A-League Newswires (Brenecia Domestic Football)

by **Brenecia** » Fri Apr 20, 2018 12:42 am

FINAL MATCHDAY
To think the title race went down to the final match. To think Pikemouth were still in with a chance. But Kingsgrove remained, as they had all season, in the driver’s seat, their title hopes in their hands. All they had to do was beat Falkner United. With a heavy heart, Pikemouth fans saw the goal updates come. Four minutes in, Djuric took a lovely long ball from Gray on her feet, jinked past Riverton and slipped Penhallow through, and he slammed the ball into the ceiling of the net beyond Jancis Adrian. Nine minutes in, Mathew Evans doubled their lead with a piledriver from just outside the box. Culbreth hit the post 27 minutes in, then scored two minutes later with a lethal flicked header. Pikemouth, for their part, failed to mark Drake’s free kick, and watched gloomily as Aleksandra Skorupska rose above everyone to power home an opening goal for the Stallions. At the bottom of the table, Lotus Park looked nervously over their shoulders as Union took a 2-0 first half lead. Scaffield scored against Rozelle, Harriet Payne with a somewhat hopeful looping shot that beat Bernholm in the top corner, and Snowden River - thrown a lifeline when Turati’s goal against them early on was called back for a marginal offside - scrambled home a clumsy goal from Gerry Stones. Helpfully, they face a North Hall side resting more or less all their best players in preparation for two finals to come. Suddenly, Lotus Park were second from bottom!

In the second half, they rallied. In the opening minutes after the interval, Wen Xiaoli slipped Karuizawa through on goal, who… fell over, slammed down by a protesting Paul Sommer. His protests were summarily ignored, a penalty called for Lotus Park which Wen promptly stuck in the bottom corner. 2-1 was, however, how that match would finish, with both Blanton and, surprisingly, Parry making some strong saves to keep things the way they were. They were left to watch on as Rozelle cantered to their rescue, running roughshod over Scaffield in the second half. Leo Quinn’s squad defended fiercely, but when Payne was sent off for a scything challenge, going from hero to zero in an instant, all structure was lost. Mederow, replacing her in the double pivot, was terrible, and her sloppy pass was picked up by Bard to fire past Delamora before a failure to close down Alora Heher lead to a rampaging run forward, a one-two with two other players culminating in a lazy chip over the stranded goalkeeper. Rozelle won 2-1, and Scaffield slipped through the trapdoor to follow Rosbank, despite the Black Swans beating Westpike 2-1. They’ll be replaced by Twin Sains and, after Swayback spectacularly choked away a 1-0 lead at home to lose 3-1 to a 14th-place Knightstone side with nothing to play for, Francisca Orient (who came back from behind to beat Gallant Cross). As for the top? Yeah, Kingsgrove didn’t slip. In fact they just kept on punching, 5-1 the final score as Pikemouth slumped to defeat against the Stallions. But Tailtiu Brennan’s side were still applauded off by the appreciative away fans, who she has decidedly won over. She was probably lucky to win Manager of the Year over Genova Conrad last season, and will probably feel a little aggrieved to lose it to her this time around in typical Brenecian fashion. Rozelle take second place, but make no mistake - this season belongs, yet again, to Kingsgrove.

CROWN CUP FINAL
The pattern of the semifinals was that they were all pretty low affairs, three 1-0 wins and a scoreless draw between weak A-League sides and Ridgeway United, who came bottom of the B-League. Unfortunately for onlookers, the pattern continues in the final. Constantine Champali makes a lot of bold talk about “victory here will define our season,” a season that has been pretty terrible, and he winds up failing to get it. In the 61st minute, in very fitting fashion, Jorm Vahn’s excellent hold-up play allows him to fight off almost the entire Star defence before laying the ball off to Rico Hemnes, who surges past them all and fires… straight at Cup goalkeeper Murphy Collins. Who spills it, and claws piteously at air as he tries and fails to get to it before Kara Ciogach can slip the rebound past him. It’s the goal this final deserves, and though Karuizawa almost makes a brilliant goal happen, connecting unmarked with a scorpion kick in injury time, it just goes into the sky.

Lotus Park 0 - 1 Southern Star

CEDC FINAL
Despite some uncertainty in the offseason as to the tournament’s organisational future, the CEDC did indeed go ahead, and Brenecian sides continued their recent domination of the tournament. Kingsgrove beat Filindo side Venividicci 3-0 to reach the quarterfinals, where both Brenecian sides faced Buyanese opposition in some fascinating matches. North Hall were carried by a spectacular 4-1 win away to Jottnar Kallsmudden, but were almost dragged back, trailing 3-1 at home by half-time but managing to keep the bloodletting to 3-2, winning 6-4 on aggregate. Kingsgrove, meanwhile, needed penalties to take out Pajukas Sport. The Southern Blue Lions and Perokojak were next in the semifinals, and while Kingsgrove came close to slipping yet again, an all-Brenecian final was the result.

It did not disappoint, a match high in quality that exhibited the power and skill of the rejuvenated A-League these days. Kingsgrove were excellent top to bottom, but North Hall’s defence kept them safe, with Harvey Joyce giving them life up front. But it was Kingsgrove who raced to an early lead, Evans able to pick out a hole in a stretched Northern defence at the end of a string of Royals dominance, and his pass that split them open. Isidra Corvey’s run was angled perfectly to get on the end of it, round Eamon Falconet and slip the first goal into the net. Turati’s strike rattled the post just 35 seconds later, but Kingsgrove’s lead reflected their early dominance. Still, the Northerners thought they could at least weather the further storm, right up until the unthinkable happened - they conceded from a set piece, Thornley Stray wrestling away from Turati to nod home Corvey’s corner into the net.

In the second half, Hall recovered, and fought back hard. A flying save from Winterfyll took care of a cushioned header from Turati that should be all rights have scored - frankly, the Drawkish striker may have had some sort of voodoo curse on her all day - before the unlikely source of Lucian Card pulled a goal back. It started with Winterfyll saving from Turati yet again, Joyce following up with a shot blocked desperately by Steve Fox, Fallon bundled over by Stray in chase of the ball but the referee calling a good advantage just in time for Card to slam the ball forward, taking a heavy deflection off Gray to fool an off-balance, still recovering Winterfyll. Just as North Hall built up momentum, however, a cocoabo streaker (well, technically - it was naked, in any case) bounded onto the pitch, dancing merrily around the pitch with twenty stewards or so chasing fruitlessly in its wake. North Hall's momentum was dead, a weary Kingsgrove given a chance to get their breath. And that, as it happened, was as good as it would get for the Northerners, though star-crossed striker Turati hit the post yet again in injury time, and despite the shaky defence of their title, Kingsgrove can be content with their double. After the match, Gabrielle Hourihane announces she’ll stay for one more season… and the fact that it follows Nepharim side Belgrave’s promotion to the Premiership, where former Kingsgrove reserves manager Meriadoc Griffiths resides, adds fuel to the fire of the rumours he’s set to succeed her at Kingsgrove. But does that really matter? Not in the short-term. For yet another year in their proud history, Kingsgrove are champions of Esportiva.

Kingsgrove 2 - 1 North Hall

GLOBE CUP FINAL
Some matches, meanwhile, just aren’t a Brenecian story to tell. It felt like Brenecian sides were facing TLW opposition constantly as they marched on internationally, and certainly for Russ Shorten’s unfancied Northerners the Globe Cup final represents a real achievement. Unfortunately, they couldn’t quite close it out, and a 1-0 defeat to Celtic Noviodunum in which they were simply flat up front was a crushing disappointment. Even so… they’ve shown the world the A-League is a force to be respected once again.

North Hall 0 - 1 Celtic Noviodunum

A-LEAGUE

Pos Team                     P   W  D   L For  Ag  +/- Pts
  1 Kingsgrove              30  20  5   5  58  20  +38  65
  2 Rozelle                 30  18  7   5  52  27  +25  61
  3 Pikemouth               30  18  7   5  49  26  +23  61
  4 Northern Stallions      30  18  4   8  49  34  +15  58
  5 North Hall              30  16  5   9  41  28  +13  53
  6 Northern Union          30  12  8  10  40  31   +9  44
  7 Chafford                30  11  8  11  23  28   -5  41
  8 Marque                  30  12  3  15  41  46   -5  39
  9 Rozelle United          30  10  7  13  36  37   -1  37
 10 Southern Star           30  10  5  15  41  48   -7  35
 11 Westpike United         30   9  6  15  23  38  -15  33
 12 Falkner United          30   9  5  16  35  51  -16  32
 13 Snowden River           30   7  9  14  25  39  -14  30
 14 Lotus Park              30   7  7  16  22  40  -18  28
 15 Scaffield               30   7  6  17  29  54  -25  27
 16 Rosbank Town            30   6  8  16  36  53  -17  26

AWARDS
Golden Boot (Goals Scored): Jackie Crawford (ROZ) - 18
Golden Ball (Player of the Year): Alora Heher (ROZ)
Golden Fist (New Player of the Year): Jackie Crawford (ROZ)
Golden Heart (U-21 Player of the Year): Morwen Prentice (WPU)
Team of the Year: Hoffmann (PKM); Karigomu (PKM), Giord (NTS), Gray (KNG), Holden (NTU); Heher (ROZ), Staunton (KNG), Joyce (NTH); Brasic (PKM), Crawford (ROZ), Corvey (KNG)
Manager of the Year: Genova Conrad (WPU)

B-LEAGUE

Pos Team                      P   W   D   L For  Ag  +/- Pts
  1 Twin Saints              30  21   6   3  68  29  +39  69
  2 Francisca Orient         30  16  10   4  43  21  +22  58
  3 Swayback                 30  16   7   7  53  32  +21  55
  4 Westpike                 30  16   5   9  39  24  +15  53
  5 Proudcastle              30  15   4  11  33  25   +8  49
  6 Gallant Cross            30  13   8   9  44  35   +9  47
  7 Saint Alexander          30  12  10   8  29  23   +6  46
  8 Southside Wanderers      30  12   6  12  35  30   +5  42
  9 AFC Swanbridge           30  11   8  11  43  43   +0  41
 10 Marque Rovers            30  11   3  16  30  49  -19  36
 11 Chrysler Town            30   9   7  14  44  52   -8  34
 12 Knightstone FC           30   9   4  17  34  53  -19  31
 13 Guilder                  30   6  11  13  27  41  -14  29
 14 Stourhead                30   6  11  13  23  43  -20  29
 15 Rozelle Alliance         30   6   6  18  33  56  -23  24
 16 Ridgeway United          30   6   4  20  21  43  -22  22

C-LEAGUE

Pos Team                     P   W   D   L For  Ag  +/- Pts
  1 Crest                   30  21   5   4  60  31  +29  68
  2 Finbar Stalwarts        30  20   7   3  60  15  +45  67
  3 Pride of the South      30  18   5   7  69  28  +41  59
  4 Mount Roland            30  12  14   4  39  21  +18  50
  5 Fentonbridge            30  13   8   9  38  26  +12  47
  6 Sharrow                 30  13   6  11  39  33   +6  45
  7 Spearcove Mariners      30  14   3  13  55  53   +2  45
  8 Falkner Wanderers       30  12   6  12  37  43   -6  42
  9 Northern Fist           30  10   6  14  46  56  -10  36
 10 Southrons-Errant        30  10   6  14  44  57  -13  36
 11 Rushden                 30   9   7  14  40  60  -20  34
 12 Shaleport Rangers       30   7  10  13  33  47  -14  31
 13 Coppersmith             30   8   7  15  31  50  -19  31
 14 Platwood                30   8   5  17  28  44  -16  29
 15 Alexavale FC            30   6   9  15  31  64  -33  27
 16 Glassfields             30   3   8  19  37  59  -22  17

D-LEAGUE

Pos Team                    P   W   D   L For  Ag  +/- Pts
  1 Chafford Saracens      30  20   6   4  60  19  +41  66
  2 Falkner Crescent       30  20   5   5  64  25  +39  65
  3 Otter Ferry            30  17   4   9  53  45   +8  55
  4 Randwick Town          30  14  11   5  46  23  +23  53
  5 Razorback Hill         30  13   8   9  42  26  +16  47
  6 Suttonstrand FC        30  14   4  12  36  53  -17  46
  7 Pikemouth United       30  14   3  13  58  49   +9  45
  8 Heathgrove             30  11   9  10  50  36  +14  42
  9 Fisher Kings           30  12   5  13  33  46  -13  41
 10 AFC Conomore           30  10  10  10  32  36   -4  40
 11 Dannecliff Rovers      30   8   9  13  36  38   -2  33
 12 Thrush                 30   8   8  14  38  50  -12  32
 13 AFC Cairnshore         30   9   4  17  42  55  -13  31
 14 Brackford Rovers       30   5  11  14  22  43  -21  26
 15 AFC East Coast         30   4   9  17  37  69  -32  21
 16 Alnwick Glade          30   5   6  19  24  60  -36  21
Promoted: Silvershire Town, AFC Smallstreams

by **Brenecia** » Mon Jul 16, 2018 4:36 pm

A-LEAGUE CYCLE 71 PREVIEW

League Run: Champions
Stadium: Royal Park (42,000)
Nickname: the Royals
Manager: Gabrielle Hourihane
Captain: Jakk Winterfyll
Top Scorer: Elena Culbreth (17)
Likely Starting XI: (4-3-3) 1 - Winterfyll (37, c); 2 - Brand (27), 5 - Stray (25), 6 - Gray (29), 3 - Raven (27); 7 - Evans (29), 4 - Staunton (24), 8 - Penhallow (24); 13 - Đuric (28), 9 - Culbreth (30), 11 - Corvey (23)
Promoted: Lauren Cheney (RW, 18), Warner Luksha (ST, 19), Rasa Vengryte (RB, 19), Kristina Wise (CM, 19)
Out: Steve Fox (Sabrefell Athletic, 6m), Tess Montrose (Olulawi United, 2.5m), Dane Challinor (Sierre 1903, free), Avery Goddard (Suttonville, free)

There is a saying in professional sport, perhaps trite but no less accurate than the day it was coined; 'always be upgrading'. But why should the Royals, one wonders, when keeping the faith is enough? That is the spirit in which they failed (though not for want of trying) to improve upon a squad which were champions yet again, and suffered the departure of backup striker Montrose and, at the last minute, star rightback Fox. This is complacency that belies the fact that, had results gone against them on the final day, the Royals could have slipped the title. Instead, they've won their fourth straight, and are very much resting on their laurels. They couldn't even sort out their planned managerial switch after Belgrave's Meriadoc Griffiths secured a surprise promotion and wished to play one Premiership season before departing as planned, leaving Hourihane rather a lame duck in charge for one final year. That isn't to say the side isn't good, though Winterfyll's shown signs of decay at 37. Stray and Gray remain a stalwart defensive partnership, with Staunton excellent, intelligent cover. Evans can make things happen. Djuric is direct and dangerous, Corvey's pace is lethal, and Elena Culbreth is a terror in front of goal... though her output has been steadily decreasing from an initial 26 (still the record for goals in an A-League season), year on year. They'll still play flowing, attacking football. They still have promising young prospects, forwards Cheney and Lindauer held in particularly high regard. But will they really be able to win the title a fifth time in a row while stalling in place?

PREDICTION - 2nd.

League Run: 6th
Stadium: Redemption Park (50,000)
Nickname: Union
Manager: Bethany Donnell
Captain: Ioghan Balthorst
Top Scorer: Kit Kvanderwyk (9)
Likely Starting XI: (4-3-3) 12 - Blanton (31); 2 - Sommer (30), 5 - Balthorst (34, c), 6 - Horgan (24), 3 - Holden (31); 13 - Considine (25), 4 - Zapotowski (34), 8 - Menard (33); 7 - Kvanderwyk (32), 16 - Riazen (34), 10 - Hennessey (25)
In: Pawel Zapotowski (Beverington Hawks, 5m), Harriet Greenslade (Northern Union, 3m), Kiliko Riazen (Yeaddin Owls, undisclosed)
Promoted: Barack Fitzgerald (ST, 19), Donal Chance (LW, 18)
Out: Brielle Grant (Westpike United, 1.25m), Craig Scowen (Genepy 2100, free), Chris Fortune (Rosbank Town, loan)
Retired: Bryce Carmichael (ST, 35)

Back with a bang... but perhaps not as much of one as they could have hoped. Indeed, if Union's creaking legs hoped to take the league by storm, they, well... didn't, really. And Bethany Donnell, leaving Pikemouth in the belief that she'd taken the Kingfishers as far as they could go, could only watch as they were within striking distance of the title on the final matchday while Union were stranded nine points away from UICA. Predictably, Union have acted in the window like a team that has more money than sense, which isn't strictly true - they can legitimately afford to overspend on short-term acquisitions. So their two major signings, the cool head of Zapotowski and the clinical marksman Riazen, are... both 34. Greenslade, a serviceable 32-year old midfielder, is a far more sentimental than useful signing - a relic of the days before the Incident. Still, it remains an odd team, this. Plenty of quality, with a rock-hard back four, steady Blanton between the posts and the guile of Kvanderwyk opening paths up front, bolted onto a core of sturdy locals who helped the side to its promotions, but where exactly is the joined-up thinking? In the rush to bring back the glory of the old days, Union just look old-school, starstruck by their own resources. It's not coming home. Yet.

PREDICTION - 5th.

League Run: 10th
Stadium: Southfield (16,000)
Nickname: the Lions
Manager: Sara Fairhall
Captain: Rico Hemnes
Top Scorer: Kara Ciogach (12)
Likely Starting XI: (4-3-1-2) 1 - Ferrant (33); 2 - Young (26), 5 - Troy (26), 6 - Kerrigan (28), 3 - Guinness (27); 13 - Hemnes (27, c), 4 - Riverstake (27), 8 - Ruskin (21); 11 - Zsuska (23); 9 - Vahn (28), 15 - Ciogach (21)
In: Hefina Riverstake (Gallant Cross, 2m)
Promoted: Rufus Creek (LB, 19), Callum Marcus (CB, 19), Barrett Knock (GK, 18)
Out: Cole Bruin (Brigham, free), Kari Hollows (Workers Union, free), Diana Arbroath (AC Hartdale, free), Dandelion Catterail (PDM, free)

An unremarkable season in the league, but Southern Star are exactly the sort of side who have to take their joy from the Cup. This, they duly did, breakout striker Ciogach netting the only goal of the game against Lotus Park. Unlike the more scattergun approach of the past, Sara Fairhall has been content to simply pick the right player for the job in steady midfield anchor Riverstake, and otherwise allows a young team to continue to grow. Maybe that's for the best, and there's definitely talent here. Okay, the back line is a bit... ugly, on the left side, but Troy is a sturdy, reliable type as long as the ball's not at his feet, bloodthirsty Young anchors rightback and Kyra Ferrant remains one of the league's better goalkeepers. Midifeld, though, is where the jewels are. Riverstake should give the cunning Ruskin and the powerful captain Hemnes room to flourish, to say nothing of Zsuska, the hand-reared Pasargan playmaker who just gets better season after season, skilled at finding the gaps at short notice. Vahn's a capable target man, and handily holds up play and flicks on crosses to the main goal-getter, 21-year old markswoman Ciogach. Fairhall likes to dominate possession, but as a means to an end. Maybe it didn't click perfectly in the league last season - but with the added security of Riverstake in midfield, and another year under the belts of many of the side's young guns, it should start to pay serious dividends.

PREDICTION - 7th.

League Run: 11th
Stadium: Fisherking Road (17,000)
Nickname: The Pikemen
Manager: Johan Curtin
Captain: Ingram Stonesworth
Top Scorer: Niall Bremner (8)
Likely Starting XI: (4-4-2) 1 - Kenway (25); 5 - Tyrone (23), 2 - Stonesworth (32, c), 6 - Tristram (22), 31 - Prentice (19); 19 - Hamilton (28), 23 - Ascroft (31), 8 - Mallory (23), 20 - Colpher (25); 17 - Bremner (21), 10 - Grant (23)
In: Brielle Grant (Northern Union, 1.25m), Eleanor Tristram (Saint Alexander, 1m)
Promoted: Dean Becker (RB, 18), Tess Stocker (ST, 19), Cliff Sturrock (CB, 18)
Out: Rosena Grayndler (North Hall, 2.5m), Ferry Noonan (Northern Stallions, 1.75m), Elena Caldryn (KF Vlonz, free), Caitriona McCabe (Kirston Union, free), Jarret Keyes (Equestrian Outcasts HC, free)

Just like when it was said last year, it feels like Westpike United have slipped behind the curve. Not so much because of personnel; rather because of losing Genova Conrad, the reigning Manager of the Year after a number of seasons punching above the Pikemen's weight, picking up a job at Stein-los Turkish. They've promoted Johan Curtin - club legend, long-term assistant manager, no experience in the hot seat - to replace her. They also lost their best defender, Grayndler, her natural backup in Keyes, and the capable rightback Noonan, using those funds to get Union's third-choice striker in the athletic, selfless but limited Grant (perhaps the opposite of the marquee name, Anderson Sandro, they chased fruitlessly during the window) and the promising but raw Tristram. It's not a side that instills you with confidence. Granted, Kenway's a sharp enough goalkeeper, though there's an error or two in him. Captain Ingram Stonesworth will still marshal the defence, and while his pace is shot he never had much to begin with. Morwen Prentice is one of the most promising players in the country, and bustling forward Bremner's up there as well, while Hamilton and Ascroft each boast a few Brenecia caps. A few decent players, but it's hard to have much faith in a side with so many clear weaknesses. Curtin appears to be keen on having them play a more aggressive style judging by their preseason, but can their defence keep up? Once again, Westpike United look set for the drop.

PREDICTION - 16th.

by **Brenecia** » Tue Jul 24, 2018 4:39 pm

Wow. Just, wow. The season’s curtain-raiser in Rozelle seems like there’s only going to be one winner. And there is, it’s Northern Stallions, as they pulverise Rozelle United 4-0. Aleksandra Skorupska rolls back the years to truly dominate the centre of the park, Vincent is lethal up front and Riona Drake sets up Siobhan Bonner for a goal on her debut, the promising, lanky winger kissing the camera in celebration. But that didn’t even attract most of the plaudits - hell, it wasn’t even the only 4-0 of the day, as North Hall drove Snowden River through the floor by the same scoreline, Turati battering too many holes in the gate, Joyce finding them with ease. But the real stunner comes in Kingsgrove, as the Royals face eleven guys in their away yellow and blue kits, none of whom have even played in the A-League before. They’re greeted by the sight of a ‘Welcome to Hell’ banner in the home active support. Classy. And the hosts do open the scoring, a great pass from Evans finding Corvey, who rounds Brando and drives the ball into an empty net. But the Twins strike back, first a defensive lapse from Raven letting Elara Payne cut inside and rifle home their first top-flight goal. But it gets better. Payne sets up Stanger, who… drives the ball against the post, but it rebounds hard enough for Ruby Bronze to hammer the ball home from there, before Bronze’s free kick is headed home by the towering Houston as Winterfyll’s age finally shows, flapping helplessly. Kingsgrove do get a consolation in injury time, but they’re knocked off their perch regardless by Twin Saints. What in introduction!

Well, the Royals were always going to take out their frustrations on the next team they saw. Chafford manager Rook Asquith before the 5-0 thrashing: “They’re going to be vulnerable, they’re going to be gettable. Our aim on home soil is the three points.” Chafford manager Rook Asquith after the 5-0 thrashing: “They were always going to be a hard opponent for us, nearly impossible given their financial might and the motivation of avoiding back-to-back defeats.” Sure. Ominous signs for Francisca Orient, as the Jacks are easily beaten 2-0 by Northern Union despite a number of striking saves from Jacqueline Caldwell between the sticks. That’s not alarming in itself; what is, is that although Dane Clarke hits a post late on, they’re still yet to muster a shot on target in either game they’ve played. Rachel Byrne of Marque, meanwhile, cuts a pensive figure on the touchline. After a first-match defeat to Chafford, she watches as her Privateers let slip a 2-0 lead in the 33rd minute to lose 4-2, Kara Ciogach netting a hat-trick of well-taken strikes.

In the notorious clusterfuck of the opening stages of the Crown Cup, it really sucks to be any A-League side to face a competitive opponent at this stage. The difference between the strongish A-League, the fairly weak B-League and the semi-professional two tiers below is starkly illustrated - Union score 5 unanswered goals, Star, Pikemouth and Orient 6, Falkner 8. Rozelle United, though, are a little too casual. Platwood are favourites to be relegated from the third tier. They take United to penalties, and it’s only due to a hit post and two sharp saves from 24-year old Lex Garratt that spares United’s blushes. Only two top-tier teams do get knocked out, in the end. Westpike United are edged 1-0 by Twin Saints in a dull match between two second-string sides, while a five-goal thriller between Rozelle and the Stallions is sealed in extra time, substitute Damian Fletch racing clear of five exhausted Saints before centring unselfishly for Coulthirst to convert the winner.

Kingsgrove in crisis? Kara Ciogach races to the top of the scoring charts with five goals when she nets twice in the first 15 minutes. Sara Fairhall was not too proud to shut up shop afterwards, though, telling her charges to sit back and deny the Royals space. It largely worked, but Star did need another goal, a curling strike from Zsuska, to seal a 3-2 away win. Pikemouth get punked 3-0 by North Hall in what is projected to be a close match and winds up a rout, Randall Donachie a disaster in defensive midfield ultimately mercy-killing his match with a senseless red card close to the hour mark, with the score already 3-0, with his planned substitute waiting for him on the touchline. It shouldn’t overshadow a sparkling performance from teenager Ceridwen Fletcher, thrown in after a late injury to Fallon, and notching up a goal and an assist against a strong opponent. Meanwhile, in what is still persistently known as the minor Rozelle derby, the Saints run all over United. Nightjar Evans pounces on defensive errors, twice, and United just can’t take possession, territory or control, let alone finish the few chances they get.

Closer than it probably should be, but then again, international away fixtures are never to be taken for granted. They’re blunt up front, but goals from midfield, from Cresci and Swift, seem to have them cruising. A late consolation for Ballina might be dangerous, though.

Okay, Kingsgrove definitely in crisis now. They dominate the field against Westpike United, but are just far too blunt in front of goal. A bad, uncharacteristic miss from Culbreth sets the tone, Kenway makes some eye-catching saves but the Pikemen are holding their own. Until, suddenly, they’re doing better than that. In the 79th minute, Brielle Grant gets off the mark for her team with a perfectly cushioned header off Hamilton’s cross, and then five minutes later after Mallory’s shot is fingertipped onto the post by Winterfyll, Grant’s in position to hammer home the rebound. “Look, obviously I got those goals as a Westpike player… but speaking as a Union girl at heart?” Grant grinned, speaking to the press. “You always want to score against the purple scum.” Rozelle are yet to truly sparkle, but a dull contest against North Hall is livened up by a screamer from Alora Heher, just given a little too much space to mash home the only goal of the game. Francisca Orient, meanwhile, are utterly abject against Northern Stallions. It’s not just going forward, where their struggles are predictable (but you’d think they’d at least have scored by now); it’s at the back, where Janosa is raw and Chilcott and Bramble are both deeply, deeply limited at this level, and Caldwell has a nightmare in goal. It’s looking like a long season for Orient.

Nothing happens. That’s good enough for Star, though their fans are rather underwhelmed at the performance.

Twin Saints remain unbeaten in the league, but they’re sorely tested against a game Proudcastle side eager to test them. They hit an early bit of luck when Anstruther’s low, driving cross is deflected by Tori Merrick into her own net just three minutes in, and while Clive soon pulls one back, experienced striker Conan Hawkine drives home Proudcastle’s second not long after. It looks all over just before the interval, when Casper clumsily brings down Garvan Braehead just inside the box… but veteran goalkeeper Soren Jones, who played every minute of the Twins’ promotion campaign, guesses right and turns Hawkine’s penalty around the post. The Twins fight back to dominate the second half, and goals from young winger Coppersmith and, off the bench, Tafani, seal a morale-boosting win. Most people are probably watching the North Hall derby instead, though, and that’s a shame because it’s a terrible match enlivened only by a single moment of individual brilliance from Kit Kvanderwyk, driving through the defence and flicking the only goal of the match past Pardinho with the outside of his boot. There’s a lot of penalties, which is nice to see - it’s how Chafford dispose of Pikemouth, Marque of Guilder after a frustrating goalless draw, and Swanbridge of Gallant Cross in a marathon affair as the first thirteen penalties all hit the target before Libra Sixfields’ effort slams into the upright. Finbar Stalwarts also contest a thriller against Fentonbridge - 1-1 in the first 90 minutes, 2-2 in extra time and yet another penalty shootout going to sudden death, though this one far less… clinical, with both goalkeepers ending up having to take one. Fentonbridge’s keeper Adkine scores, and then saves, to clinch the win. Falkner rely on three goals in the last ten minutes to battle back to a win over Scaffield. Lotus Park dispose of Snowden in a thrilling match, and for all that Snowden, Hall and Chafford are the only A-League sides to bow out this round.

Francisca Orient score a goal! Better still, they open the scoring, Dane Clarke making the opening before centring to an unmarked Kennedy, who hits a low, powerful shot beneath a sprawling Hoffmann. So they fall back, hunker down and ohhhh dear they’re 4-1 down by the interval. They made Pikemouth mad. Chilcott does at least claw another goal back, heading home a corner, but it doesn’t make up for him not being a very good defender, and he’s culpable just four minutes later for Pikemouth’s fifth. Chafford aren’t known for six-goal thrillers, but they manage a fairly good one anyway, though Star will feel aggrieved. They open Chafford’s defence up, two killer passes from Zsuska, clinical finishes from the Schottics Hemnes and the dashing fullback Young… and unfortunately for them, that makes Chafford open up. Sinque drives home a direct free kick, Coyne draws and then converts a penalty and then heads home a lovely cross from Docherty that seems to hang in the air forever. The second half is a drier affair, Chafford now comfortably back in the defensive… but they just allow Star a little too much time and space, and when Iarrow makes a clumsy hash of parrying away Zsuska’s shot from outside the box, in comes her countryman, Vahn, to swoop in and loft the equaliser beyond her.

Okay, so Rozelle United’s scoreless draw against the Twins is a terrible match, but it exists and is notable for one purpose and one purpose alone - Twin Saints remain undefeated. How? This is not the greatest freshly-promoted team in the world, not by any means. They have no A-League experience, a very young team, a lot of players who just… aren’t that solid… but they just keep on performing strongly. Compare them to Francisca Orient, who this week continue to stroll along in their favourite activity of ‘losing and not scoring’. 1-0 to Rozelle is downright respectable by their standards, though, with underperforming veteran midfielder Richard Harrison dropped, and sturdy goalkeeper Jarrod Dougan impressing in his first start between the sticks (following two clean sheets in the Cup). North Hall shut down Kingsgrove in a non-event of a match. Marque overpower Lotus Park as Kelly McInnes takes advantage of the permissive marking of deputising Park rightback Blake to slice into their defence time and again, with two goals and an assist to her name. She’s finally flickered into life. And finally, an unhappy return for Union manager Bethany Donnell, who can only look on as a disciplined, motivated Pikemouth overpower and outpace her sluggish, aging squad, nobody seemingly having the dynamism on a day where Brunswick Green shut down Kvanderwyk and, with him, seemingly all Union’s creativity. Denarian and Coghlan scored in the second half to give Tailtiu Brennan’s side the points.

The world turns upside-down. They always say the form-book gets thrown out during derbies, and Francisca Orient come to Marque with a fire and steel that has been abjectly missing thus far this season. Two minutes into the game, McInnes forces a sharp save from Dougan at his near post, and Murgen Knox has a free header at the resulting corner… that goes straight at Dougan. Who lamps it forward, to Harrington, who races clear of everyone, centres for Kit Kennedy to sidefoot home beyond a wrong-footed Bannatyne. Marque continue to dominate the ball, but struggle to find a way through, and Orient never lose their discipline. On the stroke of half-time, Marko Petrosian tries his chances from just outside the box, and hammers home a powerful diagonal strike past a motionless Bannatyne, who claims later she anticipated a cross. There’s some late scares, but Orient do hold out for their first win of the season. The Twins, meanwhile, slip up for the first time. Hall take an early two-goal lead, through Joyce and Fallon, and clamp down on it in the first half. In a tit-for-tat second half, a screamer from Bronze from thirty yards adds some intrigue, but Turati seemingly kills it off. Stanger draws a penalty for Bronze to convert in the dying minutes, and the Twins press hard for their leveller - indeed, Tafani and then Lind force a spectacular double save from the oft-underrated Eamon Falconet - but the run is over. Union slip to another strong side, grabbing an early lead against the run of play against Rozelle - Kiliko Riazen can make things Happen - but eventually slipping to defeat, unable to cope with Heher’s passing, Crawford’s hold-up play and most of all, just… pace. Somehow nobody told Donnell, who knows this league extremely well, that the A-League is a really fast-paced league. This side just doesn’t seem to cope.

Well, congratulations to Twin Saints again. They do lose again, but they’re the only losing side to score! And no side draws, at all. Pikemouth manage an impressive 2-0 win over the Stallions, marked by what seems to be complete comfort and control, with Aiden Denarian’s brace underscoring his remarkable form of late. Kingsgrove have been struggling of late, but they get just the tonic they need - a home fixture against Orient. Unsurprisingly, they cruise to a 2-0 win, resting many key players. Union continue to be exposed by pace, which Marque have rather a lot of - two seamless counterattacks sees them to a 2-0 win, though Bannatyne does have to save a Riazen penalty. And Rozelle utterly punk Snowden River 4-0. Keep an eye out for Elysse Matheson, the teenage playmaker looking assured at the centre of the park.

  Group F                    	Pld	W   D   L	GF   GA   GD   Pts   SCS  NDS  Kgr  Stg
1 Somer City and Surrounds  ETM	6	4   1   1	11	7   +4	13	—   2–1  1–1  4–1
2 New Dundee Star       	PCR	6	2   2   2 	8	6   +2 	8*  1–2   —   2–1  3–0
3 Kingsgrove            	BRE	6	2   2   2 	5	4   +1 	8*  0–1  0–0   —   1–0
4 Stórrgarðrsveit       	HFD	6	1   1   4 	5   12   −7 	4   3–1  1–1  0–2   —
* New Dundee Star ahead of Kingsgrove on head-to-head points

  Group H                    	Pld	W   D   L	GF   GA   GD   Pts   Pkm  Mya  SwD  Stl
1 Pikemouth             	BRE	6	4   2   0	11	5   +6	14	—   1–1  2–1  4–3
2 Myana                 	CMT	6	3   1   2	10	5   +5	10   0–2   —   3–0  2–0
3 Sokojiwa Dosi CK      	COM	6	2   1   3 	9   11   −2 	7   0–2  2–1   —   3–3
4 Starling              	NPH	6	0   2   4 	6   15   −9 	2   0–0  0–3  0–3   —

  Group L                    	Pld	W   D   L	GF   GA   GD   Pts   WhT  Roz  SfA  Olj
1 Whitehaven Triumph    	CEN	6	5   0   1	12	4   +8	15	—   1–0  4–2  2–0
2 Rozelle               	BRE	6	3   0   3 	9	8   +1 	9*  2–1   —   1–2  2–0
3 Sabrefell Athletic    	NPH	6	3   0   3	10   12   −2 	9*  0–3  1–2   —   3–1
4 Oljestaden IF         	AUD	6	1   0   5 	5   12   −7 	3   0–1  3–2  1–2   —
* Rozelle ahead of Sabrefell Athletic on goal difference

Kingsgrove were disappointingly edged out of a tough group, but there’s success elsewhere. Pikemouth go unbeaten to top a group that includes Starling (who go winless), while Rozelle pip Sabrefell Athletic and Oljestaden IF to the punch by dint of being the only side that can lay a glove on Whitehaven.

Star struggle to gain traction against a strong Olympia side, and while they have all the hustle in midfield, Ciogach and Vahn can’t finish their chances. Rowlinson beats Kyra Ferrant at her near post for the first goal, before young talent Natasha Horvat puts the sheen on a mature performance by angling a low, powerful strike past Ferrant from just outside the box, though it glanced unhelpfully off Troy’s heel. All to do in the second leg...

A weird matchday. Things aren’t going to plan at the Uniteds of either Westpike or Rozelle, and with two fairly defensively-minded teams you’d be within your rights to assume a drab affair. It isn’t. Caprice Martinelli scores her first goal of the season just seventeen seconds in, an absolute screamer from thirty yards past a helplessly diving Kenway, and the Pikemen respond in earnest. Morwen Prentice drops crosses right onto the heads of Grant and Bremner, before Sharon Colpher, who isn’t that good a player, skins Spector before whipping a low diagonal shot past Murnane. And then Westpike midfielder Mallory gets sent off, just two minutes after the restart, for a murderous challenge on Conroy. That changes everything. Rozelle push, hard, and Draper and Andisori level the scores, but sharp saves from Kenway and a body-block on the line from Tristram ensure the Pikemen at least get a point. Southern Star, meanwhile, crush North Hall - normally so dependable! - 4-0. The issue with Star is that they have, in Ruskin, Zsuska and Ciogach, three brilliant young players who probably are set for bigger and better things. All three score today, as does the centre-half Kerrigan off a corner. Northern Stallions hand Rozelle their first defeat of the season in a madcap game, Artem Giord with two second-half goals from headers off set pieces to seal a 4-2 win. Orient, meanwhile, get their second win of the season thanks to a disputed late goal from Kit Kennedy. Danielle Houston argues she was offside (she was) strenuously enough to earn a second booking and her marching order. Oops.

So far, the Saints have been nigh-unstoppable. Pikemouth give them a damn good run for their money, though! Padmore loops a long ball into uncertainty, and Bernholm and Blackburn each wait for the other to go get it. They don’t get it. Denarian gets it, and loops the ball over Bernholm for the opening goal. But that just riles Rozelle up - a header from Crawford, a piledriver from Gerfalcon and a luckless own goal from Ramsay put the Saints 3-1 up by the interval. Pikemouth strike back - Karigomu (it’s a good day for fullbacks) with a deflected strike, before Brasic cuts inside and rifles the ball into the top corner, and then Denarian has a goal disallowed for offside. And then Denarian has a goal not disallowed for offside, and Pikemouth have the lead again! Which they retain for all of three minutes, before Besat levels and then a beautiful, flowing, twenty-pass move is started and calmly finished by Alora Heher. The Saints are now seven points clear at the top, with an ungainly throng beneath them - the Stallions and Hall the closest challengers, Star fourth after a drab scoreless draw with Lotus Park, Pikemouth rounding out the UICA places, Chafford and the Twins just outside… flanking Kingsgrove, who can only draw 2-2 with Snowden River, in 7th. Northern Union’s 1-1 draw with Twin Saints puts them scandalously fourth-last, and rumours swirl around Bethany Donnell’s future at the club. Rumours also swirl around Constantine Champali at Lotus Park. Thanks to Orient’s 1-0 win over Chafford, thanks to Dane Clarke’s belated first goal of the season, Park slip into the relegation zone with just one win and six goals. Westpike United, whose only win has come against Kingsgrove, are bottom. It just looks like the time has come for them. Westpike, Swanbridge and a still-unbeaten Gallant Cross are currently jostling at the top of the second tier.

One of those rounds where things more or less go as expected. All the A-League sides win - though Shaleport run Rozelle United close, and they’re forced to rely on an injury-time penalty to see them through. Francisca Orient find some teeth from their depth and, okay, it’s only third-tier Fentonbridge, but perhaps a lively showing and a brace from burly 21-year old Helena Murrough isn’t to be sniffed at in their current situation. Has Caldwell recovered from her crisis of confidence? No. She drops a cross right at Fentonbridge striker Cole Bright’s feet for their goal. The Twins edge out Chafford 1-0, just as the Stallions break down a stubborn but toothless Lotus Park. How can a team with Wen, Kella and Northstead be so goddamn toothless? The players just don’t seem to be playing for Champali. Southern Star are the other top-flight casualty. Union’s plan finally works out for them, in a calm and assured performance as they pass rings around a breathless Star, Hennessey and Riazen with the finishing touches and Caitlyn Batt hitting the crossbar with a free header from five yards in the dying moments.

Just three minutes into the game, Jorm Vahn finds Maria Young’s optimistic early cross with a spectacular diving header past Persson. Are they going to do it? Well, no, because Marlon Rowlinson levels just on the edge of half-time, and Olympia sit tight and deep in the second half, Star unable to find a way through.

A-LEAGUE

Pos Team                    P  W  D  L For  Ag  +/- Pts
  1 Rozelle                10  8  1  1  23  12  +11  25
  2 Northern Stallions     10  5  3  2  20   9  +11  18
  3 North Hall             10  5  3  2  18  11   +7  18
  4 Southern Star          10  5  2  3  22  14   +8  17
  5 Pikemouth              10  5  2  3  22  16   +6  17
  6 Chafford               10  5  1  4  13  16   -3  16
  7 Kingsgrove             10  4  3  3  18  12   +6  15
  8 Twin Saints            10  4  3  3  16  14   +2  15
  9 Falkner United         10  4  3  3  13  14   -1  15
 10 Marque                 10  3  3  4  17  18   -1  12
 11 Rozelle United         10  2  5  3  13  16   -3  11
 12 Snowden River          10  2  4  4   7  17  -10  10
 13 Northern Union         10  2  3  5   8  11   -3   9
 14 Francisca Orient       10  3  0  7   7  18  -11   9
 15 Lotus Park             10  1  4  5   6  13   -7   7
 16 Westpike United        10  1  2  7  10  22  -12   5

B-LEAGUE

Pos Team                     P  W  D  L For  Ag  +/- Pts
  1 Westpike                10  7  2  1  16   4  +12  23
  2 AFC Swanbridge          10  7  1  2  31  11  +20  22
  3 Gallant Cross           10  6  4  0  20   8  +12  22
  4 Rosbank Town            10  6  1  3  15   7   +8  19
  5 Southside Wanderers     10  6  1  3  13   6   +7  19
  6 Scaffield               10  5  3  2  20  10  +10  18
  7 Saint Alexander         10  4  3  3   8   9   -1  15
  8 Chrysler Town           10  4  2  4  17  20   -3  14
  9 Proudcastle             10  3  4  3  12  13   -1  13
 10 Swayback                10  3  3  4  18  19   -1  12
 11 Marque Rovers           10  3  2  5  12  18   -6  11
 12 Finbar Stalwarts        10  2  4  4   8  13   -5  10
 13 Guilder                 10  2  3  5  11  18   -7   9
 14 Crest                   10  2  0  8   7  18  -11   6
 15 Stourhead               10  1  2  7   4  15  -11   5
 16 Knightstone FC          10  1  1  8   3  26  -23   4

C-LEAGUE

Pos Team                    P  W  D  L For  Ag  +/- Pts
  1 Pride of the South     10  6  4  0  20   9  +11  22
  2 Rozelle Alliance       10  6  3  1  20   6  +14  21
  3 Southrons-Errant       10  6  3  1  15   9   +6  21
  4 Fentonbridge           10  6  2  2  19   9  +10  20
  5 Spearcove Mariners     10  5  3  2  20  10  +10  18
  6 Northern Fist          10  4  2  4   9  12   -3  14
  7 Shaleport Rangers      10  3  4  3  11   7   +4  13
  8 Sharrow                10  3  4  3  11  12   -1  13
  9 Falkner Crescent       10  3  3  4   8  14   -6  12
 10 Coppersmith            10  2  5  3  11  11   +0  11
 11 Ridgeway United        10  2  5  3   9   9   +0  11
 12 Falkner Wanderers      10  3  2  5   7  12   -5  11
 13 Chafford Saracens      10  3  2  5   8  15   -7  11
 14 Mount Roland           10  1  4  5   5  10   -5   7
 15 Rushden                10  2  0  8  10  29  -19   6
 16 Platwood               10  1  2  7   6  15   -9   5

D-LEAGUE

Pos Team                   P  W  D  L For  Ag  +/- Pts
  1 Randwick Town         10  7  2  1  12   3   +9  23
  2 Razorback Hill        10  7  1  2  13   4   +9  22
  3 Heathgrove            10  6  1  3  17   9   +8  19
  4 Alexavale FC          10  4  5  1  20   9  +11  17
  5 Suttonstrand FC       10  4  5  1  18   9   +9  17
  6 Thrush                10  5  2  3  18  18   +0  17
  7 AFC Conomore          10  4  3  3  18  14   +4  15
  8 Otter Ferry           10  4  3  3  16  16   +0  15
  9 Pikemouth United      10  4  2  4  14  16   -2  14
 10 Silvershire Town      10  4  1  5  10  22  -12  13
 11 AFC Cairnshore        10  3  3  4  12  13   -1  12
 12 Dannecliff Rovers     10  2  4  4  15  17   -2  10
 13 Fisher Kings          10  2  2  6  14  13   +1   8
 14 AFC Smallstreams      10  2  2  6  11  20   -9   8
 15 Glassfields           10  2  1  7  10  18   -8   7
 16 Brackford Rovers      10  1  1  8   4  21  -17   4

by **Brenecia** » Sat Jul 28, 2018 4:26 am

Things go from bad to worse for Lotus Park. Morale is rock-bottom, and Westpike United - who are nowhere near as good as them on paper - run rings around him. Kella wins a penalty, Wen Xiaoli… stubs it wide. And laughs, bitterly. Boos are already ringing around at half-time, and things go from bad to worse when Prentice clips in a cross, somehow nobody’s picking up Niall Bremner who rises and rears up and heads home the only goal of the game. Westpike leapfrog Lotus Park, who are now bottom of the table. The fans in green really want Champali gone, but the Cosumarite manager responds in his typical high-handed way; “A lot of people in the stands might have a nice vantage point on the game, but that doesn’t give them the perspective to realise the project I’m implementing here,” he sniffs. Union face Chafford and predictably have no answer for their pace again. It’s worse because Considine’s suspended, Greenslade replaces the muscular local and suddenly their midfield three has an average age of exactly ninety-nine. Adrian Coyne’s improved this season, and nets cleanly for the first before setting up Barrister for the clincher, with a strike off the bench from Hayne little consolation. Gregor Borg wins few fans in Rozelle when the burly Falkner man kicks Crawford in the stomach off the ball as a corner’s cleared, realises this makes him look bad and then goes down clutching his face. The referee doesn’t see it, but karma takes over - Rozelle win 4-1, and Borg’s given a five-match suspension after the match.

Not one, but two axes fall! Constantine Champali is shown the door after just one win in Park’s first twelve. This is a particularly wretched showing against a Rozelle United side that hasn’t set the world on fire, but it’s at least disciplined enough to see off the ill-disciplined green mob they’re presented with, Andisori with the easiest hat-trick of her life in a 4-1 thrashing. That? That was predictable. But more sensationally, after a drab scoreless draw against Southern Star at home, Bethany Donnell is axed from Northern Union. It is abundantly clear that she’s over-egged the pudding. Erin Camden takes over, the manager who actually got Union to the top flight, and either she’s not mad about being overtaken by someone after promotion or she’s one hell of an actress. “I’ve learned a lot from Donnell, and now it’s time to re-implement my own methods, improved by the past year and a half.” Bland as all hell - but the former Patriots captain with 93 caps is certainly fiery behind the scenes. Maybe they should’ve taken Tailtiu Brennan when they had the chance, though. The Pikemouth manager looks on, satisfied, as Kingsgrove dash themselves on the rocks of their defence. A beautiful flighted set piece from Culhane is headed home by the titanic Haukland, and then Denarian notches up a brace to reach the top of the scoring charts, a goal either side of a pretty but ornamental strike from Djuric after she cuts inside hard enough to make Pikemouth captain Green fall arse over tit. Winterfyll grimaces, put in front of the press - “We just look off the pace, we just aren’t playing like champions.”

They sure as hell aren’t playing like champions the next match, either. Yes, it’s the Rozelle derby, and it’s a terrible disappointment. You wanted spectacle? Well, Kingsgrove are disjointed and rarely even challenge Bernholm between the posts, while Rozelle struggle with the final ball. The only goal of the game comes after Viablaine feeds countrywoman Heher into space, and she picks her spot and slams the ball low and hard past Winterfyll… who probably could’ve got down sooner. He’s 37, and starting to show it. Evans isn’t doing a whole lot in midfield, Brand it turns out isn’t anywhere near as good as Steve Fox, Culbreth is declining and Corvey is stagnating. They do improve after going a goal down, and promising backup striker Lindauer is thrown on off the bench, almost immediately is played through the defence by Penhallow, tries to chip Bernholm… but he stands strong, claws it away, Blackburn clears it and with it the danger, and the Saints hold on for a deserved win. Former assistant manager Kyron Everdale takes over at Lotus Park on an interim basis, having supposedly impressed the board long enough to deserve a chance at the helm. He can’t oversee an immediate turnaround, but it’s understandable. At least Lotus Park run about a lot as North Hall shut them down from the dangerous areas, Corynn Turati heading home the only goal of the game, while Erin Camden oversees a drab but vastly more energetic 1-0 win over Westpike United away. Veterans Riazen, Kvanderwyk and Holden are rested, Menard is ’rested’, Slate and Zapotowski look far more solid in a 4-2-3-1 and they’re just… faster. Elyn Hennessey heads home a Batt cross for the only goal of the game.

Marque have been pretty terrible of late, and they chalk up their fifth straight defeat as they visit Kingsgrove. It’s nothing ordinary, either, a… oh, better to let manager Rachel Byrne speak for herself. “There was no guts, no brains, no fucking spine… useless! Bloody useless! Half of them have had it. They’re shot. It’s my fault for trusting them not to get pasted five fucking nil, isn’t it… no, there’s, there’s gonna be changes ahead, mark my words.” Ominous signs ahead for the likes of Bradach, Hofmann, Polandre and Harper, who were all pretty terrible. Rozelle slip up at the summit, suckerpunched by Twin Saints. It’s mostly a heroic performance from Brando between the posts, the lean Audioslavian shot-stopper with yet another impressive performance to deny the Saints (of the unTwinned variety), but, really, the Twins deserved to win, David Monks crashing home his first A-League goal with a powerful drive from outside the box. The Falkner derby is an affair more about brawn than brain, with Falkner spending most of it on top. Chilford’s long, expertly-placed pass drops perfectly over Park’s defence for Sibucic to rattle home the first goal. But Lotus Park don’t stop trying, which makes a welcome change to their approach under Champali - to never start trying. Their goal has some fortune to it in the end, Liusaidh Kella’s cross scuffed off Crossman’s thigh into the post, Kochansky getting first to the rebound and cutting back for Northstead to prod home between Adrian’s legs, but it’s deserved for their industry if nothing else.

Still the early rounds of the CEdC, a tournament in which A-League sides tend to cruise these days. But both major Rozelle teams are given a proper battle in tough away contests, with Lauren Cheney making the difference for the Royals and Matheson providing another mature performance for the Saints that belies her nineteen years. Future Patriots both, surely.

Lotus Park pick up their first win under Kyron Everdale, and their second all season. For the first time in… ages, they actually look in control. Sure, they’re at home against an unambitious Francisca Orient. Sure, they’re given a reprieve early on when Dane Clarke rattles the crossbar with a free shot from seven yards, although it did glance off Seretis on the way - it denies Clarke the chance to double his league tally for the season. But Kella’s crosses make the difference, and Griffiths and Kochansky prove willing and able recipients with a volley and a header to get them ahead. Kingsgrove have hit a groove of form, at least on the basis of two games, and hammer Falkner 4-0 with some beautiful football. “We were pedestrian,” reflects Hunters captain Ironside. “As in, we were literally pedestrians while they raced past us.” And Rozelle stutter again, unable to pick up momentum against a Chafford side clearly and unapologetically rotating fouls. The winner comes from none other than Falchion Hess-Olesen, his belated first goal of the season coming as he falls backwards and sort of speculatively throws out a leg… to wind up swiping Docherty’s deflected cross into the net.

Kingsgrove are in control against Van Deg, Isidra Corvey hopefully restoring some confidence in an inconsistent season with a brace. Rozelle, meanwhile, look unconvincing… but they finish the job. Both sides progress as anticipated.

Chafford manager Rook Asquith and Marque manager Rachel Byrne are happy enough to shake hands and play nice at the start of the match. By the end, Asquith stalks down the tunnel as Byrne looks like the cat who got the cream and then bragged to the face of the very angry man who had previously held the cream about how much cream she now had, as her Privateers spank Chafford 4-0. She was merciless in ditching some of her underperforming players, and those she put faith in do not let her down here. Murgen Knox looks like an actual leader instead of just an unshaven axe murderer at the back, and scores two goals from set pieces, with the improving McInnes and, from a pinpoint Wainwright cross, the ever-reliable Gallagher finishing Chafford off. Snowden River show North Hall too much respect. The Northerners haven’t managed to hit the heights of last season, but still, if you consistently hand Harvey Joyce that much time and space… and it’s been a real breakthrough year for Turati, too. The Drawkish forward gets a first-half hat-trick, with revelation of the season Ceridwen Fletcher finishing the job in injury time in a 4-1 away win. It’s like if you don’t put creative players under pressure, they can do whatever they want! Union, meanwhile, beat Lotus Park in a drab 1-0 in the Recently Sacked Their Manager And Promoted Assistant derby. Camden’s 4-2-3-1 has added much-needed structure, and just works. Greenslade, in her first start since Camden was appointed, hammers in the only goal of the game after the ball falls her way, following a desperate goalmouth scramble.

