung into life. Goals from Colin Loweson and Fred Dawson in a five minute spell, gave them the slimmest glimmer of hope before teenager, Isla Sibučić, drove home the final nail with four minutes left to play. Kirk Preston lifted themselves up and out of the relegation zone with a 3-0 win at Granton Vale. The Holy Men have played reasonably well this season, but things have generally failed to click into place. This weekend though, they looked like a well-oiled machine as they leapt up the league to 15th place. A rare goal from Jayden Fox opened the scoring for the newly promoted side, as the young Euran continues to impress. Ross Killanen's players were on easy street just before half time, as Flasymar scored a great solo goal to make it two, with the Granton defence starting to crumble. Kirk Preston completed a memorable afternoon eleven minutes from time, when Andre Martineau crossed the ball for Ian Long to header in their third and final goal.

There was also a potentially very important match in the battle for the final UICA spot, as FC Soessch made the trip to Ashley Road to take on the Warriors. A mature performance from Charlotte Ünterhausen in the middle of the park helped Die rote Teufel a lot, and it was thanks to her clever pass that David Hughes was able to give the side their side the lead. Warriors currently sit fourth, and they look as if they will be there or there abouts come the end of the season. Farf midfielder, Somuele der Pros, stung the palms of Harry Gould in the Soessch goal, before Iana Synder fired narrowly wide, as the Whalers looked to crank up the pressure. However it was Soeesch who stung the hosts, as they doubled their lead with thirty minutes to go. Johan Shearer's delightful cross flew over the heads of everyone, except for Currian Cort, who arrived at the back post just in time to nod the ball into the back of the net. Warriors pulled one back as they chased the game, but it was Soessch who seized the opportunity to move up to 8th.

In other matches: Conavacio scored the only goal of the game, as Port Sebastian edged out Mucusia at Dyerton Stadium. Callum Frir was the man of the moment, once again, as he helped Port Patrick to a 1-0 win over Jena. And finally, Lammerton continue to score goals for fun, as a double from youngster, Kaytlyne Victoriane, ensured they got the better of Kings Park.

Player and Manager of The Month Awards -- Month Three

Player: Callum Frir -- Port Patrick United
Frir has helped his side to three wins from four this month, hauling them up to fourth in the league. Somehow, the veteran striker seems to be playing his best football as he reaches the twilight of his career. The Breakers will just be hoping it continues.

Young Player: Daniel Dostalok -- Handon United
Dostalok has been on fine form, as United enjoy yet another fantastic month. More than just goals, the Mercedinian striker has contributed a lot to the attack, working well with partner, Hiroyo Nunez.

Manager: John Sedder -- Lammerton
With four wins from four, the Hornets are back in the mix, looking much more like the side from two years ago, as opposed to the side which struggled last season.

.                        Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
 1 Cornellians            12    9   2   1    33   13  +20    29
 2 Lammerton              12    9   1   2    30   16  +14    28
 3 Handon United          12    8   3   1    30   15  +15    27
 4 New Belfast Warriors   12    7   2   3    17   10   +7    23
 5 Port Patrick United    12    7   1   4    21   16   +5    22
 6 New Island             12    6   3   3    19   11   +8    21
 7 Dundee                 12    6   3   3    13   13    0    21
 8 FC Soessch             12    5   5   2     9    8   +1    20
 9 Port Sebastian         12    5   4   3    20   15   +5    19
10 Mucusia                12    5   3   4    20   17   +3    18
11 Port James Athletic    12    5   2   5    19   20   −1    17
12 Kings Park             12    3   5   4    17   19   −2    14
13 Granton Vale           12    4   2   6    16   26  −10    14
14 La Gorlions            12    4   1   7    21   21    0    13
15 Kirk Preston United    12    2   4   6    23   29   −6    10
16 Hollin                 12    2   4   6    15   22   −7    10
17 Hillstreet             12    2   4   6    13   20   −7    10
18 Lammerton City         12    2   3   7    15   29  −14     9
19 Marionville            12    1   2   9    13   29  −16     5
20 Jena VB                12    1   0  11     8   23  −15     3

Schottic Cup -- Round of 32
Marionville 2–0 D'Itille
Central Stars 0–0 New Island (0–1 AET)
Mucusia 0–1 Kirk Preston United
New Belfast Blues 3–3 Handon United (4–3 AET)
Dundee 0–1 Port Sebastian
Lammerton City 2–3 Cornellians
Hillstreet 0–0 Jena VB (1–0 AET)
Berwick United 0–0 West Coast Warriors (0–0 AET) (7–6 pen.)
Snubbeak Rock 1–2 Kings Park
Granton Vale 3–0 Marionville Thistle
La Gorlions 1–0 FC Soessch
Soessch 1990 1–1 Regional Development Side A (2–1 AET)
New Belfast Warriors 3–0 Hollin
Port Patrick United 2–0 West Holbrookdale
FC Döllar 0–1 Bara Waves
Port James Athletic 3–4 Lammerton

by **Schottia** » Wed May 17, 2017 12:05 am

Matchday Thirteen - Eighteen & UICA Group Phase

Champions' Cup -- Group Phase
Cornallians 2–1 Avenida Leal (FFD)

Cornellians must be very pleased with the progress they have made, as a 2-1 win over Farf side, Avenida Leal, was another excellent result. Kel Koromin seems to excel in thes big games, and was at his usual, lethal best, as he headed in a Jade Irwin cross to give the Eagles the lead. Kit Kvanderwyk scored the important second, cutting inside before finishing with a strike from the outside of his boot.

Globe Cup -- Group Phase
(JYS) Lisda Lokado Goji Salamjĭ 1–1 Handon United
Port Sebastian 0–0 Rovers United (ZWZ)

There were a couple of draws for the Handon sides in the Globe Cup, which on the face of things, they will probably take. Handon United found the going particularly tough against Lisda Lokado Goji Salamjĭ, but a second half strike from Christian Lovenkrands gave them a hard-earned point. Port Sebastian had to weather a bit of a storm, but they held tight, and earned a 0-0 draw with Rovers United.

Series B -- Group Phase
(NGD) Boudicca Noviodunum 0–2 Kirk Preston United

Kirk Preston must have thought they had their work cut out against Boudicca Noviodunum, but goals from Leopoldo Ramirez and Flasymar got them over the line in New Gelderland.

SPL
Port Patrick United 1–0 Dundee
New Island 5–2 Jena VB
Kirk Preston United 3–1 Port James Athletic
FC Soessch 3–0 Granton Vale
Lammerton 6–2 New Belfast Warriors
Hillstreet 0–2 Kings Park
Mucusia 2–4 La Gorlions
Cornellians 4–1 Port Sebastian
Lammerton City 0–1 Hollin
Handon United 3–1 Marionville

Port Seabastian found themselves in some hot water this weekend, as a heavy defeat at the hands of Cornellians perhaps hinted to a difference in class between the two sides. The game wasn't quite as one-sided as 4-1 might suggest, but it will be a bitter pill to swallow all the same. Cornellians really seem to be building up a head of steam, both domestically and in the Champions' Cup. Kit Kvanderwyk looking on top form as he added another to his already impressive tally for the season. Eloisa Purinton's goal did make it 2-1 at one point in the second half, but a late flourish with goals from Kel Koromin and Triffid Ramsey gave the Eagles an very comfortable win.

Just as impressive was second place side Lammerton's 6-2 win at home to New Belfast Warriors. In total contrast to their slow start last season, John Sedder's side have been wasting no time in propelling themselves up the league. Kaytlyne Victoriane and Wallace Solway scored two apiece, in what turned out to be an utterly dominant second half display. In the battle of the Cenians in the centre of midfield, it was very much Jasper Valaran who came out on top in this one, with the former Tir Snake Strike playmaker's pace and vision meaning that Tomás Fierro rarely got anywhere near him. In what was a torrid afternoon for the Whalers, goals from Miki Kurugaya and Craig O'Maramy will serve as little in the way of consolation.

Handon United kept pace with the top two as they recorded a 3-1 victory of their own, making light work of bottom club Marionville. United made a strong title challenge last season, and with another year to gel, the side look even better this time round. Natalie Adams got the ball rolling, as she played the ball through for Daniel Dostalok to fire past Chris Gonzaö. By the time the second went in, a well taken goal from Christian Lovenkrands, the writing already looked on the wall. Marionville did pull one back, after an Alyssa Haight cross met the head of top goal scorer, Imants Kölleran. However, it made little difference to the final score, as Hiroyo Nunez fired in a James Robertson corner to earn the home side a much needed win.

New Island are also back up to fifth, as they pulled off a phenomenal 5-2 win over Jena, as the Mountaineers continue to look out of their depth. Ramone Scotta is having a fantastic season, and two headed goals today underlined his worth to the side. There were also strikes from Nova Kymeri, Ian Wilson, and Lizzy Addison as the Pebbles could have easily scored two or three more in a strong finish to the match.

In other results: a David Hughes double helped Soessch up to sixth, as they made light work of Granton Vale. Kirsten Gemmill and Cephus Hunt were stand out players as La Gorlions leapfrogged the Beachcomber with a 4-2 win over Mucusia. And Kirk Preston pulled themselves further away from the bottom of the table with a win over Port James Athletic.

Champions' Cup -- Group Phase
(FFD) Avenida Leal 2–2 Cornellians

Cornellians followed up their outstanding win at Lochend Stadium, with a 2-2 draw in Farfadillis. The Eagles came from behind twice to keep themselves well in the hunt for on of the top two spots.

Globe Cup -- Group Phase
Handon United 3–0 Lisda Lokado Goji Salamjĭ (JYS)
(ZWZ) Rovers United 1–2 Port Sebastian

Handon United got over the sakes of last week, as they put three past Lisda Lokado Goji Salamjĭ for no reply in Handon. Daniel Dostalok scored a hattrick in a match as the young Mercedinian continued to grow as a player on the world stage. Port Sebastian also recorded a positive result, as a last minute Leonard Conavacio goal left Rovers United stunned.

Series B -- Group Phase
Kirk Preston United 4–1 Boudicca Noviodunum (NGD)

A phenomenal result for Kirk Preston, as they start to look as if they could go far in this years completion. Youngsters, Jayden Fox and Ollie Helling were outstanding from start to finish.

SPL
Dundee 1–1 Marionville
Hollin 2–4 Handon United
Port Sebastian 1–0 Lammerton City
La Gorlions 1–3 Cornellians
Kings Park 5–0 Mucusia
New Belfast Warriors 1–0 Hillstreet
Granton Vale 1–0 Lammerton
Port James Athletic 2–0 FC Soessch
Jena VB 2–1 Kirk Preston United
Port Patrick United 2–0 New Island

A slip from Lammerton allowed Handon United back up to second, as Jane Gullie's side fought hard to beat Hollin 4-2. United were pegged back twice in the first half, but a late surge gave them what was in the end a resounding win. Most likely, it looked as if it would be business as usual for United, as Dilon Bánach scored a peach if a goal to give her side the lead. Things rarely go that simply in football, and Fred Dawson was on hand to pull Hollin level entirely against the run of play. United responded quickly though, and Daniel Dostalok proved his striking credentials in heading home a Louis Hordern cross, only to see Chris Jack square things once more, firing in from as tight angle. As the game reached the hour mark, it looked as if it were going to one of those frustrating afternoons for the Handon side, but they dug deep and late goals from subs, Mirka Shitakuari and Baffour Asante, eventually helped them over the line.

If ever a side needed a win, it was Port Sebastian, and luckily they got the much needed three points, as they took on Lammerton City at Dyerton stadium. It wasn't the most convincing of wins, and the 28,000 Porty fans crammed into the stadium will have been little reassured by the result. That said, three points is three points, and it means Jock Sonny's side stay almost within touching distance of the UICA places. Andrya Novkovic, and Demba Traore both had chances to break the deadlock for the homes side, however, David Prince was on top form in the City goal. Leonardo Conavancio's strike, with 70 minutes on the clock, finally gave his team the win they were looking for.

Given the way New Island have been playing, their 2-0 defeat to Port Patrick will probably go down as something of a shock result. A win in this match would have put Judy Scott's side up to fourth, in what was a good old-fashioned six pointer. Failure to take advantage of their superior possession perhaps hints to the fact that they lack the mentality to sustain a challenge at the top of the league. Port Patrick certainly didn't have the best of things in the first half, so they would have been relieved to see Callum Frir's looping header creep in at the back post, just before the half time whistle. Despite New Island's pressure in the second half, they were stung once more, as a long-range strike from Tanya Yeats took a wicked deflection off the heel of Grant Carlin and in past Seong Min Courtois, to give the Breakers a 2-0 win.

In other matches: Cornellians continue to look comfortable at the top of the league, a 3-1 win away to La Gorlions keeps their momentum going. Kaija Kopel scored a hattrick as Kings Park recorded a stunning 5-0 win over Mucusia. And late goals from Elspeth Glendening, and Evangeline Querón gave Port James a 2-0 win over on form FC Soessch.

Champions' Cup -- Group Phase
(ETM) Centalis Heart 2–0 Cornellians

Cornellians were certainly brought down to earth with a thump in this match, as their journey to Electrum ended in a resounding defeat. Heart looked back to their best in this one, as the former semi-finalists put on a display, which saw the Eagles taste defeat for the first time in the group.

Globe Cup -- Group Phase
Handon United 4–0 Parrhesia United (NPH)
Port Sebastian 2–5 CA Paulinthal (PAS)

There were very different reactions, in different parts of the city, to tonight's Globe Cup results. Despite a very have defeat at home to CA.P, Port Sebastian still look good for qualification, although they will need to play a lot better than this. Goals from Dembe Traore and Vera Cummings weren't enough, as the Pasargan side ran out 5-2 winners. For Handon United, however, they continued to make a splash in this year's tournament, with a 4-0 home win over Parrhesia United. A second half double from teen-midfielder, Dilon Bánach capped a good performance from the youngster.

Series B -- Group Phase
(COM) San Diego Iguanas 0-1 Kirk Preston United

Kirk Preston sealed qualification from their group also, with a 1-0 over win San Diego Iguanas, Ian Long scoring the only goal of the game.

Cup Winners' Cup -- First Round
Port Sebastian 1-0 Royal Queenstown (NGD)

SPL
New Island 0–0 Dundee
Kirk Preston United 4–5 Port Patrick United
FC Soessch 2–0 Jena VB
Lammerton 4–4 Port James Athletic
Hillstreet 3–0 Granton Vale
Mucusia 0–1 New Belfast Warriors
Cornellians 5–1 Kings Park
Lammerton City 0–1 La Gorlions
Handon United 0–1 Port Sebastian
Marionville 1–1 Hollin

There is no bigger game in Schottia than the Handon Derby. United went into this one with the top of the table in their sights, after a dazzling first third of the season. Porty on the other hand were desperately clinging to what was left of their season, and knew that defeat here would make finishing in the top five an uphill struggle. As you would expect, United started the match far brighter, with Lovenkrands and Talla both causing problems for Port Sebastian in the wide areas. The visitors only real chance fell to veteran forward, Conavacio, but the Quebecois blazed his shot over the bar from ten metres out. As the match went on United continued to threaten, and MG Grumbla was forced to pull off a string of saves to keep his side in it. Things went from bad to worse for Jock Sonny's side, after Conavacio was red carded, for punching Rebecca Talla - the player will need to wait until next week to learn the severity of his punishment. Incredible however, with only ten men on the pitch, Porty took home all three points. Michi Leonard, taking the ball out of defence, managed to play Demba Traore through on goal. The Semar found himself one on one with the keeper, and pulled the trigger to win his side the bragging rights.

The result from the early kick off would have been music to Cornellians' ears, who wasted no time in putting some daylight between them and United. Goals from Jade Irwin and Kathryn Kvanderwyk gave them an early lead against Kings Park, which they were only ever likely to add to. Despite Cenian star, Sendoa, pulling one back for the Royals, strikes from Mercury, Sibučić, and his countryman, Koromin meant that visitors were soundly beaten. The result now has us all asking if anything can get between Reinhard Shale's team and their sixth title in a row.

There was a goal fest at Auldgate Road this week, as Kirk Preston blew a 3-1 lead, to lose 5-4 to Port Patrick. After Ouissal Tahar put the Breakers in front, Ross Killanen must have thought goals from Leopoldo Ramirez (2) and Oliver Helling had his side on track to picking up an important three points in the battle to avoid the drop. However, the Holly Men struggled under concerted pressure in the second half, with Connie Malone, Chiyoko Sakuraka, and Callum Frir (2) scoring the goals which left Kirk Preston with egg on their faces. Flasymar did pull another one back for the home side, converting a Jayden Fox cross, but all and all, it was a bad day at the office for their team.

In other results, Wallace Solway struck late on to save a point for Lammerton, as they drew 4-4 with Port James Athletic. Will Castillo and Dunixi Izambizaga were on top form for Hillstreet as the Huntly side beat Granton Vale 3-0. And, FC Soessch left it late, scoring two goals in the last fifteen minutes to beat neighbours, Jena, 2-0.

Champions' Cup -- Group Phase
Cornellians 4–1 Starling (NPH)

This was an astonishing result, and most likely one that Cornellians themselves wouldn't have been expected to see. While we are all left scratching our heads a little, one Nepharim who won't be complaining is Reinhard Shale, who can now look forward to the knockouts having achieved what his predecessor failed to do on numerous occasions. The Eagles were ruthless in front of goal, while Pasargan kid, Christian Berg, looked good in defensive midfield, complimenting Jade Irwin well.

Globe Cup -- Group Phase
Handon United 3–0 AC Izotz Zubia (AUD)
(CPV) Chapeleta de Desportos 2–3 Port Sebastian

Schottia's Globe Cup hopefuls also secured qualification, with highly impressive wins of there own. Port Sebastian had to work hard for the three points at Chapeleta de Desportos. Porty were pulled back level twice in this match, only for a late Purinton strike to settle the matter, ensuring they topped the group. For Handon United, they had a thumping win, defeating Izotz Zubia three-nil at Harbour Hill. They had their defence - in particulat keeper Jacrian Ryaden - to thank for keeping the Audioslavians at bay.

Series B -- Group Phase
(VLE) Castle United 3–1 Kirk Preston United

And Kirk Preston might have been through to the knockouts of the Series B, but they were left looking a little flat footed following a 3-1 defeat to Castle United in the Redvale.

Cup Winners' Cup -- First Round
(NGD) Royal Queenstown 1-2 Port Sebastian

SPL
Dundee 1–0 Hollin
Port Sebastian 3–0 Marionville
La Gorlions 1–1 Handon United
Kings Park 0–0 Lammerton City
New Belfast Warriors 3–2 Cornellians
Granton Vale 0–0 Mucusia
Port James Athletic 1–2 Hillstreet
Jena VB 1–2 Lammerton
Port Patrick United 3–0 FC Soessch
New Island 1–0 Kirk Preston United

The chasing pack were handed a lifeline this weekend, as Cornellians stumbled to a 3-2 defeat at Ashley Road. The Warriors were not on the best run of form coming into this one, so the Eagles perhaps took their opponents for granted. The New Belfast side really came out of their corner fighting, however, and took the lead after a strong period of early possession. Adrienne O'Callahan's cross for Miki, after ten minutes, allowed the Kirisakian target girl to loop her headed effort past Jeremy McNott and give their side the lead. The Eagles responded quickly though, and Jade Irwin nearly pulled them level seconds after the kick off, but her striker from the edge of the dee whistled by the outside of the post. Her side didn't have to wait too much longer, and as Kathryn Kvanderwyk's shot deflected in off Saskia Holden, it was game on. It was a similar story in the second half, as Iana Synder's goal from the tightest of angles put the Whalers back in front, only for Scott Burton to square things once more. The Home side had the final say though, and Tomás Fierro effort five minutes from the end left McNott with no chance, as the Cenian secured an excellent win for his team.

This was a result Port Sebastian really needed, given the points they have already dropped this season, and the Steel Men looked way better as they beat strugglers Marionville 3-0. Conavacio, currently suspended for five matches for an attack on an opposition player, was a big miss for Porty. They adjusted to this however, and it didn't take them long to get their noses in front as Demba Traore blasted home from just inside the box. Marionville looked second best in every area of the pitch, and had little answer to the likes of Cummings, Leonard, and Novkovic. It was the young Anglatian, Novkovic, who grabbed the teams second just before half time. Captain, Eloisa Purinton completed the win with a well-taken freekick in the dying stages.

There was another 3-0 score line in north Handon, as Porty's near neighbours put in a five star performance against FC Soessch. Port Patrick might be out of the Globe Cup, but they have been in top league form this season, and a big win over their top-five rivals will go a long way towards giving them another bite at the cherry next season. They cannot boast the same galaxy of stars as the sides around them, but the Breakers are really pulling together. Tanya Yeats looked top-class in the heart of the midfield, and the Brenecian had a hand in two of her side's goals.

Elsewhere: Will Castillo continued his excellent run of form for Hillstreet, as the Redvali striker helped his side to a 2-1 win away to Port James Athletic. Lammerton also picked up a much-needed three points with a 2-1 win at Jena, with Jasper Valaran and Wallace Solway scoring the goals. And finally, Sett Horn continues his rise in profile, scoring the game's only goal as Dundee narrowly defeated Hollin at Granier Park.

Player and Manager of The Month Awards -- Month Four

Player: Tanya Yeats -- Port Patrick United
The second Breakers player in a row to pick up the award, as Des Pleent's side continue to have an incredible season. Yeats is the one who holds it all together in the midfield, having clearly work hard on her all-round game over the past twelve months. The side's vice captain has been right at the heart of this golden era at the club.

Young Player: Isla Sibučić -- Cornellians
Well en route to becoming a top player at the club, the 18-year-old is starting to feature more and more. Sibučić has already been capped at U21 level, and the fluid attacking midfielder is likely to have a big role to play at Cornellians in the coming years.

Manager: Des Pleent -- New Island
There must be a few clubs out there with their eye on this guy, as the work Pleent has done at Port Patrick is quite extraordinary. Four wins from four this month, and it's easy to see why this club have features so heavily amongst the awards.

Cup Winners' Cup -- Round of Sixteen
(CEN) Tir Snake Strike 1-1 Port Sebastian

SPL
Kirk Preston United 0–1 Dundee
FC Soessch 4–3 New Island
Lammerton 1–1 Port Patrick United
Hillstreet 2–0 Jena VB
Mucusia 2–2 Port James Athletic
Cornellians 4–2 Granton Vale
Lammerton City 2–3 New Belfast Warriors
Handon United 6–2 Kings Park
Marionville 2–2 La Gorlions
Hollin 0–1 Port Sebastian

Handon United rebounded in style from their temporary glitch this weekend, as they scored an incredible six goals against a poor looking Kings Park. Daniel Dostalok scored a hattrick, to cap a brilliant team performance from United, who dominated the match from start to finish. Baffour Asante made a rare start, and the Semar took the match in his stride, playing alongside Dilon Bánach in the centre. Gullie's side were three up inside the opening half hour. Dostalok opened the scoring with his first of the match, before Nunez volleyed home for two, from a James Robertson corner. Kings Park were more or less buried after 27 minutes, when Bánach played through Lovenkrands for his sixth league goal of the season. The Royals did attempt to rally, and second half goals from Francis Keelian and Meghan Hartsdown helped them make more of a fight of it. However a Dostalok double, and a goal from substitute Mirka Shitakuari meant it was a rather humbling experience for Kings Park.

Port Sebastian don't seem to be playing pretty at the moment, but at least they are now winning games. At this rate they are in danger of actually pulling themselves back into the mix, as the absence of Conavacio doesn't seem to causing them too much harm. This week, they faced a trip to Belker to take on Hollin, a side who are tenacious if nothing else. Despite the home team digging in deep, Porty found a way through the armour, with Eloisa Purinton finding the net late on to win her side a valuable three points. Leonard found Bia in space wide right, and the little winger looked to the world as if he were going to shoot, but instead he cut the ball inside for the Gloriaxian to finish from just inside the box.

FC Soessch manager, Barry Gorman will be over the moon with his side's fight back from 2-0 down against the on form New Island. Ian Wilson and Holly Addison both scored in the first half for the Pebbles (albeit against the run of play). However, in the second half it was all Soessch as they pulled level though goals from David Hughes and Charlotte Ünterhausen. The North Island side had the bit between their teeth by this stage, and as they kept pressing, they got their just rewards. Johan Shearer's long ball into the box bounced out off the head of Grant Carlin, but no further then Kerstin Dornenberger, who brought the ball down well before finishing into the bottom corner. Soessch then opened up an unassailable lead, as Hughes' clever side-footed pass found Sarah Foucault in space for the side's fourth. There was something of a late comeback from New Island, but Ramone Scotta's goal in stoppage time was little other than consolation.

In other matches: The Port James derby ended in a 2-2 draw, after a late strike from Derrick Mason earned the visitors a share of the points. A Jade Irwin double, meant that Cornellians stayed top with a 4-2 win against a troublesome Granton Vale. And a Mark Keane goal gave Dundee yet another narrow win, this time away to Kirk Preston United.

Cup Winners' Cup -- Round of Sixteen
Port Sebastian a 0-0 Tir Snake Strike (CEN)

SPL
Dundee 0–1 Port Sebastian
La Gorlions 4–0 Hollin
Kings Park 4–1 Marionville
New Belfast Warriors 2–3 Handon United
Granton Vale 2–1 Lammerton City
Port James Athletic 2–5 Cornellians
Jena VB 3–4 Mucusia
Port Patrick United 2–0 Hillstreet
New Island 0–1 Lammerton
Kirk Preston United 1–4 FC Soessch

As the sides near the halfway stage, Cornellians kept their four point lead intact with another big scoring win, this time away to Port James. Athletic put up a good fight in the first half, but once the Eagles found their grove, there was only going to be one team coming out on top. Maeon Vlahos' cross from the edge of the box found Kathryn Kvanderwyk for the first goal of the game, but the Seasiders equalised moments after, as Joseph Preca's angled ball into the box was prodded home by Elspeth Glendening. It didn't take Cornellians long to retake the lead, however, and as they game went on they definitely got stronger. Koromin, Mercury, and Tsumugi all scored for Reinhard Shale's side in an explosive twenty minute spell, before Evangeline Querón pulled one back for Athletic. But the visitors would have the final say, and Isla Sibučić scored from close range to ensure Cornellians received a healthy boost to their goal difference tally.

We saw a great battle this weekend at Ashley Road Stadium, with Handon United just doing enough to keep in touch with Corellians at the top of the league. The Warriors were up for the fight, knowing a win would help keep them, too, in the hunt for the UICA places. United got off to the best possible start, as Rebecca Talla showed Victoria Schute a clean set of heals before picking out Hiroyo Nunez for the side's opening goal. United them found themselves two goals to the good, exploiting a gaping hole in the Whalers defence, as the home team committed men forward. Natalie Adams expertly picked out Christian Lovenkarnds coming in off the right wing, to double their lead. In terms of possession, the Warriors were far from out of it, however, and on the stroke of half time, they threw themselves a lifeline. Some strong play from Tomás Fierro set Somuele der Pros free, giving him all the time he needed to pick out Miki to make it 2-1. With thirty minutes to play the Warriors were level, this time it was Iana Synder who got the important goal, getting her head on the end of an Adrienne O'Callahan cross. United were to have the last word though, as they continue to put together their title challenge, and after some excellent work from Kiri winger Mana Satō, Daniel Dostalok was able to score the winner from close range for 3-2.

Dundee-Port Sebastian is a fixture, which has become something of a grudge match over the last few years, since Jock Sonny switched from the former to the latter, bringing with him two of their star players. This match was real six pointer, with neither side able to give an inch, if they were to keep in touch with the UICA places. Port Sebastian seem to be getting the hang of grinding out results though right now, with a series of narrow victories seeing them recover after a poor start. It was more of the same this weekend, and despite some good chances from Dundee early on, Vera Cummings found herself in the right place at the right time to rub salt into the wounds of her former supporters.

In other results, Sarah Foucault's double helped Soessch to an emphatic win over Kirk Preston United. Kings Park heaped more misery on Marionville with a 4-1 win in Handon. And lastly, Port Patrick United keep themselves in the title chase, as goals from Callum Frir and Whitney Kelly helped them see off Hillstreet.

.                        Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
 1 Cornellians            18   14   2   2    56   23  +33    44
 2 Handon United          18   12   4   2    47   24  +23    40
 3 Lammerton              18   12   3   3    44   25  +19    39
 4 Port Patrick United    18   12   2   4    35   21  +14    38
 5 New Belfast Warriors   18   11   2   5    29   23   +6    35
 6 Port Sebastian         18   10   4   4    28   19   +9    34
 7 FC Soessch             18    9   5   4    22   17   +5    32
 8 Dundee                 18    8   5   5    16   16    0    29
 9 New Island             18    8   4   6    28   20   +8    28
10 La Gorlions            18    7   3   8    34   29   +5    24
11 Kings Park             18    6   6   6    31   31    0    24
12 Mucusia                18    6   5   7    28   32   −4    23
13 Port James Athletic    18    6   4   8    31   36   −5    22
14 Granton Vale           18    6   3   9    21   37  −16    21
15 Hillstreet             18    5   4   9    20   26   −6    19
16 Hollin                 18    3   5  10    19   33  −14    14
17 Kirk Preston United    18    3   4  11    32   43  −11    13
18 Lammerton City         18    2   4  12    18   37  −19    10
19 Marionville            18    1   5  12    19   43  −24     8
20 Jena VB                18    2   0  16    16   39  −23     6

Schottic Cup -- Round of 16
Kirk Preston United 3–1 Bara Waves
New Belfast Blues 2–1 New Island
La Gorlions 0–1 Soessch 1990
Lammerton 1–0 Hillstreet
Marionville 1–0 Berwick United
Granton Vale 0–2 New Belfast Warriors
Cornellians 1–0 Kings Park
Port Sebastian 2–1 Port Patrick United

by **Schottia** » Thu May 18, 2017 12:20 am

Matchday Nineteen - Twenty-Four & UICA Knockouts

Champions' Cup -- Last-Sixteen
(NPH) Crisisbless 0–1 Cornellians

Cornellians left with three points and a clean sheet, after what would go down as an excellent result. There were homecomings of sorts for both Shale and Irwin, with the latter producing a brilliant pass to set up Kathryn Kvanderwyk for the game's only goal.

Globe Cup -- Last-Thirty-Two
Handon United 0–2 Burnton 1963 (ETM)
(CEN) Polaris 1–2 Port Sebastian

It was a torrid night for Handon United, as they found themselves soundly beaten in their last thirty-two match against Burton 1963. Port Sebastian, however, got of to a solid start in Whitehaven, as they took on Cenian side, Polaris. Featuring Schottia star Connie Martel-Burns, Polaris put up a good fight, but second half goals from Leonardo Conavacio and Eloisa Purinton helped Porty to a 2-1 win.

SPL
FC Soessch 1–0 Dundee
Lammerton 2–1 Kirk Preston United
Hillstreet 1–1 New Island
Mucusia 2–3 Port Patrick United
Cornellians 2–2 Jena VB
Lammerton City 1–4 Port James Athletic
Handon United 4–2 Granton Vale
Marionville 2–2 New Belfast Warriors
Hollin 2–1 Kings Park
Port Sebastian 2–0 La Gorlions

Cornellians suffered a major shock this weekend, seeing some of their lead chiselled away, as they slumped to a 2-2 draw at home to Jena. The Eagles had looked more or less unstoppable in the first half of the season, but this result will be seen as a major set back. Jena, who have struggled greatly since their return to the SPL, set up for this one like a cup final and played with far more passion than the reigning champions. Despite looking shaky in the opening period, the Eagles actually took the lead in this game as Mershawn Mercury saw his cross turned in at the back post by Kathryn Kvanderwyk at full stretch. Jena weren't cowed by this, and struck back just before half time through former Dundee man, Davy Galmore. In the second half, Cornellians made a couple of changes, and it seemed to have the desired affect, as Isla Sibučić continued her strong debut first-team season, with a strike from a narrow angle. Shale's side might have thought they had done enough to take all three point, but their was to be one final sting in the tail, with the league leaders left ruing missed chances. Jay Clayton's corner kick, five minutes from the end, was turned in at the back post by Stülmeir, to give the chasing pack something to fight for.

