sportnyheter.vu - Valhallan Union Domestic Newswire

[Polar Islandstates]

Eight matches into the sixty-sixth season, lets have a quick summary of what has happened so far...


MATCHDAY 1
FC Cape St Paul 1–1 SK Aasiaat Harbour
FC Axel Heiburg 1–1 Jan Mayen Islanders
Bohemiens Grise Fiord 0–0 North Star Grímsey
Red Star Severny 2–0 Northbrook Diamonds FK
Scapa Bay Rovers 2–2 SK Franz Josef City
Skipsbyggere IFK 1–1 East Franz Athletic
FC1. Surtsey Island Gulls 3–0 Eintracht Moss-Rygge
Resolute Storm 1913 FC 2–2 SK Nasjonale Hauker
FC1. Bjarnarey Flotilla 3–0 Rapid Jan Mayen FK
A proper baptism of fire for newly promoted St Paul then as they play host to reigning champions Aasiaat, and they hold their own comfortably! Inspirational Vivaldi Schmelz put the Dockers in dreamland initially, only for Matteus Henschen to level things up and show the newcomers that things aren't going to be that simple this year. Elmo Polland scores a double at home as Carravale sends the Diamonds packing unceremoniously, and new signing Loick Sorensen gets off to a good start for SK, scoring a late equaliser as the Griffons sought to avoid an embarrasing result in Scapa Bay. Resolute Storm also nick a draw on their return to the top flight at home to Nasjonale, but Eintracht are rather less successful, getting taught a lesson by a rampant Surtsey side led as ever by Stockman up front.


MATCHDAY 2
SK Aasiaat Harbour 3–0 Rapid Jan Mayen FK
SK Nasjonale Hauker 2–1 FC1. Bjarnarey Flotilla
Eintracht Moss-Rygge 2–1 Resolute Storm 1913 FC
East Franz Athletic 1–0 FC1. Surtsey Island Gulls
SK Franz Josef City 2–2 Skipsbyggere IFK
Northbrook Diamonds FK 2–2 Scapa Bay Rovers
North Star Grímsey 2–3 Red Star Severny
Jan Mayen Islanders 3–3 Bohemiens Grise Fiord
FC Cape St Paul 5–1 FC Axel Heiburg
A Matias Langager hat-trick gets the Aasiaat title-defence up and running after their false-start against St Paul, new signing Cixin Nguyen supplying a pair of assists as Kirkkegaard starts to put the pieces of his puzzle together. Scapa Bay manage another creditable two-all draw against a Big Six side, with SK also repeating that scoreline for a second week in a row - this time against Skipsbyggere. Eintracht are going to need to pick up points against the teams around them if they're going to survive this season, so that two-one win against Resolute will be music to their ears, and an Emmanuele Niemi double sees Nasjonale pick up the points in a come-from-behind win at home to Bjarnarey - Mêlçôr Ënàrsòn having opened his acount for his new club in the first half. The real story of the day though was at the Millerntor, where a rampant St Paul stunned Axel Heiburg with a five-one demolition job; a goal each for Usko Stomberg, Vivaldi Schmelz, Jake Church, Aleksejs Weneke, and Jan-Erik Kochalka let the Dockers fans into dreamland, with Viljo Nilsen's consolation being a paltry reward for a disastrously poor day in Nunivak for the visitors.


MATCHDAY 3
FC Axel Heiburg 2–0 SK Aasiaat Harbour
Bohemiens Grise Fiord 0–1 FC Cape St Paul
Red Star Severny 0–2 Jan Mayen Islanders
Scapa Bay Rovers 0–4 North Star Grímsey
Skipsbyggere IFK 0–3 Northbrook Diamonds FK
FC1. Surtsey Island Gulls 1–2 SK Franz Josef City
Resolute Storm 1913 FC 0–0 East Franz Athletic
FC1. Bjarnarey Flotilla 1–2 Eintracht Moss-Rygge
Rapid Jan Mayen FK 0–2 SK Nasjonale Hauker
Not going to lie, when I saw that Axel Heiburg had lost five-one in St Paul, I was thinking that perhaps this was going to be a tougher season for them than I thought, and then they bounced back by beating the champions two-nil at home. Just goes to show you can't predict this league, eh? Elsewhere, Ryn Jaxon got off the mark for Diamonds in their three-nil away win over SKipsbyggere, and there was a big win for North Star in Scapa Bay. Emmanuele Niemi scored again in a two-nil win for Nasjonale at Yannis Stadion, whilst the shock result of the day saw Eintracht Moss-Rygge come from behind to win at The Barge of all places. A third goal in as many games for Vivaldi Schmelz gave St Paul a win in Grise Fiord meanwhile, a result that actually sees them top the table. I know it's obviously early days, but there were an awful lot of screenshots being saved for posterity in Nunivak this evening.


MATCHDAY 4
SK Aasiaat Harbour 0–0 SK Nasjonale Hauker
Eintracht Moss-Rygge 2–2 Rapid Jan Mayen FK
East Franz Athletic 2–3 FC1. Bjarnarey Flotilla
SK Franz Josef City 5–0 Resolute Storm 1913 FC
Northbrook Diamonds FK 2–1 FC1. Surtsey Island Gulls
North Star Grímsey 3–0 Skipsbyggere IFK
Jan Mayen Islanders 4–2 Scapa Bay Rovers
FC Cape St Paul 2–3 Red Star Severny
FC Axel Heiburg 1–0 Bohemiens Grise Fiord
An Ignacio Andrada free kick in the dying moments of the second half rescued a point for Rapid Jan Mayen at Koch Stadion this weekend, meaning Rapid are finally off the mark in the league, and there was a player of the match performance from Duncan McCariot as Aasiaat held a very hungry looking Nasjonale side to a goalless draw at Harbour Walk. SK demolished Resolute Storm with a five-star performance at the Landstadt; goals courtesy of Heino Olsen, Jalmari Hagen, Igerne Félix, and Loick Sorensen, with Goliat coming on for Lofthus in the dying seconds - which was just enough time to stab home a loose ball in the box. For minutes-to-touches-to-goals, it's hard to argue with the ratio on a debut like that. The game of the weekend came on Monday night however, with the Rendahl's spires all lit up for the arrival of Bjarnarey Flotilla. Kyong Tripp got their account for the Bargemen off the mark in the first half, before goals from Arsene-Michael Litt and Joni Siebel gave the Spires the lead in the second. Bjarnarey weren't done however, and roaring comeback came good thanks to goals from Nijgaard and - as so often seems to happen - a Povl Kazimir who was all too happy to land the killing blow against the team where he spent last season so unhappily. Hashtag narrative, right?


MATCHDAY 5
Bohemiens Grise Fiord 1–4 SK Aasiaat Harbour
Red Star Severny 2–3 FC Axel Heiburg
Scapa Bay Rovers 4–0 FC Cape St Paul
Skipsbyggere IFK 0–2 Jan Mayen Islanders
FC1. Surtsey Island Gulls 0–2 North Star Grímsey
Resolute Storm 1913 FC 1–1 Northbrook Diamonds FK
FC1. Bjarnarey Flotilla 1–2 SK Franz Josef City
Rapid Jan Mayen FK 3–4 East Franz Athletic
SK Nasjonale Hauker 2–0 Eintracht Moss-Rygge
This already has the makings of a classing season of Divisjon One, you know? Anyone seems able to beat anyone, with teams that receive a hammering or a shock result seemingly able to pick themselves off the dressing room floor and inflict that pain onto someone else the following week. For example, East Franz got over the disappointment of that seesaw game against Bjarnarey by going out and doing the same thing to Rapid Jan Mayen, who must be dismayed to see themselves score three times against a team like East Franz and yet come away with nothing. Bjarnarey meanwhile suffered a defeat in the same ilk as the one they inflicted on East Franz, when SK came to The Barge and came back in the second half with a Sorensen-Lofthus one-two to render Harju's first half goal useless. Nasjonale made it three out of three for the capital clubs with a win over Eintracht, and there was a bumpy reminder of how tough life in the top flight can be for St Paul when Scapa Bay gave them a footballing lesson in a four-nil win. The champions beat Bohemiens four one in Grise Fiord, whilst a late free kick from Ryn Jaxon was nodded in by Magnus Dahm to spare Northbrook's blushes in Resolute. Jan Mayen Islanders striker Li Zhen scored the second of the Ospreys' two goals in an away win over Skipsbyggere, and that means the Ospreys are tied with SK and Nasjonale at the top of the table as the only three unbeaten teams left.



LATITUDE CUP Round One
AIK Oversetten 2-2 GVFFK Pekarik (2-3 AET)
Ostermeier Old Boys 1-0 Northbrook Zenith FC
FC1. Rangers 1-0 FC Kampengar Magpies
Aleutia Town Dragons 1-0 Fjorhorgen SK
Orkhanger White Star 0-0 1. Lokomotiv Karlstadt (0-0 AET, 1-2 PKs)
Sisimut Black Star 0-1 IHK Geddesberg
Axel Town AFC 2-1 Dinamo Olsa FK
FKS-North 0-2 Devon Bay Lights FC
FK Fairbanks 1-1 Friedrichsund Fencing Club (1-1 AET, 4-2 PKs)
Sisimut Town AFK 0-0 Bennett and Zhokhov (0-1 AET)
Oaks of Fjellisroy 1-2 FC Fetlar
AFK Hans Island Pioneers 1-0 IHK Sirius
Energie Zemlya FK 2-0 St Gallen 47
Almsborg Rushmori 1-0 NKK Urri
US Saint-John 3-2 FK Weisshaus
SK Thor 1898 1-1 Grass-Lisch AFC (1-2 AET)
Sannegarden Fleet FK 0-1 Bulargen Independents
Hauken Orca 2-0 Thorsager Unity SK
Machtspool Whitesleeves FC 1-0 Toyoharo Revolutionaries
SK Stryaer 1-2 SK Nolmkien 1949
Ueland-Alne 2-1 KSC Brighthelmstone
Meteor Kholmsk SK 2-0 Hanshaugen Gate FK
Lindesvogne Violets 1-1 Boden 61 (1-1 AET, 4-1 PKs)
Sporting Club Aasiaat 87 1-1 West End (1-2 AET)
Orebro FK 1-0 FK Aagen Zenith
Green Star Kobelevskov 0-4 Resolute Hills FC
FK Ost-Volonovsk 1-1 Henfergen Town FC (1-1 AET, 2-3 PKs)
Invermuir Highlanders FC 2-1 Torpedo Sibir RKA
San Moranna FC 1-0 Aurich-Hassen Scouts FC
Vale of Moray 1-1 1920 Brokstedt (3-1 AET)
Devon Bay Seals FC 2-1 KA Rikyaare
Crusaders 0-0 Krykkjesund Olympic (0-0 AET, 1-2 PKs)
Okhotsk Kholmsk Town FC 0-0 Gjornhammer Pier FC (0-0 AET, 2-3 PKs)
AIK Alejavik 0-1 SK Stromness Electric
Holtrecht Force SK 0-2 SK 1982 Matua
Bielstrich Timbers FC 0-1 Logan United FC
Bathurst Zenith 4-0 Larsen Bay Thunder FC
KFK Polshavn 0-1 Ingvar Peaks FC
We interrupt your regular stream of Divisjon One programming however, to bring you the first round of this year's Latitude Cup, where the lowest level of cross-Federation league duke it out for glory and much appreciated prize money; Ostermeier Old Boys squeaking past Northbrook Zenith and Krykkjesund Olympic beating Crusaders on penalties in probably the two biggest profile matches of the round.


MATCHDAY 6
SK Aasiaat Harbour 1–0 Eintracht Moss-Rygge
East Franz Athletic 2–0 SK Nasjonale Hauker
SK Franz Josef City 4–2 Rapid Jan Mayen FK
Northbrook Diamonds FK 1–0 FC1. Bjarnarey Flotilla
North Star Grímsey 2–3 Resolute Storm 1913 FC
Jan Mayen Islanders 0–2 FC1. Surtsey Island Gulls
FC Cape St Paul 3–1 Skipsbyggere IFK
FC Axel Heiburg 1–1 Scapa Bay Rovers
Bohemiens Grise Fiord 0–3 Red Star Severny
What was that I was saying about three unbeaten records remaining? Nasjonale crossed the capital to the Rendahl in the hope of keeping that intact but were blown away in a devastating twn minute period just after the second half started; goals coming from Sho Itō and Gunner Martikainen. Jan Mayen Islanders meanwhile were humbled at home by their Norscelt rivals Surtsey Island Gulls; Dan-Arne Kystebo scoring both goals for his new club. That just leaves SK, whose four-nil romp over Rapid means they are now sole occupiers of the top spot, much to the delight of their fans and the dismay of every pundit who claimed their very much 'wallet-based' approach to squad building wouldn't get them anywhere in the modern world. Particularly as three of their four goals today were shared between two of their new recruits; Loick Sorensen continuing his fine start to life in Franz Josef City with a stabbed opener, and Igerne Félix with a brace. Bjarnarey are so far living up to my prediction that they'd struggle more than they thought without Ohm and Pallasmaa meanwhile, and they lose one-nil in Northbrook leave them eight points off the top already. Red Star jump up to second with a three-nil win in Grise Fiord, and Aasiaat are hot on their heels in third after Helod Karman scored the only goal of the game against Eintracht.