Both the Hinodejin sides and the Brenecians visiting them play to type, albeit not a particularly strong version of their type. Both Pascal and MIare dominate possession but struggle in the final third, while Kingsgrove nick a goal off the counter (Corvey again, finding her form) and Rozelle off a set piece (Chilton nodding home from Heher) while otherwise failing to look dominant. Still, advantage A-League.

It’s a day of eight clean sheets, but don’t let that fool you; this is not a day for defences. Particularly defences that aren’t very good already. The appetiser here is Rozelle’s visit to Westpike United, which can be compared to a champion speed-eater descending on a buffet. Westpike, bless their little hearts, try their best and run their hearts out, but when even the normally-dependable captain Ingram Stonesworth somehow miscommunicates with goalkeeper Kenway hard enough to nutmeg him for an own goal, it’s just not your day. Especially with the way Rozelle can, and do, dominate the play. It ends 4-0, which looks bad right up until you hear that Falkner United pulverise Twin Saints. Nine-Nil. Twin Saints are all over the shop, and red cards to the normally disciplined Mercer and the unapologetically destructive Monks in the 90 minutes, and to manager Harriet Klein in injury time (for, in a fit of pique, grabbing the fourth official’s board and snapping it on her knee when she flagged for four minutes of stoppage time), do not help. Perhaps the injury time was cruel. Falkner were already 8-0 up at that point, Sibucic with a hat-trick, and her replacement, Arryn Carver, headed home Falkner’s ninth late on.

A thriller plays out for Kingsgrove, Pascal hitting back just three minutes into the match with a 30-yard screamer from Fukui that left Winterfyll with no chance. Unfortunately for Pascal, the Royals shape up and slam down the accelerator, Djuric, Penhallow and Culbreth striking back by half-time. Katarikawa scythes inside Stray before drilling a strike beyond Winterfyll in the 55th minute, but Lauren Cheney off the bench adds another feather to her cap with a far-post header from Corvey’s cross to finish the job. Rozelle have a far more routine win over Miare, Parrett and Connell getting the job done.

Rumours of Jakk Winterfyll being past it were premature. Lauren Cheney comes off the bench to tip a late volley past Ferrant as Kingsgrove clinch a 1-0 win against a stubborn Southern Star… their fifth league clean sheet victory in a row, eight of nine in all competitions. Francisca Orient get one of those ‘wait, what? Really? Them?’ wins, in an ominous sign for a Snowden River side seemingly happy to bob around midtable. By the half-time break, Dane Clarke has tripled his league tally for the season, and by the time Taggart Lane strikes one back for a late consolation, the crowds are already flooding out - they’ve just lost 4-1. Ten-man North Hall steal the points from Pikemouth - dominant over the course of the game, but Culhane’s missed penalty and a terrible defensive pass across the face of goal from Karigomu (Turati taking full advantage for the winning goal, thank you very much) cost the Kingfishers dear. In the minor Rozelle derby, meanwhile… well… United just sort of don’t really do anything. They’re even lacking that basic intensity, that instinct to beat down their fiercest rivals. Instead, the Saints just look comfortable, cruising to a 2-0 win.

The Royals can be forgiven for resting many of their key personnel. After all, it’s only a home fixture against Westpike United. But, well… for all the failings of Westpike United this season, the combination of Prentice’s crossing with Bremner’s forehead can always make making happen. So a quick early attack from the Pikemen sets them ahead, before, as Kingsgrove overextend going forward and are agonisingly lax tracking back, Kenway hoofs it over the top to Koss, who slips it to Bremner, to Grant, who bears down on goal before zig-zagging past a sprawling Winterfyll and hammering home Westpike’s second. Kingsgrove claw one back, through Lindauer, and a rather ‘generous’ second yellow for Lukas Tyrone in the 71st minute opens things up more, but, well… by the end, Westpike United have taken six points from Kingsgrove this season. Lotus Park start terribly against Pikemouth. Gaetane Thevenet between the posts has been one of the few relative success stories this year, but he lets a routine low strike from Padmore trickle horribly under him for the opener. And that… seems to trigger something in Park, who press hard for a leveller. They don’t find it in the first half. They find four goals in the second, and Wen Xiaoli is back to his motivated, surging best, technically without a goal or assist to his name but instrumental in the build-up to all of them. Coghlan’s late consolation is barely even that. But Park remain bottom, and in serious trouble.

Rozelle against Sonoma Center is a tight, cagey affair, mostly contained to the midfield, but Jackie Crawford’s ruthlessness in front of goal (three shots, three on target, two goals) gives the Saints a narrow advantage to take to the away leg. Pikemouth look constrained, and play within themselves. Greig’s free kick is slammed home by Haukland in the 77th minute to give them an equaliser they don’t wholly deserve.

Top hosts bottom, and it’s a way for Rozelle to really confirm they are favourites for the title in style. They don’t do it in style. In fact, they rely on Lotus Park tiring in the last ten minutes before securing the crucial brace from Crawford - poor all night to that point - broke through to a 3-1 win. Handily, second also play second-last. Granted, Pikemouth are only second after a routine 1-0 win over Orient, and after the Stallions come unstuck against a disciplined, powerful Union side. Kvanderwyk only looks better in his slightly more fluid, withdrawn position. That win fires Union to fifth, a point behind North Hall (beaten 1-0 by Marque) and a point ahead of Kingsgrove (who hammer an abject Rozelle United 6-1 away), with Southern Star, three points out of UICA following an easy 3-0 win over Chafford (now three points and… uh… 21 GD behind) the last real plausible contenders. Chafford are all on their own in eighth. It’s possible to see any of the bottom half going down given a bad enough run, but a late equaliser from Twin Saints forward Tafani breaks a nine-match goal drought and also ensures they (and Rozelle United) are five points clear of danger, and denies Westpike United, just outside the drop zone, the chance to pull further away. Orient and Park are in trouble - Orient in particular odds-on to go down given their lack of general quality. In the B-League, Rosbank Town and Westpike are in the box seat to come back up, and Gallant Cross and Swanbridge lurk just outside. Just more of the rotating names in the musical chairs of the lower half of the A-League.

Panthers go in swinging against the Saints, but a vintage performance from Rozelle sees them disciplined at the back, slick on the counter, and at one point four goals ahead on the aggregate before a late Sonoma consolation reins them in somewhat. Only a little, though. For Pikemouth, a disjointed but resilient performance and an Alen Pavic goal are enough to see them past Romanopolis.

A-LEAGUE

Pos Team                     P   W  D   L For  Ag  +/- Pts
  1 Rozelle                 20  14  3   3  41  19  +22  45
  2 Pikemouth               20  12  3   5  45  28  +17  39
  3 Northern Stallions      20  11  5   4  36  17  +19  38
  4 North Hall              20  10  5   5  32  19  +13  35
  5 Northern Union          20  10  4   6  21  16   +5  34
  6 Kingsgrove              20  10  3   7  40  22  +18  33
  7 Southern Star           20   8  7   5  33  23  +10  31
  8 Chafford                20   9  1  10  20  31  -11  28
  9 Falkner United          20   6  5   9  29  33   -4  23
 10 Snowden River           20   5  8   7  16  29  -13  23
 11 Marque                  20   6  4  10  28  35   -7  22
 12 Rozelle United          20   4  9   7  25  33   -8  21
 13 Twin Saints             20   5  6   9  18  32  -14  21
 14 Westpike United         20   4  5  11  18  37  -19  17
 15 Francisca Orient        20   4  4  12  16  30  -14  16
 16 Lotus Park              20   3  6  11  15  29  -14  15

B-LEAGUE

Pos Team                      P   W  D   L For  Ag  +/- Pts
  1 Rosbank Town             20  13  4   3  34  14  +20  43
  2 Westpike                 20  12  6   2  26   9  +17  42
  3 Gallant Cross            20  11  7   2  40  16  +24  40
  4 AFC Swanbridge           20  12  2   6  49  27  +22  38
  5 Scaffield                20  10  6   4  36  21  +15  36
  6 Southside Wanderers      20  11  2   7  29  14  +15  35
  7 Saint Alexander          20  10  5   5  23  17   +6  35
  8 Chrysler Town            20   8  4   8  30  36   -6  28
  9 Proudcastle              20   7  6   7  27  27   +0  27
 10 Marque Rovers            20   6  4  10  25  41  -16  22
 11 Guilder                  20   4  8   8  21  30   -9  20
 12 Swayback                 20   4  6  10  28  36   -8  18
 13 Stourhead                20   4  5  11  15  30  -15  17
 14 Finbar Stalwarts         20   3  7  10  13  28  -15  16
 15 Knightstone FC           20   2  7  11  15  40  -25  13
 16 Crest                    20   2  3  15  13  38  -25   9

C-LEAGUE

Pos Team                     P   W  D   L For  Ag  +/- Pts
  1 Pride of the South      20  12  7   1  47  17  +30  43
  2 Southrons-Errant        20  13  4   3  36  22  +14  43
  3 Fentonbridge            20  12  5   3  50  19  +31  41
  4 Rozelle Alliance        20  12  5   3  39  19  +20  41
  5 Spearcove Mariners      20   9  4   7  27  17  +10  31
  6 Falkner Wanderers       20   8  3   9  21  22   -1  27
  7 Sharrow                 20   7  6   7  21  26   -5  27
  8 Northern Fist           20   8  2  10  24  32   -8  26
  9 Shaleport Rangers       20   6  7   7  25  21   +4  25
 10 Falkner Crescent        20   7  4   9  22  34  -12  25
 11 Coppersmith             20   6  6   8  24  23   +1  24
 12 Mount Roland            20   6  5   9  18  18   +0  23
 13 Ridgeway United         20   5  6   9  19  24   -5  21
 14 Platwood                20   5  3  12  12  36  -24  18
 15 Chafford Saracens       20   4  3  13  20  45  -25  15
 16 Rushden                 20   4  2  14  15  45  -30  14

D-LEAGUE

Pos Team                    P   W  D   L For  Ag  +/- Pts
  1 Randwick Town          20  12  4   4  24   9  +15  40
  2 Heathgrove             20  12  3   5  36  16  +20  39
  3 Otter Ferry            20  10  5   5  34  26   +8  35
  4 Alexavale FC           20   9  7   4  42  23  +19  34
  5 Suttonstrand FC        20   9  7   4  37  22  +15  34
  6 Pikemouth United       20  10  4   6  30  27   +3  34
  7 Razorback Hill         20  10  3   7  25  16   +9  33
  8 AFC Conomore           20   8  6   6  35  25  +10  30
  9 Silvershire Town       20   9  3   8  25  35  -10  30
 10 Thrush                 20   7  5   8  27  38  -11  26
 11 Dannecliff Rovers      20   5  6   9  34  35   -1  21
 12 AFC Cairnshore         20   5  5  10  26  35   -9  20
 13 AFC Smallstreams       20   5  5  10  25  34   -9  20
 14 Fisher Kings           20   4  6  10  23  26   -3  18
 15 Glassfields            20   4  3  13  23  53  -30  15
 16 Brackford Rovers       20   4  2  14  13  39  -26  14

by **Brenecia** » Sat Aug 04, 2018 5:36 am

Tailtiu Brennan just loves dunking Union. Denarian strikes first, Coghlan with a lovely turn before a cross that the Cenian forward half-volleys forcefully past Blanton, but Union hit back on the stroke of half-time, Balthorst rising above the rest to head home a corner from Menard. Union are content to just sit back and hold the line, and almost pull it off… until, in the 87th minute, Pavic hits a speculative effort which glances off Balthorst’s calf to deceive Blanton and rebound past her. Kingsgrove pick up a handy win over North Hall, Penhallow livening things up with a brilliant lofted strike over a scrambling Falconet to seal the deal, and it’s handier still as the Stallions stall at Snowden - falling victim to chance, in a way, as Reed lashes a shot against the foot of the post and Bedullin’s there to scramble home the rebound - and Francisca Orient surprisingly take the fight to Rozelle. “At 2-0 down at half-time we could hardly just keep doing what we were doing,” manager Sapphire Bullard says to the press afterwards, an admirable philosophy that should perhaps be applied to the season as a whole as Kennedy’s brace and a penalty save from Dougan snatch a point.

Two of these matches are evenly contested. Two of them… are not. The surprise, perhaps, is which. Francisca again thrive against capital opposition, this time more impressively still; they’re away. Marko Petrosian’s been in stronger form of late after a feeble start to the season, and a blistering run on the counterattack puts him on the end of a hopeful cross from Harrington for an equaliser against Kingsgrove. Union visit the Stallions and get suckerpunched, a penalty just 73 seconds into the match… but it’s promptly batted away by Heath Shaw, and Skorupska - formerly of Union herself - can only hammer the rebound straight at the keeper, who smothers it at the second time of asking. That sets the tone for a frantic match, Union twice taking the lead and twice pegged back, still very much in the balance. And then Falkner get blown out 3-0 at home by a hardly thriving Rozelle United, and just as Marque manager Rachel Byrne is recorded saying that “we have to make the Cup our main priority for the rest of the season,” the Twins demolish them 4-0 on a day where every one of striker Brunella Tafani’s touches seems to be perfect - she ratchets up a tidy hat-trick, and even finds time to set up Stanger for a goal too before being taken off for her applause substitution in the 73rd minute.

We could well be about to see another all-Brenecia final, but at least the Super-Lleague can step up to the plate, the Capitals edging a manic seven-goal thriller against the Saints. Loconstead against Kingsgrove is headed a similar way in the first half, but Kingsgrove take control in the second, a silky passing move leading to a tap-in for Lauren Cheney before, in the dying stages of the game, Loconstead overextend and get sucker-punched by the substitute Lindauer for the probable killing blow.

It’s a Marque derby high on passion and low on quality, but Rachel Byrne’s exhortations to “relegate these fuckers!” paid off. Orient defend solidly, but can’t get the ball to the danger woman Kennedy, and the dominant Privateers finally get the game’s only goal when Polandre slips in McInnes who shimmies and stutters past two men before stabbing the ball past a wrongfooted Dougan’s near post. Later on, Murgen Knox gets a red card (later promoted to a longer suspension) when his reaction to an ankle tap from Dane Clarke is to stamp on the hapless forward’s knee, and fiery young Marque leftback Camilla Auskas and brusque Orient right winger Petrosian follow him down the tunnel after an altercation in injury time. Lotus Park go toe-to-toe with Kingsgrove, picking up a valuable point in the knife fight at the bottom of the table as they press Kingsgrove hard. Thevenet makes a string of vital saves in the last ten minutes after a red card to Redwood puts Park under pressure, but they cling onto a 1-1 draw. Rozelle against Union turns into a duel of misfiring strikers - Riazen eventually gets one in the net, while Crawford unselfishly passes back for Hennessey to finish the job and level. Twin Saints, meanwhile, take another scalp. North Hall might be known for their discipline, but they fail to clear their lines from Cohen’s long throw and Tafani takes full advantage, before doubling their lead on the stroke of half-time with a brilliant glancing header. Tafani is a striker of genuine quality, and that’s really made the difference for the Twins.

With two fixtures basically over, it’s little surprise to see Marque’s and Twin Saints’ respective second-strings tapping it about for a scoreless draw, and Rozelle United’s squad selection follows a similar policy. Falkner’s does not. It becomes clear early on that Titania Pratchett is going hard for the comeback win, and Sibucic slides past a sluggish United defence before hammering a shot past Andrea Rohan in the third minute, and the Hunters dominate the first half generally, Rohan making five strong saves before her sister Esther caught onto the end of Broune’s cross to nod home Falkner’s second, slumping into her sister’s arms after a massive, massive run. That sparks nerves around Hunter Hall, and Snowden wisely puts on some of the big guns in the second half, Martinelli sharpening up the midfield and Sheila Draper’s pace leading to an assist, Falkner cruelly sucked-punched on the counter as Draper latches onto a long clearance, centring to Linford Grimes for a tap-in into an empty net with Woodyard stranded between them. Union grinds the Stallions into a scoreless draw, and though Riazen misses a late penalty, they still get into the next round on away goals, while Orient stun a complacent Kingsgrove through rare goals from Murrough (a bullet header) and Harrison (a cheeky 30-yard lob over a stranded Winterfyll).

And so it comes back to Rozelle, and after an early scare, Kingsgrove finish the job. Rozelle are somewhat more… prosaic, against a tough-tackling, determined Capitals side, but unremarkable midfielder Bailey Geofford comes off the bench to come up with the only goal of the game in the 68th minute. A Bard cross turns into a match of head tennis in the box, before Geofford surges into the box to rise above everyone with the force of momentum and head it into the top corner.

Narrow wins in Brenecia for the two surviving representatives. Katrina Brasic can be infuriating when it’s not her day, but fortunately, it is her day, and just about nobody else’s in a grinding match against Cednia. She chalks up the only goal of the game, nipping the ball away from an opposing midfielder, sashaying past two defenders and putting just the right amount of R1 on a shot to nip into the bottom corner. Rozelle are similarly prosaic against Nacional SC, but, hey, giant Drawkish forward Jackie Crawford makes one hell of a target for Heher’s set pieces, and manages to head one in without even jumping for the only goal of the game.

Twin Saints’ four-match unbeaten run crashes to a halt, as Lotus Park open them up twice through clean through-balls and Angharad Northstead finishes twice with a cold, calm ruthlessness she’s never exhibited in her career, on her 27th birthday. The forward has only known one club, has three caps and a goal for the Patriots… but has just never quite found consistency, and indeed her confidence has been shot for the past couple of years. This is the boost they’ve needed, especially as Orient face Kingsgrove for the third time in four matches and remain unbeaten against them in that stretch, substitute midfielder Richard Harrison chipping Winterfyll from close to halfway for the second time in as many matches. Rozelle slip again, one win in their last five as they slip up at the last moment. Snowden River race to a 3-0 lead, somehow, on a match where the dynamic Cathal Keynes does his chances of a move abroad no harm at all with a hat-trick. But Rozelle strike back, a header from Crawford, an own goal from the luckless Udar, a piledriver from Bard and they’re marching onwards for the winner… and then get hit on the break, Winona Bedullin played one-on-one with Bernholm, who she dummies past and taps into an empty net, and they’re done. Rozelle United’s decent recent form, meanwhile, crashes to a halt as the ceiling caves in on them. Metaphorically. Kara Ciogach with two goals, Zsuska, Ruskin and Young with the killing blows, Daniel Snowden wincing on the touchline at the 5-1 scoreline.

The less said about Pikemouth the better, but Cednia Beach obviously deserve credit for annihilating them 4-0. Ouch. “One of those nights,” Tailtiu Brennan sighs, resigned. Ah, well, it had been a good run. And the Saints’ goes on! They’re on their game tonight, every pass seeming to stick. Connell sets up strikes from Crawford and Parrett, Heher hits a post before a mazy solo run from Evans culminates in a beautiful (if deflected) chip over the goalkeeper. 3-0 by the break, and it’s 5-1 on aggregate by the end as Nacional clinch a consolation that’s immediately washed away by a somewhat fluky and heavily deflected strike from Gerfalcon.

It’s that time again, Brenecia’s own Classic. Though it’s looking far less classic than it used to be, to be fair, with the Royals struggling to click and Union in no small amount of turmoil from poor team-building. Union take an early lead, though, with their first shot of the match - Kvanderwyk with a luscious cross that Riazen nods down into the net, just before a high boot from an unrepentant Stray hits him in the face, breaking his nose. That could have sorted out the match - Vauxhall Hayne is willing up front, but can’t finish his chances, while well-placed strikes after the interval from Corvey and Penhallow are just reward for a dominant second half. Marque edge an absolutely mental seven-goal thriller against Snowden River, Murgen Knox glowering from the sidelines as in his absence, his 19-year old Eastfielder deputy Svante Whitfield does him proud by… also getting sent off for a scything challenge on Reed. But it’s a harsh call, and River’s seemed to have the rub of the green all day. They’re 2-1 up at the time, and Navarette rattles the brilliant resulting free kick over the wall into the ceiling of the net for River’s third… but with a new righteousness on their side, and some generous defending from the visitors, Marque fight back to win 4-3 as Kelly McInnes continues to curl her hands around the best youth player award. Westpike are the losers in the relegation knife-fight. Lotus Park stutter to an unconvincing draw against Chafford, Orient look sturdy in victory over the Twins while the Pikemen are kicked in the teeth by a 93rd-minute winner from Sheila Draper that beats Kenway at his near post.

Like against Kingsgrove, Orient wind up facing their recent league opponents in the Cup. Unlike against Kingsgrove, Orient can’t raise their game. In fact, having just genuinely outplayed the Twins, they get… nothing, up front, this time around. The Twins can sniff Cup glory, and they’re first to every ball, harder in every tackle, they don’t quite kill off the tie but Tafani wins a penalty and Bronze slots it past the 20-year old Steele Brighton, who has an exceptional game (and has done brilliantly in the Cup generally). Union against United is a terrible stalemate.

One of those days where the bad teams lose, the good teams win and the highly-anticipated top-of-the-table clash between Pikemouth and Rozelle… well, grinds out into an ill-tempered, non-flowing scoreless draw. That’s distinctly worse for Pikemouth, as Tailtiu Brennan gnaws at her nails on the sidelines. In fact, the Saints are the better side, Alora Heher crashing a late strike from outside the box against the post hard enough to leave a tiny crack, but really they’ll be happy enough with an away point that steals the chance for the Kingfishers to make up ground. Kingsgrove come out with the odd goal in seven to take down Snowden River, though River manager Alysia Sandstone is incensed; comments such as “a 50:50 call becomes 20:80 when Kingsgrove or Union get involved” earn her a touchline ban for the next game. Marque, meanwhile, manage the remarkable feat of having three centre-halves suspended at once - with Knox and Whitfield already sitting out against Northern Stallions, Vince Bradach gets his marching orders after two cautions. Mark Abernathy, the fourth, has a nightmare - he gives away two penalties, one for handball and another for a late challenge, both put away nervelessly by Skorupska. Despite everything, the Schottic connection of Gallagher and McInnes is able to scrape a point for the Privateers.

A narrow escape for the Twins. They’re seemingly in a commanding position just ten minutes into their visit to Orient, Stanger’s low cross missed by Tafani but also every Orient defender, allowing Payne to sweep in at the far post. Orient won’t score multiple times, right? Well… they score twice, of the three they need, and only a brilliant save from Brando - nothing elegant, just someone getting down exceedingly quickly with a strong arm - denies Kit Kennedy and a forceful downward header from being a late decisive finisher. They scrape through on away goals, as do Union, thanks to a late leveller from Harriet Greenslade off the bench. The first half of United vs. Union is as bland as the first leg, but at least things liven up a bit when Greenslade is introduced, and a goal is the least her performance deserves. Was she worth three million? Still no.

Loconstead are back in town, and Scott Burgess kicks Rozelle in the teeth with two powerful headers in the first 15 minutes, with Xavi Arisilde running the play in the centre. But Rozelle get a barely-deserved goal on the stroke of half-time, Alora Heher buying a ticket and winning the lottery from distance, Jackson making rather a hash of the shot. Rozelle are back in the ascendancy in the second half, Heher setting up Bard for a rare headed goal… at least, the opportunity for one, but it rebounds off the post into Crawford, who chests it into the net. But there’s still a sting in the tail, Burgess turning provider, pushed at too acute an angle for the shot but finding the winger Athana Finchcleft with a simple pass, who cuts inside and shoots between Bernholm’s legs. Still very much in the balance.

There’s been two Rozelles this season, and they both win matches. But there’s the calm, cold Rozelle, that just does enough to secure the win every time, and there’s the Rozelle that shows up today, unfortunately for Titania Pratchett’s Hunters, and reduces their defence to a fine paste in a 6-1 hammering. Viablaine gets the party started in the 32nd minute - yes, Falkner managed to keep them out for a full third of the game - before wresting the ball off Sommelier, taking a touch and utterly hammering the ball into the top corner with a frankly terrifying force. The Cosumarite then sets up Evans with a drilled long ball to sidefoot home the second before Connell makes it three on the stroke of half-time, and while Falkner do at least recover a bit of dignity with an Esther Rohan goal in the second half… it’s really not much. Better still, most of the other contenders (mostly hypothetical by this stage) stumble - a toothless North Hall are stunned by Rozelle United, Kingsgrove edge the Stallions, Union and Pikemouth play out entertaining 2-2 draws against Chafford (somehow two closed sides opening up on each other after an early Riazen strike forces Chafford to chase the game) and Marque (that, perhaps, more predictable), while the other big winners are Lotus Park, as a coolly-taken brace from Northstead sees them past a muscular but disjointed Westpike.

Crisis averted. Rozelle roll the Ethanian outfit 4-0, Alora Heher doing what she does when teams don’t close her down efficiently, and there’s even room for Kendrick Given to score his first senior goal. The 19-year old centre-half already stood firm in the defence, and a neatly guided header off Heher’s corner is a lovely way to finish off an assured performance. Rozelle are suddenly within striking range of going one better than the Northerners last year...

Harvey Joyce hasn’t been nearly as electrifying the second season around, but, hell, given a Falkner defence still shell-shocked by last week’s defeat to work with, he can still run rings around them and notch up a second-half hat-trick to ease North Hall to a 4-1 away win. Westpike United and Francisca Orient play out a dire scoreless draw that goes a long way to explaining why they’re favourites for relegation. Particularly in the context of the match that immediately proceeded it. Kyron Everdale hasn’t exactly worked miracles for Lotus Park, and looks unlikely at this stage to take up the role full-time at the end of the season, but at least he managed to make the team play remotely well. And today, there can be no complaints - they trash Rozelle United 4-0, cruising three goals up by half-time as Wen, Kella and Northstead, who have all stepped back up of late, set them up. The atmosphere turns poisonous, the fans chant for Daniel Snowden’s head, and things go from bad to worse for them when Ephraim Kochansky draws a penalty. Wen takes it, but it’s beaten away by Murnane (some cheers, briefly!) straight to Kochansky, who coolly slots home Park’s fourth. Could always be worse. With Rozelle managing another smooth win, this time 1-0 over Marque with a heavily-rotated team and a first goal of the season for Bellamy ‘Wrightback’ Wright, Pikemouth need a win to keep on the pressure. Instead, they’re disassembled by a Kingsgrove side playing just like they did in the vintage years… of, like, last year. Fluid, passing football, relentless attacking pressure, 72% possession, Mathew Evans as man of the match… and when the dust settles, they’ve won 5-0. To basically hand the title to their local rivals. Great work, boys!

The Twins are plummeting down the table, and may have just played their way into the relegation three-horse knife-fight. Pikemouth rebound from their chastening defeat by inflicting the Twins’ sixth defeat in a row, Stanger seemingly providing early hope for the hosts until it’s snuffed out, brutally, by four replies in the second half. Kingsgrove show just as few signs of last match ever happening, as they grind to a halt against what has to be said is a Rozelle side that’s just cleaning sides out routinely and ruthlessly on their relentless march to the title. Rachel Byrne is made to pay for hubris. Marque lead the Hunters 3-1 on the hour mark, and the fiery manager gets a little too involved, leading the home crowd in a hearty round of chanting, directed at Falkner’s sturdy Cosumarite forward, of “you’re just a fat Isla Sibucic.” Which doesn’t quite scan, but evidently Anna Sibucic takes umbrage at this, and lamps in a couple shots from outside the box, running the length of the home fans to shush them for the first, and then more directly going for Byrne with the 91st-minute equaliser by rhinoing into the touchline, sparking a bench-clearing brawl.

Fairleigh-Warburton press Rozelle hard in the first half, but Crawford’s brace seems to be the break-through. So a late own goal, then, from something as banal as an overenthusiastic backpass from Siddique? That’s a kick in the teeth, and with the away leg to come, might well cost them a chance at glory.

Talk about a way to win in style. Pikemouth do everything they can to put the pressure on the Saints, beating a sticky Chafford 1-0 late on, Coghlan’s shot too hot for Iarrow to handle… but it doesn’t matter. It doesn’t matter because Rozelle absolutely pulverise Twin Saints, 6-0, with Heher and Crawford and Evans and friends running rampant all day against the permissive Twins, happy just to be in the Cup final, their true focus, with the gamble in the league paying off. Lotus Park, too, are safe despite losing a tense Falkner derby to a controversial Sibucic winner, set up by Broune who used his arm to control a long ball from Ironside. Orient almost, almost manage to keep in the fight to the final day. Almost. But they’re caught off-guard by a quickly-taken free kick from Valles, straight to Raven Cashin, who stabs it low and hard past Brighton, and while Kit Kennedy clips a late grass-cutter into the net from the edge of the box to notch up her eleventh goal of the campaign (accounting for half of Orient’s total) their late pressure comes to nothing, a late header from Murrough going straight into Falconet’s arms, and they’re down. For Hall’s part, they cling unsteadily to fifth. Kingsgrove and Northern Stallions are… mathematically still in danger of being pulled out of UICA, but it’s not realistic. Hall will have to hold off Union (coming in hot after pulverising Rozelle United 5-1) and Star on the final day. At the foot of the table, Westpike United’s winless run extends to ten, a third straight draw confirmed by a late Bedullin tap-in. Rosbank Town will be returning to the top flight next season, top-class talent like Childress, Duffy, Townsend and Bolivar having cruised through the second tier, and they’ll be joined by one of Westpike (in the driving seat), Scaffield or Gallant Cross.

Yet again, the Saints are bailed out by their depth in midfield. Fairleigh-Warburton are by far the better side in the first half, and it doesn’t look like it’s going to be the Saints’ day when Nioli Quren, usually much more provider than goalscorer, lashes home the goal that puts Fairleigh through on away goals in the fifth minute, before setting up Virgo to make it 2-0 in the 41st. But Elysse Matheson makes her return off the bench from an ankle injury to replace the ineffective Connell in the second half, then promptly sets up Heher to pull a goal back with an electrifying drive before a perfect pass splits open the Fairleigh defence and allows Crawford to stab the decisive leveller between Fenech’s legs. It wasn’t elegant, it wasn’t pretty, it wasn’t even really convincing… but Rozelle have limped into the Globe Cup final.

A-LEAGUE

Pos Team                     P   W   D   L For  Ag  +/- Pts
  1 Rozelle                 29  19   6   4  62  27  +35  63
  2 Pikemouth               29  18   5   6  62  41  +21  59
  3 Kingsgrove              29  15   5   9  59  34  +25  50
  4 Northern Stallions      29  14   8   7  47  28  +19  50
  5 North Hall              29  13   8   8  44  27  +17  47
  6 Northern Union          29  13   8   8  36  27   +9  47
  7 Southern Star           29  12   9   8  46  31  +15  45
  8 Chafford                29  11   6  12  29  40  -11  39
  9 Marque                  29  10   7  12  47  50   -3  37
 10 Falkner United          29   9   7  13  42  53  -11  34
 11 Snowden River           29   7  12  10  34  48  -14  33
 12 Rozelle United          29   8   9  12  35  51  -16  33
 13 Lotus Park              29   6   9  14  26  37  -11  27
 14 Twin Saints             29   7   6  16  26  53  -27  27
 15 Francisca Orient        29   5   8  16  22  41  -19  23
 16 Westpike United         29   4   9  16  21  50  -29  21

B-LEAGUE

Pos Team                      P   W   D   L For  Ag  +/- Pts
  1 Rosbank Town             29  19   5   5  47  18  +29  62
  2 Westpike                 29  16  10   3  39  15  +24  58
  3 Scaffield                29  16   8   5  56  29  +27  56
  4 Gallant Cross            29  15  10   4  58  29  +29  55
  5 AFC Swanbridge           29  16   2  11  62  39  +23  50
  6 Southside Wanderers      29  15   2  12  38  27  +11  47
  7 Saint Alexander          29  12   9   8  31  25   +6  45
  8 Proudcastle              29  10   9  10  33  35   -2  39
  9 Chrysler Town            29  10   6  13  39  51  -12  36
 10 Guilder                  29   8  11  10  31  36   -5  35
 11 Finbar Stalwarts         29   9   7  13  26  39  -13  34
 12 Swayback                 29   8   9  12  40  45   -5  33
 13 Marque Rovers            29   8   4  17  35  57  -22  28
 14 Stourhead                29   6   6  17  22  46  -24  24
 15 Knightstone FC           29   4   9  16  25  57  -32  21
 16 Crest                    29   5   3  21  18  52  -34  18

C-LEAGUE

Pos Team                     P   W  D   L For  Ag  +/- Pts
  1 Pride of the South      29  20  8   1  71  19  +52  68
  2 Rozelle Alliance        29  19  5   5  62  25  +37  62
  3 Fentonbridge            29  19  5   5  61  26  +35  62
  4 Southrons-Errant        29  17  7   5  49  34  +15  58
  5 Spearcove Mariners      29  14  4  11  43  28  +15  46
  6 Coppersmith             29  13  6  10  42  30  +12  45
  7 Mount Roland            29  12  7  10  28  19   +9  43
  8 Sharrow                 29  11  7  11  33  38   -5  40
  9 Northern Fist           29  11  3  15  38  51  -13  36
 10 Shaleport Rangers       29   8 10  11  37  36   +1  34
 11 Falkner Wanderers       29   9  5  15  26  35   -9  32
 12 Falkner Crescent        29   8  5  16  31  56  -25  29
 13 Ridgeway United         29   7  7  15  27  40  -13  28
 14 Platwood                29   8  3  18  18  54  -36  27
 15 Rushden                 29   6  5  18  23  58  -35  23
 16 Chafford Saracens       29   5  3  21  25  65  -40  18

D-LEAGUE

Pos Team                    P   W  D   L For  Ag  +/- Pts
  1 Randwick Town          29  18  5   6  43  19  +24  59
  2 Otter Ferry            29  17  6   6  61  38  +23  57
  3 Razorback Hill         29  15  7   7  39  24  +15  52
  4 Alexavale FC           29  14  9   6  59  33  +26  51
  5 Suttonstrand FC        29  14  9   6  54  31  +23  51
  6 Heathgrove             29  15  4  10  45  26  +19  49
  7 AFC Conomore           29  12  8   9  49  40   +9  44
  8 Silvershire Town       29  12  7  10  41  45   -4  43
  9 Pikemouth United       29  11  9   9  37  39   -2  42
 10 AFC Cairnshore         29  10  7  12  40  46   -6  37
 11 Fisher Kings           29   8  8  13  38  37   +1  32
 12 Thrush                 29   8  7  14  38  61  -23  31
 13 Brackford Rovers       29   8  2  19  19  51  -32  26
 14 Dannecliff Rovers      29   6  7  16  44  57  -13  25
 15 AFC Smallstreams       29   5  9  15  31  50  -19  24
 16 Glassfields            29   5  4  20  36  77  -41  19

by **Brenecia** » Sat Aug 11, 2018 6:56 pm

Unfortunately for drama, the A-League season is more or less done and dusted. Rozelle have won the league, and celebrate it with a hard, muddy, shitty day out in Chafford. “We’ll give them nothing to celebrate,” Rook Asquith vows, seemingly motivated by nothing but spite - too bad, Rozelle win 1-0 anyway. Southern Star aren’t able to mount a challenge on the UICA places, understandably falling to Pikemouth 3-1, meaning fifth place comes to a straight shootout between Hall and Union. Union strike first, Shea Considine somehow getting just enough force on a glancing header on a deflected cross to angle the ball into the net, but Corynn Turati hits back on the stroke of halftime with a rather more convincing demonstration. But after a surprisingly fluid attacking move in the second half, Union retake the lead, Kvanderwyk putting the finishing touch on it with a beautiful lofted ball to the gaping hole in Hall’s line, which 19-year old Donal Chance (deputising for the injured Hennessey) finds and thrashes home with aplomb. Orient and Lotus Park stall out to a 1-1 draw in a match that would’ve been incredibly dramatic had Park been just a point lower beforehand. As it stands, Orient and Westpike - beaten, unsurprisingly, by the Stallions to draw out their winless run to eleven - will go down. Rosbank and Westpike, after the failure of their challengers, will replace them. Meanwhile, in the C-League, Pride of the South have already secured the title but, my God, do they underline it with one last statement of intent, hammering a hapless Falkner Crescent 13-1. And Glassfields, a name with at least a little history, slip down into the state leagues with a final flourish, contriving to lose 8-5 at home to Heathgrove. Why couldn’t they have happened in the professional leagues?

CEDC FINAL
The last four CEDC finalists have produced seven Brenecian finalists, and four winners. All in all, it’s becoming rather a worrying procession, and rumours of the Super-Lleague withdrawing from UICA are deeply concerning for competitive balance. Esportiva was once a hotbed of club football - not so much, these days. Even the most ardent A-League fan would have to admit that it should not be dominant. This time around, it’s a Rozelle derby in the final, and an opportunity for the Royals to claim some silverware after losing their streak of four titles. It’s a fast-paced, exciting match, but the Saints play somewhat within themselves after striking up an early lead from the well-worn combination of Crawford’s head on the end of Evans’ cross. Kingsgrove hit back with a signal of intent just one minute later, their own Evans rattling a shot against the crossbar, before he plays in Culbreth on the stroke of half-time. The Cosumarite striker shoots, but its’ batted away by Bernholm… only as far as Corvey, who just taps into an empty net. The Saints are unable to keep up the intensity in the second half, and Djuric and Corvey take advantage of gaps in their tired defence to secure Kingsgrove the lead, and the regional title.

KINGSGROVE 3 - 1 ROZELLE

CROWN CUP FINAL
As the capstone of an exciting season, the Cup final does not live up to the billing. Nothing… happens. The Twins are looking to defend first and foremost, managing to mark down Kvanderwyk while Riazen lacked the dynamism to break through. They actually get the better chances of the 120 minutes, Tafani twice being hit by impeccable crosses from Stanger and twice putting her free headers over the bar. They’re made to pay in penalties, where Union’s seasoned veterans put in four perfect penalties. Bronze, the Twins’ captain and normal penalty taker, launches hers into orbit, before Alexandra Price’s decent effort is beaten powerfully away by Heath Shaw. Union are back, with silverware.

TWIN SAINTS 0 - 0 NORTHERN UNION
Union win 4-2 on penalties.

GLOBE CUP FINAL
The penalty heartbreak isn’t over, unfortunately for Brenecia as a nation. For the second year in a row, a Brenecian side makes it to the Globe Cup final, but Mar Sara’s superiority tells. The Saints manage to outpace and outhustle Mar Sara, making up for their technical deficiencies, and Alora Heher is able to pick out Bard with a flourish, who evades Brenecian leftback Tamara Glavan before rifling a shot past Kronstad’s near post. And they come close to ratcheting up the lead on a couple of occasions - a questionable penalty shout is waved off, Crawford puts a header straight at Kronstad and Connell misses from eight yards. And they’re made to pay for their profligacy, when Thorsen picks out the powerful Daniel Costa, who takes the ball on his chest, muscles past Chilton and hammers the ball into the roof of the net on the stroke of full-time. Now Mar Sara were in the ascendancy, dominant in extra time but unable to make their advantage count, even when Siddique was sent off for a wearily murderous challenge on the substitute Saether. And then it came to penalties, and the Saints were unable to hold their nerve. They’ve still taken the title off the Royals, they are still the champions of Brenecia… but it could have been so much more.

MAR SARA FC 1 - 1 ROZELLE
Mar Sara FC win 4-1 on penalties.

A-LEAGUE

Pos Team                     P   W   D   L For  Ag  +/- Pts
  1 Rozelle                 30  20   6   4  63  27  +36  66
  2 Pikemouth               30  19   5   6  65  42  +23  62
  3 Northern Stallions      30  15   8   7  49  29  +20  53
  4 Kingsgrove              30  15   5  10  60  37  +23  50
  5 Northern Union          30  14   8   8  38  28  +10  50
  6 North Hall              30  13   8   9  45  29  +16  47
  7 Southern Star           30  12   9   9  47  34  +13  45
  8 Chafford                30  11   6  13  29  41  -12  39
  9 Marque                  30  10   8  12  47  50   -3  38
 10 Falkner United          30  10   7  13  45  54   -9  37
 11 Snowden River           30   7  13  10  34  48  -14  34
 12 Rozelle United          30   8  10  12  35  51  -16  34
 13 Lotus Park              30   6  10  14  27  38  -11  28
 14 Twin Saints             30   7   7  16  26  53  -27  28
 15 Francisca Orient        30   5   9  16  23  42  -19  24
 16 Westpike United         30   4   9  17  22  52  -30  21

AWARDS
Golden Boot (Goals Scored): Aiden Denarian (PKM) - 20
Golden Ball (Player of the Year): Alora Heher (ROZ)
Golden Fist (New Player of the Year): Viablaine (ROZ)
Golden Heart (U-21 Player of the Year): Kelly McInnes (MAR)
Team of the Year: Ajaara (NTS); Karigomu (PKM), Giord (NTS), Grayndler (NTH), Holden (NTU); Heher (ROZ), Viablaine (ROZ), Drake (NTS); Kvanderwyk (NTU), Crawford (ROZ), Denarian (PKM)
Manager of the Year: Tailtiu Brennan (PKM)

B-LEAGUE

Pos Team                      P   W   D   L For  Ag  +/- Pts
  1 Rosbank Town             30  20   5   5  49  18  +31  65
  2 Westpike                 30  17  10   3  41  16  +25  61
  3 Scaffield                30  16   9   5  57  30  +27  57
  4 Gallant Cross            30  15  11   4  58  29  +29  56
  5 AFC Swanbridge           30  16   3  11  63  40  +23  51
  6 Southside Wanderers      30  16   2  12  39  27  +12  50
  7 Saint Alexander          30  12   9   9  32  27   +5  45
  8 Proudcastle              30  11   9  10  35  36   -1  42
  9 Guilder                  30   9  11  10  33  36   -3  38
 10 Chrysler Town            30  10   6  14  40  53  -13  36
 11 Swayback                 30   8  10  12  40  45   -5  34
 12 Finbar Stalwarts         30   9   7  14  26  41  -15  34
 13 Marque Rovers            30   9   4  17  37  57  -20  31
 14 Stourhead                30   6   6  18  22  48  -26  24
 15 Knightstone FC           30   4   9  17  25  59  -34  21
 16 Crest                    30   5   3  22  18  53  -35  18

C-LEAGUE

Pos Team                     P   W   D   L For  Ag  +/- Pts
  1 Pride of the South      30  21   8   1  84  20  +64  71
  2 Rozelle Alliance        30  20   5   5  65  25  +40  65
  3 Fentonbridge            30  19   6   5  61  26  +35  63
  4 Southrons-Errant        30  17   8   5  50  35  +15  59
  5 Coppersmith             30  13   7  10  43  31  +12  46
  6 Spearcove Mariners      30  14   4  12  43  31  +12  46
  7 Mount Roland            30  13   7  10  30  19  +11  46
  8 Sharrow                 30  11   8  11  33  38   -5  41
  9 Northern Fist           30  11   3  16  39  53  -14  36
 10 Shaleport Rangers       30   8  11  11  38  37   +1  35
 11 Falkner Wanderers       30  10   5  15  28  36   -8  35
 12 Falkner Crescent        30   8   5  17  32  69  -37  29
 13 Ridgeway United         30   7   7  16  27  42  -15  28
 14 Platwood                30   8   3  19  18  56  -38  27
 15 Rushden                 30   7   5  18  25  58  -33  26
 16 Chafford Saracens       30   5   4  21  26  66  -40  19

D-LEAGUE

Pos Team                    P   W  D   L For  Ag  +/- Pts
  1 Randwick Town          30  19  5   6  46  20  +26  62
  2 Otter Ferry            30  17  7   6  62  39  +23  58
  3 Suttonstrand FC        30  15  9   6  58  33  +25  54
  4 Razorback Hill         30  15  8   7  40  25  +15  53
  5 Alexavale FC           30  14 10   6  60  34  +26  52
  6 Heathgrove             30  16  4  10  53  31  +22  52
  7 Silvershire Town       30  13  7  10  43  46   -3  46
  8 AFC Conomore           30  12  8  10  50  42   +8  44
  9 Pikemouth United       30  11  9  10  39  43   -4  42
 10 AFC Cairnshore         30  10  7  13  41  48   -7  37
 11 Fisher Kings           30   9  8  13  40  38   +2  35
 12 Thrush                 30   8  8  14  39  62  -23  32
 13 Brackford Rovers       30   8  3  19  19  51  -32  27
 14 Dannecliff Rovers      30   6  7  17  45  60  -15  25
 15 AFC Smallstreams       30   5 10  15  31  50  -19  25
 16 Glassfields            30   5  4  21  41  85  -44  19

by **Brenecia** » Mon Jan 28, 2019 2:04 pm

A-LEAGUE CYCLE 72 PREVIEW

League Run: 4th
Stadium: Royal Park (42,000)
Nickname: the Royals
Manager: Gabrielle Hourihane
Captain: Olympia Gray
Top Scorer: Elena Culbreth (16)
Likely Starting XI: (4-3-3) 1 - Solaani (29); 2 - Kielseng (23), 5 - Stray (27), 6 - Gray (30, c), 3 - Raven (28); 7 - Ruskin (22), 4 - Staunton (25), 8 - Penhallow (24); 31 - Cheney (19), 9 - Culbreth (32), 11 - Corvey (24)
In: Eloise Kielseng (1860 Azoth, 6m), Claire Ruskin (Southern Star, 4.5m), Mara Solaani (Westhold Royals, 4m)
Promoted: Scathach Wright (GK, 18)
Out: Mathew Evans (Bellight FC, 2.8m), Tristan Brand (KF Trew, 2.5m), Darren Brinthill (FC Barciddia, free), Jakk Winterfyll (released)

Kingsgrove started last season poorly, and couldn't recover. Fans were quick to pounce on their refusal to spend any money, and for once they were right. Any did actually mean any. So now they drop a casual 14m+ on Nephara's backup rightback, Mriin's first-choice goalkeeper and a Brenecian squad regular - who says there's a wealth disparity in the A-League, right? They also have a new manager, after the heartfelt departure of Gabrielle Hourihane, and the takeover of long-anointed successor Meriadoc Griffiths. He'd been Kingsgrove's U21s coach for a while, before skipping over to Rushmore to take control of Belgrave in Nephara. He did... surprisingly, very well, and though he's coming here fresh off relegation, his personal ties make him a popular appointment. And he does have a lot of toys to play with! He doesn’t have Jakk Winterfyll, though - the ancient goalkeeper remains a legend here, but time’s caught up. His next move remains to be seen. As for what he does have… Roisin Staunton's stood out as the A-League's deep-lying playmaker per excellence, though she's no pushover physically, while Penhallow overcame a slow start to grow into her place last season as an assertive, creative midfielder. The C3 up front, meanwhile, consists of the experienced (but slowing) Culbreth, with the impetuous, improvisational force of Cheney and the sheer pace and technique of Corvey either side. But could another C in the young Creidne Lindauer come to usurp Culbreth?

PREDICTION - Champions.

League Run: 13th
Stadium: Lotus Park (31,000)
Nickname: the Foresters
Manager: Constantine Champali
Captain: Wen Xiaoli
Top Scorer: Angharad Northstead (11)
Likely Starting XI: (4-4-2) 1 - Byrnford (26); 2 - Hamilton (24), 3 - Stef (33), 19 - Well (28), 6 - Redwood (23); 13 - Griffiths (23), 4 - Arroyo (28), 16 - Wen (28, c), 11 - Kella (28); 9 - Strider (22), 14 - Kochansky (27)
In: Emmeline Riverside (Ridgeway United, 1m), Chris Byrnford (Rozelle, 1m), Lucjusz Stef (Mar Sara FC, free)
Promoted: Lachlan Crowder (LB, 18), Rose Evans (RM, 19)
Out: Angharad Northstead (Tanrisal, 4m), Roisin Fairbairn (Finbar Stalwarts, free), Lennox Parry (AFC Swanbridge, free), Dirk Milner (Real Maredrid, free), Bailey Watermill (Hibernus, free)

Lotus Park stayed up last season because of Angharad Northstead and Banshee Strider, and Northstead's just left. They were pretty much dreadful for most of the year, and Constantine Champali's probably banned from Falkner entirely by this point, but Kyron Everdale was able to steady the ship in interim charge, even if... that was basically all he could do. Park are an enigma, this season. Northstead's off to Tanrisal, a perhaps surprising move upwards, and the money's gone to... a backup striker and a new goalkeeper to replace the floundering Thevenet. Former Chromatik international Lucjusz Stef is easily their best signing - the defender helped Mar Sara to the Globe Cup last year, but at 33, is he past it? Mostly, though, Park will be relying on players like the flaky Hamilton, Kella, whose confidence utterly left her, and Wen Xiaoli, the enigmatic midfielder who was weirdly terrible all year, to step up and do what they're capable of. Banshee Strider will also need to add the missing element to her game as a young, fast and physical target woman - she needs to learn how to finish. Everdale was a classy winger in his playing days, and has talked a big game about playing attractive, forward-thinking football. How's it going to bear out in practice?

PREDICTION - 13th.

League Run: 9th
Stadium: Privateer Arena (28,000)
Nickname: the Privateers
Manager: Rachel Byrne
Captain: Brigid Levein
Top Scorer: Ariane Gallagher (14)
Likely Starting XI: (4-3-3) 1 - Bannatyne (31); 2 - Coveney (24), 5 - Knox (26), 18 - Kress (29), 3 - Levein (26, c); 15 - Harper (29), 4 - Shotbolt (25), 7 - Polandre (33); 13 - Hagen (28), 10 - Gallagher (26), 11 - McInnes (20)
In: Katrien Hagen (Condottiere, 2.5m), Reina Kress (Myana Islanders, 2m), Leo Coveney (Proudcastle, 1.5m)
Promoted: Vikita Hackney (CM, 19)
Out: Hiram Hofmann (Corinthian Spirits, 2.5m), Portia Flahavan (West Cape Wanderers, 2m), Mark Abernathy (Brigham, free), Maxwell Soares (FC Mora, free)

The Privateers had about the middling season expected of them, with a worrying dip around the middle compensated for by improving form in the second half, and changes are afoot. Rachel Byrne, Marque's faintly psychotic manager, cleared out the dead wood and brought in the new blood necessary to better instill her idea of the attacking football that will, in theory, drag the Privateers back into UICA contention. That said, their window was... curious. Reina Kress is a very solid signing with a proven record, excellent at playing the ball out from the back (which the league's dirtiest thug, Murgen Knox, cannot), and Coveney chalked up eight assists for a parsimonious Proudcastle side last term from rightback. The most expensive, and only forward, is Katrien Hagen, a little-known Freeport international looking to build a reputation for herself, hopefully not having left it too late at 28 to leave. Out the other way go Hiram Hofmann, who just never looked comfortable at this level, and veteran captain Flahavan. A midfield reshuffle has brought new life to the Apox international Kelly Harper, entirely comfortable in a roving role further inside than the right-wing she played before last season - it was a makeshift change that just worked too well to drop - while up front, Ariane Gallagher is an excellent all-around striker, ably helped by Cornellians youth product and reigning U21 POTS Kelly McInnes. Marque still look makeshift. They're Marque. That's how they are. And as a result, they're still a touch off being UICA contenders. That said, it's hard to rule anything out...

PREDICTION - 8th.

League Run: 6th
Stadium: Fenbrook Stadium (26,500)
Nickname: the Northerners
Manager: Russ Shorten
Captain: Sienna Fallon
Top Scorer: Harvey Joyce (13)
Likely Starting XI: (4-4-1-1) 1 - Falconet (28); 18 - Weaver (22), 4 - Blackwood (27), 22 - Grayndler (24), 3 - Hourihane (30); 7 - Fowler (20), 10 - Verbeck (24), 23 - Farquhar (27), 11 - Fallon (32, c); 14 - Joyce (28); 9 - Turati (26)
In: Tamara Fowler (Southside Wanderers, 2.5m), Vincent Verbeck (Zoloroni Metropolitan, 2m)
Promoted: Sara Russet (CM, 18)
Out: Raven Cashin (Strathcona Internationals, 1.75m), Grady Acquin (Ologun Camaron, free)

North Hall faded somewhat in the closing stretch to miss out on UICA entirely, cutting short the very brief amount of time where Russ Shorten seemed like a world-beating manager. And, realistically, they'll be up against it again to make the top five, failing to make the big splashy signings they were really looking out for. Indeed, they've had to look to the B-League, sniping one of its most promising talents in the agile and industrious 20-year old winger Fowler, a down-to-earth player very much in line with Hall's ideals, and Verbeck, fresh off the finishing school of Mercedini to help Hall keep control of possession, which seems to be a focus going forward. Between two of Verbeck, Farquhar and Valles in the centre, they have what it takes to hold the ball in the centre, while mercurial playmaker Joyce is capable of brilliance going forward and Corynn Turati has absolutely everything in her locker except pace. Sienna Fallon, the captain, never was the fastest of wingers, but she can drop a cross or a set piece anywhere she wants with a peach of a left boot - and she's contesting her place against Ceridwen Fletcher, already one of the most promising young players in Brenecian history who seems to find a new flash of class every cameo she gets. All that backed by a hardened, all-Brenecian back line, with the almost scarily solid Weaver its highlight. Silk, check, steel, check... but is there the cutting edge? That depends on Joyce's consistency and Turati's finishing.