With Cornellians slipping up, Handon United were the side best placed to pick up the scraps as they welcomed Granton Vale to Harbour Hill Stadium. United have been snapping hard at their heels all season, and this competent attacking display will throw them right back into the mix. Gullie's side were 2-1 going into the half time break, after goals from Hiroyo Nunez and Nagisa Habane helped them overturn an early Jack Hobbs strike. The second half was more of the same, and while John Fyfe pulled a goal back late on for the Beachcombers, there was really only one side in the driver's seat. A cracking goal on 65 minutes from Dilon Bánch was the pick of the bunch, before Nunez tapped home her second of the match from close range.

Port James Athletic arguably had their best win of the season, as the jumped up several places into the top half of the table. Lammerton City have looked very poor so far, and Athletic's 4-1 win puts them under even more pressure. Elspeth Glendening has very much been the danger girl for them over the last three seasons, and she chipped in with another double in this match. Evangeline Querón put in a workwoman like shift too in the midfield, getting in the faces of the Princes players all day long. There were further goals for Derrick Mason, and Joseph Preca as Jimmy Mitchel continues to improve the Seasiders.

In other results: Joey Bia and Eloisa Purinton scored the goals, which pulled Port Sebastian back up into the top five, as they defeated La Gorlions. Port Patrick's brilliant season continued with a 3-2 win over Mucusia. And finally; Lammerton needed a late Jasper Valaran strike to take all three points from their home game with Kirk Preston United.

Champions' Cup -- Last-Sixteen
Cornellians 0-3 Crisisbless (NPH)

After their heroics the previous week, Cornellians left to rue some woeful defending as they crashed out of the Champions' Cup at the hands of Crisisbless. Urso, Jevdjevic-Hadsic and Cautcher were all on target for the Nepharim side, as the Eagles were given a clear message that they are going to need to improve further.

Globe Cup -- Last-Thirty-Two
(ETM) Burnton 1963 2-1 Handon United
Port Sebastian 2-1 Polaris (CEN)

It was once again a case of mixed results in the Globe Cup, as there were contrasting outcomes for Handon's teams. United were on the receiving end of a 2-1 defeat as they took on the very impressive Electumite side, Brunton. With Jane Gullie's side already chasing a 2-0 deficit, they found themselves well beaten in this tie. However, after recording another 2-1 score line, Port Sebastian made it through to the next round, after overcoming Polaris for a second time.

SPL
Dundee 0–1 La Gorlions
Port Sebastian 2–3 Kings Park
Hollin 0–3 New Belfast Warriors
Marionville 2–1 Granton Vale
Handon United 3–1 Port James Athletic
Lammerton City 1–0 Jena VB
Cornellians 3–3 Port Patrick United
Mucusia 0–1 New Island
Hillstreet 3–0 Kirk Preston United
Lammerton 1–0 FC Soessch

Handon United drew level at the top of the table, only behind Cornellians on goal difference, with a ruthless 3-1 win over Port James Athletic. United were all over this one from the start, with a string of good chances to take the lead early on. For Athletic, it really didn't fall into place, with their 3-5-2 system really not cutting the mustard against Lovenkrands and Talla on the flanks. United's early pressured paid off on the 20th minute, when Daniel Dostalok spring into action to finish off a Louis Horndern cross. Jane Gullie's side were further in front a couple of minutes later after a great solo effort from Natalie Adams deflected in off of Brendan Hammer's near post. Despite not having the best of the play, Port James managed to throw themselves a lifeline, after a long range effort from Palle Elsmere fell favourably for Derrick Mason who blasted home from close range. Even at this stage there were most certainly chances at both ends, and United, deservedly so, drove the final nail into the coffin. A good exchange between Bánach and Cottle set Mirka Shitakuari free to score the final goal of the game.

There also turned out to be a bitter twist for Port Sebastian, as they gave away a second half lead to lose 3-2 to Kings Park. The Royals have continued to struggle this season, and while they are in no real danger of going down as things stand, this win is much needed nonetheless. For Porty on the other hand, it brings to a halt their climb up the league, just when they would have like to make a little more ground of Cornellians. Kings Park went ahead inside the opening ten minutes, as Meghan Hartsdown's pass found Darren O'Brian in plenty of space. The former Schottia internationalist stayed calm, and pulled the trigger, sending the ball into the back on the net past MG Grumbla. Jock Sonny must have gotten the response he had wanted from his players, as Porty came down the tunnel fighting in the second half. First Demba Traore pulled level for the Handon side, before Andrya Novkovic gave them the lead after a nice bit of play wide left. Just when it seemed like the tide was turning, Kings Park managed to crank it up a gear, and goals from Kajia Koppel and Sendoa gave them one of their best wins in the league so far this season.

At the other end of the table, a win for Marrionville might have earned manager Basil Bunton a stay of execution. The Old Boys didn't play particularly well against Granton Vale, but they got three points, and in their current state, they would take that any day. Imants Kölleran, who has been so badly off the boil of late, stepped up and scored the sides first. Marionville fans must have been experiencing that familiar sinking feeling as Jack Hobbs pulled level for the visitors. However, Vojnomir Nikolic turned out to be their saviour as he tucked away a pass from Alyssa Haight ten minutes from the end for 2-1.

In other results: Cornellians are left clinging to the top of the table by the slimmest of margins, as a late Callum Frir goal gave Port Patrick a share of the points at Lochend. Kaytlyne Victoriane's goal for the Hornets, helped them battle to a 1-0 win over FC Soessch. And, Somuele der Pros was the man of the match, as the Warriors defeated Hollin 3-0.

Player and Manager of The Month Awards -- Month Five

Player: Rebecca Talla -- Handon United
Talla had a solid yet unremarkable first season in Schottia, however, this season she has looked very impressive. The winger's assists have been a vital source of goals for United this season, and helped them sustain their title challenge.

Young Player: John van Cleef -- Lammerton
Schottia U21 defender looks well on the way towards becoming a class act. Still very young for a defender, he is already a pivotal part of the title challenging Hornets side, and looks to be improving all the time.

Manager: Barry Gorman -- FC Soessch
Three wins from four wasn't actually the best record this month, but more importantly, Barry Gorman seems to be turning the team around at long last. It's not been the easiest task moulding Soessch into a strong UICA era side, but based on this month, they look some of the way there.

Globe Cup -- Last-Sixteen
Port Sebastian 3–1 FC Atlantis (WRL)

Schottia's last remaining UICA representatives, Port Sebastian, gave themselves a great chance of making the quarters, with a 3-1 over Atlantis at Dyerton. Porty were the better team over the ninety minutes, with Conavacio proving once again to be the kind of player who excels in the big matches. Andrya Novkovic opened the scoring for Jock Sonny's side, before Sloane Kirkland and Michi Leonard added another two in the second half.

SPL
Lammerton 2–2 Dundee
FC Soessch 4–0 Hillstreet
Kirk Preston United 0–1 Mucusia
New Island 3–1 Cornellians
Port Patrick United 3–0 Lammerton City
Jena VB 2–1 Handon United
Port James Athletic 4–3 Marionville
Granton Vale 0–3 Hollin
New Belfast Warriors 1–3 Port Sebastian
Kings Park 3–0 La Gorlions

Port Sebastian had Conavacio back for this match, and threw the Quebecois straight into the midfield, as they looked to breath some life back into their patchy league form. This week they made a daunting trip round the coast to face New Belfast Warriors, a trip that is never easy. Porty looked much better in the opening half though, and took the lead early on, as Dembe Traore fired in from a tight angle. The Warriors fought back hard and managed to pull level with a great strike from Iana Synder. Tomás Fierro teed up the Drawkish striker brilliantly for her first goal in three matches. Jock Sonny's side responded however, and took the game to the Whalers in the second period. Playing a little deeper, Conavacio was causing big problems for der Pros and Feirro. Eloisa Purinton made it 2-1 with half an hour to go, pouncing on an Andrya Novkovic pass. Then as the Warriors poured forward, Esther Abner iht them on the counter, threading through Vera Cummings at the last second for 3-1.

In a week where so many of the title chasers dropped points, an impressive win for FC Soessch was enough to bring them back into the mix for the UICA spots. We expected Barry Gorman's side to be challenging up at the top this season, but thus far, we have only really seen them at their best in flashes. This was however, one of those flashes, as they put four for no reply past a Hillstreet side, who have been impressive of late. David Hughes must be wondering what he has to do to earn a NT call up, as the former United youth player missed out on a IAC spot. Hughes continued to stake his claim for a place in the World Cup qualifying pool though, with a double in this match. Shearer and Cort played well on the wings, creating loads of chances in attack, while Kerstin Dornengerger held things together well in the midfield. Die rote Teufel looked solid in every position this week, and they will be hoping they can continue this form during the second half of the season.

Cornellians can count themselves extremely lucky to still be top of the table as they were left humiliated following a 3-1 defeat on the New Island. The Pebbles kept their very real prospects of a Globe Cup spot alive, with an electric performance at home to the reigning champions. Ian Wilson got the home side up and running, converting an assist from Holly Addison, which had the home fans on their feet. The Eagles looked a full metre off the pace throughout the first half, and it wasn't much of a surprise when they went further behind to a Nova Kymeri strike just before half time. It took Cornellians some time to organise in the second half, but things did improve slightly, as Maeon Vlaho's cross found Kathryn Kvanderwyk to through the visitors a life line. New Island rounded things off, however, as Ramone Scotta blasted a header past McNott seven minutes from time.

In other results: Handon United were left with egg on their faces, following a late James Tegg goal in Jena. Kings Park kept up their good form, as a Sendoa double helped them to a 3-0 win over La Gorlions. And Port Patrick were one of the biggest winners this week, as they cruised to a 3-0 win at home to Lammerton City.

Globe Cup -- Last-Sixteen
(WRL) FC Atlantis 3-2 Port Sebastian

In the return leg, Port Sebastian did enough to go through, Eloisa Purinton's double, either side of half time, meaning that it was always going to be a tall ask for Atlantis to come back. The win gives Porty another bite at the quarterfinal cherry, setting up a derby of sorts against Blue Coast 1981 of Port Christopher.

SPL
Dundee 1–1 Kings Park
La Gorlions 1–0 New Belfast Warriors
Port Sebastian 3–0 Granton Vale
Hollin 1–0 Port James Athletic
Marionville 0–0 Jena VB
Handon United 3–3 Port Patrick United
Lammerton City 1–1 New Island
Cornellians 3–2 Kirk Preston United
Mucusia 2–1 FC Soessch
Hillstreet 2–1 Lammerton

Basil Bunton was handed his marching order this week, after his Marionville side drew 0-0 at home with relegation rivals Jena VB. It was the latest in a long list of bellow par results which have seen the Old Boys sucked into a relegation battle. The club, who finished sixth as recently as 2020, seem to have been on a bit of a slide ever since, and have now dropped over the cliff edge. Whoever takes over from Bunton will have his work cut out. Early favourites for the job include former U21s boss Grant Nean, Hillstreet's Conner Watts, Peter Jurgens.

All of a sudden, Handon United seem to be in a spot of bother and this was further underlined by their 3-3 draw at home at Port Patrick United. The Breakers got in the United faces in this one, with Tanya Yates looking particularly good in the centre. The home side were as ruthless as ever in the attacking third, but with Adams and Bánach unable to get forward in support, they inevitably fell just short. After first half goals from Ouissal Tahar and Chiyoko Sakuraka kept Port Patrick in the game, a late strike from Whitney Kelly ensured a share of the spoils.

Lammerton also had a rocky week in Huntly, as Hillstreet inflicted a 2-1 defeat on the Hornets, who fell further behind in the title race. Conner Watts' side have played very well in spells this season, and this result will be further proof that they are on the way back up. Dunixi Izambizaga again put in a good performance in the middle of the pitch, as the Astrograph midfielder got the better of Goff and Horvat. Dan Longfellow put Hillstreet ahead in the first half, before Wallace Solway must have thought she had earned her side a share of the points as she pulled Lammerton back level. However, with a couple of minutes left on the clock, up popped evergreen striker Bruno Schwartz to give the home side the win.

Cornellians also worked their way to a hard fought win at home to Kirk Preston, as the Holy Men continue to struggle to get results. Ross Killanen's side actually played quite well, with Jayden Fox and Oliver Helling particularly effective. Former Northern Union centre-back, Russ Linvoy, powered the visitors ahead against the run of play, from a Fox corner. The Eagles then cranked up the pressure though, and quickly turned the game on its head with a Kel Koromin double. As mentioned, Kirk Preston were by no means out of this one, and they managed to get themselves back level with Flasymar finishing from a Ian Long assist. Cornellains were to have the last word however, as Lara Wedderburn scored from close range to give her side the win.

In other results, Flora Klee scored a second half goal to give Mucusia a 2-1 win over Soessch. Hollin earned a vital win over Port James Athletic in their bid to stay up. And La Gorlions had Kirsten Gemmill to thanks for the goal which helped them sink New Belfast Warriors.

Globe Cup -- Quarterfinal
Port Sebastian 2–1 Blue Coast 1981 (PCR)

If Port thought for one second that they had gotten a soft draw, then they were forced to think again. Coast showed why they are a team on the way up with a blistering first half display which saw them take the lead through Ross Renshaw. Port Sebastian eventually got their act together though, and second half goals from Vera Cummings and Demba Traore gave them a possibly lucky three points.

SPL
Hillstreet 1–1 Dundee
Lammerton 2–1 Mucusia
FC Soessch 1–0 Cornellians
Kirk Preston United 4–2 Lammerton City
New Island 0–0 Handon United
Port Patrick United 0–0 Marionville
Jena VB 3–1 Hollin
Port James Athletic 1–1 Port Sebastian
Granton Vale 2–4 La Gorlions
New Belfast Warriors 2–1 Kings Park

With some fairly low scoring games at the top of the table this weekend, we turned our attention to a potentially pivotal bottom of the table clash. Despite the money they splashed in the transfer window, Kirk Preston have been toiling, and sitting so close to the drop zone, they couldn't afford to lose as they played host to Lammerton City. The Holy Men most certainly haven't been shy in front of goal this season, and Lammerton City struggled early on to contain the strike force of Flasymar and Ramirez. It was to be the Princes who drew first blood however, as the pressure on Ross Killanen was no doubt cranked up a notch. Kirk Preston were a little rattled by the early goal, but they set about the task at hand and quickly pulled level through Andre Martineau. The Quebecois then turned provider, as he curled an excellent ball in towards the back post for Flasymar to tuck away. After they got their noses in front, Kirk Preston started to pull away, and a goal from Ramirez just after the break will have gone a lone way towards steadying the nerves. William Hamilton-Gordon pulled one back for City in the closing stages, but Ramirez had the final word, converting at close range from an Ollie Helling assist.

Dundee are a side who seem to be finding the going hard all of a sudden, and their 1-1 draw at Hillstreet illustrated the difficulties they are finding in finishing teams off. It couldn't have got off to a much better start for the Panners, as Heidi Spearing's shot-come-cross pinged in off the back post. Dundee were in the ascendency at that point, and could have increased their lead with good opportunities from Sett Horn and Barry Drite. Hillstreet could have been out of it, but they kept plugging away, taking one of the few chances which fell their way. Ichiko Tsukahara put her head down, and got the better of Liam Goncalves before hammering the ball in past Macken at the near post for 1-1.

FC Soessch's season of ups and downs continued, as the North Island side recorded a rare win over Cornellians. The Eagles had been ticking along nicely up until a couple of matches ago, but have since been treading water a little. With the improvements Soessch have made this season, they must have fancied their chances, and that was evident from the positive attitude they brought to the game. Kerstin Dornengerger stung the palms Jeremy McNott early on with a well-struck effort, before Kit Kvanderwyk went close at the other end. Sarah Foucault grabbed the decisive goal fifteen minutes from the end however, sliding into a Currian Cort cross.

In other results: New Island defended like their lives depended on it, as United recorded yet another frustrating result. Lammerton jumped up to equal top of the league, as other results went their way. And a match between Port Sebastian and Port James Athletic, for all the entertainment it provided, ended in a 1-1 draw.

Globe Cup -- Quarterfinal
(PCR) Blue Coast 1981 2-2 Port Sebastian

On a steamy night in San Marco, Port Sebastian had Conavacio to thank for his stoppage time goal, which sent them through to the Globe Cup semi-final. Coast had been the better team in the first half, Lasse Pedersen, and Lucio Sylvestre putting them ahead in an exhilarating forty-five minutes. However, two second half goals from Conavacio and Emiline Millet sent Blue Coast out in the cruellest manner.

SPL
Dundee 1–0 New Belfast Warriors
Kings Park 4–0 Granton Vale
La Gorlions 5–5 Port James Athletic
Port Sebastian 2–0 Jena VB
Hollin 0–1 Port Patrick United
Marionville 1–0 New Island
Handon United 0–0 Kirk Preston United
Lammerton City 0–1 FC Soessch
Cornellians 2–1 Lammerton
Mucusia 2–0 Hillstreet

We are getting to the business end of the season now, and results over the past couple of weeks seem to have tightened things up at the top. Port Patrick United are showing absolutely no signs of letting up, as they continue to look like a side capable to challenging for the title. The little side from the north of the capital have been absolutely energised, and look like a team with a far bigger budget. This weekend they travelled to strugglers, Hollin, where they dispatched of the Bleker Boys with a 1-0 win. Some great build up play from Chromatik, Whitney Kelly, set up Connie Malone for the only goal of the game, as the Breakers moved up to second in the table.

Possibly the most important match of the season so far was Cornellians Vs Lammerton at Lochend Stadium. After having their lead hauled back to one of goal difference, the Eagles knew they need a win here to keep the chasing pack off their backs. As we all predicted it was a tough match, with both sides knowing exactly what was at stake. Cornellians had the best of the early exchanges, but they failed to make any headway, and allowed Lammerton back into the game. It was a good match up, with the battle of two creative central midfielders, Irwin and Valaran, a fascinating one to watch. Cornellians managed to break the deadlock however, as Mershawn Mercury whipped the ball into the path of Kel Koromin. Lammerton once again came back at them though, and after going close with a Kaytlyne Victoriane strike, Mars Alexandersson found the net with ten minutes left on the clock. Just when it looked as if it were headed for 1-1, up popped Triffid Ramsey to send a stinging strike past Jim Black from the edge of the area.

This week Marionville appointed Joseph Finders as their new manager; their former player, and U18s coach getting the nod over a list of more experienced bosses. The players seemed to respond to their new coach in this honeymoon period, with only their third win of the season, a 1-0 victory over New Island. New Island haven't had the best of spells recently, after it looked likely they might crack the top five a few months back. All the same, this will go down as a very good, and very important win for the Old Boys, as they battle hard to keep themselves up. The only goal of the game came from a Vojnomir Nikolic strike mid way through the first half, and Marionville were able to keep it tight thereafter.

In other results: Kirk Preston got a much better result this weekend, as they held faltering Handon United to a 0-0 draw. Port Sebastian put themselves in with a shot at scaling to league in the final third, with a 2-0 win over Jena. And, Hétu was on top form as Mucusia defeated Hillstreet 2-0 in Port James.

Player and Manager of The Month Awards -- Month Six

Player: Esther Abner -- Port Sebastian
Part of a defence that only conceded two goals in four games. Abner has slowly been rising in prominence both in the Poty first team, and the national pool. A good all-rounder of a wingback, fast, physical, and a cool head defensively.

Young Player: Nova Kymeri -- Lammerton
The versatile Cenian youngster is the clubs record signing, so there was a lot of expectation on her shoulders. Whether it's out wide left or through the middle, Kymeri has been outstanding this month for the Pebbles.

Manager: Lilly Kitman -- Mucusia
Three wins from four for Mucusia is a brilliant achievement for the club, lifting them firmly out of any relegation worries for another season. The whole team have pulled together really well, especially given the absence of former captain Poppy Fayrkirk.

.                        Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
 1 Cornellians            24   16   4   4    67   35  +32    52
 2 Port Patrick United    24   15   5   4    48   29  +19    50
 3 Handon United          24   14   7   3    58   32  +26    49
 4 Lammerton              24   15   4   5    53   33  +20    49
 5 Port Sebastian         24   14   5   5    41   24  +17    47
 6 FC Soessch             24   13   5   6    30   20  +10    44
 7 New Belfast Warriors   24   13   3   8    37   31   +6    42
 8 New Island             24   10   7   7    34   24  +10    37
 9 Dundee                 24    9   8   7    21   22   −1    35
10 Kings Park             24    9   7   8    44   38   +6    34
11 La Gorlions            24   10   4  10    45   41   +4    34
12 Mucusia                24    9   5  10    36   39   −3    32
13 Port James Athletic    24    8   6  10    46   50   −4    30
14 Hillstreet             24    7   6  11    27   35   −8    27
15 Hollin                 24    6   5  13    26   41  −15    23
16 Granton Vale           24    6   3  15    26   57  −31    21
17 Kirk Preston United    24    4   5  15    39   54  −15    17
18 Marionville            24    3   8  13    27   50  −23    17
19 Jena VB                24    4   2  18    23   46  −23    14
20 Lammerton City         24    3   5  16    23   50  −27    14

Schottic Cup -- Quarterfinal
Marionville 0–1 New Belfast Blues
Cornellians 2–1 Soessch 1990
Port Sebastian 1–2 Lammerton
Kirk Preston United 1–3 New Belfast Warriors

by **Schottia** » Wed May 24, 2017 5:43 am

Matchday Twenty-Five - Thirty & UICA Knockouts

Globe Cup -- Semi-Final
(NPH) Sabrefell Moths 1–3 Port Sebastian

In what was a fantastic match, Port Sebastian took the first step towards the final of the Globe Cup. Andrya Novkovic levelled for Porty after Cardinal Belgrave. It was to the be Conavancio show however, as the super-sub rose from the bench to tuck away two textbook poachers goals, giving his side a strong lead to take into the home leg.

SPL
Mucusia 1–0 Dundee
Hillstreet 1–1 Cornellians
Lammerton 3–0 Lammerton City
FC Soessch 1–1 Handon United
Kirk Preston United 3–1 Marionville
New Island 1–0 Hollin
Port Patrick United 1–3 Port Sebastian
Jena VB 1–2 La Gorlions
Port James Athletic 4–3 Kings Park
Granton Vale 1–0 New Belfast Warriors

Things were constricted even further at the top of the table, as Cornellians slipped up, while Handon United's slump continued. Lammerton were the benefactors this week, as their 3-0 win in the city derby saw them go joint top of the table. The Lammerton derby might have lost some of its spice since the Princes' decline, but it is still a match that means a lot to the fans. There was only ever going to be one team winning this one though, as the Hornets never really got out of third gear. Wallace Solway scored her side's first, and they never really looked back from there, as Jasper Valaran and Kaytlyne Victoriane added a couple more just after the break. Lammerton could have easily had a forth, but Mars Alexandersson's long range effort was well saved by David Prince in the dying stages.

Things went from bad to worse for Marionville, as they lost a crucially important match at Kirk Preston. The Holy Men were by far the better team in the opening half hour, and they capitalised on some, sadly all to common, sloppy Marionville defending to open the scoring. A thumping ball forward from Oliver Helling cannoned back off a defender, with Ramirez on hand to pick up the scraps. Kirk Preston then doubled their lead on the stroke of half time as Andre Martineau crossed the ball in for Ian Long to score with a powerful header. Marionville were marginally better in the second half, but the writing was on the wall after Killanen's side scored their third goal, a well worked solo effort from Flasymar.

Port Sebastian also pulled themselves back up into the hunt following their patchy start to the season. Jock Sonny's team faced the daunting prospect of a sort trip to near neighbours Port Patrick, in a match that had all the makings of a classic. Porty set confidently, and Michi Leonard stood up well against her countrywoman, Connie Malone, in what would prove to be a pivotal midfield battle. A first half double from Eloisa Purinton set the ball rolling for the visitors, and in truth, the Breakers really struggled to get back into things after that. Eventually they did manage to pull one back however, as Chiyoko Sakuraka's side footed strike from the edge of the box deflected in past the keeper. Any momentum Port Patrick gained was short lived though, as Leonardo Conavacio roes highest to angle his header past Altavian Kalhoro for 3-1.

In other results: Lizzie Addison's goal gave New Island a 1-0 win Hollin in South Berwick. A Derrick Mason double helped Port James Athletic to a strong win over Kings Park. And lastly, a Jack Hobbs strike created an upset as Granton Vale defeated New Belfast Warriors 1-0.

Globe Cup -- Semi-Final
Port Sebastian 1-4 Sabrefell Moths (NPH)

The less said about this the better, so I'll be brief. In what was a disaster of result for Porty, they were send crashing out of the Globe Cup despite holding a 3-1 lead going into the return leg. One match away from the final, the side choked, as the Moths deservedly went through.

SPL
Dundee 1–0 Granton Vale
New Belfast Warriors 1–1 Port James Athletic
Kings Park 3–2 Jena VB
La Gorlions 2–0 Port Patrick United
Port Sebastian 3–0 New Island
Hollin 2–3 Kirk Preston United
Marionville 1–3 FC Soessch
Handon United 2–2 Lammerton
Lammerton City 1–1 Hillstreet
Cornellians 2–1 Mucusia

Handon United seem to have now gone into terminal collapse, as a 2-2 draw with Lammerton at Harbour Hill just added to the long list of awful results, which have seen them undo all their good work at the start of the season. United were lucky to escape with even a point, as the Hornets were easily the better team for the first hour of the match. It was the Alexandersson/Valaran show in the first half, and both could have been on the score sheet before Solway broke the deadlock. Despite not being at their best, United managed to pull level when Natalie Adams found Hiroyo Nunez with a pinpoint pass. Lammerton got the bit back between their teeth though and retook the lead when Menhennick Goff fired one in from the edge of the area. The second Lammerton goal seemed to give United the wake up they needed though, and the nation's most decorated club came fighting back once more. James Robertson found Rebecca Talla with a long forward ball, who in turn played through Adams for the goal which gave their side a share of the spoils.

Cornellians hadn't been themselves either of late, but they had too much in the tank for Mucusia when the two sides met at Lochend Stadium. Despite a strong first half for the Eagles they were only 1-0 up at half time, with both Kel Koromin, and Jade Irwin missing good opportunities, after Isla Sibučić put them ahead after five minutes. The Eusebians fought hard however, and while they were always a yard off the pace, kept themselves in the game. Mako Sekine played the ball forward to Laura Smith, who found the perfect pass to set Aimée Hétu up for the equaliser. It would have been robbery though, had Mucusia survived this one, and Cornellians took home all three points, as Maeon Vlahos picked out Eula Richard at the back post for 2-1.

In the battle to avoid the drop, Kirk Preston might have dealt a crucial blow, as they took three points from their match with near rivals Hollin. The Holy Men have been a mixed bag this season, but they showed some real character for this one. Ian Long was absolutely outstanding in the middle of the pitch, as the player who played most of his career in San Llera continues to look good on his Schottia return. Two first half goals for Leopoldo Ramirez gave Kirk Preston a commanding lead, and Torsten Grant added a third much later. Hollin did score twice through Fred Dawson and Nick Man, but it wasn't enough to get them back into the game.

In other matches: Port Sebastian are now closing in on the top of the league, as they recorded a resounding 3-0 win over New Island. Dundee desperately needed a win and they got one, as Sett Horn scored the goal which got them past Granton Vale. Finally La Gorlions recorded a surprise win over Port Patrick, with Gemmill and Hunt scoring the goal.

Cup Winners' Cup -- Quarterfinal
(TAE) Taeshan City Miners 0-3 Port Sebastian

SPL
Cornellians 3–1 Dundee
Mucusia 2–1 Lammerton City
Hillstreet 1–2 Handon United
Lammerton 7–3 Marionville
FC Soessch 1–0 Hollin
Kirk Preston United 0–2 Port Sebastian
New Island 0–0 La Gorlions
Port Patrick United 3–0 Kings Park
Jena VB 0–4 New Belfast Warriors
Port James Athletic 1–0 Granton Vale

Things just got a whole lot worse for Marionville as a 7-3 defeat to Lammerton became the icing on cake in what has been a dismal season. The only positive you could take from this for the Old Boys is the fact that they actually scored three goals. Hornets striker, Kaytlyne Victoriane, scored four of her side's goals in what was an incredible end-to-end second half. With the scores at 2-1 going into half time, we saw seven goals in the second half, including three in eight minutes from the hosts. The match now gives Chromatik, Victoriane, a good shot at the golden-boot in what would be a remarkable debut SPL season. For Marionville, they are going to need to embark on a little more sole searching, as there is no way they should be struggling like this with the players they have at their disposal.

Handon United finally got the win they desperately needed to keep them in the hunt for the title. A 2-1 win at Hillstreet might not be the kind of score line that's going to set any heather alight, but it's a lot better than more dropped points. Based on what we have seem from United over the past two seasons, they are capable of playing championship winning football in patches, but it is the consistency which is becoming an issue. Daniel Dostalok had started to dry up a little in terms of goals, but he was on hand today to fire United ahead after the ball broke to him from a James Robertson corner. Hillstreet were overrun at times in the centre, but they fought hard, and got themselves back in the game after a Simon Johnson cross found Will Castillo in space for the Redvali striker to pull them level. United had the buckle down, but they got the goal they needed to return to winning ways, after Natalie "Envy" Adams curled her free kick into the top corner of Lisa Farney's goal.

It was also the end of the line for Kirk Preston, following their good run of late, as Port Sebastian made light work of Holy Men. An overhead kick form maverick attacker Leonardo Conavacio was one of the highlights of the game, unfortunately it was directed at the head of Ian Long as opposed to the ball. Staring down the barrel of another lengthy suspension, it may be time for Porty to contemplate his future with the club. In terms of the goals; Eloisa Purinton bagged the first from the penalty spot, after Andrya Novkovic was cynically brought down. The Anglatian then scored the second herself, capitalising on a good assist from Vera Cummings.

Elsewhere: Cornellians had a comfortable win at Lochend stadium, as they defeated Dundee by three goals to one. Soessch continue to finish strongly with a solid 1-0 win at home to Hollin. And, Miki scored a double as she helped the Whalers to a 4-0 win away to Jena.

Cup Winners' Cup -- Quarterfinal
Port Sebastian 1-2 Taeshan City Minors (TAE)

SPL
Dundee 3–0 Port James Athletic
Granton Vale 3–1 Jena VB
New Belfast Warriors 1–1 Port Patrick United
Kings Park 0–2 New Island
La Gorlions 2–2 Kirk Preston United
Port Sebastian 2–0 FC Soessch
Hollin 2–2 Lammerton
Marionville 1–1 Hillstreet
Handon United 5–1 Mucusia
Lammerton City 1–1 Cornellians

Dundee got one of their best results this season, and one, which would hopefully halt their slide as they defeated Port James Athletic. The Seasiders have looked pretty decent this season, but there have been ups and downs for them too, as new manager Jimmy Mitchel continues to try and get things right. Heidi Spearing and Jim Gerrish looked good in midfield for the Panners today, and they controlled the game for long periods. It was the Nepharim youngster, Spearing, who opening the scoring for her side, with a side-footed effort from just inside the box. Big Cosumarite striker, Sett Horn, added a second shortly after from a Liam Goncalves corner, as it seemed that little was going to go right Port James. Dundee put the result to bed five minutes from time as Barry Drite curled home an outstanding effort from the edge of the box, after a forward pass from Jeremy Buckthorn found him in space.