MATCHDAY 7
Red Star Severny 1–0 SK Aasiaat Harbour
Scapa Bay Rovers 4–3 Bohemiens Grise Fiord
Skipsbyggere IFK 0–0 FC Axel Heiburg
FC1. Surtsey Island Gulls 2–0 FC Cape St Paul
Resolute Storm 1913 FC 1–1 Jan Mayen Islanders
FC1. Bjarnarey Flotilla 3–0 North Star Grímsey
Rapid Jan Mayen FK 1–2 Northbrook Diamonds FK
SK Nasjonale Hauker 2–1 SK Franz Josef City
Eintracht Moss-Rygge 1–2 East Franz Athletic
Two capital derbies in quick succession is a real challenge for Nasjonale, but they bounced back from last week's defeat to East Franz by coming from behind to beat SK at Kungsdocks. SK did what they always do, get cocky, and Emmanuele Niemi was riled up sufficiently to batter home two second half goals and give Teitur Ronkainen's side a valuable win, ending the last unbeaten record in the league in the process. That should serve as a warning to everyone, really; don't wind up Emmanuele Niemi. Red Star took advantage of that defeat for SK to jump to the top of the table themselves; Elmo Polland scoring the only goal of the game in a tight Carravale encounter against Aasiaat, who drop to eighth. Bjarnarey bounce back with a three-nil win over North Star at The Barge, Mêlçôr Ënàrsòn and Povl Kazimir assisting each other in the first half before Nijgaard added the flourish in the second half, and there are also wins for Northbrook and East Franz that mean the top five are separated by just the one point after seven games. Did someone say, 'classic season?'


MATCHDAY 8
SK Aasiaat Harbour 2–1 East Franz Athletic
SK Franz Josef City 3–1 Eintracht Moss-Rygge
Northbrook Diamonds FK 2–1 SK Nasjonale Hauker
North Star Grímsey 3–0 Rapid Jan Mayen FK
Jan Mayen Islanders 1–2 FC1. Bjarnarey Flotilla
FC Cape St Paul 0–1 Resolute Storm 1913 FC
FC Axel Heiburg 4–0 FC1. Surtsey Island Gulls
Bohemiens Grise Fiord 0–3 Skipsbyggere IFK
Red Star Severny 5–1 Scapa Bay Rovers
That really has been a punishing run of fixtures for Nasjonale. They come out of back-to-back capital derbies and launch straight into a trip to Northbrook. Three points from that three might sound disappointing but, honestly, it's not as bad as it could have been. Aasiaat show their resilience with a two-one win over East Franz, goals coming from Jere Karschner, Matteus Henschen, and Cixin Nguyen, whilst SK got back to winning ways with a three-one win over Eintracht, goals from Lofthus twice, Keppler, and then Wicklander for the visitors. FC Axel Heiburg have been quietly putting together a string of form, and a four-nil win over Surtsey today is nothing less than they deserve to show for it, and there's another come-from-behind win for Bjarnarey; Kazimir scoring one and then providing the assist for Kyong Tripp's winner. Oskar Olsen scored a crucial goal for Resolute meanwhile, as they win in St Paul to record what could be a win in a relegation six-pointer com ethe end of the season. Red Star, though, well... Elmo Polland goes from strength to strength, with a hat trick today against Scapa Bay underlining his national team credentials in front of the watching Federico Aalto.



So, your table at the quarter-mark then, and it's Red Star Severny who lead the way, propelled by that rich vein of form from Elmo Polland. SK are delighted to see themselves back at the top and actually performing pretty regularly week on week - has Vladimir Lucic finally cracked the formula? - and there have also been strong starts from Northbrook, Axel Heiburg, Aasiaat, East Franz, and Nasjonale. In fact, discount that shock defeat to St Paul and FC Axel Heiburg might even have been even higher. St Paul, for their part, have trailed off a bit after that lightning start, as have Jan Mayen Islanders, but it's a bit of a sorry season so far for Rapid Jan Mayen and Bohemiens Grise Fiord; the two clubs at the bottom are both yet to win, with a gap opening up above them already.

------Divisjon One               Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts
 1  Red Star Severny             8    6   0   2    19   10   +9    18
 2  SK Franz Josef City          8    5   2   1    21   11  +10    17
 3  Northbrook Diamonds FK       8    5   2   1    13    8   +5    17
 4  FC Axel Heiburg              8    4   3   1    13    9   +4    15
 5  SK Aasiaat Harbour           8    4   2   2    11    6   +5    14
 6  East Franz Athletic          8    4   2   2    13   10   +3    14
 7  SK Nasjonale Hauker          8    4   2   2    11    8   +3    14
 8  North Star Grímsey           8    4   1   3    16    9   +7    13
 9  FC1. Bjarnarey Flotilla      8    4   0   4    14   10   +4    12
10  Jan Mayen Islanders          8    3   3   2    14   11   +3    12
11  FC Cape St Paul              8    3   1   4    12   13   −1    10
12  Resolute Storm 1913 FC       8    2   4   2     9   13   −4    10
13  FC1. Surtsey Island Gulls    8    3   0   5     9   11   −2    9
14  Scapa Bay Rovers             8    2   3   3    16   21   −5    9
15  Eintracht Moss-Rygge         8    2   1   5     8   15   −7    7
16  Skipsbyggere IFK             8    1   3   4     7   14   −7    6
17  Bohemiens Grise Fiord        8    0   2   6     7   19  −12    2
18  Rapid Jan Mayen FK           8    0   1   7     8   23  −15    1

In the second flight, Matahiko Viktory are the slightly surprising team at the top of the table, with pre-season favourites RSK Longyearbyen Town having made a very slow start to life in Divisjon Two indeed. It remains a tough league to predict, I guess. SK Sturm Nuuk look set on rectifying the mistakes of last season, whilst Koppen Rig's recovery compared to last season's performance is a welcome surprise for their fans. At the bottom, it's Hopitaliers, Viking, and North Melville who occupy the three relegation spots thus far, but as ever there's an awfully long way to go.

------Divisjon Two            Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts
 1  Matahiko Viktory SK       8    6   1   1    15    7   +8    19
 2  SK Sturm Nuuk             8    5   2   1    18    8  +10    17
 3  Melville Celtic           8    5   2   1    15    6   +9    17
 4  Koppen Rig Force          8    5   1   2    13   10   +3    16
 5  Novaya Sibir Reds         8    5   1   2    11    9   +2    16
 6  Islay Town Mechanical     8    4   2   2    14    9   +5    14
 7  FC Torshavn               8    4   1   3    13   10   +3    13
 8  SC Kiel                   8    4   1   3    13   12   +1    13
 9  Franz Josef Young Boys    8    4   0   4    12   13   −1    12
10  RSK Longyearbyen Town     8    3   2   3    12   12    0    11
11  Neuerlatz AFK             8    3   2   3    10   10    0    11
12  SK Yuzhny Albion          8    2   2   4    12   16   −4    8
13  Maritime Hove FC          8    1   4   3     6    8   −2    7
14  FK Viipuri 56             8    2   1   5    14   21   −7    7
15  Rapid SK Eysturoy         8    1   3   4    13   18   −5    6
16  Hospitaliers              8    1   2   5    10   16   −6    5
17  Måriussa Viking FK        8    1   2   5     8   16   −8    5
18  FC North Melville         8    1   1   6     7   15   −8    4

Divisjon Three, and there's another shock leader in the form of Sutherland Foundry. Atletisk and Seratakki are providing the nearest competition so far, but if Atletisk work out how to turn some of the draws in their unbeaten performance so far into wins when they will be very tough to beat. Norsviken, not for the first time in Divisjon Three, are so far having a bit of a shocker, and Yuzhny Equinox are performing very poorly for a side that had hoped to chase promotion this year.

------Divisjon Three               Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts
 1  Sutherland Foundry SK          8    5   2   1    19    9  +10    17
 2  Klub Atletisk Spitsbergen      8    4   4   0    15   10   +5    16
 3  Seratakki Villagers            8    5   1   2    15   12   +3    16
 4  FC Solovetsky Monastery        8    4   2   2    17   10   +7    14
 5  Lokomotiv Barentsberg          8    4   2   2    13    7   +6    14
 6  McAvery Centurions             8    4   2   2    14   14    0    14
 7  AC Aleutia Volcanoes           8    4   1   3    13    6   +7    13
 8  Severnaya Zemlya 88 Equinox    8    4   1   3    16   15   +1    13
 9  FC1. Sturm Grímsey             8    4   1   3    10   11   −1    13
10  Agheim CF                      8    4   0   4    12   11   +1    12
11  Universitet                    8    2   4   2    14   15   −1    10
12  Steffansson Island FC          8    3   1   4     9   15   −6    10
13  Yuzhny Equinox FC              8    2   3   3    13   15   −2    9
14  FK Grise Fiord                 8    2   2   4    10   16   −6    8
15  Uelmark MK                     8    1   4   3    12   11   +1    7
16  Franz Josef Sharks             8    1   2   5     7   15   −8    5
17  Korsten Lokomotiv              8    1   1   6    10   21  −11    4
18  FK Norsviken Cossacks          8    0   3   5     4   10   −6    3

[Polar Islandstates]

Halfway through the season, lets have a quick summary of what has happened in the last few MDs...


MATCHDAY 9
Scapa Bay Rovers 2–1 SK Aasiaat Harbour
Skipsbyggere IFK 1–1 Red Star Severny
FC1. Surtsey Island Gulls 3–3 Bohemiens Grise Fiord
Resolute Storm 1913 FC 2–1 FC Axel Heiburg
FC1. Bjarnarey Flotilla 3–2 FC Cape St Paul
Rapid Jan Mayen FK 1–3 Jan Mayen Islanders
SK Nasjonale Hauker 4–1 North Star Grímsey
Eintracht Moss-Rygge 0–0 Northbrook Diamonds FK
East Franz Athletic 0–0 SK Franz Josef City
Not for the first time this season, Mêlçôr Ënàrsòn and Povl Kazimir combine to win games for Bjarnarey; this hard-fought win at home to St Paul marking the second time this season already that the two attacking midfielders have assisted each other in the same game, with Youssef Nijgaard picking up the third with a deft finish from close-range that was harder than it looked. Valentin Brunel scored a peach of a free kick from thirty-five yards for Surtsey in their three-all draw at home to Bohemiens, but there was an eyebrow-raising result in Scapa Bay where they managed to beat the reigning champions and look good doing it at that. The biggest fixture of the weekend however was the Elfsteijn Derby, with SK making the trip to the Rendahl, only for it to turn into something of a damp squib. Ah well. You can't have everything I suppose.


MATCHDAY 10
SK Aasiaat Harbour 1–1 SK Franz Josef City
Northbrook Diamonds FK 0–1 East Franz Athletic
North Star Grímsey 4–1 Eintracht Moss-Rygge
Jan Mayen Islanders 2–2 SK Nasjonale Hauker
FC Cape St Paul 1–0 Rapid Jan Mayen FK
FC Axel Heiburg 0–0 FC1. Bjarnarey Flotilla
Bohemiens Grise Fiord 3–3 Resolute Storm 1913 FC
Red Star Severny 2–3 FC1. Surtsey Island Gulls
Scapa Bay Rovers 1–3 Skipsbyggere IFK
Remember what I say about a potentially classic season? Well... Aasiaat draw at home to SK thanks to a Langager goal that cancelled out Olsen's opener, and East Franz stun the crowd at Palace Approach by winning with almost the last kick of the game; a Jere Karschner free kick. Bjarnarey and Axel Heiburg play out a dull nil-nil draw, but there are more exciting results for Nasjonale, who come from two-nil down to rescue a point in Jan Mayen, and North Star, who ruthlessly take Eintracht apart. Top side Red Star Severny are stunned when Dan-Arne Kystebo nods in a late winner for Surtsey at Carravale, and when you add up all of the above and pop it into the table, you get the news that the entire top half of the table is separated by just three points. I know only ten games have been played so far but, c'mon, that's almost a third of the season! Things don't exactly drop off a cliff at that point either, but poor old Rapid Jan Mayen are still rock bottom with just a single point to their name after losing again today to St Paul.


MATCHDAY 11
Skipsbyggere IFK 1–1 SK Aasiaat Harbour
FC1. Surtsey Island Gulls 2–2 Scapa Bay Rovers
Resolute Storm 1913 FC 0–1 Red Star Severny
FC1. Bjarnarey Flotilla 2–0 Bohemiens Grise Fiord
Rapid Jan Mayen FK 0–1 FC Axel Heiburg
SK Nasjonale Hauker 0–0 FC Cape St Paul
Eintracht Moss-Rygge 1–0 Jan Mayen Islanders
East Franz Athletic 1–0 North Star Grímsey
SK Franz Josef City 1–1 Northbrook Diamonds FK
Bad news for Bohemiens and Rapid fans today as Eintracht manage to pick up a valuable three points; this time courtesy of a fine win at home to Jan Mayen, opening that gap to the bottom two even further, especially as both lose today. To be fair to Bohemiens, holding back Bjarnarey at The Barge was always going to be a tall task, especially with Karl Kvist in that kind of form, but Rapid need to be picking up results at home to Axel Heiburg if theywant to stay up. The two play each other next week, and that could be the end for one or both of the managers. Elsewhere, SK and Northbrook played out an entertaining one-all draw thanks to a goal from Ryn Jaxon and an instant response from Loick Sorensen, and Aasiaat's title defence continues to bump and scrape along the ground without ever really taking off thanks to a draw with Skipsbyggere. East Franz's Joni Siebel scored a goal of the season contender in the Spires' one-nil win over North Star, which means they keep pace with Red Star after their win in Resolute.