PREDICTION - 5th.

League Run: 3rd
Stadium: The New Road (24,000)
Nickname: the Stallions
Manager: Danielle Granger
Captain: Aleksandra Skorupska
Top Scorer: Leonardo Ducaldo (15)
Likely Starting XI: (4-3-3) 1 - Ajaara (34); 5 - Noonan (28), 2 - Giord (30), 6 - Linvoy (26), 20 - Mapleton (27); 7 - Bronze (26), 8 - Redweald (25), 10 - Drake (26); 15 - Vincent (27), 9 - Ducaldo (29), 19 - Cronin (23)
In: Ruby Bronze (Twin Saints, 3m), Russ Linvoy (Kirk Preston United, 3m)
Promoted: Gareth Benedict (DM, 20), Lois Pennant (RB, 18), Clarisse Pike (GK, 17)
Out: Cass Farrell (Northern Union, 2.5m), Preston Brotherford (Treftadaeth Alliance, 2m), Andressa Festa (Westpike, 500k), Sophie Kitre (Sweet Apple City, free), Forsyth Brunt (Juavi FC, free)

The Stallions continue to refuse not to be serious challengers in the league, and more cautious but carefully targeted investment by the club looks to reinforce their hold on it. Danielle Granger’s in the hot seat, perhaps for the last season (granted, that’s what was said last time), looking to maybe give the title itself a fair tilt. Maybe. Still, the signing of Ruby Bronze, who seriously impressed as she captained the Twins to survival last season in her and their first A-League experience, and of versatile World Cup winner Linvoy, should seriously steady the ship. The departure of their backup goalkeeper and a talented but raw defender can be weathered, and stalwart fullback Festa’s time had come. Granger favours a balanced, physical approach that particularly excels on the break with a mobile front three, but relies heavily on rotation to keep things fresh and her options open. She still has a few stalwarts, though - it’s hard to say if the first name on the teamsheet is the now unchallenged goalkeeper Ajaara, the best goalkeeper in the league with the ball at his feet (and not exactly bad with his hands), or Artem Giord, a powerhouse of a defender. Giord and Linvoy looks hard enough to break down, and lets Redweald flourish in her preferred role of deep-lying playmaker. Drake offers a creative edge closer to goal, while Vincent tears chunks out of opposing defences and Ducaldo lurks to finish things off. All this, and they have former Patriots stalwart Skorupska as a flexible option on the bench. More of the same, perhaps - or perhaps a little less. Either way, the fans are having the time of their lives at the business end of the league.

PREDICTION - 6th.

League Run: 5th
Stadium: Redemption Park (50,000)
Nickname: Union
Manager: Erin Camden
Captain: Ioghan Balthorst
Top Scorer: Kit Kvanderwyk, Kiliko Riazen (8)
Likely Starting XI: (4-2-3-1) 12 - Blanton (32); 19 - Carrack (28), 5 - Balthorst (35, c), 6 - Horgan (25), 3 - Holden (32); 13 - Considine (26), 15 - Valdemarsson (29); 7 - Kvanderwyk (34), 8 - Varghese (32), 10 - Hennessey (25); 14 - Blaylock (25)
In: Dakota Blaylock (Kirk Preston United, 5m), Brun Carrack (Bengtsmark IF, 3m), Rikharthur Valdemarsson (Southern Lions, 3m), Rowan Varghese (Tihon Tide, 3m), Cass Farrell (Northern Stallions, 2.5m), Chris Fortune (returned from loan)
Out: Heather Slate (KF Trosoc, 2m), Heath Shaw (Gallant Cross, 1m), Charmaine Menard (Baskita FC, free), Bard Warmhearth (Olympique Chuckio, free), Offred Jansen (Deloitte, free), Vauxhall Hayne (The Strongest, loan)

Union are best known for big, splashy signings. They haven't worked lately. More surprisingly, their sane signing of manager Bethany Donnell spectacularly imploded. It was already suspected she'd made the side too slow and old in search of star power, and two wins from the first twelve torpedoed any title hopes and her time at the club. Perhaps not enough is being made of the fact that Erin Camden won 12 of her 18 matches in charge and dragged the side not only into fifth but to a Cup win. Camden, former Union captain, a Brenecia stalwart in her playing days, and the manager who actually got Union back to the top flight. She's been backed in the transfer market to freshen things up all across the middle - 22-year old Cass Farrell looks ready to compete for a starting berth, World Cup-winning rightback Brun Carrack is an immensely popular signing, while the towering Valdemarsson looks to toughen up the spine, and Rowan Varghese is a creative playmaker with international experience and an eye for goal. Up front, Dakota Blaylock showed immense promise in his younger days but has drifted of late. Still, he showed enough in the Premiership to catch Camden's eye, perhaps a gamble for 5 million but already the second-favourite for the Golden Boot. They boast plenty of quality on top of that, too, and seasoned foreign veterans like the captain Balthorst and creative fulcrum Kvanderwyk rub shoulders with hardened Brenecian battlers, like the outstanding athletes Shea Considine and Garrett Horgan. Fun trivia fact: over half of their likely starting XI have first names that could be reasonably mistaken for the opposite sex. They should be fun on the pitch, too, marrying their newfound (if more traditional) pace and physicality to their well-established technique. This could be their year to reclaim the title.

PREDICTION - 3rd.

League Run: 2nd
Stadium: Seacastle (18,000)
Nickname: the Kingfishers
Manager: Tailtiu Brennan
Captain: Brunswick Green
Top Scorer: Aiden Denarian (20)
Likely Starting XI: (4-3-3) 1 - Hoffmann (29); 2 - Karigomu (29), 4 - Ramsay (23), 6 - Haukland (26), 3 - Green (29, c); 15 - Todorov (29), 23 - Donachie (28), 8 - Padmore (25); 10 - Coghlan (23), 13 - Denarian (26), 16 - Greig (27)
In: Grigor Todorov (Crvena Zvezda, undisclosed)
Promoted: Dani Maddox (RW, 19)
Out: Katrina Brasic (Southwind HC, free), Alen Pavic (Corinthian Spirits, free)

Pikemouth continue to ignore concepts like ‘relative size of club’, ‘tradition’ and ‘wage budget’. Here they are, holding onto their CC berth by nine points just as people start to dream of a Rozelle-Union-Kingsgrove triumvirate of dominance. The difference was planning and management. Tailtiu Brennan can seemingly do no wrong, and she’s seamlessly scaled up her plans to her new brief, the side buying in to the high-energy, high-pressing, fast-paced football built to crush superior opposition on the counterattack and overwhelm weaker opponents with decisive movement and vertical passing. Oh, and that doesn’t leave much room for scattergun signings - in Grigor Todorov, Brennan got someone who can do the job, put some stick about, run a lot and provide some leadership and steel. They have a fantastic shot-stopper in Gerald Hoffmann between the posts, a Galactico-longlisted fullback in Ambrose Karigomu bursting down the right, Donachie providing muscle and graft down the middle of the park - the kind of player who takes ‘water-carrier’ as a compliment - lightning-quick wingers in Coghlan and Greig and, in Aiden Denarian, a mobile, lethal centre-forward who really broke through last season, an ambitious sort who’s made no secret he’s looking up in his career. But maybe that’s not for the best - it’s hard to see any of these players thriving nearly as well anywhere else. Pikemouth aren’t the best side in the league, but they might just be the best team.

PREDICTION - 4th.

League Run: 7th
Stadium: Southfield (16,000)
Nickname: the Lions
Manager: Sara Fairhall
Captain: Rico Hemnes
Top Scorer: Kara Ciogach (19)
Likely Starting XI: (4-3-1-2) 12 - Vanza-Jerat (28); 2 - Young (27), 5 - Troy (27), 18 - Colvey (29), 3 - Guinness (28); 13 - Hemnes (28, c), 4 - Riverstake (28), 8 - Marrigan (25); 11 - Zsuska (24); 9 - Vahn (29), 15 - Ciogach (22)
In: Nailah Marrigan (AFC Swanbridge, 2m), Vanza-Jerat Gep (KF Qastyr, 1.5m), Evan Colvey (Francisca Orient, 1.5m)
Promoted: Bernard Gilson (AM, 20), Carsten Seymour (ST, 18)
Out: Claire Ruskin (Kingsgrove, 4.5m), Aoife Cresci (Guilder, free), Opal Cairncross (Marketville, free), Leigh Coulson (Manechester United, free), Kevin Neill (Lembagasari United, free)

Credit where it's due, Star are slowly building themselves into a force to be reckoned with. Of course, this being the A-League, no sooner did they come 7th (and they could've made UICA on the final day had results gone differently) than they have their best young player, Ruskin, poached by Kingsgrove. No matter. Star didn't exactly set the league alight last season, they were just consistent and generally did the right thing. Manager Sara Fairhall's done the right thing, too, in careful and measured reinforcement. Kyra Ferrant was starting to fade, so in Vanza-Jerat Gep they have a new goalkeeper in their prime, thoroughly established in Qusmo and hoping to reignite their national team hopes. Colvey has established himself as a pretty good defender at this level, while Nailah Marrigan is a dynamic, youngish midfielder with the sustained good form to hopefully make a top-tier impact. There's an able supporting case in the faintly psychotic Young, always a joy at rightback, and the rather more stable influences of Troy and Riverstake, while the attacking trident has rightfully been left well alone. Zsuska, who retains faint international hopes, really stepped up as a playmaker last season, while Ciogach thrived working off the gentle giant Jorm Vahn. She's applied for Brenecian citizenship, having played here since 17 - surely the Patriots should take notice. Hopefully, for Star's sake, Kingsgrove will not. They have a young squad, playing good if not mindblowing football, steadily improving as a group. For the league's sake, let's hope they can be left to grow and flourish.

PREDICTION - 7th.

League Run: 14th
Stadium: Shady Moorside (11,000)
Nickname: The Twins
Manager: Harriet Klein
Captain: Ruby Bronze
Top Scorer: Brunella Tafani (9)
Likely Starting XI: (4-1-4-1) 12 - Brando (25); 18 - Cohen (25), 19 - Costello (22), 6 - Mercer (23), 3 - Ashley (27); 13 - Monks (25); 15 - Hamilton (29), 4 - Price (25), 8 - Keane (21), 11 - Stanger (25); 10 - Tafani (22)
In: Caitriona Hamilton (Westpike United, 2.25m), Markus Costello (Stourhead, 2m), Mauriac Keane (Ridgeway United, 1.5m)
Promoted: Carina Bruce (ST, 20), Claretta Fenwick (CM, 19)
Out: Ruby Bronze (Northern Stallions, 3m), Rebecca Clive (Brentford FC, free), Tori Merrick (East Cape FC, free), Taylor Lind (Johnho United, free)
Retired: Cecil Banner (CM, 34)

The Twins showed they were to be taken seriously when the first A-League match of their history was a 3-2 win away against Kingsgrove. They were unbeaten in their first six, and won four from their first ten. Unfortunately, they only won three over the entire rest of the season. Made the Cup final though, to be fair - in fact, they were only penalties away after a terrible scoreless draw in 120 minutes. Survival's the important thing, and though they lost their best player in Ruby Bronze, they've sourced sensible replacements from within the league. Mauriac Keane's a promising 21-year old to be the flat replacement, stronger if less classy than Bronze, while five-time Brenecia international Caitriona Hamilton offers a consistent threat of delivery down the right wing and Markus Costello bolsters the back line. They join a young, ambitious and athletic lineup, full of players set to improve year-on-year. Gioele Brando, their Audioslavian goalkeeper, was brilliant - the stocky shot-stopper endearing himself by repeatedly throwing himself into harm's way. David Monks kept things clean in midfield, which is a euphemism for him being the league's most brutal player by foul count, caution tally and just the eye. And Brunella Tafani is one of the league's most promising young strikers, looking mobile and confident, netting nine last season. The Twins play hard, fast football, and their energy in pressing separated them from older, wearier sides. With just a bit more final product, they could - and should - climb up the table.

PREDICTION - 10th.

League Run: 2nd (B-League)
Stadium: West Point (24,000)
Manager: Alyssa Billing
Captain: Athelstan Cathrow
Top Scorer: Damon Anderson (13)
Likely Starting XI: (4-3-3) 12 - Carman (24); 19 - Festa (32), 18 - Rodgers (27), 6 - Cathrow (26, c), 3 - Kosciusko (27); 21 - Davenpor (24), 14 - Hagaz (24), 11 - Na’Saan (23); 15 - Gerrard (24), 13 - Cohen (30), 22 - Rourke (21)
In: Noor Na'Saan (Korriga, 2m), Aideen Carman (Maneapolis Stars, 1.5m), Shrike Hagaz (Chalesm FC, 1.5m), Tzipporah Cohen (Mandon United, 1m), Andressa Festa (Northern Stallions, 500k)
Promoted: Westley Carlisle (LB, 19)
Out: Tana Coolidge (Rozelle Alliance, 750k), Erik Bowers (Crest, 500k)
Retired: Petrarch Bader (CB, 35), Cliff Martane (LB, 35)

Westpike clawed their way to promotion over flashier sides through discipline, power and sheer will to survive, but don't let that fool you into thinking they're just more fodder ripe for the plucking. Truth be told, the depth in Brenecian football has finally been starting to... well, be a thing. The addition of 6 million worth of reinforcements, too? That's Premiership money. Fitting, given the new set of Nepharim investors - and they've gone for a key Nepharim signing, too. Albeit one from the ANL2. Albeit one with a single Nephara cap. It's difficult to say what the rangy, long-boned striker, Cohen, will offer. A gamble, for certain. Na'Saan's another mercurial career nearly woman, though at 23 has time on her side - the creative burden lands squarely on her slim shoulders - while the bruiser Hagaz is brought in to watch her back. An already solid defence is further bolstered by the experience of Festa and the small-boned but agile shot-stopper Carman in goal. The incumbent squad is solid, though lacking top-flight experience - the classy midfielder Soleil Davenport, deceptively light on the touch despite a heavyset figure, and direct, dynamic winger Rourke were breakthrough stars last season. They'll still likely play somewhat cautiously, but if Na'Saan and Cohen can fire, they have the guns up front to stay afloat. If.

PREDICTION - 14th.

by **Brenecia** » Fri Feb 01, 2019 5:20 pm

The season kicks off with a bang! Falkner against Westpike doesn’t seem like the most eyecatching opener - the scheduler generally prefers to get Kingsgrove or someone on-stage, but the Royals wind up beating Rosbank in a drab, uninspired 1-0 - but it winds up being a spine-tingling affair, Tzipporah Cohen smashing home a loose ball from three yards to open her account in the league four minutes into the game. That forces Falkner out of their comfortable passing, and they press for the kill - in the tenth minute, Heath Mayhew’s shot proves too hot for Aideen Carman to handle, and slips through her hands. The Hunters look to seize on their momentum, but Carman atones for her error, saving sharply from Mayhew, then Sibucic, in quick succession. But there’s nothing she can do when Marian Ironside is left unmarked on the edge of the area, and picks her spot well into the bottom corner. But Westpike aren’t down and out, yet - in the second half, as things start to calm down a little, Gregor Borg is pulverised in the air by the Westpike captain, Athelstan Cathrow, who heads home the equaliser. A strong return for Westpike. Pikemouth come out ahead with the odd goal from seven, 3-1 down at half-time, but a red card for Russ Linvoy on his debut for the Stallions opens things up drastically at the back. Aiden Denarian pounces, and a second-half hat-trick turns the tables. Dakota Blaylock’s another striker to impress on opening day, strong hold-up play and general effort rewarded after a luckless opening hour or so, denied by Bannatyne and the post, until he finally twists past Murgen Knox and buries a strike into the roof of the net, Union’s eventual winner on the day in a hard-fought 3-2 victory.

A statement of intent from the Twins, at Westpike’s expense. For all the visitor’s determination against Falkner, they look hopelessly disjointed and overmatched in midfield as a mostly new unit looks, well, lacking in chemistry. Tzipporah Cohen, decisive last game, is hauled off after 59 minutes - by then, the Twins are already 3-0 ahead, a clinical brace from Tafani followed up by a piledriver into the top corner from Caitriona Hamilton, who has already been excellent for them. Rosbank get points on the board, Bryan Monaro’s pace and power up front proving the difference in the second half, with Sheila Connell able to consistently find him past the Falner defence - the two new signings gelling perfectly. But headlines naturally follow Union against Kingsgrove, no matter what the result. It is, after all, the Classic. Union’s defence was already put under scrutiny by Marque, but it’s eviscerated by a rejuvenated-looking Kingsgrove, a vicious sweeping pass from Staunton bypassing Union’s midfield for Lauren Cheney to take the ball, play a neat one-two and flash a shot past Blanton… 39 seconds into the game. The pattern continues, Union trying to get back into the game, but Mara Solaani stands tall between the posts for the Royals. Not long afterwards, another lightning-quick counterattack from a poor Considine pass winds up with the ball at Elena Culbreth’s feet - for all the striker’s slowing, her finishing touch is no less lethal, and she drives it forcefully past Blanton. Kingsgrove step up the heat after that, and barely allow Union the space to breathe. Creidne Lindauer comes off the bench to add a third after Blanton spills a shot from Penhallow right to her feet. 3-0 at Redemption Park, and Erin Camden can only grimace. A hammer blow to their title ambitions, so soon...

The glory of the unseeded first round of the Cup. You won’t get this kind of action in Nephara. And yet, somehow, it produces the minor Rozelle derby - and it’s somewhat clear from Rozelle’s squad selection that the Cup isn’t exactly their focus. Sofia Falcon underwhelms in her first start for her new side, with the Saints’ backup forwards particularly lacking. Beau Andisori makes no such mistake at the other end, with a clinical second-half goal and assist to her name, both on the break where United excel. A morale-boosting win for United. Kingsgrove are another giant to fall, succumbing to the hardly powerful second-tier Guilder, and North Hall are bundled out on penalties by Francisca Orient. Star are beaten at home by a last-minute goal from Proudcastle, Rosbank at home to Mount Roland, while Twin Saints are taken to extra time by Rozelle Alliance after a goalless hour and a half - no fear there, though, as they then fire three goals past the exhausted Alliance. The upshot is that things look suddenly open for the A-League sides remaining. Oh, and there’s a couple hammerings, too, Falkner and the Stallions battering lower-league opponents 9-0. And Snowden River’s Sorcha Lonergan gets a morale-boosting brace on her debut against Razorback Hill, as well. Small note: she’s a rightback.

For all the euphoria of Kingsgrove’s annihilation of Union, their start to the season has otherwise been dreadful. They’re already out of the Cup and UICA. They barely scraped past Rosbank Town, and now an uncharacteristic bevy of misses from Culbreth and Djuric allows lowly Snowden River to punch back, right in the teeth, a diving header from Castor Merchant at the far post off an exquisite diagonal cross from Kirkegaard levelling the scores in injury time. “Just reward - we never stopped fighting,” says Snowden manager Alysia Sandstone, relieved to finally put River on the board. Rozelle United, though? There probably was a point at which they did stop fighting. Improbably, they’re matched against Rozelle four days after beating them in the Cup, and this time the Saints well and truly have the claws out. Positives: Cuchulainn Reid opens his account for the club on the stroke of half-time. Negatives: it brings the scoreline back to 4-1, and the Saints score two more at practical walking pace in the second half.

A conclusive victory on home soil for Union, Varghese picking holes in Advance’s defence at will, and Kit Kvanderwyk holding off accusations of aging past it with a crisply taken strike late in the first half. Blaylock and Varghese triple the damage in the second, the latter’s well-deserved strike coming from a thunderous free kick. “It’s not over yet,” Camden warns after the match, but they can still probably afford to rest a few forwards.

Um. Okay. Snowden’s elation at stalemating Kingsgrove turns to ash. Rosbank Town come to town and strike first, Keogh Bolivar with a looping header that slowly, horribly arcs over a sprawling Donagh, but River quickly hit back - Chevy Gosling guilelessly scythes down Keynes in the area, for a penalty Innocent Latemba converts nervelessly. But then the overenthusiastic Navarette hacks down Sheila Connell at the knee, and is shown an immediate red card. Things… collapse. Fast. The resulting free kick is headed home by an unmarked Roland Duffy, before Constance Townsend makes it three on the verge of half-time. And then Rosbank score five more in the second half, with an injury to Kirkegaard after all three substitutions have been made ensuring Snowden finish with nine. 8-1, the final score. Alysia Sandstone immediately jumps to the front of the queue in the sack race, and strangely enough a vote of confidence from the board doesn’t really help her job security. Westpike pick up their first win of the season, Tzipporah Cohen missing three presentable chances in the first half before trying her luck in the second and managing to drag a shot across Southern Star goalkeeper Vanza-Gerat and into the bottom corner from outside the box - a far tougher chance, but one that should do wonders for confidence. Pikemouth, meanwhile, will rue their own missed chances. Through hard running and diligence, they restrict Lotus Park to just two shots on target, both from outside the box, by midfielders Wen and Griffiths. Issue is, both score, and Park win 2-1 away - that’s their first win, too.

Advance are good value for a narrow win on home soil, dominating possession, while Union’s makeshift attack largely sputters. Even so, a 1-0 defeat is more than enough - it preserves Advance’s honour, and secures Union’s progress.

An uncharacteristic round as lower-league dogs have their day, further whittling down the top-flight complement. Pride of the South may be winless in the second tier, but they find few problems in a toothless Rozelle United, whose Cup goalkeeper, Lex Garratt, gets things off to a good start by passing straight to Pride forward Sara Lackley, who immediately fires it straight past him. Linford Grimes pulls one back after his earlier shot, though saved, comes right back to him, but Pride hit back twice in the second half and cling on to a win that should be valuable for morale. Pikemouth and the Stallions, high-flying in the league but without the rosters to compete on every front, both lose on penalties to second-tier opponents in Chrysler and Westpike United, while Westpike only narrowly overcome Finbar in a seven-goal, extra-time thriller, Damon Anderson’s brace a reminder that it’s not all about Cohen. Happily, a Marque derby is also had, and it’s a spicy affair. Rachel Byrne spares no personnel, a full-strength lineup showing up… and looking lethargic as a spirited Orient side keeps them at arm’s reach before taking the lead through a Tomas Ebanks header. Marque press hard to come back, before Christopheran stalwart Tony Uist lumbers off the bench in the 87th minute and promptly scores with his first touch, found by Hagen’s clever through-ball. And it’s the Freeport international Hagen who finishes Orient off with a powerful low strike from outside the box, deflecting subtly off a calf to leave Steele Brighton without a chance. In the only all top-flight clash of the round, the Twins are well beaten at home to Falkner.

Normally, it’s pretty hard to find positives when you concede five goals, and are left 3-0 down to the Stallions by half-time. But the young Rosbank manager Julia Penzance manages to scrounge some up, anyway. “We fought back, the lads never let their heads drop,” she says proudly, and it’s true - new signings Monaro and Connell pulled back the score to 3-2, adding some intrigue to the game with half an hour to play. But then they overstretched on the break, and were punished by a defence-splitting pass from Bronze converted by Cronin, before Carsten Vincent made it five. Rosbank pulled one back from a corner in injury time, though, and it definitely looks like they at least have the firepower to stay up. But will the defence keep up? Lotus Park are another side who will be asking questions of their defence, a more than solid point against Rozelle, earned by Strider and Wen (whose form has recovered, it seems), thrown away when Lucjusz Stef’s exceptionally casual pass back makes it about halfway to Byrnford in goal, and is easily swept away by Nightjar Evans, who is in turn clumsily swept down by former Rozelle man Byrnford for a penalty that Heher duly converts. It’s a red for Byrnford, too. Maybe Stef will strike up a better rapport with his Chromatik countryman, the backup goalkeeper Thevenet...

Stef did not strike up a better rapport with Thevenet. In fact, the argument could well be made that there’s a reason Mar Sara released him, that reason being that he is almost breathtakingly slow. That’s handy for Marque forward Kelly McInnes, who spends most of the game sprinting past him, setting up an assist for Gallagher and scoring twice in a 3-1 win - Thevenet himself didn’t exactly cover himself in glory, either. North Hall are just too slow to even really lay a glove on Kingsgrove - even the usually irrepressible Ceridwen Fletcher is repressed upon arrival from the bench, while everything Kingsgrove try to pull off, works. Eloise Kielseng bombs forward from rightback to take a pass from Penhallow and slide it past Eamon Falconet to seal a 3-0 win away. Union are themselves beaten 3-0 by the superior pace and power of the Stallions, and Rikharthur Valdemarsson appears to be struggling to deal with elite opposition - the creaking Pawel Zapotowski at least stiffens the sinews in the second half after 60 minutes of bloodletting. But in the end it’s Pikemouth with the biggest show of fangs, eviscerating the Twins 5-0 as Grigor Todorov almost single-handedly dominates the midfield.

Westpike’s impressive win over Marque is marred / improved by a touchline brawl, as Westpike manager Billing laughs a little too hard at touchline riva Byrne’s protestations when her side go 2-0 up, Cohen appearing to be offside before leathering home at close range. For her troubles, Byrne punches her in the kidneys. Well, it’s all very Brenecia - she ‘just’ gets a three-game ban. And to Marque’s credit, they fight back, dominate the last 30 minutes, and only due to some sharp work from goalkeeper Carman - flaky, but strong on her day - are they held down to a single goal, but Westpike cling on for the win. That’s not the only manager in trouble, though, as Northern Union’s Erin Camden gets herself into hot water. Union hammer on Rozelle United’s door for 93 minutes before, with practically the last attack of the game, a speculative Carrack cross is met with the blazing run and forceful header of Shea Considine, right past Murnane. Camden immediately runs onto the pitch to join them in the celebrations - her old international teammate in the other dugout is rather less impressed. “Erin always did have trouble keeping a lid on her emotions,” he said, with uncharacteristic passive-aggression. Camden’s reply? “What does he know about that victory rush these days?”

Snowden River finally get their first win of the season in a match that intensifies the pressure on Rozelle United’s manager, their namesake, Daniel Snowden. United mostly just recycle possession without ever really managing to find the final ball to hurt River, and an off day for striker Beau Andisori sees her shoot most of his chances directly at Donagh between the posts, while hitting the crossbar late on for good measure. When Reed’s sharp cross deflects off Gamble’s instep and beats Murnane, it might be a fluke, but the disciplined Snowden side are good value for the lead - and, in the end, the win. It’s a similarly cagey story elsewhere in Rozelle, as Chafford fluke a win over the Saints through Beau Eriksen’s piledriver and no less than nine saves from Kaara Iarrow, while a dire Norh Hall derby is settled by a Kit Kvanderwyk penalty, exactly the result it deserves. Meanwhile, the Stallions, Royals and, weirdly, Twins, all chalk up 5-1 wins. The latter’s Juven striker, Brunella Tafani, is starting to look as though she’s found the finishing touch - their opposition, Marque, remain without their manager as she glowers from the stands.

Group B                          Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts   CdB  Pkm  Spg  Els
1 Cednia Beach AFC          TUR    6    4   0   2    12    9   +3    12    —   3–1  2–0  2–1
2 Pikemouth                 BRE    6    2   3   1     9    7   +2     9   3–1   —   2–0  2–2
3 Spartangrad               EUR    6    2   1   3     7   10   −3     7   3–2  0–0   —   3–2
4 Elspachia                 MRC    6    1   2   3     9   11   −2     5   1–2  1–1  2–1   —

Group E                          Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts   Mra  Fla  Rzl  Tan
1 Marianne                  PRH    6    4   0   2    12    8   +4    12*   —   2–0  2–0  3–0
2 Flanders FC               COM    6    4   0   2     8    6   +2    12*  1–2   —   2–1  2–1
3 Rozelle                   BRE    6    3   0   3    10    8   +2     9   3–0  0–2   —   4–1
4 Tanrısal                  PAS    6    1   0   5     7   15   −8     3   4–3  0–1  1–2   —
* Marianne ahead of Flanders FC on head-to-head points

Both Pikemouth and Rozelle manage a more-than-respectable nine points and +2 GD, it only proves enough for the Mariners, who just about edge out of a dead-even group. Impressively, that puts them above mighty Spartangrad, who they take four points from. Rozelle are less fortunate, victims of surprise package Marianne of Prahecq, who sweep the board at home without conceding a goal.

Group B                          Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts   Stl  Krs  NSt  IsD
1 Starling                  NPH    6    3   2   1     8    6   +2    11    —   2–2  2–1  2–1
2 Krsthaven                 SEM    6    2   3   1     6    5   +1     9   0–1   —   1–0  1–0
3 Northern Stallions        BRE    6    2   2   2     7    7    0     8   2–1  2–2   —   1–1
4 Iskara Daii               STB    6    0   3   3     2    5   −3     3   0–0  0–0  0–1   —

A hard-fought 2-1 win over Starling was the highlight of an otherwise forgettable campaign for the Stallions. Fair performances across the board, never beaten by (or winning by…) more than a single goal, but ultimately insufficient.

A dreary affair against Olympia is, as ever, enlivened by Rowan Varghese dropping a free kick on Garrett Horgan’s head, and from there into the net. Union unsettled Olympia with their physicality, with Shea Considine a particular star, but they struggled for fluency all game.

Titania Pratchett’s time at Falkner is running on the fumes of last season’s achievements - the truth is, the side just isn’t very good. For all they can huff and puff for 90 minutes against Pikemouth before an exhausted Dallas Riverton slams down Coghlan for a penalty converted nervelessly by Grigor Todorov (already something of a keystone for the side), they’re the last side in the league to be without a win, perhaps made more galling by the fact that they’ve won both Cup matches by a combined 12-0. The newly-promoted sides face off, and it’s Westpike who look the more technical, accomplished side. Noor Na’Saan has one of her good days - she definitely has terrible days, sure, but today she’s all guns blazing - and chalks up a full hat-trick of assists, Cohen, Gerrard and Davenport reaping the rewards, and it could well have been more were it not for Kendall Childress’ sterling work between the posts. Rosbank Town rely almost comically on Sheila Connell to attack - she scores a free-kick, but otherwise, Shrike Hagaz’s demolition job keeps the Black Swans quiet, and Westpike glide to a crucial 3-1 win away.

A 1-0 win for Kingsgrove over Chafford. One sharply-taken half-volley from Lauren Cheney. Pretty routine, right? But the Royals’ season has been anything but. They’ve dropped precisely two points all season, conceded four goals, and scored 24. Chafford are also having… what could be argued is a season, with one win, three goals and eight conceded. Unsurprisingly, Kingsgrove are top - perhaps surprisingly, Chafford are ‘safe’ in twelfth in what has been an exceedingly unequal season thus far. Pikemouth would, remarkably, have been just a point adrift, but they’re clawed back crab-pot-style by Rozelle and a second-half brace from Ivo Romanov. Union and the Stallions both win to round out the top five, with the Twins, remarkably, in sixth. The bottom five are separated by just two points, with a four-point gap between Chafford and Westpike above them. Somehow faring worse than Chafford: Falkner United, who clamber off the bottom of the table with their first win of the season over Rozelle United, Rosbank Town despite their 22 goals and, currently facing the drop, Rozelle United themselves and Snowden River.

Falkner’s arguably improbable Cup run of clean sheets continues to be a boon to Cathy Woodyard’s burgeoning career as a goalkeeper, and she’s put through her paces by a determined Westpike United. But the day is won by the classic Esther Rohan, who has made her displeasure at her lack of game time obvious by going to the club fanzine - well, she effortlessly clips a half-volley past Chiron Bennett and into the top corner to seal the match, easily the goal of the round, to showcase what she can still offer her struggling side at 33. There’s plenty of other goalkeeping heroics, too. Not so much in Mount Roland vs. Fentonbridge, one of the worst matches of football to ever be played, and winding up in a 3-1 shootout that was defined only by misses, not saves. But Marque’s 19-year old Scanlan Pritchard is given a shot between the sticks, and winds up rewarding her side with a clean sheet and two penalty saves against Westpike. Issue is, he then steps up to take Marque’s sixth penalty… and blazes it over the crossbar. Lotus Park stuff Guilder 4-0 to put an end to their scalps, a heavily-rotated Union labour to a 1-0 win over Saint Alexander as Chris Fortune reminds people he exists and Snowden River edge out Chafford in extra time.

Union pay for their lack of punch up front - Olympia are quick, clinical and vastly superior on the night, and good value for a 2-0 win. Dakota Blaylock only narrowly fails to snatch the tie on away goals late on, sending a bullet header onto the crossbar in extra time, but it would have been pretty unjust.

A-LEAGUE

Pos Team                    P  W  D  L For  Ag  +/- Pts
  1 Kingsgrove             10  9  1  0  24   4  +20  28
  2 Pikemouth              10  8  0  2  22   9  +13  24
  3 Rozelle                10  7  2  1  21  10  +11  23
  4 Northern Union         10  7  1  2  15  12   +3  22
  5 Northern Stallions     10  6  2  2  26  15  +11  20
  6 Twin Saints            10  5  2  3  16  14   +2  17
  7 North Hall             10  4  2  4  10  11   -1  14
  8 Marque                 10  3  3  4  15  16   -1  12
  9 Southern Star          10  3  3  4  12  13   -1  12
 10 Lotus Park             10  3  2  5  14  19   -5  11
 11 Westpike               10  3  2  5  12  19   -7  11
 12 Chafford               10  1  4  5   3   8   -5   7
 13 Falkner United         10  1  4  5  11  19   -8   7
 14 Rosbank Town           10  2  0  8  22  26   -4   6
 15 Rozelle United         10  1  2  7   9  21  -12   5
 16 Snowden River          10  1  2  7   9  25  -16   5

B-LEAGUE

Pos Team                     P  W  D  L For  Ag  +/- Pts
  1 Gallant Cross           10  7  3  0  17   5  +12  24
  2 Scaffield               10  6  4  0  17   6  +11  22
  3 Southside Wanderers     10  7  1  2  10   3   +7  22
  4 Proudcastle             10  5  2  3  13  10   +3  17
  5 AFC Swanbridge          10  4  4  2  17   8   +9  16
  6 Francisca Orient        10  4  4  2  12   6   +6  16
  7 Westpike United         10  4  3  3   9   8   +1  15
  8 Guilder                 10  4  2  4  13  13   +0  14
  9 Chrysler Town           10  3  3  4   9  16   -7  12
 10 Saint Alexander         10  3  2  5   6   9   -3  11
 11 Finbar Stalwarts        10  3  1  6   6   8   -2  10
 12 Marque Rovers           10  2  4  4  13  22   -9  10
 13 Rozelle Alliance        10  2  2  6  10  16   -6   8
 14 Stourhead               10  2  2  6   9  15   -6   8
 15 Swayback                10  2  2  6   6  13   -7   8
 16 Pride of the South      10  0  5  5   8  17   -9   5

C-LEAGUE

Pos Team                    P  W  D  L For  Ag  +/- Pts
  1 Southrons-Errant       10  8  1  1  27   9  +18  25
  2 Spearcove Mariners     10  8  0  2  20  15   +5  24
  3 Otter Ferry            10  7  2  1  22   8  +14  23
  4 Knightstone FC         10  7  2  1  15   5  +10  23
  5 Fentonbridge           10  6  1  3  15   8   +7  19
  6 Mount Roland           10  6  0  4  17   7  +10  18
  7 Coppersmith            10  4  3  3  10   9   +1  15
  8 Shaleport Rangers      10  4  2  4  14  14   +0  14
  9 Falkner Crescent       10  4  1  5  12  23  -11  13
 10 Falkner Wanderers      10  3  2  5   9  12   -3  11
 11 Crest                  10  3  2  5   5   9   -4  11
 12 Sharrow                10  2  4  4   9   9   +0  10
 13 Ridgeway United        10  3  0  7   9  12   -3   9
 14 Randwick Town          10  2  0  8   7  18  -11   6
 15 Northern Fist          10  1  2  7   8  24  -16   5
 16 Platwood               10  0  2  8   5  22  -17   2

D-LEAGUE

Pos Team                   P  W  D  L For  Ag  +/- Pts
  1 Silvershire Town      10  6  3  1  21   8  +13  21
  2 Heathgrove            10  6  3  1  13   6   +7  21
  3 Razorback Hill        10  6  2  2  19  10   +9  20
  4 Fisher Kings          10  6  2  2  18  11   +7  20
  5 Alexavale FC          10  5  3  2  10  11   -1  18
  6 Suttonstrand FC       10  5  2  3  22  15   +7  17
  7 Chafford Saracens     10  4  3  3  26  16  +10  15
  8 Rushden               10  4  2  4  16  13   +3  14
  9 Pikemouth United      10  4  1  5  14  15   -1  13
 10 Corder Town           10  2  6  2   9  11   -2  12
 11 Brackford Rovers      10  2  4  4  11  14   -3  10
 12 Thrush                10  2  3  5  13  15   -2   9
 13 AFC Conomore          10  1  5  4   8  14   -6   8
 14 Stonewash Town        10  1  4  5   8  17   -9   7
 15 Dannecliff Rovers     10  1  3  6   9  23  -14   6
 16 AFC Cairnshore        10  1  2  7  10  28  -18   5

by **Brenecia** » Sun Feb 03, 2019 12:44 pm

After a long night of partying, a thoroughly white-girl-turnt Kara Ciogach is caught on camera in a downtown nightclub declaring herself ‘Queen of Rozelle’. And, okay, it’s not the most professional look. But it’s thoroughly earned, and on her 23rd birthday as well, as Southern Star come to visit undefeated Kingsgrove and punch them in the teeth just two minutes in. The unheralded Nailah Marrigan came in to replace Claire Ruskin, now lining up for the other side - more fool they, when Marrigan cleverly slips between the lines then plays in Ciogach, who glides a shot underneath a sprawling Solaani. The Royals fight back and pull back a goal, when Lauren Cheney goes down… easily, we’ll say, under the unbridled enthusiasm of Evan Colvey. Elena Culbreth makes no mistake from the spot, but Star fight back with snap and panache, take a stranglehold over the midfield and, when Ciogach takes a ball while running and leathers it past Solaani from thirty yards, Stray seemingly not bothered enough to put her under pressure. A mistake he won’t be making again, one imagines. Still, nobody can capitalise - Pikemouth can’t find a way through Marque, while Titania Pratchett eases nerves around Falkner when Esther Rohan scores late to beat Rozelle. Chafford almost double their goal tally for the season in a single match, Adrian Coyne scoring once and hitting a post, Tristan Milner finishing Rosbank off late on. It’s fair to say the Swen Fassbinder Experience is probably over for Chafford.

Routine wins early in the CEDC. Sofia Falcon scores a brace for the Saints to remind everyone she still exists and cost five million pounds. Pikemouth face more determined opposition, but teenage winger Dani Maddox scores her first senior goal to give the Kingfishers all the edge they’re likely to need.

Rozelle are the big winners, though they’re smacked down early by Marque, Murgen Knox shoving aside all-comers to head home off an exquisite corner routine. Romanov strikes back with a cool, crisp finish whipped low past Bannatyne, but a cross from Hagen is dispatched by Gallagher to put Marque back in front on the half-hour mark. But on the stroke of half-time, Sofia Falcon rewards the faith in giving her a league start by lofting a strike into the top corner from just outside the box, and that… apparently unsettles Marque. Massively. Rozelle strike up two goals early in the second half before a second caution for, yes, Murgen Knox reduces the Privateers to 10 - young substitutes Parrett and Morant finish the bloodletting in a 6-2 hammering. Kingsgrove give themselves some more breathing room, beating Pikemouth 1-0 in a game that is best described as ‘one for the purists’. Another clutch goal from the adventurous rightback, Kielseng, makes the difference - the former Sabrefell Athletic woman is really proving her worth.

The A-League sides march on, as they typically do in the CEDC, with meaty 3-0 wins at home.

The Rozelle derby - the big one - is one of those affairs you tick down to on the calendar. Now it’s here, and is… painfully one-sided, Kingsgrove dominant all across the park, Cheney with a goal and Lindauer with a brace by half-time. Rozelle grab a penalty on the 52nd minute, Romanov brought down by Clementine Raven, but Heher’s spot-kick is beaten away by Mara Solaani - who has been consistently outstanding when called upon this season. Rozelle do eventually get a goal back, Siddique cutting back across goal and Nightjar Evans stretching out a leg to whack it into the net… with her thigh. But the Royals hold firm, relentless in their pressing, and come away with a deserved 3-1 win. Meanwhile, Rosbank’s defence haemorrhages another four goals to Pikemouth, three of which could charitably be described as ‘unforced errors’ that Rove and Coghlan were more than happy to take advantage of in a conclusive 4-1 win. One wonders if, perhaps, Rosbank could have done with signing a defender. Aisling Chester’s currently in place at rightback, the 34-year old captain gamely trying her best and extremely beyond it, and even then measurably better than Chevy Gosling.

Rosbank get done 4-1 again, this time by a Rozelle side eager to work out their frustrations on a punching bag. Some solace, at least, for the beleagured and mostly blameless goalkeeper, Kendall Childress - it could be worse. After an injury in training to Marcia Bannatyne, 24-year old Novella Roche is given her first league start for Marque. Away, in Kingsgrove. Marque start brightly, and look good value for an early lead, won by Katrien Hagen lofting the ball over a stranded Solaani. Roche is nervy, initially, but saves strongly against Lindauer ten minutes in. Revitalised, Marque head the other end, score again through Kelly McInnes, and then collapse like a house of cards on contact with a brick. 2-0 becomes 4-2 by half-time, and when Polandre gets one back from a direct free kick, Kingsgrove get their fifth just thirty-two seconds later, Cheney waltzing through two men before nutmegging Roche, before Roche drops a cross late on for Lindauer to power home. 6-3 the final score, far more eventful than what might prove the most prominent fixture of the round - a 1-0 win by Union over Pikemouth, enabled by a… generous penalty shout when Batt drags a leg to trip over Brunswick Green, converted coolly by Blaylock. Don’t let that fool you, though - they did deserve the win, as even Pikemouth manager Tailtiu Brennan begrudgingly admitted after the final whistle. “If we wanted to win, we should have considered shooting.”

The Rathia derby is… decisive, and a rebuke to the idea that power might be shifting south in the rural east. By the time Kara Ciogach gets her customary strike in the 67th minute, the Stallions were already 4-0 up; even she can’t celebrate under circumstances like those, and even a totally unnecessary red card to Stallions midfielder Redweald (a first yellow for dissent, a second for kicking a ball into the stands after giving away a foul) can’t dampen the mood. Union again come up ‘clutch’ against strong opposition, a Cosumarism that is apt given the source of their goal - Rowan Varghese tracking back to dispossess countrywoman Heher before wheeling around and looping in a long ball into the box, expertly knocked down by Blaylock to where Kvanderwyk is waiting, lethal as ever at 34, to leather home the loose ball. Lenore Drummond in Rozelle’s goal was still POTM by some accounts, but there was nothing she could do about that.

Lotus Park had been quietly chugging along unnoticed for a while, which had suited them perfectly after the high drama of the last couple of seasons. But now, all eyes are on them as Harriet Klein’s Twin Saints prove… ingracious hosts, too eager for the spotlight, scything them down 4-0. If current trends hold, Brenecia will have four CC slots, and thus a top seven in UICA… and the Twins are somehow in a strong position to earn a berth. Their summer business was exceptional, the painful loss of Bronze aside, but Caitriona Hamilton is in the form of her life at 29, Mauriac Keane and Markus Costello have adapted seamlessly to A-League standard, while Brunella Tafani continues to hammer in goals (another two today, now ten for the season to have already eclipsed last time) and Gioele Brando between the posts is a quietly exceptional talent.

Things get serious in the CEDC, but perhaps not yet heated - both Rozelle and Pikemouth take strong sides abroad and walk away with 2-0 wins.

Momentous times at the top. Kingsgrove started the season imperiously, but their pace has started to drop off a little. Union arrive in town in record-breaking form, and the two sides slam into each other with the traditional storyline of brain vs. brawn. Brawn takes the early lead, Shea Considine with a typically muscular challenge in midfield to give Penhallow whiplash before driving forward, playing a clever one-two with Varghese and taking a shot. Solaani gets down well to parry it away… but Elyn Hennessey sprints in to sidefoot home the rebound. Union sit off a little more after that, and let Kingsgrove dominate possession, though Solaani continues to earn her corn with some excellent saves. But then, in the 72nd minute, a quick free kick close to the box deceives Union, sees Ruskin play in Lauren Cheney, and the young winger stabs the ball across the face of goal. Many boots go for it, but ultimately, the luckless (and hitherto rock-solid) Garrett Horgan winds up putting it into his own net. 1-1 a fair result if you’re a Kingsgrove fan, Union fans feeling a little hard done-by - but they’re still relieved when Creidne Lindauer hits a post late on. Meanwhile, Rozelle are having a rough time. They host the Stallions, and emerge with their third straight defeat, one which looks to have plugged them out of the title race. Justin Vauxhall looks physically ill by the end of a 5-1 lesson in high-intensity pressing, Professor Bronze getting neither a goal nor an assist but the almost universal POTM regardless. Pikemouth, meanwhile, falter against Rozelle United - they’ve taken one point from their last four games, and are starting to be cut adrift from the business end of the league themselves. At the bottom, Rosbank scrape a 1-0 win over a Falkner side that has, remarkably, failed to score in six games straight.

Hard-fought, but well-deserved - the Saints and Kingfishers stride through to the semifinals.

Union aren’t down long - they host bottom-feeding Rosbank Town, batter them 4-1, and move on with their lives. Meanwhile, there’s a stink of death around Marque. Nobody even really seems to care on the pitch as Northern Stallions run roughshod over them, Carsten Vincent’s hat-trick headlining a conclusive 6-0 win. Even the usually irascible manager, Rachel Byrne, seems subdued on the touchline, and the Privateers continue to sink to the cellar. Headed the other way are Snowden River. Kingsgrove dropped their first points of the season and their only points of the first ten matches to them - but they’re resting players between two punishing fixtures. This does mean a start for Elena Culbreth, who has lost her place to the scintillating form of 21-year old local Creidne Lindauer, and she rewards the Royals with a crisply-taken strike that agonisingly brushes Donagh’s fingertips on the way in. Snowden withdraw in on themselves and await death, until out of nowhere a Merchant snap-shot draws a corner, Latemba drops that corner on Udar’s head for 1-1, and then Keynes notches up a brace on the break before half-time. Kingsgrove are stunned, though Culbreth hits the post on the stroke of half-time. Eilidh Convery scores her first career goal, a piledriver from thirty yards that Donagh really ought to have saved, in the 49th minute, but Kingsgrove can’t add to their tally, and get sucker-punched in the 92nd by a tap-in off a goal-mouth scramble from substitute Winona Bedullin to be faced with a surprising 4-2 defeat. Meanwhile, in the lesser Rozelle derby, Elysse Matheson is the hero of the hour - coming on with twenty minutes to go, a goal and an assist for Evans put the Saints in the ascendancy over Rozelle United, who had looked comfortable until then.

Once again, Kingsgrove are faced with high-flying opponents in red-hot form; this time, it’s the Stallions, who have seven wins in a row and every intention of making it eight. They start strong, and just twenty-five seconds in, Leonardo Ducaldo has already sent a shot into the outside of the crossbar, Mara Solaani breathing a sigh of relief. It doesn’t last long - eighteen minutes later, Ducaldo smashes what could really have just been a tap-in into the roof of the net. Kingsgrove hold on until half-time, but there’s a sense they’re just biding their time - even early in the second half, where the Stallions keep up their momentum. But then their high-pressing football begins to bite back, the players tire, and though Aleksandra Skorupska’s injection helps steady the ship, Kingsgrove ease into the ascendancy and prove their dominance, goals from Corvey and Wise saving the day. But locked on points with them, Union’s march seems inexorable, even - especially? - when they play poorly. Falkner United are not exactly marquee opposition, but last-ditch defending denies Union time and again. But Erin Camden plays a trump card off the bench, replaces the weary Varghese with a second striker in the wily 36-year old Riazen, who scores with his first touch. Falkner, needless to say, have no ideas at all going forward.

Pikemouth have a scary brief. Lofty Jones and Dion Underwood against… Ava Ramsay and Simen Haukland. Suffice to say, Bastion are somewhat heavy favourites for the tie on aggregate, but the Kingfishers aren’t to be underestimated, especially on home soil. Not that a capacity crowd of eighteen thousand is exactly intimidating… but it’s their very own cauldron of hate, and heavy rains the prior night help impede their visitors. The likes of Cail Coghlan are more used to making the marsh work for them, and she manages to dig out a cross for Denarian like a golfer digging a ball from a sand pit - and Denarian deftly volleys it past Douglas for the first goal. As the rains start to pour again in the second half, Thorvald Padmore’s free kick finds Haukland, unmarked, to head in the second goal. Bastion’s attempts to fight back come to naught, though Gerald Hoffmann in goal more than plays his part.

Rozelle come flying out of the gates against Norrion, but are suckerpunched on the break by Pasargan flier Jurkovic. Somewhat more patient and composed, they control the second half, but it takes until the 79th minute for a breakthrough, and even then it’s dotted with controversy. Was Romanov offside when Heher found him prowling off the last man’s shoulder? Perhaps by a nose. But it’s Romanov’s decisive finish that levels the scores.

Kingsgrove slip, in a timely reminder that Rozelle isn’t all theirs and the Saints - no, it’s a revitalised Rozelle United who beat them back 3-1, spurred by the early let-off of a Culbreth penalty that’s too close to Murnane and powerfully beaten away. And that leaves Union without too much to do - yes, just a 1-0 win in Snowden, a thumping volley off the inside of the post from Rowan Varghese - and a close escape from Cathal Keynes missing from five yards - enough to see them to the top of the table! The Stallions hold third after pulling back a 3-1 deficit to beat Rosbank Town 4-3, the last goal scored with just ten men on the pitch, with Rozelle twelve points out of top spot, but looking good to hold onto a fourth spot that might just be enough for a CC berth… North Hall retain fifth place after a 4-1 hammering of Marque, who don’t seem interested in marking (or Marquing) Harvey Joyce, so Joyce does whatever he wants, which is in this case to orchestrate a 4-1 win. Marque manager Rachel Byrne pays the price for it, reportedly receiving the news in the tunnel post-match, and locking herself in her office with two bottles of gin, which she subsequently drank until she passed out, security having to break down the door and haul her back to her house. They’re very seriously in the relegation picture now, two points beneath Chafford and Snowden River, one above Westpike, who take a poni away from a free-falling Pikemouth. Falkner, through defeat to Chafford, are in the drop zone and three points adrift - Rosbank, in turn, are five.

No rains to save Pikemouth this time. But that’s okay. They don’t need saving. It’s a gruelling slog in Bastion, and an unapologetically defensive 4-5-1 formation from Tailtiu Brennan to try and preserve that lead. Anchor man Karel Braithwaite is given his first start of the season outside of the Cup, alongside the everpresent Randall Donachie, and between them they stifle the hell out of the midfield. Gerald Hoffmann makes a number of saves, but it’s when he catches a cross from Benedict that he makes his most decisive mark, immediately releasing Green down the left flank. The captain looks up, then hits a huge crossfield switch to where Cail Coghlan is sprinting like her life depends on it. Coghlan finds the channel to cut inside Fernandez, before a one-two with Denarian gets her through on goal for her to race around Douglas and just barely manage to sidefoot the ball into the net as her momentum takes her into and over the advertising hoardings. It’s enough, even when Braithwaite is sent off with fifteen minutes to go, as Hoffmann and his last-ditch defenders take a clean sheet back home.

Rozelle’s finishing was appalling - Norrion were clinical when their chance came, Safadao beating Drummond at her near post with sheer power. Again, the Saints chase the game, and Sofia Falcon comes off the bench to prove decisive with her impact, laying on the assist for Jackie Crawford to finally get on the scoresheet. Not to say Rozelle ‘deserved’ the win - Norrion were tight and disciplined at the back, composed all throughout the pitch, and their mental toughness paid off with six clinical penalties. Rozelle, perhaps surprisingly, managed five of their own, before Fyrcynn Gerfalcon’s effort was critically short of power, and Stevenson guessed right and beat it straight back at him with both fists. Gerfalcon hammered the rebound home out of frustration, but it was far too late - the Kingfishers now stand alone in UICA.