With Cornellians drawing 1-1 win Lammerton City this weekend, Handon United had the chance to reduce their lead to only three points as they welcomed a Mucusia side who were enjoying a very good season. For Natalie Adams, she faced an awkward reunion with her old teammates, but the Northern Sunriser seemed to rise above it, putting in a woman-of-the-match performance in the centre. The 21-year-old had a hand in all three of United's first half goals, as they very quickly put some daylight between themselves and the visitors. Mucusia tried hard to rally, with Laura Smith battling away hard, but they were simply overrun by a United side for whom everything seemed to click into place. In the second half, Flora Klee pulled a goal back for Mucusia, before a late flourish with goals from Bánach and Nunez meant that United won the game at a canter.

Port Sebastian fans will now feel that their side are in a position to pounce, as they have made up most of the early ground they lost this season. They took on an FC Soessch side managed by their former boss, Barry Gorman, in what had the makings of a good match. There was very little between the two sides in truth, but Port Sebastian were probably good enough for their 2-0 win. They took the lead on nineteen minutes, after a Joey Bia cross caught Ben Ross napping, and allowed Demba Traore though on goal. Jock Sonny's team them made it two early in the second half, after some good play by Eloisa Purinton cut open the Soessch defence before the Gloriaxian squared the ball to Emiline Millet to apply the finish.

In other matches: A draw was probably a fair result, as Port Patrick took on New Belfast Warriors at Ashley Road. A double from Elizabeth Addison helped New Island to a 2-0 win at Kings Park. And Kirk Preston will likely be very happy with a share of the spoils, as they drew 2-2 with La Gorlions at Danu Parc.

Player and Manager of The Month Awards -- Month Seven

Player: Kaytlyne Victoriane -- Lammerton
Six goals this month, including four against Marionville, Victoriane has given herself at excellent shot at the golden boot now. At 21, she is likely to keep improving too, with the Chromatik already seeming like an exciting addition to the SPL.

Young Player: Jayden Fox -- Kirk Preston United
The Euran teenager is definitely a cut above the rest of his teammates in terms of natural ability. Tearing up and down the left side of the pitch, this young full-back seems to have boundless drive and energy. His performances have been crucial for his side, as they earned themselves eight points this month.

Manager: Jock Sonny -- Port Sebastian
A perfect record for Porty, as they moved up alongside the teams at the top of the table. Having the north Handon side in the title race is likely to add a little extra heat, with their rivals, United, up there with them.

Cup Winners' Cup -- Semi Final
Port Sebastian 0-5 Directus (EUR)

SPL
Lammerton City 0–1 Dundee
Cornellians 1–4 Handon United
Mucusia 1–1 Marionville
Hillstreet 3–1 Hollin
Lammerton 3–2 Port Sebastian
FC Soessch 1–1 La Gorlions
Kirk Preston United 2–1 Kings Park
New Island 0–0 New Belfast Warriors
Port Patrick United 0–0 Granton Vale
Jena VB 1–2 Port James Athletic

The SPL title race took yet another twist, as Handon United faced Cornellians at Lochend Stadium. Handon United have now caught up on points, and overturned what was a huge goal difference, with a 4-1 win over their rivals. This was a result that will send shockwaves through Schottic football. The Eagles seem to have replaced United at the top of Schottia's footballing pile over the last decade, with the capital side's lack of titles being a massive source of frustration for their fans. However, this incredible result will give them hope that they might be on the verge of turning things around. United were good for the win, although 4-1 perhaps flattered them a little. For a second game running, it was Adams who ran the show in the middle, getting the better of her much hyped battle with Irwin. Jane Gullie's side were two to the good after the first half hour, firstly JK Cottle latched onto a Lovenkrands corner to head home, before Daniel Dostalok deflected a second past the helpless Jeremy McNott. Cornellians responded in what was probably their best spell of the match, and pulled a goal back as Mershawn Mercury picked out Kathryn Kvanderwyk at the back post for their side's only goal of the game. United wrapped things up in the second half, as a couple of lapses in concentration allowed Nunez and Shitakuari in for three and four.

Handon's other big side had a less productive afternoon, however, as Port Sebastian lost out in a close tussle with Lammerton. This result underlines just how tight things are at the top, leaving the first four clubs separated by only a single point. With Conavacio's suspension, Porty were missing the spark they have had in recent weeks. Lammerton have been very good in attack all season, with the new look strike force of Victoriane and Solway causing big problems for the visitors' defence to deal with. It was Jasper Valaran, who broke the deadlock however, skipping a challenge from Paul Doig, before burying his strike in the bottom corner. The Hornets doubled their lead shortly after the break as Victoriane nodded in a Robert Horvat cross. Port Sebastian pulled one back through Semar forward, Demba Traore, but there was no way back for them after Mars Alexandersson scored Lammerton's third with eight minutes to go.

Hillstreet will probably feel that they are now on the verge of safety, as a comfortable victory over Hollin moved them up to 33-points. There were a few question marks over Conner Watts' club going into this season, but they have probably now answered most of their critics. The Hunters were in complete control by half time, after opening up a comfortable lead. Simon Johnson, Will Castillo, and Dunixi Izambizaga all scored in the first half, and despite a second half strike from Fred Dawson, there was no real way back for the Belker Boys.

In other results: Kirk Preston seems to have now gotten up to pace, as a 2-1 win over Kings Park would suggest. Dundee were cool and clinical as a Jacques goal helped them to a win over Lammerton City. And The North Island derby ended in a draw, with a late Clephus Hunt goal earning La Gorlions a share of the points.

Cup Winners' Cup -- Semi Final
(EUR) Directus 2-1 Port Sebastian

SPL
Dundee 3–0 Jena VB
Port James Athletic 3–0 Port Patrick United
Granton Vale 0–2 New Island
New Belfast Warriors 1–3 Kirk Preston United
Kings Park 2–2 FC Soessch
La Gorlions 0–1 Lammerton
Port Sebastian 6–2 Hillstreet
Hollin 1–0 Mucusia
Marionville 0–2 Cornellians
Handon United 6–1 Lammerton City

With just eight games to go, we can now safely say we are looking at a four horse race, amongst the newly established "top-four." Port Patrick United have probably now seen the end of their faint title hopes, after defeat to the Seasiders saw them drop eight points off the pace. It has been a commendable fight from the Breakers, but as this comprehensive defeat at the hands of Athletic shows, they perhaps lacked that little bit of star quality. We half expected Port James to be the ones challenging up near the top this season, but maybe it was one season too soon. Elspeth Glendening, who was on the scoresheet today, could feasibly be sold to finance another raft of changes if need be. One of this season's new signings, Evangeline Querón was the stand out player in this match, scoring two of her side's three in a result, which will fill the team with confidence.

While one side's title challenge is coming to an end, for Handon United, they now look back to their best. The fans came close last season to ending the biggest championship drought in their club's history, so they will be hopeful that this could be the year. A 6-1 win over Lammerton City looks good on paper, but it only really tells half the story. As good as United were, their opponents were equally poor, as the Princes now look on their way back down to the what will be the new First Division. Strikers, Dostalok and Nunez each bagged a brace as United set up camp around the City box for much of the match. There were also goals for Shitakuari and Tall as Jane Gullie's side did their goal difference no harm at all. With things so tight at the top of the table, this may well come down to who can score the most goals.

To the north of the city, Port Sebastian managed to emulate their rivals, by scoring six of their own. Hillstreet it was, who were the unlucky recipients this time. The Hunters had put up a good fight last time round, but as manager Conner Watts returned to his former place of work, his side were utterly taken apart. It was a slick and polished Porty side, who went for the kill from the kick off, with Traore and Leonard scoring the goals which put them ahead early on. There were small moments of sparkle from the visitors, but on a whole it was Jock Sonny's night, and they got the win they needed to keep them just a point off the top of the table, as we enter the final phase.

Elsewhere: Dundee kept alive their slim chances of taking fifth place, as they barely broke into a sweat in defeating Jena 3-0. FC Soessch were denied the chance to go equal fifth, as a late Koppel goal gave Kings Park a share of the points in their encounter. And finally, Kirk Preston United continue their upward arc, as an impressive 3-1 win over near rivals, New Belfast Warriors, will give the fans a lot to cheer about.

.                        Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
 1 Handon United          30   18   9   3    78   39  +39    63
 2 Cornellians            30   19   6   5    77   43  +34    63
 3 Lammerton              30   19   6   5    71   42  +29    63
 4 Port Sebastian         30   19   5   6    59   30  +29    62
 5 Port Patrick United    30   16   7   7    53   38  +15    55
 6 FC Soessch             30   15   8   7    38   27  +11    53
 7 New Island             30   13   9   8    39   27  +12    48
 8 New Belfast Warriors   30   14   6  10    44   37   +7    48
 9 Dundee                 30   13   8   9    30   26   +4    47
10 La Gorlions            30   12   7  11    52   46   +6    43
11 Port James Athletic    30   12   7  11    57   58   −1    43
12 Mucusia                30   11   6  13    42   49   −7    39
13 Kings Park             30   10   8  12    53   53    0    38
14 Hillstreet             30    8   9  13    36   47  −11    33
15 Kirk Preston United    30    8   6  16    52   63  −11    30
16 Granton Vale           30    8   4  18    30   62  −32    28
17 Hollin                 30    7   6  17    32   51  −19    27
18 Marionville            30    3  10  17    34   67  −33    19
19 Lammerton City         30    3   7  20    27   64  −37    16
20 Jena VB                30    4   2  24    28   63  −35    14

Schottic Cup -- Semi Final
Lammerton 3–3 Cornellians (4–5 AET)
New Belfast Warriors 5–0 New Belfast Blues

by **Schottia** » Thu May 25, 2017 5:40 am

Matchday Thirty One - Thirty Eight & Awards

SPL
Handon United 1–0 Dundee
Lammerton City 2–0 Marionville
Cornellians 1–0 Hollin
Mucusia 2–4 Port Sebastian
Hillstreet 0–0 La Gorlions
Lammerton 4–1 Kings Park
FC Soessch 0–0 New Belfast Warriors
Kirk Preston United 3–2 Granton Vale
New Island 0–0 Port James Athletic
Port Patrick United 6–2 Jena VB

None of the teams at the top were budging a centimetre this weekend, as the top four all recorded wins. For Handon United and Cornellians, they had to make do with narrow victories, while Lammerton chipped away a little at the goal difference gulf, with a 4-1 win at home to Kings Park. Lammerton haven't won the league since 1994, despite coming close a number of times recently, so they are clearly keen not to pass up this chance. They started the match in determined fashion, going two goals up inside the opening eleven minutes. First Wallace Solway found the net, getting on the end of a lovely flowing move to tap the ball in from close range, then Mars Alexandersson made it two, pouncing on a neat Valaran layoff. Kings Park are in no danger of going down, yet you would imagine the are desperate for this season to be over, one of their few rays of hope this year has been the progress made by young midfielder Meghan Hartsdown. The Brenecian set up her side's only goal of the afternoon, picking out Sendoa with a good pass. In the latter stages, Kaytlyne Victoriane and substitute Dan Renkart added a further two for the Hornets.

The wheels may have come off of the Port Patrick wagon recently, but it didn't stop them putting in a commanding performance against dead and buried Jena VB. There were doubles for Ouissal Tahar and Chiyoko Sakuraka, as the Breakers looked relentless in attack. Tanya Yeats added another from a well-worked indirect free kick, and Callum Frir added to his impressive tally for the season as he headed in a Whitney Kelly cross. There is work rate and determination running through the heart of this Port Patrick side right now, and the fact that they are higher placed than sides like Soessch, Athletic, and the Warriors is testament to their efforts.

At the bottom of the table Kirk Preston United continue to finish strongly, with a 3-2 win over fellow strugglers Granton Vale. The Holy Men had a poor start to the season, but seem to have stumbled into some good form at the moment. Young player of the month, Jayden Fox, was again a thorn in the Beachcombers' side, getting to the by-line to deliver a number of dangerous crosses for the strikers to pick up. Ian Long is another player who has come onto a game in the final third of the season, and the Schottia B-cap added to his impressive tally again today. There were also goals from Tommy Barr and Ramirez, both scoring with the head, as Kirk Preston's physical presence seemed to giving them the edge. Granton were in the match right up until the end though, and goals from John Fyfe and Jack Hobbs were almost enough for a share of the points.

In other results: Port Sebastian put four past Mucusia in Port James as the tried to stay in touch with the sides at the top. New Belfast and Soessch drew 0-0 in a hotly contested match. And Kel Koromin goal in the dying seconds ensured all three points for Cornellians as they took on Hollin at Lochend.

SPL
Dundee 1–1 Port Patrick United
Jena VB 1–0 New Island
Port James Athletic 0–0 Kirk Preston United
Granton Vale 0–1 FC Soessch
New Belfast Warriors 2–1 Lammerton
Kings Park 3–2 Hillstreet
La Gorlions 2–1 Mucusia
Port Sebastian 0–3 Cornellians
Hollin 0–1 Lammerton City
Marionville 1–3 Handon United

This may go down in this story of this season, as the week Port Sebastian fell out of the title race. As they took on Cornellians at Dyerton Stadium, Jock Sonny's side still had everything to play for - and given that they reached the Globe Cup semis this season - there was every reason to think they could do it. However, it seemed the Eagles weren't willing to give up their title without a fight, as they chose a good time to put in their best performance of the season. When Jade Irwin is on form she is a cut above the rest in this league, and Cummings and Leonard struggled to get near her in this match. The Nepharim set up the opening goal for Kel Koromin, before coming close to scoring one herself with a long-rang effort. Porty tried desperately to get back into the match, but they were hit on the counter attack, after Kit Kvanderwyk played a great through ball for his sister, Kathryn to tuck away. The Eagles made it three with a couple of minutes left on the clock, as a Triffid Ramsey cross drifted in just under MG Grumbla's crossbar.

For Handon United, they faced a trip to Marionville, to take on a side currently fighting for every point, in a desperate bid to stay up. This was a contest between two teams with everything to play for, but with very different outcomes at stake. Marionville midfielder, Johnny Birch is nothing if not robust, and be did give Natalie Adams and Dilon Bánach some food for thought in the opening forty-five. However, United's quality shown through in the second half, as a quick-fire Daniel Dostalok double salvo put them comfortably in front. For all their hard work, Marionville could clearly sense that they were going to come away with nothing, and after throwing everything at United, they pulled one back thanks to Imants Kölleran. However, Christian Lovenkrands drove in the final nail in injury time, skipping the challenge of Jan Ümann before finishing past Chris Gonzaö.

Soessch also kept themselves in the hunt for the final Globe Cup spot, even though they face a difficult task wresting it from the clutches Port Patrick. The North Island side have looked good this year, and while they look some way short of re-establishing themselves at top-four material, this is certainly the most exciting team we have seen from them in a while. This week they made the trip over the Dead Channel to face Granton Vale, who were toiling down at the other end of the table. In what was a close match, Tamika November headed in a Temasso Tenebrosa corner for the only goal.

In other results: Lammerton were hit by a late Iana Synder strike, which will put a dent in their title chances. Dundee held Port Patrick to a 1-1 draw at home. And Lammerton City might have just kept their survival chances alive with a 1-0 win over Hollin.

Player and Manager of The Month Awards -- Month Eight

Player: Natalie Adams -- Handon United
In what was a dazzling month for Handon United, it was their little midfield wizard who shone through for them. Adams is looking more and more like a bargain at four million, as the Northern Sunriser establishes herself a top class central midfielder.

Young Player: Dilon Bánach -- Kirk Preston United
Adams' partner in the midfield, Bánach has had a tremendous breakthrough season, both in the Schottic youth side, and in the United team. Any doubts the fans must have had when the teenager replaced Alf Seggerson in the midfield will now have long since evaporated.

Manager: Ross Killanen -- Kirk Preston United
Kirk Preston continue to finish very strongly, and will now be looking forward to next season. The last ever Regional Division A Champions found the going tough to start with, but are now holding their own against the top teams in the SPL.

SPL
Marionville 0–0 Dundee
Handon United 3–1 Hollin
Lammerton City 1–0 Port Sebastian
Cornellians 3–1 La Gorlions
Mucusia 1–1 Kings Park
Hillstreet 0–1 New Belfast Warriors
Lammerton 8–4 Granton Vale
FC Soessch 2–0 Port James Athletic
Kirk Preston United 3–2 Jena VB
New Island 1–0 Port Patrick United

Twelve goals, in a game where we saw the best and the worst of Lammerton. When the Hornets are on their game they can take teams apart at will, but when they lose concentration at the back it can be very costly, as we have seen. This is the second big scoring match that Lammerton have been involved in, and once again it was attackers Victoriane, Solway, and Alexandersson who did the damage. Solway scored a second half hattrick in what is looking like a very successful breakthrough season for the academy graduate. Lammerton are still in the title race, even if the top-two are currently looking a little stronger. One thing is for sure though, they are going to have to defend better than they did today if they are going to lift the trophy. Conceding four goals didn't do too much damage today, but they cannot be guaranteed to score eight in every match.

As Cornellians and Handon United head neck and neck towards the SPL title, it may come down to who blinks first. This week, they both recorded 3-1 at home, with neither giving anything away. The Eagles are chasing goals, with a slightly inferior goal difference, and they got of to the best possible start as Kel Koromin rocketed them ahead after only fourteen minutes. Their opponents, La Gorlions, had been ticking along nicely this season, but there was little they could do in this match to put Cornellians under any pressure. Clephus Hunt did pull the Lions level against the run of play, it was only a temporary stay of execution, as the Kvanderwyk siblings scored a goal apiece in the second half.

Port Patrick United had to endure a difficult afternoon on the New Island, which will have seriously damaged their chances of making the Globe Cup again next season. New Island got off to a good start this season, however, they had been quiet of late. The Pebbles were by far the better side throughout the ninety minutes, with Holly Addison, and Ikas Nike causing the Breakers a lot of problems. Ramone Scotta delivered the fatal, knockout blow, heading in a cross from young Cenian star Nova Kymeri.

In other results: Lammerton City secured a fantastic result, while putting a dent in Porty's title chances. Soessch continue to home in on fifth, with a 2-0 win over Athletic. And Kirk Preston United are still on the rise, with a 3-2 win at home to Jena.

SPL
Dundee 1–0 New Island
Port Patrick United 2–0 Kirk Preston United
Jena VB 1–1 FC Soessch
Port James Athletic 1–1 Lammerton
Granton Vale 1–0 Hillstreet
New Belfast Warriors 5–1 Mucusia
Kings Park 0–1 Cornellians
La Gorlions 0–0 Lammerton City
Port Sebastian 4–1 Handon United
Hollin 1–1 Marionville

The Handon derby is never easy to predict, and given its propensity for producing volatile incidents and upsets, it would have been the one match left that gave Jane Gullie the most to worry about. It would seem, too, that she had every reason to worry, as Port Sebastian pulled a stunning result out of the bag. Port Sebastian had been chasing Cornellians and United all season, but a result like this will allow them to stick around and make a nuisance of themselves. It's a shame it hasn't quite clicked into place for Porty domestically this season, because when they play like this, they look like a side good enough to be crowed champions. Andrya Novkovic opened the scoring with a powerful strike from the edge of the box. Eloisa Purinton added another, after an assist from Michi Leonard, before Joon Ho Hwang headed in their third from a corner kick. United were completely out of this game for most of it, however, substitute Mirka Shitakuari threw them a life line on 74 minutes. Port Sebastian had the final say though, winning the bragging rights for their passionate fans, as Leonardo Conavacio scored in stoppage time, on his return from suspension.

New Belfast Warriors must have been injected with a sense of urgency this weekend, because the side recorded a 5-1 win over Mucusia, as they try to pull themselves into the fifth-place fight. Miki Kurugaya put in a good performance up front, getting her name on the score sheet twice, as well as causing some serious problems for the Eusebians defence. Somuele der Pros added another, as he too put in a decent shift. There were also goals for Iana Synder, and Craig O'Maramy in what was a highly convincing win for the Whalers.

A draw for Lammerton makes things difficult for them also, as they seemed unable to recreate their goal scoring form from the previous week. They paid a visit to Port James Athletic, who look as if they are a couple of tweaks away from being a pretty good side. Lammerton made much of the early running in this match, with Alexandersson and Solway both going close in the first half. The Hornets eventually got themselves in front thanks to a magnificent bit of play from Jasper Valaran, skipping the challenge of Greer Hyrman before finding the back of the net. Port James would have been disappointed to have left with nothing though, and they had Elspeth Glendening to thank for their winning goal. The Schottian hit home from the left hand side of the box, with seven minutes left on the clock.

Elsewhere: Dundee look on course for another top-10 finish with a 1-0 win at home to New Island. Soessch were restrained by a late James Tegg goal, as they drew 1-1 with Jena VB. And lastly, Lammerton City's late surge continued with a 0-0 draw at Danu Parc.

SPL
Hollin 0–1 Dundee
Marionville 1–1 Port Sebastian
Handon United 6–2 La Gorlions
Lammerton City 0–1 Kings Park
Cornellians 1–0 New Belfast Warriors
Mucusia 2–0 Granton Vale
Hillstreet 1–0 Port James Athletic
Lammerton 4–2 Jena VB
FC Soessch 1–0 Port Patrick United
Kirk Preston United 1–1 New Island

La Gorlions are a dreadful team to go up against at the best of times, let alone when you are under pressure to get three points. The Avelione brothers always set up to cause problems, and their sides have taken a few scalps already this season. Fortunately for Handon United, their own players rose to the occasion though, hitting six past the Lions at Harbour Hill. Dostalok put in a man of the match performance in attack, scoring two of his side's goals in what was a very strong first half display. At 4-1, the visitors looked dead and buried at half time, and that proved to be the case, as Nagisa Habane and Mano Sato added goals late on as United looked to keep the pressure on Cornellians.

For Reinhard Shale's Cornellians team, they managed a less emphatic win, however they were not the ones left chasing points. That said, it's never easy against New Belfast Warriors, and the Eagles did well to close out the result. Former Chatswood defender, Maeon Vlahos, was a rock at the back, and Cornellians may have him to thank for keeping them in the game. At the other end, Isla Sibučić proved that perhaps youth development in Lochend isn't as bad as we feared, scoring the game's only goal. The teenager flung of the interests of Tomás Fierro before picking her corner with a very cool headed strike.

And it was a case of one step forward, one step back, for Port Sebastian as they conceded a late goal against Marionville. Porty realistically needed to win their remaining matches if they were to lift the title for the second time in the UICA era of Schottic football. Things looked like they were going to plan after fourteen minutes, when Andrya Novkovic crossed the ball in for Demba Traore to head past former teammate Chris Gonzaö. Porty then came close to doubling their lead, when Vera Cummings teed up Michi Leonard, but the former Treason Reserves skipper blasted her shot into the upright. Jock Sonny's side were then made to pay the price for not finishing Marionville off when they had the chance. Vojnomir Nikolic was given far too much time on the ball, and the Pasargan went unchallenged before sliding his strike into the back of then net to give his side the faintest of hopes of avoiding the drop.

In other results: Dundee gave Hollin a little more to sweat about, as a 1-0 win left the Belker Boys still teetering over the precipice. Lammerton bounced back well, with a 4-2 win over Jena. And their neighbours, Lammerton City, were hit by a late goal, which denied them a share of the points against Kings Park.

SPL
Dundee 4–0 Kirk Preston United
New Island 1–1 FC Soessch
Port Patrick United 2–2 Lammerton
Jena VB 0–0 Hillstreet
Port James Athletic 2–0 Mucusia
Granton Vale 4–3 Cornellians
New Belfast Warriors 1–0 Lammerton City
Kings Park 0–2 Handon United
La Gorlions 0–1 Marionville
Port Sebastian 1–1 Hollin

This was the weekend where we waved good-bye to Port Sebastian and Lammerton, with both clubs picking up draws. Porty really should have done better as they welcomed a Hollin side who were fighting for their lives in the SPL. In an almost carbon copy of the previous week, Jock Sonny's side took the lead early on, but failed to go for the jugular. In a bitter twist, it was former player, Fred Dawson, who sprung up with twenty minutes to go, to give Hollin a share of the points. Lammerton's draw with Port Patrick was slightly more understandable, if not equally frustrating. For a fourth year out of five, the Hornets have been left lamenting their lack of composure at key moments, as another shot at the title has all but slipped through their grips. The Breakers were actually the better side, as they still have an eye on consecutive fifth place finished.

The biggest shock this weekend was in Granton, as Cornellians spectacularly fell short as they paid a visit to the Beachcombers. The reigning champions had been three points clear with three games to go, but this result sees them slip back behind United on goal difference. The Eagles struggled from the start against a Granton Vale side that looked determined to cause an upset. Carly Ellice scored her first of the season as she put the home side ahead, and Jack Hobbs doubled their lead shortly after from the penalty spot. Cornellians performed a little better in the second half, and goals from Kathryn Kvanderwyk must have had the travelling support believing that they could pull off something of a smash and grab. However, Granton Vale secured the winning goal with fifteen minutes left on the clock, as veteran winger Scott Cooper found the net, to give Cornellians some thinking to do.

As the news of Granton Vale's first two goals reached Handon, United were already a goal up against city neighbours Kings Park. Nunez put the visitors ahead just before half time, as it became apparent that it was now game-on. Kings Park have been a bit of a mixed bag this season, and they fell well short of where they needed to be, as Handon United piled on the pressure in the second half. First Natalie Adams saw her free kick deflected just wide, before Dilon Bánach got on the end of a Louis Hordern cross secure all three points, and put her side back on top.

Elsewhere: Dundee had a big win over Kirk Preston, Heidi Spearing (2), Mark Keane, and Sett Horn scoring the goals. Soessch will need to wait and see if they are left to regret a 1-1 draw with New Island in the race for fifth. And Marionville's 1-0 win over La Gorlions may prove to be too little, too late.

SPL
Port Sebastian 3–2 Dundee
Hollin 0–0 La Gorlions
Marionville 2–2 Kings Park
Handon United 2–1 New Belfast Warriors
Lammerton City 1–0 Granton Vale
Cornellians 5–2 Port James Athletic
Mucusia 4–3 Jena VB
Hillstreet 0–1 Port Patrick United
Lammerton 2–2 New Island
FC Soessch 2–0 Kirk Preston United

The mission for Handon United was simple. Win two more games, and preserve a goal difference of plus six, in order to be crowned champions. It didn't sound too hard on the face of it, but there were still tough matches to negotiate, and with the pressure on this young team's shoulders, there was ample room to slip up. The first challenge was to defeat a New Belfast Warriors side who never go down without a fight. The United fans were in strong voice at the start of this one, and the atmosphere cranked up a notch further, as Rebecca Talla sliced in a Christian Lovenkrands strike to give then the lead. At half time there were mixed emotions in the stadium, given the fact the Cornellians were already three goals up at home to Port James. In the second half United must have felt they needed the goals, as they took the game to the Whalers. Natalie Adams was in determined mood, as was Hiroyo Nunez, who was unlucky to see her header drift just over the bar. United eventually got the second goal they were looking for, as James Robertson's long ball forward created confusion in the box, allowing Balfour Asante to tuck the ball away. Just when they seemed like they were coasting, the Warriors came up and stung them from behind with a Tomás Fierro goal, which left them with only a narrow victory. Gullie's side would have been relieved to hear that the match in Lochend ended 5-2, with the difference not getting any greater.

Port Sebastian still had an outside chance of grabbing third place, and the slightly more favourable Globe Cup draw that came with it. They welcomed Dundee to Dyerton Stadium, in what was to be a very hard fought game. Sett Horn put the Panners ahead early on, after a great individual goal. Porty responded quickly however, with Conavacio finishing from close range for his twelfth goal of the season. Dundee seemed to be losing their grip at this point, and the home side took the lead, as former Panner, Vera Cummings, found the net. Dundee levelled the match through Barry Drite, before Demba Traore secured all three points for his club with a powerful strike moments from time.

For Lammerton though, they will have to wait until the last game of the season to secure third spot, after a 2-2 draw with New Island. Whatever happens Lammerton have done well, given the fact that they had to make haul sale changes to their attacking line up. New Island were left playing for pride really, but that didn't stop them presenting Lammerton with some real difficulties. Elizabeth Addison put the Pebbles ahead in this match, the former U21 international firing home from just inside the Lammerton penalty box. The Hornets were then level just before half time as Victoriane side footed the ball past Courtois, after Alexandersson did well to make it to the by line. New Island took the lead once more, after Ramone Scotta chested the ball down into the path of Ian Wilson, but Lammerton salvaged a point, after Jasper Valaran equalised five minutes from time.

In other results: Soessch are now firm favourites to pip Port Patrick to fifth spot, following a 2-0 win over Kirk Preston. Mucusia went out on a high with a 4-3 win over the hapless Jena. And Lammerton City find themselves on the verge of pulling off the unthinkable, after a 1-0 win over Granton Vale.

Player and Manager of The Month Awards -- Month Nine

Player: Vera Cummings -- Port Sebastian
Port Sebastian really needed some big performances this month, and Cummings was one player who stepped up to the plate. The Schottia international has improved so much as a player, and is now one of the top box-to-box midfielders in the country.

Young Player: Heidi Spearing -- Dundee
The ex Treason +90 girl, with the penchant for killer passes, seems to have found her place amongst this highly ambitions bunch of players. Dundee have pulled together very well this month, and Spearing has been the one really driving them forward in the middle of the pitch.

Manager: Johnny Smith -- Dundee
There were probably few who gave Smith a chance when he took over from Jock Sonny three years back, but he has continued to drive the side forward. Three wins from four this month, means that the Panners are going out on a high.

SPL
Dundee 1–0 FC Soessch
Kirk Preston United 3–2 Lammerton
New Island 0–1 Hillstreet
Port Patrick United 1–2 Mucusia
Jena VB 0–2 Cornellians
Port James Athletic 1–1 Lammerton City
Granton Vale 0–1 Handon United
New Belfast Warriors 1–0 Marionville
Kings Park 2–1 Hollin
La Gorlions 0–1 Port Sebastian

There was still plenty to play for as we headed into the final game of the season, with several positions at the top and bottom of the league still undecided. Both Handon United and Cornellians had relatively easy fixtures, so it would likely come down to whether or not Cornellians could score four more goals than their rivals. Cornellians peppered the Jena goal for the full ninety minutes, but frustratingly in was the start of the second half before they broke the deadlock. Maeon Vlahos burst through to the by-line, before whipping the ball across for Kel Koromin drive into the back of the nets. The Eagles tried desperately to add to their tally, keen not to leave it up to fate. Lara Wedderburn struck the crossbar, and Jade Irwin saw a free kick curl just wide as Shale's side chased the game. With eight minutes to go, Isla Sibučić was introduced to the proceedings, and the Cosumarite teenager made an instant impact, setting up the side's second for countryman Kit Kvanderwyk. It wasn't the goal-fest they were looking for, so Cornellians would need to wait and see how United faired.

As the score line continued to remain tight up in Jena, Handon United became increasingly aware that any sort of win would do. That was just as well, given that they were defending a single Hiroyo Nunez goal scored early in the first half. Every time the Beachcombers found possession in United half, there was a palpable tension, as the would-be champions seemed visibly on edge. There was to be no late drama however, as Jane Gullie's side were crowned champions by the slimmest of margins imaginable. This is United's first title in ten years, and their only SPL win in the UICA era, meaning it will be extra special for the supporters. It wasn't the smoothest of seasons, but there is no one who could say they don't deserve it, as they have entertained us with some great football. The task now facing the team is staying there. They will have a shot at the Champions' Cup for the first next season, but they will also have the pressure of defending their title. There are a lot of very good young players in this United squad, and the first priority for Jane Gullie will be keeping a hold of them during the transfer window.