LATITUDE CUP Round Two
Devon Bay Seals FC 1-2 Devon Bay Lights FC
Severnaya Zemlya 88 Equinox 2-2 Henfergen Town FC (2-2 AET, 3-1 PKs)
Aleutia Town Dragons 1-1 FC1. Sturm Grímsey (1-1 AET, 3-2 PKs)
Steffansson Island FC 1-1 Agheim CF (1-2 AET)
Sutherland Foundry SK 1-0 Klub Athletisk Spitsbergen
Logan United FC 1-0 GVFFK Pekarik
Hauken Orca 1-1 Bulargen Independents (1-2 AET)
Ostermeier Old Boys 0-1 Krykkjesund Olympic
Axel Town AFC 4-2 Korsten Lokomotiv
SK Nolmkien 1949 0-1 Vale of Moray
Lokomotiv Barentsberg 0-2 FC Solovetsky Monastery
FC1. Rangers 4-1 Ingvar Peaks FC
Gjornhammer Pier FC 3-0 AFK Hans Island Pioneers
Orebro FK 4-1 Resolute Hills FC
US Saint-John 0-1 Uelmark MK
1. Lokomotiv Karlstadt 2-0 Ueland-Alne
SK Stromness Electric 1-2 Bathurst Zenith
FK Norsviken Cossacks 1-1 West End (1-1 AET, 3-1 PKs)
Invermuir Highlanders FC 1-3 AC Aleutia Volcanoes
McAvery Centurions 1-0 San Moranna FC
Meteor Kholmsk SK 1-2 Yuzhny Equinox FC
Franz Josef Sharks 1-2 SK 1982 Matua
Almsborg Rushmori 1-1 Lindesvogne Violets (1-2 AET)
Energie Zemlya FK 0-0 Bennett and Zhokhov (0-0 AET, 3-4 PKs)
Universitet 1-1 FK Fairbanks (2-1 AET)
Grass-Lisch AFC 2-1 FC Fetlar
Machtspool Whitesleeves FC 2-4 Seratakki Villagers
FK Grise Fiord 1-1 IHK Geddesberg (1-1 AET, 0-2 PKs)
The second round of the Latitude Cup always seems to come around earlier than you expect it to, and as the lower league teams chase the chance to have a money-spinning tie against the big teams when they enter the competition in the next round, we are treated to some classics, with a Devon Bay Derby for the first time in what feels like ages. It wasn't a classic match, but the Lights embarrassed their higher league rivals in a result that perhaps speaks to each team's ambitions for the season. Elsewhere, Universitet needed extra time to get past Fairbanks, and there are eye-catching wins for 1982 Matua, Geddesberg, and Gjornhammer Pier, as well as a top of Divisjon Three clash that saw Sutherland just edge out Klub Atletisk with a goal in stoppage time.


MATCHDAY 12
SK Aasiaat Harbour 1–2 Northbrook Diamonds FK
North Star Grímsey 2–3 SK Franz Josef City
Jan Mayen Islanders 1–1 East Franz Athletic
FC Cape St Paul 1–0 Eintracht Moss-Rygge
FC Axel Heiburg 1–2 SK Nasjonale Hauker
Bohemiens Grise Fiord 2–1 Rapid Jan Mayen FK
Red Star Severny 1–1 FC1. Bjarnarey Flotilla
Scapa Bay Rovers 1–0 Resolute Storm 1913 FC
Skipsbyggere IFK 1–2 FC1. Surtsey Island Gulls
This SK side just seem to have a different air about them. I was sceptical but, maybe that club really does need foreign transfers to give them their swagger? Refusing to give in, they twice came from behind against North Star to eventually take the lead through Lofthus in the final few minutes. Three Polarian goalscorers today for the Griffons, but with influential performances from Félix, Sorensen, and Randekovic, this was a victory built on their transfer dealings. A special word for Radenkovic in fact, thrown in for their first start after a late injury to Hagen, but masterfully handleded by the young Mytanar. There was also a big win for Northbrook, whose home grown Martin Kallenberge scored one and assisted the other in a vicotry over Aasiaat, and Red Star show they aren't at the top for no reason by holding Bjarnarey to a draw. In the big clash at the bottom however, it is joy for Bohemiens who come from behind to beat Rapid Jan Mayen, and that is the end of Johannes Skjoldebrand's tenure at Yannis Stadion I'm afraid.


MATCHDAY 13
FC1. Surtsey Island Gulls 0–2 SK Aasiaat Harbour
Resolute Storm 1913 FC 3–5 Skipsbyggere IFK
FC1. Bjarnarey Flotilla 2–1 Scapa Bay Rovers
Rapid Jan Mayen FK 0–2 Red Star Severny
SK Nasjonale Hauker 2–0 Bohemiens Grise Fiord
Eintracht Moss-Rygge 1–1 FC Axel Heiburg
East Franz Athletic 1–0 FC Cape St Paul
SK Franz Josef City 1–0 Jan Mayen Islanders
Northbrook Diamonds FK 1–2 North Star Grímsey
Ripping up the plan for this season, Finn Kirkkegaard goes back to what worked so well last year; set pieces and strong defence, and it pays immediate dividends with a dominating two-nil away win in Surtsey for the reigning champions. Skipsbygerre win a barnstormer in Resolute; a five-three away win where the highlights were a brace apiece for strike partners Hjalmar Gummer and Rolands Wiesenthal, and a string of top saves from young Euan Berby. Interim Rapid boss Inari Tuss is unable to inspire his team as they slump to another defeat at home to Red Star, whilst Mêlçôr Ënàrsòn continues his fine start to life in Divisjon One with the winner at home to Scapa Bay. Loick Sorensen is rivalling for the unofficial title of 'signing of the season' so far however, as his developing partnership with Alf Lofthus at SK bags him another winning goal; this time over old rivals Jan Mayen Islanders.

MATCHDAY 14
SK Aasiaat Harbour 5–1 North Star Grímsey
Jan Mayen Islanders 1–1 Northbrook Diamonds FK
FC Cape St Paul 2–5 SK Franz Josef City
FC Axel Heiburg 1–4 East Franz Athletic
Bohemiens Grise Fiord 2–0 Eintracht Moss-Rygge
Red Star Severny 3–0 SK Nasjonale Hauker
Scapa Bay Rovers 0–1 Rapid Jan Mayen FK
Skipsbyggere IFK 0–2 FC1. Bjarnarey Flotilla
FC1. Surtsey Island Gulls 4–0 Resolute Storm 1913 FC
News broke this weekend that Red Star assistant manager Jochen Kristiansen was being tempted away to take up the vacant managerial position at Rapid, and he was there in the crowd as he watched his future charges pick up their first win in front of a man they were hoping to impress. A single goal from the til-now stuttering Vegard Lebus was enough to give them a crucial away win against Scapa Bay, which was fortunate, as Bohemiens beat Eintracht two-nil to further contract that gap at the bottom. Aasiaat's return to Plan A continued to impress, blowing North Star out of the water at Harbour Walk this weekend, and there was a big blowout win for a Surtsey side that have blown very hot and cold this year. SK's impressive first half of the season also continues, with a huge five-two win in St Paul, and Red Star underline their international credentials with a comfortable three-nil win over Nasjonale.


MATCHDAY 15
Resolute Storm 1913 FC 2–3 SK Aasiaat Harbour
FC1. Bjarnarey Flotilla 1–1 FC1. Surtsey Island Gulls
Rapid Jan Mayen FK 1–0 Skipsbyggere IFK
SK Nasjonale Hauker 4–2 Scapa Bay Rovers
Eintracht Moss-Rygge 1–1 Red Star Severny
East Franz Athletic 2–0 Bohemiens Grise Fiord
SK Franz Josef City 3–1 FC Axel Heiburg
Northbrook Diamonds FK 4–2 FC Cape St Paul
North Star Grímsey 2–0 Jan Mayen Islanders
There's the new manager bounce that Rapid were hoping for! Kristiansen masterminds his new team to a second consecutive one-nil win, this time over Skipsbyggere, and suddenly there's a chink of light showing through the clouds over Yannis Stadion. Not for the first time this season, all three capital clubs win on the same day. Nasjonale secured a thrilling four-two win at home to Scapa Bay thanks to goals from Kvist, Niemi, and Jeppersen; Sho Itō and Gunner Martikainen each scored from set pieces in East Franz's win over Bohs; and young Gunnar Keppler scores a double to add to Igerne Félix's opener as the midfield boss things at the Landstadt against Axel Heiburg. Bjarnaey nick a point at home to a resurgent Surtsey (Resurgsey?), but the biggest game of the weekend is the return of the Feud of Victorrinn to the top flight. The reigning champions raced into a two-nil lead, stunning Mossy Park courtesy of goals from Cixin Nguyen and Matias Langager, before Resolute nicked a goal back before half-time through Oskar Olsen. Olsen doubled his tally in the second half after a Duncan McCariot clearance rebounded off the face of Rafael Kowaleski and into his path, sending Resolute fans into a tizz of expectation. However, Kowaleski made up for that chaotic moment of bad luck by laying the ball on a plate for Matteus Henschen to net the winner deep into the final ten minutes. Breathless stuff.


MATCHDAY 16
SK Aasiaat Harbour 1–3 Jan Mayen Islanders
FC Cape St Paul 2–1 North Star Grímsey
FC Axel Heiburg 0–3 Northbrook Diamonds FK
Bohemiens Grise Fiord 1–4 SK Franz Josef City
Red Star Severny 1–3 East Franz Athletic
Scapa Bay Rovers 3–0 Eintracht Moss-Rygge
Skipsbyggere IFK 2–4 SK Nasjonale Hauker
FC1. Surtsey Island Gulls 1–3 Rapid Jan Mayen FK
Resolute Storm 1913 FC 1–3 FC1. Bjarnarey Flotilla
A stunning goal from Youssef Nijgaard was the highlight of Bjanarey's win in Resolute this week, whilst Aasiaat's title defence hit another roundbump when the Ospreys came to Harbour Walk and left with all three points; Bryce Larkingham scoring a first goal in Polarian football. St Paul unleashed perhaps their best performance since the five-one win over Axel Heiburg with their two-one win at home to North Star, which will be a welcome return to form given the uptick from the other teams around the bottom. On which topic, Rapid make it three in a row with a strong performance in Surtsey, and Scapa Bay blow Eintracht out of the water with a second half blitz of possession-based attacking football. The capital trio repeat their trick from last weekend, collectively putting them in a strong position at the top of the table, whilst Northbrook keep pace with a win of their own over Axel Heiburg; Wickenheiser and Jaxon with the goals.


MATCHDAY 17
FC1. Bjarnarey Flotilla 4–1 SK Aasiaat Harbour
Rapid Jan Mayen FK 1–0 Resolute Storm 1913 FC
SK Nasjonale Hauker 3–1 FC1. Surtsey Island Gulls
Eintracht Moss-Rygge 1–1 Skipsbyggere IFK
East Franz Athletic 0–0 Scapa Bay Rovers
SK Franz Josef City 1–2 Red Star Severny
Northbrook Diamonds FK 2–2 Bohemiens Grise Fiord
North Star Grímsey 2–2 FC Axel Heiburg
Jan Mayen Islanders 1–3 FC Cape St Paul
Not going to lie, I'm really excited by what the fixture computer has thrown up here - Bjarnarey vs Aasiaat to complete the run of the first half of the season? Meaning last year's first and second place will play each other on the final day? Heavens. Of course, that's only going to be really thrilling if both remain in contention on that day, something which isn't guaranteed, and especially not if Aasiaat repeat performances like this too often. Or is that being harsh? Maybe Bjarnarey were simply really up for taking revenge for Aasiaat's title-influencing win at The Barge last season, and goals from Kazimir, Nijgaard, Harju, and Makkinen were simply too much for the champions to hold on. A consolation from Henschen was scant comfort on that flight home, I bet. Red Star stun SK at the Landstadt with a pair of goals deep into second half stoppage time courtesy of Polland and Morck, whilst a fourth win for Rapid on the trot - this time against Resolute - puts them right back in with a hope of avoiding relegation.