A-LEAGUE

Pos Team                      P   W  D   L For  Ag  +/- Pts
  1 Northern Union          20  16  2   2  33  16  +17  50
  2 Kingsgrove              20  15  2   3  48  21  +27  47
  3 Northern Stallions      20  14  3   3  55  26  +29  45
  4 Rozelle                 20  12  2   6  44  30  +14  38
  5 North Hall              20  10  4   6  22  16   +6  34
  6 Pikemouth               20  10  3   7  32  20  +12  33
  7 Twin Saints             20   8  5   7  25  24   +1  29
  8 Southern Star           20   5  8   7  24  28   -4  23
  9 Rozelle United          20   6  3  11  25  35  -10  21
 10 Lotus Park              20   5  6   9  20  32  -12  21
 11 Chafford                20   4  8   8  15  18   -3  20
 12 Snowden River           20   4  8   8  21  34  -13  20
 13 Marque                  20   4  6  10  28  46  -18  18
 14 Westpike                20   3  8   9  18  30  -12  17
 15 Falkner United          20   3  5  12  16  33  -17  14
 16 Rosbank Town            20   3  3  14  34  51  -17  12

B-LEAGUE

Pos Team                      P   W  D   L For  Ag  +/- Pts
  1 Gallant Cross            20  11  6   3  31  14  +17  39
  2 Scaffield                20  11  5   4  28  14  +14  38
  3 AFC Swanbridge           20  10  7   3  37  17  +20  37
  4 Finbar Stalwarts         20  11  3   6  25  10  +15  36
  5 Southside Wanderers      20  10  6   4  25  11  +14  36
  6 Proudcastle              20   9  7   4  25  19   +6  34
  7 Francisca Orient         20   7  6   7  24  15   +9  27
  8 Westpike United          20   7  6   7  20  23   -3  27
  9 Chrysler Town            20   7  5   8  26  36  -10  26
 10 Saint Alexander          20   6  6   8  17  21   -4  24
 11 Guilder                  20   7  3  10  19  24   -5  24
 12 Marque Rovers            20   5  5  10  26  44  -18  20
 13 Swayback                 20   5  4  11  14  32  -18  19
 14 Rozelle Alliance         20   5  3  12  17  31  -14  18
 15 Stourhead                20   4  4  12  16  27  -11  16
 16 Pride of the South       20   2 10   8  19  31  -12  16

C-LEAGUE

Pos Team                      P   W  D   L For  Ag  +/- Pts
  1 Southrons-Errant        20  15  2   3  52  22  +30  47
  2 Knightstone FC          20  13  4   3  39  18  +21  43
  3 Fentonbridge            20  13  3   4  33  16  +17  42
  4 Spearcove Mariners      20  13  2   5  37  31   +6  41
  5 Mount Roland            20  13  1   6  39  15  +24  40
  6 Otter Ferry             20  10  5   5  32  18  +14  35
  7 Ridgeway United         20   9  0  11  24  20   +4  27
  8 Coppersmith             20   7  5   8  19  21   -2  26
  9 Shaleport Rangers       20   7  4   9  24  32   -8  25
 10 Sharrow                 20   5  8   7  20  20   +0  23
 11 Falkner Wanderers       20   5  6   9  18  24   -6  21
 12 Crest                   20   6  3  11  13  24  -11  21
 13 Falkner Crescent        20   6  3  11  24  40  -16  21
 14 Randwick Town           20   6  1  13  20  33  -13  19
 15 Platwood                20   4  3  13  14  34  -20  15
 16 Northern Fist           20   1  4  15  21  61  -40   7

D-LEAGUE

Pos Team                      P   W  D   L For  Ag  +/- Pts
  1 Heathgrove             20  13  5   2  31  11  +20  44
  2 Silvershire Town       20  12  4   4  43  23  +20  40
  3 Chafford Saracens      20  11  5   4  54  26  +28  38
  4 Alexavale FC           20  10  5   5  33  25   +8  35
  5 Pikemouth United       20  10  4   6  40  29  +11  34
  6 Razorback Hill         20  10  3   7  33  20  +13  33
  7 Rushden                20   9  5   6  33  25   +8  32
  8 Fisher Kings           20   9  4   7  30  30   +0  31
  9 Suttonstrand FC        20   8  6   6  34  26   +8  30
 10 AFC Conomore           20   6  6   8  20  27   -7  24
 11 Corder Town            20   5  8   7  23  29   -6  23
 12 Stonewash Town         20   4  6  10  19  33  -14  18
 13 Brackford Rovers       20   4  6  10  18  35  -17  18
 14 Thrush                 20   4  5  11  20  37  -17  17
 15 Dannecliff Rovers      20   3  5  12  20  43  -23  14
 16 AFC Cairnshore         20   1  5  14  21  53  -32   8

by **Brenecia** » Tue Feb 05, 2019 2:07 pm

Tzipporah Cohen has good reason to be pleased with herself. The Nepharim striker appears to be in good spirits and producing strong performances leading the line for Westpike, a player revitalised, with two neat finishes - a carefully glanced header and a low strike past Drummond - giving her her eighth and ninth goals of the season against Rozelle. The issue is at the other end, where Westpike sieved away seven. The massive goal difference swing sucks them into the relegation zone. Marque’s likely new manager, Colm Beckwith, can be found in the stands. He grimaces as he watches Marque, under the caretaker management of Catherine Ralston, fold and lose 4-0 against Lotus Park, Banshee Strider untouchable and untacklable up front and with an eagle eye for goal, a hat-trick well-deserved. It’ll be Beckwith’s first job - the Brenecia assistant manager as they won the World Cup, his pedigree doesn’t lie, but will it translate to what has become a relegation scrap? Ominously, Rosbank and Falkner both win.

Chrysler Town, chugging along in the second tier’s midtable, predictably gave it their all against a somewhat rotated Union side. It wasn’t enough, nowhere near. Barack Fitzgerald leads the line with maturity and physicality, and is rewarded by a brace en route to a 4-0 thrashing. Falkner have a similarly casual time against Fentonbridge, wayward finishing not quite bad enough to stop them getting a 2-0 win through the out-of-favour wingers Ruadri Broune and Heath Mayhew, while Westpike edge past Stourhead through Noor Na’Saan’s free kick in an otherwise dismal match. Snowden against Lotus Park is the only all top-flight fixture, and Snowden give their overworked best player, Cathal Keynes, an hour on the pitch. He doesn’t quite get on the scoresheet, but lays on two assists for Sutter and Lane, before being replaced. Lotus Park lack ideas at the other end despite a first-choice selection, and a tepid 21-minute cameo from 30-year old striker Julian Conrad underlines their lack of striking options when he misses from five yards late on.

The marketers’ nightmare - another all A-League final looks to be on the cards. Letson and Loconstead are good sides with increasingly strong rosters, but Letson simply have a collective nightmare, unable to parse Alora Heher’s playmaking, Elysse Matheson’s movement and Ivo Romanov’s directness. By the end, it’s a 4-0 bloodbath, with the home leg still to come. Loconstead fall victim to fatigue, hit twice on the counter by Pikemouth’s slick transitions, Denarian doing the damage.

Colm Beckwith’s honeymoon appears to have been lost on the way over - Marque look at least a little more ambitious when underperformers like Hagen and Harper are left out, and even the rock-solid but psychotic Knox. Young forward Tanith Evans puts the Privateers 1-0 up against Westpike, but the lead always feels fragile, moreso when a volley from Cohen rattles against the post. But soon enough she’s felled by the coltish Cooper Wainwright for a penalty that she … well, has saved by Bannatyne, but she’s only able to beat it right back at the Nepharim, who hammers home the rebound. Then, on the hour, Noor Na’Saan drops a perfect long ball in Soleil Davenport’s path, and a dipping strike leaves Bannatyne without a chance. It just never looks like Marque will get back into the game, and they duly don’t. Southern Star and the usually gunshy Falkner United light up the week with a lively 3-3 draw, one enabled by Maria Young’s eighth-minute red card (somehow only the murderous Schottic defender’s first of the season) - Cosumarite duo Na’Verii and Sibucic strike rich for Falkner, but a sloppy defensive error from Crossman, who slips trying to intercept a pass from Marrigan, lets Jorm Vahn slam home a late equaliser.

Chrysler look defeated by Union before the match even starts, barely able to start anything of note. But that’s little surprise when Union can casually bring on a Starblaydia international in their veteran backup holding midfielder, Zapotowski, to kill the game off from the get-go. Batt and Tambor kill things off in the second half. Fentonbridge manage to hold out against Falkner United’s B-List, which doesn’t actually help them progress, but maybe it’s worth something for pride. Park and Snowden go down to an enjoyable 2-2 punch-out, one which takes River through. The head-turner of the day, though, is Stourhead. Westpike go half an hour against them before it becomes apparent they kept too many of their best players back. They offer precisely nothing going forward… and then Stourhead go ahead, a deflected strike from Dea arcing past Bradford in goal. Westpike can’t offer much resistance, and after a desperately dull end to the 90 minutes, Stourhead get a second wind in extra time. Westpike do not, and have no answer to Bridgeman’s towering header in the 111th, one Bradford would have saved in her prime but could only brush fingers to here and now.

Even resting most of their best players, Rozelle score another four to glide into the final. Yet again, Sofia Falcon shows her somewhat frustrated potential by orchestrating affairs. Pikemouth rest a handful of players, and actually wind up losing as a result. Loconstead take the lead in the 81st minute, and the final ten minutes are tense - they even have a fair penalty shout turned down. But the Kingfishers hold out. Another all-Brenecia final awaits.

“We proved today we’re more than a one-man army,” Snowden River manager Alysia Sandstone defiantly tells the press after victory over Rozelle United. All looked lost twenty-six minutes in, when Rozelle United - battling relegation themselves - were 1-0 up thanks to a goal from Sheila Draper, a quick and energetic winger whose remarkably terrible finishing had at last paid dividends, and Cathal Keynes was presently limping off the pitch. River were perhaps lucky not to go two down by half-time - Draper could have wel have drawn a penalty off Walker, and a bullet header from Andisori caromed off a post - but fought back hard in the second half. Winona Bedullin was thrown up front alongside Castor Merchant, and picked up the equaliser off his assist, while a surging run from impetuous young rightback Sorcha Lonergan was picked up by Giulia Navarette, who found her with an uncharacteristically incisive through-ball. The teenager made no mistake, slotting it under Murnane for a vital win. At the business end of the table, all eyes are on the North Hall derby, as a middling season by Hall’s standards has shifted the focus from experience into youth. 33-year old captain Sienna Fallon starting on the bench in the biggest match of the season says a lot. But they do have Ceridwen Fletcher in her stead, one of the brightest Brenecian talents, and it was Fletcher’s cross for the veteran Victoria Brittain, deputising for the injured Turati, that resulted in a flicked header into the top corner. But Union did what they do - equalised on the stroke of half-time through Hennessey, perhaps fortunate not to be called off for offside, before a brace in the second half from the irrepressible Dakota Blaylock hauled them to a deserved win.

Snowden’s newfound optimism crumbles to dust. There comes a point in some matches where you realise what’s happening is just going to be ugly, and that point comes in the 14th minute of their trip to North Hall, when Sorcha Lonergan - great overlapping fullback, very promising talent, dirty to a fault - hacks down the lithe Fletcher in the box. Brittain toebashes it past Donagh and it’s 2-0, and Snowden just look defeated already. It’s little surprise four more goals follow, unanswered - Snowden manage just one shot on target all game. Colm Beckwith gets the first win of his tenure at Marque, though it’s briefly put in jeopardy by the cryptid of a Swen Fassbinder goal. Still, strikes from Polandre and McInnes are enough to put Chafford down, and give the Privateers some breathing room.

Both Union and Falkner have other fish to fry at this point, but by the semifinals of the Cup, you’re kind of committed to going for it. So Union bring most of their might to bear against the Hunters, who take a full-strength side - Titania Pratchett talking unconvincingly about having ‘faith that we’ll get it done with the league, and just enjoying today’. Sure. The match gets off to the expected start when a powerful downward header from Blaylock is too hot for Woodyard to keep out, going more or less through her fingers. But then they let their foot off the accelerator, and the match gets away from them - Falkner take control with the composure that’s been rare in the league, and two powerful low strikes from Anna Sibucic haul them into the lead with half an hour to go. Normalcy restores itself, Varghese levelling the scores from a dead ball before Blaylock forces home the winner at a goalmouth struggle - at the end of what has to be said is a generous amount of injury time. But Falkner have their foot in the door. Snowden gamble on resting some stars, except they don’t really have stars. “We’re seeing what some of the younger lads can offer us,” says Sandstone optimistically. What they can offer is barely scraping by Stourhead at home, and Winona Bedullin - hardly young - has to bail them out with a brace in the last fifteen minutes.

So it’s known that the Hunters can’t score, except in the Cup, for whatever reason. This works fine, provided that Velvet Sommelier does actually finally get one of her strikes outside the box on target, threading the needle of Rozelle United legs into the bottom corner past a despairing Glenn Murnane, and then when Emlyn Chilford - hitherto controlling the match from midfield - gets himself sent off for a second caution, Falkner’s players put mind, body and soul on the line to preserve it, Jancis Adrian with a performance reminiscent of last season (when she was good), and Gregor Borg blocking a goalbound strike from Reid with his face, which explodes his nose in a shower of blood. He plays on. It’s a good sign. Pikemouth have mostly recovered from their dramatic midseason slump, but they’re flattened 4-1 at home by Rozelle regardless. Justin Vauxhall throws on Alora Heher at the point of a diamond, Falcon and Matheson in the centre, backed up by the pure brute force of Capricorn Marlowe (with Viablaine injured) - the effect is to flood and dominate the midfield, leaving Pikemouth with hardly a sniff. From there, all Crawford and Romanov have to do is take possession and score, which they each duly manage twice. Meanwhile, things go from bad to worse for many teams at the bottom - Union hammer Westpike 4-1, the Twins batter Rosbank 3-0 and Snowden River face another crushing defeat, beaten 4-0 at home by Lotus Park, still badly missing Cathal Keynes.

The status quo is enforced in some dreary return fixtures. Falkner can’t find a way through against Union, who get a janky penalty in the 76th minute, converted nervelessly by Kiliko Riazen to pretty much secure things. Stourhead, similarly, can’t find a way past Snowden Cup goalkeeper Rook Shay with a few clinical shots, while Snowden’s domination of possession comes to naught at the other end. Union, then, the resounding favourites to hammer River in the Final.

It takes just six minutes for it to be clear that this time, hosting Euran opposition in front of another capacity crowd (in spite of the spitting rain), things are going to be different. Because six minutes into the game, Kristian Harper is played behind enemy lines by Tobin, cuts inside the wrong-footed Green and fires high over Hoffmann into the top corner. Pikemouth, who had started well, were shaken off-balance - Lukas Cole took full advantage on the stroke of half-time, forcing a shot underneath the sprawling Hoffmann. Cail Coghlan, who has had a real breakthrough season for the Kingfishers, pulls one back in the 50th minute, but Falourr get the third they deserve when the impetuous Haukland hacks down Cole in the box, for a penalty Tobin clips into the top corner.

After two heavy league defeats in a row, Snowden River understandably rush Cathal Keynes back onto their bench, and after Monika Rourke - Westpike’s young, flashy left winger - gives them a deserved lead in the 63rd minute, Keynes is quickly shoved onto the pitch. He is… a passenger, and the defeat is a painful one for their survival aspirations. For that matter, pretty much every other struggling side loses, barring Rosbank’s 1-1 draw with Chafford - a game exactly as exciting as it sounds, and likely not to save them. At the top, Kingsgrove smash Star 3-0, but Union’s brutalist 1-0 win over the Twins, through Balthorst’s header off Varghese’s corner, counts for the same three points.

Pikemouth’s task is best described as ‘not impossible’. It gets to ‘pretty much impossible’ when Morgan Fox’s cute header deceives and wrongfoots the otherwise excellent Hoffmann just twelve minutes in. Falourr double their advantage when Fox, fairly quiet in the first leg, pulls his second across Hoffmann on the half-hour mark. Pikemouth almost get back in the game, if not the tie, through Thorvald Padmore’s free kick, arrowing towards the top corner… but Apostolos Tsattalios closes the distance and tips it over the bar. It just isn’t their day. Pikemouth do pull one back through Mordred Greig in the end, but Falourr were comfortably superior. Still - Pikemouth have, by a distance, done the best of Brenecia’s sides. Will it be enough to drag the A-League over the Premiership into the top four?

Kingsgrove are in the hunt for the title, enlivened by Union’s surprising stalling to a 1-1 draw with Chafford, but their own run turns perilous - a visit to Kingsgrove followed by hosting Rozelle. They can’t afford to slip. They especially can’t afford their rightback, Eloise Kielseng, who has been one of the stars of their season, to clip Keriwyn Brighton’s heels and then shove her over in the box, a slightly too intense shoulder-to-shoulder for the referee’s liking - Grigor Todorov steps up and dispatches it past Solaani. And that means Kingsgrove have to open up and go for it - and leaves them open to the Pikemouth counterattack. Three times they break, 3v1 - and twice, Solaani manages to scramble across and claw the ball to safety. But not the third time, when Brighton rounds Solaani and rolls the ball into the empty net. Kingsgrove hit back early in the second half, but Pikemouth are confident in their lead - a lead they reinforce when Haukland scores, unmarked, from a corner. Elena Culbreth is thrown on off the bench and scores with her first touch, but it’s not enough - Kingsgrove drop further behind. At the bottom, River pick up a nice point against the Twins, Westpike a downright impressive one against the Stallions in an end-to-end 3-3. Rosbank and Falkner are the big winners, though, the Black Swans in particular with a lifeline after coming back from 2-1 down at half-time to beat Star 4-2 away.

All eyes in Rozelle. Union did their park, sweeping Southern Star into the bin 2-0, routine for them. And there’s other important results, especially at the bottom. Rozelle United battled back from a half-time deficit to beat Westpike 3-1, putting an end to a seven-game losing streak, with Marque and Falkner sharing much-needed spoils. Kingsgrove, 2nd, host Rozelle, 4th, needing to beat their rivals to keep up in the title race. The first half is tense, with presentable chances for each side beaten away by their respective goalkeepers, but ultimately goalless. But things break open in the second. Eloise Kielseng makes up for her defensively porous display against Pikemouth by arrowing the perfect diagonal pass to split open Rozelle’s line. Creidne Lindauer steals a march on her markers and stretches out a leg to toepoke it past a stunned Lenore Drummond. They double their lead, Lindauer turning provider for Penhallow to sidefoot home, but less than a minute later, Rozelle hit back, Kingsgrove leftback Eilidh Convery dozing, not awake to the threat of Matheson’s clever little pass until Romanov’s already taken it past her and driven it across the face of goal, where a sliding Nightjar Evans meets it at the far post before crumpling into the post itself. It’s painful, but the ball gets in the net. And Rozelle take that momentum and hammer on Kingsgrove’s defences, a desperate sliding challenge from Staunton seeing the defensive midfielder get her marching orders, and that opens things up beautifully down the middle for the Saints. Solaani denies powerful shots from Crawford, then Evans, but when Sofia Falcon comes off the bench with four minutes of regulation time to play and sits in that now unoccupied hole between midfield and defence, she finds herself with all the time in the world to whip a low strike into the bottom corner, Solaani without a chance. Rozelle really should take the game late on, but the diminutive Matheson outright misses a header she should have nodded in from four yards - no matter. Kingsgrove’s title bid has been kneecapped. Six points to play - six points behind.

It’s a theme of the season. Kingsgrove visit Marque, furious at having dropped five points from their last two games, and it’s clear they’re out for blood. The final score? 7-1 - and, no, that isn’t to Marque. The worst part is it’s still not enough as yet another stubborn, ugly 1-0 win through Dakota Blaylock, chesting down a cross in flight then battering it past Gerald Hoffmann, is enough to get Union the win they need to secure the title. Rozelle hammer bottom-feeders Rosbank 5-0 to leapfrog the Stallions, who surprisingly slip up at home to Chafford, but the top four are locked down in any case. So are Pikemouth and North Hall to round out the top six - Twin Saints, beaten 1-0 by Rozelle United, still cling onto 7th place. Fourteen points behind Hall, and just eleven above the relegation zone. At the bottom of the table, a dreary Falkner derby sees Esther Rohan’s goal enough to take out Lotus Park, and in doing so, ensure the Hunters’ safety. With that win over Twin Saints, Rozelle United all but mathematically secure their freedom as well. There’s only stasis below them, the bottom four all losing. Rosbank’s chances look particularly slim, though they’ve scored more goals than anyone else outside the top five.

A-LEAGUE

Pos Team                     P   W   D   L For  Ag  +/- Pts
  1 Northern Union          29  23   4   2  50  20  +30  73
  2 Kingsgrove              29  21   4   4  72  32  +40  67
  3 Rozelle                 29  19   4   6  72  39  +33  61
  4 Northern Stallions      29  17   8   4  68  37  +31  59
  5 Pikemouth               29  16   4   9  48  30  +18  52
  6 North Hall              29  14   7   8  36  24  +12  49
  7 Twin Saints             29   9   8  12  32  35   -3  35
  8 Lotus Park              29   8   9  12  34  41   -7  33
  9 Chafford                29   6  12  11  24  26   -2  30
 10 Southern Star           29   6  12  11  38  49  -11  30
 11 Falkner United          29   7   7  15  29  45  -16  28
 12 Rozelle United          29   8   3  18  33  49  -16  27
 13 Westpike                29   5  10  14  30  52  -22  25
 14 Marque                  29   5   9  15  37  67  -30  24
 15 Snowden River           29   5   9  15  26  57  -31  24
 16 Rosbank Town            29   5   6  18  42  68  -26  21

B-LEAGUE

Pos Team                      P   W   D   L For  Ag  +/- Pts
  1 AFC Swanbridge           29  18   8   3  62  24  +38  62
  2 Scaffield                29  17   6   6  45  22  +23  57
  3 Gallant Cross            29  16   7   6  45  22  +23  55
  4 Finbar Stalwarts         29  15   7   7  35  13  +22  52
  5 Southside Wanderers      29  15   7   7  35  16  +19  52
  6 Francisca Orient         29  13   8   8  39  20  +19  47
  7 Proudcastle              29  12  11   6  34  25   +9  47
  8 Saint Alexander          29  11   6  12  24  29   -5  39
  9 Westpike United          29   9   9  11  30  36   -6  36
 10 Guilder                  29  10   5  14  28  34   -6  35
 11 Chrysler Town            29   8   7  14  37  58  -21  31
 12 Stourhead                29   8   4  17  28  42  -14  28
 13 Pride of the South       29   5  12  12  33  46  -13  27
 14 Rozelle Alliance         29   6   7  16  32  55  -23  25
 15 Swayback                 29   6   5  18  24  54  -30  23
 16 Marque Rovers            29   5   7  17  33  68  -35  22

C-LEAGUE

Pos Team                     P   W  D   L For  Ag  +/- Pts
  1 Spearcove Mariners      29  21  3   5  58  38  +20  66
  2 Mount Roland            29  20  3   6  55  18  +37  63
  3 Knightstone FC          29  18  7   4  56  25  +31  61
  4 Southrons-Errant        29  18  3   8  68  37  +31  57
  5 Fentonbridge            29  17  6   6  45  21  +24  57
  6 Otter Ferry             29  14  7   8  47  30  +17  49
  7 Coppersmith             29  12  7  10  34  26   +8  43
  8 Sharrow                 29   9 10  10  32  28   +4  37
  9 Ridgeway United         29  11  2  16  31  33   -2  35
 10 Shaleport Rangers       29   9  8  12  36  45   -9  35
 11 Randwick Town           29   9  4  16  28  43  -15  31
 12 Falkner Wanderers       29   7  9  13  23  34  -11  30
 13 Crest                   29   7  5  17  16  35  -19  26
 14 Falkner Crescent        29   7  3  19  29  63  -34  24
 15 Platwood                29   5  5  19  21  55  -34  20
 16 Northern Fist           29   5  4  20  35  83  -48  19

D-LEAGUE

Pos Team                    P   W  D   L For  Ag  +/- Pts
  1 Heathgrove             29  20  5   4  52  19  +33  65
  2 Silvershire Town       29  18  6   5  60  31  +29  60
  3 Chafford Saracens      29  16  6   7  67  38  +29  54
  4 Alexavale FC           29  16  6   7  55  37  +18  54
  5 Razorback Hill         29  15  4  10  48  29  +19  49
  6 Pikemouth United       29  13  7   9  55  41  +14  46
  7 Rushden                29  13  7   9  44  38   +6  46
  8 Suttonstrand FC        29  12  9   8  53  34  +19  45
  9 Corder Town            29  11  9   9  36  38   -2  42
 10 AFC Conomore           29  10 10   9  34  34   +0  40
 11 Fisher Kings           29   9  6  14  36  47  -11  33
 12 Stonewash Town         29   8  7  14  30  43  -13  31
 13 Thrush                 29   5  7  17  27  56  -29  22
 14 Brackford Rovers       29   4  9  16  24  54  -30  21
 15 Dannecliff Rovers      29   4  9  16  24  61  -37  21
 16 AFC Cairnshore         29   1  7  21  34  79  -45  10

by **Brenecia** » Wed Feb 06, 2019 4:01 pm

Pretty much all eyes were on the bottom of the table - Westpike, Marque, Snowden and, at a long shot, Rosbank desperately scrabbling for 13th and 14th. Ultimately, however, there would be little jeopardy. Snowden River in 15th were destined to stay there as Pikemouth eviscerated them 7-1, and two goals in the first ten minutes pretty much made sure of that fact from the off; Rosbank, meanwhile, were well beaten 3-0 at home by Marque. Both thoroughly one-sided affairs. A sigh of relief around Marque, then. Meanwhile, Lotus Park edged Westpike 1-0 in a tense affair, Banshee Strider taking advantage of a certain relaxing around Westpike’s back late on, with River and the Black Swans’ relegation pretty much confirmed, to slide in, meet a Kochansky through-ball and belt it past Carman. A wake-up call for Westpike for next season - bullish though they were, they won just five games all season, scoring a goal a game - 11 through Tzipporah Cohen, a gamble that thankfully paid off. Park, for their park, snuck ahead of Twin Saints (who were beaten by North Hall) and into seventh, qualifying for the Globe Cup with a negative goal difference and three fewer wins than losses. At the top of the table, Northern Union and Rozelle both rang the changes despite the heavy billing here, with tournament finals upcoming, but in the end second-half goals from Riazen and Chance put the icing on what was already confirmed - a title win for Union, their first since their return to the top flight. They. Are. Back.

The Cup final had a fairly routine, inevitable feel to it as well. Union’s strongest XI came up against a valiant but demoralised Snowden River side, one that seemed to be kissed by fate in the first half - twice, Crispin Donagh tipped strikes from Dakota Blaylock onto the post, and Varghese crashed a free-kick off the crossbar. But in the end, Union’s superior firepower won out - Varghese stole a march on the midfield when Considine won a header and flicked on the ball, for the Cosumarite to let it bounce once and slam it past Donagh from 28 yards. The second goal was somewhat more pedestrian - a cross lumped into the box, Kvanderwyk tried an overhead kick and missed, but it came to Considine again, the all-action midfielder. He passed it to Blaylock, playing with his back to goal, but with the strength to turn Lake and hammer the clincher past a sprawling Donagh. 2-0 to Union, with few surprises along the way.

Meanwhile, the CEDC Final wasn’t much more interesting. Rozelle simply had the confidence and the attacking thrust that Pikemouth lacked on the night, soon finding a way through - Heher, splitting the defence to find Romanov, who cut back to the late run of Matheson, who sidefooted home unmarked. 8 minutes in, 1-0 up and Pikemouth never really had an answer. That said, they really should have levelled the scores on the stroke of half-time when Cail Coghlan glided into the box and gracefully tumbled, obliged by a careless leg from Siddique. Pikemouth were scarcely able to believe their luck. Grigor Todorov put the ball on the spot, stepped back, having scored every one he’d taken in the league this season, and… put it too close to the centre, where Lenore Drummond clawed it away. If they couldn’t score from there, and Rozelle refused to stretch themselves going forward, victory seemed inevitable - and Ivo Romanov’s diving header in the 71st minute to get to an implausibly overhit cross from Siddique had Hoffmann well beaten to secure a 2-0 win of their own.

A-LEAGUE

Pos Team                     P   W   D   L For  Ag  +/- Pts
  1 Northern Union          30  24   4   2  52  20  +32  76
  2 Kingsgrove              30  21   5   4  74  34  +40  68
  3 Rozelle                 30  19   4   7  72  41  +31  61
  4 Northern Stallions      30  17   8   5  69  40  +29  59
  5 Pikemouth               30  17   4   9  55  31  +24  55
  6 North Hall              30  15   7   8  37  24  +13  52
  7 Lotus Park              30   9   9  12  35  41   -6  36
  8 Twin Saints             30   9   8  13  32  36   -4  35
  9 Southern Star           30   7  12  11  41  50   -9  33
 10 Chafford                30   6  12  12  24  27   -3  30
 11 Rozelle United          30   9   3  18  34  49  -15  30
 12 Falkner United          30   7   8  15  31  47  -16  29
 13 Marque                  30   6   9  15  40  67  -27  27
 14 Westpike                30   5  10  15  30  53  -23  25
 15 Snowden River           30   5   9  16  27  64  -37  24
 16 Rosbank Town            30   5   6  19  42  71  -29  21

AWARDS
Golden Boot (Goals Scored): Jackie Crawford (ROZ) - 22
Golden Ball (Player of the Year): Rowan Varghese (NTH)
Golden Fist (New Player of the Year): Rowan Varghese (NTH)
Golden Heart (U-21 Player of the Year): Lauren Cheney (KNG)
Team of the Year: Solaani (KNG); Kielseng (KNG), Horgan (NTU), Giord (NTS), Hourihane (NTH); Todorov (PKM), Considine (NTU), Varghese (NTU); Romanov (ROZ), Crawford (ROZ), Corvey (KNG)
Manager of the Year: Kyron Everdale (LTP)

B-LEAGUE

Pos Team                      P   W   D   L For  Ag  +/- Pts
  1 AFC Swanbridge           30  18   9   3  64  26  +38  63
  2 Scaffield                30  18   6   6  48  22  +26  60
  3 Finbar Stalwarts         30  16   7   7  40  13  +27  55
  4 Gallant Cross            30  16   7   7  45  27  +18  55
  5 Southside Wanderers      30  15   8   7  37  18  +19  53
  6 Francisca Orient         30  14   8   8  41  21  +20  50
  7 Proudcastle              30  13  11   6  36  26  +10  50
  8 Westpike United          30  10   9  11  34  36   -2  39
  9 Saint Alexander          30  11   6  13  25  31   -6  39
 10 Guilder                  30  11   5  14  30  35   -5  38
 11 Chrysler Town            30   8   7  15  38  60  -22  31
 12 Pride of the South       30   5  13  12  35  48  -13  28
 13 Stourhead                30   8   4  18  29  44  -15  28
 14 Rozelle Alliance         30   6   8  16  34  57  -23  26
 15 Swayback                 30   6   5  19  24  57  -33  23
 16 Marque Rovers            30   5   7  18  33  72  -39  22

C-LEAGUE

Pos Team                     P   W  D   L For  Ag  +/- Pts
  1 Mount Roland            30  21  3   6  56  18  +38  66
  2 Spearcove Mariners      30  21  3   6  58  39  +19  66
  3 Knightstone FC          30  18  8   4  57  26  +31  62
  4 Southrons-Errant        30  19  3   8  70  38  +32  60
  5 Fentonbridge            30  18  6   6  46  21  +25  60
  6 Otter Ferry             30  15  7   8  50  31  +19  52
  7 Coppersmith             30  12  8  10  35  27   +8  44
  8 Sharrow                 30  10 10  10  34  28   +6  40
  9 Ridgeway United         30  11  2  17  31  34   -3  35
 10 Shaleport Rangers       30   9  8  13  37  48  -11  35
 11 Randwick Town           30  10  4  16  29  43  -14  34
 12 Falkner Wanderers       30   7  9  14  23  35  -12  30
 13 Crest                   30   7  5  18  16  36  -20  26
 14 Falkner Crescent        30   7  3  20  29  65  -36  24
 15 Northern Fist           30   6  4  20  36  83  -47  22
 16 Platwood                30   5  5  20  22  57  -35  20

D-LEAGUE

Pos Team                    P   W  D   L For  Ag  +/- Pts
  1 Heathgrove             30  20  6   4  54  21  +33  66
  2 Silvershire Town       30  19  6   5  62  32  +30  63
  3 Chafford Saracens      30  16  7   7  69  40  +29  55
  4 Alexavale FC           30  16  6   8  56  39  +17  54
  5 Razorback Hill         30  16  4  10  50  29  +21  52
  6 Rushden                30  14  7   9  46  39   +7  49
  7 Suttonstrand FC        30  13  9   8  55  34  +21  48
  8 Pikemouth United       30  13  7  10  55  43  +12  46
  9 AFC Conomore           30  11 10   9  36  35   +1  43
 10 Corder Town            30  11  9  10  36  40   -4  42
 11 Fisher Kings           30   9  6  15  37  49  -12  33
 12 Stonewash Town         30   8  8  14  31  44  -13  32
 13 Dannecliff Rovers      30   5  9  16  30  62  -32  24
 14 Thrush                 30   5  8  17  28  57  -29  23
 15 Brackford Rovers       30   4  9  17  25  56  -31  21
 16 AFC Cairnshore         30   1  7  22  35  85  -50  10

by **Brenecia** » Thu May 23, 2019 4:59 am

A-LEAGUE CYCLE 73 PREVIEW

League Run: 12th
Stadium: Hunter Hall (32,000)
Nickname: the Hunters
Manager: Titania Pratchett
Captain: Marian Ironside
Top Scorer: Anna Sibucic (9)
Likely Starting XI: (4-3-3) 12 - Donagh (29); 2 - Matthews (26), 22 - Borg (32), 6 - Crossman (31), 3 - Riverton (29); 7 - Ironside (33, c), 4 - Chilford (31), 15 - Sommelier (25); 10 - Krause (22), 11 - Sibucic (27), 14 - Na’Verii (23)
In: Crispin Donagh (Snowden River, 2m), Andrea Krause (Sabrefell Moths, free), Ashe Kenlock (returned from loan)
Promoted: Zaza Cashmore (ST, 18)
Out: Ruadri Broune (AFC Swanbridge, free), Cathy Woodyard (Twin Saints, free), Arryn Carver (Salisbury City FC, free)
Retired: Esther Rohan (RW, 35)

Last season was hell for the Hunters, winless through their first nine matches, who only barely scraped out of relegation trouble, and now? The talismanic winger, Esther Rohan, has hung up her boots despite reported pleading from the club to keep going. So they've had to look abroad for a replacement - but looking to Nephara is, uh, politically interesting at this time. Still, Andrea Krause could be a great pickup. A castoff from Sabrefell Moths could become a star at Falkner. Crispin Donagh is a slight but noticeable upgrade in goal, as well. This leaves Falkner a fairly unremarkable side playing a standard, balanced style of football, under a manager in Titania Pratchett who's lucky to still be in a job. In fact, had she not been a club hero as a player, she probably wouldn't be. In Matthews and Riverton, they have some athletic, attack-minded fullbacks, and a rough diamond in Na'Verii on the left flank who just needs a bit more eye for goal. Anna Sibucic showed up for pre-season looking washed-up and overweight, but that's just part of her routine at this point - she knows how to find the net. And in the centre of the park, Marian Ironside is the kind of player who you notice when she's gone, by the void in the heart of the pitch. Still... in an improving league, the Hunters are looking over their shoulders.

PREDICTION - 13th.

League Run: 7th
Stadium: Lotus Park (31,000)
Nickname: the Foresters
Manager: Kyron Everdale
Captain: Wen Xiaoli
Top Scorer: Banshee Strider (12)
Likely Starting XI: (4-4-2) 1 - Byrnford (28); 2 - Hamilton (26), 13 - Moreland (25), 19 - Well (30), 6 - Redwood (25); 13 - Griffiths (25), 4 - Arroyo (30), 16 - Wen (30, c), 34 - Ashvane (19); 9 - Strider (24), 14 - Kochansky (29)
In: Reagan Moreland (Guilder, 1.5m)
Promoted: Setanta Ashvane (LM, 19)
Out: Talon Onions (Lakiska SC, free)
Retired: Lucjusz Stef (CB/LB, 35)

When ranking the A-League by wins last season, in sixth place (as on the actual league table) was North Hall, on 15. Lotus Park were tied in seventh for next. On nine. Park finished 7th on the real table, too. They were 15 points above dead-last Rosbank... and 16 points below North Hall, one place higher. And they had a distinctly negative goal difference. They're essentially a team of well-assembled off-cuts. Even so, seventh was a brilliant turnaround for a side struggling to reach its potential of late, and Kyron Everdale went from scrambling to keep his job to Manager of the Year. They've purchased conservatively, buying a direct replacement for the veteran defender Stef, and calling up Ashvane, an incisive winger and the best academy product in recent memory, already ready to share minutes with Kella. What the Foresters didn't really manage to do last season is flicker up in an attacking sense, outside the general mayhem of Banshee Strider, with Wen Xiaoli back to his best but inconsistent on the scoresheet, and Griffiths a good but orthodox winger. They benefited from a strong back four, though hobbled by Stef's lack of pace - no longer an issue with Moreland around - and in Chris Byrnford they have a bear of a goalkeeper who'll never drop a cross. Really, it's the holding midfielder Arroyo who holds the key to the side's success, cleaning things up and moving the ball forward, and a faster back line might let them push upfield like Everdale would prefer. But do they have genuine top-quality? As they balance UICA football with survival? Well... we'll see, but it's hard to see them above midtable.

PREDICTION - 9th.

League Run: 13th
Stadium: Privateer Arena (28,000)
Nickname: the Privateers
Manager: Rachel Byrne
Captain: Brigid Levein
Top Scorer: Ariane Gallagher (11)
Likely Starting XI: (4-3-3) 1 - Bannatyne (33); 2 - Coveney (26), 5 - Whitfield (22), 18 - Kress (31), 3 - Levein (28, c); 7 - Bristoll (28), 4 - Shotbolt (27), 8 - Bright (25); 13 - Hagen (29), 10 - Gallagher (28), 11 - McInnes (22)
In: Kurtis Bristoll (Creed United, 2.5m), Castor Merchant (Snowden River, 2m)
Promoted: Shea Horan (GK, 19), Finn Leadbetter (CB, 18), Claire Marshall (CM, 19)
Out: Murgen Knox (Maal Daemons, 2.5m), Kelly Harper (AFC United of Cierbanor, 1.2m), Malia Polandre (Vidial Alchemists, 1m), Novella Roche (Negus Koromanti, free)
Retired: Tony Uist (ST, 37)

After a ... tempestuous era in charge, Rachel Byrne was unceremoniously axed two-thirds of the way through last season, with Marque looking nervously over their shoulders. Colm Beckwith could only do so much with his imploding materials, but now that the season is over, the rebuild begins. Perhaps not at the pace expected, but still. Out goes Murgen Knox, a good defender, a great meme, kind of a liability, and veteran midfielders Harper and Polandre, as well as the veteran poacher Uist. In their place, a potent backup striker in Merchant and an experienced box-to-box midfielder, Kurtis Bristoll, linked heavily with North Hall but poached at the last second by the Privateers. And weirdly, with a couple of additions, you can see something start to come together for the Privateers. Bannatyne's still one of the league's better all-round goalkeepers, Whitfield a very promising centre-half who really impressed when Knox was injured (which was often) paired to the muscle of Kress, and Levein's one of the best left-backs in the league both going forward and defensively. The right flank as a whole is something of a weak point in what still seems an imbalanced team, but between all-round striker Gallagher and the coltish but lethal McInnes, they have goals to spare. Hopefully Bristoll can brighten up the midfield, and help connect the shining lights. Still... the work is only halfway done. Consolidation, then, under the steady hand of Beckwith, someone who knows all about attacking football from his tutelage as Brenecia's assistant manager, but has also most likely picked up a few tricks about defence from Jim Reid, too. Expect directness and pace to play a greater role.

PREDICTION - 8th.

League Run: 6th
Stadium: Fenbrook Stadium (26,500)
Nickname: the Northerners
Manager: Russ Shorten
Captain: Sienna Fallon
Top Scorer: Corynn Turati (12)
Likely Starting XI: (4-4-1-1) 1 - Falconet (30); 18 - Weaver (24), 4 - Blackwood (29), 22 - Grayndler (26), 3 - Hourihane (32, c); 7 - Fowler (22), 10 - Verbeck (26), 4 - Price (27), 23 - Fletcher (21); 14 - Joyce (29); 9 - Turati (28)
In: Alexandra Price (Twin Saints, 3m)
Promoted: Rurik Cole (RB, 19), Brora Kincade (ST, 18), Alexander Knott (GK, 19), Nuada Speaker (RM, 18)
Out: Paula Farquhar (Bunyoro RSC, 1.5m), Victoria Brittain (AFC Swanbridge, 750k), Bryony Swanton (Central Stars, free), Gareth Weston (Johnho United, free), Arran Berryman (Azurea, free)

When exactly do North Hall plan on making a serious bid for the title again? As KIngsgrove, Union and Rozelle build and build, the Northerners trade industrious central midfielders, while bidding farewell to veteran striker Brittain and leaning on academy products to fill out their depth. Russ Shorten did great things in his first season, but has struggled to build on that success, conservative substitutions and a lack of versatility undercutting his legitimate ability to build a strong, disciplined core that's just so hard to beat. A muscular, all Brenecian back four of Weaver, Blackwood, Grayndler and Hourihane - the former currently staking a claim as a regular Brenecia international - leaves little room for anyone to get through, with an energetic two-man shield of Verbeck and Price further alleviating pressure. Young, dynamic wingers in Fowler and the incredibly talented Fletcher, whose ascension has been carefully managed, offer drive and flair down the flanks, with the mercurial Harvey Joyce not quite as good last season as he was before but still with a real ability to almost effortlessly crush opponents. Up front, Turati is a towering target woman who is nearly ever-present for the side. The Northerners are a good side, without a doubt - but by the same token, finished seven points out of an expanded CC contention, in a year where they had no UICA to distract their squad. Hall need to decide whether they want to merely be consistently strong in this new ecosystem, or if they want to be truly great.

PREDICTION - 4th.

League Run: 4th
Stadium: The New Road (24,000)
Nickname: the Stallions
Manager: Danielle Granger
Captain: Aleksandra Skorupska
Top Scorer: Carsten Vincent (17)
Likely Starting XI: (4-3-3) 1 - Ajaara (36); 2 - Isaev (27), 5 - Mathers (23), 6 - Linvoy (28), 20 - Mapleton (29); 7 - Bronze (28), 8 - Redweald (27), 10 - Drake (28); 15 - Vincent (29), 16 - Coulthirst (26), 19 - Cronin (25)
In: Petr Isaev (Crvena Zvezda, undisclosed)
Promoted: Cheney Deal (CM, 18), Numbers Ruddock (CB, 20)
Out: Artem Giord (Hornchurch, 5m), Ferry Noonan (AFC Swanbridge, free)
Retired: Aleksandra Skorupska (DM/CM, 35)

After another strong season under Danielle Granger, it was clear she'd taken the Stallions as far as they could go - what hope of a title challenge against competition like this? She left for Hornchurch, and took Sameban defector and star defender Artem Giord with her, late in the window and with little hope of reinforcement. It took until just after the window slammed shut for the Stallions to get their manager, by which time they had at least bought a classy but combative fullback in Isaev in absentia of any manager, and Aleksandra Skorupska, a stalwart in Patriots colours, hung up the boots, but after an abortive attempt to lure John Greaves from Eura they picked up Tana Colbright, a promising Nepharim manager with a record of moderate success in the Premiership. She looks to be taking the team in a more explicitly technical direction, though that will have to wait until the next window; she inherits, for the time being, a squad entering its prime, largely in its late 20s. Okay, granted, their excellent goalkeeper Ajaara is now 36 and shows few signs of stopping, but international centre-half Linvoy (likely to be paired with the bustling, brawny local Mathers) offers class and composure at the back, the midfield trio of Bronze, wild card Redweald and Drake can play its way out of any trouble, while the seasoned winger Vincent offers what the editor has implored us not to phrase as 'vigorous thrust' down the right flank. There's a few question marks left, upgrades to be made in defence and up front, and nobody expects fireworks. But this should be a solid foundation for Colbright to build on, and hopefully secure more UICA football at the very least.

PREDICTION - 6th.

League Run: Champions
Stadium: Redemption Park (50,000)
Nickname: Union
Manager: Erin Camden
Captain: Brun Carrack
Top Scorer: Dakota Blaylock (16)
Likely Starting XI: (4-2-3-1) 1 - Farrell (24); 19 - Carrack (30, c), 5 - Chaumancer (23), 6 - Horgan (27), 20 - Tambor (23); 13 - Considine (28), 4 - Capodanno (24); 21 - Garrard (25), 8 - Varghese (33), 10 - Hennessey (28); 14 - Blaylock (26)
In: Viola Capodanno (Tabeck Cefn Druids, 15m), Horatius Chaumancer (Centralis Heart, 6m), Calindra Apelles (Ionia United, undisclosed), Cu Roi Garrard (Rene Skae Admirals, free), Vauxhall Hayne (returned from loan)
Promoted: Cormag Chester (RB, 20), Constance Levy (CB, 20), Gaia Penrith (CM, 19)
Out: Paul Sommer (Stein-Los Turkish, free), Caitlyn Batt (Southend AC, free), Elliot Kewen (BirninZula FC, free), Barack Fitzgerald (Snowden River, loan)
Retired: Ioghan Balthorst (CB, 37, MBT), Harriet Greenslade (CM/AM, 35), Pawel Zapotowski (DM, 37, STB)

Are we entering an age of sole Union dominance? They already had the league sewn up by an eight-point deficit, and almost casually swatted aside Snowden River to secure the domestic double. And now they've spent... what's estimated to be in the region of 25 million on players including intelligent holding midfielder Capodanno, redoubtable defender Chaumancer and red-hot prospect Apelles, not counting the return from loan of backup striker Hayne, not counting Patriots international winger Cu Roi Garrard on a free... yeah, is it even worth pretending anyone else in the league has a chance? In Farrell they have a brilliant emerging shot-stopper, in Carrack, Horgan and Tambor they already had a rock-solid back four even before Chaumancer's arrival, Considine offers box-to-box muscle, reigning player of the year Varghese runs the show, Hennessey's crosses are second to none and Blaylock combines excellent hold-up play and all-round athleticism with an eye for goal, when his confidence is high. Which it is, because Union have the entire rest of the league in a headlock right now. Oh, and they have established international talent like Holden, Valdemarsson, Kvanderwyk and Riazen to call on from the bench when they need something more. They even have a feeder club, having transformed Kirston Eagles, the joke at the bottom of Port Christopher's league, into Kirston Union, the arm of a powerful international force. "UICA is the main challenge for us right now," manager Erin Camden told the press, bluntly. Their brand of muscular, disciplined football has always adapted well to the highest level. But underdogs, they are assuredly no longer.

PREDICTION - Champions.

League Run: 5th
Stadium: Seacastle (18,000)
Nickname: the Kingfishers
Manager: Tailtiu Brennan
Captain: Brunswick Green
Top Scorer: Aiden Denarian (17)
Likely Starting XI: (4-3-3) 1 - Hoffmann (31); 2 - Karigomu (30), 4 - Ramsay (25), 6 - Haukland (28), 22 - Novac (26); 15 - Todorov (31, c), 23 - Donachie (30), 8 - Padmore (27); 10 - Coghlan (25), 9 - Petrie (23), 13 - Kvaal (21)
In: Graham Petrie (Lajuno, 3m), Simon Kvaal (Raynor City United, 2.5m)
Promoted: Aloysian Black (ST, 19), Troy Clemence (CM, 20), Grace Connolly (GK, 20)
Out: Aiden Denarian (FC Kaldukosic, undisclosed), Erin Culhane (Forest Park FC, free), Karen Rove (Castleford FC, free), Filip Sabatka (AFC Swanbridge, free), Mordred Greig (New Belfast Warriors, free)

Last season's UICA was full of surprises, and not least among them was Pikemouth's glorious run to the Champions Cup quarterfinals, which along with a CEDC Final and a 5th-placed league finish makes for a pretty strong season. Pikemouth are among the most Football Manager of good UICA teams, a small-market team - only the second-biggest team in Westpike - sustained by clever purchases and a view to the long-term. Aiden Denarian, their star striker, sold while he's hot to fund bringing in 23-year old Petrie and mercurial 21-year old Kvaal as replacement forwards. But one has to wonder, in an increasingly moneyed environment, if this is really going to keep them in CC contention? Manager Tailtiu Brennan has been widely and correctly credited with their success, but has shown signs of being unsettled recently - still, she remains in the hot seat for now. If this is to be her last season, it's a fitting way to bow out; this Pikemouth side is almost perfectly aligned to her principles. Hoffmann is an outstanding shot-stopper, supported by reliable centre-halves (most prominently the enthusiastically muscular Haukland) and attacking fullbacks (most prominently the cunning Karigomu), a steady, experienced midfield with Grigor Todorov running the show, and the new forwards joining Cail Coghlan in a lightning-quick attacking montage. Pikemouth are in their golden age, but for how much longer?

PREDICTION - 5th.

League Run: 3rd
Stadium: Rosary Stadium (38,000)
Nickname: the Saints
Manager: Justin Vauxhall
Captain: Alora Heher
Top Scorer: Jackie Crawford (21)
Likely Starting XI: (4-3-3) 12 - Drummond (31); 17 - Rusch (25), 23 - Roniger (30), 6 - Chilton (34), 19 - Levaani (25); 8 - Heher (32, c), 21 - Viablaine (29), 14 - Falcon (23); 7 - Romanov (28), 9 - Crawford (29), 11 - Ashbrown (27)
In: Tiferet Ashbrown (Usmer, 6.5m), Pia Levaani (Easthold Royals, 4m), Zebulon Rusch (Oldem Mechanical, 3.5m)
Promoted: Crane Avery (CM, 18), Levi Matthis (ST, 19)
Out: Elysse Matheson (Hornchurch, 8m), Felix Millar (Herzegovina City FC, 3m), Donna Besat (Letson Town, free), Gemma Urban (Rhayader, free), Bellamy Wright (Saint Louis, free)

The Saints had goals upon goals upon goals; what they lacked was a way to avoid conceding them. Not for want of the goalkeeper - an excellent shot-stopper - but their aging back line didn’t quite live up to their stable of midfielders and forwards. A weird piece of fullback musical chairs defined the transfer window; talented, wasted backup Millar off to Banija, Levaani pried away from Mriin, Rusch snapped up from Apox and Wright shown the door, leaving veterans Siddique and Gyrfalcon facing losing battles for their place. They also brought in Tiferet Ashbrown from a shitshow of a season in Eura, before having star midfielder Matheson go (broadly) the same way. The callow but undoubtedly gifted Falcon will need to step up. Could’ve maybe used another defender, but hey, the Saints still enter this season in a position of strength. The side is a blend of seasoned campaigners like Drummond, Chilton, assertive defensive midfielder Viablaine holding things together and the main creative talent, Alora Heher, who runs less but passes better with every season, as well as the towering metahuman Crawford who has proven a goal machine in Brenecia. Incisive winger Romanov improved as the season went on and was on an absolute tear by the end of it, building a real rapport with Crawford - if he keeps up in this form, it might be him leading the goal charts by the end. Vauxhall’s perhaps a little cautious when it comes to substitutions and tactics, but the Plan A is pretty damn good - attack with pace, power and aggression.

PREDICTION - 2nd.