There was further drama at Danu Parc, as a late goal from Eloisa Purinton allowed Port Sebastian to leapfrog Lammerton into third place. Porty have undoubtedly been victims of their own success this season, with the extra games resulting from their runs in international competition taking their toll. For that reason it will be a big relief for them to have secured the first Globe Cup spot, and with it, the slightly easier run in qualifying. Lammerton on the other hand will be bitterly disappointed, but fourth place keeps them in the UICA places, and they have plenty of positives to draw upon.

In the final day round up: Soessch managed to claim the final Globe Cup place despite a 1-0 defeat at Dundee. Barry Gorman's side are another who are moving in the right direction, and their continued improvement will add to the competitive edge this league already has. They take fifth spot at the expense of poor Port Patrick, who despite a great season, fell just short. Des Pleent's side have done fantastically well though, and they too, can be proud of everything that they have achieved since their return to the SPL. New Belfast Warriors will be left slightly disappointed however, as they would have clearly hoped for better than seventh. It is becoming apparent now that they don't quite have the resources to challenge for the league title, and the board will need to make a decision whether to stick or twist with manager Graeme Collins. Dundee in eighth seem to have found their place, which for a side of their size is very impressive. Just behind them finished New Island and Port James, both those two teams have made massive improvements, and will have their sights set on pushing the teams above them next season. In the bottom half of the table, Kings Park and La Gorlions will both be disappointed to find themselves there, but in a completive league there will always be casualties. Mucusia seem to have stagnated of late, 49 points meaning they were in no danger of going down, yet a million miles away from the UICA spots. Both Kirk Preston and Hillstreet will be happy with 41 points, comfortably away from the drop zone, and they will get another chance to improve next season. Granton Vale had a difficult season, but they showed some real character in finishing sixteenth. Hollin somehow stayed up on goal difference, but with some of their performances, the writing may be on the wall for them next season. This year we wave good-bye to Lammerton City, Jena VB, and sadly... Marionville. For so long a seemingly-permanent fixture in the SPL, it's hard to say what went wrong for the Old Boys, who head down to the newly created First Division. The only positive you could say is at least they can bring about the clear out, which the team badly needed, and they will be clear favourites to come straight back up.

.                        Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
 1 Handon United          38   25   9   4    97   48  +49    84 Champions' Cup; SPL Champions 
 2 Cornellians            38   26   6   6    96   50  +46    84 Champions Cup; Cup Winners' Cup
 3 Port Sebastian         38   23   7   8    73   41  +32    76 Globe Cup
 4 Lammerton              38   23   9   6    95   59  +36    75 Globe Cup
 5 FC Soessch             38   19  11   8    46   30  +16    68 Globe Cup
 6 Port Patrick United    38   19   9  10    66   47  +19    66
 7 New Belfast Warriors   38   19   7  12    55   42  +13    64
 8 Dundee                 38   17  10  11    40   31   +9    61
 9 New Island             38   14  13  11    44   34  +10    55
10 Port James Athletic    38   13  11  14    63   68   −5    50
11 La Gorlions            38   13  10  15    57   58   −1    49
12 Kings Park             38   13  10  15    63   66   −3    49
13 Mucusia                38   14   7  17    55   67  −12    49
14 Hillstreet             38   10  11  17    40   53  −13    41
15 Kirk Preston United    38   10   8  20    62   78  −16    41
16 Granton Vale           38   10   4  24    41   81  −40    34
17 Hollin                 38    7   9  22    36   61  −25    30
18 Lammerton City         38    7   9  22    33   67  −34    30 Relegated
19 Marionville            38    4  14  20    40   77  −37    26 Relegated
20 Jena VB                38    5   4  29    39   83  −44    19 Relegated

Player of Year:
The main, player, young player, and manager award winners are selected from a long-list of ten, which is created by the responsible members at the SPL committee. The eventual winner is voted for by prominent members of the Schottic footballing community.

1st: Natalie Adams -- Handon United

The player of the year award is traditionally given to the player who was the most consistently good, taking the entire season into account. Therefore, while other players perhaps performed better in patches, the panel decided to go with Northern Sunriser, Natalie Adams. "Envy," as the name reads on the back of her shirt, has had a remarkable two seasons, since switching from Mucusia, and former Academy of Excellence star has adjusted well to the pressures at her new club. A true central midfielder, she works tirelessly at the heart of the team, and is both the creative force going forward and first line of defence.

2nd: Kit Kvanderwyk -- Cornellians

Cornellians might have missed out on the title this season, but you can't really take anything away from the players, who fought right up until the end. Kit Kvanderwyk has the appearance of player who is reaching his prime: a technically gifted player who uses all of his intelligence and cunning to get the better of his opponents. His performances, particularly in the big games, have been crucial to the Eagles' success this season.

3rd: Christian Lovenkrands -- Handon United

One of the big success stories from Karl Sorensen's time in charge of United, Lovenkrands has grown into one of the league's best players. The 25-year-old's pace, trickery, and goal scoring abilities make him a dynamic force on the right wing. After a quite season last time round, the Semar has raised his game, and recreated the performances he produced back when he first burst onto the scene.

4th: Jade Irwin -- Cornellians

It's weird to think that a league runners-up medal and fourth place on this shortlist is actually a bad season by Irwin's standards. The Nepharim playmaker is such a big attacking threat for the Eagles, whether it is through her clinical passes, or long range shooting. Keeping a hold of the player, and getting her tied down long-term will be very important for Cornellians, as her arrival seems to have directly coincided with a rise in the club's UICA fortunes. The former Crissisbless United youth runs the show in the middle the park for Reinhard Shale's club, and most frighteningly of all, she still seems to be improving.

5th: Vera Cummings -- Port Sebastian

It's a bit of a travesty that Cummings hasn't had more caps than the twelve she already has for Schottia. While she might be behind the likes of McDonald and Conjure in the national team, Cummings has no equal at Port Sebastian, where she is the one who makes things happen for them. While her club have had a few rocky moments this season, the former Dundee player has been very consistent, both domestically and in UICA competition.

Long-list: Holly Addison (New Island), Kaytlyne Victoriane (Lammerton), Jasper Valaran (Lammerton), Kel Koromin (Conellians), JK Cottle (Handon United), Kerstin Dornenberger (FC Soessch)

Golden Boot (Top Scorer):

1st: 29 Kaytlyne Victoriane -- Lammerton

2nd: 26 Daniel Dostalok -- Handon United

3rd: 24 Demba Traore -- Port Sebastian

| Eloisa Purinton -- Port Sebastian

| Kel Koromin -- Cornellians

6th: 19 Callum Frir -- Port Patrick United

=7th: 17 Elspeth Glendenning -- Port James Athletic

| Hiroyo Nunez -- Handon United

=9th: 16 David Hughes -- Dundee

| Leopoldo Ramirez -- Kirk Preston United

| Ramone Scotta -- New Island

| Kathryn Kvanderwyk -- Cornellians

Scorers below equal tenth not listed

Young Player of The Year:
1st: Natalie Adams -- Handon United

Se Player of The Year Awards

2nd: Kaytlyne Victoriane -- Lammerton

In years to come, fans may look back on this as a stepping-stone in the career of a top-class striker, but for the time being Hornets fans had best sit back and enjoy Victoriane's phenomenal talent. The Chromatik was also long-listed for the senior prize this year, and had she performed a little more consistently, then she might well have won it. A 29-goal debut season, and the 21-year-old will likely get better and better.

3rd: Dilon Bánach -- Handon United

In previous years, Bánach's form over the course of the season would have been enough to see her finish higher up this award list. However, it has been an incredible season in so many ways, with the bar raised to new heights. The tough little midfielder was a big part of United's championship winning side, where she was one of their many young players who really stood out.

4th: Daniel Dostalok -- Handon United

He is considered one of the rising stars of Mercedinian football, and Dostalok showed just why he is so highly rated in his homeland this season. Handon United's young players have dominated this award and with his 25 goals, it's easy to see why this young striker made it on the short list too.

5th: Grant Carlin -- New Island

Grant Carlin has 'future internationalist' written all over him. This solid, stalwart defender was part of the New Island side that continues to impress, as well as captain of the nation's U21 squad. There will likely now be a lot of clubs having a look at him over the summer, so the players next decision might be the most important of his career.

Long-list: Heidi Spearing (Dundee), Jayden Fox (Kirk Preston United), Isla Sibučić (Cornellians), Nova Kymeri (New Island), Whitney Kelly (Port Patrick United)

Manger of The Year:
1st: Jane Gullie -- Handon United

Handon United have finally done it - won the league, and broken the curse, which has haunted them for a decade. Jane Gullie is quickly acquiring the reputation of being a manager who achieves the impossible: First winning the league title with the Warriors, then getting Schottia to the World Cup, and now she has ridden the mounting pressure and delivered United's fans the only result they would have accepted.

2nd: Barry Gorman -- Soessch

Gorman will be quietly delighted with his work this season. The maverick Schottia boss delivered UICA football, and did so by making big improvements to the style of football at Soessch. The team have a decent budget and a few handy players; so you would imagine they'll be looking to use this season's form as a springboard for next season.

3rd: Judy Scott -- New Island

As painful as it is to admit, this season success will likely be bitter sweet for Judy Scott. While playing some very attractive football and securing a top half finish, the team will have undoubtedly put themselves in the shop window. It's hard to say how much further Scott can take this side, but they are undoubtedly a hundred times better than the side she took over six seasons ago.

Signing of The Year:
This is awarded to the incoming player who made the biggest impact relative to price, profile, and reputation.

Leonardo Conavacio -- Port Sebastian

Signed from FC Alianza
It's not every day a player of Conavacio's calibre lands on your doorstep for nothing. The Quebecois legend might have been a liability at times, but he scored the right goals in the right games, and was a crucial player for them during the Globe Cup run.

Team of The Year:
Differently to the player of the year awards, the official team of the year is voted for by the Schottic public. This is why the players can differ from those selected for the official awards, and normally come from the teams with the larger support bases.

GK= Courtois
DEF= Tenebrosa - James Robertson - Joon Ho Hwang - JK Cottle
MID= Jasper Valaran - Kit Kvanderwyk - Natalie Adams
FOR= Elspeth Glendening - Daniel Dostalok - Kaytlyne Victoriane

Schottic Cup -- Final @ Harbour Hill Stadium

Cornellians 2-0 New Belfast Warriors
Ka. Kvanderwyk, Koromin
The traditional curtain closer of the Schottic domestic season, the cup final has traditionally given us some excellent matches. While this year's final wasn't exactly a classic, we saw the meeting of two top teams, both with excellent cup pedigrees. Cornellians were the out and out favourites, even before a ball was so much as kicked. They might have just missed out on the SPL title, but they are a good side, and what's more, they were hungry to make amends. Cosumarite striker, Kathryn Kvanderwyk opened the scoring for the Eagles after only fifteen minutes, when she showed a good turn of pace to get in behind Victoria Schute before applying the finish. The Warriors were forced to fight hard to keep themselves in the match, but with Irwin, Berg, and Kit Kvanderwyk all on their game, it was proving tricky. Cornellians killed the game off with eight minutes to play, as Kel Koromin directed a header past Nerio Teran to hand his club their second ever Schottic Cup.
MOTM: Kel Koromin

First Divisions - Second Tier
First and second placed sides, along with the winners of the play-offs, gain promotion to the Schottic Premier League. The bottom three sides are relegated to the First Division.

.                        Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
 1 New Belfast Blues      38   24   5   9    82   48  +34    77 Champions
 2 Soessch 1990           38   22   6  10    75   50  +25    72 Promoted
 3 Snubbeak Rock          38   18  12   8    81   51  +30    66
 4 D'Itille               38   18  10  10    70   48  +22    64 Pormoted via Play-Offs
 5 Central Stars          38   19   7  12    73   59  +14    64
 6 West Holbrookdale      38   19   5  14    69   59  +10    62
 7 FC Döllar              38   16  12  10    61   60   +1    60
 8 Bara Waves             38   16  11  11    61   54   +7    59
 9 West Coast Warriors    38   16  11  11    55   51   +4    59
10 Handon North           38   14  13  11    67   68   −1    55
11 Bolton Green           38   15   9  14    56   68  −12    54
12 Toll Cross Academy     38   13   9  16    58   61   −3    48
13 Lammerton Wonderers    38   12  11  15    47   58  −11    47
14 Berwick United         38   13   7  18    57   61   −4    46
15 Stalker Bay            38   10  11  17    57   71  −14    41
16 Wolbeck                38   10   9  19    42   61  −19    39
17 Lammerton Eels         38   10   8  20    53   62   −9    38
18 Marionville Thistle    38   10   8  20    43   58  −15    38 Relegated
19 Anacy                  38    8  11  19    49   69  −20    35 Relegated
20 Soessch Mountaineers   38    7   5  26    34   73  −39    26 Relegated

Play-Offs: Semi Final
Snubbeak Rock 2-2 West Holbrookdale (2–3 AET) @Lochend Stadium
D'Itille 2-1 Central Stars @Dyerton Stadium

Play-Offs: Final
D'Itille 1-0 West Holbrookdale @Harbour Hill Stadium

First Division, Player of The Year:
1st: Isaiah Vaught, New Belfast Blues

2nd: Jessica Grey, Soessch 1990

3rd: Tom Sanchez, New Belfast Blues

Golden Boot: Jessica Grey, Soessch 1990 (29 goals)

After a far longer wait than they would have liked, New Belfast Blues are back in the top division. Having narrowly missed out for the last two season, NBB will feel they are back where they belong. Having managed to keep a hold of Tom Sanchez and Shu during the summer, they went into this season with by far the best squad of players, and it turned out to be a reasonably straightforward run. The shining light for them this year, however, has been 16-year-old wing-forward, Isaiah Vaught. Vaught scored sixteen goals playing on the right side of attack, and is reported to have attracted the attention of some top SPL clubs. Joining NBB in the top fight next season are Soessch 1990 and D'Itille. Soessch finished a comfortable second, largely thanks to the goals of Osarian striker Jessica Grey. The side from Bergstadt definitely play some attractive football, but whether or not it will be enough next season, will depend on whom they bring in. D'Itille come up via the play-offs, after defeating West Holbrookdale in the final, to deny us yet another Handon side in the top tier.

Second Division - Second Tier
First and second placed sides, along with the winners of the play-offs, gain promotion to the First Division. The bottom three sides are relegated to the regional divisions.

.                               Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
 1 Oak Park Celtic               38   21   9   8    69   43  +26    72 Champions
 2 Baumann VB                    38   23   3  12    59   40  +19    72 Promoted
 3 Allous VB                     38   18  15   5    77   48  +29    69 Promoted via Play-Offs
 4 Oxlaey Court                  38   18   9  11    65   54  +11    63
 5 Regional Development Side B   38   17   9  12    55   47   +8    60
 6 Redional Development Side D   38   16  11  11    61   54   +7    59
 7 New Town Thistle              38   16  10  12    54   50   +4    58
 8 Regional Development Side C   38   14  14  10    43   41   +2    56
 9 Huntley Hunters               38   15  10  13    59   52   +7    55
10 Regional Development Side A   38   13  14  11    58   50   +8    53
11 Dundee Rovers                 38   15   7  16    58   53   +5    52
12 Belker Crest                  38   14   8  16    60   64   −4    50
13 Port Newtown                  38   13  10  15    52   54   −2    49
14 Port James                    38   13  10  15    54   68  −14    49
15 Gateney                       38   12  12  14    50   54   −4    48
16 Adelly Road                   38   13   6  19    53   64  −11    45
17 Coldstream Farmers Union      38   11   8  19    45   62  −17    41
18 La Harve                      38    7  11  20    42   64  −22    32 Relegated
19 Lochmarlock                   38    5  15  18    40   66  −26    30 Relegated
20 Sand                          38    7   7  24    53   79  −26    28 Relegated

Play-Offs: Semi Final
Allous VB 4-2 Huntley Hunters @Ashley Road Stadium
Oxlaey Court 4-3 New Town Thistle @Gannon Park

Play-Offs: Final
Allous VB 3-0 Oxlaey Court @Harbour Hill Stadium

Second Division, Player of The Year:
1st: Jo Afolayan, New Town Thistle

2nd: David Fey Oak Park Celtic

3rd: Christopher Davis, Allous VB

Golden Boot: Gemma Scott, Oak Park Celtic

(28 goals)

Oak Park Celtic have stemmed their fall from grace, as they saw themselves crowed Second Division champions. The goals of young striker, Gemma Scott, no doubt contributed a great deal towards their success. They will be joined by North Island sides, Baumann and Allous, in the second tier next season, where they will face a stiff test if they are aiming to get back to the SPL any time soon.

Youth Football - Junior Championship

.                               Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
 1 Cornellians                   30   17   5   8    69   51  +18    56 Youth Champions' Cup
 2 Kings Park                    30   16   6   8    47   29  +18    54
 3 Handon United                 30   16   5   9    63   41  +22    53
 4 Bara Waves                    30   16   5   9    67   49  +18    53
 5 Port Sebastian                30   16   4  10    54   49   +5    52
 6 Regional Development Side C   30   14   7   9    55   47   +8    49
 7 Marionville                   30   14   6  10    49   43   +6    48
 8 Regional Development Side B   30   12   9   9    48   39   +9    45
 9 New Blefast Warriors          30   12   7  11    59   56   +3    43
10 Port James Athletic           30   11   8  11    35   50  −15    41
11 La Gorlions                   30    9   7  14    47   51   −4    34
12 Regional Development Side A   30    8   8  14    39   41   −2    32
13 FC Soessch                    30    7  10  13    39   53  −14    31
14 Regional Development Side D   30    6  10  14    39   49  −10    28
15 Lammerton                     30    8   3  19    35   58  −23    27
16 Dundee                        30    5   6  19    23   62  −39    21

Junior Championship, Player of The Year:
1st: Jack Avelione, La Gorlions

2nd: Adaly Berger, Cornellians

3rd: Billy McCorralie, Kings Park

by **Schottia** » Mon Sep 11, 2017 4:58 am

2026-27

Preview
-Part One-

Playing squads for the upcoming season, with provisional starting eleven, and notable reserves. Please note that many of the players listed as substitutes are part of rotations systems, and are used regularly. Teams listed in no particular order. Second nationalities in parentheses.

Cornellians don't do losing were well, and to be fair, they're not exactly used to it. After five SPL titles back-to-back, equalling Handon United's long-standing record, it must have been a bitter pill to swallow. Losing on goal difference is never great, but on the last day of the season..? Former Nephara and Crisisbless boss Reinhard Shale took over from Alexander Pearce at the start of last season, and successfully guided them to the Champions' Cup knockouts for the first time, an achievement which will certainly take the sting out their domestic disappointment. Since they were founded twelve years ago, to take part in the now defunct MPL, the Eagles have slowly built themselves up into a top class side with players for the four corners of the globe. The club's real strength lies in its depth however, as Shale has by far the best bench in the league at his disposal. Schottia international, Johannas Ünterhausen is the only notable new addition to what is a very polished looking side. The 25-year-old joins from Real Chinchinhua for $15 million, in what equals the club's record fee spent on a player. Elsehwere the sale of Scott Burton paves the way for young Pasargan star Christian Berg to break into the first team, after performing well when called upon last season.

The strike force of Kel Koromin and Kathryn Kvanderwyk has developed an excellent understanding over the past few years. Kvanderwyk must be one of the most underrated strikers in the mulitverse, but that's probably because she just doesn't score enough goals. The Cosumarite does everything else though, and her tireless energy, and unselfishness in front of goal means she is a critical part of this team. Koromin, on the other hand, generally scores enough goals for both of them, and he is one of the few truly world-class strikers in the league. In the midfield, it is Jade Irwin who calls the shots. The 27-year-old has come a long way since she first arrived in Schottia, and is living proof of perseverance paying off. An imaginative and energetic playmaker, the Nepharim should have found a much better fit playing alongside the more physical Ünterhausen, who will inject some bulk to the side. Kathryn's brother, Kit Kvanderwyk, was the club's player of the year last season, and seems to be leaving it late as he continues to develop into a top right-sided player. The 29-year-old might lack a little in the way of pace, but his technical ability and pinpoint passing more than make up for it. Mershawn Mercury really impressed us during the World Cup, playing for his home nation Eshan. A really solid winger, we are expecting this to be a big year for Mercury. On the bench Cornellians have a couple of players to call upon. Kirisaki's Tsumugi Narita is a deep-sitting playmaker, who can thread the passes together, and will do doubt feature a lot. There is also a lot of excitement around wonderkid, Isla Sibučić, whom the club moved heaven and earth to snap up two years ago. In defence, Berg will play alongside Stephen Gargo who has been fairly consistent over the years. Shale will be looking to the Pasargan to come of age here though, and fulfil the promise he has shown. Former Chatswwod right-back, Maeon Vlaho, has a couple of caps for Nephara, and he added a bit of extra grit to the defence last season. Team captain Triffid Ramsey - daughter of the late Cosumar and Nephara boss - is probably the best left-back in the league, and being the wrong side of thirty seems to have done nothing to halt her maraudering runs forward. Jeremy McNott, the last remaining member of the original MPL team, keeps his place in goals. The 32-year-old has had one or two hairy moments over the past twelve months, losing the Schottia No.1 jersey in the process, but Shale has shone faith in him... for the moment.

Prediction: 1st. Handon United have made progress, and definitely made up ground. However you'd feel Cornellians have a slight edge in this one.

Star player: Jade Irwin | Rising Star: Isla Sibučić

International Competition This Season: Champions' Cup, and Cup winners' Cup

To those unfamiliar with the Schottic game, it's hard to describe just how hard things have been for United fans over the last decade. For a club used to sweeping the board, they found themselves badly wrong-footed heading into the UICA era, going through the worst title drought in their history. Managers and players have come and gone in their droves, and overhaul after overhaul seemed to achieve precious little. For the aforementioned reasons, last season's league championship must have been extra sweet, as Jane Gullie finally found the winning formula. Snatching the league title on goal difference from the seeming invincible Cornellians, while making a decent run in the Globe Cup, meant that the club were finally where they wanted to be. After taking in this initial success, Gullie hasn't stood still, bringing in no fewer than six new recruits, as the club prepare for their first ever Champions' Cup venture. Most notable, perhaps, is Chromatik international, Rachel Hellion, who joins up from Electrumite side Fairleigh-Warburton; while Brinemouth centre-back, Lukas Finnan, looks like an absolute steal at $3 million. Regatta Aspenwood was player of the year last season in the Nepharim second tier, and may prove to be a shrewd investment. Cosumarite keeper Shjegrzh Na'Kefir joins from Keenen Athletic and is very highly rated, he will have a tough job though, filling the gloves of former Cenian international Jacrian Ryaden, who retired at the end of last season. The eleventh hour sale of left-back, James Robertson, to Falourr sparked something of a late scramble to find a replacement. However it was perhaps fate that Gullie was able to seal a deal for Kirk Preston's Euran defender, Jayden Fox, who made good progress last season. Finally, Timur Salai has joined the youth set up after scouts noticed the young Pasargan striker's huge potential - you can never go wrong with a Pasargan striker... right?

So United will likely go with some sort of three up front system - or at least that's how it looks. The on-form Mercedinian youngster, Daniel Dostalok, will probably lead the line after his strong performance in the IAC, with Redvali woman-mountain, Hiroyo Nunez, providing a more physical option on the bench. Christian Lovenkrands and new girl, Regatta Aspenwood, will occupy the wide-advanced areas and both players certainly have goals in them. United will go with a central midfield of three, which contains a little bit of every thing. SPL player of the year Natalie Adams has the flair and technical ability to unlock most defences; and her set-pieces are also a real menace given the size of the defenders United can throw forward. Dilon Bánch, at 20 is already a fully paid-up Schottia squad member, and with her turn of pace it's easy to see why. Chromatik, Rachel Hellion, will cover the defensive side of things, and some much needed stability. At the back, homegrown talent Louis Hordern also has Schottic caps to his name, while Jayden fox was listed for the young player of the year awards last season - both should do a good job marshalling the flanks. Club captain JK Cottle was sold as a proverbial last season, and like a fine malt whisky, he just seems to be improving with age. Finnan, alongside him, completes what Gullie will be hoping is a brick wall of a defence. At only 22, Na'Kefir is perhaps a risk between the sticks, but you'd imagine the young player is only going to get better. On the whole the squad looks very strong. Stronger than Cornellians or Porty..? Probably at least on a par.

Prediction: 2nd. We don't quite see them having enough to repeat last years feat, but it's going to be very close. There are five clubs who could possibly lift the title this season, and United are going to be right up there come next summer.

International Competition This Season: Champions Cup.

Star Player: Natalie "Envy" Adams | Rising Star: Dilon Bànach

It was an extremely slow transfer window for Port Sebastian, after spending quite a lot over the past couple of seasons. Whether their lack of investment comes back to bite them remains to be seen, but there is something to be said for going with a settled and experienced squad. In his time at the club, Jock Sonny has helped usher in a new era, one in which Porty have gone on to make a name for themselves on the world stage. Runs to the Globe Cup and Cup Winners' Cup semi's last season will have filled this group of players with confidence, and they will have their eyes on the league title. Speed, strength, and intensity are the key to this current squad's success, as they press hard in the midfield and use their pace to hurt their opponents in the final third. Porty also have to cover for maverick Quebecois attacker, Leonardo Conavacio, who announced his retirement at the end of last season. Handon United are the current champions, and if you know anything at all about Port Sebastian, you will know what that means to them.

When you look at the strike force Sonny has at his disposal, it's easy to see why he wasn't tempted to splash the cash over the summer. Given that they don't have $20 million to splash out, it's unlikely they could improve much. Their Gloriaxian skipper, Eloisa Purinton, is widely regarded as one of the best forwards in the country, and her goals will be important if they are going nick the title off their arch rivals Handon United. Dembe Traore will be firmly back in the picture this season, after having to share striking duties with Conavacio last time round, but the big Semar's physical approach to the to the game is an important element of the Porty attack. Seventeen-year-old forward, Keeva Crowe, has been called up to the senior squad this season also, and the manager has stood firmly by her in saying that she can be the replacement to Conavacio. Former Dundee girl, Vera Cummings, is probably the main player in the midfield, and with her nineteen Schottia caps, she is clearly one of the world's top midfielders right now. Alongside her, Michi Leonard is slowly improving; the club vice-captain is quick and covers a lot of the pitch. Is Joey Bia really only 28? Yes, twelve years after making his debut as a 16-year-old, the ultimate one club man is still with Port Sebastian. The Dahamy born player is a left-footed, right-sided winger, who likes to have a crack at goal. Andrya Novkovic is another player who has been coming on to a game on the left-flank. The Anglatian born attacker has lived most of her adult life in Schottia, since joining the clubs youth system aged 15, and now qualifies for Schottic citizenship. Port Sebastian are very strong at the back, with Schottia stars Esther Abner and Paul Doig in the right and left-back positions respectively. Doig might not be much to look at, but the former DBC winner can chuck a football football over 40 meters from a throw in. Also, former Quebecois international Joon Ho Hwang paired with Olympics silver medallist Sloan Kirkland in the central area, gives them ecxelent cover across the backline. The exceptional young Boney, MG Grumbla, completes this side, which might not have seen a lot of changes, but is definitely going to be up there come the end of the season.

Prediction: 3rd. We thought last season might have been their year to reclaim the league title, but Handon United surprised us all instead. With Schottia gaining an extra Champions' Cup place, they still have an excellent chance of making the tournament.

International Competition This Season: Globe Cup

Star Player: Esther Abner | Rising Star: Andrya Novkovic

After a poor start, Lammerton finished strongly last season to claim fourth spot. Football in the Castle City has been buzzing throughout the UICA era, as the Hornets has produced some excellent league form, including three second place finishes. The sucker punch for John Sedder and his players, however, is the fact that none of this league form has translated to international success. When it comes to grinding out results, week-in-week-out, it seems to come naturally to Lammerton, but when it comes to performing in the UICA qualifiers, they have had some howlers. Sedder has never been shy in splashing any money the club might have though, and once again he's loosened the purse strings in pursuit of Globe Cup qualification, and that elusive SPL title. Elspeth Glendening needs absolutely no introduction to Schottia fans, and her performances for Port James mean she is probably a steal at $5.5 million. This is a big capture for the club, who undoubtedly beat of a fair bit of interest to sign the Schottia star. Another coup is the signing of Nepharim international Raquel Naeher, who joins up from Cartagena Desert Foxes for a fee of $7 million. The straightforward left-sided midfielder should provide some much needed width, the absence of which was a problem last season.

Glendening will start alongside last season's SPL top scorer and Lammerton's record signing, Kaytlyne Victoriane. The Chromatik was named second in the Young Player of the Year awards in the process, as her pace and skill terrorised opposition defences the length and breadth of the country. Glendening will likely operate as more of a conventional centre-forward, with Victoriane running into the channels. Just behind them is Mars Alexandersson, the girl who provides the spark in this side. The Sunriser, who opted to stay behind in Schottia, has a more or less free role in the attack, and is notoriously hard for defenders to pick up. Alexandersson is lethal from anywhere around the 18-yard-box, and her direct freekicks are a good source of goals. Naeher will play wide left, in what looks like a slightly lopsided midfield. The Nephara star's job will be to provide the bullets for Glendening, who we know is dangerous in the box. Cenian, Jasper Valaran, laces it all together in the midfield. A strong and very consistent playmaker, he is the level head, and the one who looks up before playing the meaningful passes. Completing this dynamic quartet it Cosumarite, Robard Horvat. With his no nonsense approach to the game, and tireless hard-graft, he's exactly the kind of player most midfielders would love to play alongside. Boney, Menhennick Goff, moves to centre-back amidst the shuffle, and it will be interesting to see how he performs alongside rising Schottic star, John van Cleef. The highly experienced Paul Yarrow keeps his place at right-back, amidst rumours that he might be replaced. Llamanian, Luke Svensson, continues at left-back, where he will be hoping to build on a good season last term. Schottia cap, Jim Black, starts in goals, and objectively speaking, he's as good as anyone in the league.

Prediction: 4th. Good enough to lift the title if they really roll their socks up, but third or fourth is more realistic. Anything other than top five will be seen as a disaster for John Sedder.

Star player: Kaytlyne Victoriane | Rising Star: John van Cleef

International Competition This Season: Globe Cup

Prior to the influx of UICA-era money, The Warriors were right up there right up there with the very best on the league. The shifting of the financial tectonic plates has left them a smidge off the pace however, and they have often needed to think outside the box when it comes to bringing new talent. We thought last season might have been a little difficult for them, and while it saw them slip down the table a little, there were promising signs. Somuele der Pros made the step up from Lammerton City, and went on to put in an excellent shift last season. They might not have a lot to spend, but if they can keep picking up players like that on the cheap, then they should be able to put up a decent fight. Graeme Collins has become one of the SPL's most respected managers in his time in charge, and he will be hoping that the changes he has made this season will be enough to earn them a return to UICA football. Tygo Pasha comes in at centre-back, after completing a $3 million move from league rivals, Granton Vale. The Eastfielder has looked good since arriving in the SPL as a youngster, and most folk will be confident that he can make the step up. Nepharim winger, Lavender Jameson, was once branded the next Chloe Rudden, and will hopefully add an injection of pace in the wide areas - something which was sorely lacking last season.

The Whalers' all female strike force is one of their strongest areas, with Miki Kurugaya and Iana Synder working well together. Unusually for a Kirisakian, Miki is a big powerful targetwoman, who can hold her own against the biggest centre-half. Her Drawkish counterpart likes to play out wide, and makes the runs which draw the opposition defenders out of position. Much of the Warriors' creativity comes from the midfield duo of Der Pros and Tomás Fierro. Cenian, Fierro, tends to sit a little deeper, generally hoovering up any of the scraps, while Farfadillis cap, Der Pros, is the attacking outlet, always looking to pick out a forward run from a teammate. Former Quebecois Project +90 star, Adrienne O'Callahan, makes the switch from the left to the right this season, and hopefully the upheaval won't knock the talented winger off her game. Jameson seems like a good standard of player to pick up on a free, and with a clean bill of health, she should be a menacing presence on the left. Pasha should improve the defence, slotting in alongside youngster Anna Lombardi. At 22 and 24 it is a very young centre of defence compared to some of the other sides at the top of the table though, and it might just be their Achilles’ heel. In the right and left back areas the Warriors have two players who both have caps at youth level. Victoria Schute and Saskia Holden, are both good going forward and Holden can play centre-back at a push. In Guayabalese keeper, Nerio Teran, the Warriors also have a very safe pair of hands.