LATITUDE CUP Round Three
FC1. Surtsey Island Gulls 4-1 FC Torshavn
Devon Bay Lights FC 0-0 Axel Town AFC (0-0 AET, 2-3 PKs)
Koppen Rig Force 1-4 Maritime Hove FC
Bulargen Independents 1-0 Bathurst Zenith
SK Franz Josef City 4-0 Yuzhny Equinox FC
Eintracht Moss-Rygge 1-1 Resolute Storm 1913 FC (2-1 AET)
Gjornhammer Pier FC 1-2 FC Cape St Paul
Grass-Lisch AFC 0-0 1. Lokomotiv Karlstadt (1-0 AET)
Vale of Moray 2-2 Bennett and Zhokhov (3-2 AET)
Universitet 2-0 Skipsbyggere IFK
Islay Town Mechanical 0-2 Northbrook Diamonds FK
SK Yuzhny Albion 2-0 RSK Longyearbyen Town
SK Sturm Nuuk 1-0 Rapid SK Eysturoy
Matahiko Viktory SK 1-1 Neuerlatz AFK (2-1 AET)
McAvery Centurions 3-0 SK 1982 Matua
SK Nasjonale Hauker 1-1 Hospitaliers (2-1 AET)
FK Viipuri 56 1-0 FC North Melville
Franz Josef Young Boys 3-2 Logan United FC
Melville Celtic 0-0 IHK Geddesberg (2-0 AET)
FK Norsviken Cossacks 2-2 Scapa Bay Rovers (2-2 AET, 2-1 PKs)
Agheim CF 3-1 FC Solovetsky Monastery
Jan Mayen Islanders 2-2 Bohemiens Grise Fiord (3-3 AET, 1-3 PKs)
Aleutia Town Dragons 1-2 Red Star Severny
AC Aleutia Volcanoes 0-0 SC Kiel (0-0 AET, 2-3 PKs)
FC1. Bjarnarey Flotilla 2-1 Seratakki Villagers
North Star Grímsey 4-0 Uelmark MK
East Franz Athletic 2-0 Krykkjesund Olympic
Måriussa Viking FK 0-3 SK Aasiaat Harbour
Sutherland Foundry SK 3-2 FC1. Rangers
Novaya Sibir Reds 1-1 Rapid Jan Mayen FK (1-1 AET, 6-5 PKs)
Severnaya Zemlya 88 Equinox 1-0 FC Axel Heiburg
Lindesvogne Violets 1-3 Orebro FK
The third round of the Latitude Cup is always a highlight in the Polarian football calendar, and of course this year is just like any other. There were a distinct lack of shocks for much of the weekend, with only a handful of wins for teams from the bottom of their divisions over stronger teams in the same division raising any eyebrows; looking mainly at Maritime Hove, Yuzhny Albion, Bohemiens, and Eintracht Moss-Rygge when I say that. And then came the Sunday, and a flurry of shock results. Novaya Sibir beat Rapid Jan Mayen in a minot upset, Grass-Lisch beat Lokomotiv Karlstadt, and Universitet humbled Skipsbyggere with a two-nil win in Axel Heiburg. Then there was just about enough time for lowly Orebro and Bulargen to secure passage to the next round thanks to some favourable ties before Severnaya Zemlya stunned FC Axel Heiburg. Finally, Scapa Bay were left stunned by Norsviken Cossacks in the Monday-night tie when a last minute penalty rescued a draw in normal time for the Divisjon Three side, before a shoot-out sent the top flight side back home with their tails between their legs.



We reach the halfway point then, and the three capital clubs are currently sitting pretty at the top of the league. I had a hunch East Franz would perform well this year, but SK fans must be delighted with how quickly the return to 'chequebook squad building' has paid off for them. If they can repeat this performance in the second half of the season we could yet see a relatively shock win for the Landsatdt side. Not forgetting Nasjonale of course who are only one point behind their more illustrious city-rivals, with Bjarnarey only one further back in fourth, tied on points with an Elmo Polland inspired Red Star. Northbrook are a little way back in fifth, and if you were being cruel, you could say that Aasiaat's title defence is hanging by a thread. There's a lot of football to go yet, of course, but ten points even at the halfway stage feels like an awful lot of ground to make up. North Star to Scapa Bay make up a very congested middle of the table, whilst that bottom five looks like it might already contain the three teams that will go down. Rapid's surge of recovery under Kristiansen actually drops Bohemiens to the bottom spot at the halfway point, but they've both closed the gap on the three clubs above them.

------Divisjon One               Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts
 1  SK Franz Josef City         17   10   5   2    40   21  +19    35
 2  East Franz Athletic         17   10   5   2    26   13  +13    35
 3  SK Nasjonale Hauker         17   10   4   3    32   20  +12    34
 4  FC1. Bjarnarey Flotilla     17   10   3   4    32   17  +15    33
 5  Red Star Severny            17   10   3   4    33   20  +13    33
 6  Northbrook Diamonds FK      17    8   6   3    27   18   +9    30
 7  SK Aasiaat Harbour          17    7   4   6    27   22   +5    25
 8  North Star Grímsey          17    7   2   8    31   28   +3    23
 9  FC Cape St Paul             17    7   2   8    25   28   −3    23
10  Jan Mayen Islanders         17    5   6   6    25   24   +1    21
11  FC1. Surtsey Island Gulls   17    6   3   8    26   28   −2    21
12  FC Axel Heiburg             17    5   6   6    21   26   −5    21
13  Scapa Bay Rovers            17    5   5   7    28   34   −6    20
14  Skipsbyggere IFK            17    3   6   8    21   30   −9    15
15  Resolute Storm 1913 FC      17    3   5   9    20   35  −15    14
16  Eintracht Moss-Rygge        17    3   5   9    13   28  −15    14
17  Rapid Jan Mayen FK          17    4   1  12    16   33  −17    13
18  Bohemiens Grise Fiord       17    2   5  10    20   38  −18    11

In Divisjon Two, Longyearbyen are playing a little more like how we all expected them to, joining Melville Celtic in a tussle for the top, with Novaya Sibir Reds lurking with intent behind them, and a whole host of other teams still in the hunt for promotion that is currently led by SC Kiel. Just. At the bottom, North Melville are having a pretty opposite season to their cross-town rivals, and they currently prop up the rest of the table, making an 'everyone-except-the-Melville-clubs sandwich', I guess. Is that anything? Måriussa Viking would be pretty devasated by going down to the third flight so soon after being in Divisjon One, but this is, as ever, a very cruel league to be in.

------Divisjon Two            Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts
 1  Melville Celtic          17   11   3   3    26   12  +14    36
 2  RSK Longyearbyen Town    17   11   2   4    28   18  +10    35
 3  Novaya Sibir Reds        17   10   2   5    28   17  +11    32
 4  SC Kiel                  17    9   2   6    27   22   +5    29
 5  SK Sturm Nuuk            17    8   4   5    30   18  +12    28
 6  FC Torshavn              17    8   4   5    28   22   +6    28
 7  Neuerlatz AFK            17    7   7   3    22   17   +5    28
 8  Matahiko Viktory SK      17    9   1   7    23   20   +3    28
 9  Islay Town Mechanical    17    7   5   5    26   18   +8    26
10  Koppen Rig Force         17    8   1   8    24   23   +1    25
11  Franz Josef Young Boys   17    7   2   8    22   27   −5    23
12  SK Yuzhny Albion         17    5   4   8    27   31   −4    19
13  Hospitaliers             17    5   4   8    22   29   −7    19
14  Maritime Hove FC         17    5   4   8    17   27  −10    19
15  Rapid SK Eysturoy        17    4   4   9    28   31   −3    16
16  Måriussa Viking FK       17    4   4   9    26   30   −4    16
17  FK Viipuri 56            17    3   3  11    20   44  −24    12
18  FC North Melville        17    3   2  12    17   35  −18    11

In Divisjon Three, Sutherland Foundry are a surprising name to see up there, but they appear to be hanging around. There's a trio of Svalbard clubs hot on their heels who would no doubt love to make it a one-two-three for the state, but they've got a bit of ground to be making up first if they're going to achieve that. McAvery and Sturm are also poised and ready to spoil the party given half a chance. At the bottom, their unlikely Latitude Cup win aside, Norsviken have actuallt had a slight impromvement in recent weeks. Along with Franz Josef Sharks and Uelmark they'll do well to avoid the drop, but there's a chance at least. Grise Fiord meanwhile... wow. Now that would be a shock if they went down.

------Divisjon Three               Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts
 1  Sutherland Foundry SK         17   11   2   4    38   23  +15    35
 2  FC Solovetsky Monastery       17   10   3   4    31   19  +12    33
 3  Lokomotiv Barentsberg         17    9   3   5    27   16  +11    30
 4  Klub Atletisk Spitsbergen     17    8   6   3    28   21   +7    30
 5  McAvery Centurions            17    9   3   5    24   21   +3    30
 6  FC1. Sturm Grímsey            17    8   5   4    26   21   +5    29
 7  Agheim CF                     17    9   1   7    28   28    0    28
 8  Yuzhny Equinox FC             17    7   6   4    29   26   +3    27
 9  AC Aleutia Volcanoes          17    7   4   6    28   19   +9    25
10  Universitet                   17    5   7   5    32   32    0    22
11  Seratakki Villagers           17    6   4   7    28   29   −1    22
12  Severnaya Zemlya 88 Equinox   17    6   3   8    27   31   −4    21
13  Korsten Lokomotiv             17    5   2  10    25   36  −11    17
14  Steffansson Island FC         17    4   5   8    21   34  −13    17
15  FK Grise Fiord                17    4   4   9    21   30   −9    16
16  FK Norsviken Cossacks         17    3   5   9    19   28   −9    14
17  Franz Josef Sharks            17    3   5   9    19   30  −11    14
18  Uelmark MK                    17    1   8   8    18   25   −7    11

Skipping over to the East Divisjon of the short and sharp Challenge League, it's Vale of Moray who've jumped to the top of the pile, somewhat surprisingly. Rangers and Hans Island were the bookies' tips at the start of the season, but the Scotian side have upset the predictions so far to sit on top of the table at the halfway point. At the bottom, Sannegarden are having a shocker so far, with Bielstrich faring only slightly better.

------East Divisjon             Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts
 1  Vale of Moray              13    8   2   3    21   16   +5    26
 2  FC1. Rangers               13    8   1   4    22   13   +9    25
 3  KSC Brighthelmstone        13    7   2   4    23   14   +9    23
 4  AFK Hans Island Pioneers   13    6   5   2    17   13   +4    23
 5  Invermuir Highlanders FC   13    6   4   3    20   16   +4    22
 6  Aleutia Town Dragons       13    6   3   4    18   13   +5    21
 7  SK Thor 1898               13    6   1   6    15   14   +1    19
 8  KA Rikyaare                13    5   2   6    15   20   −5    17
 9  IHK Geddesberg             13    4   4   5    19   17   +2    16
10  Sisimut Black Star         13    5   1   7    16   21   −5    16
11  Bathurst Zenith FC         13    3   6   4    14   17   −3    15
12  SK Stryær                  13    3   5   5    15   16   −1    14
13  Bielstrich Timbers FC      13    2   3   8     9   17   −8    9
14  Sannegarden Fleet FK       13    0   5   8    10   27  −17    5

As in the East, the West is topped by a slightly surprising name; FC Fetlar are hardly a small club in terms of regional clout and facilities, but I don't think anyone was expecting a promotion worhty season from them this year. Still, they're currently tied at the top with Ostermeier, and they'll be hoping to keep that up going into the second half of the season. At the foot of the table, it looks like there are going to be five teams battling it out to avoid the four drop spots; Energie Zemlya currently have the very tips of their noses out of the hot water, but it's extremely close down there.

------West Divisjon               Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts
 1  FC Fetlar                    13    7   3   3    17   10   +7    24
 2  Ostermeier Old Boys          13    7   3   3    17   10   +7    24
 3  Logan United FC              13    6   4   3    17   10   +7    22
 4  Bennett and Zhokhov          13    6   4   3    21   15   +6    22
 5  Torpedo Sibir RKA            13    6   4   3    20   17   +3    22
 6  Ueland-Alne                  13    6   3   4    18   15   +3    21
 7  Larsen Bay Thunder FC        13    6   2   5    14   15   −1    20
 8  FK Ost-Volonovsk             13    5   4   4    18   15   +3    19
 9  NKK Urri                     13    5   3   5    19   20   −1    18
10  Energie Zemlya FK            13    3   3   7    13   18   −5    12
11  Devon Bay Seals FC           13    3   3   7    13   21   −8    12
12  Bulargen Independents        13    2   5   6    14   21   −7    11
13  Machtspool Whitesleeves FC   13    2   5   6    13   20   −7    11
14  Meteor Kholmsk SK            13    2   4   7    15   22   −7    10

Not forgetting the Regional League, of course, whose divisions look like this at the halfway point. Still 2000 minutes or so to play however, and a lot can happen yet. The teams at the bottom of each division will be cast out into the cold of the Regional Conferences, so a lot rides on this.