League Run: 11th
Stadium: Violet Park (22,000)
Nickname: United
Manager: Pyrite Kinsman
Captain: Beaunia Andisori
Top Scorer: Beaunia Andisori (10)
Likely Starting XI: (4-3-3) 1 - Murnane (31); 18 - Colt (23), 5 - Gamble (29), 13 - Moran (31), 11 - Kekule (25); 10 - Parker (23), 6 - Oakstone (21), 21 - Morwen (24); 12 - Draper (24), 9 - Andisori (26, c), 16 - Reid (24)
In: Shanna Oakstone (Stourhead, 2.25m), Lewyn Colt (Pride of the South, 1.75m)
Promoted: Larissa Clarke (ST, 19), Murray Evans (CM, 18), Casey Fisken (LB, 19), Gareth Malwick (RW, 19)
Out: Harper Conroy (Holdenberg City, 4m), Caprice Martinelli (KF Poldanz, 2.5m), Paige Walker (Damogran FC, 1.5m), Jill Flaxen (Battlebrook United, free), Ambram Salvai (Busukama AC, free), Linford Grimes (Alissar Phoenix, free)

Rozelle United might yet regret sacking Daniel Snowden, bringing in the well-travelled Pyrite Kinsman in his stead. They started last season terribly, and ended it pretty badly, too, with a seven-match losing streak putting the back in jeopardy - though an ultimate 11th-placed finish is respectable. The issue is that they've lost their best two midfielders and leftback, and haven't replaced them. It's all very well looking to the future, but trusting an admittedly promising 21-year old to anchor an only marginally more experienced midfield is... bold. And is a fresh-faced attacking fullback like Colt really ready for a challenge like this? The team is undercooked and has been stripped of its best talents, so Kinsman is, by contrast, very much a Safe Pair of Hands (TM), though she has little experience at this level. Indications in preseason are that she'll look to keep the side compact in defence and use overwhelming pace to break free on the counter. At least Murnane, Gamble and Moran offer an experienced core in defence, though none are exceptional players, while Beau Andisori (less-heralded sister to Keira) has been handed the armband, and the sturdy poacher will need to pitch in with another roughly 12 goals again to help United stay up. One thing's for sure - the days of legitimate title challenges are very much over. The fall was inevitable. But so soon? So far?

PREDICTION - 15th.

League Run: 9th
Stadium: Southfield (16,000)
Nickname: the Lions
Manager: Sara Fairhall
Captain: Rico Hemnes
Top Scorer: Kara Ciogach (17)
Likely Starting XI: (4-3-1-2) 12 - Vanza-Jerat (30); 2 - Young (29), 5 - Troy (29), 6 - Krane (28), 3 - Raven (30); 13 - Hemnes (30, c), 14 - Crowcliff (25), 8 - Marrigan (27); 11 - Zsuska (26); 9 - Vahn (31), 15 - Ciogach (24)
In: Gareth Krane (Sabrefell Athletic, 3m), Clementine Raven (Kingsgrove, 2m)
Promoted: Esther Caitiff (CM, 18), Thaddeus Grant (RB, 20)
Out: Devan Guinness (Spearcove Mariners, free), Chase Clifford (Ulsa Rovers, free), Leyland Swift (SS San Giulia, free), Sharon Kerrigan (Aquatarius SC, free)

Star lost Ruskin, and it showed, but they still had Kara Ciogach, and in Ciogach, they had goals. Wasn’t quite the seventh-place they hope was nailed on, and Sara Fairhall has some work to do to earn an extension on her contract beyond this year, but hey. What really let them down last season was the uneven quality of their defence, Evan Colvey injured through most of the season, and though he’s enjoyed a full pre-season they’ve hired a typically full-blooded Nepharim defender in Gareth Krane, one with experience at the highest level, and the similarly experienced, attack-minded Raven from Kingsgrove. A stronger proposition this season then, before a ball’s been kicked, and the team’s approaching its peak in terms of years - the needless violence of Young and the steadiness of Troy should be enough to keep the stopper on at the back, while Rico Hemnes is the steel of the midfield and Zsuska its vision. Jorm Vahn continues to be one of the many fashionable metahuman strikers in the league, one whose eye for goal could use work but his workrate and hold-up play can’t be faulted. And newly-official Brenecian strike partner Ciogach is absolutely not going to stick around much longer, with Kingsgrove already reportedly flickering their lashes at her. Star aren’t that fast a team, or bluntly the most thrilling, but they’re disciplined, well-drilled, and rely on maintaining possession along the ground. “Maybe it’s my nature as a goalkeeper shining through,” Fairhall drily told the press in pre-season, “but I know one thing; if you don’t fuck up, you won’t go far wrong.”

PREDICTION - 7th.

League Run: Champions (B-League)
Stadium: Swan’s Parade (6,800)
Nickname: the Swans
Manager: Tash Nawalka
Captain: Luke November
Top Scorer: Matias Azedo (16)
Likely Starting XI: (4-3-3) 12 - Sabatka (29); 23 - Noonan (30), 13 - Prowse (27), 6 - Strand (32, c), 3 - Kerris (24); 14 - Ridenton (22), 18 - Sheehan (22), 10 - Huele (38); 15 - Lockston (24), 21 - Brittain (34), 11 - Broune (27)
In: Victoria Brittain (North Hall, 750k), Huele (KT Moreazerua, free), Filip Sabatka (Pikemouth, free), Ferry Noonan (Northern Stallions, free), Ruadri Broune (Falkner United, free)
Promoted: Maurine Calley (LB, 18)
Out: Paul Morey (Mount Roland, 400k), Jason Kennett (Chrysler Town, free), Louise Elroy (Rozelle Alliance, free), Karl Shacklebolt (Brunswick Town, free)
Retired: Jill Goodman (CB, 36), Sentinel Collins (LW, 36)

The white flag is up before the game's begun. The Swans were a surprising promotion in the first place, and have almost made a profit on transfers, scrambling to add... pretty much anyone who has ever played in a top division, anywhere. It's not a good look when your key attacking signings are a 34-year old target woman, a 38-year old journeyman playmaker and Falkner's backup left winger. Deft fullback Noonan and sturdy goalkeeper Sabatka look more shrewd pickups, but even so - the Swans are leaving themselves with a lot to do. Young manager Tash Nawalka, only three years Huele's senior, was a centre-half in her playing days but appears set on a more attack-minded style, though precisely what she'll be able to implement in this patchwork of a team is unclear. Still, she has legitimate young talents interspersed through the side; in Kerris, another sharp attacking fullback, classy Ridenton and the bulwark Sheehan in midfield. And in terms of depth, plenty of veterans of prior A-League campaigns to fall back on. Fact is, though, this is a patchwork. Unless Huele and Brittain can roll back the years and a brittle-looking defence can hold up to the pressure, the Swans look set for immediate relegation.

PREDICTION - 16th.

League Run: 8th
Stadium: Shady Moorside (11,000)
Nickname: The Twins
Manager: Harriet Klein
Captain: Ruby Bronze
Top Scorer: Brunella Tafani (10)
Likely Starting XI: (4-1-4-1) 1 - Brando (27); 2 - Cohen (27), 19 - Costello (24), 6 - Mercer (25), 3 - Iserlohn (29); 13 - Monks (27); 15 - Hamilton (31), 14 - Bryger (26), 8 - Keane (23), 11 - Stanger (27); 10 - Tafani (24)
In: Cathy Woodyard (Falkner United, free), Lena Iserlohn (Sabrefell Athletic, free)
Promoted: Michaeli Roberts (CM, 19), Caithe Shepherd (RB, 18)
Out: Alexandra Price (North Hall, 3m), Laura Ashley (Aminey, free), Miles Casper (Mount Roland, free)
Retired: Soren Jones (GK, 36)

The Twins are starting to establish themselves as a serious midtable force in the A-League. I guess if you combine two middling northwestern sides into one (with a lovely stadium to boot) you get one good team. That bit of mathematics sorted, the Twins haven’t really had much of a transfer window, and they’ve lost their captain and star midfielder to a fellow northern side for a second consecutive time, somehow. How the fuck? Anyway, the loss of Alexandra Price seriously hurts, and leaves the midfield, once a strength, looking weak. It dampens, somewhat, the coup of snapping up Sabrefell Athletic’s experienced backup leftback - somehow the third Athletic player (along with Krause and Krane) to arrive in Brenecia this offseason. Woodyard is just a backup goalkeeper, and just on a one-year contract. This means that, more than ever, the Twins will be reliant on their defence - and it’s a tidy one. Gioele Brando is a seriously brilliant stopper for their level and is absolutely set for better things, while the muscular central defensive partnership of Costello and Mercer are wise beyond their years and improving massively with time, and the sheer cynicism of David Monks helps shield them from the evils of the world. Caitriona Hamilton is the new captain, a former Brenecia international who retains a fair degree of pace and, just as importantly, a finely-honed ability to drop a cross or a set piece whenever it needs to go. Normally, that’s onto Brunella Tafani, a mobile, physical all-rounder up front. The Twins play a fast, direct, physical game, punishing for the league’s older sides to keep up with. They could be forgiven for looking up; but the work of looking over their shoulder isn’t done yet.

PREDICTION - 10th.

by **Brenecia** » Sun May 26, 2019 3:58 am

Welcome to hell, Scaffield; the Ironclads may be tipped for good things this season, or at least survival, but Kingsgrove are in no mood for mercy. It takes just three minutes for the first goal to fly past Kendall Childress, Lindauer seemingly playing her way into trouble before somehow sashaying away from the lumbering Vuurmeier and driving her strike into the top corner. Cheney and Wise finish the job in the second half, and Scaffield forced just a single, pedestrian save from Mara Solaani all match. To be fair, that’s better than Chafford do, steamrolled by Rozelle by the same scoreline. Falkner United edge out the pick of the round’s fixtures, a seven-goal thriller that already seems like a six-pointer judging by the sieve-like qualities of both defences. Three goals a side are fairly pedestrian, taking advantage of lackadaisical defending from their rivals, but a spectacular outside-of-the-boot half-volley past Filip Sabatka is a great way for Andrea Krause to introduce herself to her new side. The North Hall derby, meanwhile, has far more quality, but far less fun. It’s a 1-1 draw, both goals coming off set pieces, though at least there’s some intrigue late on when a late Hall penalty is won, then squandered, by Harvey Joyce, with Cass Farrell batting it away with both fists. Russ Shorten gripes after the match that she was well off her line, which she was, but seriously - do you think something like that ever gets called against Union?

Kingsgrove and Union slaughter their opposition, and it’s not even close - Lotus Park having no answer to Union’s midfield when Wen Xiaoli has one of his habitual handful of utterly terrible games a season (culminating in a senseless red card just after the hour), Twin Saints put so utterly to the sword that Brando, despite conceding four, is an honest candidate for man of the match. Swanbridge, now visiting Westpike - another team they realistically need to be trying to take points from - contrive to score an own goal on the half-hour mark when Rourke’s cross is elegantly flicked past Sabatka by Prowse’s heel. Eight minutes later, Huele seems to have thumped home the equaliser from an acute angle, thumping the ball past Carman and into the back of the net… before Cathrow drags the referee to observe that the bottom of the side netting was ripped through by the force of the shot, and the ball never actually crossed the line. Classic A-League.

Remember when Ridgeway United were good? Remember when they actually fucking won the title? Well, there’s rumblings that those days could come back, with a rumoured foreign takeover on the cards. And they actually manage to do a better job of not getting pulverised by Kingsgrove than either top-flight side they’ve faced so far! They still lose 1-0, a thunderbolt from the lesser-spotted Harris Lyston making the difference, but really, Ridgeway are the real winners here. Scaffield are the only scalp of the day, crashing out of their second tournament of three already to a disciplined and muscular Mount Roland side, and Westpike come damn close to following them. It’s normally pretty hard for a goalkeeper not to come out of a penalty shootout with at least some credit, but Westpike’s veteran backup Coletta Bradford fails to make a save in 120 minutes against Rozelle Alliance, or over the process of thirteen Alliance penalties, sending her own straight at opposing goalkeeper Garland right after watching Garland’s own penalty streak over the bar. The decisive penalty is a miss at the second time of asking from Alliance forward Clarrett, smashed off the crossbar, to end an interminable 12-11 shootout. Southern Star host Rozelle United in the only all-top-flight clash of the round, and that, too, goes to penalties; Star win out in front of their home crowd.

A bad day for goalkeepers, with the goals flooding in from every angle. Falkner keeper Crispin Donagh concedes a last-minute winner from Westpike when he leaps down on Soleil Davenport’s long shot and just kind of failing to get any of his flailing limbs in front of the ball, as it slides jauntily through him - a sad way for a five-goal thriller to end, one which could prove hugely important at the bottom of the table. Scaffield annihilate Twin Saints 5-1, in a match that proves they’re more than just a disciplined, physical side; Meghan Rasmussen thrills down the right flank, and Isabelle Kruger up front finds three powerful finishes to secure a tidy hat-trick. A Wen-less Park’s face-off against Southern Star is the most insane of all, Park leftback Jasper Redwood opening the scoring at the wrong end by getting terribly mixed up and backheeling a throughball from Zsuska past a bewildered Byrnford, before making up for it when his long throw is belted home on the full by Banshee Strider. Strider heads home a second before the lean figure of Setanta Ashvane hammers home her first senior goal into the top corner, and it looks as though the Falkner outfit’s in control. And then the second half starts. Byrnford comes for a cross, misses, Ciogach stoops to head it home; 3-2. Free kick won by Ciogach, smashed into the top corner by Zsuska; 3-3. Scruffy failure to clear in the box, Nailah Marrigan slides in and drives home the rebound; 3-4. Marrigan sets up Hemnes from outside the box; 3-5. Julian Conrad, off the bench, heads home a lofted Maria Young cross that just sieves through Byrnford’s hands; 3-6. And there’s still time for Bard Oarsman, Wen’s replacement, to get himself sent off with a second caution.

Glory be! When Stallions rightback Petr Isaev lofts in a dangerous cross towards Coulthirst, Mara Solaani comes belting out to one-fisted slam the ball into the ground, and to slam into Coulthirst as well, for good measure. And the ball comes to Riona Drake who controls it on her chest, then takes it to one side and hammers the ball into the mostly open net. And for the first time, Kingsgrove have conceded. Twin Saints get off the mark for the season, pulling themselves together to look rock-solid against Falkner. They pepper Donagh’s goal with shots of varying accuracy, and the decisive factor winds up being centre-half Markus Costello heading home a brace of Hamilton corners. Southern Star manage to score six again, but if it’s past Swanbridge, does it really count?

Another marathon shootout! In this case, it’s Swanbridge’s hosting Pikemouth. The Swans play with a confidence they’ve abjectly lacked in the league, and though Cup goalkeeper Josiah Carmack (their starter last season) lets a strike from Kvaal slide between his legs, lively winger Broune notches up the equaliser just six minutes later. In extra time, the same again; against the run of play, Pikemouth take the lead, and Swanbridge punch back shortly afterwards. It’s a great shoot-out, none of the sixteen missing the target, but Carmack makes one save and Ghillis, who constantly went the right way, makes two. Still, the Swans could probably use the new break in schedule. Union had only conceded one goal thus far domestically this season - well, until they bring more or less a youth team to D-League minnows Rushden. Rozelle need to rely on extra time to bring down Gallant Cross, the Twins edge out Proudcastle on penalties, but there’s no scalps this round - but North Hall join the Swans in flunking out, well-beaten by an energetic Westpike side 2-0 as they just seemed to want it more, cliche though it is..

Union do what they do; crushing their opposition utterly at home, they rest pretty much all of their best players for the away leg. Sassari hold their own and impress, but Vauxhall Hayne powers home a header on the half-hour mark before, in injury time, a rifled strike from Calindra Apelles opens her account for Union.

There’s widespread calls in Falkner for Gaetane Thevenet - yet to concede in the Cup - to replace Chris Byrnford in goal, but with Byrnford’s former club Rozelle coming to town, Kyron Everdale holds his faith in the narrative. Two minutes in, Rozelle have their chance - Heher with the perfect timing to slide Ivo Romanov through on goal, and the winger goes for it, breaking past every man… perhaps delaying his shot just a little too long, as Byrnford rushes out, making himself big and smashing away the shot when it comes. He’s rock-solid all day, Strider notching Park’s opener before Moreland carelessly fells Ashbrown for a penalty soon after. Okay, Byrnford can’t do anything about that, but the old standby Liusaidh Kella comes off the bench and drives home a late winner from just outside the box. Scaffield’s strong form to date crashes to an abrupt halt as the Stallions visit death upon them to the tune of a 4-0 win, foreshadowed in the first half but with all the goals coming in the second. In an immediate rematch of a Cup tie, Filip Sabatka gives his former club Pikemouth a gift Swanbridge really couldn’t afford by being beaten twice at his near post, while an ineffective performance from Falkner’s forwards undermines the brilliant work from its midfield. They curse themselves - on another day they could’ve taken a point, today, they lose 2-0. That’s the thing about Union; even when they don’t perform, they put their chances away and stifle their opponents.

North Hall rattle the cages at Kingsgrove, though their form is poor at present; one win from their past eight games in all competitions, counting a thus-far disastrous Globe Cup run, and it’s a streak that extends to one win from nine when Kingsgrove come back in the second half. The first was all Hall’s, unsettling the Royals with muscle and grit, shoving people around and tugging at shirts - Joyce slams home the first goal on the 21-minute mark, Eamon Falconet’s got a caution for time-wasting at 27. Which shows they know their place, at least. But the inevitable falls on them in the second half, Falconet saving an initial strike from Penhallow but helpless to stop Lindauer tapping in the rebound, before Ruskin and Cheney finish the job with a flourish in the second half. Star also manage to put the frighteners into Union, the scores locked at 2-2 going into stoppage time, Vanza-Gerat standing firm time and time again to deny them… until, well. In spite of Sara Fairhall pointedly tapping her watch, in spite of the four minutes of stoppage time, Kiliko Riazen strokes home Union’s winner in the 95th minute. Strange how that works, eh? Fairhall’s profanity-laden post-match speech earns her a three-game touchline ban - not for the profanity, you understand, but openly calling referee Markus Reardon a ‘corrupt piece of shit, with [Union chairman Angus] Gamble shoving fat notes into his garter’, is maybe a bit much. Rozelle reduce Swanbridge to a fine paste, 6-1. Tiferet Ashbrown scores a hat-trick against her hometown club, and has to do the apologetic, hands-up uncelebration each time; after the third it just seems like taking the piss, really.

Glory be; Swanbridge pick up their first point of the season. Huele hits Victoria Brittain with a long ball, the burly striker knocks it down for Ruadri Broune to stab home. 1-0! They hold out until not long after the hour mark, when Kelly McInnes bursts through two midfielders, cuts inside Noonan and fires the leveller past a wrong-footed Sabatka, but the Pikemouth goalkeeper saves valiantly from Gallagher, Scowcroft and Hackney late on to salvage the point. Westpike and Rozelle go ruthlessly tit for tat for 90 minutes; goal for Crawford, leveller from Davenport, goal for Ashbrown, leveller from Gerrard, rare goal for Viablaine, leveller from Cohen, goal for Falcon, red card for Hagaz, shit, that’s not right, goal for Levaani, 5-3 Rozelle. Still, at least Westpike can be pleased with their work in the attacking third, though given their reliance on Hagaz for their defensive work, one has to worry for their next couple games. Kingsgrove drop their first points of the season when injury-ravaged Park striker Hawke Ziegenhorn comes off the bench to score his first goal of the season, and indeed first league goal in two and a half years. Meanwhile, in the fourth tier, Alexavale beats Thrush 12-1. Semi-professional football is a wild ride.

Top plays bottom, and the result is predictable; Kingsgrove utterly demolish Swanbridge. Actually, to be fair, the Swans score first when Huele drops a masterful free kick on the head of Victoria Brittain, who angles it narrowly over the backpedalling Solaani. Just, even a second-string Royals outfit manages to demolish them, with sole regular starting forward Creidne Lindauer notching up a brace and winger Everett scoring her first professional goal in a 5-1 rout. Kingsgrove have still only dropped two points all season; Union, after a narrow 1-0 win in Rozelle thanks to a slightly soft penalty, with the Stallions and Hall beating lowly Falkner and Twins by three clear goals to round out the top four. Scaffield, weirdly, are sixth, as they come from behind with a piledriver from Isabelle Kruger and an ugly far-post tap-in from Keegan to beat Lotus Park. Pikemouth draw Southern Star; they’ve drawn over half their games so far, but cling to seventh. Rozelle United beat Chafford fairly comfortably to take eighth. Mired at the bottom are Falkner United, who haven’t won since beating Swanbridge on the opening day, and Swanbridge themselves, who haven’t won at all. But it’s still fairly tight, for now.

Group C                      	Pld	W   D   L	GF   GA   GD   Pts   Kgr  Dir  RGS  SRh
1 Kingsgrove            	BRE	6	4   1   1	10	2   +8	13	—   0–0  2–0  0–1
2 Directus              	EUR	6	3   2   1 	8	7   +1	11   0–3   —   2–0  2–1
3 RGS Athletic          	EFL	6	2   0   4 	5	9   −4 	6   1–2  2–3   —   1–0
4 Shakhtar Rheinburg    	PDN	6	1   1   4 	3	8   −5 	4   0–3  1–1  0–1   —

Group G                      	Pld	W   D   L	GF   GA   GD   Pts   NoU  SCP  BkH  RJm
1 Northern Union        	BRE	6	4   1   1	12	7   +5	13*   —   3–1  2–0  2–0
2 Sonoma Center Panthers	COM	6	4   1   1	11	7   +4	13*  3–1   —   1–1  2–1
3 Black Hawks NFX       	NFX	6	1   1   4 	8   12   −4 	4†  1–2  1–3   —   3–4
4 Royal Jam FC          	EFL	6	1   1   4 	7   12   −5 	4†  2–2  0–1  0–2   —
* Northern Union ahead of Sonoma Center Panthers on goal difference
† Black Hawks NFX ahead of Royal Jam FC on head-to-head goal difference

Though there may only be two Brenecian teams remaining, they acquit themselves excellently and finish in first with 13 points. Kingsgrove, despite a punishing 3-0 defeat at the hands of Directus (and a scoreless draw at home), do the double over RGS and the impressive Shakhtar, while Union just sort out their home matches and cruise through.

Group E                      	Pld	W   D   L	GF   GA   GD   Pts   Rzl  ATr  SDI  WhR
1 Rozelle               	BRE	6	6   0   0	13	4   +9	18	—   2–1  3–1  2–1
2 AFC Treason           	NPH	6	3   1   2	11	7   +4	10   1–2   —   3–1  1–1
3 San Diego Iguanas     	COM	6	1   1   4 	5   11   −6 	4   0–2  0–1   —   2–2
4 Westhold Royals       	MRN	6	0   2   4 	5   12   −7 	2   0–2  1–4  0–1   —

Group J                      	Pld	W   D   L	GF   GA   GD   Pts   NmF  KiL  Lum  NHl
1 Namiri Forest         	ZWZ	6	4   1   1	13	9   +4	13	—   2–1  4–3  1–1
2 Kionao Locals         	TUR	6	3   2   1	10	8   +2	11   3–2   —   1–1  3–2
3 Lumineers             	QGP	6	1   3   2 	7	7	0 	6   1–2  0–0   —   0–0
4 North Hall            	BRE	6	0   2   4 	4   10   −6 	2   0–2  1–2  0–2   —

Group L                      	Pld	W   D   L	GF   GA   GD   Pts   MaA  Uls  LdM  Pkm
1 Maal Angels           	MRN	6	4   0   2	12	6   +6	12	—   2–0  5–1  2–1
2 Ulsa                  	EUR	6	2   3   1 	5	4   +1 	9   1–0   —   2–0  0–0
3 Ludogorets Markovsky  	AFT	6	2   2   2 	9   12   −3 	8   3–2  1–1   —   2–2
4 Pikemouth             	BRE	6	0   3   3 	4	8   −4 	3   0–1  1–1  0–2   —

Results here are… mixed? Violently mixed. Rozelle crush all opposition before them with a perfect 6-0-0 record; both North Hall and Pikemouth crash out without so much as a single win of their own.

Group E                      	Pld	W   D   L	GF   GA   GD   Pts   Swb  AKw  ZSk  SSl
1 AFC Swanbridge        	BRE	6	4   2   0	16	6  +10	14	—   2–2  5–1  4–1
2 Alvinero Kawasuki     	HIN	6	2   2   2 	6	7   −1 	8*  0–2   —   1–1  2–0
3 Ziemelu Skaida        	COS	6	2   2   2 	6	9   −3 	8*  1–1  0–1   —   2–1
4 Sporting Salicus      	STB	6	1   0   5 	5   11   −6 	3   1–2  2–0  0–1   —
* Alvinero Kawasuki ahead of Ziemelu Skaida on head-to-head points

Unrecognisable to their league form, Swanbridge go 4-2-0 (nice) and cruise through a challenging group with room to spare, a 5-1 win over Cosumarite outfit Ziemelu Skaida the definite highlight.

A-LEAGUE

Pos Team                    P  W  D  L For  Ag  +/- Pts
  1 Kingsgrove              8  7  1  0  26   5  +21  22
  2 Northern Union          8  6  2  0  14   3  +11  20
  3 Northern Stallions      8  5  1  2  14   5   +9  16
  4 North Hall              8  4  3  1  12   6   +6  15
  5 Rozelle                 8  4  1  3  18   8  +10  13
  6 Scaffield               8  4  1  3  11  13   -2  13
  7 Pikemouth               8  2  5  1   8   5   +3  11
  8 Rozelle United          8  3  2  3  10  12   -2  11
  9 Westpike                8  2  4  2  11  13   -2  10
 10 Southern Star           8  2  3  3  19  17   +2   9
 11 Marque                  8  2  3  3   8   8   +0   9
 12 Chafford                8  3  0  5   5  13   -8   9
 13 Lotus Park              8  1  4  3   9  15   -6   7
 14 Twin Saints             8  2  0  6   8  21  -13   6
 15 Falkner United          8  1  1  6   9  18   -9   4
 16 AFC Swanbridge          8  0  1  7   8  28  -20   1

B-LEAGUE

Pos Team                     P  W  D  L For  Ag  +/- Pts
  1 Finbar Stalwarts         8  6  1  1  16   4  +12  19
  2 Francisca Orient         8  5  2  1   9   4   +5  17
  3 Gallant Cross            8  5  0  3  15  11   +4  15
  4 Rosbank Town             8  5  0  3  10   8   +2  15
  5 Proudcastle              8  4  2  2  13   6   +7  14
  6 Saint Alexander          8  4  2  2  11   7   +4  14
  7 Snowden River            8  3  4  1  11   9   +2  13
  8 Rozelle Alliance         8  3  3  2  13  13   +0  12
  9 Mount Roland             8  3  1  4   7   7   +0  10
 10 Stourhead                8  3  1  4   7   7   +0  10
 11 Chrysler Town            8  2  3  3  11  12   -1   9
 12 Southside Wanderers      8  2  3  3   9  10   -1   9
 13 Guilder                  8  3  0  5   6  12   -6   9
 14 Westpike United          8  2  2  4   8  13   -5   8
 15 Pride of the South       8  0  2  6  10  20  -10   2
 16 Spearcove Mariners       8  0  2  6   6  19  -13   2

C-LEAGUE

Pos Team                   P  W  D  L For  Ag  +/- Pts
  1 Coppersmith            8  7  0  1  14   3  +11  21
  2 Sharrow                8  6  0  2  17  10   +7  18
  3 Otter Ferry            8  5  2  1  17  10   +7  17
  4 Knightstone FC         8  4  3  1  15   7   +8  15
  5 Shaleport Rangers      8  3  3  2  10   6   +4  12
  6 Ridgeway United        8  3  3  2  13  10   +3  12
  7 Fentonbridge           8  3  3  2   8   5   +3  12
  8 Randwick Town          8  3  2  3   9   9   +0  11
  9 Silvershire Town       8  3  2  3  11  16   -5  11
 10 Southrons-Errant       8  3  1  4  18  16   +2  10
 11 Heathgrove             8  2  4  2   5  10   -5  10
 12 Falkner Wanderers      8  2  2  4   7  10   -3   8
 13 Falkner Crescent       8  2  2  4  10  14   -4   8
 14 Crest                  8  1  3  4   4   9   -5   6
 15 Swayback               8  1  0  7   8  21  -13   3
 16 Marque Rovers          8  0  2  6   8  18  -10   2

D-LEAGUE

Pos Team                   P  W  D  L For  Ag  +/- Pts
  1 Alexavale FC           8  6  1  1  33  10  +23  19
  2 Stonewash Town         8  6  1  1  22   7  +15  19
  3 Razorback Hill         8  5  3  0  18   7  +11  18
  4 AFC Conomore           8  5  2  1  14   6   +8  17
  5 Dannecliff Rovers      8  5  1  2  10   9   +1  16
  6 Platwood               8  3  4  1  13   8   +5  13
  7 Rushden                8  4  1  3  11  13   -2  13
  8 Glendower Rider        8  3  3  2  14  11   +3  12
  9 Northern Fist          8  3  2  3  14  18   -4  11
 10 Chafford Saracens      8  1  6  1  13  13   +0   9
 11 Suttonstrand FC        8  2  2  4  11  13   -2   8
 12 Fisher Kings           8  1  3  4   6   8   -2   6
 13 Corder Town            8  1  2  5  10  15   -5   5
 14 Pikemouth United       8  1  2  5  11  19   -8   5
 15 Thrush                 8  1  1  6   7  30  -23   4
 16 Alnwick Glade          8  0  0  8   2  22  -20   0

by **Brenecia** » Wed May 29, 2019 5:09 am

What’s not looking like a good season for Pikemouth gets worse just six minutes in against lowly Falkner, when Thorvald Padmore hacks down Krause badly enough to get sent off. On the harsh side? Yeah, probably. But he has little to complain about. Not long afterwards, Novac hacks down Krause inside the box - she’s really got a talent for drawing fouls, the former Sabrefell Athletic winger - for a penalty that Ironside… doesn’t quite get into the corner, and is just barely tipped away by Hoffman. Pikemouth rally and go into the half ahead with a rare goal from Kvaal, but in the second half, Falkner rally; again Krause goes down, again Ironside steps up to take the penalty, and this time scores it. In stoppage time, Falkner’s dominance of the half pays off when Sommelier breaks through the wearying line and stabs home the winner. In fact, it’s a good day for the meek all round; United, the Twins and Swanbridge all pick up a point, Westpike and Chafford left out by comfortable defeats to Kingsgrove and North Hall.

Crunch ties at both ends of the table. Crunch ties pretty much everywhere, actually. The bottom two face off, and it’s a thrilling match - which is inherently a bad sign for the Twins. Swanbridge score just three minutes into the game, Ferry Noonan’s long throw not really bothered to be defended by any Twin as Lockston steals ahead of a napping Christon (with experienced leftback Iserlohn injured at a bad time) and looping the ball speculatively into the middle, Brittain outmuscling Mercer to crash it home. That forces the Twins out of their shells, as the cliche goes, almost to immediate effect when Keane, then Tafani, force Sabatka into a sprightly double save. Huele does the only thing he does all match in the 23rd minute, smashing a free kick into the top corner, and now the Swans are 2-0 up. Fast-forward an hour; suddenly the Twins are 3-2 up #JustSwansThings. Still, there’s some fight left in the Swans, and they’ve been unlucky to be facing a goalkeeper like Brando; it takes until the 89th minute before Matias Azedo, veteran of their last campaign at this level, shapes to shoot before finding Lockston unmarked on the edge of the box, and the winger slides the leveller into the bottom corner, finally beyond Brando’s reach.

The big show-stopper, though, is the Classic between Kingsgrove and Union. Less to talk about here, though. Marketing desperately advertises the tie as one where one side Must lose their unbeaten record, so it must come as a shock when goals from Cheney and Kvanderwyk ensure a tense, high-quality, but not exactly thrilling draw. If you want the opposite of that, Marque host Southern Star and they smash each other in the teeth until a 4-4 draw comes out, Marque defender Reina Kress contributing a goal at either end and teenage Star midfielder Esther Caitiff really strutting her stuff. A brace from Krause ensures a valuable away win for Falkner over Rozelle United, while Pikemouth stave off their aggressive reversion to the mean with a come-from-behind 2-1 win against Rozelle.

What do you want from a Cup tie between a top-flight and lower-league club? You don’t want a routine top-flight win, that’s for sure. You either want the top-flight team to annihilate their opponents, as Marque do in a 6-0 shellacking of Sharrow, or the Stallions manage in a 5-0 hammering of Otter Ferry, or you want a proper upset. Mount Roland add another scalp to what is proving so far to be an exceptional season, a flaccid Twin Saints side proving a relatively easy mark - an early goal somewhat against the run of play is powered past Woodyard from just outside the box, and the Twins have absolutely no way back. Saint Alexander’s arrival in North Hall to face mighty Union, on the other hand… well, that’s only got one result, right? Except they just… don’t… concede. They hold out time and again, with burly centre-half Brett Halifax twice clearing chances off the line, before in the 70th minute a sluggish Union midfield fails to close down a goal kick hammered between them all; Iain Youngbrother, an ironically-named veteran of the team, steals ahead of them and elegantly lofts a ball over the top. Cherith Torrell goes shoulder to shoulder with Dorian Bullock and just about manages to stick out a boot to tap it past Blanton and kill the giants. PIkemouth, Rozelle, Falkner and Chafford are knocked out by fellow A-League outfits, in a sequence of bloodletting that leaves Kingsgrove and the Stallions as the distinct favourites, and guarantees a second-tier semifinalist.

Oakstone present a difficult proposition for Union, and with an international strike tandem of Aron Riise and Heron Kendall up front, they prove a stern test for Union’s heralded defence. But at home, Union hold out through the first half before coming out for the second half ready to make up for things. Okay, so their first goal is very much a Northern Union Home Decision™ when Ginton French is guilty of kinda sort of brushing thighs against Elyn Hennessey inside the box, for a penalty assertively converted by Shea Considine, before Blaylock’s header is tipped onto the upright by Clements, only to be stabbed home by a sliding Cu Roi Garrard. Garrard opens the scoring away, too, with Union this time coming out from the gates swinging, and suddenly Oakstone need four goals. They get two back in the first half, Kendall with a piledriver that seems to just overpower Farrell’s fingers before a neat one-two between Riise and Corvine culminates in an unmarked Riise strike, tipped away by Farrell… into Kendall’s path. The home fans dare to dream, but Union shut the gates in the second half and smother what hope remains in the 77th minute, Varghese’s corner finding Horatius Chaumancer to rise above and head home.

Chafford’s 1-1 draw with Swanbridge is damaging for the hosts, and important for the Swans for one big reason - it puts them up above Southern Star’s infamous three-point season. Scaffield punk Union, but how? Conleth Ballantyne, their gigantic captain, shrugs post-match; “We just forgot they were Union for ninety minutes. It wasn’t so hard.” Even with the home crowd baying for their blood. The Ironclads stroke around possession with confidence born of a lack of expectation, and Isabelle Kruger just about beats Horgan to a diagonal ball from Rasmussen to give Scaffield the lead; one Rasmussen herself doubles early in the second half, Farrell’s goal-kick intercepted by a towering Wickham header, and the Llamanean winger finding the end of it, cutting inside Tambor and curling a strike past Farrell. But Union are never down for long; this time, an errant pass from Wickham is seized upon by Kvanderwyk who sets up countryman Blaylock to stroke home a goal back, before a far post header from burly winger Cu Roi Garrard at least salvages Union’s unbeaten record. But they slip further behind Kingsgrove, who show a similar resilience to edge out Southern Star in stoppage time, Vanza-Gerat imperious in Star’s goal until fatally beaten at his near post by Lauren Cheney. Rozelle’s failure to compete at the top continues as they’re held by Falkner, while Twin Saints and Westpike also share the spoils in a thankless, physical game.

Swanbridge are on a hot streak, by their standards, of three straight draws. And they follow it up by hosting the Stallions, and celebrate the occasion with three goals! An insolent Huele penalty, a ferocious header from Ruadri Broune (by a distance proving their second-best signing) and a well-worked corner headed home by Strand. So that’s their win, right? Well… no, the Stallions score seven at the other end, with Riona Drake pulling all the strings, Vincent and Cronin rampant on the wings, and striker Greyson Coulthirst doubling his dismal goal tally for the season with a brace. In fact, there’s as many goals in that massacre as in the other seven games combined, games which include a scoreless draw between Westpike and Chafford that is one of the worst ways to spend an hour and a half outside of arthouse films.

The Xannerian sides acquit themselves well, and Union fly damn close to the sun in the end. But in the end, the giants of Brenecian football win out. They always do, when it comes to the CEDC.

Union can only draw with Chafford; whisper it, but they’ve only won one of their past five games domestically. Kingsgrove can smell the title. Rozelle’s title chances are pretty much dead and buried by this point, but Justin Vauxhall can cling to a whole lot of goodwill if he can just mastermind a victory over the Royals. He can’t. Kingsgrove don’t traditionally get much joy from set plays, but when Thornley Stray is left totally unmarked from a free kick, well, the Audioslavian defender makes no mistake with a low, angled header past Drummond. After a placid first half, Rozelle push back hard in the second, but it’s Kingsgrove who double their advantage thanks to a slick passing move finished by the rightback, Kielseng. By the end, Rozelle are reduced to slinging crosses at their towering striker, Crawford, and to be fair it works. Once. Levaani finds her fellow metahuman, who finishes with aplomb under pressure from both centre-halves, but it’s not enough in the end, and only a smart one-on-one save by Drummond denies Creidne Lindauer the chance to extend the Royals’ lead still further.

The inevitable happens. Yeah, sure, Tash Nawalka’s well-loved at Swanbridge for her exploits as a player and masterminded a brilliant promotion, but when they fold like a house of cards to lose 6-1 at home to North Hall, the trigger really has to be pulled. Nawalka accepts it in good grace. There’s calls for Rozelle to follow suit - a lot of calls, following a humiliating 3-0 defeat to a Scaffield side that’s just harder, stronger, faster, better in every respect. The club agrees. Justin Vauxhall gets the axe, and reserves manager Derdriu Wright is brought in on an interim basis to the end of the season with a brief to just save some face. A high-stakes Falkner derby is suffocated by tension, though Lotus Park aren’t in overt danger. Yet. Crispin Donagh in Falkner’s goal has recovered from a shaky start to his tenure, and makes some sharp saves today, with Chilford cleaning up well in midfield and Krause setting up Na’Verii on the other flank for the only goal of the game.

Kingsgrove smash Falkner 4-0, Union make short work of Rozelle United, 2-0. Both sides remain undefeated halfway into the season. Both sides have conceded at a rate of just a goal every other game. But Union have drawn a third of their games; Kingsgrove have not, and have also scored nearly three goals a game, and that’s why they have the six-point lead as things stand. Three points further behind are North Hall, who easily beat Westpike 3-0. They look set for the Champions Cup, but not quite in title challenge range barring a miracle. The Stallions, who draw a tense rather than thrilling Rathia derby with Star, are more or less in the same boat. They’re six points above fifth. Just… fifth is Scaffield. Yeah, Scaffield. Who just got pulverised 4-0 by Marque, so they aren’t exactly bulletproof… meanwhile, neither Rozelle nor Pikemouth have really been getting the job done. Rozelle have lost as many games as they’ve won (and only after a 2-0 win over the floundering Twins), Pikemouth are actually one down after a 3-1 defeat at Chafford that highlights their inability to score goals - they’re at less than a goal a game, and both offseason signings, Petrie and Kvaal, have flopped thus far. And yet, they’re still finishing out the top seven. It’s a scrum down there, though.

Pretty much anyone outside that top seven could still forseeably go down at this stage, with just four points splitting 8th (Westpike) from 14th (Falkner). The Twins languish four points from safety, and haven’t scored in four games. Pressure’s building on Harriet Klein. Swanbridge are narrowly beaten by Lotus Park 2-1 in new manager John Gisborne’s first match in charge. They’re still winless, and ten points from safety; in the second tier, Finbar Stalwarts have a twelve-point lead on third. Seems inevitable that they, at least, will be swapping places come the end of the season.

A-LEAGUE

Pos Team                     P   W  D   L For  Ag  +/- Pts
  1 Kingsgrove              15  13  2   0  42   8  +34  41
  2 Northern Union          15  10  5   0  24   7  +17  35
  3 North Hall              15   9  5   1  28   9  +19  32
  4 Northern Stallions      15   8  4   3  29  12  +17  28
  5 Scaffield               15   6  4   5  23  26   -3  22
  6 Rozelle                 15   6  3   6  27  18   +9  21
  7 Pikemouth               15   4  6   5  14  14   +0  18
  8 Westpike                15   4  6   5  18  25   -7  18
  9 Southern Star           15   3  8   4  28  26   +2  17
 10 Marque                  15   4  5   6  19  20   -1  17
 11 Rozelle United          15   4  4   7  14  20   -6  16
 12 Lotus Park              15   3  7   5  15  24   -9  16
 13 Chafford                15   4  3   8  10  20  -10  15
 14 Falkner United          15   4  2   9  16  28  -12  14
 15 Twin Saints             15   2  4   9  13  31  -18  10
 16 AFC Swanbridge          15   0  4  11  19  51  -32   4

B-LEAGUE

Pos Team                      P   W  D  L For  Ag  +/- Pts
  1 Finbar Stalwarts         15  12  2  1  28   4  +24  38
  2 Francisca Orient         15  10  3  2  20  10  +10  33
  3 Gallant Cross            15   8  2  5  31  21  +10  26
  4 Rosbank Town             15   8  2  5  20  15   +5  26
  5 Snowden River            15   7  5  3  20  15   +5  26
  6 Mount Roland             15   8  2  5  15  11   +4  26
  7 Saint Alexander          15   6  4  5  17  15   +2  22
  8 Southside Wanderers      15   5  4  6  17  18   -1  19
  9 Guilder                  15   5  3  7  10  18   -8  18
 10 Rozelle Alliance         15   4  5  6  18  22   -4  17
 11 Westpike United          15   4  4  7  18  23   -5  16
 12 Proudcastle              15   4  3  8  14  15   -1  15
 13 Stourhead                15   4  3  8   9  14   -5  15
 14 Chrysler Town            15   3  6  6  17  24   -7  15
 15 Spearcove Mariners       15   2  5  8  12  27  -15  11
 16 Pride of the South       15   1  5  9  17  31  -14   8

C-LEAGUE

Pos Team                    P   W  D   L For  Ag  +/- Pts
  1 Sharrow                15  11  2   2  36  16  +20  35
  2 Coppersmith            15  11  1   3  25  10  +15  34
  3 Knightstone FC         15   8  5   2  27  13  +14  29
  4 Otter Ferry            15   8  3   4  29  19  +10  27
  5 Southrons-Errant       15   8  1   6  45  24  +21  25
  6 Fentonbridge           15   7  3   5  15  12   +3  24
  7 Silvershire Town       15   7  3   5  17  20   -3  24
  8 Randwick Town          15   6  3   6  19  16   +3  21
  9 Marque Rovers          15   5  3   7  24  27   -3  18
 10 Ridgeway United        15   4  6   5  16  19   -3  18
 11 Heathgrove             15   4  5   6  13  27  -14  17
 12 Shaleport Rangers      15   3  5   7  16  25   -9  14
 13 Falkner Wanderers      15   3  4   8  10  17   -7  13
 14 Falkner Crescent       15   3  4   8  19  32  -13  13
 15 Crest                  15   1  7   7  13  23  -10  10
 16 Swayback               15   3  1  11  18  42  -24  10

D-LEAGUE

Pos Team                    P   W   D   L For  Ag  +/- Pts
  1 AFC Conomore           15  11   3   1  28   7  +21  36
  2 Alexavale FC           15   9   5   1  51  22  +29  32
  3 Stonewash Town         15  10   2   3  44  15  +29  32
  4 Platwood               15   8   6   1  30  12  +18  30
  5 Razorback Hill         15   8   4   3  33  17  +16  28
  6 Glendower Rider        15   6   5   4  27  22   +5  23
  7 Suttonstrand FC        15   6   3   6  26  21   +5  21
  8 Chafford Saracens      15   3  11   1  25  22   +3  20
  9 Northern Fist          15   5   4   6  26  37  -11  19
 10 Dannecliff Rovers      15   6   1   8  20  35  -15  19
 11 Fisher Kings           15   4   6   5  18  14   +4  18
 12 Rushden                15   5   3   7  19  28   -9  18
 13 Corder Town            15   2   4   9  19  33  -14  10
 14 Pikemouth United       15   2   3  10  17  39  -22   9
 15 Alnwick Glade          15   1   4  10   9  31  -22   7
 16 Thrush                 15   1   2  12  10  47  -37   5

by **Brenecia** » Wed Jun 05, 2019 7:24 pm

CAP are a marquee side, similar to Union; lots of seasoned talent, and perhaps a little sharper at each end. Thorsten Gerber between the posts makes a string of excellent saves in the second half, before Ragnar Targaryen finds a high cross from Cattalock and guides it into the top corner, Farrell just unable to get there. When a long slotted through-ball from Hennessey gets Blaylock through with Gerber, a heavy first touch torpedoes their chance of levelling the scores.

As Kingsgrove hammer four unanswered goals past an obliging Scaffield, a North Hall derby allows the Northerners a chance to ~~mount a title challenge~~ spite their nearest rivals. It’s an ugly, physical game, veteran Hall leftback Saoirse Hourihane setting the tone of the game by bringing Garrard to the ground and ‘accidentally’ grinding his neck into the grass with her knee in the follow-through. No matter what Union do, they just can’t break Hall’s guard, and Erin Camden is left to curse Hall’s caution in a match where Hall managed only a single shot on target, a speculative drive from Price that sailed elegantly into Farrell’s waiting arms. Falconet, by contrast, managed nine saves.

At the bottom of the table, Swanbridge host Falkner in a true six-pointer. It… goes perfectly to plan, veteran midfielder Meghan Courser scoring her first goal of the season with a low drive from just outside the box that squeaked under Donagh’s hands before terrible marking at a set piece allows Victoria Brittain to head home Ridenton’s free kick unopposed. Falkner go into the break two down, lively but disjointed, but surely the Swans will find a way to screw things up. Especially when Falkner score in the 47th minute, Swans leftback Calli Kerris shambolically slipping in pursuit of a simple pass from Strand, Krause stealing the ball away and practically cackling as she fires across Sabatka and in, and to make matters worse, Kerris has to be stretchered off, replaced by teenager Maurine Calley. Except… the Swans don’t mess it up. Slick midfield interplay eventually lets Ridenton steal a march through the defence, take a deft first touch off a pass from Noonan and fire past Donagh, Brittain heads home a cross from Calley, Falkner score off a set piece of their own but Emmet Harbaugh comes off the bench to drive home a far-post header, flicked on by Brittain off a long ball from Courser. 5-2, and Swanbridge are on the board with their first win of the season.

Unlike the smash-and-grab in Brenecia, this time, CAP is smooth, confident and dominant. Union’s usual party trick of, well, smash-and-grab wins away doesn’t really work when CAP don’t give them the openings, because they don’t need to. They almost take an early lead anyway, a brilliant free kick from Varghese tipped onto the crossbar by Gerber, but CAP’s patient approach to attack pays off with another second-half goal from Targaryen, played in by his countryman Tapp to slot home past Farrell.

A lovely, heartwarming reunion between Union and Football Miracle Izaki. Five seasons ago, when their club was still languishing in the lower tiers, a bunch of Union fans rocked up to watch Northern Stallions host Izaki and support the Damukuni visitors, largely on the basis of their name. And now, a rejuvenated Union travel there themselves. And win 2-0, fairly pedestrian. Kingsgrove hammer Venividicci in the second half, overturning a 1-0 deficit to win 4-2.

Swanbridge fans think that a 89th-minute equaliser from Westpike forward Monika Rourke is heart-breaking, until Rourke scores again in the 94th to steal a 3-2 away win. With those goals vanish any hope of a miraculous survival, chances are. Particularly with a big win for Falkner, the imperious captain Ironside scoring a penalty in each half, and the violence of Borg ensuring the clean sheet against a Scaffield side that doesn’t entirely have the skill for consistency. Kingsgrove perhaps take the Twins a little too lightly, and Harriet Klein describes their lineup derisively as “a pack of children; as soon as we saw that lineup, we knew how little they thought of us, and set out to prove them wrong.” And they very nearly did, but an 81st-minute strike from teenage winger Everett vindicates the Royals. Still, it was a close-run thing, and only a brilliant springing save from Solaani denies Stanger levelling the scores late on. Union smash Lotus Park 3-0 away, keeping Kingsgrove looking over their shoulders.

Football Miracle are given a warm welcome in Brenecia, but goals from Union midfielders Chance, Apelles and Penrith secure the day. Kingsgrove again concede first, but a young side again overturns the deficit. Both sides stroll through comfortably.

So much for Swanbridge’s optimism. Union, fielding a swathe of B-listers, spike them 5-0, Calindra Apelles lording it over stand-in leftback Calley with two goals and two assists. Both players are 19, but not all teenagers are created equal; the difference between someone aspiring to be a B-League starter and someone in the process of being groomed as Union’s playmaker going forward. It’s Kingsgrove that nearly get run aground, twice failing to defend Chafford’s set pieces. Oh, of course Chafford are no match for the Royals in open play, but it takes until stoppage time for Creidne Lindauer, guilty of missing chance after chance, goes some way to redeeming herself, hooking a first-touch strike past Iarrow to steal a 3-2 win. Ruskin gets the assist, but should she have even have been on the park, after an elbow to Canales’ throat? Well, no, but this is Brenecia; the big teams get the calls like these. The minor Rozelle derby goes as expected - United have impressed this season, keeping their heads above water when expected to fail, and Pyrite Kinsman calls upon the club’s pedigree as a side that has come agonisingly close to winning titles in the past… but they can’t even test Lenore Drummond, and second-half strikes from outside the box from Romanov and Heher give the Saints a deserved win. At the bottom, the big winners are Falkner. Westpike dominate them, but can’t quite get the final ball together, the excellence of inconsistent goalkeeper Donagh denying them time and again. Westpike score twice on the day, sandwiching a cushioned header from Sibucic that Carman scrambled and failed to get to; the first a penalty, won by the guile of Rourke and converted by Cohen, the second a fatal late own goal as Karl Rodgers cluelessly headed a corner into his own net.

Falkner against the Twins looms as the six-pointer, with the Swans basically fucked (though they take a point from Southern Star, at least). Twins manager Harriet Klein’s job is widely reported to rest on the result here. So she must be relieved when Laurence Bryger, not really a goalscoring midfielder… or a very good one, for that matter, tests his luck from outside the box and winds up finding the top corner through sheer power, slamming in off the intersection of bar and post and bouncing in, Donagh nowhere near close. Falkner scramble for an equaliser, get a leveller through an impressive half-volley from an outstretched Krause that just about gets past a wrong-footed Brando, and they do get into the break level… but they don’t look convincing. A powerful strike from Hamilton, who more usually plays the provider, should probably have been saved by Donagh as it slams between his wrists, before teenage fullback Caithe Shepherd’s cross is crashed home by Tafani, rising tallest amidst a sea of defenders, to secure the win. Colm Beckwith has done a lot for Marque, thus far, but he can’t quite remove that DNA. You can take the Knox and the Byrne out of the club, but you can’t… take… the Knox and the Byrne out of the club, figuratively speaking. Point is that Shotbolt gets sent off eight minutes in, then Hagen after 74, and Rozelle United swan to a 4-1 win away that is crucial for their survival.

Kingsgrove travel to Eura, and the sprawling Benedict Lane… and fall apart. In the very first sequence of play of the game, Penhallow is pulverised by bullying Nepharim midfielder Helmut Chilmark, who hammers the ball down the flank to Leonard Sharpe, who fires hard across Solaani… who springs across goal, tipping the ball onto the post. It’s a warning, but it’s unheeded; Lazar Eleonora gets more space from Kaba, enough to cut inside and fire past an exposed Solaani. Kingsgrove pick up after that, and slick interplay between the Royals’ forwards splits up the Holdenberg defence, letting Lindauer play in Cheney past the last man and Cheney to fire between Swoboda’s feet. Union’s match follows a similar tack in Crawford, Chimera Moxham smashing a bolt from the blue past a motionless Farrell before a towering header from Blaylock levels the scores against the run of play. The difference comes in the second half of each game; Union shores up the line, holds out for the point, and even has a potential penalty not called, which is hilarious for any Brenecian neutral. Holdenberg, by contrast, smash three more past Solaani and probably end the tie.

Derdriu Wright underlines Rozelle’s tactics before the match; “Keep Sibucic quiet, and the rest will take care of itself.” It’s a rash call to make before a match that proves that Cednia Beach is far from a one-woman team; sure, Viablaine does an excellent job of silencing her countrywoman, with midfield destroyer Capricorn Marlowe adding additional bite, but Osarian marksman Odowu and the veteran Chromatik Meagan Kelly put Beach up 2-0 by half-time, with Rozelle scrabbling for purchase. There needs to be a change of approach, and there is; from the very get-go, the Saints go for the throat, and Ashbrown wins a slightly fortunate penalty just three minutes into the second half, slotted home by Heher. Heher levels the scores soon afterwards, finding time and space outside the box and slamming the ball into the top corner, before finishing a virtuoso performance by laying on the assist for overlapping Mriin leftback Pia Levaani, who scuffs an incredibly defender’s finish past Ganaku. But Isla Sibucic isn’t done yet; Viablaine can’t do anything to stop her taking up a direct free kick, gliding it over the wall and just under the crossbar, Drummond totally blindsided. Advantage Rozelle… just.