Prediction: 7th. Might find things a little harder than expected. Not that the Warriors are a bad side, but a lot of the teams round about them have improved.

Star Player: Somuele der Pros | Rising Star: Anna Lombardi

Despite a fifth place finish, we were a little disappointed with FC Soessch last season. After promising so much, Barry Gorman's side got off to a vey slow start, which inevitably cost them a much higher finish. Gorman might have got them moving in the right direction since joining the club three years ago, but it has been slow going, and they will be hoping to make a charge on the top of the table this season. A long awaited return to UICA football, and a manager who matches the side's ambitions, has ensured a productive transfer window for the North Island's finest. No great monument was ever built without a solid foundation, and with that in mind, the fact that the Soessch defence only conceded 30 goals last season should stand them in very good stead. Although they struggled a little in front of goal, they will be hoping that new signing Groaré Sasca can help with that. The Farf cap has definitely got the fans excited since he joined from Gorfalle for an undisclosed fee, and he looks like he could be a perfect foil for David Hughes in attack. Barry Gorman also brought in Mucusia captain Laura Smith, a player he has long been an admirer of. A creative and intelligent central midfielder, Smith will certainly bring another attacking element to the team.

Soessch seem to have switched to a lone striker system, with old-fashioned number-9, David Hughes, the perfect player to operate in that position. He might not be the best striker to watch, but he has been an effective source of goals in the past. Two up front didn't really work out for Soessch last season, so a player in the hole might make a difference. The signing of Groaré Sasca is a real statement of intent from the club, and he will be called upon to produce something special in the big games. Kerstin Dornenberger was massive player the club last season, so much so that the former Döllar lass won her first Schottia caps over during the last WC cycle. The combination of Dornenberger and Smith gives the side a real creative spark in the centre, and they should be able to ask questions the SPL defenders. Johan Shearer and Currian Cort are two wingers who get down the flanks well, and provide plenty of ammo. Neither of them will ever be world-beaters but they do what's asked of them, and both are consistent. For Soessch the real strength lies at the back however, with keeper Harry Gould the jewel in their crown. The Schottia goalie has had a fantastic twelve months, and Gorman has made it clear that the club's prize asset is not for sale. Club captain Ben Ross has caps for Schottia, as recently as the last WCQs, and he is an experienced head at the heart of the back four. He and former Nephara U21 cap Tamika November have formed a commanding partnership at the back, and will hope to continue their form from last season. Temasso Tenebrosa is a Cosumarite internationalist at right back - or at least he was - and he too was very impressive in the second half of the last campaign. Young Schottian left back, Alexi Ceanadach, completes the quartet, and brings some real pace and drive down the flank, acting more like a wingback.

Prediction: 5th. We went for fourth last season, and they finished fifth. Probably somewhere similar at the end of the day, but they are maybe the only team outside of the traditional top-four, who you could see challenging for the title.

International Competition This Season: Globe Cup

Star Player: Kerstin Dornenberger | Rising Star: Alexi Ceanadach

Kings Park complicate matters. We've been so used to their gradual decline, that most of us had written them off as firmly mid-table. After finishing second eight years ago, they kind of just vanished from the top end of the table. There have been a number revival attempts, over the last seven years, but none have gotten the fans as excited as this one. When it was reported that the Royals were going in for Raven Cullen, it was likely dismissed as hearsay; but former Brenecia boss must have seen some potential in the club, as she signed on the dotted line. The new gaffer has been given free reign, and the $6.1 million she has spent is a new club record. Cullen's style of play should go down well at a club that has long prided itself on playing attacking football, and the fans will be hoping this new-look side can take the league by storm. Lilith Paterson is the name that jumps off the page, and with 40 Brenecian caps, she can't be too bad. The veteran midfielder might not be the most technically gifted, but she brings steeliness in abundance. Meanwhile, Dejan Corvell is a strong, pacy striker, who has demonstrated he knows where the goals are. After contract talks stalled between the Smiths and their star striker, Cullen swooped to make him her first summer signing; no doubt seeing him as the perfect player to lead the line. Tiferet Ashbrown also has international appearences to her name, and while she may need to bulk up a little, her pace alone seems to have been enough to win her three international caps. Royals fans will also see the return of their former favourite, Darren Hanlon, who rejoins after spending a decade in Semarland. The 35-year-old, with over thirty Schottia caps in his prime, will hopefully help tighten up a defence, which shipped in 66 goals last season.

Corvell and Ashbrown will start as part of a front three, alongside Kings Park youth product Billy McCorrallie who took the Junior Championship by storm last season. This trio offer great strength and pace right across the front line, and should ask questions of even the most resolute defences. The midfield pairing of Meghan Hartsdown and Sendoa both excelled last season, and Paterson should help complete the set in Cullen's central three. The neat playmaker, the cultured box-to-box midfielder, and the hatchet-girl... there's a bit of everything there. Keeping a hold of Hartsdown and Sendoa long-term may depend a lot upon how they do this season. There are also changes at the back, with Kirisakian internationalst, Yuiko Kasugano, moving into the right back role having played the last three seasons on the wing. Hanlon, of course, slots straight in alongside the somewhat clumsy Peter Dachs, while Mario Modrich will be looking to grow as a player; the young Cosumarite goes into his fourth season with the club. In goals, Gerry Ion is perhaps the weak link here. He wasn't exactly impressive last season, and it seems strange that he wasn't a priority to replace.

Prediction: 8th. One thing is certain, they are going to finish higher than last season's 12th place. Darren Hanlon said in an interview that they were targeting the Globe Cup spots, and while that would be an incredible turn around, it's by no means out of the question.

Star player: Meghan Hartsdown | Rising star: Billy McCorralie

La Gorlions have built their reputation on being the grittiest side in the SPL. The atmosphere inside Danu Parc, as well as the altitude at which they play their games, ensures that visiting sides are always treated to a tough match in the North Island Mountains. The Avelione brothers preside over a team packed with more grit than an unwashed spinach salad (I'm running out similes), who specialise in being hard to break down. There will be a few long faces at Danu Parc this year, however, as an eleventh hour bid from Bastion, snatched their hottest prospect form their grasps. The club had fended of interest in Jack Avelione (son of Jago and nephew of Gaston) for much of the transfer window, however, it seems the lure of the Eura League was too strong, as he left to sign a contract with heavyweights, Bastion. This sparked a mad rush to try and reinvest some of the compensation money, with the club binging in Oak Park's Brendan Ranald at the last second to bolster the attack. The club's only other signing is former Handon United captain Alfred Seggerson, who no doubt had his arm twisted a little by the Aveliones. At 35 he is far from his best, but the player who earned 64 Schottia caps in his career will certainly add something.

The Lions actually have a pretty good strike force in the form of Cephus Hunt and Kirsten Gemmill. Hunt has been amongst the goals in his short time in Schottia, and the Boney brings all the physicality you would expect from a La Gorlions striker. With a name like Kirsten Gemmill, you'd think she has to be Schottic, right? Actually she's from Nephara, and the Project +90 star seemed very much up to the SPL standard last season. New signing, Brendan Ranald will be thrown in at the deep end, and is likely to he handed a starting berth in the attacking midfield role. Strong, quick, but possessing a lightness of touch, he is exactly the kind of player the Lions normally go for. Seggerson should also start, probably on the left side of the midfield diamond, and his ability to deliver from dead ball situations, might work well in combination with Hunt. On the other side is Yelena Shostakovich, who brings a bit of everything to the midfield, and has been outstanding in her time at the club. Speaking of time at the club, captain Fredrick Houben has been there for fourteen years now, but at 33-years of age he's still one of the best holding midfielders in the league. The defence has always been the most crucial part of the Lions defence, and to be fair, their entire back four have been capped for Schottia at some level. Snell and Valente are both accomplished wingback, while in Punteer and Pfab, they have a very sturdy central pairing. Pfab has been capped at senior level but not in the last six years. At 25, Mark den Karl is still young for a keeper, and the Semar will have time to develop.

Prediction: 11th. No danger of relegation, but there's very little danger of UICA football either. The biggest dispiontment for the fans will be the loss of Jack Avelione, whom they never got to see play in white and yellow.

Star player: Cephus Hunt | Rising star: Brendan Ranald

The Breakers have built one massive rod for their own backs since returing to the SPL eights seasons ago, going on to establish themselves as permanent fixture in the top half of the table. A fifth place finish two years ago gave them a first taste of UICA football, and last season's sixth place was also very impressive. So where do they go from here? Well, they're not exactly blessed in terms of resources, meaning that manager Des Pleent has had to be astute in his transfers. That said, they have managed to put together a very strong side that - contrary to popular belief - are far from a bunch of thugs. Port Patrick actually play some fairly eye-catching football, and while they can be direct, it's far from a punt up the park. The club's one and only summer signing is Chase Ziegenhorn, one of a growing number of young Cenians in the SPL. The teenage striker might have seen his side, Cenial Liberty, relegated from the SPL last season, but he managed an impressive haul of goals at a very young age. 21-year-old wingback, Venessa Stocker also gets the nod on the left. The defender, who thinks she is a wing-forward, impressed in the reserves last season and will get her chance to impress further this year.

Ziegenhorn will play alongside the club's veteran top goal scorer, Callum Frir, who signed a one year extension to his contract just before the start of the season. The former Warriors and D'Itille man is a big powerful striker, whose goals over the last couple of seasons have been vital to the clubs climb up the table. Des Pleent will be no doubt hoping that Ziegenhorn can learn a thing or two from this wily competitor. In the midfield, there is plenty of energy along with a good blend of youth and experience. Tanya Yeats has been the club's talisman in recent years, and the Brenecian normally produces the creative spark, along with her trademark long-range shots. Connie Malone has the task of doing everything Yeats can't - bustling around, snapping ankles, and making a general nuisance of herself. The Nepharim might not be the most polished when it comes to going forward, but she covers a lot of ground in defence. Whitney Kelly made a surprisingly big splash playing on the right wing last season, and the Chromatik was even long listed for young player of the year. The U21 cap adds some real quality to the team on the right flank. On the left, former Porty star, Chiyoko Sakuraka, is capable of some real flashes of brilliance, and can cause a lot of problems with her long-range passes. Davy Keats is a hulking brute of a defender, and there is little gets past the Breakers captain, even if it mean giving away a few fouls in the process. He is partnered up with Schottic U21 cap, Danny Herzogenrath, whom you'd say is well on his way toward becoming a very competent centre-back at this level. Right-back Robert Torry will never set the heather ablaze, but he's good enough, and left-back Stocker will be looking to put in some good performances and stake a DBC claim. Finally, Sarrbia goalie, Altavian Kalhoro, seems to have come onto a game of late, and last season was probably his best since joining the club.

Prediction: 6th. It's going to be a toss up between them and the Warriors, but we think the Breakers will just edge it for sixth.

Star Player: Tanya Yeats | Rising star: Whitney Kelly

by **Schottia** » Tue Sep 12, 2017 12:52 am

-Part Two-

Selling your best player every season isn't the best policy to be honest, but, weirdly, it never seems to hurt Dundee. Think of the team they could have if Steven Rexmont and Vera Cummings had stayed? This year they have to deal with the departure of Christopheran international Liam Gonclaves, who heads to his native Port Christopher to join up with Willox Street Pirates. On top of that, Dundee have seen a lot of players head for the exit door as an aging squad has been trimmed down dramatically. Manager, Johnny Smith, has his head screwed firmly on his shoulders however, and you'd imagine this well organised team are capable of pushing for another top ten finish if they roll their sleeves up. Wallace Solway is their high profile summer signing, and the lightweight and technically minded centre-forward is perhaps an interesting addition to this robust side. Smith was also able to capture Catheline Chaplain on a free from Chatswood; and given that she made the Nepharim first division team of the year last season, the 31-year-old looks like a shrewd acquisition.

Dundee are the archetypal grafters, with eleven round pegs in eleven round holes, all pulling hard in the same direction. Solway will start up front beside Sett Horn, a powerful young Cosumarite who had a good fist season in Schottia, and will be looking add to his already impressive goal tally. In the midfield, Heidi Spearing has been touted as the next Jade Irwin, but then again, any young Nephaim attacking midfielder is going to have to endure that comparison, if playing in the SPL. While the comparison might be a little generous, there is no doubting the former Project +90 star has got some talent. Her partner in crime is the hacking, crunching, ancle-breaker, that is Jim Gerrish. "Jim The Hacker's" reputation goes before him, however he can actually play a bit too - how else would he have won three Schottia caps? On the right wing is one-club-man Barry Drite, who is quick, but offers little else. Left winger, Mark Keane, has a bit more about him though, and the Schottia U23 cap has got age on his side too. In defence, Poppy Fayrkirk takes over the captain's armband one year after joining from Mucusia, and she is an important player in the sense that she allows them to build from the back. Kevin Scougle on the other hand, is a big man-mountain, who wins almost everything in the air. Right-back, Jeremy Buckthorn has won caps at U21 level, and is one of the rising stars of the team; while Chaplain brings some big league experience to the opposite flank. There is a fair bit of excitement around teenage keeper Ed Lorrey after his performances with the U21s and at the Olympics - but at such a young age, is it too much too soon?

Prediction: 10th. Where to place Dundee? This is maybe one of the hardest question we face. They will certainly be tough to break down, claiming a few scalps along the way; but they might not have enough in the tank claim a UICA spot.

Star Player: Jim Gerrish | Rising star: Ed Lorrey

Port James are another team who have seen a lot of people come and go over the last two years. Former Willox Street Pirates man, Jimmy Mitchel, was a big appointment as manager - one that was meant see them propelled back up to the top of the table. However, despite some marked improvements in the team's performances, the big revival never materialised, and thus, the Seasiders remain a bit of a sleeping giant. Attendances were up last season, to their highest in ten years actually, and that would suggest that the fans have some hope that they will be on the up soon. Things will have been made more difficult by the inevitable departure of Elspeth Glendening, the club's shinning light, who was snapped up by Lammerton for just under five million. Jimmy Mitchel has really struggled in his attempts to bring in a replacement, seeing a number of bids rejected, before securing the signature of Granton Vale's Jack Hobbs. This season's marquee signing has to be Quebecois defensive prodigy, Pepe Edgar, brought in to help Mitchel move towards his preferred 3-5-2 formation. Former charges, Gregor Borg and Yunji also join up from the Pirates, the latter in a $2.5 million deal, and on the face of it, they look like decent signings.

With a proven scoring record at SPL level, Jack Hobbs should do a good enough job partnering former Matthew Rangers man, Derick Mason in attack. Both are strong, no nonsense strikers, who will get stuck in. Yunji will likely slot in on the left, although he can also play up front, so we may need to wait and see what sort of role the Sunriser will play. Captain Joseph Preca feels like he's been there forever, and his composure, as well as his deadly right foot, are crucial to the way the team play. Evangeline Querón was a big signing last season, and the former Handon North and Trojana star proved to be a useful addition with her combination of hard tackling, and more cultured attacking game. Greer Hyrman is a very standard: nose to the grindstone, short sideways passing, central midfielder, but to be fair, she's good at it. Finally, in Palle Ellsmere, they have powerhouse of a defensive midfielder, and the Polaaskan is very effective in the big games. Pat Purnell is the only defender to survive Mitchel's cull at the back, and the rangy centre-back now has Borg and Edgar for company. Anglatian, Borg, is a towering defender who is also a threat in front of goal, Edgar on the other hand has pace to burn, and looks like a real coup for Athletic. In goals they have Brendan Hammer, a young(ish) Nepharim keeper, who actually did pretty well last season. All in all, it's not the best squad in the league, but it seems to be moving in the right direction.

Prediction: 9th. There is almost nothing between the some of the teams in the middle of the table, and the difference between 6th place and 12th could only be a couple of points.

Star Player: Evangeline Querón | Rising Star: Pepe Edgar

Hollin are still in the SPL, but it's only by the skin of their teeth, as the Belker side have been pushing their luck for some time now. The side's passionate supporters have had to endure watching their team slide down the table since UICA money and an influx of foreign talent have seen them left behind. A good youth system and a plucky attitude used to be enough back in the day, to ensure a top half finish, but that has most definitely changed. Regional Development Side gaduate, Ruth Forbes should be a good addition to their side at right-back, and while Granton Vale's Anna White is hardly the kind of signing that's going to stop the press, she is better than what they had.

Former DBC winner Fred Dawson's career probably didn't pan out exactly as he intended it, but the 30-year-old is a good striker nonetheless; and alongside Nick Man, Hollin at least have an attack which is capable of getting goals. Midfielder, Colin Loweson, is the team's prise asset. The 20-year-old made his debut aged sixteen, and is now an imperious player with wisdom beyond his years, who runs the show for his side. In addition right-winger, Chris Jack, has a few Schottia caps from back in the day, and the club legend can create chances in the wide areas. 27-year-old Neil Brown plays alongside Loweson in the centre, and does the unglamorous stuff (if Loweson can be described as glamorous). Whatever you want to say about Hollin, they actually do have a good defence. Forbes is joining the outstanding Cosumarite, Praxil Glasspool, Schottia cap Robert Morris, and Andy Seal. Varry Coen is one of the most experienced goalkeepers in the league, and he will need to be at his best to help them avoid the drop.

Prediction: 19th. It's probably now goodbye Hollin. The team look out of funds, out of inspiration, and out of ideas.

Star player: Colin Loweson | Rising Star: Ruth Forbes

Mucusia are a side who have really grown in popularity over the last decade, as their fluid attacking style of play has captured the imagination of fans in city where footballing success has been lacking. Drawing much of their fan base from the young student population, the matches at the Pllier Ground have a very distinctive feel. Thirteenth or fourteenth seems to be about their limit in terms of how far up the table they can muster; they have had some good runs, but consistency over the entire season seems to be a problem for them. The Eusebians have produced a few good players in their time, most notably Natalie Adams, earning the club a reputation for breading young talent. This season sees the return of former club favourite, Sara Foucault, the player whose goals earned them promotion six seasons ago. The striker arrives in part part-exchange for Laura Smith, who goes in the other direction to join up with FC Soessch. Eula Richard is the clubs other summer signing, after the midfielder fell out of favour at Cornellians.

Foucault, alongside Pasargan forward, Aimée Hétu, actually looks like a very good strike force. The duo could easily play together at a much higher level, and the final third is not going to be an area in which Mucusia struggle. With added support coming from Daineri poster-girl Ryuni, the club have a very diverse forward line. Eula Richard will form part of a midfield there with Gihaje Wehly and Mako Sekine. Former La Gorlions star, Sekine, is maturing into a top defensive midfielder, and will no doubt learn a lot form Richard, who has played at the highest level with the Eagles. Wehly is the SPL's only gender non-binary player, and the Gylian has proven themselves to be up to the league standard since making the switch from the amateur set up in their own country. Centre-back Sarah Gwire was a part of Schottia's Olympic silver winning women's team, and she will start beside former U18 cap, Callum Norman. Left-back David Mowat is very highly rated, and expected to win a U21 call-up at some point in the future, while Polaaskan right-back Stefan Tobiasz is a well-established part of this side. Sunriser, Diego, completes the line-up, and looked good in goals last year.

Prediction: 13th. More of the same for Lilly Kittman's team, a good run could push them up into the top half though.

Star player: Aimée Hétu | Rising star: David Mowat

Granton Vale are another side who have seen key players head to the exit door, and we will need to wait and see just how damaging the loss of both Pasha and Hobbs is. The Beachcombers aren't the smallest club in the league, and they have had one or two good players over the years, yet surprisingly they have never really made much of an impact in the SPL. They have a decent youth development programme, and once again they will look to that, rather than forking out what little cash they have to plug the gaps. Thirty-one-year-old Ismal Keirut is their one and only summer signing, joining from Port James Athletic, they will be hoping he can bring some much needed quality to the side following the retirement of Scott Copper and Arron Marcie.

Jack Hobbs has led the line at Sea Park for the last decade, so it's strange not to see his name on the team sheet. The very impressive John Fyfe moves up from the attacking midfield in his place, and the switch in position is going to be a big challenge for the teenager, no matter how well he equipped himself last season. Lucy Khoroushi will star in the supporting role, in what looks like being a very young attack. The 18-year-old attacking midfielder is utterly untested at this level. Carly Ellice performed well last season on the right wing, and manager Dan Brown will be hoping for more of the same from her. Some much needed experience comes from Keirut and Gerhard Bitter in the midfield, with Karl Hierholzer, probably the best player they have at the their disposal, also in the centre. The Beachcomber defence is going to be sorely tested this season, and the back four of Mavis Johnson, Grace Hallman, Norman Dorkin and Sven Allman will need to be at their very best. 95Xer, Krista Till, has proven her self to be a good keeper, and she too will need to rise to the occasion to keep the side up.

Prediction: 15th. When comparing them to the other sides round about the drop zone, you definitely feel that Granton have more potential. However they are less experienced, and that could be their downfall.

Star Player: Kurt Hierholzer | Rising Star: John Fyfe

How on earth can New Island even begin to think about besting last season's ninth place? It was an incredible achievement from Judy Scott and her team; one which rightly earned her third place in the Manager of the Year, and earned Liz Addison and Grant Carlin Schottia caps. Those two are gone however, and Scott may be about to find out just how hard life can be when you break football's golden rule, and sell your best players. Replacing these players hasn't been easy, and the retirements of Lyn Fastolf and Gary Hamilton has created additional headaches. Niko Rosmalen is a good midfielder - and so he should be at $4 million - but is he up to the same standard as $10 million girl Addison. Another signing who looks potentially exciting is Apox centre-half, Erik Cunningham. Joining from Oldem Knights, he has the difficult responsibility for filling in for Schottia U21 skipper, Carlin. Former Serpentine youth, Fortune Adeleke, joins up as well and should provide the some much needed experience to the back line.

Scott has at least managed to keep a hold of last season's front line of Ian Wilson and Ramone Scotta, despite some interest in the latter. Scotta's bulk, and his directness in attack, made him particularly difficult to defend against, as he helped himself to 16 goals last time round. The Pebbles might have lost one Addison, but they held onto the other, and former Warriors girl, Holly, was arguably their most effective player. She will be joined by Rosmalen in the centre of the midfield. Cenian teenager, Nova Kymeri, will continue on the left, despite the fact that she plays in the centre for the Rushmori's U21. Her opposite number is Ikas Nike, and the two of them proved a real handful during the march to ninth place. Its all change at the back, with Jano Jäger the only player remaining from last season. They have brought some good players in, but it might be asking a lot of the new recruits, who are really going to need to hit the ground running. In goals they have the very experienced Seong Min Courtois, a Quebecois who spent much of his career as a reserve in Semarland, and came out of nowhere to win the keeper of the year award last time round

Prediction: 12th. Twelfth would probably be reasonable, but not what the fan are hoping for. New Island have sold record numbers of season ticket, and those sensing UICA football will want more.

Star player: Holly Addison | Rising star: Nova Kymeri

Hillstreet returned to the SPL two seasons ago, and have stuck about. They have a modest budget, but they have players who seem to get the job done. Former Porty manager, Conner Watts, has done a good job since taking over; he's got them back to the SPL, and he seems to be keeping them there. Veteran striker Bruno Schwarts announced his retirement this season, and the former Soessch man's presence in attack will certainly be missed. Kel Assuk's Ashur Ben Hassi does join on loan from Cenian side 1860 Azoth though, and the young striker has a brand of football that I'm sure many of the fan's will get excited by.

Alongside Ashur in the attack is Redvali international Will Castillo. The 25-year-old striker might have seen his nation disappear from the international footballing stage, but he still has this platform to show us what he's got. Astrogrth's Dunixi Izambizaga proved themselves to be a good addition to the squad last season, slotting in well next to midfield partner Aleksander Heino-Watanabe. The two of them seemed able to mix it with some of the best midfields in the country, and it will be interesting to see what they have up their sleeves this time round. Young Kirisakian, Ichiko Tsukahara, starts on the right-wing, and may have to adjust their game plan in the absence of Schwartz up front. Left winger, Don Longfellow is of a very similar mould; tall, quick, and looks to get the ball into the box at the earliest opportunity. The defence has some areas which are stronger than others, with Zack Cobb and Desmond Derpson who are nothing special, flakned by the far more exciting proposition of Simon Johnson and Sanchia Diaz. Keeper, Lisa Farney, isn't the biggest goalie going, but she is capable of some real athleticism in the goalmouth.

Prediction: 17th. Watts has put together a squad more than capable of delivering another season of top flight football for the Hunters.

Star Player: Simon Johnson | Rising Star: Ashur Ben Hassi

The Blues are back! Okay it's not that exciting, but I'm sure the Warriors fans missed the New Blefast derby. Former Schottia defender, Chris Okywä, made a big impression after taking over as manager last season, and the club marched to promotion from the new look Schottic Division One. Okywä has brought a fastness and directness to the team, with a versatile 4-3-3, which should stand them in good stead in the SPL. Much of their success last season was on the back of teenage forward Isaiah Vaught, who joined Cenian side Whitehaven Triumph in a move; which landed the Blues a cool six million. The money has been put to good use however, with signings of Johnny Birch, Thomas Rodgers, and Charlotte Ünterhausen all coming in with SPL experience. Ünterhausen, the baby sister of Johannas, Melanie, and Mark, is an exciting addition to the team, and a bit of a surprise capture. Former Vermillion Rage kid Christine Philippousis, also comes in at centre-back, with the hope that she can thrive playing alongside Ross Gormlaith who was an important player last season.

The Blues had a lot of joy from their three man forward line last season. Shu, and Alasdair Nesbo are joined this season by teenager Nikki Temples, who has the unenviable task of filling Vaught's boots. The man who holds it all together in the middle is Port Christopher international Tom Sanchez, a player the club will be delighted to have held onto. He will play alongside Birch and Ünterhausen, in what looks like a SPL quality line-up. Right-back, Mark Halliburton, had a very good season last term, and should make the step up comfortably; whereas Rogers on the left has been playing at this level for three seasons already. Philippousis, and Gormlaith is the classic blend of youth and experience at centre-half. Goalkeeper, John Fallen, had a very good season in the First Division, but is obviously up against far better teams this year.

Prediction: 16th. Probably not going squeeze into the top half of the table of their first outing, but they are a big club, and they'll be alright.

Star player: Tom Sanchez | Rising star: Charlotte Ünterhausen

A lengthy stint in the top tier came to an end for the Lime Greens three years ago, when they were relegated. Maybe it was a surprise to some that they bounced back last season, where a few of the rising stars of the new Schottic First Division were forced to miss out. Manager Kim Creasey seems to have got them playing in a way that's hard to beat, and that proved to be the case in the play-offs where they really came into their own. The club don't have much in the way of funds, but Wendy Ghent has been brought in from New Island, and the winger should help to bolster their attack.

Club legend Lucas Yashvil starts alongside youngster, Ian Rees, in a strike force that might struggle to make much headway against the more resilient defences. Ghent will be a welcome addition on the left, whereas hardy perennial, Dardan Baris, might be a metre or two off the pace. U15 WC winner, Jane Schramm, is their real player of quality in the midfield, and you can expect the team to rely heavily on the pint-size player. Nicolas Irongray is fairly new on the scene, but looks like he has the bulk to make up for his partner's lackthereof. At 37, it's incredible that Ellian Larraux is still going. The right-back returned from maternity leave last year, and actually ended up playing some of her best football. Left-back, Luke Corsby has also been around the block quite a bit, and has SPL level experience from before. The centre-back pairing of Houlison and Harris did well last season, but they, on the other hand, have never played at the top level. Keeper James Peterson is another number-one who is going to kept busy this season.

Prediction: 20th. Favourites to be relegated. Too many of their players are either too old, too young, or just not good enough.

Star Player: Jane Schramm | Rising Star: Nicolas Irongray

Kirk Preston surprised everyone last season, as they earned a very respectable haul of 41 points in their first season back in the SPL. Given the way they were taken apart last time they were in this division, finishing safely clear of the drop zone will be seen as a great achievement. The Holy Men play with a physicality, which is hard for a lot of teams to handle. Both in attack and in defence, they take no prisoners whatsoever. So used to scrapping it out in the lover leagues, its the only way they know how to play, and Ross Killanen's signings over the last two seasons have reflected that. The loss of Euran wingback Jayden Fox will be a blow, but Killanen has brought in a couple of new faces who should help to gloss over that loss. Former Toll Cross striker, John Wylie, is Wylie by name and wily by nature, what's more, at 190 cm he is a big presence in the attack. Right winger Alexander Alan should also a good addition of the flank; the player is back in Schottia for the first time in his professional career after spells in Semarland and Redvale.

Leopoldo Ramirez gave a few of the SPL defenders some food for fought last season, and the Guayabalese striker will be hoping for another strong outing alongside the powerful Wylie. Kirk Preston go with a pair of monsters in the midfield, with Oliver Helling and Ian Long both specialised at breaking down play. They are both pretty much just destroyers, but they do it very well. Helling in particular helped Schottia U23s to the semi final of the Olympics, while Long has also got a B-cap to his name. Alan, on the right, will have the important job of delivering the crosses for Wylie and Ramirez to nod in, because Torsten Grant on the left is more of a 'heads down and run like fuck' type winger. The central defence of Russ Linvoy and Thomas Barr performed pretty well last season, the Brenecian, Linvoy, settling in very well alongside the more experienced Barr. Frazer Mata was a former First Division player of the year, and the right back doubles up as another attacking outlet. Marla Kershaw is making her debut at left-back this season, and we need to wait and see what she can come up with. There was some speculation that keeper Thomas Ireland could have been replaced during the window, but the 32 year-old appears to be back for another crack at the whip.

Prediction: 14th. Mid-table, and moving in the right direction. I don't think anyone really sees them as relegation candidates.

Star Player: Oliver Helling | Rising Star: Russ Linvoy

So Soessch 1990, remember them? Nah, you've not missed much to be honest. The city's smallest club have been second tier stalwarts for much of the last decade without really doing very much. However, they had a very good season last time round, and with the help of Jessica Grey's goals, they managed to haul themselves up. For a club with their finances and facilities, it's going to be very hard for them make much of an impact, and anyone expecting them hang around in the SPL is going to be disappointed. To be fair, Jason Fielding has made a go of it, and has spent what little money the side have wisely. Twenty-year-old Tamar Dunn joins from La Gorlions, and her SPL experience will be all too important. Additionally Ian Vincent has caps for Schottia at youth level, and the former Handon North star does come very highly rated.

The Raiders rely heavily upon their Osarius born striker Grey, whose goals are the difference in many of their matches. She starts alongside the distinctly average James Mirren, who really can't keep up with his counterpart. New signings, Vincent and Dunn, are flanked by the much more experienced Jordan Pensly and Davis Van der Lowe, who are both going to need to raise their game this coming season. The defence are in danger of being really hammered, and the back four of Niele Wolbeck, David Spalding, Lloyd Nithercott, and Jakob Hüsch are likely in for a bit of a work out. Thomas Purtzl, between the sticks, is at least experienced, even if he is a little lacking in the skill department.

Prediction: 18th. They actually have enough goals in them to put up a bit of a fight, but they don't have enough big match experience to stay up.