------Central Premier         Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts
 1  Devon Bay Lights FC      22   11   7   4    34   26   +8    40
 2  1. Lokomotiv Karlstadt   22   11   5   6    45   26  +19    38
 3  Axel Town AFC            22   11   3   8    40   25  +15    36
 4  FK Fairbanks             22   10   5   7    28   24   +4    35
 5  St Gallen 47             22    9   5   8    32   29   +3    32
 6  Royal NK Sikjonek        22    7   8   7    25   30   −5    29
 7  Green Star Kobelevskov   22    9   1  12    34   41   −7    28
 8  Bindelsfjorden Dynamo    22    8   3  11    36   41   −5    27
 9  Almsborg Rushmori        22    6   8   8    28   34   −6    26
10  West End                 22    6   7   9    27   33   −6    25
11  SK Nolmkien 1949         22    6   7   9    21   31  −10    25
12  AIK Winterthur           22    6   5  11    30   40  −10    23

------North-Eastern Premier     Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts
 1  San Moranna FC             22   14   4   4    40   21  +19    46
 2  Krykkjesund Olympic        22   13   5   4    38   22  +16    44
 3  Hanshaugen Gate FK         22   12   4   6    34   21  +13    40
 4  Aurich-Hassen Scouts FC    22   10   4   8    32   25   +7    34
 5  Oaks of Fjellisroy         22    9   4   9    26   25   +1    31
 6  AIK Oversetten             22    9   3  10    27   35   −8    30
 7  FKS-North                  22    8   5   9    32   36   −4    29
 8  Sporting Club Aasiaat 87   22    7   6   9    29   30   −1    27
 9  Boden 61                   22    6   5  11    22   31   −9    23
10  FC Kampengar Magpies       22    7   2  13    19   33  −14    23
11  Resolute Hills FC          22    6   4  12    23   33  −10    22
12  FK Aagen Zenith            22    5   6  11    22   32  −10    21

------South-Eastern Premier       Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts
 1  Ingvar Peaks FC              22   13   8   1    44   18  +26    47
 2  AIK Alejavik                 22   11   5   6    30   20  +10    38
 3  US Saint-John                22    9   8   5    34   30   +4    35
 4  Holtrecht Force SK           22    9   4   9    32   29   +3    31
 5  Hauken Orca                  22    7   8   7    25   30   −5    29
 6  Friedrichsund Fencing Club   22    8   5   9    26   34   −8    29
 7  Cap-Pele Cotdelapomais       22    7   6   9    30   26   +4    27
 8  Lindesvogne Violets          22    7   6   9    36   36    0    27
 9  Ilksporta IK                 22    6   8   8    24   28   −4    26
10  KFK Polshavn                 22    7   5  10    21   30   −9    26
11  Sleijnmakt Sport             22    5   8   9    27   39  −12    23
12  Crusaders                    22    5   5  12    20   29   −9    20

------Western Premier          Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts
 1  Northbrook Zenith FC      22   14   4   4    49   26  +23    46
 2  Fjorhorgen SK             22   10   3   9    38   31   +7    33
 3  Orebro FK                 22    8   7   7    35   34   +1    31
 4  Okhotsk Kholmsk Town FC   22    8   7   7    29   29    0    31
 5  Gjornhammer Pier FC       22    9   4   9    37   38   −1    31
 6  SV Keldira Zenith         22    9   4   9    30   35   −5    31
 7  GVFFK Pekarik             22    8   5   9    40   41   −1    29
 8  Fynersturen Valhalla      22    8   5   9    38   39   −1    29
 9  SK Stromness Electric     22    8   5   9    30   33   −3    29
10  IHK Sirius                22    6   9   7    30   32   −2    27
11  Dinamo Olsa FK            22    6   9   7    30   34   −4    27
12  SK 1982 Matua             22    5   4  13    24   38  −14    19

[Polar Islandstates]

Third part of the league season, and there is everything to play for still.


MATCHDAY 18
SK Aasiaat Harbour 2–1 FC Cape St Paul
Jan Mayen Islanders 1–1 FC Axel Heiburg
North Star Grímsey 4–0 Bohemiens Grise Fiord
Northbrook Diamonds FK 0–2 Red Star Severny
SK Franz Josef City 5–0 Scapa Bay Rovers
East Franz Athletic 1–0 Skipsbyggere IFK
Eintracht Moss-Rygge 0–2 FC1. Surtsey Island Gulls
SK Nasjonale Hauker 1–0 Resolute Storm 1913 FC
Rapid Jan Mayen FK 1–2 FC1. Bjarnarey Flotilla
If that start to the second half of the season is anything to go by, then North Star and SK fans are going to have a great time. North Star came flying out of the blocks at home to Bohemiens, Georges-André Drouin-Lacroix and Cornelius Thornburrow each scoring in the first five minutes, before the strike partnership of Borjeson and Lehning got in on the act before half-time. SK meanwhile saw their own partnership of Lofthus and Sorensen combine for three goals in the first half against Scapa Bay, before late goals from Goliat and Félix put a gloss on things. Northbrook suffered an embarrasing late collapse at home to Red Star, Polland and Morck each scoring from set pieces in the dying moments of the second half, whlist Li Zhen scored for the fourth game in a row for Jan Mayen in their draw against Axel Heiburg. Across the city, Rapid's winning streak was brought to a juddering halt by Bjarnarey and their midfield dominance, but they'l be hoping to pick back up where they left off soon if they're to avoid starting the second half of the season like they did the first.


MATCHDAY 19
Rapid Jan Mayen FK 2–3 SK Aasiaat Harbour
FC1. Bjarnarey Flotilla 2–1 SK Nasjonale Hauker
Resolute Storm 1913 FC 4–2 Eintracht Moss-Rygge
FC1. Surtsey Island Gulls 0–1 East Franz Athletic
Skipsbyggere IFK 0–2 SK Franz Josef City
Scapa Bay Rovers 2–4 Northbrook Diamonds FK
Red Star Severny 1–0 North Star Grímsey
Bohemiens Grise Fiord 1–0 Jan Mayen Islanders
FC Axel Heiburg 0–0 FC Cape St Paul
Ah. Well. Nevertheless. Okay so, Rapid lost at home to th reigning champions, but they did at least look up for the fight this time around. Kristiansen looks to have instilled a fighting spirit in the club from Yannis Stadion, and hopes are high that results will come back soon. Aasiaat on the other hand will just be glad that potential banana skin didn't end up derailing their title defence even further; new signing Cixin Nguyen showing their influence with a pair of assists in the second half. Johannes Gauer and his Scapa Bay side continue to keep people guessing as to which tactical plan they're going to roll out day-to-day, but it didn't stop Northbrook snatching the points this time around, and Bjarnarey climb the table with an incredibly valuable win at home to Nasjonale.


MATCHDAY 20
SK Aasiaat Harbour 2–1 FC Axel Heiburg
FC Cape St Paul 2–0 Bohemiens Grise Fiord
Jan Mayen Islanders 4–1 Red Star Severny
North Star Grímsey 1–1 Scapa Bay Rovers
Northbrook Diamonds FK 5–1 Skipsbyggere IFK
SK Franz Josef City 0–2 FC1. Surtsey Island Gulls
East Franz Athletic 1–0 Resolute Storm 1913 FC
Eintracht Moss-Rygge 0–4 FC1. Bjarnarey Flotilla
SK Nasjonale Hauker 2–0 Rapid Jan Mayen FK
Three hat-tricks were scored in fixtures across this weekend as the strikers go slightly nuts in Divisjon One, perhaps the most noteworthy one being Li Zhen's thunderous trio of strikes against high-flying Red Star. Northbrook's Nico Wickenheiser added his own hat-trick for the Diamonds in a five-one hammering of Skipsbyggere, before Youssef Nijgaard scored perhaps the most impressive of the lot with a perfect hat-trick for Bjarnarey in Moss-Rygge. The glanced header from Tripp's whipped delivery was particularly delicious. SK's unpredicted title tilt hit a road-block with a two-nil home defeat against Surtsey - hard work beats talent when talent doesjn't work hard, and all that... - whilst across that capital Hans Aigner kept East Franz in it against a barrage of attacks from Resolute, just long enough for Joni Siebel to stab home a winner in the dying minutes. Heartbreak for Resolute, but a clear indication of the value of a top goalkeeper.



LATITUDE CUP Round Four
Novaya Sibir Reds 2-0 Severnaya Zemlya 88 Equinox
Grass-Lisch AFC 2-1 Bohemiens Grise Fiord
FC Cape St Paul 1-1 East Franz Athletic (1-2 AET)
Universitet 1-1 SC Kiel (1-2 AET)
FC1. Surtsey Island Gulls 2-0 SK Yuzhny Albion
Axel Town AFC 1-2 Sutherland Foundry SK
FK Viipuri 56 0-0 Eintracht Moss-Rygge (0-1 AET)
SK Franz Josef City 2-1 SK Sturm Nuuk
SK Aasiaat Harbour 2-1 Melville Celtic
McAvery Centurions 0-2 Agheim CF
Vale of Moray 0-1 Franz Josef Young Boys
FK Norsviken Cossacks 2-2 North Star Grímsey (2-2 AET, 3-1 PKs)
Red Star Severny 2-2 SK Nasjonale Hauker (2-2 AET, 1-3 PKs)
Matahiko Viktory SK 0-2 Northbrook Diamonds FK
FC1. Bjarnarey Flotilla 2-0 Bulargen Independents
Maritime Hove FC 2-0 Orebro FK
The fourth round of the Latitude Cup comes around, and from here on out the teams that progress would be forgiven for allowing themselves to dream just a little bit. And not least amongst those dreamers will be Grass-Lisch AFC, who absolutely stunned Bohemiens to win two-nil and seal their place in the next round. The shocks didn't stop there either, with Norsviken Cossacks putting another Divisjon One side out on penalties. Elsewhere, there were safe wins for top flight sides SK Franz Josef City, Northbrook, Bjarnarey, and Aasiaat, but Nasjonale needed penalties to ease past Red Star, and East Franz needed extra time in their own all DivOne clash against St Paul. Finally, in the Monday night television pick, Maritime Hove crushed Orebro's dreams with a ruthless and efficient two-nil win whilst still managing to rest players for their relegation battle.


MATCHDAY 21
SK Nasjonale Hauker 0–1 SK Aasiaat Harbour
Rapid Jan Mayen FK 1–1 Eintracht Moss-Rygge
FC1. Bjarnarey Flotilla 2–1 East Franz Athletic
Resolute Storm 1913 FC 1–0 SK Franz Josef City
FC1. Surtsey Island Gulls 0–2 Northbrook Diamonds FK
Skipsbyggere IFK 2–1 North Star Grímsey
Scapa Bay Rovers 0–1 Jan Mayen Islanders
Red Star Severny 3–2 FC Cape St Paul
Bohemiens Grise Fiord 1–4 FC Axel Heiburg
Okay, don't look now, but that classic season I was hoping for might just be coming back as a possibility. First, Aasiaat's narrow win at Kungsdocks over Nasjonale - inspired by Nguyen and Holst's developing partnership in the middle of the midfield - kicked things off, the only goal coming through Langager. Then, in the second intra-Big Six clash of the weekend, Bjarnarey caught more more ground on those above them with a two-one win over East Franz. Tripp, Ënàrsòn, and Kazimir are gelling wonderfully in that Bargemen midfield at the moment, so it was a bit of a gift when it was Mertagne striker Gell who came on to score the winner from a Makkinen corner in the second half. Finall, SK lost at Resolute - themselves bouncing back after deserving a result against East Franz last time around - before Northbrook beat Surtsey and Red Star returned to winning ways with a narrow win over St Paul that featured a spirited come back form three-nil down from the away side. Things are definitely hotting up.


MATCHDAY 22
SK Aasiaat Harbour 2–1 Bohemiens Grise Fiord
FC Axel Heiburg 1–1 Red Star Severny
FC Cape St Paul 0–2 Scapa Bay Rovers
Jan Mayen Islanders 3–1 Skipsbyggere IFK
North Star Grímsey 1–0 FC1. Surtsey Island Gulls
Northbrook Diamonds FK 4–2 Resolute Storm 1913 FC
SK Franz Josef City 1–1 FC1. Bjarnarey Flotilla
East Franz Athletic 3–1 Rapid Jan Mayen FK
Eintracht Moss-Rygge 1–1 SK Nasjonale Hauker
An astonishingly good threaded through ball from Thurnburrow was the highlight of this weekend's games, taking four Surtsey players out of the game and allowing Borjeson the simplest of clipped finishes to give North Star the win at home in an all Norscelt-clash, whilst there was a similarly narrow margin of victory for Aasiaat in their win over Bohemiens. Axel Heiburg battled hard to take a point at home to high-flying Red Star, whilst Nasjonale made the short trip home form Moss-Rygge with the same number of points after somehow managing to let the home side back into a match they'd totally controlled. East Franz comfortably beat Rapid, whilst Northbrook did the same to Resolute in a six-goal thriller. SK and Bjarnarey shared the points atht eLandstadt in the highest profile match of the weekend however; Ënàrsòn's driven equaliser cancelling out Sorensen's nodded opener, before Jori Sipp showed his value as a Bjarnarey signing by making a string of top saves in the second half.


MATCHDAY 23
Eintracht Moss-Rygge 0–1 SK Aasiaat Harbour
SK Nasjonale Hauker 2–2 East Franz Athletic
Rapid Jan Mayen FK 1–1 SK Franz Josef City
FC1. Bjarnarey Flotilla 2–1 Northbrook Diamonds FK
Resolute Storm 1913 FC 2–2 North Star Grímsey
FC1. Surtsey Island Gulls 3–1 Jan Mayen Islanders
Skipsbyggere IFK 2–1 FC Cape St Paul
Scapa Bay Rovers 1–2 FC Axel Heiburg
Red Star Severny 3–1 Bohemiens Grise Fiord
A second Docklands Derby of the season ends with three goals and two red cards in a frantic final twenty minutes, and this time it's Skipsbyggere who are celebrating avenging the defeat at the Millerntor earlier in the season. Neither side are 'safe' yet, so there was an edge to the game that reflected on the pitch and in the stands. Speaking of teams who aren't at all safe, Rapid record perhaps the best result of their battle to climb the table so far, snatching a draw at home to SK thanks once again to a goal from Lebus. At Kungsdocks, Karl Kvist turns in a player of the match performance as Nasjonale twice come from behind to deny East Franz all three points, Niemi and Jeppersen with the goals for the home side, and Bjarnarey take the points in what seems like their fiftieth two-one win of the season. This time, Northbrook Diamonds are the side on the receiving end of that Bjarnarey midfield.