Bwubanza City SC have already beaten a second-tier side in the process of promotion in the form of Finbar Stalwarts; the team the Stalwarts are going to replace, Swanbridge, prove a tougher prospect. Interim manager Trouble Pearce, another former player like Nawalka who has no illusions of taking the job long-term, knows what the season has become; “Survival is not a realistic prospect. We were not prepared for a top-flight season. So, we’re looking to give the fans as many moments as we can, and that means giving our all in the SBCC.” They pick all their best players, which apparently no longer includes Huele, and go out with a freedom they just haven’t had in Brenecia all season. A flicked pass from Broune finds the veteran striker Brittain to stroke home, before Ridenton and Lockston finish them off in the second half. It’s a slightly flattering scoreline, and Filip Sabatka made his share of saves, but at last, the Swans were clinical where it counted.

Pikemouth haven’t had much joy this season, and there’s accusations levelled at Tailtiu Brennan - who is already rumoured to have verbally agreed a job abroad - has her head in the clouds. But she can, at least, smash Swanbridge 4-1. Still, an aging team just seems a little past it, apart from an overly callow forward trident, and attempts to shuffle the deck by rotating in the likes of Clayborn, Braithwaite, Alberwerth and Woods have been undercut by the fact that none of these players are very good. Serious surgery is going to be required, and Brennan - just about the best candidate to perform it - is unlikely to be there for the rebuild. Lotus Park manage the most eye-catching result of the day, with Rozelle stunned 3-0 on home soil. There’s no mitigating factors; no major injuries, no real rotation, no bad breaks or red cards or unlucky penalties. “We were just terrible,” says Derdriu Wright, who has already picked up a reputation for not mincing words, “and they were good.” It’s the first real set back of Wright’s tenure, but a welcome boost to Park, who are eager to steer clear of the dogfight at the bottom.

Kingsgrove need a 3-0 win, and their fans dare to dream when Penhallow sets up a spectacular strike from Cheney, lofting the ball over the top for the winger to leap and reach out a meaty right leg to flick the ball past Swoboda. The dream catches in their throats and dies when Eleonora sets up compatriot Holsteiner with a stooping header past Solaani. Lindauer strikes back, but then so does Brancaleone Arcuri in the 78th minute; a good result in isolation for the Royals, but they crash out. Crawford start brightest against Union, Moxham hitting the post just six minutes in, but they’re thrown off their stride when Union’s first corner of the match leads to their first shot on target, Garrett Horgan with a forceful downward header that just leaves Weschler too much to do. Garrard’s far-post header is another smack in the mouth on the brink of half-time, and while Karpaty, as he so often does, finds a goal from nowhere and rejuvenates hope, a piledriver from Considine snuffs it out.

Rozelle go out with a less defensive lineup, but wind up with a more conventional game. A tense first half manages to sting both Ganaku’s and Drummond’s palms a few times, but by and large both sides are still testing one another. This ends when Sofia Falcon just tries to smash one in from range just before the hour, a low-percentage option borne from frustration, but one that winds up finding the top corner and being hailed as a genius move. Beach strike back, Sibucic crashing through the centre, deftly playing a one-two with Obowu before chipping the dithering Drummond - not exactly a sweeper-keeper - but Levaani, hero of the first leg, again plays a decisive role with a cutting through-ball that lets Romanov slot home the clincher. Unfortunately for the Saints, Viablaine picks up a second yellow card late on for chopping down Isla Sibucic, and while it’s too late to let Beach back into the game, she’ll miss the next match.

Half an hour in, Swanbridge look terrible, and Bwubanza are a goal up; it really looks like they might choke on their lead, especially with a handful of key players rested. But then Huele strikes from the blue. Twice. Before setting up Broune to make it 3-1 by the interval, 6-1 on aggregate. Bwubanza claw another back, and Huele pretty much just chills the rest of the game, secure in having played his part.

Tana Colbright’s Stallions have been floundering after a strong start to the season, but a visit to the vaguely nearby Twins looms as a chance to make up for recent reverses. The first half-hour plays out as expected, the Stallions dominating possession against the cautious Twins, the Stallions taking the lead when Drake’s clever quick free kick plays Cronin through a startled defence, Cronin firing past a stranded Brando. And then Tafani scores in the 41st and 44th minutes to stun their guests, from which they never recover; shambolic defending lets Stanger and Fenwick add to the scoreline in the second half, before in stoppage time, a pretty much unmarked Markus Costello makes it five from a corner. Union only barely salvage a point against a confident, professional Southern Star, Cass Farrell keeping Union in the game with a slew of saves before a late leveller from Calindra Apelles underlines the Starblaydi prospect’s increasing value to the side. North Hall fans have to feel conflicted; their side visits Kingsgrove, and comes away with a point. Great result for Hall, but they’re gonna finish third basically no matter what; and it means Union aren’t quite knocked out of the title race yet.

All four matches end with clean sheet victories, but not always to the team you’d expect. Southern Star were certainly favourites to beat Lotus Park on home soil, but 3-0? Nevertheless it’s a just reward for their dominance across midfield, and the lethality of Kara Ciogach up front, the striker taken off after 55 minutes with a brace to her name and the game safe. Marque’s match against the Stallions is poor, neither side really being able to say they ‘deserved’ a result, but it’s the Stallions who get it when Leo Coveney scythes down Vincent in the box. Up steps Leonardo Ducaldo… but the penalty is dreadful, too close to the centre, and Scanlan Pritchard sweeps it away with a boot. Only as far as Siobhan Bonner, though, who sweeps it home past the luckless young stopper. Saint Alexander beat Mount Roland decisively, 2-0, while Westpike stun Kingsgrove and inflict their first domestic defeat of the entire campaign with a Na’Saan strike.

Kingsgrove are in kind of a slump at the moment, though it feels absurd to say; they haven’t scored in their past two games, and have won just one of their last five in all competitions. Letson Town are strong opponents, and fancy themselves to knock the Royals off their perch. Well, the Royals smash five goals past Juan Pablo Morales, their passing crisp and confident and their finishing clinical. Union are very, well, Union, in a 2-0 win over Pascal Mushu; solid, compact, professional, and with the cutting edge to strike down their tiring opponents in the second half.

At this stage, it would take a monumental choke for Kingsgrove to cede the title. Their record is faintly ludicrous; still unbeaten, having dropped only six points all season, and scored 63 goals. They visit Lotus Park, a side with a decent enough defensive record, and take a sledgehammer to it. A clever disguised pass from Corvey is slipped home by Lindauer, a mazy solo goal from Cheney, a thumping piledriver from Ruskin, a thumping piledriver from Corvey, another goal for Cheney, Culbreth comes off the bench to angle home a header, and Kielseng cuts back for Kristina Wise to make it 7-0. Northern Union are punched in the teeth early by Pikemouth and Graham Petrie, and a deft Cail Coghlan is waved off for a narrow offside; they recover with three second-half goals to win 3-1, but they’re still eight points behind with eight games left to play, and a likely insurmountable level of GD behind at that. Meanwhile, remember how the Stallions were ensconced safely in fourth with a comfortable crumple zone of six points? Well, now they’re fifth, four points out of the top four, after sputtering to a scoreless draw at home against a Chafford side winless in seven. North Hall are third, despite a high-scoring draw with Scaffield, while Rozelle annihilate Westpike 4-0 to continue their revival under Derdriu Wright, thought to be on the verge of securing the job full-time. Southern Star, who have drawn over half their games this season, and Marque, who hammer lowly Swanbridge 5-1, leapfrog Scaffield (on goal difference) and Pikemouth to round out the top seven.

The relegation picture has marginally narrowed over the past few games, with the faintly ludicrous position of 10th through 15th each being separated by exactly a point, team-by-team. Rozelle United beat the Twins in a crunch tie, the impressive Riona Parker striking a second-half brace from midfield to make the difference in a 3-2 win. Chafford’s draw against the Stallions was a good point, but it still leaves them in the shit. Swanbridge - hammered 5-1 by Marque - are basically guaranteed to trade places with Finbar Stalwarts, who have only conceded eight goals all season. It looks like second place in the second tier is coming down to a straight fight between goalshy but efficient Francisca Orient, Gallant Cross and Rosbank Town.

Lotus Park are basically doomed as soon as Star score five minutes into the game, Jorm Vahn with a towering header. Star double their advantage when Jorm Vahn scores a towering header just after the hour. Turns out, satyrs are hard to beat in the air, and while former Kingsgrove leftback Clementine Raven’s defensive ability has been questioned, what she brings going forward really cannot be. The Stallions’ poor recent form is reflected in a drab defeat at home against Marque, where Marque’s excellent backup goalkeeper Scanlan Pritchard goes on to make three decisive saves in the penalty shootout to secure the Privateers’ progress. Mount Roland annihilate Saint Alexander, two teams playing characteristically direct but uncharacteristically thrilling football, Mount Roland very much spurred on by needing to overcome the deficit; they do, just about, winning 4-1 on the day and 4-3 on aggregate. Meanwhile, Westpike just lost 4-0. Kingsgrove just won 7-0. Kingsgrove host Westpike. The result is pretty obvious; Westpike win 4-0, a confident performance spearheaded by sturdy midfielder Soleil Davenport’s drive and determination, Tzipporah Cohen with the finishing touch on a brace, 19-year old Malakai Rookwood imperious between the posts. Wait, what?

Northern Union and Kingsgrove both have commanding away leads, and neither lets them slip. The Brenecian dominance in the CEDC has reached an absurd level; the last six tournaments have been produced eleven Brenecian finalists, and a sixth straight Brenecian victory is now guaranteed.

A-LEAGUE

Pos Team                     P   W   D   L For  Ag  +/- Pts
  1 Kingsgrove              22  19   3   0  63  12  +51  60
  2 Northern Union          22  15   7   0  40  10  +30  52
  3 North Hall              22  10  10   2  35  15  +20  40
  4 Rozelle                 22  11   4   7  40  24  +16  37
  5 Northern Stallions      22   9   6   7  37  26  +11  33
  6 Southern Star           22   6  12   4  37  31   +6  30
  7 Marque                  22   8   6   8  32  29   +3  30
  8 Scaffield               22   8   6   8  30  38   -8  30
  9 Pikemouth               22   7   7   8  26  26   +0  28
 10 Westpike                22   5   9   8  28  40  -12  24
 11 Lotus Park              22   5   8   9  22  40  -18  23
 12 Rozelle United          22   6   4  12  23  32   -9  22
 13 Falkner United          22   6   3  13  24  41  -17  21
 14 Twin Saints             22   5   5  12  25  40  -15  20
 15 Chafford                22   4   7  11  16  30  -14  19
 16 AFC Swanbridge          22   1   5  16  29  73  -44   8

B-LEAGUE

Pos Team                      P   W  D   L For  Ag  +/- Pts
  1 Finbar Stalwarts         22  16  3   3  38   8  +30  51
  2 Francisca Orient         22  13  5   4  25  14  +11  44
  3 Gallant Cross            22  13  2   7  52  27  +25  41
  4 Rosbank Town             22  12  5   5  36  18  +18  41
  5 Saint Alexander          22  10  5   7  24  21   +3  35
  6 Proudcastle              22   9  5   8  25  20   +5  32
  7 Snowden River            22   8  8   6  28  24   +4  32
  8 Westpike United          22   9  4   9  28  36   -8  31
  9 Rozelle Alliance         22   8  6   8  31  27   +4  30
 10 Mount Roland             22   9  3  10  18  22   -4  30
 11 Guilder                  22   7  7   8  15  20   -5  28
 12 Southside Wanderers      22   6  8   8  21  24   -3  26
 13 Chrysler Town            22   5  8   9  31  45  -14  23
 14 Stourhead                22   5  4  13  17  24   -7  19
 15 Pride of the South       22   2  6  14  25  51  -26  12
 16 Spearcove Mariners       22   2  5  15  17  50  -33  11

C-LEAGUE

Pos Team                    P   W  D   L For  Ag  +/- Pts
  1 Coppersmith            22  18  1   3  46  17  +29  55
  2 Knightstone FC         22  13  6   3  38  17  +21  45
  3 Otter Ferry            22  12  4   6  44  26  +18  40
  4 Sharrow                22  11  6   5  41  27  +14  39
  5 Ridgeway United        22  10  7   5  34  21  +13  37
  6 Southrons-Errant       22  11  2   9  52  34  +18  35
  7 Silvershire Town       22  10  5   7  27  29   -2  35
  8 Fentonbridge           22   9  5   8  20  18   +2  32
  9 Marque Rovers          22   9  4   9  38  37   +1  31
 10 Randwick Town          22   8  5   9  24  21   +3  29
 11 Falkner Wanderers      22   7  6   9  20  21   -1  27
 12 Heathgrove             22   6  6  10  17  37  -20  24
 13 Shaleport Rangers      22   5  6  11  20  33  -13  21
 14 Falkner Crescent       22   3  5  14  23  55  -32  14
 15 Crest                  22   1  9  12  15  35  -20  12
 16 Swayback               22   3  3  16  22  53  -31  12

D-LEAGUE

Pos Team                    P   W   D   L For  Ag  +/- Pts
  1 Stonewash Town         22  16   3   3  59  21  +38  51
  2 AFC Conomore           22  14   4   4  38  14  +24  46
  3 Platwood               22  13   6   3  43  22  +21  45
  4 Razorback Hill         22  13   4   5  44  22  +22  43
  5 Alexavale FC           22  10   7   5  57  33  +24  37
  6 Suttonstrand FC        22  10   4   8  33  25   +8  34
  7 Glendower Rider        22   9   5   8  37  34   +3  32
  8 Northern Fist          22   8   5   9  40  48   -8  29
  9 Chafford Saracens      22   5  11   6  32  33   -1  26
 10 Dannecliff Rovers      22   8   2  12  30  46  -16  26
 11 Fisher Kings           22   6   7   9  25  24   +1  25
 12 Rushden                22   7   4  11  34  42   -8  25
 13 Corder Town            22   5   6  11  29  44  -15  21
 14 Pikemouth United       22   5   4  13  28  50  -22  19
 15 Alnwick Glade          22   3   7  12  19  42  -23  16
 16 Thrush                 22   3   3  16  19  67  -48  12

by **Brenecia** » Tue Jun 11, 2019 12:31 am

A stunning victory for a rampant Rozelle, facing sturdy opposition in SC Rinaldi. The Saints play assertive, confident football, unrecognisable to the way they started this season, and all three of their goals - two finished by Crawford, one by Romanov - are slick team efforts before the hour mark. They can’t quite keep up the head of steam, and finish out the game steadily, with a couple of nervy moments saved by Lenore Drummond. They’re now in a very, very strong position to progress.

You ever wish the A-League sucked again? These matches are full of solid defense, sensible tactics, only a moderate amount of rain… meanwhile, in the fourth tier, Suttonstrand pummel Thrush 11-1. Well, at least Union’s match against Rozelle, one they absolutely have to win to stay in the title race, takes place in bucketing rain. And Rozelle aren’t making North Hall’s mistake, of ‘putting up a fight’. Derdriu Wright says, with a straight face, that she’s resting a few key players (Blackburn, Levaani, Heher, Falcon, Romanov, Crawford, Ashbrown...) to ‘unlock the Union defence with pace’ while ‘focusing on the Globe Cup’. Jokes on her, the B-Listers of Rozelle want to put up a fight, and a snap-shot from Hamaad Siddique (the 33-year old’s still got it!) catches out Farrell, who isn’t yet quite the world-class goalkeeper Union can see her becoming, to put the Saints ahead. It takes a brutal slog through the muddy, shitty terrain before Blaylock can force home a shot from close range, while in the process of falling over on top of Sandra Chilton, before Kit Kvanderwyk still shows he has a little capacity for stardust remaining, lofting a beautiful ball over the top for Elyn Hennessey to angle a header past Drummond in stoppage time. “The performance of champions,” Erin Camden says after the match, with a straight face.

Rozelle just needed to avoid collapsing; they did that, and more. When Jackie Crawford’s looping knock-on header found the run of Nightjar Evans at the far post, the winger flicking between Stensrud’s feet, the game was pretty much over 28 minutes in. Rinaldi were in need of five unanswered goals; none of it came through, with Parrett coming on from the bench to sucker-punch their hosts on the break in stoppage time.

Kingsgrove take their revenge on Westpike in an oddly bloodless demolition; Westpike have 22% of the ball and do not manage to take a shot, on or off target, Kingsgrove just crowding them off the ball at every shot. Na’Saan very nearly gets off a shot in stoppage time, but a leg-breaker from Staunton crunches her into the ground. Union leave it late to keep up, Carrack lofting in a desparate cross, Blaylock seeming to hang forever in the air … before powering home a header into the top corner, Marcia Bannatyne floundering. Marque’s goalkeeper, a former Brenecia international, is perhaps a touch past her best… but Marque will feel filthy about defensive errors costing them in a game they could well have won. And it’s a good day for the weaker sides; the Twins sucker-punch Lotus Park with a flukey penalty earned late on, Caitriona Hamilton pretty transparently aiming to cross the ball directly into Jasper Redwood’s hand, Rozelle United pulverise Northern Stallions 5-1 as their young squad and old manager continue to punch well above their weight, and Swanbridge win a game! Calli Kerris, returning from an injury sustained during their last win a couple months back, opens the scoring form leftback with a swerving strike that skids under Childress, before Isla Ridenton cuts between Wickham and Lovelace, plays a clever one-two with the tall tower of Brittain before caressing the ball gently past Childress. Lukas Szymon underlines his value to Scaffield by smashing home a goal back, then underlines his reputation by getting sent off five minutes later; the Swans hold on for the win.

Sometimes, the obvious fixture for neutrals to watch is actually just better. Anyone turning to Westpike’s trip to Mount Roland and hoping for some kind of repeat of their slaughtering Kingsgrove would be deeply disappointed, as disjointed passing and destructive enemy tackling means Westpike fail to garner a clear chance, missing Na’Saan through injury for probably the rest of the season and suffering for it, reliant on a moment of brilliance from Davenport to clear some space for herself and fire a late equaliser home from just outside the box. Nah, the best viewing is Southern Star, going full tilt for the Cup, demolishing the Stallions. At least, from the attacking side of things; the Stallions start well, and find early joy when a Ruby Bronze strike catches the wind and arcs over a scrambling Vanza-Jerat. Things look to be going even better for them when they seem to get a let-off, after Ciogach is felled by Mathers but Emerjade Mercer beats away the penalty from Rico Hemnes… into the path of Kara Ciogach, who springs into action and slams home the rebound. Ciogach gets her second just four minutes later, not exactly the tallest of players but still having to stoop to find a whipped cross from countrywoman Maria Young and nod it into the net, before being denied a hat-trick by a spectacular double save from Emerjade Mercer. But it doesn’t go all Mercer’s way; Sarkozy Zsuska, finding space, fires low and straight at her… and the ball just goes through her legs. The Stallions punch back early in the second half, Keane Mathers making amends by crashing home a corner from Drake that dropped perfectly on his head, but it’s Star’s day; Nailah Marrigan blasting a direct free kick into the top corner to seal the match, though by no means the tie.

There’s an obvious front-runner, but it would be amiss not to mention Falkner slamming Rozelle United’s head into a wall, five times. Andrea Krause has flickered, but today she burns brightly, two goals and two assists as she runs rampant down the right, Rozelle United’s young, callow squad unable to work their way through Falkner’s seasoned veterans. More importantly, though, it’s time for the Classic, in a tightly-poised title race between still-unbeaten sides. Union are known for being able to put a chokehold on any match, but with Kingsgrove visiting, that isn’t what they need. What unfolds is surreal for any long-time follower of the league; Union pressing hard for a win with disjointed passing, mental pressure seemingly weighing them down, while Kingsgrove are happy enough to sit back, tackle hard and leave Cheney, Lindauer and Corvey poised to spring on the break. But Union never can quite go for broke, never do expose their jugular - just wait for a goal to arrive on their doorstep, and it doesn’t. Very nearly, though, when slick passes from Hennessey to Varghese to Apelles disorient the Royals’ defence, Apelles slides through Dakota Blaylock through on goal, but Mara Solaani rushes across, makes herself big, and Blaylock can only slam the ball into her chest. He visibly screams with frustration; that was it! That was the chance, with just four minutes left to play! But it’s not to be, and that might just be Union’s hopes of the title, slipping away.

Kara Ciogach has already had a real breakthrough season, but it’s clear by now that Star look to her above all others to make the difference. The Stallions dominate the first half, but every time a Star player gets their hands on the ball… well, in one case literally, which causes the minor difficulty of a penalty that Ruby Bronze duly slots home, but every time they’re in possession they seem to aim to find Ciogach. A speculative Hail Mary from Marrigan does indeed find her in full flight, chesting it down as she races behind the Stallions’ sluggish central defenders, before hooking the ball past Mercer. The Stallions fail to break through in the second half, and things get worse still when Ciogach plays provider, finding young strike partner Jess Kijanskas as she runs late into the box, Kijanskas slotting home breezily past an exposed Mercer to seal the game as well as secure the tie. Westpike ease in front early on, cutting a far more confident figure on their damp flatlands than in the eerie altitude of the away leg. Janna Gerrard spins past two markers and slams home with space you don’t find in the A-League six minutes in, and while Mount Roland sharpen up, they’re always chasing the game, eventually paying for it when Gerrard scores her second on the break.

A Qastyr side that’s becoming more and more of a force to be reckoned with at this level has to see Union as an achievable scalp… and so Union have to do their best to grind their spirit under their heel. That they do, with a dispiriting clinical edge in the first half; Starek left without a chance as a Blaylock header, a fairly pedestrian far-post tap-in from Hennessey and then a rather spectacular volley from the same player into the ceiling of the net ensure a 3-0 lead by half-time, perhaps already an insurmountable lead. Then again, perhaps not? Veteran winger Roisin Carroll, a former Kingsgrove player and accordingly jeered with every single touch, has not lost her ability to conjure up something out of nothing; her cross finds the burly Nepharim winger, Berisha, on the opposite flank, to chest down and fire a crucial away goal between Farrell’s feet. But a thumping drive from Shea Considine that agonisingly slips through Starek’s fingers with sheer power manages to restore the three-goal margin.

Tragically, the typical Nepharim approach wins through, as the appropriately-named Sabrefell Athletic practice their physical style of football, brutalising the Saints and shunting them out of the game with a permissive referee. The game is marked by the influence of Athletic’s three strikers on the night; Xixi Ens, who slips past two markers and whips a powerful finish past Drummond’s near post, Sipke Tarala, who spins a first touch into a forceful finish from the edge of the box, and the substitute Sinan Uzunlar, whose scything late challenge rules Sofia Falcon out for the rest of the season. He’s sent off for his troubles, but Derdriu Wright’s used all three substitutes, and the game petres out 10v10.

A brilliant performance for the Swans, their best of the season, masterminded by what is easily the shining light of Huele’s time here. Unsurprisingly, the Sameban’s at his best sticking it to Eurans, and while he doesn’t get on the scoresheet himself - though he hits a post - he sets up three assists. The only blemish is Sherry Lockston missing the chance to really underline the victory further, getting her feet twisted up and missing a sitter from three yards. Still, is it possible that the Swans could somehow wring a trophy out of a miserable season?

Controversy at the bottom of the table, drama at the top. Swanbridge have caught SBCC fever, and with their relegation certain, a callow squad puts in a callow performance. Rook Asquith’s Chafford have continued to struggle for goals, still struggling to find the right striker - Kinsella Morant can hold up and run but not finish, Swen Fassbinder can sort of finish but can’t run, Bernard Leckie can’t really do anything - but the former gets the nod against Swanbridge and gets the job done by smashing down the door with two early headers, both won by more or less clambering over Swanbridge defenders to flail onto the end of Violet Barrister’s crosses. Barrister, lively on the left against a past-it Ferry Noonan, strikes one of her own on the half-hour mark, and home fans are already starting to leave even before Karsten Riordan joins in from leftback, making it 4-0 by the half. 19-year old Ashley Crane finishes the humiliation, wheeling inside Chenery hard enough to make the burly defender fall over before just about scraping a finish past Sabatka, finishing a humiliation. They celebrate, but other weak sides are incandescent; did Swanbridge really just compromise the relegation battle by resting almost all their best players? Falkner’s last-minute concession to Rozelle, the fifth goal in a true thriller when Ashbrown gets just enough space to break free and smash one into the top corner, makes Chafford’s three points even more galling.

Southern Star already came close to breaking down Kingsgrove at home, only denied in stoppage time. Well, now it’s their turn to unapologetically play spoiler, but they do it their way, Vahn and Ciogach pressing high from the front, the preference of midfield destroyer Hefina Riverstake their only concession to their opponents’ strength. And it pays off, Kingsgrove are unsettled, forced into uncharacteristic errors… and one of them is pounced upon by their former fullback, Clementine Raven, who slips between Wise and Staunton to steal what should have been a safe pass, nipping away from Staunton and breaking to the right as Kingsgrove’s defence scatters to cover, then scything between Kaba and Gray with a perfectly timed pass that Kara Ciogach snaps onto the end of, before rushing down and rounding Solaani, sidefooting into an empty net. It’s the only goal of the game, hard though Kingsgrove press, with Vanza-Gerat - whose error let Kingsgrove in in the reverse fixture - making three great late saves, throwing himself at the corners of the net to deny the Royals this time. And unbelievably, the final whistle blows; and Kingsgrove’s invincible season is over. Union, revitalised, smash Scaffield 4-0… but what if they can’t catch up? With their own unbeaten record?

Union shut it down away from home, just like Erin Camden likes it. A double pivot in midfield of Capodanno and Valdemarsson more or less stops any possible creativity or excitement from entering the game, and Vauxhall Hayne - breaking through two defenders with the ball before smashing past an onrushing Starek - provides the only goal of the game. Hondo FC await.

Rozelle begin in the perfect fashion in Sabrefell, overcoming the oppressive atmosphere, but there feels like an overreliant approach on trying to walk the ball into the net, as Ivo Romanov eventually does, set up by a raking ball across the face of goal from Ashbrown. But then Orsolya Gere, threatening all game thus far, drops a cross on Sipke Tarala’s head. The Vilitan marksman’s only had this chance all first half; he only needs one, and puts it beyond Drummond, who can only push it deeper into the net as she sprawls across. Rozelle can’t revive themselves in the second half, and more slide than crash out of the Globe Cup - but they can still be proud of their performances.

Oh, Swanbridge…

Things remain tense at the top, but Union don’t seem to feel the pressure, sweeping the Twins aside with ease. Kingsgrove have to bounce back from defeat with a visit to an inconsistent Pikemouth side, with Tailtiu Brennan - by now, confirmed to be departing at the end of the season - hoping to mastermind one final great result. Kingsgrove dominate the ball, and seem to dominate the game, but they just can’t find that final ball as Pikemouth rush down chance after chance. Hoffmann very nearly smothers everything, not quite - a single time, Lauren Cheney slips in front of him, nips the ball away from from his grasp with a deft poke of the toe and stabs the ball into an empty net. But the worry is there in the air that they’ll regret failures, other times, not to test Hoffmann more seriously… and they’re realised, in the 89th minute, when Graham Petrie chests down a long ball from Green and flicks it over the top of the back four, Cail Coghlan springing free - slightly offside, at that - bringing down and firing past Mara Solaani before she can make the call to stick or twist. There’s still time for a Kingsgrove corner, for Olympia Gray to rise highest, and head… directly at Hoffmann. Kingsgrove have dropped points - again. Rozelle hammer Marque 5-0, with the Privateers losing Shotbolt and Bristoll to red cards over the course of the game, and Westpike further remove themselves from the drop zone, the only relegation battlers to win in a dire 1-0 victory over Chafford, a towering header from Cohen making the difference.

A third straight win for Westpike sees them break clear of the relegation picture. Twice against the floundering Stallions do they get an edge through slick one-twos between Nepharim veteran striker Tzipporah Cohen and flashy Brenecian winger Monika Rourke, which each setting up the other for a goal in either half, the Stallions pulling one back through Coulthirst late on. Beneath them, Twin Saints pick up the big win, a heroic effort from Brunella Tafani more or less single-handedly dragging them over the line against Star, definitely against the run of play but nicely showcasing their grit. Kingsgrove, meanwhile, host Rozelle in a tense as hell derby, with the Saints eager to haul down their fiercest rivals. After a tense, goalless first half, Lauren Cheney takes advantage of some sloppy marking to steal in behind Siddique and tap home a beautiful through-ball from Penhallow, before setting up Corvey to flick home the second with her heel. And that puts paid to the Saints’ ambitions… until it doesn’t. When Heher steps up for a free kick, anything can happen. She arcs one towards the sea of purple and white shirts in the box, countryman Gylve Roniger rises highest to head the ball back across the box… and only Ivo Romanov has held back, drifting off that side, to tap the ball past a desperately covering Kielseng and batter a strike past Solaani. Just four minutes later, Romanov strikes again, cutting inside Kaba hard enough to make a fool of the Apoxian before dragging a horribly slow shot beyond Solaani, ever so slightly tucking inside the post… Kingsgrove fight back hard, Rozelle play dirty. Capricorn Marlowe is brought on in the 76th minute and sent off in the 85th. Corvey rattles the bar, Cheney dances free of everyone before botching the finish right into Drummond’s chest, but all to no avail; the day is Rozelle’s. And, more relevantly, Union’s - as they’re fresh off devouring Chafford 3-0, and inch, for the first time, within striking distance...

That scoreline again… Union have had something different in their locker this season, and not been overly distracted by their league travails. It’s not just doughty, resilient performances that are their mark anymore. Not just an overabundance of greybeards. No, Union have been assertive, even thrilling at times this season, masterminded by Erin Camden and her carefully blank expression on the touchline. And the culmination - 45 minutes in against Hondo FC, they are 4-0 up. Garrard, Chaumancer, Considine, Blaylock. One set piece, three from open play, two from passing moves and one from a simple cross to head. The tie is not over; Hondo would progress with a 3-0 win in Valanora. But Union don’t open the gates so readily abroad.

Union concede for the first time after a run of four clean sheets, when Cass Farrell does her old club, the Stallions, a good turn; a powerful strike from Bronze she can only parry into the path of Coulthirst, the brawny striker almost tripping over himself to sweep home the rebound. But Union fight, hard; they’ll always fight. Cu Roi Garrard rattles a strike almost casually into the underside of the crossbar, before Viola Capodanno scores a rare goal, starting a move by picking Drake’s pocket, moving it to Carrack, to Garrard, to Varghese then back to Capodanno to smash home from the edge of the box. A deflected strike in the second half from Hennessey deceives the imperious but creaking Ajaara, leaving him helplessly knelt as the ball goes by, 3-1 the final score, all eyes on Marque. As Scowcroft capitalises on a blunder from the shaky deputising leftback Convery, cutting inside and scooping the ball over Solaani. Kingsgrove fight and fight to get back into the game, and they get back in the game only through that most Union of ways, a scrappy corner that towering centre-half Gray moves heaven and earth to get to and head home. A second is not forthcoming. For the first time since the race really cemented itself, Union move up to the top of the table. Victory over Rozelle United at home will secure the title.

By now, it’s confirmed that Finbar Stalwarts and Francisca Orient will be promoted, and two-win Swanbridge have long been assured of relegation. But one slot still remains, with four - realistically, three - sides battling to avoid it. Rozelle United squeeze out a point in a terrible stalemate with Westpike; they’re only three points out of danger, but their goal difference is all but mathematically insurmountable. Despite a narrow 1-0 defeat to Pikemouth, the Twins are in the strongest position, level on points and with a slight goal difference advantage. It’s probably down to Chafford or Falkner - both defeated, by Southern Star and Lotus Park respectively, and you’d better believe the Lotus faithful enjoyed putting their local rivals one foot into the second tier. Chafford lead by a point and nine goals, even with, by a distance, the worst GF in the league. Chafford face Pikemouth, at home. Falkner? Falkner visit Kingsgrove, needing to win. No pressure!

With their lead, Union are out to spoil; not even a 2-0 win would be enough for Hondo, but 3-0 would; and Hondo can certainly score three on their day. Today is not their day, Union defending with discipline, in numbers, choking down chances and chopping down forwards, rotating fouls unashamedly. A scoreless draw is a result, and Union are going to the Final, to face off against the Sabrefell Moths.

A-LEAGUE

Pos Team                     P   W   D   L For  Ag  +/- Pts
  1 Northern Union          29  21   8   0  57  14  +43  71
  2 Kingsgrove              29  21   7   1  71  17  +54  70
  3 North Hall              29  16  10   3  50  19  +31  58
  4 Rozelle                 29  15   6   8  57  34  +23  51
  5 Northern Stallions      29  13   6  10  47  37  +10  45
  6 Marque                  29  12   7  10  44  41   +3  43
  7 Southern Star           29   9  12   8  48  41   +7  39
  8 Pikemouth               29  10   9  10  37  36   +1  39
  9 Westpike                29   8  11  10  34  45  -11  35
 10 Lotus Park              29   9   8  12  33  48  -15  35
 11 Scaffield               29   9   7  13  36  52  -16  34
 12 Rozelle United          29   7   6  16  32  47  -15  27
 13 Twin Saints             29   7   6  16  31  51  -20  27
 14 Chafford                29   6   7  16  25  41  -16  25
 15 Falkner United          29   7   3  19  35  60  -25  24
 16 AFC Swanbridge          29   2   7  20  36  90  -54  13

B-LEAGUE

Pos Team                      P   W  D   L For  Ag  +/- Pts
  1 Finbar Stalwarts         29  20  6   3  49  12  +37  66
  2 Francisca Orient         29  18  7   4  36  18  +18  61
  3 Gallant Cross            29  16  4   9  65  33  +32  52
  4 Rosbank Town             29  14  8   7  43  25  +18  50
  5 Westpike United          29  14  6   9  44  41   +3  48
  6 Snowden River            29  12  9   8  38  28  +10  45
  7 Rozelle Alliance         29  12  7  10  43  31  +12  43
  8 Proudcastle              29  12  6  11  30  24   +6  42
  9 Saint Alexander          29  11  7  11  27  28   -1  40
 10 Mount Roland             29  11  3  15  21  30   -9  36
 11 Southside Wanderers      29   8 10  11  26  31   -5  34
 12 Guilder                  29   8 10  11  20  30  -10  34
 13 Chrysler Town            29   6 10  13  38  62  -24  28
 14 Stourhead                29   6  8  15  25  35  -10  26
 15 Pride of the South       29   3  9  17  32  68  -36  18
 16 Spearcove Mariners       29   2  8  19  22  63  -41  14

C-LEAGUE

Pos Ceam                    P   W  D   L For  Ag  +/- Pts
  1 Coppersmith            29  22  2   5  56  22  +34  68
  2 Otter Ferry            29  19  4   6  64  31  +33  61
  3 Knightstone FC         29  17  7   5  47  27  +20  58
  4 Southrons-Errant       29  17  2  10  71  43  +28  53
  5 Ridgeway United        29  14 10   5  46  26  +20  52
  6 Sharrow                29  13  8   8  46  35  +11  47
  7 Fentonbridge           29  13  6  10  37  28   +9  45
  8 Marque Rovers          29  12  6  11  44  42   +2  42
  9 Silvershire Town       29  11  5  13  33  44  -11  38
 10 Randwick Town          29  10  6  13  30  29   +1  36
 11 Heathgrove             29   9  6  14  26  50  -24  33
 12 Shaleport Rangers      29   8  7  14  30  40  -10  31
 13 Falkner Wanderers      29   7  9  13  23  32   -9  30
 14 Falkner Crescent       29   5  7  17  34  68  -34  22
 15 Swayback               29   5  4  20  32  69  -37  19
 16 Crest                  29   1  9  19  17  50  -33  12

D-LEAGUE

Pos Team                    P   W   D   L For  Ag  +/- Pts
  1 Stonewash Town         29  22   3   4  80  26  +54  69
  2 Razorback Hill         29  18   4   7  58  30  +28  58
  3 AFC Conomore           29  16   7   6  46  20  +26  55
  4 Platwood               29  14  11   4  52  30  +22  53
  5 Chafford Saracens      29  12  11   6  48  35  +13  47
  6 Suttonstrand FC        29  14   4  11  58  37  +21  46
  7 Alexavale FC           29  12   9   8  66  47  +19  45
  8 Fisher Kings           29  11   7  11  41  37   +4  40
  9 Northern Fist          29  11   7  11  50  59   -9  40
 10 Glendower River        29  11   5  13  45  49   -4  38
 11 Rushden                29   7   8  14  41  53  -12  29
 12 Dannecliff Rovers      29   8   5  16  38  65  -27  29
 13 Corder Town            29   6   8  15  38  55  -17  26
 14 Alnwick Glade          29   5   9  15  25  52  -27  24
 15 Pikemouth United       29   6   6  17  35  65  -30  24
 16 Thrush                 29   5   4  20  27  88  -61  19

by **Brenecia** » Thu Jun 13, 2019 2:18 am

FINAL MATCHDAY
The situation is clear. Union, hosting Rozelle United, can seal the title with a win; anything less will allow Kingsgrove, hosting Falkner United, to steal in front. If Falkner do somehow win, Chafford (hosting Pikemouth), the Twins (hosting Rozelle) or, mathematically, Rozelle United would be battling not to replace them.

It would be nice to pretend that there was literally any tension. There’s not. Lauren Cheney and Creidne Lindauer both rattle shots past the venerable Jancis Adrian in the first fifteen minutes, and frankly, are the Hunters ever going to seriously contest the game after that point? Which leads to the other question, as Royals fans nervously check their phones; will Union choke against a lower-midtable side with basically nothing to play for?

No.

By the time the dust has settled, Union have a 3-0 win, having pretty much entirely negated an apathetic Rozelle United. Their confidence is underlined by the rotation of a couple of players, with Vauxhall Hayne replacing Dakota Blaylock (and notching up the third goal) and Kit Kvanderwyk making, in all likelihood, his domestic swansong (and getting an assist, in an otherwise quiet match by his lofty standards). Kingsgrove controlled the rest of the first half, then vented their frustrations on Falkner with three more goals in the second half, totally unanswered. Falkner fall out of the league for the first time since the first season of the modern era; they made an immediate return back then, boasting Titania Pratchett in goal. They will hope to manage the same return act, but it won’t be with Pratchett this time, the manager’s axing confirmed just two days later.

And as a postscript: Swanbridge manage a scoreless draw against Lotus Park. It is their first clean sheet of the season.

Kingsgrove get the opportunity to immediately avenge themselves, as, yes, they have predictably made the CEDC Final alongside Northern Union. Union again shuffle the deck. They’re looking forward to a Champions Cup final in a week’s time - but that’s another story. Interest has generally been fairly low across the region in all-Brenecia finals, for understandable reasons, but this is… well, it’s the Classic. This is different. And it’s as even, inch-perfect an affair as promised. Kingsgrove dominate the ball, Union defend hard and physical in a block - as is true and just.

Kingsgrove’s early dominance pays off. After threatening a number of times with moves split up at the last by Chaumancer or Horgan, or even once by the rushing of Cass Farrell in goal, they finally get a leg up when Ruskin wins an old-fashioned midfield tussle with Capodanno, wrestles her way onto a throw from Carrack and clips the ball behind the space the fullback’s vacated, where the blazing pace of Corvey is waiting to take the ball and turn, run into the space and hammer the ball at goal, Farrell sprawling across to palm it against the upright… for Creidne Lindauer to sprint past the back line and stab home the rebound. But Union aren’t behind long; their return is more prosaic, but there’s a feeling of inevitability to it, six minutes later as the exceptional Chaumancer flicks home a free kick from Varghese. The second half is slower, both sides caught in a death-grip, but that’s a situation that suits Union’s more seasoned campaigners - no space to exploit behind the back line, no air for Kingsgrove’s midfield. And just as the game seems to be sluggishly proceeding to extra time, and almost inevitably penalties, a miracle happens. Chris Fortune, a fresh substitute with fresh ideas, rushes Ruskin into an error, cuts out the sloppy pass and drives forward further, before skimming a diagonal between Kingsgrove’s centre-halves. Cu Roi Garrard slides in, hooks his leg out, and… yes, shins the ball across Solaani, watching it all the way as it just sneaks in at the back post.

So then to the Cup; a lower-key affair, at least in terms of its club sides. In a season dominated by the nigh-invincibility of Kingsgrove and Union, and the struggle for relevance of Swanbridge, those caught in the middle shouldn’t be forgotten. Scaffield’s unlikely Globe Cup charge, Pikemouth’s weirdly median season, Rozelle United’s resurgence, Marque’s recovery under Colm Beckwith and Rozelle’s under Derdriu Wright. Amidst this, Southern Star and Westpike both had quietly good seasons. Victory in the Cup is their chance to turn that into an uproar.

Star begin strongly, as anticipated; Westpike are cautious, putting trust in their back line and in Malakai Rookwood, their teenage Cup goalkeeper, yet to play a league match this season but a revelation thus far. But Southern Star have Kara Ciogach, no longer just a good forward but the source of disturbingly close to half Star’s goals, and at 25, surely this is her last sojourn for Star, with Kingsgrove and AFC Corvistone the latest of rumoured suitors. And so, just two minutes in, Ciogach is played through by Nailah Marrigan, she sets up the shot with her first touch… and Athelstan Cathrow, the captain, blindsides her with an inch-perfect sliding challenge. Star continue to press high, but that’s the closest they manage to come to a breakthrough in the first half, though Marrigan and the leftback Raven both force saves from Rookwood. But it’s Westpike who look the more incisive, Soleil Davenport always looking to thread that through-ball. In first-half injury time, she finds it, and Monika Rourke finds the end of it. Across rushes Maria Young, Star’s impetuous rightback. She, too, slides in. She, unlike Cathrow, is far from inch-perfect, and Rourke goes down in a heap. Sara Fairhall throws up her hands theatrically, and Rico Hemnes has a quiet and seething word in referee Janus Buchanan’s ear, but to no avail; Tziporrah Cohen steps up for the penalty. It’s not a good penalty, at too comfortable a height, but the work is done when Vanza-Jerat commits a touch too early and sprawls the wrong way.

Star’s fans, still expectant of a comeback, are hardly back in their seats when Westpike double their advantage, again Rourke with the assist - somewhat more conventional this time, driving inside the newly cautious Young but finding her path to goal blocked, so cutting back to repay Soleil Davenport. Well, the sturdy creative midfielder doesn’t need to be asked twice, and blazes a strike low and hard through a sea of bodies, past a blinded Vanza-Jerat. And that’s all the invitation Westpike need to sit back and hold out. Na’Saan, a thrilling, gliding creative, comes off; Nate Ridgewell, an unbridled thug, comes on. Rookwood is booked for time-wasting. They know Ciogach is going to get a goal - and they’re wrong. She gets an assist, repaying the faithful service Jorm Vahn has given her all season, deftly flicking a ball from Marrigan his way with an almost derisive flick of the outside of the right boot, landing perfectly on mark - Vahn chests down and drives the half-volley into the ground, past a scrambling Rookwood. More shots come, but Westpike’s defenders hurl themselves in the way, and every chance to clear that Westpike get is smashed towards Cohen, who obligingly drives the ball towards the corner flag amidst the hacks and shoves of desperate Lions. The last kick of the match is Maria Young’s, after one such foray from Cohen, cleaning her out with a brutal challenge. Cohen collapses with a cry - she’s later seen visibly limping to collect her winner’s medal. But collecting the medal, surely, is the part that matters. Her grin, and that of victorious captain Athelstan Cathrow, will attest to that. 2-1 to Westpike, the final score.

A-LEAGUE

Pos Team                     P   W   D   L For  Ag  +/- Pts
  1 Northern Union          30  22   8   0  60  14  +46  74
  2 Kingsgrove              30  22   7   1  76  17  +59  73
  3 North Hall              30  17  10   3  51  19  +32  61
  4 Rozelle                 30  16   6   8  61  36  +25  54
  5 Northern Stallions      30  13   6  11  48  39   +9  45
  6 Marque                  30  12   7  11  45  43   +2  43
  7 Southern Star           30  10  12   8  50  42   +8  42
  8 Pikemouth               30  10  10  10  37  36   +1  40
  9 Scaffield               30  10   7  13  38  53  -15  37
 10 Lotus Park              30   9   9  12  33  48  -15  36
 11 Westpike                30   8  11  11  34  46  -12  35
 12 Rozelle United          30   7   6  17  32  50  -18  27
 13 Twin Saints             30   7   6  17  33  55  -22  27
 14 Chafford                30   6   8  16  25  41  -16  26
 15 Falkner United          30   7   3  20  35  65  -30  24
 16 AFC Swanbridge          30   2   8  20  36  90  -54  14

AWARDS
Golden Boot (Goals Scored): Kara Ciogach (STS) - 21
Golden Ball (Player of the Year): Lauren Cheney (KNG)
Golden Fist (New Player of the Year): Viola Capodanno (NTU)
Golden Heart (U-21 Player of the Year): Calindra Apelles (NTU)
Team of the Year: Solaani (KNG); Kielseng (KNG), Chaumancer (NTU), Grayndler (NTH), Levaani (ROZ); Ruskin (KNG), Capodanno (NTU), Verbeck (NTH); Cheney (KNG), Ciogach (STS), McInnes (MAR)
Manager of the Year: Erin Camden (NTU)

B-LEAGUE

Pos Team                      P   W  D   L For  Ag  +/- Pts
  1 Finbar Stalwarts         30  21  6   3  53  13  +40  69
  2 Francisca Orient         30  19  7   4  38  19  +19  64
  3 Rosbank Town             30  15  8   7  44  25  +19  53
  4 Gallant Cross            30  16  4  10  65  34  +31  52
  5 Snowden River            30  13  9   8  39  28  +11  48
  6 Westpike United          30  14  6  10  45  43   +2  48
  7 Rozelle Alliance         30  12  7  11  43  32  +11  43
  8 Saint Alexander          30  12  7  11  29  28   +1  43
  9 Proudcastle              30  12  6  12  30  25   +5  42
 10 Southside Wanderers      30   9 10  11  27  31   -4  37
 11 Mount Roland             30  11  3  16  22  32  -10  36
 12 Guilder                  30   8 10  12  20  32  -12  34
 13 Chrysler Town            30   7 10  13  40  63  -23  31
 14 Stourhead                30   7  8  15  26  35   -9  29
 15 Pride of the South       30   3  9  18  33  72  -39  18
 16 Spearcove Mariners       30   2  8  20  22  64  -42  14

C-LEAGUE

Pos Team                    P   W  D   L For  Ag  +/- Pts
  1 Coppersmith            30  23  2   5  57  22  +35  71
  2 Otter Ferry            30  20  4   6  65  31  +34  64
  3 Knightstone FC         30  18  7   5  49  28  +21  61
  4 Southrons-Errant       30  18  2  10  75  43  +32  56
  5 Ridgeway United        30  14 10   6  46  27  +19  52
  6 Sharrow                30  14  8   8  47  35  +12  50
  7 Fentonbridge           30  14  6  10  39  29  +10  48
  8 Marque Rovers          30  12  6  12  45  44   +1  42
  9 Randwick Town          30  11  6  13  33  30   +3  39
 10 Silvershire Town       30  11  5  14  33  45  -12  38
 11 Falkner Wanderers      30   8  9  13  24  32   -8  33
 12 Heathgrove             30   9  6  15  26  51  -25  33
 13 Shaleport Rangers      30   8  7  15  30  41  -11  31
 14 Falkner Crescent       30   5  7  18  35  71  -36  22
 15 Swayback               30   5  4  21  32  73  -41  19
 16 Crest                  30   1  9  20  18  52  -34  12

D-LEAGUE

Pos Team                    P   W   D   L For  Ag  +/- Pts
  1 Stonewash Town         30  23   3   4  82  27  +55  72
  2 Razorback Hill         30  19   4   7  60  30  +30  61
  3 AFC Conomore           30  17   7   6  48  20  +28  58
  4 Platwood               30  14  12   4  53  31  +22  54
  5 Chafford Saracens      30  13  11   6  50  35  +15  50
  6 Alexavale FC           30  13   9   8  69  48  +21  48
  7 Suttonstrand FC        30  14   5  11  61  40  +21  47
  8 Fisher Kings           30  11   8  11  42  38   +4  41
  9 Northern Fist          30  11   7  12  50  61  -11  40
 10 Glendower Rider        30  11   5  14  45  51   -6  38
 11 Rushden                30   7   8  15  42  55  -13  29
 12 Corder Town            30   7   8  15  40  55  -15  29
 13 Dannecliff Rovers      30   8   5  17  39  68  -29  29
 14 Pikemouth United       30   6   7  17  38  68  -30  25
 15 Alnwick Glade          30   5   9  16  25  54  -29  24
 16 Thrush                 30   5   4  21  27  90  -63  19

by **Brenecia** » Thu Jan 02, 2020 1:59 am

A-LEAGUE CYCLE 74 PREVIEW

League Run: 14th
Stadium: Russet Street (16,000)
Nickname: the Cavaliers
Manager: Rook Asquith
Captain: Hercules Stafford
Top Scorer: Kinsella Morant (7)
Likely Starting XI: (4-4-1-1) 1 - Brown (35); 6 - Docherty (24), 22 - Faulkner (27), 13 - Connell (31), 3 - Graham (26); 19 - Commons (21), 4 - Miller (23), 7 - Canales (29, c), 11 - Barrister (29); 17 - Sinque (32); 10 - Morant (24)
In: Jennica Graham (Scaffield, 1.5m), Colwyn Faulkner (Oakport, free), Aviya Uchiha (Williams Institute, free)
Promoted: Russ Cale (GK, 19), Grant Edelweiss (CM, 19), Louise Gunn (RM, 19), Bennett Moore (ST, 18)
Out: Kaara Iarrow (Newrook City, 3m), Bardolph Winslett (Chrysler Town, free), Sparrow Conifer (Westpike United, free), Tristan Milner (Javoser Pirates, free), Bernard Leckie (Otter Ferry, free), Beau Eriksen (Proudcastle, free)
Retired: Swen Fassbinder (ST, 37, PAS)

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

SUMMARY
Chaffs stayed up by the skin of their teeth after a disappointing season, just unable to score goals. Which is generally fatal, yes. It's hard to see things getting much better this season; Rook Asquith parted ways with the club by mutual consent, and journeywoman manager Sapphire Bullard's been jetted in and should continue the defensive style. Kaara Iarrow was their shining light, their goalkeeper... and has been snapped up by a Premiership side. They've picked up a tidy leftback, a stalwart but unproven defender and an inexperienced striker amidst a rash of departures. Still, they have a surprising undercurrent of young talent; Docherty regressed slightly last season but has still got exceptional talent in him, Tash Miller was just as cynical as any seasoned top-flight hatchet-woman, Brooke Commons made a serious name for herself as a tricky, technical winger and Kinsella Morant has learned to do everything but stick the ball in the net. Survival would be a victory, despite the added expectations of the Asquith regime.

PREDICTION - 15th.

League Run: Champions (B-League)
Stadium: The Shieldwall (15,000)
Nickname: the Stalwarts
Manager: Lyn Crowley
Captain: Niall Rathburn
Top Scorer: Niall Rathburn (19)
Likely Starting XI: (5-3-2) 18 - Markgraf (21); 17 - Weston (24), 5 - Pearce (25), 2 - Huesch (28), 13 - Farham (27), 3 - Townsend (24); 15 - Kelley (26), 8 - Chernych (25), 11 - Quinn (23); 10 - Rathburn (28, c), 16 - Vachimitsu (29)
In: Alexandra Markgraf (Ritter Town, 2.5m), Masashige Vachimitsu (Katashi, 2m), Lyn Townsend (Coppersmith, 1.5m), Jakob Huesch (Port James Athletic, free)
Out: Gertrude Hammell (Pride of the South, 250k), Trudy Johnson (Spearcove Mariners, free)
Retired: Roisin Fairbairn (LB, 35)

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

SUMMARY
It did not take long for the Stalwarts to set themselves apart from the pack. Spare a thought for 34-year old Ingrid Trudgeon - marshalling a defence that conceded just thirteen goals last season and stayed sixteen points clear of third, and immediately sidelined for an up-and-coming shag who cut her teeth not quite helping a First Division side to survival. Huesch, a specialist sweeper, is a canny free acquisition, Townsend an unglamorous but efficient right-back, and Vachimitsu, well, Ko-orenite - all suggestive of their defensive emphasis this season and back five, or three, whichever, system. Suffice to say they'll be trying to outrun and outlast their opponents this season, their first in the top flight; the rise of the town of Finbar has only recently been mirrored by that of their club. That back five is an imposing unit, and while those around Huesch may not have top-flight experience (bar wingback Combeford, once of Orient) they more than proved their mettle last season. A muscular midfield is unchanged, with canny holding midfielder Chernych far more than a superfluous sixth defender, quickly keeping play moving as soon as the ball is won, with May Quinn a clever, technical runner between the lines. Rathburn is the salt-of-the-earth big man to Vachimitsu's mercurial support, and perhaps he bears the most pressure of anyone. After all, for all the Stalwarts' defensive bulk, you do need goals to stay up... former Kingsgrove midfielder and Brenecia international Lyn Crowley knows that well, one would think, and should not be overawed at this level. Finbar could stay up, maybe even comfortably. They could crash and burn. We shall watch, with interest.