Star Player: Jessica Grey | Rising Star: Tamara Dunn

-Schottic First Division-

The bookies have more or less stopped taking bets on outcome of the First Division (or "The Craws" as they say in Schottia), with Marionville overwhelming favourites to go straight back up. In Jack Cordoba they have a young manager bustling with fresh ideas, and the biggest club SPL club to go down in the UICA era, look set to bounce back quickly. Holding on to Pasargan, Vojnomir Nikolic, was massive for them, as was the capture of John Delanson from Central Star. Loan deals for Lara Wedderburn and Alex Pearce give them added options as well. The main threats to Marionville are likely to come from West Holbrookdale and Lammerton City, with both of them looking strong. The Dales only narrowly missed out on promotion last season, and Grant Nean's players will have their eye firmly on second place.

A little further down the running order, Central Stars will need to adjust to the loss of Delenson, but with Flora Klee coming into the side, the might just have the quality for a promotion push. The New Island clubs, Snubbeak Rock and Berwick United are always dangerous, and they would see anything other than the play-offs as a bitter disappointment.

With an outside chance of making the play-off place, the two former WSL clubs could also have a say in final results. Bara Waves (formerly Handon Ladies) have brought in Jane Swanson as manager, who has overseen quite an overhaul of the playing squad, including the clubs firs male player. West Coast Warriors, on the other hand, will be hoping their youthful team can use it's pace and drive to good effect as they try to get over what was a poor season by their standards last time round.

At the bottom end of the table Bolton Green and Baumann both might struggle, while newly promoted Oak Park Celtic have struggled to strengthen over the summer and might find themselves in hot water too.

by **Schottia** » Thu Sep 14, 2017 10:55 am

Matchday one - six

Globe Cup -- First Prelim Round
(DAR) Sterling City United 1–1 FC Soessch

Soessch were kind enough to get the ball rolling for us this week as they travelled to Darman to take on Sterling City United in the first round of Globe Cup qualification. Barry Gorman handed a competitive debut to both new signings, Groaré Sasca and Laura Smith as he looked to try and make an impact in the competition for the fist time. Sasca was particularly lively in the first half and even tested the keeper with a long range shot, as he showed the fans what they have to look forward to. It was David Hughes who got the crucial away goal, however, connecting with a Johan Shearer cross to give Soessch a share of the points.

Series B Champions' Cup -- First Prelim Round
(MRN) Hruk SC 0–2 D’Itille

D'Itille had a trip to Mriin in the Series B, as they took on Hruk SC. The North Island side looked fairly composed as they eased into the tie, goals from Jane Schramm and Lukas Yashvil earning them a 2-0 win.

Globe Cup -- First Prelim Round
FC Soessch 2-0 Sterling City United (DAR)

Soessch closed out the tie in a convincing manner, as the sides met at Gannon Park for the return leg. The home side had the best of the early possession and made it count with two first half goals. David Hughes made it two in two, before new signing, Groaré Sasca, latched onto a Kerstin Dornenberger pass to win Die Rote Teufel a place in the nest round. It's of course only early days, but the new look Soessch midfield appears to be settling well.

Series B Champions' Cup -- First Prelim Round
D'Itille 0-0 Hruk SC (MRN)

D'Itille completed a good week for Schottic clubs in UICA competition, holding out for a 0-0 draw at home to Hruk SC.

Champions' Cup -- Second Prelim Round
Handon United 2–1 Vinte de Setembro (SBE)
Cornellians 0–2 Navel FC (WRL)

The Champions' Cup is the biggest stage in club football, and Schottia's teams finally entered the fray, hoping to win through to the money-spinning group phase of the tournament. Handon United were playing in the tournament for the first time, as they welcomed 2nd Brazilian Empire Champs, Vinte de Setembro, to Harbour Hill Stadium. There have been a lot of comings and goings this summer, and it would appear that Jane Gullie has really built up her United side. New signing, Regatta Aspenwood, opened the scoring after fifteen minutes, bursting free of the last defender to finish with a low strike under the keeper. Daniel Dostalok then put the champs 2-0 up after firing in from a Natalie Adams cross. A late goal from the Brazilians won't have gone down well though, giving the opposition an important away goal. For Cornellians however, there was a case of opening night nerves, as a very shaky performance against Navel FC saw them go down by two goals to nil. Shale will have been angry with the lacklustre display, which now makes qualification incredibly difficult.

Globe Cup -- Second Prelim Round
FC Soessch 0–1 SC Morievo (BJK)
Lammerton 0–0 Oysterhaven Reds (BSE)
Port Sebastian 3–0 CD FAS Portuguesa (NCS)

There was plenty of action in Schottia this evening, as all three Globe Cup hopefuls took to the field at home. While the night was largely disappointing for Schottia's finest, Port Sebastian savaged things with a convincing win over CD FAS Portuguesa. Thank god Conavancio had retired before taking to the field against a FAS tribute act! As it was, his former teammates undoubtedly gave him much to cheer about as they stuck three past the Nuevo Caracasians for no reply. Eloisa Purinton was their inspiration, as the skipper drilled in two excellent first half goals to get the ball rolling. Joey Bia completed the rout with a thunderous effort from the angle of the box, deep into the second half. Elsewhere, FC Soessch were given a rude awakening as they went down 1-0 to SC Morievo, and Lammerton were unable to find a way past Oysterhaven Reds, as their UICA woes continue.

Series B Champions' Cup -- Second Prelim Round
(TUR) FC Almintora 0–0 Soessch 1990
D’Itille 1–2 Druzhna Rovers (BYN)

It was a similarly frustrating night elsewhere, as both Schottia's Series B teams failed to come up with the goods. D'Itille went down 2-1 at home to Buyanese side, Druzhna Rovers, while Jess Grey was unable to find the target Soessch 1990, as they drew 0-0 with Turorian side Almintora.

Champions' Cup -- Second Prelim Round
(SBE) Vinte de Setembro 0-3 Handon United
(WRL) Navel FC 1-0 Cornellians

Any concerns that Handon United might struggle in the 2nd Brazillian Empire were quickly put to bed, as they despatched of Vinte de Setembro in style. The club's $12,000,000 record signing, Rachel Hellion, made her debut having signed from Fairleigh-Warburton in the TL. The capture of the Chromatik international is a massive statement of intent from the club, and Hellion looked very settled alongside Adams and Bánach in the centre. Semarlandic cap, Christian Lovenkrands got the ball rolling with an angled strike after twenty minutes, before JK Cottle rose highest to nod home a Louis Hordern corner to make it two. Substitute, Hiroyo Nunez wrapped things up ten minutes from time, reacting quickly to pick up the scraps, after a Regatta Aspenwood shot was initially blocked. United look increasing like the real deal, and there were also good defensive performances from Cottle, Hordern, and Lukas Finnan. For Cornellians, however, it's back to the drawing board, as the club now need to pick themselves up after a shock exit at the hands of Navel FC. The Eagles started the match well enough, but were left to lament missed chances, as the Whirl Island side defeated them 1-0 on the night.

Globe Cup -- Second Prelim Round
(BJK) SC Morievo 1-0 FC Soessch
(BSE) Oysterhaven Reds 1-0 Lammerton
(NCS) CD FAS Portuguesa 3-2 Port Sebastian

Still reeling from Cornellians exit, Schottic football was given yet more food for thought, as three away defeats all but ended the nation's Globe Cup interest. Soessch weren't ever at the races as they suffered a repeat of their 1-0 defeat at the hands of Morievo. Lammerton also cracked under the pressure in Bonesea, as a single goal was enough to send Oysterhaven Reds through. Port Sebastian did enough to secure their progress, but they were treated to a torrid evening in the caldron that is Nuevo Caracas, going down 3-2.

Series B Champions' Cup -- Second Prelim Round
Soessch 1990 2-3 FC Almintora (TUR)
(BYN) Druzhna Rovers 3-1 D'Itille

And it was also curtains for Schottia's Series B interest too, as both Soessch and D'Itllie crashed out of the competition. Jessica Grey did manage to finally find her scoring boot, but it was too little too late, wrapping up a shocking night for the city.

SPL
Hollin 3–3 Port Sebastian
D'Itille 0–2 FC Soessch
Hillstreet 1–0 New Belfast Warriors
Soessch 1990 3–1 Kings Park
New Belfast Blues 2–2 Kirk Preston United
Handon United 2–3 Port Patrick United
La Gorlions 1–0 Dundee
Port James Athletic 1–0 New Island
Cornellians 5–2 Granton Vale
Mucusia 1–0 Lammerton

So finally, some SPL action, after what must have felt like a long summer for the fans. I'm not sure what we were all hoping for, but it was a weird assortment of results to get the ball rolling with. Let's start of with the defending Champions, Handon United, who hand looked very impressive in the Champions' Cup so far, but faced a difficult opener as they welcomed the Breakers to Harbour Hill Stadium. Jane Gullie's side started well enough, and the packed stadium was bouncing after Regatta Aspenwood wriggled past Robert Torry, before scoring with a powerful strike that gave Altavian Kalhoro no chance. Port Patrick didn't lay down their weapons though, and tried hard to hit United at every opportunity. Whitney Kelly in particular, gave poor Jayden Fox an horrendous afternoon, as the Chromatik winger's pace left him horribly exposed. Callum Frir might not be the most stylish striker in the league, but he's a nightmare to handle in the box; and United found that out to their cost, as his two first half goals ensured the match was tied as the teams went up the tunnel. The second half could have went either way, but it was the Breakers who seemed to find a hidden gear as Cenian teenager, Chase Ziegenhorn, scored the winning goal that popped the Handon United bubble.

Cornellians had fewer problems, however, as they hammered five past a Granton Vale side who looked a little at sea. The Eagles took their foot of the accelerator late on and allowed the Beachcombers to claim two consolation goals, and that will have inevitably taken the gloss of an otherwise top-drawer attacking display. Kel Koromin did what he does best, tucking away a first half double, which really ended the game as a contest. The lively Jade Irwin then made it three, with an accurate strike from just inside the area. Kathryn Kvanderwyk got in on the act just after half time, opening her own account for the season - before Mershawn Mercury made it five, cutting in from the left. John Fyfe hit Cornellians completely against the run of play with ten minutes left on the clock, as the defence struggled to deal with his pace. In stoppage time, lightning stuck again however, as Gerhard Bitter's long-range drive deflected in past Jeremy McNott.

There was also an incredible performance from Soessch 1990, as they shocked everyone by defeating Kings Park 3-1 on the North Island. Perhaps Raven Cullen's side are still getting used to one another, because they really weren't at the races in this one. Young Ian Vincent completely ran the show in the middle of the park, with a performance that left pundits wondering whether to laugh of applaud. Jessica Grey, as expected, was also on hand to tuck away any half chances that sprung her way, and in truth, the win could have been even bigger. The only silver lining for the Royals will be Tiferet Ashbrown's goal, as the Brenecian showed she might have some real potential on the left wing. This is most certainly going to be a head scratcher for the visitors though, and they'll be left wondering whether the Raiders were that good, or they were simply that bad.

Elsewhere, Port Sebastian let in three goals against Hollin to utterly take the shine off an otherwise good attacking display. FC Soessch got over their midweek Globe Cup blues, as goals from Kerstin Dornenberger and David Hughes helped them brush aside D'Itille. And lastly, a goal from Sarah Foucault on her return to Mucusia, heaped yet more pressure on Lammerton boss John Sedder after his shocking start to the season.

Champions' Cup -- Play-Off Round
(APX) Gwinevra Barbarians 0–2 Handon United

While they might not currently enjoy their lofty position of old in the UICA rankings, there are few trips in the Multiverse quite like the one to Apox, when it comes to international domestic football. Handon United would be looking to bounce back from their shock defeat to Port Patrick, as they took on the Apoxian champs, Gwinevra Barbarians, with a place in the Champions Cup at stake. If the fans might have been apprehensive going into this one, their nerves were soon put at ease, as Daniel Dostalok's goal gave them an early lead. The Mercedinian striker did well to control a long-ball forward from Natalie Adams, before tucking his shot past the keeper. United held together well in this match, and looked much stronger in the defensive third. Adams settled things for the Schottic side with twenty minutes to go, as she curled in a pinpoint free kick to give Gullie's boys and girls a commanding lead to defend in the second leg.

Globe Cup -- Play-Off Round
Cornellians 3–1 Real Canterfórdia (NLU)
Port Sebastian 2–0 Crown Fighters (COL)

So, just two clubs left in the Globe Cup for Schottia, after Lammerton and FC Soessch were both sent home with their tails between their legs. Thankfully, Cornellians finally found some form though, as they put three past New Lusitanian Ultramar's Real Canterfórdia. Real were a team that even the most avid football followers amongst us knew little about, so it was very hard to know what to expect. The Eagles seemed un phased though, and when the wingbacks are getting in on the scoring action, you know you're in for an easy night. Nepharim cap, Maeon Vlahos, opened the scoring with a powerful drive from the edge of the box, before second half goals from Kit Kvanderwyk and Isla Sibučić gave Reinhard Shale a 3-1 win. Port Sebastian also had their scoring boots on, as they disposed of Coldfield's Crown Fighters. They might have been up against the Fighters, but it was Porty who packed the punch, with Demba Traore, and Andrya Novkovic both smashing in the goals, which gave the Handon side a comfortable cushion to defend.

Series B Champions' Cup -- Play-Off Round
(SOL) Grandstrasse 0–6 New Belfast Blues

Who was Isaiah Vaughts again? The name sounds vaguely familiar, but who cares when you smash six past your opponents on the road, in UICA competition. The Blues really looked a cut above in this match, with Alasdair Nesbo's hattrick one that the young wing-forward will remember for a long time.

SPL
Port Sebastian 2–2 Lammerton
Granton Vale 3–0 Mucusia
New Island 2–5 Cornellians
Dundee 1–0 Port James Athletic
Port Patrick United 1–0 La Gorlions
Kirk Preston United 2–4 Handon United
Kings Park 1–0 New Belfast Blues
New Belfast Warriors 2–0 Soessch 1990
FC Soessch 1–0 Hillstreet
Hollin 3–2 D'Itille

Just when Handon United fans thought it was going to be easy, huh? The final scoreline in this match does little to reflect just how difficult United found it, as they made the trip round the coast to Kirk Preston. The Holly men tore lumps out of them from the kick-off, with the mismatched heights in the midfield looking almost comical. It's kind of hard not to look small when you go up against Ollie Helling and Ian Long, but Handon United's lassies really struggled up against that pair of brutes. Ross Killanen's side took the lead twice in the first half, as their combative stile of play left United battered and bruised. Guayabalese forward, Leopoldo Ramirez opened the scoring for the home side, only for Regatta Aspenwood to equalise moments later with her third goal of the season. United weren't level long though, as Alexander Alan, found John Wylie at the back post, and his header left Shjegrzh Na'Kefir with no chance. United pulled level once more, this time through Daniel Dostalok, but in truth, it was actually against the run of play. The advantage to having a budget like the one Jane Gullie has at her disposal, is the fact that you have the players on the bench who can make a difference. Baffour Asante for Envy Adams, and Hiroyo Nune for Dostalok gave the visitors more of a physical edge, and that was enough to turn the tide. A goal for the Revali, and another from Christian Lovenkands gave United their first league points of the season as they closed out the match. However, if Kirk Preston play like this every week, they will be a difficult team to beat.

The big match this weekend was last season's third verses last season's fourth, as Porty hosted the Hornets. Both sides suffered very frustration results last week, and they were both out to make amends. Port Sebastian were right in the title race last season, and based on there performance early on in this match, they could be up there again. Vera Cummings gave the side the lead, as she pounced to volley an Eloisa Purinton freekick past the outstretched Jim Black to give the home side the lead. Lammerton rolled their socks up though, and a clever exchange between Luke Svensson and Raquel Naeher sent the former through on the overlap. The Llamian then crossed for Kaytlyne Victoriane, who will have been relieved to have gotten her account up and running. The goal seemed to rekindle something inside John Sedder's side, which had thus far been missing, and in the opening half hour of the second half, they enjoyed their best spell of football this season. Victoriane created some problems for Schottia left-back Paul Doig, with her turn of pace down the right, and succeeded in creating a chance for Elspeth Gendening gave Lammerton the lead with a tap-in at the near post. Port Sebastian were never going to lay down though, and Eloisa Purinton hit Lammerton with a late sucker punch, which left them still searching for their first win in all competitions.

Cornellians recorded their second 5-2 win in as many weeks, as they now seem to have forgotten their Champions' Cup exit. New signing, Johannas Ünterhausen made his debut after recovering from a hamstring injury, in what was his first SPL appearance in nine years. The Schottia international didn't get on the score sheet, but he was in the think of the action, as the Eagles attack put the Pebbles to the sword. Jade Irwin scored a second half brace and set up another for Kit Kvanderwyk, in what was a woman of the match performance from the Nepharim.

Finally; Dundee got up and running, as Sett Horn's second half goal gave them a 1-0 win over Port James. Strikes from Somuele der Pros, and Miki gave the Warriors a win over newcomers Soessch 1990. And a late goal from Dejan Corvell gave Kings Park a win, and perhaps more crucially some hope, as they defeated NBB one nil.

Champions' Cup -- Play-Off Round
Handon United 4-2 Gwinevra Barbarians (APX)

After a strong performance in Apox, Handon United would have been confident going into the return fixture with Gwinevra Barbarians. It was a sell out crowd at Harbour Hill, once again, as the fans gathered to hopefully watch their team's excellent Champions' Cup run continue. In an action packed first half, United opened up a 3-1 lead. Regatta Aspenwood seemes to have had her scoring boots on since making the switch from Southfell United and the 24-year-old was on the money once more with a well-taken double. Daniel Dostalok also finished brilliantly from a Rachel Hellion through-ball, and Dilon Bánach completed the scoring with the team's fourth, late in the second half. Champions' Cup qualification will go down as a massive moment in the transformation of this club, with Handon United finally able to compete on the world stage.

Globe Cup -- Play-Off Round
(NLU) Real Canterfórdia 1-1 Cornellians
(COL) Crown Fighters 2-4 Port Sebastian

With United setting the ball rolling, it was the turn of Cornellians and Port Sebastian to edge a step closer to UICA football proper. The Eagles were already defending a hefty lead, so they will have been little phased by a lacklustre 1-1 draw with Real Canterfórdia. Porty, on the other hand, managed to put four past Crown Fighters in Coldfield, as they eased through to the next round. Goals from Leonard, Traore, Bia and Abner meant a good day at the office for Jock Sonny's side.

Series B Champions' Cup -- Play-Off Round
New Belfast Blues 1-0 Grandstrasse (SOL)

And The Blues completed a good week for Schottia's teams, as a goal from Shu ensured they got the jobs finished as they hosted Gandstrasse.

SPL
D'Itille 2–2 Port Sebastian
Hillstreet 4–3 Hollin
Soessch 1990 1–2 FC Soessch
New Belfast Blues 1–3 New Belfast Warriors
Handon United 4–2 Kings Park
La Gorlions 1–0 Kirk Preston United
Port James Athletic 1–1 Port Patrick United
Cornellians 4–3 Dundee
Mucusia 0–1 New Island
Lammerton 2–2 Granton Vale

It was an interesting week in the SPL, as both New Belfast and Soessch experienced their first derby matches in a number of years. The Warriors went away with the bragging rights in New Belfast, as they recorded a 3-1 win over the struggling Blues, while FC Soessch also got the better of their newly promoted neighbours. Drawkish striker, Iana Synder, got her first and second goals of the season for the Whalers, before a Tomás Fierro turned in a Lavender Jameson cross to give them a comfortable win. The Soessch derby was far closer however, as the Raiders gave their bigger cousins much more or a work out. It took a late goal from Currian Cort to break the deadlock in this match, after a hotly contested first half.

Match of the weekend had to be Dundee's visit to Lochend Stadium, where the two sides treated us to a real end to end battle. Cornellians have looked very sharp going forward so far, and that proved again to be the case as goals from Kathryn Kvanderwyk and Johnnas Ünterhausen opened up a two-goal lead. The Eagles have a lot of running in their side, especially in the wide areas, with fullbacks Vlahos and Ramsey coming forward in support. Dundee are made of strong stuff though, and they show no intentions of lying down this season. The Panners pulled one back thanks to a Wallace Solway strike, before Heidi Spearing's free kick levelled the scores. Shortly after the restart, Cornellians retook the through a Kel Koromin header, before Sett Horn returned the compliments at the other end. It was the Eagles who had the last word however, and it's perhaps this never-say-die attitude which will help them reclaim the title. A quick shift in pace from Merchawn Mercury was enough to take him past Jeremy Buckthorn, before he set up Cosumarite wonderkid, Isla Sibučić, for the winning goal.

In a sense it was a similar story at Harbour Hill stadium, as 4-2 is beginning to look like United's favourite score line. Kings Park look much better now, after their humiliation in the first game of the season, and they gave United a good run for their money in large parts of this match. Rachel Hellion scored her first goal for the club as United got their noses in front, only for youngster, Billy McCorralie to level the scores. The Schottic teenager was causing some problems for United by this stage, and he could have scored his second moments later, after he was put through by Meghan Hartsdown. In the second half United's superiority shone through though, as their players did enough to get the result which keeps them in the title race.

Elsewhere: Hillstreet came through a high-scoring match with Hollin; Azoth loanee, Ashur Ben Hassi, helping himself to a double. Cephus Hunt scored the winning goal as La Gorlions got the better of Kirk Preston in what was a full-blooded match. And Lammerton were left disappointed once again, despite goals from Jasper Valaran and Elspeth Glendening, as they failed to take all three points from their home match against Granton Vale.

Globe Cup -- Qualifying Round
(FFD) Ausharmuj Marusi 2–0 Cornellians
Port Sebastian 1–0 Arcticala Inlet (VIL)

Cornellians left themselves with an enormous mountain to climb, as they went down 2-0 to Ausharmuji Marusi in Farfadillis. The Eagles continued to blow hot and cold, as the 2-0 defeat will now leave them really feeling the heat when they welcome their opponents back to Lochend next week. Port Sebastian had better luck however, and possible saw a new hero emerge, as teenager Keeva Crowe scored the only goal of their game against Arcticala Inlet. Jock Sonny's side will now need to be on their guard in the second leg, with this one evenly poised.

SPL
Port Sebastian 3–0 Granton Vale
New Island 0–0 Lammerton
Dundee 1–0 Mucusia
Port Patrick United 1–3 Cornellians
Kirk Preston United 1–0 Port James Athletic
Kings Park 2–0 La Gorlions
New Belfast Warriors 2–3 Handon United
FC Soessch 7–3 New Belfast Blues
Hollin 1–0 Soessch 1990
D'Itille 0–0 Hillstreet

Gannon Park played host to a ten-goal-thriller, as FC Soessch defeated the Blues by seven goals to three. Despite an early exit from the Globe Cup, Barry Gorman's side have looked right on the money this season, and this thumping result further underlines the fact that they are very much title contenders. There were points in the first half, where the visitors' defending looked almost comical, as Soessch very quickly opened up a four goal lead. David Hughes continued to pose the question as to why he has been over looked in the Schottia set up, by racing to a first half hattrick. Either NBB pulled their finger out, or Soessch took their foot of the pedal in the second half, because the New Belfast side did come back into the match with goals from Shu and Tom Sanchez. Soessch found their groove again late on though, as goals from Groaré Sasca (2) and Laura Smith made the scorline look far more convincing. Die Rote Teufel are playing their best football in the UICA era right now, and based on this, they look set to become a force in Schottic football once again.

Fans protested outside Lammerton City Ground late into Saturday evening, after the Hornets 0-0 draw with New Island left them without a win in six games this season. Lammerton were one of the big preseason favourites for the title, but somehow it's all gone pear-shaped for manager John Sedder, with the fans now calling for his head. Despite being all over New Island for much of the ninety minutes, the visitors failed to find the net. Mars Alexanderson had a 30-metre drive tipped over the bar, and Kaytlyne Victoriane missed with a close range effort late on, to prove that when your luck is out - it really is out. Sedder has been credited with bringing the success Lammerton have enjoyed over the past decade, but could this now be the end of the road for the 56-year-old, as the wolves begin to circle.

After a couple of highly frustrating results, Port Sebastian seem to be back on the up, with a 3-0 win at home to Granton Vale. The Beachcombers haven't actually performed too badly so far this season, but they came up against a far stronger side in every department, when they paid a visit to Dyerton Stadium. A bullet header from Joon Ho Hwang started it all of for Porty on the half hour mark, as the Quebecois connected with an in-swinging corner from Eloisa Purinton to give them the lead. The industrious Michi Leonard, then played in Andrya Novkovic for the Anglatian to double the Handon side's lead shortly before the break. Port Sebastian created plenty of chances in this match, and both Purinton, and teen striker Keeva Crowe could have added to the tally, before Vera Cummings had the final say, as she buried her strike past Kirsta Till.

In other results: Handon United made it three league wins on the bounce with a 3-2 win over The Whalers in New Belfast. Sendoa and Dejan Corvell were on target for Kings Park in a 2-0 win at home to La Gorlions. And a John Wylie goal gave Kirk Preston a 1-0 win over Port James Athletic.

Player and Manager of The Month Awards -- Month One

Player: Groaré Sasca -- FC Soessch
There were big shouts in favour of Kathryn Kvanderwyk and Regatta Aspenwood for this months award, but there could only really be one winner. Sasca's performances have transformed the Soessch attack, as the team have recorded some very impressive results so far. The Farfadillis cap has been a breath of fresh air in the SPL, and it would appear that Barry Gorman has pulled another big signing out of the bag.

Young Player: Colin Loweson -- Hollin
Most people would have laughed you, had you suggested that Hollin would be in the top four at any point in the season, but after four games... here they are. There is no doubt that much of the credit must fall on the shoulders of 20-year-old team captain Colin Loweson, which means he will inevitably be the next player to head for the exit door. Not since Thio Crillin have the Belker side had a young player of this quality.

Manager: Barry Gorman -- FC Soessch
Four wins from four for FC Soessch, and maybe the fans are starting to put the Globe Cup disappointment behind them. Gorman switched from a more conventional 4-4-2, to something of a 4-4-1-1, and it seems to have given them a fresh dynamic, and more of an edge in the league matches. Die Rote Teufel haven't won the league since 2010, but watch this space.

Globe Cup -- Qualifying Round
Cornellians 2-0 Ausharmuj Marusi (FFD) (4-2 pen)
(VIL) Arcticala Inlet 0-1 Port Sebastian

Well, it wasn’t' pretty, but Cornellians somehow managed to pull themselves out of the shit in the return leg at Lochend Stadium. They were trying to claw back a two goal deficit, and roared on by their home fans, they made the Globe Cup group draw with a penalties win over Farf side, Ausharmuj Marusi. Kathryn Kvanderwyk opened the scoring for the Eagles early on, with her brother, Kit, leaving it late before scoring the goal, which took them to extra time. With the deadlock still intact it was on to penalties, and it was left to club captain, Triffid Ramsey, to convert the kick that sent her side through. Port Sebastian were in a similarly tight spot, and they were defending the slimiest of leads as they headed to Vilita to take on Arcticala Inlet. Despite a fierce battle in the first half, Jock Sonny's side managed to get the vital away goal, which guaranteed their progression.

SPL
Hillstreet 3–1 Port Sebastian
Soessch 1990 1–3 D'Itille
New Belfast Blues 1–3 Hollin
Handon United 3–2 FC Soessch
La Gorlions 0–1 New Belfast Warriors
Port James Athletic 3–0 Kings Park
Cornellians 2–1 Kirk Preston United
Mucusia 1–1 Port Patrick United
Lammerton 0–0 Dundee
Granton Vale 0–1 New Island

This weekend saw a real showstopper of a match, as two of the league's on form sides met at Harbour Hill Stadium. Handon United, fresh from Champions' Cup qualification, took on four-wins-from-four, FC Soessch. Both sides have looked very polished so far this season, and while they play very different attacking styles, they seem equally capable of getting goals. The left back position is perhaps where you would say Soessch are weakest, with young Alexi Ceanadach lacking the same experience as the rest of the defence. As a result, it was down the right flack that United aimed their attacks, with Louis Hordern and Christian Lovenkrands using all their pace and wile to good effect. And indeed it was the Semar, Lovenkrands, who gave United the lead after 22 minutes, when he darted into the box before rifling his shot past Schottia keeper Harry Gould at his near post. The visitors were undaunted however, and they worked hard to get themselves back level. A quick interchange between Groaré Sasca and Laura Smith, managed to open up the United defence, which until that point had been resolute. Smith's pinpoint through ball picked out David Hughes in space to flick the ball past Shjegrzh Na'Kefir in the United goal. By this stage Barry Gorman's side were giving as good as they got, and Johan Shearer drew a great save out of Na'Kefir before Sasca gave them the lead. Currian Cort's shot was initially blocked by countryman JK Cottle, but Lukas Finnan was unable to beat the Farf attacker to the loose ball, and he showed good reflexes to convert Soessch's second of the game. United needed to come out of the blocks fighting in the second half, and they did just that. Daniel Dostalok saw his shot crash back off the upright, before Regatta Aspenwood had a strike well saved by Harry Gould. United finally levelled things thanks to a superb assist from Rachel Hellion, who picked out Natalie Adams at the edge of the area; the Sunriser then blasted home an equally superb strike to haul her side back into the game. There were chances at both ends in the closing stages, but it was United to took all three points, as Aspenwood unselfishly squared the ball for Dostalok to score from point-blank range.

If there was ever a team that needed three points it was Athletic. The Port James side have looked like they are really struggling for ideas since the departure of Elspeth Glendining, with Jack Hobbs struggling to adjust to his new setting. Kings Park looked like a tough match on paper, however, Jimmy Mitchel's side finally found a bit of form, as they put three past their opponents. Hobbs opened his account at last, with a goal mid way through the first half, before Derick Mason and Evangeline Querón added a second and third to seal a good win. Port James also kept things tight at the back, with Pepe Edgar finally starting to look like the $6,000,000 they spent on him.

This weekend it was Cornellians turn for the Kirk Preston treatment, as they prepared to get kicked of the park for ninety minutes. The Eagles' quality was enough to shine through however, and after a very testing first half, goals from Jade Irwin and Kel Koromin were enough to win them all three points. Leopoldo Ramirez did find the back of the net late on for the Holy Men, but Ian Long's sending off with twenty minutes to play, put an end to any chance of a comeback.

Elsewhere; Lammerton fans must be considering chucking their season tickets in the bin, after yet another match where their fourteen million NSdollar strike force failed to find the net. Port Sebastian suffered a humiliating defeat at the hands of former manager Conner Watts and his Hillstreet side. And a late Ramone Scotta header helped New Island to victory away to Granton Vale.

SPL
Port Sebastian 5–1 New Island
Dundee 5–0 Granton Vale
Port Patrick United 0–0 Lammerton
Kirk Preston United 0–1 Mucusia
Kings Park 4–3 Cornellians
New Belfast Warriors 2–1 Port James Athletic
FC Soessch 2–0 La Gorlions
Hollin 0–1 Handon United
D'Itille 1–1 New Belfast Blues
Hillstreet 3–1 Soessch 1990

It's the end of an era at the Lammerton City Ground, as the Hornets waved goodbye to manager John Sedder this week. The man has singlehandedly brought about the club's best footballing era for fifty years, but with only five points from their opening six games, the board decided enough was enough. Another early exit from the Globe Cup probably helped persuade Lammerton to part company with Sedder, who will be bitterly disappointed by this outcome. In fairness, a side with their resources really shouldn't be struggling they way they have been, and it will be a chance for someone else to come in a make a go of it. Early favourites for job include: New Island's Judy Scott, Hillstreet manager Conner Watts, Dundee's Johnny Smith, and Schottia U21 boss John McCann.

Anyway, getting back to the football... Dundee absolutely took Granton Vale apart this weekend, putting five past the Beachcombers for no reply. Sett Horn scored a second half hattrick, and there were also goals for Wallace Solway and Jim Gerrish, as the Panners put in a very polished performance in front of their home fans. For Granton Vale, however, there are worrying signs indeed. Being taken to pieces by a side who are by no means the best in the league, does not bode well for some of the bigger games.