MATCHDAY 24
SK Aasiaat Harbour 3–0 Red Star Severny
Bohemiens Grise Fiord 1–1 Scapa Bay Rovers
FC Axel Heiburg 1–1 Skipsbyggere IFK
FC Cape St Paul 1–2 FC1. Surtsey Island Gulls
Jan Mayen Islanders 2–1 Resolute Storm 1913 FC
North Star Grímsey 3–4 FC1. Bjarnarey Flotilla
Northbrook Diamonds FK 5–3 Rapid Jan Mayen FK
SK Franz Josef City 1–0 SK Nasjonale Hauker
East Franz Athletic 4–1 Eintracht Moss-Rygge
That's a lot of goals. Can't see the 3-4-3 formation of last season's Team of the Season being changed to include more defenders at this rate... The three-nil win for Aasiaat at home to Red Star might have been a tip off for how the rest of the weekend was going to turn out, but by the time Bohemiens and Scapa Bay had played out a one-all draw, and then Axel Heiburg had done the same with Skipsbyggere, maybe we'd been lulled into a false sense of security. Goran Stockman and Li Zhen each scoring rapid-fire braces in the dying embers of Saturday might have tipped us off, though. Because, bang! North Star and Bjarnarey shared seven goals in a thriller that saw Tripp score the winning goal from a long throw of all things, before Northbrook went one better, knocking a fifth goal past Rapid Jan Mayen in a thrilling encounter at Palace Approach that saw eight different scorers, and after the comparative damp squib of SK beating Nasjonale one-nil - which, let's face itl in a there's almost no such thing as a capital derby whatever the scoreline - we were treating to some gorgeous play from Eats Franz in their win over lowly Eintracht. Phew. More of this, please!



LATITUDE CUP Round Five
FC1. Bjarnarey Flotilla 1-1 SC Kiel (1-1 AET, 1-0 PKs)
FK Norsviken Cossacks 0-4 Agheim CF
Northbrook Diamonds FK 1-0 SK Aasiaat Harbour
FC1. Surtsey Island Gulls 1-0 Grass-Lisch AFC
Eintracht Moss-Rygge 2-0 Novaya Sibir Reds
SK Franz Josef City 3-2 Maritime Hove FC
Sutherland Foundry SK 0-2 East Franz Athletic
SK Nasjonale Hauker 2-0 Franz Josef Young Boys
And so we move back to the Latitude Cup, and a spot in the quarter-finals awaits the winners of these eight ties. Norsviken had no trouble sending Divisjon One teams home, but a team in their own tier is apparently asking too much of them; Agheim taking advantage of some slack defending to knock four past the Cossacks and progress to the next round. Northbrook needed to hang on hard to their early lead against Aasiaat, but that's just what they did, and Jaxon's goal was enough for the Diamonds in the end. East Franz stopped Sutherland's run, as did Surtsey to Grass-Lisch, and there were shredded nails at The Barge where an incredibly poor shout-out saw Bjarnarey past Kiel in a game neither team really deserved to win. Contract could probably have done without the distraction of a cup run to be honest, but they're safely in the quarter-finals too, albeit not one of the five who could still harbour sincere hopes of a league and cup double still. What a season this is so far.


MATCHDAY 25
East Franz Athletic 2–0 SK Aasiaat Harbour
Eintracht Moss-Rygge 0–1 SK Franz Josef City
SK Nasjonale Hauker 2–1 Northbrook Diamonds FK
Rapid Jan Mayen FK 1–1 North Star Grímsey
FC1. Bjarnarey Flotilla 3–0 Jan Mayen Islanders
Resolute Storm 1913 FC 3–0 FC Cape St Paul
FC1. Surtsey Island Gulls 0–1 FC Axel Heiburg
Skipsbyggere IFK 5–1 Bohemiens Grise Fiord
Scapa Bay Rovers 0–2 Red Star Severny
It just seems like every weekend there are a couple of games that have huge ramifications in the topsy-turvy world of Divisjon One right now, and this week is no different. Just when you think they're poised to make a leap back into an area where a title retention is on the cards again, Aasiaat go to the Rendahl and get handsomely beaten by an East Franz side flying high with the knowledge that that win sends them top... At least until Nijgaard, Tripp, and Kazimir scored for Bjarnarey against Jan Mayen the day after. Red Star aren't showing signs of slowing down, and they win in Scapa Bay, whilst SK keep pace with a narrow win over Contract, who themselves will feel aggrieved after they had goals rules out for offside on three occasions. Game of the week goes to Nasjonale and their win over Northbrook though, where a Karl Kvist piledriver proved the difference in the second half.


MATCHDAY 26
SK Aasiaat Harbour 2–0 Scapa Bay Rovers
Red Star Severny 3–2 Skipsbyggere IFK
Bohemiens Grise Fiord 1–3 FC1. Surtsey Island Gulls
FC Axel Heiburg 2–1 Resolute Storm 1913 FC
FC Cape St Paul 3–1 FC1. Bjarnarey Flotilla
Jan Mayen Islanders 2–1 Rapid Jan Mayen FK
North Star Grímsey 1–1 SK Nasjonale Hauker
Northbrook Diamonds FK 3–1 Eintracht Moss-Rygge
SK Franz Josef City 2–0 East Franz Athletic
The second Elfsteijn Derby of the season was a far more exciting affair that the first, and if Loick Sorensen was under any misapprehensions about what it means to be a Griffin, the reaction of the crowd when he put the home side two up against East Franz will have eliminated any lingering doubts. Alf Lofthus had previously put the Griffins ahead, and that draws the home right back up and closes the gap to the top two. Especially seeing as Bjarnarey also lost - a shock defeat away to St Paul. Bohemiens lose three-one at home to Surtsey - they're never going to survive if they don't stop conceding this many goals - and Skipsbyggere almost take a point home from Red Star only for Michael Morck to net a late winner. On the island of Jan Mayen meanwhile, the Ospreys take great delight in inflicting yet another blow to Rapid's chances of survival, Li Zhen poking home the even goal in three to leave the visitors in deep trouble.



Eight games left then, and we are beginning to see where the battles will play out in the final couple of months. At the top, Bjarnarey and East Franz have maybe got a hair's breadth of space between them and the chasing pack, but there really is almost nothing in it. SK and Red Star are lurking just three points off the top, with Aasiaat only another three beyond that and Northbrook and Nasjonale also within a win or two of the IFCF spots. There is a big jump down to Jan Mayen in eighth after that, so, realistically, three of that top seven are going to miss out on international football next season. Aasiaat's title defence isn't quite dead yet, but six points in eight games means you're waiting for a lot of mistakes from the rest of the... What would you call them? "Big Six plus Red Star"? I don't know.

Jan Mayen to St Paul is pretty congested in the middle, and then there's a largish gap to the bottom six. Or, the top three of the bottom six, anyway. Yes, Skipsbyggere, Scapa Bay and Resolute might be nervous, but there's an even bigger gap down to the actual bottom three. Rapid Jan Mayen, Contract, and Bohemiens might have rallies, but they're going to need to rally a whole lot harder in the final few games if they're going to make up that eight point gap to safety.

------Divisjon One               Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts
 1  FC1. Bjarnarey Flotilla     26   17   4   5    53   28  +25    55
 2  East Franz Athletic         26   16   6   4    41   21  +20    54
 3  SK Franz Josef City         26   15   7   4    53   26  +27    52
 4  Red Star Severny            26   16   4   6    49   33  +16    52
 5  SK Aasiaat Harbour          26   15   4   7    43   29  +14    49
 6  Northbrook Diamonds FK      26   14   6   6    52   33  +19    48
 7  SK Nasjonale Hauker         26   13   7   6    42   29  +13    46
 8  Jan Mayen Islanders         26   10   7   9    39   36   +3    37
 9  FC Axel Heiburg             26    9  10   7    34   34    0    37
10  FC1. Surtsey Island Gulls   26   11   3  12    38   36   +2    36
11  North Star Grímsey          26    9   6  11    45   40   +5    33
12  FC Cape St Paul             26    9   3  14    35   43   −8    30
13  Skipsbyggere IFK            26    6   7  13    35   48  −13    25
14  Scapa Bay Rovers            26    6   7  13    35   52  −17    25
15  Resolute Storm 1913 FC      26    6   6  14    34   49  −15    24
16  Rapid Jan Mayen FK          26    4   4  18    27   53  −26    16
17  Eintracht Moss-Rygge        26    3   7  16    19   49  −30    16
18  Bohemiens Grise Fiord       26    3   6  17    27   62  −35    15

In the second flight, there is indeed a team running away with things, as predicted. However, as wasn't quite predicted, that team is Melville Celtic, who have an eight point lead over the chasing pack. Novaya Sibir, SC Kiel, RSK, Koppen Rig, and Matahiko are all separated by just one point however, so that battle for promotion is going to be a humdinger. At the foot of the table, FK Viipuri 56 have had a very poor season, and are currently sitting at the bottom in deep trouble. Maritime Hove and North Melville aren't doing much better however, and there's some rallying to be done in the second flight as well accordingly. Viking have at least already done that, and seem to have pulled at least a bit clear. That gap from ninth to eleventh is very curious though, with Neuerlatz in tenth marooned in what would otherwise be a gulf of fourteen points.

------Divisjon Two            Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts
 1  Melville Celtic          26   18   3   5    47   22  +25    57
 2  Novaya Sibir Reds        26   15   4   7    43   27  +16    49
 3  SC Kiel                  26   15   4   7    47   32  +15    49
 4  RSK Longyearbyen Town    26   15   4   7    42   30  +12    49
 5  Koppen Rig Force         26   15   3   8    43   30  +13    48
 6  Matahiko Viktory SK      26   15   3   8    45   33  +12    48
 7  SK Sturm Nuuk            26   13   6   7    43   28  +15    45
 8  FC Torshavn              26   12   8   6    42   29  +13    44
 9  Islay Town Mechanical    26   12   7   7    43   31  +12    43
10  Neuerlatz AFK            26    8  10   8    32   34   −2    34
11  SK Yuzhny Albion         26    8   5  13    45   50   −5    29
12  Måriussa Viking FK       26    8   4  14    40   52  −12    28
13  Franz Josef Young Boys   26    7   5  14    29   45  −16    26
14  Rapid SK Eysturoy        26    7   4  15    41   47   −6    25
15  Hospitaliers             26    7   4  15    28   45  −17    25
16  FC North Melville        26    5   6  15    30   49  −19    21
17  Maritime Hove FC         26    5   5  16    23   47  −24    20
18  FK Viipuri 56            26    4   5  17    28   60  −32    17

In Divisjon Three, Sutherland are no longer top, but they are at least still managing to spoil the Svalbard-party at the top of the table, though just like in the other two Albatross League tiers, it's awfully close up there, and even McAvery in eighth probably haven't given up hope of promotion yet. Athe the bottom, Norsviken's Cup run might have been entertaining, but has it distracted them from their relegation battle? Mind you, the other three teams in the drop zone didn't really have cup runs to speak of, and it doesn't seem to have helped them that much..

------Divisjon Three               Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts
 1  Lokomotiv Barentsberg         26   14   6   6    47   25  +22    48
 2  FC Solovetsky Monastery       26   14   5   7    43   27  +16    47
 3  Sutherland Foundry SK         26   13   5   8    46   35  +11    44
 4  Klub Atletisk Spitsbergen     26   12   8   6    39   31   +8    44
 5  Yuzhny Equinox FC             26   12   8   6    41   36   +5    44
 6  Agheim CF                     26   13   3  10    44   39   +5    42
 7  FC1. Sturm Grímsey            26   12   6   8    39   35   +4    42
 8  McAvery Centurions            26   11   7   8    35   36   −1    40
 9  Universitet                   26    7  12   7    43   43    0    33
10  FK Grise Fiord                26    9   6  11    41   42   −1    33
11  Seratakki Villagers           26    9   6  11    38   41   −3    33
12  Franz Josef Sharks            26    9   6  11    31   40   −9    33
13  AC Aleutia Volcanoes          26    8   6  12    37   32   +5    30
14  Severnaya Zemlya 88 Equinox   26    9   3  14    33   45  −12    30
15  Steffansson Island FC         26    6   9  11    31   43  −12    27
16  Korsten Lokomotiv             26    8   2  16    36   58  −22    26
17  FK Norsviken Cossacks         26    6   7  13    32   41   −9    25
18  Uelmark MK                    26    3  13  10    27   34   −7    22

[Polar Islandstates]

Final part of the league season, and we finally get our exiting conclusion!


MATCHDAY 27
SK Franz Josef City 4–1 SK Aasiaat Harbour
East Franz Athletic 0–1 Northbrook Diamonds FK
Eintracht Moss-Rygge 0–2 North Star Grímsey
SK Nasjonale Hauker 4–0 Jan Mayen Islanders
Rapid Jan Mayen FK 2–3 FC Cape St Paul
FC1. Bjarnarey Flotilla 6–2 FC Axel Heiburg
Resolute Storm 1913 FC 1–2 Bohemiens Grise Fiord
FC1. Surtsey Island Gulls 1–0 Red Star Severny
Skipsbyggere IFK 1–1 Scapa Bay Rovers
Some absolutely massive games at the tip of the table today, with four of the top six playing each other. SK seized the opportunity to go top of the table, temporarily at least, with their hammering of Aasiaat. Sorensen, Lofthus, and Hagen with the goals in the first half, and even before Fixing Nguyen and Igerne Félix traded late goals in the second, you got the distinct sense that heads were dropping in the Aasiaat ranks. Finn Kirkkegaard's side might still mathematically be in it, but you must think that that's probably that for their title defence. East Franz had the chance to then go top later in the day, only for Tariq Will to score the only goal of the game for Northbrook, who came away with a superb three points. Mêlçôr Ënàrsòn was once again the star for Bjarnarey on Sunday however, and his pair of goals and an assist set the Bargemen on their way back to the top of the table with a fine six-two win at home to Axel Heiburg - Harju, Tripp, Kazimir, and Baer with the other goals for the home side. Bohemiens record a fine and much appreciated win in Resolute, particularly with Rapid and Eintracht losing, and Skipsbyggere and Scapa Baby sharing the points in a result that does neither of them much good.