PREDICTION - 13th.

League Run: 2nd (B-League)
Stadium: Forharrow (21,000)
Nickname: the Jacks
Manager: Hecate Charing
Captain: Elsa Janosa
Top Scorer: Dane Clarke (11)
Likely Starting XI: (4-4-2) 1 - Brighton (24); 17 - Janosa (26, c), 21 - Rondeau (24), 6 - Foster (28), 3 - Sheen (23); 19 - Storrev (23), 14 - Lyston (26), 23 - Townsend (22), 16 - Harrington (26); 15 - Clarke (27), 9 - Murrough (25)
In: Douglas Foster (Rosbank Town, 2m), Naiva Storrev (Han Dold City FC, 1m), Harris Lyston (Kingsgrove, free), Theodore Rondeau (Eyrods Jungle Cats, free), Curtis Renningbridge (Virtus Melfitella, free)
Promoted: Laula Gardener (LB, 19)
Out: Jarrod Dougan (Rozelle United, free), Rebecca Studden (Westpike United, free), Rutger Tenth (Southside Wanderers, free), Alastair Bramble (Coppersmith, free), Swain Caldridge (Westpike United, loan)
Retired: Marko Petrosian (RM, 35, NPH)

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

SUMMARY
Second of the two-horse race. And yet, they didn't score much more than a goal a game, and they really didn't look at that and think they could stand to buy a striker? They scattergunned just about everywhere else on the pitch, though, including a fresh new defensive partnership in Rondeau and Foster, a canny winger in Storrev, perhaps most impressively an assertive box-to-box midfielder from Kingsgrove and, well, a 35-year old backup goalkeeper. Marko Petrosian will be missed, having orchestrated much of last season's success, but Storrev can actually run, and at that stage of his career, he could not. The overall effect is that Orient do look solid, with Steele Brighton a dynamic, acrobatic stopper behind the back line and, in Finn Townsend, a possible answer to the Patriots' defensive midfield woes to shield them. Harrington offers a more orthodox option down the left. But again, will the goals really come from the large-and-large lumbering targets up front? It's hard to see Orient stay up.

PREDICTION - 16th.

League Run: 2nd
Stadium: Royal Park (42,000)
Nickname: the Royals
Manager: Meriadoc Griffiths
Captain: Olympia Gray
Top Scorer: Creidne Lindauer, Lauren Cheney (19)
Likely Starting XI: (4-3-3) 1 - Solaani (32); 2 - Kielseng (26), 23 - Cascarine (31), 6 - Gray (32, c), 3 - Kaba (24); 7 - Ruskin (25), 4 - Staunton (28), 8 - Penhallow (26); 13 - Cheney (22), 10 - Lindauer (24), 11 - Corvey (27)
In: Eoin Cascarine (Peynol-Lunas, 5.5m)
Promoted: Dreigiau Parrish (CM, 18)
Out: Miriam Lechie (Handon United, free), Harris Lyston (Francisca Orient, free)

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

SUMMARY
Oh, Kingsgrove will be absolutely kicking themselves, and they deserve to. With five games to go, Kingsgrove had an eight-point lead over Union. They had won twenty-one, drawn four, freshly including a scoreless Classic, and remained undefeated. And yet; look up. That says 2nd. They lost at home to Southern Star, then drew to Pikemouth, Rozelle and Marque, and... that mini-wobble should not have been enough. It is ludicrous that 73 points from 30 matches does not win a title. But Union did, so. This is the era they are in, and the expectations that go with it. It's hard to say if they really overreacted to that. To all appearances they stayed the course in the window, but does throwing over five million at a 31-year old defender really seem like a Kingsgrove purchase? Well, even so. They boast the best goalkeeper in the league, a rock-solid central defence with marquee attacking fullbacks, an excellent and technical central midfield knitted together by the running and passing of Claire Ruskin, the brilliant individual talent Lauren Cheney down the right flank and the single-minded goal-poacher Creidne Lindauer doing everything to hold down her place up front. The bench is not as strong as it's been in the past, but even at her age Elena Culbreth makes for one hell of an ace up the sleeve. Rest assured the Royals have their eyes on the prize once again.

PREDICTION - 3rd.

League Run: 10th
Stadium: Lotus Park (31,000)
Nickname: the Foresters
Manager: Kyron Everdale
Captain: Wen Xiaoli
Top Scorer: Banshee Strider (12)
Likely Starting XI: (4-4-2) 1 - Byrnford (29); 2 - Hamilton (27), 13 - Moreland (26), 19 - Well (31), 6 - Redwood (26); 7 - Griffiths (26), 4 - Townsend (29), 16 - Wen (31, c), 20 - Ashvane (20); 14 - Nagy (23), 9 - Strider (25)
In: Szescõ Nagy (Fort Raleigh FC, 2.5m), Constance Townsend (Harkdown, 1m)
Promoted: Tara Blackmore (LB, 18), Cairbre Dundalk (GK, 19), Lorcan Paynter (ST, 18)
Out: Jasper Redwood (North Hall, 2.5m), Demetrio Arroyo (Rukunbi FC, free), Hawke Ziegenhorn (Gosmouth Swans, free), Ephraim Kochansky (York Metrostars, free), Gaetane Thevenet (Gosmouth Swans, free)

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

SUMMARY
In all honesty, Park endured a poor season, though a late surge kept them up by a distance and they never quite felt embroiled in the relegation battle. They've quietly consolidated in the window, though it's not been without its cost - chiefly, excellent leftback Jasper Redwood, though they're confident that 21-year old Crowder is an in-house solution. Nagy should add goals up front, while Townsend... Townsend is a player whose level is known after flaming out instantly in the Goldleague. Back on familiar ground, she should help cult legend Wen Xiaoli anchor the midfield. It's a weird side, this, and its best player might be the steady rightback, Vaila Hamilton. Former Rozelle stopper Byrnford can just about cover the inadequacy of his centre-halves, while so long as the orthodox winger Griffiths and the shining light, Setanta Ashvane (surely bound abroad provided he can step up this season) can supply a proven striker in Banshee Strider, barely held onto this season, and now, it is hoped, the promise of Nagy. Everdale's style emphasises pace, athleticism, workrate, and supply down the wings. It's not pretty, it's not clever, but it is functional. And so long as young talent is promoted and liquidated, the system works.

PREDICTION - 9th.

League Run: 6th
Stadium: Privateer Arena (28,000)
Nickname: the Privateers
Manager: Colm Beckwith
Captain: Brigid Levein
Top Scorer: Ariane Gallagher (13)
Likely Starting XI: (4-3-3) 12 - Pritchard (23); 2 - Coveney (27), 5 - Whitfield (23), 18 - Kress (32), 3 - Levein (29, c); 7 - Bristoll (98), 4 - Broon (27), 8 - Bright (26); 13 - Polyak (24), 10 - Gallagher (29), 16 - Csapo (20)
In: Csenger Polyák (Fogington FC, 2.5m), Pellegrin Csapó (Hibernus, 2m), Ewout Broon (Klyde, 2m)
Promoted: Kitty Hazeldean (LW, 19)
Out: Kelly McInnes (AFC Treason, 8.5m), Lyndon Haynes (Vadborg Aces, free), Katrien Hagen (Leiderkrantz FC, free), Gareth Shotbolt (Southern Star, free)

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

SUMMARY
The Privateers recovered well after a sluggish start, electrified by the twisting runs of Kelly McInnes that changed up their attack. It was a breakthrough year for McInnes, who they'd reared from a young age to reach this point... and all it took was one vaguely ambivalent interview about her future for AFC Treason to rock up, slam the better part of eight figures on the table and haul her away to Nephara. They bought two wingers to replace her, Polyak and Csapo both obscure Pasargan journeymen with unrealised potential Beckwith is sure he can unlock. Ewout Broon also arrives from Klyde. Someone to steady the ship. Despite the relatively lukewarm goal figures on display, Colm Beckwith plays a decidedly aggressive style of football, just one that's more reliant on pace and fluidity than having any centralised playmaker. They struggled at times to convert their chances, but they were bailed out by their excellent defence and the rising star Pritchard behind them, as he won his place towards the back end of the season. The upturn in form was not a coincidence. Kurtis Bristoll knits it together, the industrious Nepharim midfielder having a bit of it all. The Privateers will be hoping to stay in the top seven, but there's a lot of pressure on the new hires to make up for McInnes' loss.

PREDICTION - 8th.

League Run: 3rd
Stadium: Fenbrook Stadium (26,500)
Nickname: the Northerners
Manager: Russ Shorten
Captain: Vincent Verbeck
Top Scorer: Harvey Joyce (14)
Likely Starting XI: (4-4-1-1) 1 - Pardinho (25); 2 - Weaver (25), 4 - Blackwood (30), 22 - Grayndler (27), 3 - Redwood (26); 7 - Fowler (23), 10 - Verbeck (27, c), 4 - Price (28), 11 - Fletcher (22); 14 - Joyce (30); 9 - Turati (29)
In: Jasper Redwood (Lotus Park, 2.5m), Jancis Adrian (Falkner United, 300k), Portia Flahavan (West Cape Wanderers, free)
Promoted: Cohen Devine (LM, 19)
Out: Nikita Crowe (Raven River, 3m), Eamon Falconet (Scott City FC, 2.5m), Saoirse Hourihane (AC Mariina, 1m)
Retired: Sienna Fallon (LM, 35)

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

SUMMARY
Hall enjoyed a strong season, one that could have been considered a spectacular season were Kingsgrove and Union not so... one defeat in sixty games between them. Hall were nowhere near, eight points adrift from Kingsgrove, seven points above Rozelle in fourth, sixteen above the Stallions. They surprisingly saw more money come in than go out, the targets seemingly not out there, and yet no key players were lost; Crowe rarely started, Falconet was facing a serious challenge from Pardinho, Hourihane was old and Sienna Fallon retires a one-club hero but also a very old and slow winger. Russ Shorten retains a disciplined, muscular team, hard to beat, near-impossible to break down. Blackwood and Grayndler never put a foot wrong, Erica Weaver remains one of the best fullbacks in the league, and they're shielded ably by Alexandra Price and knitted together by Verbeck. Fletcher has pace to burn, a hammer of a left boot and can land a cross on a five-pound note from a hundred paces; Fowler's the same, but on the other flank and not as good. Which is to say, Fletcher is almost certainly bound abroad. Harvey Joyce is the big X-Factor, and last season was back to his exhilarating best; Hall's defense pretty much runs itself at this point. If they can do something spectacular, it will be Joyce behind it.

PREDICTION - 4th.

League Run: 5th
Stadium: The New Road (24,000)
Nickname: the Stallions
Manager: Tana Colbright
Captain: Petr Isaev
Top Scorer: Carsten Vincent (17)
Likely Starting XI: (4-3-3) 12 - Eduun (29); 2 - Isaev (28, c), 5 - Mathers (24), 6 - Linvoy (29), 18 - Carlin (25); 7 - Bronze (29), 8 - Redweald (28), 10 - Drake (29); 15 - Vincent (30), 9 - Naulo (25), 19 - Cronin (26)
In: Andre Naulo (FK Khadur, 4m), Dinii Eduun (Maal Daemons, 3m)
Promoted: Leticia Palmer (ST, 20), Deimne Watermark (LB, 19)
Out: Greyson Coulthirst (Duke of the North, 3.75m), Leonardo Ducaldo (Evernorth FC, free), Capra Mapleton (Oakpark Celtic, free), Emerjade Mercer (Southside Wanderers, free)

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

SUMMARY
The Stallions dropped off the pace badly in the second half of the season, and lost their grasp of Champions Cup football in the process. Alas. Tana Colbright has established a solid core of players, but there's a sense that her reluctance to rotate (and her hard-line "You can talk about rest when you're on a 46-game season" talk) cost the team late on. So... out the door with much of their depth, in favour of two upgrades in places where they weren't perhaps the most needed. Eduun is a strange one, used to being left horrifically exposed at the back and doing her best to paper over cracks; she has a chance here to compete with Ajaara, one of the best goalkeepers in the league at his peak but now, well, 37. Andre Naulo is an intriguing prospect; blatantly too good for the Sajnuran Premier League, and consistently impressive at international level, his pace, power and ruthlessness should make the step up if his confidence holds. Colbright has drilled her players well to control the midfield through no fewer than three fringe Patriots in the centre, backed up by World Cup winner Linvoy and current cap Mathers - Carlin is perhaps the relative weak point of the defence, but not by much. Up front, Vincent has been among the finest all-round forwards of the league, 'right wing' underplaying the fluidity of his play. They've lost pace against the top three, certainly, but without international football weighing them down in the interregnal period the same drop-off might just be staved off...

PREDICTION - 5th.

League Run: 8th
Stadium: Seacastle (18,000)
Nickname: the Kingfishers
Manager: Chandra Nalaar
Captain: Simen Haukland
Top Scorer: Cail Coghlan (9)
Likely Starting XI: (4-3-3) 1 - Hoffmann (32); 2 - Karigomu (31), 4 - Ramsay (26), 6 - Haukland (29, c), 22 - Novac (27); 15 - Todorov (32, c), 23 - Donachie (31), 8 - Padmore (28); 10 - Coghlan (26), 9 - Petrie (24), 13 - Kvaal (25)
In: Graham Petrie (Lajuno, 3m), Simon Kvaal (Raynor City United, 2.5m)
Promoted: Aloysian Black (ST, 19), Troy Clemence (CM, 20), Grace Connolly (GK, 20)
Out: Aiden Denarian (FC Kaldukosic, undisclosed), Erin Culhane (Forest Park FC, free), Karen Rove (Castleford FC, free), Filip Sabatka (AFC Swanbridge, free), Mordred Greig (New Belfast Warriors, free)

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

SUMMARY
It has to be said that Tailtiu Brennan's final season was not a success, and the portents for this year are not much better. Brennan, one of Brenecia's most heralded youngish managers, is off to Mriin; Chandra Nalaar is brought in from Mriin with good pedigree; a former referee, she took a scrappy Westhold side to third, but failed to sustain momentum when the squad was not regenerated. So this is an ominous transfer window, in that light. Seasoned defensive midfielder Petrarch probably won't even get regular minutes, and the departures include their captain, Green. So as the much-needed rebuild has been put off for another season, what is left? Probably the same, rather stale and familiar side as ever, quite a few of whom are the wrong side of thirty. Ramsay and Haukland are still a rock-solid core, and not much gets by Hoffman. The issue is that the goals totally dried up last season. Graham Petrie and Simon Kvaal have the Sword of Damocles hanging overhead, big-ticket signings overshadowed by the effervescent homegrown Coghlan. If they fire - and they'll have to, given Nalaar's conservative midfield - then this could be a decent year. If not... well, Nalaar will hope to remain in situ for the rebuild that surely must be imminent.

PREDICTION - 6th.

League Run: 12th
Stadium: Violet Park (22,000)
Nickname: United
Manager: Pyrite Kinsman
Captain: Beaunia Andisori
Top Scorer: Beaunia Andisori (11)
Likely Starting XI: (4-3-3) 1 - Murnane (32); 18 - Colt (24), 5 - Gamble (30), 3 - Kerrigan (32), 11 - Kekule (26); 10 - Swift (28), 6 - Oakstone (22), 21 - Morwen (25); 12 - Draper (25), 9 - Andisori (27, c), 16 - Reid (25)
In: Leyland Swift (SS San Giulia, free), Sharon Kerrigan (Aquatarius SC, free), Jarrod Dougan (Francisca Orient, free)
Out: Riona Parker (Galatica, 5m), Aisha Waxcandle (Lower Valley Lions FC, free), Lex Garratt (Proudcastle, free)

BACKGROUND
Very much the little pup of Rozelle's three major players, United nevertheless found themselves, at one stage, within reach of the title on the final day. It didn't eventuate, and they've since reverted to their natural mean, treading water. United can't claim to be Rozelle's main rivals, but they enjoy snapping at their heels every now and then. No financial heavyweight, they've tended to lean on a solid defence and breaking with pace.

SUMMARY
Everyone expected that grand old creaking club, the third wheel of Rozelle, to slip between the cracks last season. They were nominally still in danger right up til the final whistle, but realistically were home and clear, a strong start setting them in good stead for the season, never quite dipping into the danger zone. So they sold their by-far best player for a tidy sum and brought in a couple journeymen who were, in years past, decent players at this level; re-learn fast, Swift and Kerrigan. And don't expect fireworks from serviceable stopper Dougan, who was injured midway through Orient's promotion and never regained his place from the younger, sharper Brighton. United look vulnerable at the back, often kept in games by the heroics of shot-stopper Murnane, and reliant on the admittedly impressive midfielders, playmaker Morwen and lanky defensive midfielder Oakstone, now missing the third arm who gave them dynamism and drive. Up front, Draper offers pace, Andisori pace and ruthlessness and Reid a diluted quantity of all three; they look by far at their best with the opposition on their heels, and lack ways to break teams down. Sadly for a team who were once one match from the title, they look out of date.

PREDICTION - 14th.

League Run: 9th
Stadium: Marble Grove (14,000)
Nickname: The Ironclads
Manager: Rowena Stamper
Captain: Conleth Ballantyne
Top Scorer: Isabelle Kruger (12)
Likely Starting XI: (4-2-3-1) 1 - Childress (32); 2 - Shields (27), 5 - Ballantyne (30, c), 21 - Vuurmeier (25), 20 - Crowborough (30); 4 - Finlay (32), 15 - Lovelace (23); 7 - Rasmussen (28), 13 - Szymon (24), 16 - Berdesagar (28); 17 - Kruger (24)
In: Iraunkor Berdesagar (Gallant Cross, 1.5m)
Promoted: Rochelle Brindle (CM, 19), Leona Ford (CB, 20), Joan Garland (GK, 20), Jasper Lawless (LB, 19)
Out: Ignatius Crighton (Coppersmith, free), Whistler Striguil (Westpike United, free), Paula Bartram (Rosbank Town, free)
Retired: Harriet Payne (CM/CAM, 35)

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

SUMMARY
An excellent first half of the season made people wonder if, perhaps, the Ironclads would make the leap from the second tier to the Globe Cup. They didn't; they reverted somewhat to the mean, but not enough to seriously enter the relegation picture. They've kept things pretty quiet this time around, purchasing only the beleagured Astograth international Bersesagar, victim of a thousand Gallant Cross failures to promote; they've jettisoned nobody relevant, while veteran midfielder Harriet Payne hangs up the boots. Keep an eye out for Leona Ford, for whom there are high hopes. Scaffield played hard and pressed high, working well as a team to shut down chances... well, okay, when the press failed the result was damaging. Still, Kendall Childress between the posts did a valiant job of quashing chances, and the sturdy back four was ably shielded by Ross Finlay. Further forward, Rasmussen was the team's right boot, not doing so much of the running but entrusted with the creative burden; burly midfielder Szymon is more a bustling but efficient runner than a classic creator. Isabelle Kruger had her raw moments adapting to new territory, but by the end was a proficient striker with room to grow further. Scaffield should retain their status in the league, and hope to do it comfortably.

PREDICTION - 12th.

League Run: 7th
Stadium: Southfield (16,000)
Nickname: the Lions
Manager: Sara Fairhall
Captain: Rico Hemnes
Top Scorer: Kara Ciogach (21)
Likely Starting XI: (4-3-1-2) 1 - Vanza-Jerat (31); 2 - Young (30), 5 - Troy (30), 6 - Krane (29), 3 - Raven (31); 13 - Hemnes (31, c), 14 - Crowcliff (26), 8 - Marrigan (28); 11 - Zsuska (30); 7 - Hayne (29), 9 - Vahn (31)
In: Vauxhall Hayne (Northern Union, 3.5m), Gareth Shotbolt (Marque, free), Adamantine Xerxes (University of Myana, free)
Promoted: Gerrick Danford (GK, 18)
Out: Kara Ciogach (Lajuno, 14m), Hefina Riverstake (Falkner United, free), Julian Conrad (Lochend Town, free)
Retired: Kyra Ferrant (GK, 37, COS)

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

SUMMARY
You have to feel for Star. All year they scrape and battle hard for a Globe Cup place, finally seeing them hold off Pikemouth on the final day of the season, only for that victory to char to ash in their mouth. Ah well. Still a strong achievement for Sara Fairhall, squeezing the best out of an essentially capable but limited squad. But she was fired towards that outcome by the twenty-one goals of Kara Ciogach. Lajuno took notice, and what Goldleague clubs want, they tend to get. In comes Hayne, a very different player. No shame in being a Union reject, but all the same, 21 goals do not look likely. Shotbolt is here for depth, a brute off the bench, with young striker Xerxes a wild card - in all likelihood, big lads Hayne and Vahn will partner one another. That's going to mean a lot of balls hoofed at their heads, likely from aging wingbacks Young (ironic, right?) and Raven, and perhaps the hold-up play will suit Zsuska's forays forward. Gareth Krane was an underrated revelation last season at the back, with Esther Crowcliff getting another chance to shine after being ruined by injury last year. Fairhall is a pragmatist first and foremost - without Ciogach's clever runs, expect her to go unflinchingly direct, and pivot around a more defensive style. Will it work? It's hard to say. Star need an extensive refit, but if they can just squeeze another year from what they have, another, hopefully more meaningful seventh place might beckon.

PREDICTION - 7th.

League Run: 13th
Stadium: Shady Moorside (11,000)
Nickname: The Twins
Manager: Cristobal Madera
Captain: Lena Iserlohn
Top Scorer: Brunella Tafani (13)
Likely Starting XI: (4-1-4-1) 1 - Brando (29); 2 - Cohen (28), 4 - Costello (25), 6 - Mercer (26), 3 - Iserlohn (30, c); 13 - Monks (28); 23 - Nevay (25), 21 - Rouselle (21), 8 - Keane (24), 11 - Stanger (28); 10 - Tafani (25)
In: Kirsty Nevay (Jottnar Kallsmudden, 2m), Lélé Rouselle (Tanques, 1m)
Promoted: Gareth Clevinger (GK, 19), Tethys Ondrejko (DM, 18), Uathach Walker (ST, 19)
Out: Cathy Woodyard (Lima United FC, free), Laurence Bryger (Lammerton, free), Caitriona Hamilton (Northern Union, free), Josie Raynor (Port Sebastian, free), Lance Forrest (Snowden River, free)

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

SUMMARY
A serious relegation battle was fought, and won, by the Twins, but Harriet Klein still departed by mutual content, figuring she'd peaked with the top-half finish the year prior. It's a pity, but Klein won't be out of work long; in her place comes the slightly left-field selection of Cristobal Madera. Osarians are known for their passion and fire, but Madera's always appeared a rather dour, grey sort, all talk of black boots and second balls. Still, perhaps that's what the Twins need. Certainly he's been backed in the window, with burned-out wunderkind Kirsty Nevay brought in to freshen up the right wing, phasing out the aging captain Hamilton, as Rouselle adds youth, sharpness and no small talent to midfield. It's a good sign that Madera has left well enough alone at the back, with Brando the reigning fan's Player of the Season. They're additionally given the support of Schottic hard man David Monks... when not suspended. He does in fairness usually keep the right side of the law, just, when he breaks it, it stays broken. Up front, Brunella Tafani's energy and determination are highlighted rather more than her subtler arts, her clever runs and delicate first-touch - whatever her methods, she hammers home goals. This may not be a cruise, but they're likely to stay up.

PREDICTION - 11th.

League Run: 11th
Stadium: West Point (24,000)
Manager: Alyssa Billing
Captain: Athelstan Cathrow
Top Scorer: Tzipporah Cohen (10)
Likely Starting XI: (4-3-3) 1 - Khadur (27); 2 - Hartley (23), 18 - Rodgers (30), 6 - Cathrow (29, c), 5 - Green (32); 21 - Davenport (27), 14 - Hagaz (27), 11 - Na’Saan (25); 15 - Gerrard (27), 13 - McKinsey (27), 10 - Rourke (24)
In: Chris McKinsey (Workers Union, 3m), Alek Khadur (FK Bazugh, 1m), Brunswick Green (Pikemouth, free)
Promoted: Clovette Bravender (RB, 17), Morgan Rosencrantz (CB, 19), Sandy Rowling (CM, 18)
Out: Tzipporah Cohen (The Warriors, 1.25m), Justin Evatt (Proudcastle, free), Westley Carlisle (Old Boys Club, free)
Retired: Coletta Bradford (GK, 37), Andressa Festa (RB, 35, SRB), Craic Mullen (CM, 35)

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

SUMMARY
Westpike might well be the happiest of anyone with their season. They had all the points they needed to stay up after 21 matches, and still cantered to a successful midtable finish and won the Cup. They've acted decisively in the window, trading up at both ends of the pitch; Alek Khadur is another Sajnuran looking to prove himself at a higher standard, while Chris McKinsey, a solid enough all-round Goldleague striker, represents an upgrade on veteran journeyman Cohen - ironically enough, both McKinsey and Cohen have a single cap for their nations. Brunswick Green, Pikemouth's old captain, is a strong short-term option at leftback. In theory, this looks like a strong set of players to tactically sharpen up what they've got; defensively in particular they look imposing, with Shara Hartley a strong signing after a brief period of finding her feet and Cathrow an inspirational captain, backed by the uncompromising Hagaz. There's technique down the centre, through Soleil Davenport and the mercurial Na'Saan, and pace on the flanks. Westpike are at their best on the counter, when a single Na'Saan pass can split an exposed defence in half and their attacking trident is more than capable of finishing the job. It's hard to see them going down, and more plausible to see them truly building into a force.

PREDICTION - 10th.

by **Brenecia** » Thu Jan 02, 2020 2:02 am

B-LEAGUE CYCLE 74 PREVIEW

1. Gallant Cross
Manager: Medda Ringbill (BSE, 40)
(4-4-2) 1 - Esmeralda Suffolk (34); 2 - Zsofika Sebeôk (24, PAS), 5 - Sutton Sullivan (25), 22 - Paul Osbourne (33), 13 - Van Van Vliet-Vaquera (32, AUD); 21 - Libra Sixfields (27), 4 - Karel Braithwaite (25), 11 - Yuria Taishizuno (22, HIN); 7 - Cavalier Austen (29), 16 - Valentijn Munson (29, QAD), 10 - Rutger Caborn (27)
Notable Reserves: 20 - GK - Fraser Pearch (28); 6 - CB - Roland Glynn (31), 8 - CM - Sharon Galloweigh (26), 9 - ST - Rebecca Clive (33), 15 - RAM - Arran Berryman (25)

Cross should have been promoted long ago. A new manager, a new hope, though they're missing Berdesagar. With experience at the back, technique in midfield and ruthlessness up front, they really should make it happen this time. Particularly with reigning top scorer Munson still, improbably, up front.

2. Falkner United
Manager: Marissa Rathridge (53)
(4-3-3) 1 - Crispin Donagh (30); 2 - Sherry Matthews (27), 22 - Gregor Borg (33, SCT), 19 - Evan Kerraway (26), 3 - Dallas Riverton (30); 8 - Yvete (29, DAI), 4 - Hefina Riverstake (31), 15 - Velvet Sommelier (26); 20 - Heath Mayhew (31), 10 - Ophelia Love (22, CMT), 14 - Tore Na'Verii (24, COS)
Notable Reserves: 12 - GK - Warren Burchett (22); 6 - CB - Paul Crossman (32), 17 - ST - Jacqui Heath (24), 21 - CM - Ross Grandstaff (27), 26 - LB - Coe Staveley (23), 33 - ST - Zaza Cashmore (19)

Long-time top-flight stalwarts brought low by complacency. But they've kept ahold of enough talent to make one think they should claw their way back up. It'll do this grand old side good to win games again. Their excellent midfield is the key, but callow striker Love will absolutely need to hit the ground running.

3. Rosbank Town
Manager: Julia Penzance (40)
(4-4-2) 1 - Daniel Spires (25); 18 - Chevy Gosling (30), 5 - Helena Devon (26), 18 - Paula Bartram (32), 3 - Paige Sturritch (27); 7 - Wolfe Riflegreen (27), 4 - Zadok Renta (32, SRS), 21 - Sheila Connell (34), 23 - Ambrosia Chance (31); 9 - Bryan Monaro (28), 10 - Dan Snowe (25)
Notable Reserves: 20 - GK - Knave Gloucester (30); 14 - ST - Leod Stanton (23), 15 - CM - Justine Brunskill (24), 19 - LB - Daniel Richmond (22), 20 - RM - Nuada Kerris (30, BSE)

A managerial change to someone young and bold and fresh is a strong move from the Black Swans, but they still need a bit more punch up front. Renta and Connell have the ability to run games if they can stay fit, and the classic little-and-large strike pairing has now had a season to gel.

4. Rozelle Alliance
Manager: Kildare Harper (56)
(4-4-2) 1 - Kelly Chaplain (26); 13 - Mathieu Vance (22, CMT), 5 - Miona Rowlex (23, CMT), 22 - August Taylor (26), 3 - Erin Trafford (24); 7 - Antra Teika (28, COS), 4 - Rhys Gilliam (27), 8 - Ara Klein (34, MRN), 16 - Linda Redthread (22); 18 - Manahaal Brimorii (19, MRN), 21 - Lorelei Komatsu (22, HIN)

The wild card, having massively overhauled their side in the window. Harper is an experienced manager who really should be able to wring the best out of this side, but entrusting an unproven university player and a loaned teenager with the goals could go wrong.

5. Snowden River
Manager: Bastian Pearce (49)
(4-3-3) 1 - Rook Shay (25); 13 - Sakae Hakugi (21, HIN), 2 - Curtis Wakeford (23), 6 - Catherine Lake (28), 3 - Vanessa Way (30); 21 - Giulia Navarette (31, COS), 8 - Lance Forrest (28), 4 - Taggart Lane (28); 11 - Louise Reed (28), 9 - Ruby Sutter (23), 10 - Desire Coleman (23)
Notable Reserves: 15 - CM - Innocent Latemba (34, SEM), 17 - RB - Werner Kirkegaard (33, AUD), 19 - CB - Clint Hampton (35), 23 - CM - Garrett Keown (24)

A comfortable, safe side, but one that lacked the punch to force their way out of the division. There's players in Lake, Navarette and maybe the developing Sutter who are above the standard, but some are... not.

6. Proudcastle
Manager: Lyndon Carmichael (53)
(4-4-2) 12 - Lex Garratt (28); 2 - Ferry Noonan (31), 6 - Esau Croll (32), 13 - Bedros Alsogaray (34, SRS), 3 - Myrrh Greenmoore (27); 7 - Marisa Kyon (26, KHI), 4 - Beau Eriksen (30), 8 - Avery Gunsway (29), 11 - Ashe Kenlock (24); 9 - Jarret Openshaw (25), 21 - Rascal Kirrough (29)
Notable Reserves: 1 - GK - Domnall Standingstone (33); 15 - CM - Laura Smith (33), 18 - CB - Justin Evatt (31)

Indomitable at the back, but they need to coax another level from their attack - Kirrough should help with that. But you can go a long way in this league by just staying resilient and taking your chances. Last season was a disappointment, but Carmichael remains in situ. Kyon is the obvious star.

7. Westpike United
Manager: Brady Heffernan (52)
(4-4-2) 1 - Taurus Rhind (30); 5 - Lukas Tyrone (27, vc), 19 - Swain Caldridge (25), 6 - Eleanor Tristram (26), 3 - Sparrow Conifer (29); 7 - Ross Hunter (22), 14 - Camille Martinaux (22, CMT), 8 - Jacinth Mallory (27), 20 - Sharon Colpher (29); 9 - Lance Roscoe (32), 10 - Brielle Grant (27)
Notable Reserves: 12 - GK - Chiron Bennett (24); 5 - CB - Ingram Stonesworth (36, c), 15 - ST - Tess Stocker (23), 16 - LM - Whistler Striguil (26), 17 - RB - Dean Becker (22), 22 - CB - Cliff Sturrock (22), 23 - CM - Rebecca Studden (33)

There's quality here, and certainly depth, but can the Pikemen get it together? Another year should help them sharpen up at the back; they conceded the most in the top, uhm, twelve. But this side is still a year or two off what it can be.

8. AFC Swanbridge
Manager: Trouble Pearce (41)
(4-3-3) 1 - Filip Sabatka (30); 2 - Jasper Lowry (27), 13 - Nina Prowse (28), 6 - Darren Strand (33, c), 3 - Casper Uprichard (23); 8 - Meghan Courser (33), 4 - Reeve Sheehan (23), 10 - Lufus Aurora (31, MBT); 7 - Emmet Harbaugh (28), 22 - Matias Azedo (34, USI), 11 - Ruadri Broune (28)
Notable Reserves: 12 - GK - Rollo Varney (21); 5 - CB - Fergus Bennett (22), 9 - ST - Layla Chrome (26), 16 - LW - Coletta Antony (24), 20 - CM - Rick Magdalene (27), 23 - CB - Tori Merrick (33), 36 - LB - Maurine Calley (19)

After crashing and burning out of the top flight with two entire wins from 30 games, most of their best players jumped ship and most that remain are slightly crap. They won't be in trouble of a total collapse, mind, and somewhat surprisingly, Pearce keeps the job.

9. Saint Alexander
Manager: Kurtis Burgundy (48)
(4-2-3-1) 20 - Josiah Carmack (28); 2 - Curtis Hallissey (32), 5 - Brett Halifax (31), 4 - Kris Weatherman (28), 3 - Belladonna Chilton (22); 4 - Gerald Carsley (27), 8 - Brad Fabianski (29); 7 - Emery Hicks (25), 23 - Chardonnay Keating (23), 10 - Laura Berger (23); 11 - Cherith Torrell (31)
Notable Reserves: 1 - GK - Arran Gilstrap (30)

Scored and conceded less than a goal a game, and frankly, nothing has changed to suggest they won't be just as boring this time around. At least they're developing some young talent along the way, but Torrell is still leading the line out of sentiment, not ability.

10. Guilder
Manager: Larissa Graves (44)
(4-2-3-1) 12 - Seren Frazier (34); 2 - Virgil Bowen (30), 5 - Aran Morriston (29), 6 - Evander Bowerman (23), 3 - Polly Collins (30); 15 - Orson Koss (30), 8 - Chris Bestler (30); 23 - Roland Sheen (21), 11 - Aoife Cresci (34), 16 - Beretta Lewisham (32); 9 - Keogh Bolivar (33)
Notable Reserves: 1 - GK - Ardan Leonock (31); 7 - RAM - Rick Ledger (33)

Guilder's attack scored just twenty pathetic goals last season. Signing the giant Keogh Bolivar and veteran playmaker Cresci should salva that enough to clamber to a more convincing safety, but they're a year off needing serious renovation, not just a bandage.

11. Southside Wanderers
Manager: Aphrodite Whitesmith (44)
(4-2-3-1) 20 - Emerjade Mercer (28); 2 - Dirk Keltie (26), 22 - Mo Goddard (30, XAN), 6 - Rutger Tenth (29), 3 - Mary Westall (29); 6 - Valentin Hernandez (32, OSR), 8 - Ginger Retren (29); 13 - Martyn Hickory (29), 11 - Matt Brougham (26), 21 - Destine Martin (22, CMT); 7 - Lukas Bright (24)
Notable Reserves: 1 - GK - Janis Harvard (31); 11 - LAM - Diane Oxspring (31)

A dull and dreary side treading water safely, but to their credit they did rejuvenate in the window. They might not score often, but Lukas Bright does well with scraps, while an all-new spine of Goddard and Tenth to shield Mercer should make them invulnerable.

12. Coppersmith
Manager: Lilith Cromwell (44)
(4-4-2) 12 - Darren March (22); 2 - Ashton Chaunce (25), 5 - Paul Mullen (25), 18 - Mark Chenery (28), 3 - Alastair Bramble (32); 22 - Ai Ueda (21, HIN), 4 - Ward Cooke (23), 14 - Trefor Moraire (26), 11 - Morrigan Tearney (32); 9 - Shane Guinness (28), 13 - Ross Gardyne (32)
Notable Reserves: 1 - GK - Ignatius Crighton (28)

Promoted comfortably, but it'll be a very different challenge this time around. They haven't made the mistake of sleeping on their laurels, but this season will probably provide plenty of opportunities for promising stopper March to strut his stuff.

13. Chrysler Town
Manager: Isadora Murtagh (46)
(4-1-4-1) 1 - Russ Healey (24); 2 - Lydia Walker (23), 5 - Scott Marston (29), 6 - Bardolph Winslett (29), 3 - Alyssa Kenneally (28); 4 - Adrian Long (28); 7 - Ellen Goldwash (21), 18 - Jack Cluskey (25), 8 - Connor Parris (21), 16 - Thea Dotton (31); 10 - Kurt Hobilar (30)

Conceded the most goals of any side that stayed up, and twenty more goals than the second-most. They've made some steadying signings at the back, but lost some talent up front, for a steadying aggregate.

14. Stourhead
Manager: Irene Swain (63)
(4-4-2) 1 - Rickard Eagler (28); 2 - Angelina Willbank (29), 5 - Emet Steeden (27), 6 - Gerome Brandis (24), 19 - Sandra Mulder (22); 7 - Leigh Machliss (27), 23 - Kearney Foskett (28), 8 - Paul Llewelyn (23), 13 - Carsten Valley (22); 15 - Kendrick Northon (24), 10 - David Freshman (31)
Notable Reserves: 22 - CB - Clara Newmarket (31)

Stayed up by one place... and eleven points, and thirty goals. But then, Pride and the Mariners were both piss. It might be a tougher ask this time. That said, young guns like Mulder, Llewelyn and Valley are ones top-flight sides will be looking out for.

15. Otter Ferry
Manager: Kerry Fennell (47)
(4-3-3) 12 - Alicia Sheafing (28); 2 - Dixon Gully (27), 5 - Neil Shirtliff (28), 6 - Lauren Stone (30), 19 - Devan Guinness (31); 8 - Rhyan Chisholm (24), 15 - Erin Caldwell (30), 11 - Erik Barton (27); 15 - April Matthews (22), 9 - Jonas Reid (28), 10 - Bernard Leckie (29)

Promoted valiantly last season, it will be a struggle for Ferry to avoid the vertigo at professional level. Their promotion arguably took themselves by surprise, but a number of proven defensive veterans should stem the bleeding. In theory.

16. Mount Roland
Manager: Meehan Crouch (58)
(4-1-4-1) 1 - Grant Millhouse (25), 14 - Miles Casper (34), 18 - Chet Broadis (27), 6 - Jayce Tanner (23), 3 - Catheline Selwyn (25); 4 - Madison Taylor (26), 7 - Gerry Stones (30), 15 - Lucian Farrow (32), 8 - Jo Pasfield (27), 11 - Glenn Cameron (25); 9 - Astrid Tennison (34)

It was a staggering effort last season for Mount to stay up, and so comfortably. Because they are terrible and rely on terrible players.

by **Brenecia** » Sat Jan 04, 2020 3:11 am

The A-League returns with a whimper, four home 1-0 wins and six home clean sheet wins in total, only Southern Star bucking the trend when the new strategy of flinging crosses at the tall timber of Vauxhall Hayne and Jorm Vahn pays off, each getting on the scoresheet. Finbar pick up the only draw, largely keeping tidy at the back against Lotus Park - a momentary lapse of concentration lets Szesco Nagy blast home on debut, but at the other end, right wingback Lois Combeford (only playing due to a preseason injury to Weston) slips clear of Park’s two banks of four, is found by May Quinn and wastes no time driving a shot low past Byrnford. Combeford’s former club, Francisca Orient, aren’t so lucky; their baptism of fire sees Kingsgrove blow them away 3-0. Northern Union, meanwhile, have already lost more this season than they did last time, Cuchulainn Reid’s far-post header the only goal of the game.

The North Hall derby… is pretty dire, honestly. Vega Zeale-Riddick is just far too easily bullied, dragged out of the game by Blackwood and Grayndler, while at the other end Corynn Turati butchers a sitter and Ceridwen Fletcher feels she has a rare goal, until she sees the flag. It’s a tight call, one might say generous to the home side. Certainly, Hall manager Russ Shorten does. Finbar slug it out against Kingsgrove in a hugely entertaining 3-3 draw, their midfield unit impressing hugely even if their tight-knit defence comes apart all too often. Alexandra Markgraf will be kicking herself; Cheney’s equaliser was put by her near post, but then, she’d made seven sometimes spectacular saves to that point. The Twins get an early lead against Marque through Kirsty Nevay, before seeing captain Lena Iserlohn sent off and… scoring two more, from Stanger and Tafani, the Stallions run roughshod over Pikemouth and Southern Star top the early table, beating Rozelle United 3-1. Aside from scoring yet again from a Reid far-post header, United are unrecognisable from their win over Union.

The glory of an unseeded draw; Kingsgrove are already knocked out by Pikemouth, while Hall succumb to the Stallions in the match of the round; 1-1 after ninety minutes, a breathtaking overhead kick from Joyce cancelled out two minutes later by a trademark Vincent cut-inside-and-shoot job to account for extra time, and venerable Upsin Ajaara proving he still has what it takes as saves from Joyce and Price, and an outright miss from Card, see the Stallions through. It also takes penalties to separate freshly-promoted Francisca from freshly-relegated Falkner, though frankly Marissa Rathridge’s Hunters look the better side with Velvet Sommelier pulling the strings. Their shootout win is deserved. Marque manager Colm Beckwith talks a good game about going all-out for the Cup; Chrysler Town’s resolute defence, and then a second-half onslaught with goals from Parris, Kenneally and Hobilar, sees them undone at the first hurdle. Proudcastle striker Rascal Kirrough puts four past Dannecliff to become the early top scorer in a 6-1 win; Coppersmith beat Corder Town by the same margin, but with five different scorers.

After Vincent Verbeck’s free kick settles Hall’s 1-0 win over Star, Sova Pardinho remains yet to concede a goal while no team has won all three games. Union, inexplicably, haven’t won at all. They think they have, Apelles just making herself at home on the corner of the box after evading two markers before drilling low across Byrnford, but an uncharacteristic misplaced pass from Capodanno is seized on by Townsend to immediately feed Banshee Strider, streaking through defence and chipping over the exposed Cass Farrell. Their only shot on target of the game. Finbar Stalwarts are off the mark, five points from three games after a cruisy 3-0 win over AFC Westpike. Niall Rathburn has four goals from three games, and while Masashige Vachimitsu is yet to get on the scoreseet, pretty much everyone’s been impressed by his workrate and technique knitting the attack together.

Two improbable runs end; Union winless, Stalwarts unbeaten, and Vega Zeale-Riddick scoreless after she thumps home two from close range and blows kisses into the crowd. It’s well-timed, two days after a story breaks about difficulties accomodating her entourage in the city, most of them basing themselves in more glamorous Rozelle. Speaking of Rozelle, the Saints edge a fairly dry minor derby against United. They’re off their game, but Matheo Dybvik is not, the recent signing putting out fires all across their final third, while in the 80th minute, through on goal, Perrodien loses his nerve at the decisive moment to set up Ivo Romanov for… what turns out to be the winner, scoring from a far more acute angle. Marque batter the Stallions 3-0. It’s scoreless at half-time, but Pagan Redweald is sent off just two minutes after the interval and that just totally throws off the Stallions’ rhythm. Pasargan winger Csenger Polyak is already proving good value, while Broon exerts a quiet control over midfield.

An improbable Lastcreek derby sees Southern Star make the short trip across to Southrons-Errant, the side galvanised trying to capture the regional focus they feel Star abandoned. And the semi-professionals (albeit with a number of full-timers on their books) are the better side early doors, 2-1 up by the hour mark… but the heat and their relatively lacking fitness tells, and they concede a last-gasp leveller from Jess Kijanskas. Kijanskas continues to be the hero in extra time, notching a goal in either half to complete her hat-trick and a 4-2 win. Now consider that this is saner by far than Swayback’s haemorrhage of a game, goalkeeper Destiny Hourglass enduring a hundred and twenty minutes of humiliation as they fall 4-1 behind against Rozelle United, inexplicably claw their way back to 4-4, only to concede three more in extra time for an insane 7-4 final scoreline. In front of their own fans, no less. The Stallions are scalped rather anticlimactically by a resilient Rosbank Town, while Westpike inexplicably get toppled by lowly Razorback Hill. Pikemouth, meanwhile, have endured the most difficult starting draw of any side in Cup history; visiting Kingsgrove, now visiting Union. And they’ve won both. Fair to say Chandra Nalaar’s won the crowd around.

Francisca Orient goalkeeper Steele Brighton is booked for time-wasting. In the 56th minute. In context, it makes sense; Orient took an early third-minute lead when Townsend destroyed Drake, Lyston supplied Storrev and Storrev danced through the snoozing Stallions’ defence before lofting cleverly over Eduun. An impressive feat; Eduun, after all, is a towering satyr. But since then they’ve been holding firm, but buckling somewhat under pressure. It’s only through Brighton’s sharp saves that they’re still in front. It doesn’t last much longer, as calamity strikes; Brighton slightly misjudges a charge against Cronin, clatters her, gets his second caution and a penalty for Bronze to slide home and while Orient’s defence mostly holds, a beautiful free kick from Riona Drake finds the top corner in the 92nd minute. Heartbreaking. The Ironclads find their feet in taking out Chafford 3-1, attacking midfielder Lukas Szymon surprisingly popping up with a hat-trick, driving fearlessly between the lines. North Hall cancel out Rozelle in a 1-1 draw as each side’s Drawkish striker gets a goal, while Marque edge Rozelle United with a little help from a blatant Csapo handball, helping control a crossfield pass from Bright so he could centre for Bristoll to drive home the wonly goal of the game.

Drop everything else - well, not quite everything else. But the Classic is in town. Union’s fairly wretched start to the season continues despite a bright start, an uncharacteristic bright start, a role reversal. They have the ball, but they just can’t do anything with it, and a single loose ball is poked forward to Lindauer from Penhallow. Suddenly, Union’s sluggish back line is left to chase someone lightning-quick but still with the presence of mind to lay off for Lauren Cheney when Farrell closes down her striking angle. Union strike back three minutes later, a beautiful flicked header from Garrard rewarding Tambor’s cross, but in the second half Kingsgrove score from a set piece. And Union concede from a set piece. That isn’t like either of them, but Eoin Cascarine gets it done all the same. Elsewhere, Francisca Orient put serious pressure on United with tidy goals from Storrev and Clarke, and a clean sheet from the geriatric Curtis Renningbridge, to earn their first win of the season, while Pikemouth smash an unusually muted Finbar 3-0.

It’s taken a long time, but Union finally look themselves. Chaumancer somehow flicks home an impeccable Apelles corner unmarked, an insolent flick of the heel from Zeale-Riddick converts a cross from Hennessey and Shea Considine arrives late in the box to blast home a loose ball, with Cass Farrell barely challenged but sharp when she is. 3-0 over Southern Star, a match report that barely even needs to mention their opponents. Nice and easy. 3-0 appears to be the scoreline du jour, as Rozelle and Hall batter the newly-promoted teams away by the same scoreline, and while Kingsgrove only slam Chafford 2-0, Meriadoc Griffiths can and does have reasonable cause to bitch about two penalty shouts, claiming the referees decided to roll with the mercy rule. The Marque derby sees Marque turn up and Lotus Park simply not, and there’s already calls for Kyron Everdale’s head in a vicious home atmosphere as Gallagher and star Privateer Kurtis Bristoll rifle home goals in a deserved 2-0 win.

Kingsgrove huff and puff and, belatedly, blow Star’s house down. Star quickly realise there’s no exerting control over the more agile, technically superior Royals’ midfield and settle instead for hanging back and praying, with Gareth Krane positively heroic in the back line, but at the end a fatal slip from former Royals fullback Clementine Raven proves their downfall. A literal slip, too; it’s raining, she tries to get onto the end of a routine pass from Krane, she falls over. Cheney runs past her and centres for Creidne Lindauer to drive home the only goal of the game. Hall are their closest challengers, battering Scaffield 3-0, but the final table’s really yet to take shape thus far. All that can be said is that Union are nowhere to be seen. Chandra Nalaar continues her march into cult hero status; Pikemouth lead Union 2-1 by injury time through goals from Kvaal (yes, Nalaar’s found a tune from him) and Padmore, Coghlan drills out a clearance… and Nalaar, in its path, catches it and falls on it, letting Tambor come and desperately try to wrestle it from her hands. She gets sent off. So does he. Pikemouth win 2-1, and round out the current top four with Rozelle.

The Stalwarts draw Marque to keep up the pace of over a point per match; Southern Star, behind them on goal difference, are looking over their shoulder. Did they really rely on Kara Ciogach so much? Seven goals in eight games say: yes. Westpike have also struggle for purchase, while the utterly toothless Rozelle United score just their third goal of the season against the Twins. Three all season, after a dry spell of five… not, of course, counting the 7-4 away win in Swayback in the Cup. It’s a funny old game. Lotus Park pick themselves off the bottom of the table by picking up their first win of the season over Francisca Orient, and in fairness they haven’t really been terrible this season. Nevertheless, Setanta Ashvane picks up the ball on the edge of the area and with desperation as much as anything skips by Roneau and Janosa to awkwardly side-foot the ball, agonisingly slow, past Brighton. At the other end, Chris Byrnford atones for some errors earlier in the season with fine, sharp saves over Murrough and Storrev. Park pull themselves to third-last, now the relegation playoff place.

Group A

  Group A                  	Pld   W  D  L   GF  GA  GD  Pts
1 Kingsgrove                 	6   3  3  0   11   4  +7   12	—   1–1  2–1  4–1
2 Directus                   	6   2  4  0	6   3  +3   10   0–0   —   1–0  0–0
3 1093 Club de Atlantea      	6   2  1  3	8   7  +1	7   1–1  1–3   —   3–0
4 Brantisvogan FC            	6   0  2  4	2  13 −11	2   0–3  1–1  0–2   —

Group D

  Group D                  	Pld   W  D  L   GF  GA  GD  Pts
1 Northern Union             	6   4  0  2   10   4  +6   12	—   4–0  0–1  2–0
2 Club Stein-los             	6   3  2  1	7   4  +3   11   2–0   —   0–0  3–0
3 Soldarian FC               	6   2  3  1	6   2  +4	9   1–2  0–0   —   4–0
4 FC Libon                   	6   0  1  5	0  13 −13	1   0–2  0–2  0–0   —

Both Brenecian sides glide through in first place. Some hugely impressive moments buried there, as well; Union blew past Club Stein-los 4-0 at home and managed a win in Soldarian (albeit losing both reverse fixtures), while Kingsgrove go on the defensive for a day and manage a scoreless draw in Directus, holding them at home, and finishing the stage unbeaten.

Maybe handing the reins to a 40-year old novice wasn’t the best idea. In any case, there’s a four-way scrum for promotion right now and Gallant Cross are not in it. In fact, they are in tenth, and playing terribly despite their surfeit of clear talent. Rosbank have been scoring for fun, simple, direct football getting the ball to Monaro and Snowe and the two strikers doing the rest. Guilder, predictably, have been reliant on their back four, while the experienced double pivot of Koss and Bestler have managed to keep games in a choke-hold and the addition of an out-ball in Keogh Bolivar and playmaker in Cresci have actually given them teeth. They got twenty goals last season; they have thirteen already now, and conceded just six. Rozelle Alliance’s youth, anchored by Ara Klein, have set them in good stead, while Aphrodite Whitesmith has done a lot with a little at Southside Wanderers, openly wondering this week after an easy 2-0 win over Coppersmith how the hell she got central defensive partnership Goddard and Tenth in through the door without paying a penny.

Falkner United’s scoreless draw at Cross was the saddest match in the world. Cross think being 10th is bad; Marissa Rathridge’s Hunters are 13th. And that, only through a 7-1 blasting of stourhead that just about lifted their goal difference to ‘respectable’; they went five games without a win, and are still legitimately in a relegation dogfight. Rathridge’s job is already under fire, unsurprisingly. Discount that 7-1 as an aberration and Stourhead are also doing brilliantly by not being anywhere in the relegation conversation; they’re sixth, and have conceded just five goals in all their other games. The bottom three are fairly predictable, though; Coppersmith can’t score, Otter Ferry can’t defend and Mount Roland can’t do anything.