Perhaps we will look back in this weekend as the moment Kings Park finally clicked. A win over Cornellians, and four goals in the process, meant that it was a very special afternoon for Raven Cullen and her players. Billy McCorralie scored either side of half-time, and there were also goals for Sendoa, and Dejan Corvell, as the Royals recorded a well deserved win over the six times champions. Cornellains will feel that they could have perhaps taken something from the match though, and they did have chances of their own. There will have been comparisons drawn between Meghan Hartsdown and Jade Irwin in the central midfield battle. However it was the 22-year-old, Hartsdown, who out shone her more experienced opponent.

FC Soessch moved back equal top on goal difference, with a 2-0 win at home to La Gorlions. The Lions made the home side work for it, but Soessch were just too strong at the back, and going forward, they were clinical when they needed to be. David Hughes netted yet again, and Ben Ross added a second with a powerful header in what was a workman line display.

In other matches: A double from teenage super-sub, Keeva Corwe, helped Porty to a 5-1 win over a shell-shocked New Island. Hillstreet moved up to a surprise fourth place as an impressive Ben Hassi performance guided them to a 3-1 win over Soessch 1990. And New Belfast Warriors got the better of a scrapping Port James side, running out 2-1 winners.

.                        Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
 1 Cornellians             6    5   0   1    22   13   +9    15
 2 FC Soessch              6    5   0   1    16    7   +9    15
 3 Handon United           6    5   0   1    17   11   +6    15
 4 Hillstreet              6    4   1   1    11    6   +5    13
 5 New Belfast Warriors    6    4   0   2    10    6   +4    12
 6 Dundee                  6    3   1   2    10    5   +5    10
 7 Hollin                  6    3   1   2    13   11   +2    10
 8 Port Sebastian          6    2   3   1    16   11   +5     9
 9 Port Patrick United     6    2   3   1     7    7    0     9
10 Kings Park              6    3   0   3    10   13   −3     9
11 Port James Athletic     6    2   1   3     6    5   +1     7
12 Mucusia                 6    2   1   3     3    6   −3     7
13 New Island              6    2   1   3     5   11   −6     7
14 D'Itille                6    1   3   2     8    9   −1     6
15 La Gorlions             6    2   0   4     2    6   −4     6
16 Lammerton               6    0   5   1     4    5   −1     5
17 Kirk Preston United     6    1   1   4     6   10   −4     4
18 Granton Vale            6    1   1   4     7   16   −9     4
19 Soessch 1990            6    1   0   5     6   12   −6     3
20 New Belfast Blues       6    0   2   4     8   17   −9     2

First Division

It's only early days in the First Division, but already early favourites, Marionville and Snubbeak, seem to be pulling away. Both sides have sixteen points, and are undefeated in their opening six games. Schottia U21 star, Lara Wedderburn has been enjoying a run of first team football, while on loan from Cornellian, and seven goals in six for Marionville is impressive. West Coast Warriors are one of the teams snapping at their heels though, and the likes of Livia Hassenthaler, and Freya MacCosgraigh have been very effective so far this season. The biggest surprise is that West Holbrookdale and Central Stars are sitting down in 9th and 16th respectively, as they were two of the sides we really expected to do well.

.                        Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
 1 Snubbeak Rock           6    5   1   0    19    6  +13    16
 2 Marionville             6    5   1   0    17    7  +10    16
 3 West Coast Warriors     6    4   2   0    15    8   +7    14
 4 Handon North            6    4   2   0    12    7   +5    14
 5 FC Döllar               6    4   1   1    14    9   +5    13
 6 Bara Waves              6    2   3   1    13    9   +4     9
 7 Oak Park Celtic         6    2   3   1    10    6   +4     9
 8 Lammerton City          6    2   2   2     9    9    0     8
   West Holbrookdale       6    2   2   2     9    9    0     8
10 Berwick United          6    2   2   2    11   12   −1     8
11 Lammerton Eels          6    2   2   2     7    9   −2     8
12 Toll Cross Academy      6    2   2   2     8   11   −3     8
13 Lammerton Wonderers     6    2   1   3    10   11   −1     7
14 Wolbeck                 6    1   3   2    10   10    0     6
15 Stalker Bay             6    1   2   3     8   10   −2     5
16 Central Stars           6    1   1   4     9   15   −6     4
17 Jena VB                 6    1   1   4    13   21   −8     4
18 Bolton Green            6    0   3   3    10   16   −6     3
19 Allous VB               6    0   1   5     7   16   −9     1
20 Baumann VB              6    0   1   5     7   17  −10     1

First Division Player and Manager of The Month Awards -- Month One

Player: Lara Wedderburn -- Marionville

Young Player: Livia Hassenthaler -- West Coast Warriors

Manager: Rodger Green -- Handon North

by **Schottia** » Thu Sep 21, 2017 4:01 am

Matchday Seven - Twelve & UICA Group Phase

SPL
Soessch 1990 0–0 Port Sebastian
New Belfast Blues 2–1 Hillstreet
Handon United 2–0 D'Itille
La Gorlions 2–1 Hollin
Port James Athletic 4–4 FC Soessch
Cornellians 1–0 New Belfast Warriors
Mucusia 4–2 Kings Park
Lammerton 3–0 Kirk Preston United
Granton Vale 0–1 Port Patrick United
New Island 2–1 Dundee

Johnny Smith was unveiled as the new Lammerton manager, in a move that will likely be welcomed by the support. He and assistant Aaron Good have done wonders since taking over from Jock Sonny at Dundee four seasons ago, and the young management team will be delighted to have succoured a move to such an illustrious club. Smith vowed to turn the Hornets' season around, and has targeted the Champions' Cup spots. As honeymoons go, Smith's first game in charge couldn't have really gone much better, with Lammerton claiming their first three points of the season with an impressive 3-0 win over Kirk Preston United. Mars Alexandersson left the visiting defenders for dead before slotting the ball past Thomas Ireland for the opening goal after seven minutes. The Western Sunrise born attacker then turned provider as she picked out Kaytlyne Victoriane at the edge of the box. The Chromatik switched foot deftly, before blasting the ball into the back of the net for two nil. Lammerton could have scored a lot more in the second half, as things ran away from the Holy Men, and Glendening and Valaran both passed up good chances. Victorine grabbed her second of the game however, as she slid onto the end of a Raquel Naeher cross, to turn it in at the back post.

Handon United also put in a strong shift at home, as they kept their good run going with a win over D'Itille. The back-four, protected by Rachel Hellion, looked very composed throught, earning a much deserved clean sheet. At the sharp end United were, well... sharp; as goals from Christian Lovenkands and Daniel Dostalok were enough to take home all three points. A fantastic cross-field ball from Natalie Adams picked Lovenkrads wide right, before the Semar dropped the shoulder and burst past Luke Corsby to tuck away the opener. At the start of the second half, Medecinian striker, Dostalok, showed good pace to arrive on the end of a Regatta Aspenwood cross, hammering his strike into the roof of the net. Lukas Finnan also headed against the crossbar from an Adams free kick, and Louis Hordern's distance drive shook the side netting as United surged forward in search of a third, but they were forced to settle for a 2-0 win.

FC Soessch slipped a little behind in the title race, as they dropped points in an eight-goal spectacle at Port James Athletic. Die Rote Teufel, must have been confident going into the match, especially with the form of Farf attacker, Groaré Sasca, and Schottic striker, David Hughes. However, Athletic are fighting hard to climb up the table, and if Barry Gorman's side though this was going to be easy, then they had to think again. Athletic actually opened up a two-goal lead in this match, after Pepe Edgar headed in a Joseph Preca corner before Derick Mason added a second from close range. Soessch battled hard, and actually got their noses in front midway through the second half, thanks to a long-range effort from the excellent, Temasso Tenebrosa. However, in a goal flourish, the lead changed hands once more, and a late Jack Hobbs effort was enough to ensure a share of the spoils.

In other results: Jock Sonny may become the next manager to fall under pressure, as his side failed to convert one of their many chances at Soessch 1990. An absolute stinger of a strike from Isla Sibučić gave Cornellians all three points, in a 1-0 win over the Warriors. And Mucusia probably produced the result of the day after an Aimeé Hétu hattrick helped them to victory over Kings Park.

SPL
Port Sebastian 2–1 Dundee
Port Patrick United 1–0 New Island
Kirk Preston United 4–1 Granton Vale
Kings Park 5–2 Lammerton
New Belfast Warriors 3–1 Mucusia
FC Soessch 2–2 Cornellians
Hollin 0–0 Port James Athletic
D'Itille 1–2 La Gorlions
Hillstreet 2–2 Handon United
Soessch 1990 1–0 New Belfast Blues

Lammerton's 5-2 defeat at Kings Park perhaps underlines just how much work Johnny Smith has to do to get them up challenging at the top. After Raquel Naeher gave the Hornets the lead with her ninth minute strike, it looked as if things were on the way up for the visitors. However, the Royals' direct attacking play clicked into motion as the half drew on - and time after time - Lammerton were left bitterly exposed. With a couple of sprinters in the wide-forward areas, and a midfielder in Hartsdown who can really weight a pass, Kings Park have a potentially devastating system. It was indeed McCorralie and Ashbrown who created the problems, getting in behind the back line, to square the ball for Dejan Corvell hovering in the centre. A double for the Nepharim striker, along with goals for McCorralie, Hartsdown, and Sendoa, meant that Kings Park were able to jump back up the table as they slowly but surely continue to improve. Lammerton pulled a goal back five minutes from the end, as Kaytlyne Victoriane pounced to prod home a loose ball, but it will have come as little consolation.

Port Sebastian verses Dundee matches have become heated affairs ever since Jock Sonny joined the former as manager, taking with him two of their star players. This match was no exception, and tensions were heightened by the fact that neither side could afford to lose. Both sides actually play a very similar style of football, strong, direct, no nonsense. However, with their far bigger budget, it's usurping that it's Porty who do it better. Michi Leonard robbed Jim Gerrish of possession in midfield, before playing Demba Traore in for the home side's first just before half time. Eloisa Purinton then headed in a chip pass from Vera Cummings to extend their lead with eighty minutes on the clock. Sett Horn's goal from the edge of the area had the away fans off their seats, and set up a nervy last five minutes, but Port Sebastian held out for the three points. Dundee remain manageress, but the board are set to make an announcement next week concerning the vacancy.

Soessch had a chance to go back top of the table, as they took on Cornellians at home. Taking anything from a match with Reinhard Shale's side is always difficult though, and the Bergstadt side would have known that home advantage could not be relied upon. The Eagles were without Kel Koromin for this one, with Isla Sibučić deputising for the Cenian, playing in the false number nine role. The deputy proved she was up to the task early on, spinning round Tamika November before blasting a shot just centimetres over the bar. Cornellians did take the lead though, after Johannas Ünterhausen picked out the on form Kathryn Kvanderwyk to finish past Harry Gould from close range. In an end-to-end in encounter, it was Soessch who struck next, with Currian Cort curling in a speculative effort from well outside the box. Jade Irwin drew blood on the hour mark to restore the Eagles' lead, after getting on the end of a long ball from countryman, Maeon Vlahos. However, Soessch earned a share of the points, as David Hughes connected to deflect a Johan Shearer cross in past Jeremy McNott.

Elsewhere: A Regatta Aspenwood strike salvaged a point for Handon United as they struggled against a very determined Hillstreet side. A double from Leopold Ramirez helped Kirk Preston to a very impressive 4-1 win over Granton Vale. And lastly, Port Patrick earned an important three points, as Chase Ziegenhorn nodded in a Whitney Kelly cross to beat New Island 1-0.

Player and Manager of The Month Awards -- Month Two

Player: Regatta Aspenwoond -- Handon United
This month saw Handon United go top of the table, as Jane Gullie's side went all four matches undefeated. Aspenwood has been very consistent in the attack since she joined from the Nepharim First division, and probably just pips teammates Natalie Adams and Daniel Dostolok to this award. The unpredictable nature of the attacking threat she poses, means that the opposition are always kept on their toes. Aspenwood's late strike against Hillstreet may prove pivotal come the end of the season.

Young Player: Ashur Ben Hassi (KAS) -- Hillstreet
Four goals in four this month for the youngster from Kel Assuk, has ensured that Hillstreet haven't even missed Bruno Schwartz since he hung up his boots. Just how they managed to attract a player of this calibre on loan is a mystery, but the fans won't be stopping to ask questions.

Manager: Graeme Collins -- New Belfast warriors
We thought The Warriors might have been in for a tough season, but three wins from four this month shows that Collins has perhaps got the formula right. Their only defeat was at the hands of Cornellians, where they lost out by the narrowest of margins. Kiki and Der Pros have been especially good for the Whalers this month, and if they can continue on this form, then UICA football should be on the horizon.

SPL
New Belfast Blues 3–7 Port Sebastian
Handon United 3–2 Soessch 1990
La Gorlions 0–2 Hillstreet
Port James Athletic 5–2 D'Itille
Cornellians 4–0 Hollin
Mucusia 2–1 FC Soessch
Lammerton 1–1 New Belfast Warriors
Granton Vale 1–1 Kings Park
New Island 1–2 Kirk Preston United
Dundee 2–3 Port Patrick United

Strangely, New Belfast Blues found themselves on the wrong end of a second 7-3 already this season, as the pressure of juggling Series-B duties, and a return to the SPL, seems to be taking their toll. In this instance it was Port Sebastian, who duly took the Blues apart, as they looked to get their title challenge back online after a difficult start. Eloisa Purinton scored a hattrick, and there were also goals from Joey Bia (2), Demba Traore, and Andrya Novkovic. The Gloraixian skipper stole the show, however, proving that she is still a force to be reckoned with. The only positive for NBB is that they seem to be scoring goals; Shu in particular is looking very sharp in and around the area, and that might be their saving grace.

Dundee announced former Allous VB boss, Walter Queen, would be taking over as manager the following week. The former goalkeeper and Schottic cap helped his side win promotion from the Second Division last season, and has been praised for his fresh ideas and new approach. His expertise likely cannot come quickly enough, as the Panners made it three defeats on the bounce, this time losing to Port Patrick United. Dundee started the match well, as Sett Horn headed down a Mark Keane cross for Wallace Solway to convert. However, it largely went down hill from there, as firstly Callum Frir volleyed in a Whitney Kelly corner, before Chase Ziegenhorn neatly cut the ball back for Tanya Yeats to score the second. Despite a late second for Solway, the Breakers wrapped thing up when the Cenian, Ziegenhorn scored with a great solo effort.

Handon United also managed to bounce back from last week's draw with Hillstreet, building up some form before the visit of Kingsgrove on Wednesday night. On paper Soessch 1990 should have been an easy match, but it seems there are no straightforward matches in the SPL right now. The Raiders surprised Jane Gullie's side in the opening ten minutes, as Jessica Grey's cut back, allowed Ian Vincent to finish past Shjegrzh Na'Kefir from the edge of the box. United responded well though, and drew level four minutes later, as Daniel Dostalok found the top corner with an excellent strike from a tight angle. The home side had their tails up by this stage, and took the lead on the stroke of half time. Dilon Bánach stripped Tamar Dunn of possession on the half way line, before playing in Natalie Adams. The Sunriser ghosted past Lloyd Nithercott before letting rip with a powerful strike. Her initial shot was saved, but Christian Lovenkrands was there to tuck away the scraps. Substitute Hiroyo Nunez ensured that a late consolation from Jess Grey was nothing more, as she rose above the opposition defenders, to direct Regatta Aspenwoods cross past Thomas Purtzl.

In other matches: Kathryn Kvanderwyk continued her outstanding season, as her hattrick helped Cornellians to a 4-0 win over Hollin. Alan Alexander scored a late winner, as Kirk Preston took home all three points from the New Island. And, Derick Mason and Jack Hobbs scored a double each as Port James recorded a resounding win over D'Itille.

Champions' Cup -- Group Phase
Handon United 3-2 Kingsgrove (BRE)

Harbour Hill was packed to the rafters as Handon United trooped out to face Kinsgrove in their first match of the Champions' Cup proper. It had been a long time in coming, and Schottia's proudest club were determined to make the most of it. United were fourth seeds taking on first, so in a sense there was nothing really expected of them. However, with the home fans right behind them, they managed to spring a surprise. Two first half goals from Dostalok and Lovenkrands ensured that the match was evenly poised going into the final stages, before a Dilon Bánach strike gave her club a famous win over the Brenecian champions.

Globe Cup -- Group Phase
Port Sebastian 4-0 Navel FC (WRL)
(NTN) The Northern Blue Lions 1-1 Cornellians

Navel FC had already dumped Cornellians out of UICA competition this season, so Porty were going to need to be on their guard as they welcomed the team from the Whirl Islands to Dyerton Stadium. Jock Sonny's side have been blowing hot and cold all year, but luckily, this was one of their better days. Vera Cummings and Demba Traore got things going with early goals, which no doubt eased the home side’s nerves. In the second half Eloisa Purinton and Keeva Crowe added a third and four, as the team from Handon recorded an impressive 4-0 win. Cornellians had a much more challenging evening away to The Northern Blue Lions though. It could have also been much worse, were it not for an Isla Sibučić free kick, perfectly latched onto by Christian Berg. The big Pasargan powered his header past the keeper, to win the Eagles a share of the points.

Series B -- Group Phase
(CEN) Pinnacle Project 0-0 New Belfast Blues

New Belfast Warriors have been struggling in the SPL this season, and they didn't fair much better here, as they could only manage a 0-0 draw with Ceni's Pinnacle Project.

SPL
Port Sebastian 4–2 Port Patrick United
Kirk Preston United 0–0 Dundee
Kings Park 3–1 New Island
New Belfast Warriors 0–0 Granton Vale
FC Soessch 1–1 Lammerton
Hollin 0–5 Mucusia
D'Itille 2–6 Cornellians
Hillstreet 2–3 Port James Athletic
Soessch 1990 1–1 La Gorlions
New Belfast Blues 0–1 Handon United

Cornellains bounced back from frustrating draw mid-week, by knocking D'Itille for six in the SPL. The Eagles haven't been shy in front of goal this season, and only some brilliant defending could deny Kathryn Kvanderwyk a second hattrick in consecutive league matches. Mershawn Mercury turned the Lime Greens inside out on the left wing, as the Eshani also helped himself to a brace in the process. Goals from Kel Koromin and Jade Irwin completed the rout. All eyes have been on Isla Sibučić at the moment though, as the 19-year-old started once again. The Cosumarite's frightening turn of pace, as well as her ability to chances for her side, left the D'Itille defence in a complete muddle. The Home side did manage to find the net twice in this match, even if both were from set pieces. Much had been made of their young captain, Jane Schramm, but the diminutive midfielder was utterly outplayed by Johannas Ünterhausen in this match.

Mucusia also recorded a fantastic win, putting five past Hollin for no reply. Sarah Foucault has been on good form since her return to the Pilliar Ground, as she seems to have settled in well alongside Aimée Hétu. The pair both got themselves on the score sheet today, as five different scorers helped secure this victory for the Port James club. Hollin had gotten off to a very strong start, but silly mistakes at the back mean they are now playing themselves into trouble. Normally it is the Belker side's defence who hold a high line, but now that they are shipping in goals too, it's a worrying sign.

Despite such high scoring matches, it was arguabley the one at Gannon Park that was most intriguing. FC Soessch played host to a Lammerton team who are absolutely desperate for points, with a manager who has found himself under pressure after only three matches in charge. New Hornets boss, Johnny Smith, is currently finding out just how much pressure there is at the top, with the weight of expectation on your shoulders. His side started brightly enough, and to be sure, it hasn't been a lack of either style or effort that has been Lammerton's problem this season. Kaytlyne Victoriane has been injured these past two matched, and Lammerton have been desperately missing her goals. That said, they managed to take the lead against high-flyers, Soessch, as Jasper Valaren played Elspeth Glendening through on goal. For about seventy minutes Lammerton were the better side, with Raquel Naeher and Mars Alexandersson pushing the Soessch defence to its limits. However, in true Hornets style, they conceded a late equaliser, as Laura Smith's 83rd minute strike ensured a share of the spoils.

In other results: Port Sebastian scored four for a second game running, as they beat the Breakers 4-2 in the North Handon derby. Towards the south of the Grater Handon peninsula, United picked up another three points, as they defeated newly promoted NBB 1-0. And Kings Park really gave New Island the run around, as they beat the South Berwick side 3-1.

Champions' Cup -- Group Phase
(NGD) Lexington Victory 0-2 Handon United

Next up for Jane Gullie and her band of merry men and women, was a trip to East Terranea; probably the hub of Multiverse football at the moment. Gelderlish champs, Lexington Victory, are an outstanding side who play in the very completive TLW. Amongst their number they boast former Port Christopher skipper, Diego Bandos, a player who needs no introduction in Schottia. Despite a closely contested first half, United found themselves a goal up thanks to an expert finish from Natalie Adams. The midfield playmaker arrived with perfect timing to curl a peach of a shot past the keeper. Once United had their noses in front, it seemed to give their confidence a boost. Daniel Dostalok rattled the underside of the bar, and had a strong penalty appeal turned down, before Regatta Aspenwood continued her terrific debut season, by scoring the goal which sealed all three points.

Globe Cup -- Group Phase
(CEN) Myrmidon 0-3 Port Sebastian
(FFD) La Nueva Avenida 2-3 Cornellians

Port Sebastian seem to be on fire right now in the Globe Cup. Jock Sonny's side might have been a little inconsistent this season, but seven goals in two UICA matches must give them some confidence. The result is made all the more impressive by the fact that their opponents, Myrmidon, are a top-20 ranked side, and certainly no slouches. Purinton scored one either side of half time, and there was also a late goal from Andrya Novkovic as the travelling fans got their money's worth. Cornellians claimed an equally important three points, but they had to work hard for it. Kathryn Kvanderwyk took her tally to six in three, as she headed in a cross from her brother, Kit. Goals from Kel Koromin, and Tsumugi Narita in the second half, ensured that the Eagles left with all three points.

Series B -- Group Phase
New Belfast Blues 1-2 KT Ferramendiak (AUD)

It's really not getting much better for the Blues, as yet another poor result saw them lose out at home to Audioslavian side, KT Ferramendiak.

SPL
Handon United 2–1 Port Sebastian
La Gorlions 1–1 New Belfast Blues
Port James Athletic 4–1 Soessch 1990
Cornellians 3–0 Hillstreet
Mucusia 4–2 D'Itille
Lammerton 2–2 Hollin
Granton Vale 1–3 FC Soessch
New Island 0–1 New Belfast Warriors
Dundee 2–0 Kings Park
Port Patrick United 3–0 Kirk Preston United

The hottest fixture in Schottia is the Handon Derby. Handon has many derbies, but there is only one that comes with a capital D. United Vs. Porty has produced some pulsating matches over the last few seasons, and with the stakes so high, this promised to be equally enthralling. Handon United had been riding high coming into this one, where as Port Sebastian were struggling to reproduce their Globe Cup form domestically. With home advantage, all the signs pointed to a United win, but it was the visitors who took an early lead. A change in pace from Joey Bia saw him wrong-foot Jayden Fox, before delivering the ball into the box with the outside off his foot. Somehow Eloisa Purinton was able to use all her guile to slot between JK Cottle and Lukas Finnan, and direct the ball deftly past Shjegrzh Na'Kefir. The match had to be stopped for five minutes toward the end of the first half following some crowd disturbance, but when things resumed, it was United who seized the initiative. A neat interchange between Dilon Bánach and Rachel Hellion got the better of Michi Leonard, allowing Christain Lovenkrands to break free down the right. The Semar managed to get round the outside of Paul Doig before crossing for Daniel Dostalok to tap in a real striker's finish. The match was a tussle in the second half, however, in this occasion it was United who got the all-important goal, to stay joint top of the table. Louis Hordern's raking ball forward fell to the feet of Regatta Aspenwood, before the Nepharim squared the ball for Dostalok to rattle in his second.

A three nil win for Cornellians, meant that they extended their goal difference lead at the top of the table, this time at the expense of Hillstreet, who are now in free fall. The Eagles lost out on goal difference last season, and it seems they are determined to make up for it now. Kel Koromin powered them ahead after eleven minutes, from a Kit Kvanderwyk cross; before younger sister, Kathryn, added a second - incredible scoring in her fifth match in a row. This was a dominant performance from Reinhard Shale's team, and they polished it off with direct free kick from Jade Irwin, after Triffid Ramsey was downed on the edge of the box.

Lammerton were dealt yet another late sucker punch, as Hollin left it till the 93rd minute before drawing level. It's not the performances that have been letting the Hornets down, but rather the results, given the fact that they have only actually lost two games this season. Johnny Smith's side had talisman, Kaytlyne Victoriane, back for this one, and the Chromatik made her presence felt as she turned a Raquel Naeher pass in for the opener. Hollin responded, and it was Colin Laweson who deflected a shot in from the edge of the area to draw things level. Mars Alexandersson gave the Hornets the lead once again, after bursting into the box unchecked. However a late goal for Fred Dawson meant that it was back to the drawing board for the struggling giants.

In other results: Mucusia moved up to sixth with a 4-2 win over D'Itille. Port Patrick are now pushing hard for the Champions' Cup spots with a 3-0 win over Kirk Preston. And, Soessch got back to winning ways with a 3-1 win over Granton Vale.

Champions' Cup -- Group Phase
(VAL) Raynor City United 1-2 Handon United

The big matches are coming think and fast for Handon United right now, and there are few that get any bigger than playing Raynor City in Valanora. Jane Gullie's side had to weather a bit of a storm for the most of the first match, but a fortuitous goal from JK Cottle meant that the two sides went into the break level. Their Boney captain rose highest to nod a Natalie Adams corner into the back of the net. Christian Lovenkrands scored a winner mid way through the second half - against the run of play - to hand the Schottic club their biggest result on the world stage.

Globe Cup -- Group Phase
Port Sebastian 1-1 Eastern Stars (AVN)
(NPH) Chenoworth Harriers 1-0 Cornellians

Neither of Schottia's Globe Cup sides managed to draw inspiration from Handon United's famous win this week, and back in the capital, Port Sebastian were stopped in their tracks. Avon champions, Eastern Stars, really took the game to Porty in this match; and the side which boast two Schottians of their own, really gave as good as they got. Demba Traore opened the scoring, cutting in from the left to break the deadlock with a powerful strike, before Schottic international, Visnja Brankovic, rescued a valuable draw for the TLEast side. Cornellians, on the other hand, came up against a very dangerous looking Harriers side, who made the most of home advantage to run out 1-0 winners. With the Eagles' Nephara connection, and Steven Rexmont now playing for Chenoworth, the match had an interesting flavour. However, Reinhard Shale's side were unable to rise to the challenge.

Series B -- Group Phase
New Belfast Blues 3-2 FC Almintora (TUR)

The Blues finally managed to get the positive result the desperately needed as a Nesbo double helped them to a 3-2 win over FC Almintora.

SPL
Port Sebastian 0–3 Kirk Preston United
Kings Park 2–3 Port Patrick United
New Belfast Warriors 2–0 Dundee
FC Soessch 2–0 New Island
Hollin 3–3 Granton Vale
D'Itille 2–4 Lammerton
Hillstreet 1–1 Mucusia
Soessch 1990 0–1 Cornellians
New Belfast Blues 2–0 Port James Athletic
Handon United 1–1 La Gorlions

It's coming up for a third of the way through the season, and perhaps we are now starting to get an idea of how the league is going to take shape. The form of Port Patrick United has been quite incredible this month; with the club winning three of there last four games to move up to fourth in the league, only behind FC Soessch on goal difference. They faced a difficult trip to Kings Park this week, with the Royals chasing a down the last Globe Cup spot themselves. The Breakers rarely have any problems scoring goals, and in this match, it was once again their saving grace. Teenager, Chase Ziegenhorn, opened the scoring on the quarter hour mark, after being set through on goal by Tanya Yeats. The Brenecian then turn from provider to scorer, as she doubled their lead courtesy of a Whitney Kelly cross. Kings Park had home advantage on their side, and they came back the visitors in the second half, with goals from Billy McCorralie, and Dejan Corvell. With things looking distinctly like they were heading for a draw, veteran striker, Callum Frir reared his head at the last minute to nod in the goal which kept Port Patrick in the hunt for the Champions' Cup spots.

Johnny Smith can breath a huge sigh of relief now, after finally recording his second win as manager. The 4-2 victory at D'Itille moved Lammerton away from the drop zone, but perhaps most crucially, it will take a little bit of pressure off the side. Just how a strike force of Victoriane and Glendening have been failing to come up with the goods is a bit of a mystery, but today things seemed to really click into place for them. Victoriane put them ahead after seven minutes, as she burst free of Jane Schramm before applying an accurate finish. Mars Alexanderson then got in on the act, as the Sunrise born attacker made it two, following a mazy run into the box. Defending their leads has been a massive problem for the Hornets this season, and after Ian Rees and Nicolas Irongray pulled D'Itille level at the start of the second half, there must have been a familiar feeling rising in the pits of supporters 'stomachs. However, Lammerton actually responded really well. First Jasper Valaran played Glendening through to retake the lead, before a slightly fortuitous long-range strike from Raquel Naeher crept in at the far post.

The shock result this week was Port Sebastian's 3-0 defeat at home to Kirk Preston. This one really came out of nowhere, with Porty doing well in the Globe Cup this season. The result meant that they slumped out of the top six. The goals of Leopoldo Ramirez were once again a big factor for the Holy Men's success, as the Guayabalese striker bagged another two. Cummings and Leonard also struggled to get to grips with Long and Helling in the midfield for most of the match, and that was perhaps the home side's undoing.

In other results: Cornellians scored a last minute winner to move top of the table, with a clean sweep of four wins from four this month. Handon United, on the other hand, could only manage a draw at home to La Gorlions. And NBB pulled themselves out of the relegation zone, with a 2-0 win over Port James Athletic.

Player and Manager of The Month Awards -- Month Three

Player: Kathryn Kvanderwyk -- Cornellians
There were several strong contenders this month, but with Kathryn Kvanderwyk also adding goals to her game, the results have been terrifying. The Cosumarite striker has really been emerging from the shadows of some of the higher profile players this season, and arguable has been the Eagles' best player so far this campaign.

Young Player: Dilon Bánach -- Handon United
Only just picking up the award ahead of Cornellians girl, Isla Sibučić, Bánach seems to be growing in stature with every game. It's hard to believe she is till in the right age bracket to pick up this award, when looking at her mature, and composed performances. Bánach has a great range of passes, she is good on the ball, and tracks back quickly.

Manager: Reinhard Shale -- Cornellians
Lily Kitman and her Mucusia players can count themselves very unlucky to miss out this month, but with four wins in four, Cornellians and Reinhard Shale scoop the award. It's not easy picking up manager of the month awards when you have the best playing squad in the league, however, fourteen goals in four games is pretty impressive. This clean sweep of matches has lifted the Eagles up to the top of the league.