MATCHDAY 28
SK Aasiaat Harbour 3–1 Skipsbyggere IFK
Scapa Bay Rovers 1–2 FC1. Surtsey Island Gulls
Red Star Severny 2–2 Resolute Storm 1913 FC
Bohemiens Grise Fiord 1–2 FC1. Bjarnarey Flotilla
FC Axel Heiburg 1–0 Rapid Jan Mayen FK
FC Cape St Paul 0–3 SK Nasjonale Hauker
Jan Mayen Islanders 2–1 Eintracht Moss-Rygge
North Star Grímsey 3–0 East Franz Athletic
Northbrook Diamonds FK 2–0 SK Franz Josef City
All this talk of a 'Classic Season' earlier, and all of a sudden Bjarnarey are *checks notes* six points clear?! How did that happen? Well, 'Tariq Will' is the short answer to that question. The longer answer is that after scoring the winner against East Franz last week, Northbrook welcomed SK to Palace Approach this weekend and he repeated the fear. Sure, Wickenheiser added a late second on the break as SK pushed for an equaliser, but Will was also instrumental in keeping the Griffins at bay at the other end. Back-to-back goals and clean sheets against Big Six opposition? Looks like Northbrook have themselves a big game player and a half here, and coming into form at just the right time of the season, too. Especially for Bjarnarey, who take advantage of their rivals dropping points again with yet another two-tone won, this time away at Bohemiens. East Franz lose again in some very poor timing for their title hopes, whilst Resolute think they've seen up a crucial win of their own only for Elmo Polland to drill home a late equaliser.



LATITUDE CUP Quarter Finals
East Franz Athletic 3-0 FC1. Bjarnarey Flotilla
SK Nasjonale Hauker 3-1 Eintracht Moss-Rygge
Agheim CF 0-0 SK Franz Josef City (0-0 AET, 1-3 PKs)
Northbrook Diamonds FK 2-1 FC1. Surtsey Island Gulls
The Latitude Cup always brings intrigue with it, and the quarter-finals - played mid-week under the lights as usual - are no exception. A stunning hat trick from Sho Itō sees East Franz put their League woes behind them, and Bjarnarey's search for the elusive league and cup double is over for another season. Northbrook and SK remain in that hunt however, even if the latter did need penalties to get past third tier Agheim. Nasjonale also progress, meaning all four semi-finalists are harbouring hopes of a double still, and with three clubs from the capital amongst those, we're guaranteed at least one very juicy semi-final indeed.


MATCHDAY 29
Northbrook Diamonds FK 1–1 SK Aasiaat Harbour
SK Franz Josef City 2–2 North Star Grímsey
East Franz Athletic 2–1 Jan Mayen Islanders
Eintracht Moss-Rygge 0–1 FC Cape St Paul
SK Nasjonale Hauker 2–0 FC Axel Heiburg
Rapid Jan Mayen FK 1–2 Bohemiens Grise Fiord
FC1. Bjarnarey Flotilla 3–0 Red Star Severny
Resolute Storm 1913 FC 2–1 Scapa Bay Rovers
FC1. Surtsey Island Gulls 3–0 Skipsbyggere IFK
As much as Northbrook have been incredible in the last few weeks, it would seem that three Big Six teams in a row is just to much to ask. Tariq Will might have scored for the third week in a row, sending fantasy football players up and down the country clamouring to put him in their teams before his price rises anymore, but a fine stroke from Henschen means the points are shared between Diamonds and Aasiaat. SK carelessly let a two goal lead at home to North Star slip, which would be a really bad time for them to rediscover their wobbly form from the past few years, and also means East Franz's win over Jan Mayen is more significant as a result. Much of which is music to Bjarnarey's ears, I'm sure, and their three-nil win over Red Star not only takes advantage of those draws for Northbrook and SK, but also puts the boot in on one of the only other teams who could still win the title. Resolute manage a well earned win over Scapa Bay to maybe ease their relegation fears somewhat, particularly as Skipsbyggere lose again as well, but Rapid are probably the biggest losers of the day at the bottom, losing at home to Bohemiens as they do.


MATCHDAY 30
SK Aasiaat Harbour 0–1 FC1. Surtsey Island Gulls
Skipsbyggere IFK 1–2 Resolute Storm 1913 FC
Scapa Bay Rovers 1–2 FC1. Bjarnarey Flotilla
Red Star Severny 2–2 Rapid Jan Mayen FK
Bohemiens Grise Fiord 0–3 SK Nasjonale Hauker
FC Axel Heiburg 0–0 Eintracht Moss-Rygge
FC Cape St Paul 1–0 East Franz Athletic
Jan Mayen Islanders 1–3 SK Franz Josef City
North Star Grímsey 0–1 Northbrook Diamonds FK
So the teams chasing Bjarnarey continue to stutter and scrape, and that classic season I was hoping for might be slipping away. Sorry guys, I jinxed it. Or, maybe Ziegenhagen's side are just really good at putting together these imperious runs of form at the end of the year. Either way, it's impressive from one of us. Nijgaard, Makkinen, and Ënàrsòn with the goals today, and the Bargemen move into an eight point lead. Eight. At this point in the season? That's huge. That gap emerging because East Franz, second going into today, lose away at St Paul, meaning the wins for SK, Nasjonale, and Northbrook also see them leapfrog the Spires and push them from second to fifth in one day. Brutal. I don't know, maybe it's still a classic season of you discount the leaders. Red Star can only draw at home to relegation-battling Rapid, Michael Morck with the late equaliser for the home side, and that plus Surtsey's win over Aasiaat means the top five are probably stretching away a bit now. A huge win for Resolute at the bottom over Skipsbyggere also probably pulls them out of danger, but Eintracht will be disappointed to have only got a point against Axel Heiburg in a game they probably circled as a decent chance to get a valuable three points.

So, four games left, twelve points on the table, and with the customary late break for the Latitude Cup semi final next weekend, here's how things are looking...

------Divisjon One               Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts
 1  FC1. Bjarnarey Flotilla     30   21   4   5    66   32  +34    67
 2  SK Franz Josef City         30   17   8   5    62   32  +30    59
 3  SK Nasjonale Hauker         30   17   7   6    54   29  +25    58
 4  Northbrook Diamonds FK      30   17   7   6    57   34  +23    58
 5  East Franz Athletic         30   17   6   7    43   27  +16    57
 6  Red Star Severny            30   16   6   8    53   41  +12    54
 7  SK Aasiaat Harbour          30   16   5   9    48   36  +12    53
 8  FC1. Surtsey Island Gulls   30   15   3  12    45   37   +8    48
 9  FC Axel Heiburg             30   10  11   9    37   42   −5    41
10  North Star Grímsey          30   11   7  12    52   43   +9    40
11  Jan Mayen Islanders         30   11   7  12    43   46   −3    40
12  FC Cape St Paul             30   12   3  15    40   48   −8    39
13  Resolute Storm 1913 FC      30    8   7  15    41   55  −14    31
14  Skipsbyggere IFK            30    6   8  16    38   57  −19    26
15  Scapa Bay Rovers            30    6   8  16    39   59  −20    26
16  Bohemiens Grise Fiord       30    5   6  19    32   69  −37    21
17  Rapid Jan Mayen FK          30    4   5  21    32   61  −29    17
18  Eintracht Moss-Rygge        30    3   8  19    20   54  −34    17

LATITUDE CUP Semi Finals
East Franz Athletic 2-0 SK Franz Josef City
Northbrook Diamonds FK 2-0 SK Nasjonale Hauker
Rarely do we get three Elfsteijn Derbies in a season. Even more rarely do we see that happen two seasons in a row! Last year it happened much earlier, of course, but for the second season in a row, East Franz knock SK out of the Latitude Cup in a colossal tussle at the Rendahl. Arsene-Michael Litt and Gunner Martikainen scored the goals in the second half, sending the Spires fans into raptures, and their side into the final. The other semi-final was won by the same margin, and it was Northbrook who scored the goals through Jaxon and Kallenberger, meaning it was so near and yet so far for Nasjonale, and we are denied an all-capital final. Boo.


MATCHDAY 31
North Star Grímsey 0–0 SK Aasiaat Harbour
Northbrook Diamonds FK 3–1 Jan Mayen Islanders
SK Franz Josef City 1–0 FC Cape St Paul
East Franz Athletic 2–2 FC Axel Heiburg
Eintracht Moss-Rygge 3–0 Bohemiens Grise Fiord
SK Nasjonale Hauker 4–1 Red Star Severny
Rapid Jan Mayen FK 3–1 Scapa Bay Rovers
FC1. Bjarnarey Flotilla 0–0 Skipsbyggere IFK
Resolute Storm 1913 FC 0–2 FC1. Surtsey Island Gulls
Theres a shock, though. Never underestimate the teams battling against relegation in this league, and as is so often the case, one of them almost has a seismic effect on the title race today. Skipsbyggere came for a point against Bjarnarey and got one, holding the leaders to a goalless draw and opening the curtains a crack to the teams in chase. Eintracht win handsomely at home to Bohemiens, the highlight being a blistering strike from Juho Wallander, but is that going to be too little too late from Moss-Rygge? Igerne Félix scored the only goal of the game as SK snuck past St Paul to keep the title race alive for another week, whilst there were also wins for a Northbrook side in hot form and a Nasjonale side taking advantage of East Franz's abject league form to jump into the top four - Karl Kvist's whipped finish the highlight of that game.


MATCHDAY 32
SK Aasiaat Harbour 3–4 Resolute Storm 1913 FC
FC1. Surtsey Island Gulls 0–2 FC1. Bjarnarey Flotilla
Skipsbyggere IFK 1–3 Rapid Jan Mayen FK
Scapa Bay Rovers 1–3 SK Nasjonale Hauker
Red Star Severny 7–0 Eintracht Moss-Rygge
Bohemiens Grise Fiord 2–1 East Franz Athletic
FC Axel Heiburg 1–0 SK Franz Josef City
FC Cape St Paul 2–4 Northbrook Diamonds FK
Jan Mayen Islanders 2–3 North Star Grímsey
With the gap between Bjarnarey and SK sitting at six points, the Griffins were hoping for a miracle, and that's just what they didn't get. In the Friday night game, Bjarnarey took advantage of their fortuitous television scheduling to power past Surtsey courtesy of Ënàrsòn assisting both Nijgaard and Kazimir for what feels like the millionth time this season. And then, they waited. Northbrook and Nasjonale both kept up their winning streaks, but the Bargemen were beyond their respective reaches by this point, and so all eyes were on Axel Torvig Stadion, were SK needed to win and make a crack into the goal difference in order to have any chance whatsoever... which is exactly when the Argonauts decided they were going to turn into prime Ko-oren and shut the Griffins out entirely. George Nelson assisted Liselotte Strannegård for the only goal of the game, ensuring neither of them will ever have to buy a drink in Bjarnarey ever again, and that was that. SK were defeated, out of the title race and knocked down to fourth on one fell swoop, and Bjarnarey were seven points clear with two games to play. The title is heading back to The Barge. As of there wasn't already enough to talk about today as well, Resolute won a thrilling Feud of Victorrinn just to run salt into Aasiaat's wounds on the day they knew their reign was over, and Red Star knocked seven (SEVEN) past Eintracht, a result that would've relegated them were it not for the fact that Nasjonale beat Scapa Bay, and does Elmo Polland no harm at all in his race for the Golden Boot against Niemi and Sorensen. Even so, it's down to goal difference at this point for Eintracht. Never a good sign. Rapid's win over Skipsbyggere keeps them in with a legitimate shout of staying up meanwhile, and stops the Waves from stretching clear into safety. Just.


MATCHDAY 33
Jan Mayen Islanders 1–2 SK Aasiaat Harbour
North Star Grímsey 1–0 FC Cape St Paul
Northbrook Diamonds FK 2–0 FC Axel Heiburg
SK Franz Josef City 4–0 Bohemiens Grise Fiord
East Franz Athletic 1–1 Red Star Severny
Eintracht Moss-Rygge 0–1 Scapa Bay Rovers
SK Nasjonale Hauker 3–1 Skipsbyggere IFK
Rapid Jan Mayen FK 1–1 FC1. Surtsey Island Gulls
FC1. Bjarnarey Flotilla 2–0 Resolute Storm 1913 FC
The title race might be over, but that doesn't stop Bjarnarey winning, a two-nil win over Resolute does them no harm at all in their mission to finish as high as they can. SK do their IFCF ambitions justice with a four-nil demolition of Bohemiens, a result that all but relegates the Bohs given results elsewhere and their appalling goal difference. Rapid pick up a point that keeps them in the hunt for safety given Skipsbyggere’s defeat at Kungsdocks, but Scapa Bay's win against Eintracht, at Koch Stadion no less, relegates Eintracht and means Scapa Bay are safe. Phew. East Franz and Red Star draw in a result that helps nobody, whilst Northbrook and Nasjonale also win meaning the IFCF spots are pretty much sewn up. Thurnburrow records another assist as North Star beat St Paul to settle some mid-table arguments, but, let's be fair, I'm clutching at straws here. My hope for a Classic Season have fallen at the last. It's almost all sorted going into the last day of the season.