A-LEAGUE

Pos Team                    P  W  D  L For  Ag  +/- Pts
  1 Kingsgrove              8  6  1  1  17   6  +11  19
  2 North Hall              8  5  3  0  12   2  +10  18
  3 Rozelle                 8  4  4  0  13   6   +7  16
  4 Pikemouth               8  4  2  2  13  10   +3  14
  5 Marque                  8  4  2  2   8   5   +3  14
  6 Scaffield               8  4  2  2   9   8   +1  14
  7 Northern Union          8  3  2  3   9   6   +3  11
  8 Northern Stallions      8  3  1  4  10  10   +0  10
  9 Chafford                8  3  1  4   5   9   -4  10
 10 Twin Saints             8  2  3  3   8   8   +0   9
 11 Finbar Stalwarts        8  2  3  3   9  13   -4   9
 12 Southern Star           8  3  0  5   7  11   -4   9
 13 AFC Westpike            8  2  1  5   7  15   -8   7
 14 Lotus Park              8  1  3  4   8  13   -5   6
 15 Rozelle United          8  1  2  5   3   9   -6   5
 16 Francisca Orient        8  1  2  5   5  12   -7   5

B-LEAGUE

Pos Team                     P  W  D  L For  Ag  +/- Pts
  1 Rosbank Town             8  6  0  2  17   8   +9  18
  2 Guilder                  8  6  0  2  13   6   +7  18
  3 Rozelle Alliance         8  5  2  1  14   7   +7  17
  4 Southside Wanderers      8  5  1  2  12   9   +3  16
  5 Westpike United          8  4  1  3  15  15   +0  13
  6 Stourhead                8  4  1  3   8  12   -4  13
  7 Proudcastle              8  3  3  2  10   6   +4  12
  8 AFC Swanbridge           8  3  3  2   7   6   +1  12
  9 Snowden River            8  3  2  3   7   9   -2  11
 10 Gallant Cross            8  3  1  4  10   9   +1  10
 11 Chrysler Town            8  3  1  4   7   6   +1  10
 12 Saint Alexander          8  2  3  3   7   9   -2   9
 13 Falkner United           8  2  2  4  11   9   +2   8
 14 Coppersmith              8  1  3  4   6  11   -5   6
 15 Otter Ferry              8  1  1  6  10  22  -12   4
 16 Mount Roland             8  0  2  6   3  13  -10   2

C-LEAGUE

Pos Team                    P  W  D  L For  Ag  +/- Pts
  1 Knightstone FC          8  5  3  0  19   7  +12  18
  2 Stonewash Town          8  5  2  1  13   8   +5  17
  3 Spearcove Mariners      8  4  4  0  18   9   +9  16
  4 Southrons-Errant        8  4  2  2  21  11  +10  14
  5 Pride of the South      8  3  5  0  18   9   +9  14
  6 Shaleport Rangers       8  3  4  1  14  13   +1  13
  7 Fentonbridge            8  3  3  2  10   8   +2  12
  8 Falkner Wanderers       8  4  0  4   8  11   -3  12
  9 Sharrow                 8  3  2  3  12  10   +2  11
 10 Rockridge Phoenix       8  2  4  2   9   8   +1  10
 11 Razorback Hill          8  2  3  3  12  13   -1   9
 12 Randwick Town           8  2  3  3   7  12   -5   9
 13 Silvershire Town        8  2  2  4  11  17   -6   8
 14 Heathgrove              8  1  1  6   5  14   -9   4
 15 Marque Rovers           8  1  0  7   7  24  -17   3
 16 Falkner Crescent        8  0  2  6  10  20  -10   2

D-LEAGUE

Pos Team                   P  W  D  L For  Ag  +/- Pts
  1 AFC Lancet             8  6  1  1  17   6  +11  19
  2 AFC Conomore           8  6  0  2  16   7   +9  18
  3 Alexavale FC           8  5  3  0  21  13   +8  18
  4 Platwood               8  5  1  2  14   5   +9  16
  5 Townsend Raiders       8  5  0  3  21  13   +8  15
  6 Fisher Kings           8  4  0  4  11  10   +1  12
  7 Chafford Saracens      8  3  3  2  10  10   +0  12
  8 Dannecliff Rovers      8  3  2  3  14  13   +1  11
  9 Crest                  8  3  1  4  12  11   +1  10
 10 Swayback               8  2  4  2   9   9   +0  10
 11 Glendower Rider        8  3  1  4   7  11   -4  10
 12 Suttonstrand FC        8  2  3  3  13  13   +0   9
 13 Rushden                8  1  2  5  15  20   -5   5
 14 Pikemouth United       8  1  2  5   5  13   -8   5
 15 Northern Fist          8  1  2  5  10  24  -14   5
 16 Corder Town            8  1  1  6   2  19  -17   4

by **Brenecia** » Mon Jan 06, 2020 2:52 am

The newly-promoted sides fight it out, and it’s a fairly dire affair with one key difference. Orient can’t play through the Stalwart’s midfield, nor can their crosses penetrate their defence. The Stalwarts do, once, through May Quinn, playing it to Townsend whose cross does, once, find Niall Rathburn. The captain overpowers Rondeau and flicks the ball for Masashige Vachimitsu to finally get his first A-League goal. He hits a post late on and a couple late strikes test Markgraf, Finbar’s excellent young goalkeeper, but Finbar deserve their win. Union face off against Rozelle and dominate the play, finally, pleasingly, with Viola Capodanno shaking off her early-season malaise to provide countrywoman Apelles with a goal. Cu Roi Garrard forces Drummond into a spectacular save not long after, one wasted when Zeale-Riddick’s there to smash home. Southern Star disembowel Pikemouth 4-1 in a startling collapse by the Fisherkings while Kingsgrove are held by the Stallions in a high-quality, low-thrill match.

Oof. Pikemouth collapse, passed off the pitch by Kingsgrove, smoothly and strongly and decisively, a dizzying array of passes leaving Pikemouth’s sluggish defence without hope. Isidra Corvey, often the odd one out of the front three, is ‘marked’ (generously put) by Bridie Gryforth and whips home a goal and three assists in an eventual 5-0 win. Francisca Orient beat Westpike and look confident in the process, and only through the overworked Khadur is the scoreline merely 1-0. Vega Zeale-Riddick turns a goal into a red card; already booked for diving against Marque, when she does smash home what she thinks is a leveller and meets the flag, she gets herself a second caution for dissent. Lorraine Bright secures Marque’s win with a rare strike of her own, late on. Farrell should have saved it, really, rounding out an off-day for Union across the board.

It’s safe to say that the Saints lack a bit of depth up front. A forward line of Parrett, Morant and Russell did not exactly stir much fear in second-tier Falkner United, and after nothing they provide slips by Donagh they’re cold-cocked at the other end by teenager Zaza Cashmore, streaking clear through sheer pace and moxie before just hitting, hoping and scoring. Rozelle go hard for the win, and eventually three higher-class players in Perrodien, Crawford and Romanov get hurled on with greater and greater desperation; Romanov eventually gets the leveller, only for Falkner to win on penalties with Donagh the hero. Good decision to cast aside the call of a backup goalkeeper; random 22-year old Warren Burchett probably couldn’t. Proudcastle and Finbar bat toe-to-toe; a slip from Croll lets young Brighton Mattheus stroke home a fourth-minute opener, before the Stalwarts get tripped up on the counter, Gunsway’s drilled diagonal pass stabbed home by Rascal Kirrough. And from there, both sides go hammer-and-tongs at one another; Standingstone let a strong shot straight at his feet slip by from Slavicka, Ashe Kenlock shimmered between two markers to fire past Trudgeon before, in the 91st minute, Quinn’s corner is thumped home by the centre-half Farham for the winner. Lotus Park and Chafford both have bigger concerns on their mind… you’d imagine. But both sides put out strong sides against the other and it’s Chafford who win out on penalties. Rozelle United surprise few by resting many of what pass for their stars. Pyrite Kinsman talks a great game about how it’s a chance for squad players to shine. They don’t. Twins win 3-1.

A third crushing defeat in a row for Pikemouth, thoroughly outplayed by Rozelle to a 3-0 win. Sad to say that a couple key Fisherkings just look… done. Karigomu is repeatedly blasted for pace by Tiferet Ashbrown, Randall Donachie just can’t get a grip on midfield and Gerald Hoffmann lets a weak shot from Sofia Falcon slip between his legs. Cail Coghlan thinks she’s had a consolation, but is offside… her second straight goal chalked off for the same crime in back-to-back games. Marque plaster Southern Star 4-1 without even really seeming to deserve it, but Kurtis Bristoll adds two assists and a goal to his tally in what is shaping up to be a spectacular season.

Westpike are listing. Badly. They choke on a 2-1 lead at half-time, having played well and deservedly leading through Na’Saan and McKinsey… and just come out having presumably been told by Alyssa Billing about how life is meaningless and none of their achievements matter in the face of eternity and entropy. Twin Saints clamber all over them, Khadur mounts a couple of spectacular saves but there’s little he can do when he’s left hopelessly exposed for a couple tap-ins from Brunella Tafani. Rouselle is the Twins’ star, though, knitting it all together. Billing gets the first axe of the season. Rozelle slip a dagger into Kingsgrove’s back, playing with confidence, sharpness and occasional blatant cynicism. Their goal is a thing of beauty, a scissor-kick into the underside of the crossbar from unsung substitute Joscelyn Parrett, but Viablaine is the real heroine of the affair for stopping the Royals in their tracks time and again.

Daniel Snowden arrives at Westpike to much fanfare and immediately secures a result, Chris McKinsey showing his class - he charges down a careless clearance from Colwyn Faulkner and belts it past Casey Brown before anyone can react, and for his second, he just bulldozes through Miller, then Connell, before scooping the ball over the stranded veteran keeper. Eight clean sheets are kept in a good day for goalkeepers, with Steele Brighton arguably having the best of any, deservedly man of the match when Orient visit Pikemouth. Pikemouth dominate the ball, pepper Brighton’s goal with shots and force him into nine good saves; Helena Murrough converts her only real chance at the other end in the 71st minute and is immediately hauled off for midfielder Alexis Martyn, to try and cling onto the goal. What happens when Finbar play with a back four, as they’re forced into just 32 minutes in against the Stallions, already down by one, when Wulfric Pearce bulldozes Solstice Cronin? It’s not pretty. They get taken apart in the second half, ultimately losing 4-0.

Kingsgrove have had a way of opening up on teams, and today it’s Marque who get hammered. 6-0, the biggest win of the year so far, with Cheney and Lindauer each twice on the scoresheet and a hugely impressive starting debut, thanks to a rash of injuries, to gifted teenager Dreigiau Parrish. Rozelle United win out in the six-pointer stakes, as injuries enforce innovation from Pyrite Kinsman, and a double pivot in midfield of Oakstone and Catscradle successfully shuts down the Stalwarts’ midfield and Beau Andisori snatches the only goal of the game from a defensive mix-up. Scaffield and Pikemouth rip chunks out of one another, but by scoring tthe decisive last goal, substitute striker Aloysian Black may have just saved Chandra Nalaar’s job in what is promising to be a trigger-happy season all round.

Kingsgrove extend their lead at the top to five points, though after the travails of last season neither the club nor its fans will be treating the league as a done deal. Particularly as it took until injury time before Parrish followed up his impressive debut with a goal, cutting inside sharply and curling a shot beyond Byrnford, pumping his fist and leaping into the active support. Rozelle slip further behind, unable to truly put Scaffield away despite their dominance and paying the penalty when Vuurmeier heads home a corner, the Stallions edge out Northern Union when Andre Naulo makes up for missing an earlier sitter by lashing home a much more difficult chance, and Marque then overtake Union and North Hall to reach fourth by putting four past local rivals Francisca. Yes; Union are not in the top four.

The mid-season period is a time for reflection, and apparently Lotus Park reflects that its manager would be better off axed. A fourth straight defeat is the end for Kyron Everdale - legendary player at the club, but, sorry, this has been shit - to be shown the door. Harriet Klein, who had reportedly turned down an earlier approach from Westpike, steps in the door. They’re in the new playoff place; above it, surprising most, are Finbar, Rozelle United and Chafford, and below it are Francisca and Westpike, who lose 2-0 to United in a game where they somehow already look out of ideas under Snowden, a notoriously conservative manager.

A top-of-the-table clash sees Rosbank Town overpower Alliance. It’s billed as a contest between high-class veteran midfielders Sheila Connell and Ara Klein. Klein gets crowded out and pummeled into irrelevance; Connell strikes both assists in a 2-1 Rosbank win, setting the Black Swans ten points clear in the promotion race. Third is currently occupied by Snowden, level on points with Southside Wanderers; the latter, perplexingly, have a barely-positive goal difference (bolstered by a recent 5-0 win over Saint Alexander). And Guilder in fifth have lost almost as many as they’ve won. None exactly look inspiring candidates to catch up. Falkner and Gallant Cross each claw their way back into the top half, scoring four goals each in their most recent matches… perhaps it’s not too late? Just five points separate third from 11th-placed Stourhead.

12th are Proudcastle, freshly beaten 4-0 by Falkner, at home. They’ve lost three straight without scoring, and manager Lyndon Carmichael is under fire. They’re still likely to stay out of serious danger, as you’d think might Saint Alexander. And yet, they look… really bad, and old, and slow. They’re still giving Brad Fabianski regular starts, for Christ’s sake. Chrysler Town are running around a lot, but ultimately limited; Otter Ferry and Mount Roland have not shown any sign of potential survival thus far. But at least Mount Roland have won a couple of games at last.

A-LEAGUE

Pos Team                     P   W  D   L For  Ag  +/- Pts
  1 Kingsgrove              15  11  2   2  38  10  +28  35
  2 Rozelle                 15   8  6   1  22   9  +13  30
  3 Northern Stallions      15   8  3   4  24  14  +10  27
  4 Marque                  15   8  3   4  21  17   +4  27
  5 Northern Union          15   8  2   5  19   9  +10  26
  6 North Hall              15   6  8   1  16   7   +9  26
  7 Pikemouth               15   7  2   6  21  26   -5  23
  8 Southern Star           15   7  1   7  19  19   +0  22
  9 Twin Saints             15   5  4   6  16  18   -2  19
 10 Scaffield               15   5  4   6  17  20   -3  19
 11 Finbar Stalwarts        15   4  5   6  14  22   -8  17
 12 Rozelle United          15   4  3   8  10  18   -8  15
 13 Chafford                15   4  2   9   7  18  -11  14
 14 Lotus Park              15   3  3   9  16  24   -8  12
 15 Francisca Orient        15   3  3   9  10  23  -13  12
 16 AFC Westpike            15   3  1  11  13  29  -16  10

B-LEAGUE

Pos Team                      P   W  D   L For  Ag  +/- Pts
  1 Rosbank Town             15  12  0   3  32  13  +19  36
  2 Rozelle Alliance         15   9  4   2  26  13  +13  31
  3 Snowden River            15   8  2   5  23  15   +8  26
  4 Southside Wanderers      15   8  2   5  19  16   +3  26
  5 Guilder                  15   8  0   7  18  14   +4  24
  6 Falkner United           15   7  2   6  29  13  +16  23
  7 AFC Swanbridge           15   6  4   5  16  20   -4  22
  8 Gallant Cross            15   6  3   6  23  17   +6  21
  9 Coppersmith              15   6  3   6  20  16   +4  21
 10 Westpike United          15   6  3   6  24  26   -2  21
 11 Stourhead                15   6  3   6  14  19   -5  21
 12 Proudcastle              15   5  3   7  13  17   -4  18
 13 Saint Alexander          15   4  5   6  10  19   -9  17
 14 Chrysler Town            15   3  4   8  13  23  -10  13
 15 Mount Roland             15   2  4   9  11  25  -14  10
 16 Otter Ferry              15   2  2  11  13  38  -25   8

C-LEAGUE

Pos Team                     P  W  D   L For  Ag  +/- Pts
  1 Southrons-Errant        15 10  3   2  40  16  +24  33
  2 Spearcove Mariners      15  7  6   2  29  19  +10  27
  3 Fentonbridge            15  7  6   2  18  10   +8  27
  4 Knightstone FC          15  7  5   3  28  15  +13  26
  5 Sharrow                 15  8  2   5  23  14   +9  26
  6 Stonewash Town          15  7  5   3  22  18   +4  26
  7 Rockridge Phoenix       15  6  5   4  22  13   +9  23
  8 Randwick Town           15  6  5   4  18  18   +0  23
  9 Pride of the South      15  5  6   4  29  20   +9  21
 10 Razorback Hill          15  5  4   6  20  22   -2  19
 11 Shaleport Rangers       15  4  7   4  20  23   -3  19
 12 Silvershire Town        15  4  5   6  19  26   -7  17
 13 Heathgrove              15  4  1  10  15  22   -7  13
 14 Falkner Wanderers       15  4  0  11  10  30  -20  12
 15 Marque Rovers           15  4  0  11  16  42  -26  12
 16 Falkner Crescent        15  1  2  12  16  37  -21   5

D-LEAGUE

Pos Team                    P   W  D  L For  Ag  +/- Pts
  1 AFC Conomore           15  11  1  3  33  10  +23  34
  2 Platwood               15  11  1  3  31  13  +18  34
  3 Townsend Raiders       15  11  0  4  41  22  +19  33
  4 AFC Lancet             15  10  2  3  29  15  +14  32
  5 Alexavale FC           15   9  3  3  39  23  +16  30
  6 Suttonstrand FC        15   7  3  5  34  23  +11  24
  7 Chafford Saracens      15   6  4  5  22  20   +2  22
  8 Swayback               15   4  6  5  15  23   -8  18
  9 Glendower Rider        15   5  2  8  21  28   -7  17
 10 Fisher Kings           15   5  1  9  19  25   -6  16
 11 Dannecliff Rovers      15   4  4  7  24  31   -7  16
 12 Crest                  15   4  3  8  20  26   -6  15
 13 Rushden                15   3  4  8  23  31   -8  13
 14 Corder Town            15   3  4  8  10  29  -19  13
 15 Northern Fist          15   2  5  8  16  41  -25  11
 16 Pikemouth United       15   2  3 10  12  29  -17   9

by **Brenecia** » Tue Jan 07, 2020 3:08 am

Shocks about! Orient flick Kingsgrove in the nose to get three much-needed and unexpected points as Naiva Storrev especially shines on the right flank, Twins outmuscle Rozelle and look legitimately the far better of the teams in a game that exposes Rozelle’s lack of depth, Sofia Falcon’s lack of physicality and the injured Alora Heher’s lack of still being in her twenties. Westpike claw a point against Hall, Chafford against Pikemouth. At least Union are still themselves, bulldozing Rozelle United 4-1.

Kingsgrove get back to old ways as they sweep Finbar into the bin, Meriadoc Griffiths’ Nepharim influences showing as he deries the Stalwarts’ 5-3-2 as an ‘aberration to be purged’. Well, they sure purged it. Union dominate the North Hall derby, triumphing 2-0. Vega Zeale-Riddick celebrates opening the scores by grabbing a club-branded pennant that had floated onto the pitch and wiping her shapely backside with it. In front of the home fans. So it’s safe to say that when she was lead off the pitch by her physio after being pelted with coins, she kind of had it coming. In the battle of Harriet Klein vs. the club that wanted to sign her, rather awkwardly, Westpike win; if all Daniel Snowden can manage is to get a tune from Chris McKinsey it will all have been worthwhile. Hennessey finishes them in the second half. Kingsgrove’s hammering is the only result that’s not either 1-0 or 2-0 in a weirdly dreary matchday.

Kingsgrove again take the plaudits for massacring Scaffield, this time 5-1. Realistically it’s the only way midtable nobodies like the Ironclads are going to make headlines, though being midtable nobodies rather than relegation battlers is an achievement for them. The Stallions and Rozelle battle out a 1-1 draw with both sides feeling aggrieved at ‘missed’ penalties - certainly, the refereeing was laissez-faire. A scoreless draw between Westpike and Finbar makes Alek Khadur’s third straight clean sheet; maybe they can still turn it around.

Top versus bottom, Kingsgrove versus Westpike, the former hosting. Ever see that get flipped on its head? Well, not today; the Royals get 69% (nice) of the ball and all of the goals in a 2-0 win over Westpike. Orient and Chafford, two dreary teams, play out a frankly remarkably bad scoreless draw. Two sides, one shot on target, and that a tame effort from Canales that floats breezily into Brighton’s arms. The Stallions’ revival continues with a convincing 2-0 win over Marque, Naulo’s growing penchant for first-touch finishes continuing to flourish, while Pikemouth continue stuttering with a 2-1 defeat to North Hall. A 10-man Hall, 27 minutes in, and Thorvald Padmore missing two penalties by the end of the match.

Kingsgrove take a commanding lead at home over Club Stein-los, Penhallow, Cheney and Lindauer rifling up the score and confident defending lasting right up until injury time, where a springing leap from Brenecian Adelina Macbeth saw her able to sweep home Mora’s pass at the far post, giving Club a chance. Union, placed against the defending CC champions, predictably stick on the defensive. At least at first. Sipke Tarala takes the flow of the game out of their hands, Westerveld sending him a ball which he essentially knocks down to himself, beating Chaumancer, and then striking past Farrell. Calindra Apelles, as is often the case, bails Union out with an assist for each winger, and suddenly Union look good value… until Oscar Coltrane is found free on the edge of the box, free to find the bottom corner through a sea of bodies.

Kingsgrove have been lucky with injuries this season, and Griffiths has been reluctant to rotate. That’s served them well to date, but missing a handful of players as they focus on the DIT they distinctly wobble and waver against the Twins, going down 2-1 by half-time, only levelling through a shaky penalty before mainstay Lauren Cheney comes off the bench to bail them out with a brace. Twins’ former manager, Harriet Klein, gets herself sent off on Lotus Park’s behalf, protesting to a late Pikemouth equaliser with more than a shade of a foul in the buildup by running onto the pitch and confronting the referee. Rozelle are the biggest winners at the top. North Hall force them into a dirty, physical brawl; Rozelle accept this and win anyway, Perrodien scrabbling clear of her marks and sliding clear for Tiferet Ashbrown to steam in and slam home.

For the shakiness of their performance against the Twins, but with the Classic coming up, Kingsgrove rotate a number of players again. They get the job done, another impressive performance from Parrish, goals from Ruskin and Caspar Pardoner and a clean sheet from the defence. Union rest nobody, and pull out their best performance of the season in the seething cauldron of the Barbarossa. They dominate the game start to finish, Zeale-Riddick striking a first-half hat-trick and Horgan finishing it by heading home a corner towards the close.

The Classic, and a pulsating one at that. Both sides play to type. Kingsgrove attack, Union endure, two brilliant saves from Cass Farrell answered by one point-blank header from Zeale-Riddick past a stranded Solaani. Union get their second on the stroke of half-time, simple, direct, a cross from Garrard and a bullet header from Shea Considine, making one of his trademark late runs from deep. Kingsgrove fight back, with Meriadoc Griffiths pumping his fist and making a scene on the touchline and Erin Camden’s hands on her pockets as she stalks the scene. Considine goes from hero to … still a hero, for the away fans, an awful challenge practically bisecting Claire Ruskin. She’s carted off with injury, Considine’s sent off, and in that space Ruskin’s substitute - Parrish, again? - finds the space to combine with Cheney and lash a shot hard on goal, Farrell dives and tips it against the upright but Isidra Corvey, following in, slides in ahead of Chaumancer to drive in the rebound. For saving the points, Union have Farrell to thank, and by most measures she’s POTM; Kingsgrove go home seething, aggrieved, the title race very much alive.

A fucking snooze-fest in all honesty. Four games, two goals; one for Falkner against Rosbank in a game guaranteeing at least one lower-league semi-finalist, the other Pikemouth’s in a visit to Lastcreek, through the unlikely and heavily-deflected source of leftback Skye Novac. A scoreless draw gives Falkner Wanderers, currently good odds to be relegated from the third tier, a fair chance of reaching the semis; Twins against Chafford, well, that just isn’t worth comment at all.

Are Kingsgrove just out of sorts? They certainly play like it, and even concede Chafford’s eighth goal of the season, Aviya Uchiha’s second making her their equal top scorer. They squeak nothing by Casey Brown, a spry keeper considering her advanced years, at the other end. Rozelle claw their way closer, beating Finbar 1-0; Union, too, with a convincing 2-0 win over Southern Star and the Stallions, edging a chaotic five-goal affair with the Twins, rounding out the top four, four points out from the Royals. Marque and Star stand fifth and sixth, while North Hall… well, they haven’t even scored a goal a game.

At this stage, any of the bottom six could go down or stay up, seven points separating them. Lotus Park should be safe, though, Harriet Klein having sharpened up their resolve, physicality and discipline, and coming to Marque and wresting a result from them, Banshee Strider particularly reborn and in a rich scoring vein. Finbar have wavered a little, but will still be happy enough to keep their heads above water. Chafford definitely deserve to go down, but their win over Kingsgrove lift them out of the bottom 2.5; the .5 is Orient’s, the 2 belong to Rozelle United and Westpike, both of whom lose and both of whom look good value to stay there.

Rosbank slug it out with Falkner, taking the upper hand, but a careless own goal from Helena Devon - careless is an understatement, it’s a casual backheel over Spires’ head - dooms them on away goals. Chafford and Twins play out a fairly tepid 1-1 draw, but that’s enough for the visitors, and honestly, Mauriac Keane’s frictionless lob from outside the box deserved to count for more than Larissa Canales’ heavily deflected hit-and-hope. Falkner Wanderers do score first against Finbar, but the Stalwarts counter just seven minutes later through the skill and tenacity of Morgan Slavicka. The Wanderers need to strike again, and Brighton Mattheus strikes them twice on the counter. A beautifully placed cross from Coghlan is met with a beautifully placed header from Cain Woods that proves decisive for Pikemouth.

Rosbank Town have contniued to slaughter all opponents in their way and continue to sail towards the title; they now boast a lead of eleven points over Snowden River in second, twelve over Alliance in third. Falkner United are just a point further behind, despite their tepid start to the season, and have certainly roared back into contention; perhaps the cup run is helping galvanise them. It looks unlikely that Gallant Cross will finally drag themselves back up this year, though.

Chrysler look in serious trouble, but neat little coincidence; their 7-4 win over Otter Ferry mirroring their seven wins and four draws across the season. Four of those wins have come in the last five games, coinciding with the sacking of Isadora Murtagh in favour of the promoted reserves manager, Elaine Reilly, whose temporary contract has already been rolled out to the end of next season.
Saint Alexander are currently in the hot seat of the playoff place, but Stourhead, in 9th, are just four points ahead; one might pay particular attention to Southside Wanderers, whose form has eroded in recent weeks. 4th at the halfway point of the season, they’ve drawn one and lost six of the past seven. Mount Roland and Otter Ferry remain anchored to the bottom. They will probably remain there for the rest of time.

A-LEAGUE

Pos Team                     P   W  D   L For  Ag  +/- Pts
  1 Kingsgrove              22  15  2   5  56  20  +36  47
  2 Rozelle                 22  13  7   2  34  15  +19  46
  3 Northern Union          22  14  3   5  36  14  +22  45
  4 Northern Stallions      22  13  4   5  38  21  +17  43
  5 Marque                  22  12  3   7  29  24   +5  39
  6 Southern Star           22  11  2   9  25  24   +1  35
  7 North Hall              22   8 10   4  20  12   +8  34
  8 Twin Saints             22   9  5   8  27  27   +0  32
  9 Pikemouth               22   9  5   8  27  32   -5  32
 10 Scaffield               22   8  5   9  25  31   -6  29
 11 Lotus Park              22   6  4  12  26  38  -12  22
 12 Finbar Stalwarts        22   4  8  10  18  32  -14  20
 13 Chafford                22   5  4  13   8  23  -15  19
 14 Francisca Orient        22   4  5  13  14  33  -19  17
 15 Rozelle United          22   4  4  14  15  32  -17  16
 16 AFC Westpike            22   4  3  15  17  37  -20  15

B-LEAGUE

Pos Team                      P   W  D   L For  Ag  +/- Pts
  1 Rosbank Town             22  17  2   3  46  19  +27  53
  2 Snowden River            22  13  3   6  32  18  +14  42
  3 Rozelle Alliance         22  12  5   5  37  27  +10  41
  4 Falkner United           22  12  4   6  45  18  +27  40
  5 Gallant Cross            22  10  5   7  36  25  +11  35
  6 Westpike United          22  10  3   9  38  35   +3  33
  7 Guilder                  22  11  0  11  24  26   -2  33
  8 AFC Swanbridge           22   9  5   8  23  27   -4  32
  9 Stourhead                22   8  4  10  19  30  -11  28
 10 Southside Wanderers      22   8  3  11  22  27   -5  27
 11 Proudcastle              22   7  5  10  22  27   -5  26
 12 Coppersmith              22   7  4  11  27  27   +0  25
 13 Chrysler Town            22   7  4  11  31  37   -6  25
 14 Saint Alexander          22   5  9   8  13  22   -9  24
 15 Mount Roland             22   4  7  11  14  30  -16  19
 16 Otter Ferry              22   3  3  16  21  55  -34  12

C-LEAGUE

Pos Team                     P   W  D   L For  Ag  +/- Pts
  1 Southrons-Errant        22  14  4   4  50  26  +24  46
  2 Knightstone FC          22  12  6   4  44  25  +19  42
  3 Rockridge Phoenix       22  12  5   5  40  18  +22  41
  4 Sharrow                 22  12  3   7  37  22  +15  39
  5 Spearcove Mariners      22  11  6   5  44  30  +14  39
  6 Stonewash Town          22  11  6   5  36  25  +11  39
  7 Fentonbridge            22   8 10   4  25  17   +8  34
  8 Pride of the South      22   7 10   5  39  29  +10  31
  9 Randwick Town           22   8  7   7  24  25   -1  31
 10 Shaleport Rangers       22   8  7   7  29  36   -7  31
 11 Razorback Hill          22   8  5   9  30  33   -3  29
 12 Silvershire Town        22   6  7   9  28  38  -10  25
 13 Heathgrove              22   6  2  14  23  30   -7  20
 14 Falkner Wanderers       22   6  1  15  16  46  -30  19
 15 Marque Rovers           22   4  0  18  16  55  -39  12
 16 Falkner Crescent        22   2  3  17  25  51  -26   9

D-LEAGUE

Pos Team                    P   W  D   L For  Ag  +/- Pts
  1 AFC Conomore           22  15  3   4  49  14  +35  48
  2 AFC Lancet             22  14  5   3  49  26  +23  47
  3 Alexavale FC           22  13  5   4  60  29  +31  44
  4 Platwood               22  13  4   5  40  23  +17  43
  5 Townsend Raiders       22  13  3   6  55  36  +19  42
  6 Suttonstrand FC        22  12  5   5  49  28  +21  41
  7 Chafford Saracens      22   9  6   7  36  32   +4  33
  8 Glendower Rider        22   8  2  12  33  40   -7  26
  9 Swayback               22   6  8   8  23  39  -16  26
 10 Fisher Kings           22   7  4  11  29  35   -6  25
 11 Corder Town            22   6  5  11  25  44  -19  23
 12 Rushden                22   6  4  12  36  40   -4  22
 13 Pikemouth United       22   5  5  12  23  39  -16  20
 14 Crest                  22   5  4  13  30  45  -15  19
 15 Dannecliff Rovers      22   4  5  13  29  51  -22  17
 16 Northern Fist          22   3  6  13  26  71  -45  15

by **Brenecia** » Tue Jan 07, 2020 5:37 am

Kingsgrove lose out again, this time to Southern Star, as Union are held by a resilient Pikemouth. Rozelle, meanwhile, are unable to get on the scoresheet against Westpike; suffice to say there’s plenty of stumbles at the top. And Marque deserve to be in that conversation, too… and deserve to be shamed, as Finbar beat them 2-1 due to a dominant midfield performance. Perhaps the lack of back fives/threes/odd numbers in this nation mean that teams are struggling to find ways to play through it? Lotus Park’s recovery continues apace with a breezy win over Orient. Banshee Strider’s run of form continuing. Earlier in the season her record was deeply indifferent, now she’s around one in two.

Wait, what? When Andre Naulo knocks the ball almost casually by Mara Solaani in the 83rd minute, Kingsgrove have just suffered a third straight 1-0 defeat. A run of form coinciding with a short-term injury to Lauren Cheney - well, one that started 22 minutes in against Chafford. She’s slated to recover against Pikemouth, though, next match. Fortunately for them, Rozelle and Union hold one another to a 1-1 draw, Rozelle stroking the ball around with confidence but Union’s expertise from set pieces letting Horgan thrash home a late leveller. The newly-promoted sides fight it out and predictably Finbar find themselves on top by the end, resolute at the back and with captain Rathburn continuing to lead by example, despite the doubters.

Falkner United know what to do; a cross from Na’Verii finds the tall timber of Mayhew at the far post, and then all they do is sit back and fend the Twins off. Finbar and Pikemouth go at each other surprisingly openly, and are less than clinical in pursuit of the win. Pikemouth find it, just that little bit more clinical in front of goal, and aided by Ingrid Trudgeon being… well… old. Too old to come out convincingly when a ball splits her and the back line, Kvaal running free and all the 35-year old can really do is lug out of her box and fling herself at the ball. She misses, Kvaal strokes home the winner.

Cheney is fit. Well, maybe that’s generous; Lauren Cheney is rushed back on the pitch for Kingsgrove and does almost nothing until being hauled off in the 53rd minute. 20-year old Phenalope Everett does little in her stead, and they’re goalless once more. Union come unstuck while hosting Marque, Colm Beckwith’s Privateers unsettling Union’s aging squad with pace and power, Kurtis Bristoll charging around like an unhinged berserker and ultimately coming up with the winner. Westpike scrounge three badly-needed points, Janna Gerrard breaking clear to find Na’Saan’s pass, round Brighton and roll it into the net for the only goal of the game against an uninspired Orient.

The Twins get a rare chance to batter at an opponent hammer and tongs, but Falkner hold out, partly through the agility of goalkeeper Crispin Donagh and partly through the obstinance of Hefina Riverstake kicking anyone in a gold shirt who crosses the midfield line. Pikemouth have a poorly-timed off day and Finbar come at them hard, but shot-stopper Ghillis pulls out five sharp saves, a couple from one-on-ones with Niall Rathburn, who can now consider Ghillis his bete noire. May Quinn strikes the only goal of the game late on, but Pikemouth still win on away goals.

Kingsgrove’s careless finishing and the goalkeeping of Farenthold ensure Arlington can take a tidy scalp home, and a couple of away goals. The Royals can be thankful that in injury time, a clever string of passes ends in Elena Culbreth, auld faithful, tapping home at the far post. Union come similarly unstuck against Brinemouth, without much hope of turning it around at Eagles’ Club. Stranger things have happened, but still. Brinemouth look content to sit on 0-0 but go one better, Franz Kesteren earning a free kick that Evelyn Conjure pulls something magic from, Cass Farrell motionless. Tidesson seals it late on, though Erin Camden talks a great game about overturning the deficit.

Dakota Blaylock hasn’t looked quite right since being superceded by the flashier Zeale-Riddick, and has scored just three league goals all year. He fails to add to this tally after ninety drab minutes against Orient; the workmanlike Helena Murrough, by contrast, gets her seventh of the season. Most effective with her back to goal, perhaps, but she knows enough to take a ball from Lyston on the chest and hammer it past Farrell as it falls, before anyone can close her down. Park, meanwhile, can probably start confirming their safety; if there is a God, the Chafford side they beat 1-0 will not be able to say the same come the end of the year. Hall and Stallions play out a muscular, entertaining scoreless draw, one short of goalmouth quality.

Two limp away defeats, with Brenecian sides chasing the games. Still, rounding out a respectable set of performances; neither side has reason to be ashamed.

A well-timed Rozelle derby. With the Stallions edging out Lotus Park 1-0 at home (such a recurrent scoreline in a low-scoring season...) that means it’s down to one of them to pick up the chase. But Kingsgrove have been out of sorts of late, hence, well, no longer being at the top. It’s a technical sort of affair, hell, even ‘one for the purists’ by the half-hour mark, but then Kingsgrove overextend forward and get sliced open on the break, Ashbrown setting up Perrodien to stroke home a rare but well-timed goal, and the only one of the game at that. Much to Griffiths’ chagrin, the Royals had a couple of credible penalty shouts turned down. As Derdriu Wright countered; the calls Kingsgrove want, they generally get. At home, especially. Their win was deserved, and that puts them in the hunt and unceremoniously dumps Kingsgrove out of it. But the Stallions remain in the driver’s seat.

North Hall batter Kingsgrove 3-0 in a defeat that yanks the Royals brutally out of title contention. Mathematically, this time. Wins for Rozelle and the Stallions confirm that it’s down to them, and though the Stallions leave it until late - very late - indeed, the 90+2nd minute before Riona Drake deceives Pearce and Huesch before firing past them both and Markgraf, securing the win that gives them a four-point buffer. Union’s faint hopes of the title also erode, regardless of their disappointing draw against the resilient Twins. Francisca’s 2-2 draw against Pikemouth is entertaining, but matched by a breathtakingly dire scoreless draw between Westpike and Chafford.

Rozelle versus Orient, the Stallions versus Westpike. Good teams against shit ones, and the Saints praying for Westpike to put up a fight. They don’t. Perhaps that’s harsh; they can’t, overwhelmed by the brutal pressing and unrelenting physicality of Tana Colbright’s Stallions. Two goals come directly from mistakes, the third from a slick set-piece from Drake flicked effortlessly into the net by Keane Mathers. It’s not exactly pretty, despite Drake’s aptitude in possession, but it doesn’t have to be; the title is theirs.

Union maintain their slim edge over Hall on goal difference, with both North Hall sides winning. Kingsgrove can hypothetically be overtaken by both to miss out on the top four, or Marque overtake both to get it, but goal difference is prohibitive in each case. Kingsgrove’s 5-0 win over Marque helps underline that. The Twins and Star draw, meaning it’s two from those three to join the worse of Hall and Union when all is said and done, representing a great season for the Twins no matter what. Finbar’s 2-0 win over Rozelle United is only relevant for United, as the Stalwarts are already safe with time to spare. A win would have catapulted United to safety. Chafford, unfortunately, are surviving as things stand, but any of the bottom four could survive, or go down.

Someone told Rosbank that they basically had the title sewn up. They relaxed. It showed. And Snowden’s visit and eventual triumph was very nearly a title bout in miniature… sadly, by then, Rosbank did have it sewn up, despite the erosion of their massive lead. And Snowden aren’t even safe, not quite, with Alliance breathing down their throats and Gallant Cross, implausibly, limping along two points further behind. Falkner have fallen off, perhaps more distracted than galvanised by their cup run, but will fans really complain? Okay, they are, but still.

The situation at the bottom is sewn up. Chrysler’s pickup in form under Reilly continued, as did Southside’s downward slide, but the fact is that it will be Coppersmith contesting the relegation playoff and Mount Roland and Otter Ferry dropping through the floorboards.

A-LEAGUE

Pos Team                     P   W   D   L For  Ag  +/- Pts
  1 Northern Stallions      29  19   5   5  48  22  +26  62
  2 Rozelle                 29  16  10   3  44  22  +22  58
  3 Kingsgrove              29  17   3   9  63  27  +36  54
  4 Northern Union          29  15   6   8  41  21  +20  51
  5 North Hall              29  13  12   4  29  13  +16  51
  6 Marque                  29  15   3  11  38  38   +0  48
  7 Twin Saints             29  13   8   8  34  29   +5  47
  8 Southern Star           29  14   5  10  33  29   +4  47
  9 Pikemouth               29  11   9   9  38  41   -3  42
 10 Scaffield               29  10   7  12  31  40   -9  37
 11 Lotus Park              29  10   4  15  32  41   -9  34
 12 Finbar Stalwarts        29   8   9  12  24  35  -11  33
 13 Chafford                29   5   6  18   9  30  -21  21
 14 Francisca Orient        29   5   6  18  19  46  -27  21
 15 AFC Westpike            29   5   5  19  19  45  -26  20
 16 Rozelle United          29   5   4  20  19  42  -23  19

B-LEAGUE

Pos Team                      P   W   D   L For  Ag  +/- Pts
  1 Rosbank Town             29  19   5   5  59  28  +31  62
  2 Snowden River            29  17   5   7  42  23  +19  56
  3 Rozelle Alliance         29  15   9   5  47  31  +16  54
  4 Gallant Cross            29  15   7   7  48  28  +20  52
  5 Westpike United          29  15   5   9  54  42  +12  50
  6 Falkner United           29  15   4  10  58  30  +28  49
  7 AFC Swanbridge           29  13   7   9  32  33   -1  46
  8 Guilder                  29  13   2  14  29  34   -5  41
  9 Proudcastle              29  10   9  10  34  33   +1  39
 10 Stourhead                29   9   8  12  25  39  -14  35
 11 Chrysler Town            29  10   4  15  40  48   -8  34
 12 Saint Alexander          29   7  12  10  17  26   -9  33
 13 Southside Wanderers      29  10   3  16  28  39  -11  33
 14 Coppersmith              29   7   5  17  33  46  -13  26
 15 Mount Roland             29   4   8  17  16  42  -26  20
 16 Otter Ferry              29   4   5  20  30  70  -40  17

C-LEAGUE

Pos Team                     P   W   D   L For  Ag  +/- Pts
  1 Southrons-Errant        29  18   5   6  64  37  +27  59
  2 Rockridge Phoenix       29  16   6   7  52  23  +29  54
  3 Stonewash Town          29  15   9   5  44  27  +17  54
  4 Knightstone FC          29  14   9   6  54  35  +19  51
  5 Spearcove Mariners      29  14   7   8  58  37  +21  49
  6 Randwick Town           29  14   7   8  33  29   +4  49
  7 Sharrow                 29  14   6   9  43  27  +16  48
  8 Fentonbridge            29  12  12   5  34  21  +13  48
  9 Pride of the South      29   9  11   9  44  37   +7  38
 10 Shaleport Rangers       29  10   7  12  34  45  -11  37
 11 Silvershire Town        29   9   9  11  33  43  -10  36
 12 Razorback Hill          29   8   8  13  33  43  -10  32
 13 Heathgrove              29   7   6  16  28  37   -9  27
 14 Falkner Wanderers       29   7   3  19  21  55  -34  24
 15 Marque Rovers           29   7   1  21  23  66  -43  22
 16 Falkner Crescent        29   3   4  22  30  66  -36  13

D-LEAGUE

Pos Team                    P   W   D   L For  Ag  +/- Pts
  1 AFC Conomore           29  21   4   4  72  18  +54  67
  2 AFC Lancet             29  20   5   4  68  33  +35  65
  3 Townsend Raiders       29  17   6   6  73  44  +29  57
  4 Platwood               29  16   6   7  46  29  +17  54
  5 Alexavale FC           29  16   5   8  70  42  +28  53
  6 Suttonstrand FC        29  14   6   9  58  40  +18  48
  7 Chafford Saracens      29  12   8   9  49  44   +5  44
  8 Swayback               29   9  11   9  33  45  -12  38
  9 Fisher Kings           29  10   5  14  39  44   -5  35
 10 Corder Town            29   8   6  15  32  56  -24  30
 11 Glendower Rider        29   8   5  16  35  50  -15  29
 12 Northern Fist          29   7   7  15  35  81  -46  28
 13 Rushden                29   7   6  16  43  50   -7  27
 14 Crest                  29   7   6  16  39  59  -20  27
 15 Pikemouth United       29   6   5  18  31  58  -27  23
 16 Dannecliff Rovers      29   6   5  18  36  66  -30  23

by **Brenecia** » Tue Jan 07, 2020 5:38 am

LEAGUE FINALE
The spectacle of the final matchday immediately turns into high farce. The Stallions’... exertations after their win over Westpike, goaded on in typical Nepharim fashion by manager Tana Colbright, meant that fully twenty-one of Stallions’ first-team squad were thrown into lockup overnight and slammed with suspensions by the league as a result going into the final day. The result was that the Stallions basically sent out their U23s against Northern Union… a Union side that had to win to confirm they’d remain in the top four. It didn’t take a conspiracy theorist to wonder if the BFA would have so eagerly handed down suspensions in different circumstances. Playing with a desperate fire, Union eviscerated Stallions’ reserves, with teetotal winger Damian Fletch the old man of the squad at 24 and leftback Deimne Watermark, though un-suspended, very obviously still the worse for wear and hauled off thirty-eight minutes in after throwing up on the pitch for a second time. The score, by then, was 3-0; it would end with eight. And through five goals from Vega Zeale-Riddick, the princess of Cassandra leaps ahead of Creidne Lindauer in the top scorer charts...

The mood at Westpike and Rozelle United is honestly fairly good heading into the final day; they might be the bottom two, and terrible, but they’re playing one another, and both feel confident of a win. That’s only warranted for Westpike, however; a defensive slip from Jordan Gamble allows Monika Rourke to slip by him and then slip the ball across Murnane, and as United stretch out to fight back Rourke sets up McKinsey to smack them in the mouth again. United are hopeless, but unfortunately for Westpike, their near rivals pick up sudden competence. Chafford score goal number 10 of the season against Southern Star and lean on a truly heroic performance from Casey Brown’s last match before retirement, and Francisca Orient edge a blood-and-thunder affair over their derby rivals, a little too desperate to relegate them - both Broon and Levein get sent off, clearing the way for Harris Lyston to smash home the late winner. So Westpike are down, and Orient set to play off against Rozelle Alliance… fresh off a 3-1 away win at champions Rosbank.

PLAYOFFS
Falkner Wanderers 0 - 2 Townsend Raiders
Coppersmith 5 - 1 Knightstone FC
Francisca Orient 1 - 0 Rozelle Alliance

The playoff between Orient and Alliance was a tragedy to watch; Alliance played better, they couldn’t break through Orient’s resilient defence. And the space just wasn’t there for anyone to find Brimorii or Komatsu, their young strikers. The first sign came when Kelly Chaplain was forced into a brilliant save, flicking Harrington’s strike onto the crossbar for Rowlex to clear away, but it wasn’t heeded, thanks in part to Finn Townsend exerting his authority and choking down the middle of the park. In the end, the goal came not from any of the crosses slung at Murrough’s head, but from Naiva Storrev, driving through three men and sliding the ball between the startled Chaplain’s feet. Ten minutes left for Alliance to get a goal, one that never came.

CUP FINAL
Falkner United 0 - 1 Pikemouth

Sadly, the Cup final is uneventful. Both sides know their role to play, with Falkner sitting back warily to spring on the counter and Pikemouth probing cautiously without wanting to open themselves up to that. The goal is nothing routine and bears more than a fleck of dirt as, fifty-eight frustrating minutes in and with Falkner gaining in confidence, increasingly testing Corann Ghillis between the posts (and fortunately for those backing the favourites, he’s sharp and up to the task) Cail Coghlan jinks in, then out, and somewhere in between notices that Evan Kerraway kind of brushed her, so she falls over. Grigor Todorov’s nerves are steel, and Donagh gives himself away early - the final is sealed with a cheeky chip down the middle, despite the best efforts of dynamo Zaza Cashmore to get her fortituously-timed 20th birthday off to a bang. Ghillis, again, bails the Fisherkings out. Falkner roused themselves, raised their game… but it just wasn’t enough. Quality told, and a kind of shit season for Nalaar instantly becomes one of glory and celebration.

A-LEAGUE

Pos Team                     P   W   D   L For  Ag  +/- Pts
  1 Northern Stallions      30  19   5   6  48  30  +18  62
  2 Rozelle                 30  16  10   4  46  26  +20  58
  3 Kingsgrove              30  18   3   9  66  29  +37  57
  4 Northern Union          30  16   6   8  49  21  +28  54
  5 North Hall              30  13  12   5  29  14  +15  51
  6 Marque                  30  15   3  12  39  40   -1  48
  7 Twin Saints             30  13   8   9  34  31   +3  47
  8 Southern Star           30  14   5  11  33  30   +3  47
  9 Pikemouth               30  12   9   9  40  41   -1  45
 10 Scaffield               30  11   7  12  35  42   -7  40
 11 Finbar Stalwarts        30   9   9  12  25  35  -10  36
 12 Lotus Park              30  10   4  16  34  44  -10  34
 13 Chafford                30   6   6  18  10  30  -20  24
 14 Francisca Orient        30   6   6  18  21  47  -26  24
 15 AFC Westpike            30   6   5  19  21  45  -24  23
 16 Rozelle United          30   5   4  21  19  44  -25  19

AWARDS
Golden Boot (Goals Scored): Vega Zeale-Riddick (NTU) - 19
Golden Ball (Player of the Year): Lauren Cheney (KNG)
Golden Fist (New Player of the Year): Stemmon Perrodien (ROZ)
Golden Heart (U-21 Player of the Year): Calindra Apelles (NTU)
Team of the Year: Eduun (NTS); Isaev (NTS), Horgan (NTU), Grayndler (NTH), Iserlohn (TWS); Bristoll (MAR), Redweald (NTS), Perrodien (ROZ); Cheney (KNG), Zeale-Riddick (NTU), Cronin (NTS)
Manager of the Year: Tana Colbright (NTS)

B-LEAGUE

Pos Team                      P   W   D   L For  Ag  +/- Pts
  1 Rosbank Town             30  19   5   6  60  31  +29  62
  2 Snowden River            30  18   5   7  45  24  +21  59
  3 Rozelle Alliance         30  16   9   5  50  32  +18  57
  4 Gallant Cross            30  16   7   7  50  28  +22  55
  5 Falkner United           30  16   4  10  63  31  +32  52
  6 Westpike United          30  15   5  10  55  45  +10  50
  7 AFC Swanbridge           30  13   7  10  32  35   -3  46
  8 Guilder                  30  13   2  15  29  37   -8  41
  9 Proudcastle              30  10   9  11  35  38   -3  39
 10 Saint Alexander          30   8  12  10  20  26   -6  36
 11 Southside Wanderers      30  11   3  16  29  39  -10  36
 12 Stourhead                30   9   9  12  25  39  -14  36
 13 Chrysler Town            30  10   4  16  41  50   -9  34
 14 Coppersmith              30   8   5  17  35  47  -12  29
 15 Mount Roland             30   4   9  17  16  42  -26  21
 16 Otter Ferry              30   4   5  21  30  71  -41  17

AWARDS
Golden Boot (Goals Scored): Brielle Grant (WPU) - 19
Golden Ball (Player of the Year): Sheila Connell (RBT)
Manager of the Year: Julia Penzance (RBT)

C-LEAGUE

Pos Team                     P   W   D   L For  Ag  +/- Pts
  1 Southrons-Errant        30  18   5   7  64  43  +21  59
  2 Rockridge Phoenix       30  16   6   8  52  24  +28  54
  3 Knightstone FC          30  15   9   6  57  35  +22  54
  4 Stonewash Town          30  15   9   6  47  31  +16  54
  5 Spearcove Mariners      30  15   7   8  64  37  +27  52
  6 Randwick Town           30  15   7   8  35  30   +5  52
  7 Fentonbridge            30  13  12   5  38  24  +14  51
  8 Sharrow                 30  14   7   9  43  27  +16  49
  9 Pride of the South      30  10  11   9  45  37   +8  41
 10 Shaleport Rangers       30  11   7  12  36  45   -9  40
 11 Silvershire Town        30   9  10  11  34  44  -10  37
 12 Razorback Hill          30   8   9  13  33  43  -10  33
 13 Heathgrove              30   7   6  17  28  40  -12  27
 14 Falkner Wanderers       30   7   3  20  21  57  -36  24
 15 Marque Rovers           30   7   1  22  24  68  -44  22
 16 Falkner Crescent        30   3   5  22  31  67  -36  14

D-LEAGUE

Pos Team                    P   W   D   L For  Ag  +/- Pts
  1 AFC Conomore           30  21   4   5  73  20  +53  67
  2 AFC Lancet             30  20   5   5  69  35  +34  65
  3 Townsend Raiders       30  17   6   7  74  46  +28  57
  4 Alexavale FC           30  17   5   8  71  42  +29  56
  5 Platwood               30  16   7   7  46  29  +17  55
  6 Suttonstrand FC        30  14   6  10  61  44  +17  48
  7 Chafford Saracens      30  13   8   9  51  45   +6  47
  8 Swayback               30  10  11   9  35  46  -11  41
  9 Fisher Kings           30  11   5  14  41  45   -4  38
 10 Rushden                30   8   6  16  45  51   -6  30
 11 Glendower Rider        30   8   6  16  35  50  -15  30
 12 Corder Town            30   8   6  16  32  57  -25  30
 13 Northern Fist          30   7   8  15  36  82  -46  29
 14 Crest                  30   7   6  17  40  61  -21  27
 15 Pikemouth United       30   7   5  18  35  61  -26  26
 16 Dannecliff Rovers      30   6   6  18  37  67  -30  24

by **Brenecia** » Sat Mar 21, 2020 3:42 am

Beep.

A-League Newswires (Brenecia Domestic Football)

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