.                        Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
 1 Cornellians            12   10   1   1    39   17  +22    31
 2 Handon United          12    9   2   1    28   17  +11    29
 3 FC Soessch             12    7   3   2    29   17  +12    24
 4 Port Patrick United    12    7   3   2    20   15   +5    24
 5 New Belfast Warriors   12    7   2   3    17    9   +8    23
 6 Mucusia                12    6   2   4    20   15   +5    20
 7 Port Sebastian         12    5   4   3    30   22   +8    19
 8 Port James Athletic    12    5   3   4    22   16   +6    18
 9 Hillstreet             12    5   3   4    19   17   +2    18
10 Kings Park             12    5   1   6    23   26   −3    16
11 La Gorlions            12    4   3   5     9   13   −4    15
12 Dundee                 12    4   2   6    16   14   +2    14
13 Lammerton              12    2   8   2    17   16   +1    14
14 Kirk Preston United    12    4   2   6    15   18   −3    14
15 Hollin                 12    3   4   5    19   27   −8    13
16 New Island             12    3   1   8     9   21  −12    10
17 New Belfast Blues      12    2   3   7    16   28  −12     9
18 Soessch 1990           12    2   2   8    11   21  −10     8
19 Granton Vale           12    1   4   7    13   28  −15     7
20 D'Itille               12    1   3   8    17   32  −15     6

First Division

West Coast Warriors opened up a six-point lead at the top of the table, as Marionville unfathomably dropped off the pace. The all female side look very polished in attack, with Mucusia loanee, Eleni Melas banging them in up front. Gabi Bear, Livia Hassenthaler, and Freya MacCosgraigh have also chipping in with a few goals, as their fluid attacking style seems to be causing the opposition a lot of problems. West Holbrookdale have also clawed their way back up the league table, bringing themselves back into contention. Goals from Mirka Shitakuari and Robbie McSuol helped them to an important win over Lammerton City in their most recent match. At the bottom of the table, Baumann are sinking without a trace, while managerless Allous look intent on joining them.

.                        Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
 1 West Coast Warriors    12    9   3   0    29   15  +14    30
 2 Snubbeak Rock          12    7   3   2    26   12  +14    24
 3 Marionville            12    7   3   2    22   12  +10    24
 4 West Holbrookdale      12    7   2   3    28   17  +11    23
 5 FC Döllar              12    7   2   3    24   17   +7    23
 6 Handon North           12    6   3   3    20   19   +1    21
 7 Oak Park Celtic        12    5   5   2    18   11   +7    20
 8 Bara Waves             12    5   5   2    18   13   +5    20
 9 Lammerton City         12    5   4   3    20   17   +3    19
10 Berwick United         12    4   4   4    20   17   +3    16
11 Toll Cross Academy     12    4   4   4    14   17   −3    16
12 Jena VB                12    4   3   5    24   24    0    15
13 Wolbeck                12    3   5   4    20   23   −3    14
14 Lammerton Eels         12    3   5   4    18   22   −4    14
15 Lammerton Wonderers    12    3   2   7    17   23   −6    11
16 Central Stars          12    3   2   7    19   26   −7    11
17 Stalker Bay            12    2   4   6    15   22   −7    10
18 Bolton Green           12    0   6   6    15   28  −13     6
19 Allous VB              12    1   3   8    15   30  −15     6
20 Baumann VB             12    0   2  10    11   28  −17     2

First Division Player and Manager of The Month Awards -- Month Two

Player: Tomas Schmidt -- FC Döllar

Young Player: Eleni Melas -- West Coast Warriors

Manager: Ruby Gillinger -- West Coast Warriors

First Division Player and Manager of The Month Awards -- Month Three

Player: Robbie McSuol -- Holbrookdale

Young Player: Chris McKinsey -- Snubbeak Rock

Manager: Grant Nean -- West Holbrookdale

Schottic Cup -- Round of Thirty-two
Hillstreet 0–2 Mucusia
Granton Vale 3–2 Jena VB
Hollin 0–1 Marionville
Kings Park 3–2 Port Patrick United
FC Döllar 0–1 La Gorlions
Regional Development Side B 0–1 Handon North
Handon United 4–2 Kirk Preston United
Snubbeak Rock 3–2 New Town Thistle
New Island 0–0 FC Soessch (0–1 AET)
D'Itille 1–0 Port James Athletic
Cornellians 2–1 Central Stars
New Belfast Blues 1–2 Lammerton
West Coast Warriors 1–0 Port Sebastian
Bara Waves 1–1 West Holbrookdale (2–1 AET)
Dundee 2–1 New Belfast Warriors
Lammerton City 1–0 Soessch 1990

by **Schottia** » Thu Sep 28, 2017 5:24 am

Matchday Thirteen - Eighteen & UICA Group Phase

SPL
La Gorlions 1–0 Port Sebastian
Port James Athletic 3–1 Handon United
Cornellians 4–4 New Belfast Blues
Mucusia 2–1 Soessch 1990
Lammerton 5–1 Hillstreet
Granton Vale 1–2 D'Itille
New Island 4–2 Hollin
Dundee 1–0 FC Soessch
Port Patrick United 2–2 New Belfast Warriors
Kirk Preston United 1–0 Kings Park

It took twelve matches, but perhaps things have finally fallen into place for Lammerton. A 5-1 win over Hillstreet in front of their home fans will install some much-needed faith in Johnny Smith's fledgling reign. To say that the Hornets played well would be a massive understatement, and the only mystery is why it's taken them this long. Jasper Valaran was commanding in the centre of midfield, and with Victoriane and Alexandersson making the forward runs, we were reminded of just how dangerous Lammerton can be. After Elspeth Glendening opened the scoring, Victorian, and Robard Horvat added a second and third to give their side a commanding lead at half time. Alexanderson volleyed home from a Luke Svensson cross shortly after the restart, and Glendening tucked away her second in the dying stages.

This was a week were the teams at the top of table all seemed to struggle, and maybe that will give some hope to those sides snapping at their heels. Cornellians required a 92nd minute equaliser to avoid an embarrassing defeat at home to The Blues. Goals from Nikki Temples and Charlotte Ünterhausen, both scored early in the second half, gave the newly promoted side a surprise lead against the run of play. The Eagles were perhaps their own worst enemies in this match, as several of the goals they conceded came from silly mistakes. In the end it took a goal from another Ünterhausen, Johannas on this occasion, to salvage a point for the six times champions.

It Cornellians thought that was bad, then they could breath a sigh of relief that they escaped the same fate Handon United suffered, as they went down 3-1 in Port James. The United bubble was well and truly popped, as their normally resolute defence conceded three - two in the later stages - to see them lose more ground at the top. Evangeline Querón opened the scoring for Athletic with a 20-minute strike from just inside the box, only for Daniel Dostalok to level the game on the stroke of half time. As the match went on, the Seasiders seemed to grow in confidence, and as Derick Mason headed them in front, there was a sense something special might be in the offing. With United pressing forward, the home side were able to capitalise on the counter attack, as Yunji scored from tight angle to earn his side their best win of the season so far.

Elsewhere: Sett Horn scored from close range to give Dundee a valuable win at home to FC Soessch. La Gorlions might have succeeded in putting Jock Sonny under pressure, as Kirsten Gemmill's goal meant that they beat Porty 1-0. And goals for Scotta (2), Rosmalen, and Kymeri ensured New Island inflicted another heavy defeat on Hollin.

SPL
Port Sebastian 3–4 Kings Park
New Belfast Warriors 7–4 Kirk Preston United
FC Soessch 1–0 Port Patrick United
Hollin 0–0 Dundee
D'Itille 1–1 New Island
Hillstreet 2–0 Granton Vale
Soessch 1990 0–1 Lammerton
New Belfast Blues 2–0 Mucusia
Handon United 3–2 Cornellians
La Gorlions 2–2 Port James Athletic

Harbour Hill Stadium played witness, this week, to a match that will go a long way towards deciding the final outcome of the SPL season. We suspected at the start of the season, that it was going to come down to a straight fight between Handon United and Cornellians - and based on the matches so far, that would seem to be the case. After a very tense opening half hour, the Eagles drew first blood. Kit Kvanderwyk won the physical battle with Jayden Fox, before delivering a pinpoint cross in towards the back post. JK Cottle jumped for it with Kel Koromin, but it was the Cenian who made contact to direct it into the net. Handon United needed to respond quickly, and they pulled level just before the interval, after Regatta Aspenwood striped countryman Maeon Vlahos for pace and finished with a neat strike into the bottom corner. United looked much better in the second half, with their midfield three of Adams, Bánach, and Hellion, outnumbering Ünterhausen and Irwin. It was thanks to an inspired piece of play that Adams was able to give the home side the lead, wrong footing Stephen Gargo, before curling the ball past Jermemy McNott. Reinhard Shale was forced into a double change with Isla Sibučić coming on for Koromin, and Adaly Berger, replacing Mershawn Mercury. The change seemed to make a difference, as Sibučić drew a fantastic save from Shjegrzh Na'Kefir, before her countrywoman, Kathryn Kvanderwyk slid in to turn home the rebound. With the scores at 2-2 we were set for a tense finish, but it was the home side who scored the decisive goal. Christian Lovenkrands made it round the outside of Triffid Ramsey, and crossed the ball in for Daniel Dostalok to secure all three points.

It seems it's Port Sebastian turn to struggle now. The North Handon side were defeated 4-3 at home by Kings Park, in a result that will see the pressure continue to mount on Jock Sonny's shoulders. Despite scoring three goals, it was a match in which Porty really struggled to get to grips with their opponents. Although their league position seems to suggest otherwise, Kings Park's performances have been much better this season, and they were well worth this win. Lilith Paterson has brought a physical element to Royals' midfield, and both Cummings and Leonard struggled to deal with it. Meanwhile, at the sharp end, Tiferet Ashbrown put in a woman of the match performance, as the Brenecian scored a double.

There was no shortage of goals this weekend, and at Ashley Road, we saw eleven of them, as the Warriors defeated Kirk Preston United by seven goals to four. Leopoldo Ramirez actually scored a hattrick for the Holy Men, but it wasn't enough as a late goal flourish from the Whalers made the score line look a little lopsided. Somuele der Pros was once again commanding in the centre of the park for the Warriors, as the Farf playmaker continues to make a name for himself in Schottic football, scoring one and setting up two.

Elsewhere: Lammerton kept their winning run going - albeit not so convincingly - as a goal from Jasper Valaran was enough to edge out Soessch 1990. The Raider's city rivals were more fortunate however, as a Curian Cort goal helped them to victory over Port Patrick. And an Alasdair Nesbo header earned NBB an unexpected win over Mucusia.

Champions' Cup -- Group Phase
Handon United 1-2 Raynor City United (VAL)

There was no repeat of Handon United's landmark result in Valanora, as Raynor City had their revenge in the return fixture at Harbour Hill. United started the match well enough, but as things progressed it became obvious which side had the most experience at this level. The result doesn't do too much damage to the Schottic champions' hopes of qualification, but they will need to be mindful in the remaining fixtures. Jane Gullie reminded reporters that third place and Globe Cup qualification was her initial target, and that too much pressure should not be put the team.

Globe Cup -- Group Phase
(AVN) Eastern Stars 1-1 Port Sebastian
Cornellians 2-1 Chenoworth Harriers (NPH)

On the face of it, Port Sebastian will likely be happy with the draw in Avon, which keeps them on course for qualification from the group. Eastern Stars showed that they were no pushovers, as the TLE side proved that their draw in Handon was no fluke. Schottic forward, Visnja Brankovic, could probably walk into most teams in the SPL right now; and her pace, work rate, and threat around the area, easily put her on a par with Porty's Purinton. It was Michi Leonard who came to Port Sebastain's rescue though, as the Nepharim fired in a long-range shot to secure a share of the points. Conellians had a much better result as they took on Nepharim side, Chenoworth, in Lochend. Things were looking ropy after Bonifacio Sanna gave the Harriers the lead after seventeen minutes; however, Jade Irwin levelled the scores with a direct free kick five minutes before half time. Mershawn Mercury nearly played Kel Koromin in on goal midway through the second half, but it was Kit Kvanderwyk who was the hero of the hour, as his drive from the edge of the box left the keeper with no chance.

Series B -- Group Phase
(TUR) FC Almintora 2-3 New Belfast Blues

A very important win for NBB. Late goals from Nikki Temples, and Alasdair Nesbo may be the difference between whether or not the side qualify from this group.

Cup Winners' Cup -- First Round
(TAE) Mt Ceabring Thunder 1-5 Cornellians

SPL
Port James Athletic 1–1 Port Sebastian
Cornellians 5–3 La Gorlions
Mucusia 0–1 Handon United
Lammerton 2–0 New Belfast Blues
Granton Vale 3–1 Soessch 1990
New Island 2–2 Hillstreet
Dundee 3–1 D'Itille
Port Patrick United 2–0 Hollin
Kirk Preston United 4–2 FC Soessch
Kings Park 1–0 New Belfast Warriors

Kirk Preston responded to last week's thumping defeat in emphatic style, as they put four past highflyers, FC Soessch. We never really seem to know which Kirk Preston side will show up from week to week, as the New Belfast club have recorded some good results as well as some howlers. Leopoldo Ramirez has been a cut above the rest in the attack for them all season, and his double in this match keeps him in with a shout of the Golden Boot, as we near the halfway stage. Soessch struggled to stay with their far more direct opponents - Kirk Preston's game plan might have been simple, but they stuck to it well. Barry Gorman's side pulled level just at the start of the second half, but the pace and strength of Ramirez was once again to be their undoing, as the Guayabalese star scored one and set one up in the closing stages for a 4-2 victory.

Cornellians also needed a big result following their defeat at the hands of United in their previous fixture. They welcomed La Gorlions to Lochend Stadium, in a match that promised to be an interesting encounter. The Lions have actually looked pretty decent this season, with Brendan Randal proving to be a welcome addition to the side. The North Island club might have a few good players, but they really couldn't compete with the Eagles in terms of playing personnel, and this reflected in the closing stages of the match. A good strike from Cephus Hunt actually gave La Gorlions the lead at one point, as the Bony rose to power home an Alf Seggerson corner. However, Cornellians were able to find an extra gear, and the Johannas Ünterhausen was particularly effective with his composed and accurate passing in the centre of the pitch. The Schottia star, in combination with Irwin and Sibučić, was too much for the visitors to handle, as a late flourish of goals saw Cornellians run out 5-3 winners.

We saw a very different side to Kings Park this weekend, one which will likely give their fans hope that the side are on the way back up. We are used to seeing the Royals powering forward, but up against an in form Warriors side, they dug deep, defended, and did enough to secure all three points. Midfielder Meghan Hartsdown proved she could do her share of defending too, while her Cenian counterpart, Sendoa, was immense in the central role. Kings Park did well to limit the Whalers' chances, and were able to take a chance when it came their way. It's really been the signature of Kings Park all season, the pace they have in the wide areas, and Yuiko Kasugano showed great speed and determination to get to the by line before crossing the ball for Dejan Corvell to tuck away his tenth goal of the season.

In other matches: Handon United warmed up for their crucial Champions' Cup game mid week, with a scrappy 1-0 win over Mucusia in Port James. Lammerton's revival continues to tick along nicely, as a double from Mars Alexandersson gave them a very comfortable win over New Belfast Blues. And lastly, Dundee put in a very impressive performance on home soil, as goals from Spearing, Horn, and Keane gave them a 3-1 win over struggling D'Itille.

Champions' Cup -- Group Phase
Handon United 3-0 Lexington Victory (NGD)

It was after United's victory in Lexington that we first sat up and really took notice. So as they prepared for the return leg at Harbour Hill Stadium, the fans would be eagerly anticipating the rematch. The Schottic Champions rose to the occasion, and perhaps put in their best performance this season, as they took on the side from New Glederland. Regatta Aspenwood scored a first half double, and JK Cottle glanced home a Louis Hordern corner with fifteen minutes left, to secure a 3-0 win.

Globe Cup -- Group Phase
Port Sebastian 2-0 Myrmidon
Cornellians 2-2 La Nueva Avenida (FFD)

Port Sebastian kept their excellent UICA form going, as they recorded yet another decisive victory against Cenian giants, Myrmidon. Porty's direct, fast paced attacking style once again got them over the line, with Demba Traore scoring an excellent double. Porty were also solid in defence though, with the back-four all pulling together well. For Cornellians, their fate hangs in the balance however, after a late goal at Lochend denied them a good win over La Nueve Avenida. Triffid Ramsay opened the scoring with distance strike, before Kel Koromin headed in a Jade Irwin cross for the Eagles goals. The Schottic side were pegged back twice though, and now must try and go out all guns blazing in their final fixture.

Series B -- Group Phase
(AUD) KT Ferramendiak 0-1 New Belfast Blues

A Shu freekick was the difference between these two sides, as New Belfast Blues got their Series B campaign back in track in Audioslavia.

Cup Winners' Cup -- First Round
Cornellians 4-1 Mt Ceabring Thunder (TAE)

SPL
Port Sebastian 2–0 New Belfast Warriors
FC Soessch 3–0 Kings Park
Hollin 3–4 Kirk Preston United
D'Itille 2–2 Port Patrick United
Hillstreet 2–3 Dundee
Soessch 1990 2–1 New Island
New Belfast Blues 3–0 Granton Vale
Handon United 1–2 Lammerton
La Gorlions 1–0 Mucusia
Port James Athletic 4–2 Cornellians

It's been well documented at Lammerton are on the bounce, but could they bounce high enough to get one over on league leaders Handon United at Harbour Hill. As a fixture it's about as hard as it gets these days in the SPL, but the Hornets seemed to be finally turning it around under new boss, Johnny Smith. Handon United were by far in a way the better side in the opening period, and tested Jim Black in the Lammerton goal a number of times. The Schottia cap reacted well to turn a Natalie Adams strike onto the post, and did even better to hold onto a long range effort from Christian Lovenkrands which looked goal bound. Despite the early pressure, it was the Hornets who stung their opponents by taking the lead on 40 minutes. What looked like it might have been a cross form Raquel Naeher, had the normally unflappable Shjegrzh Na'Kefir flapping wildly to keep the ball from sneaking under the cross bar. Unluckily for the Cosumarite keeper, the ball landed at the feet of Jasper Valaran, who had the easiest of finishes from three metres out. Handon United really went chasing the game in the second half, and got themselves back in the match with half an hour left of the clock. Rachel Hellion found Regatta Aspenwood in space wide left, and the attacker was able to neatly cut the ball back for Dilon Bánach to supply a sublime finish. United should have capitalised on the momentum, but it seems that the Karma Lammerton built up in the first third of the season was now paying dividends. A clever ball forward from Naeher, and an equally clever flick-on from Glendening sent Kaytlyne Victoriane surging through on goal. The Chromatik striker was too quick for the central defenders, and sent Na'Kefir the wrong way before stroking the ball into the back of the net for a very impressive win.

Soessch were back with us this week, as a 3-0 win over Kings Park reminded us that they have been right in the mix this season. The North Island side looked cool, composed, and utterly workmanlike as they weathered the Royals' attacks well, while hitting them decisively on the counter. Groaré Sasca was a different class, as the Farfadillis international played a little deeper as part of a midfield three. He scored one and had a hand in the other two, as his strong debut SPL season continued. Kings Park, on the other hand, have once again been left ruing their inconsistencies, which have seen them struggle to break into the top half despite some good performances. Sendoa passed up a very good chance in this match, shooting straight at Harry Gould, after doing very well to get himself into the position to shoot.

If this week's theme is centred on sides that are on the way up, then the Blues are a very good example to look at. Charlotte Ünterhausen and Tom Sanchez were both on excellent form as New Belfast club defeated Granton Vale 3-0 at home. Goals from Shu, Ünterhuasen, and Alasdair Nesbo helped to further lift them out of the quagmire, after what had been a haphazard start to the season. Chris Okywä's side have been letting in a lot of goals on their return to the SPL, but that seems to be something they have now stomped out.

Elsewhere: Cornellians missed a golden chance to go back on top of the table, as a sluggish performance against Port James Athletic saw them concede four goals. Vera Cummings and Keeva Crowe scored the goals, which got Porty back on track as they defeated the Warriors 2-0 at Dyerton. And a late Wallace Solway goal gave Dundee victory over Hillstreet.

Player and Manager of The Month Awards -- Month Three

Player: Kaytlyne Victoriane -- Lammerton
Lammerton are back, and making up for lost it seems. This award could have went to any number of Hornets players, but the rising star of Chromatik football did just enough to win the vote over the likes of Valaran, Naeher, and Alexandersson. Victoriane's newfound versatility has been a massive boon for the club, and her ability to operate in the right-forward role has given Lammerton another important string to their bow.

Young Player: Ed Lorrey -- Dundee
The young Dundee keeper has had a brilliant month, pulling off some top drawer saves as he helped them amass ten points from four matches. Looking at him, it's hard to believe this guy is still only eighteen, and one would imagine he has a big international career ahead of him.

Manager: Johnny Smith -- Lammerton
The mastermind of the Lammerton revival was always going to be a shoe in for this award. Just when fans must have been in the pits of despair, this rising star of management has turned the sinking ship around. Buoyed by outstanding performances from the likes of Victoriane, Naeher, Valaran, Alexanderson, and Svensson - the Hornets have done their chances of making the Globe Cup no harm at all.

Champions' Cup -- Group Phase
(BRE) Kingsgrove 1-2 Handon United

Handon United secured a decisive victory in their final Champion's Cup group match, and with it, ensured that they topped the table as they qualified for the knockout stages. Kingsgrove, in Brenecia, is always a tough fixture, but it was the kind of match United needed to win if they were going to go far in the tournament. Again it was the pace with which the Schottic champions were able to spring the counter-attack that made them so effective going forward. Christian Lovenkrands was dangerous as ever, while young Jayden Fox also looked very composed coming forward from the left back position. Jane Gullie's side secured the win in the 87th minutes, as Natalie Adams played Daniel Dostalok through for the winning goal.

Globe Cup -- Group Phase
(WRL) Navel FC 3-3 Port Sebastian
Cornellians 2-1 Northern Blue Lions (NTN)

Despite a 3-3 draw away at Navel FC, Port Sebastian were safely through to the knockout stages of the Globe Cup for a third consecutive season. In an end to end match, it was Eloisa Purinton who scored the goals which got Porty a share of the points, hitting the Whirl Island side hard on the counter attack. The result ensured that the Handon club did enough to top the group ahead of Eastern Stars. Cornellians needed at least a point to secure their place in the knockouts. On paper, Northern Blue Lions at home was a winnable fixture, but the Eagles really had to work hard for the result. Second half goals from Kel Koromin and Mershawn Mercury got them over the line in the end.

Series B -- Group Phase
New Belfast Blues 2-1 Pinnacle Project (CEN)

The Blues rounded off a good group phase in the Series B with a 2-1 win at home to Ceni's Pinnacle Project. Things seem to be genuinely picking up for the club, and this performance will give them a lot of heart.

SPL
Cornellians 4–3 Port Sebastian
Mucusia 2–2 Port James Athletic
Lammerton 1–0 La Gorlions
Granton Vale 0–1 Handon United
New Island 1–0 New Belfast Blues
Dundee 1–0 Soessch 1990
Port Patrick United 4–1 Hillstreet
Kirk Preston United 2–0 D'Itille
Kings Park 0–1 Hollin
New Belfast Warriors 3–1 FC Soessch

With Cornellians looking to bounce straight back from a humbling defeat at the hands of Athletic, and Porty in real danger of dropping well off the pace, it was a match neither side could afford to lose at Lochend Stadium. Given the way the Eagles are banging them in this season, we were almost guaranteed to see goals, in what promised to be a spectacle of match. Cornellians opened up two goal lead, as they made most of the early running. Jade Irwin played in on from striker, Kathryn Kvanderwyk with an expertly timed through ball for the opener; before a distance strike from Johannas Ünterhausen cannoned back off the crossbar and into the path of Mershawn Mercury who tucked away number two. Port Sebastian were always dangerous on the counter attack, with Andrya Novkovic in particular causing the home side problems. The Handon side pulled one back just before half time, when Michi Leonard picked out Eloisa Purinton in the 18-yard-box, but it was Cornellians who extended their lead shortly after the restart. A forward ball from Kit Kvanderwyk, was flicked on from Kel Koromin, allowing Irwin in behind the defence to make it 3-1. The Eagles must have thought all three points were in the bag as Isla Sibučić curled in a freekick from the edge of the box, but there was still life in the visitors. They came back strong in the closing stages with goals from Cummings and Doig, however, it was too little too late, as Cornellians held on.

Port Patrick United were a club who had their tails up this week, sensing that a Champions' Cup spot might be theirs for the taking, as they hammered Hillstreet at Galloway Lane. Tanya Yeats was on top form for the Breakers, as her aggressive attacking style was difficult for the visitors to deal with. The Brenecian scored one, and set up another, as they went on to win the game 4-1. Cenian DBC star, Chase Ziegenhorn, scored two goals in this match, as the teenager seems to be growing in stature. Hillstreet are now running into some serious trouble, and were it not for their strong start to the season, they would now be looking ominously over their shoulders.

The Port James Derby doesn't quite have that same ring to it as many of the nations other great local fixtures, but that might be something to do with the lack of any real historic rivalry. Athletic are the city giants, but going by the current formbook, it promised to be a close match. Mucusia used home advantage to good effect as they opened up a slender lead, as a pass from Mako Sekine sent Aimée Hétu through on goals. Jack Hobbs equalised with a close range effort after some good footwork from Evangeline Querón allowed her to find the former Granton man at the back post. Sara Foucault momentarily restored the Eusebians' lead after she curled a freekick into the top corner, but a screamer of a goal (a goal of the season contender) from Pepe Edgar meant both clubs left with a point each.

In other results: Lammerton notched up yet another win, as Mars Alexandersson scored the only goal in their match with La Gorlions. Kiki scored a double, as New Belfast Warriors recorded a very special 3-1 win over FC Soessch. And, another double from Leopoldo Ramirez moved the striker's phenomenal tally up even further, as Kirk Preston defeated D'Itille.

SPL
Port Sebastian 3–2 FC Soessch
Hollin 1–3 New Belfast Warriors
D'Itille 2–0 Kings Park
Hillstreet 3–0 Kirk Preston United
Soessch 1990 2–2 Port Patrick United
New Belfast Blues 0–0 Dundee
Handon United 2–0 New Island
La Gorlions 1–0 Granton Vale
Port James Athletic 1–2 Lammerton
Cornellians 7–2 Mucusia

The goal scoring threat possessed by Cornellians has been utterly incredible this season, as a 7-2 win over Mucusia gave them an average of over three per match. A huge factor in this has been the rise in form of Kathryn Kvanderwyk, who scored another two today, to take her own tally to seventeen already. The Eagles have been getting goals from all areas of the park however, and they have a team full of players who are all capable of finding the net. This was proven to be the case again this week, with defenders, Christan Berg and Maeon Vlahos both getting their names on the score sheet. The Ünterhausen/Irwin combination in the centre once again ran the show, and as strange as it sounds, the gulf between these two sides could have been even wider. Mucusia had been enjoying a good season by their standards thus far, but this result will show them just how far they have to go if they have designs on reaching the top of the league.

There weren't been the same amount of fireworks at Harbour Hill, but Handon United did what it took to stay equal on points with Cornellians, even if the six times champions' goal difference is like another point. This week they prepared themselves for the visit of New Island, knowing that they would need to combat the physical threat caused by Ramone Scotta in the Pebbles' attack. United didn't have it all their own way, with Holly Addison proving to be a formidable force in the midfield. However, Jane Gullie's side opened the scoring with a direct freekick from Rachel Hellion just before half time. United never really looked back from there, as the goal seemed to take the wind from New Island's sail somewhat. Christian Lovenkrands burst into the box on eighty minutes before unselfishly side-footing the ball across for Daniel Dostalok to have the easiest of tap-ins.

The big games are coming thick and fast right now for Port Sebastian, and the visit of FC Soessch looked like it should be another tricky on for the Handon club. Jock Sonny is no doubt under a lot of pressure right now, but whether the board will get rid of him while the club are still in the Globe Cup is another question. The septuagenarian has brought the club forward, but another stuttering season, where the league looks increasingly out of their reach will have the fans frustrated. Porty looked very good on the front foot in this match, but were twice pegged back by Die Rote Teufel, as the match ebbed back and forth. A rare goal from Esther Abner helped the home side to the win however, and three points which prevents them from losing too much ground.

In other results: Elspeth Glendening came back to haunt her former club, as she helped Lammerton to a narrow victory over Port James. An Ashur Ben Hassi double gave Hillstreet a vital win over mid-table rivals, Kirk Preston. And, The Warriors went up to third in the league with a 3-1 win over Hollin.

.                        Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
 1 Cornellians            18   13   2   3    63   36  +27    41
 2 Handon United          18   13   2   3    37   24  +13    41
 3 New Belfast Warriors   18   10   3   5    32   20  +12    33
 4 Port Patrick United    18    9   6   3    32   23   +9    33
 5 Lammerton              18    8   8   2    30   19  +11    32
 6 FC Soessch             18    9   3   6    38   28  +10    30
 7 Dundee                 18    8   4   6    24   17   +7    28
 8 Port James Athletic    18    7   6   5    35   26   +9    27
 9 Port Sebastian         18    7   5   6    42   34   +8    26
10 Kirk Preston United    18    8   2   8    30   33   −3    26
11 Hillstreet             18    7   4   7    30   31   −1    25
12 La Gorlions            18    7   4   7    17   21   −4    25
13 Mucusia                18    7   3   8    26   29   −3    24
14 Kings Park             18    7   1  10    28   36   −8    22
15 New Island             18    5   3  10    18   30  −12    18
16 New Belfast Blues      18    4   5   9    25   35  −10    17
17 Hollin                 18    4   5   9    26   40  −14    17
18 D'Itille               18    3   5  10    25   41  −16    14
19 Soessch 1990           18    3   3  12    17   31  −14    12
20 Granton Vale           18    2   4  12    17   38  −21    10

First Division

Despite having barely a fraction of Marionville's budget, West Coast Warriors remain top of the First Division, as we prepare to hit the half way stage. The Port James club have probably surprised everyone this season, with their imaginative and innovative style of football, while playing at a stadium that holds only three and a half thousand fans. Much of the former WSL team's funding comes from crowd sourcing, but it hasn't stopped them picking up some impressive wins over some much bigger clubs this season. Marionville remain just three points behind in second place, but there is no doubt that it will be embarrassing for manager Jack Cordoba. Making up the rest of the top six are some of the usual suspects in the form of West Holbrookdale, Bara Waves, Handon North, and Snubbeak. Central Stars continue to languish down the league in fifteenth place, however.

.                        Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
 1 West Coast Warriors    18   13   3   2    39   22  +17    42
 2 Marionville            18   12   3   3    41   22  +19    39
 3 West Holbrookdale      18   11   3   4    37   23  +14    36
 4 Handon North           18   10   5   3    32   27   +5    35
 5 Bara Waves             18    9   6   3    26   16  +10    33
 6 Snubbeak Rock          18    9   5   4    40   24  +16    32
 7 FC Döllar              18    9   3   6    30   24   +6    30
 8 Oak Park Celtic        18    8   6   4    28   22   +6    30
 9 Jena VB                18    8   4   6    34   26   +8    28
10 Berwick United         18    7   6   5    28   21   +7    27
11 Lammerton City         18    6   7   5    25   24   +1    25
12 Lammerton Eels         18    5   8   5    26   29   −3    23
13 Wolbeck                18    6   5   7    30   37   −7    23
14 Toll Cross Academy     18    5   5   8    19   27   −8    20
15 Central Stars          18    5   3  10    27   35   −8    18
16 Lammerton Wonderers    18    4   3  11    26   36  −10    15
17 Stalker Bay            18    3   5  10    25   35  −10    14
18 Bolton Green           18    2   7   9    23   38  −15    13
19 Allous VB              18    1   4  13    17   40  −23     7
20 Baumann VB             18    0   3  15    13   38  −25     3

First Division Player and Manager of The Month Awards -- Month Four

Player: James Hughes -- Handon North

Young Player: Dawn Morham -- West Coast Warriors

Manager: Grant Nean -- West Holbrookdale

Schottic Cup -- Round of Sixteen
Lammerton City 0–2 Handon North
La Gorlions 0–3 Kings Park
Bara Waves 1–0 D'Itille
West Coast Warriors 1–2 Marionville
Snubbeak Rock 1–0 Granton Vale
Handon United 1–0 Cornellians
Dundee 2–1 FC Soessch
Lammerton 3–0 Mucusia

SBC.sch/sport (Domestic Sports Newswire of Schottia)

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