MATCHDAY 34
SK Aasiaat Harbour 2–1 FC1. Bjarnarey Flotilla
Resolute Storm 1913 FC 3–3 Rapid Jan Mayen FK
FC1. Surtsey Island Gulls 4–1 SK Nasjonale Hauker
Skipsbyggere IFK 2–2 Eintracht Moss-Rygge
Scapa Bay Rovers 0–0 East Franz Athletic
Red Star Severny 2–2 SK Franz Josef City
Bohemiens Grise Fiord 0–3 Northbrook Diamonds FK
FC Axel Heiburg 1–4 North Star Grímsey
FC Cape St Paul 1–1 Jan Mayen Islanders
So with only one thing to settle on the final day, the issue of relegation, I have to take something of a backseat to today's proceedings. Scapa Bay were already safe but managed to draw with East Franz just for the hell of it, apparently, and that underlined a disappointing end to the league season for the Spires. Bohemiens’ loss against Northbrook just certified their relegation, whilst the final relegation spot went to the… wire? Almost wire? I don't know. Anyway. Rapid Jan Mayen managed a draw against Resolute, but that point for Skipsbyggere against already relegated Eintracht meant that that was academic. Three points was the margin going into today, and three points was the margin afterwards. It could've been exciting, but it wasn't. Ah well. Sorry everyone, I've misled you all.

So, your final league table then, and as was already evident for those who have been paying attention , Bjarnarey Flotilla have reclaimed their league title. Northbrook have managed to jumped to second overall, whilst the IFCF spots are closed out by Nasjonale and SK, with East Franz and Aasiaat missing out altogether after a very disappointing title defence for the latter. It was a good season for Red Star, but they were still pipped on the final day to ensure the Big Six kept their labels, although the indications are that that might not be a given for much longer.

At the bottom, Moss-Rygge were done a while back, but Bohs and Rapid almost kept things interesting. Kristiansen must be hoping he gets another go at things next season after almost keeping them up this year, but that all remains to be seen.

------Divisjon One               Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts
 1  FC1. Bjarnarey Flotilla     34   23   5   6    71   34  +37    74 - Champions, IFCF CL, CdC
 2  Northbrook Diamonds FK      34   21   7   6    69   37  +32    70 - IFCF CC, IFCF CWC
 3  SK Nasjonale Hauker         34   20   7   7    65   36  +29    67 - IFCF CC
 4  SK Franz Josef City         34   19   9   6    69   35  +34    66 - IFCF CC
 5  East Franz Athletic         34   17   9   8    47   32  +15    60
 6  SK Aasiaat Harbour          34   18   6  10    55   42  +13    60
 7  Red Star Severny            34   17   8   9    64   48  +16    59
 8  FC1. Surtsey Island Gulls   34   17   4  13    52   41  +11    55
 9  North Star Grímsey          34   14   8  12    60   46  +14    50
10  FC Axel Heiburg             34   11  12  11    41   50   −9    45
11  Jan Mayen Islanders         34   11   8  15    48   55   −7    41
12  FC Cape St Paul             34   12   4  18    43   55  −12    40
13  Resolute Storm 1913 FC      34    9   8  17    48   65  −17    35
14  Scapa Bay Rovers            34    7   9  18    42   65  −23    30
15  Skipsbyggere IFK            34    6  10  18    42   65  −23    28
16  Rapid Jan Mayen FK          34    6   7  21    42   67  −25    25 - Relegated
17  Bohemiens Grise Fiord       34    6   6  22    34   80  −46    24 - Relegated
18  Eintracht Moss-Rygge        34    4   9  21    25   64  −39    21 - Relegated


CHAMPIONS: FC1. Bjarnarey Flotilla
Runners-Up: Northbrook Diamonds FK
Relegated: Rapid Jan Mayen FK, Bohemiens Grise Fiord, Eintracht Moss-Rygge
Player of the Season:
1.  Povl Kazimir (FC1. Bjarnarey Flotilla)
2.  Mêlçôr Ënàrsòn  (FC1. Bjarnarey Flotilla)
3.  Elmo Polland (Red Star Severny)
4.  Kyong Tripp  (FC1. Bjarnarey Flotilla)
5.  Emmanuele Niemi (SK Nasjonale Hauker)
Young Player (u-23) of the Season:
1.  Mêlçôr Ënàrsòn  (FC1. Bjarnarey Flotilla)
2.  Jalmari Hagen (SK Franz Josef City)
3.  Martin Kallenberger (Northbrook Diamonds FK)
4.  Mikkel Makkinen (FC1. Bjarnarey Flotilla)
5.  Jaan Reusser (SK Aasiaat Harbour)
Top Goalscorers:
23 -  Emmanuele Niemi (SK Nasjonale Hauker)
22 -  Elmo Polland (Red Star Severny)
20 -  Loick Sorensen  (SK Franz Josef City)
19 -  Ryn Jaxon  (Northbrook Diamonds FK),  Youssef Nijgaard (FC1. Bjarnarey Flotilla)
17 -  Li Zhen  (Jan Mayen Islanders),  Povl Kazimir (FC1. Bjarnarey Flotilla)
Top Assistmakers:
17 -  Mêlçôr Ënàrsòn  (FC1. Bjarnarey Flotilla)
15 -  Igerne Félix  (SK Franz Josef City)
14 -  Povl Kazimir (FC1. Bjarnarey Flotilla)
12 -  Cixin Nguyen  (SK Aasiaat Harbour),  Cornelius Thornburrow  (North Star Grímsey)
11 -  Kyong Tripp  (FC1. Bjarnarey Flotilla)
Team of the Season:

In the second flight, RSK Longyearbyen Town do indeed live up to their title of runaway pre-season favourites by winning the league, but they did make slightly harder work of it than was expected. Keeping hold of Joel Bieri even when former club Resolute Storm offered him a route to staying in the top flight turned out to be the most important thing they could have done, with his goals propelling them to the top of the table. Novaya Sibir Reds also bounce straight back up again, beating Melville Celtic into third place on goals scored. I had thought Nuuk were good for another promotion, but they ended up finishing in fourth spot for the second year running. How cruel. Although by some distance this time rather than last year's goal difference heartbreak. I'm never quite sure if that makes it better or worse. Compounding North Melville's unhappiness at relegation will be Celtic's promotion, whilst Viipuri make a surprise trip back to the third flight. Maritime Hove made a good go of it in the end, but they were the first team to be sent packing back to the third flight. After last year's dramatic underperformance, Koppen Rig and Torshavn almost propelled each other back to the top flight solely through the power of their hatred for each other alone; just imagine what would happen if they ever looked beyond the city limits for once.

------Divisjon Two            Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts
 1  RSK Longyearbyen Town    34   23   4   7    66   35  +31    73 - Promoted, IFCF LBCT
 2  Novaya Sibir Reds        34   22   4   8    64   38  +26    70 - Promoted, IFCF LBCT
 3  Melville Celtic          34   22   4   8    62   36  +26    70 - Promoted, IFCF LBCT
 4  SK Sturm Nuuk            34   18   7   9    59   37  +22    61
 5  Koppen Rig Force         34   19   3  12    55   46   +9    60
 6  FC Torshavn              34   16  11   7    52   35  +17    59
 7  Matahiko Viktory SK      34   18   4  12    53   42  +11    58
 8  SC Kiel                  34   17   5  12    59   45  +14    56
 9  Islay Town Mechanical    34   15  10   9    52   39  +13    55
10  Neuerlatz AFK            34   12  12  10    45   42   +3    48
11  Rapid SK Eysturoy        34   12   4  18    51   58   −7    40
12  Franz Josef Young Boys   34   10   6  18    40   60  −20    36
13  Hospitaliers             34    9   6  19    35   54  −19    33
14  SK Yuzhny Albion         34    8   7  19    52   71  −19    31
15  Måriussa Viking FK       34    8   6  20    45   67  −22    30
16  FK Viipuri 56            34    7   7  20    40   69  −29    28 - Relegated
17  FC North Melville        34    6   9  19    36   59  −23    27 - Relegated
18  Maritime Hove FC         34    7   5  22    30   63  −33    26 - Relegated


CHAMPIONS: RSK Longyearbyen Town
Runners-Up: Novaya Sibir Reds
Promoted: RSK Longyearbyen Town, Novaya Sibir Reds, Melville Celtic
Relegated: FK Viipuri 56, FC North Melville, Maritime Hove FC
Player of the Season:  Raymond Bury (RSK Longyearbyen Town)
Top Goalscorer: 25 -  Joel Bieri (RSK Longyearbyen Town)

In the third tier, Lokomotiv Barentsberg stole the league title thanks to their superior defence when compared to surprise runners-up Sutherland Foundry. The Foundry title-push was fuelled by the remarkable goalscoring exploits of player of the season Elias Beus, but without a strong defence they were unable to get past Barentsberg when it counted. Solovetsky made it two out of three for Svalbard clubs in the promotion spots in the end, although by leapfrogging Atletisk in the final few weeks they actually didn't affect that total score at all in the end. At the bottom, Severnaya Zemlya are counting their blessings after a narrow escape, whilst it was a less fortunate outcome for Korsten, Norsviken 'yo-yo' Cossacks, Steffansson Island, and Uelmark, who all drop down to the Challenge League.

------Divisjon Three               Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts
 1  Lokomotiv Barentsberg         34   18   6  10    61   37  +24    60 - Promoted
 2  Sutherland Foundry SK         34   18   6  10    62   45  +17    60 - Promoted
 3  FC Solovetsky Monastery       34   17   7  10    53   38  +15    58 - Promoted
 4  Klub Atletisk Spitsbergen     34   16   9   9    52   43   +9    57
 5  Yuzhny Equinox FC             34   15  11   8    52   50   +2    56
 6  FC1. Sturm Grímsey            34   15   9  10    48   44   +4    54
 7  Agheim CF                     34   14   8  12    55   51   +4    50
 8  FK Grise Fiord                34   14   7  13    53   50   +3    49
 9  McAvery Centurions            34   12  12  10    42   44   −2    48
10  AC Aleutia Volcanoes          34   13   7  14    52   41  +11    46
11  Seratakki Villagers           34   12   9  13    51   50   +1    45
12  Franz Josef Sharks            34   12   9  13    46   53   −7    45
13  Universitet                   34    9  13  12    54   62   −8    40
14  Severnaya Zemlya 88 Equinox   34   11   5  18    44   58  −14    38
15  Korsten Lokomotiv             34   11   4  19    49   72  −23    37 - Relegated
16  FK Norsviken Cossacks         34    9   7  18    42   55  −13    34 - Relegated
17  Steffansson Island FC         34    7  12  15    37   54  −17    33 - Relegated
18  Uelmark MK                    34    5  15  14    39   45   −6    30 - Relegated


CHAMPIONS: Lokomotiv Barentsberg
Runners-Up: Sutherland Foundry SK
Promoted: Lokomotiv Barentsberg, Sutherland Foundry SK, FC Solovetsky Monastery
Relegated: Korsten Lokomotiv, FK Norsviken Cossacks, Steffansson Island FC, Uelmark MK
Player of the Season:  Elias Beus (Sutherland Foundry SK)
Top Goalscorer: 28 -  Elias Beus (Sutherland Foundry SK)

In the Challenge League East Divisjon, FC1. Rangers romped home in the end, enjoying an eleven point gap over their nearest rivals come the end of the season. Hans Island Pioneers are surely too big to stay in the fourth tier, and so it proved, although KSC Brighthelmstone almost put together a run at the end of the season there before tailing off badly. Geddesberg managed to stay up in dramatic circumstances on the last day of the season thanks to a late, late equaliser against Vale of Moray, meaning Bathurst's drubbing at the hands of Sisimut Black Star was extra damaging. Bielstrich and Stryær also go down, whilst it was a season to forget for rock-bottom Sannegarden Fleet.

------East Divisjon             Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts
 1  FC1. Rangers               26   19   2   5    45   20  +25    59 - Promoted
 2  AFK Hans Island Pioneers   26   14   6   6    37   25  +12    48 - Promoted
 3  KSC Brighthelmstone        26   13   4   9    45   33  +12    43
 4  Aleutia Town Dragons       26   12   6   8    39   27  +12    42
 5  SK Thor 1898               26   12   5   9    32   27   +5    41
 6  Vale of Moray              26   12   4  10    41   40   +1    40
 7  Sisimut Black Star         26   11   6   9    41   38   +3    39
 8  KA Rikyaare                26   11   4  11    34   41   −7    37
 9  Invermuir Highlanders FC   26    9   6  11    38   42   −4    33
10  IHK Geddesberg             26    8   5  13    35   41   −6    29
11  Bathurst Zenith FC         26    6  11   9    30   40  −10    29 - Relegated
12  Bielstrich Timbers FC      26    6   6  14    27   34   −7    24 - Relegated
13  SK Stryær                  26    5   7  14    30   45  −15    22 - Relegated
14  Sannegarden Fleet FK       26    3  10  13    26   47  −21    19 - Relegated


CHAMPIONS: FC1. Rangers
Runners-Up: AFK Hans Island Pioneers
Promoted: FC1. Rangers, AFK Hans Island Pioneers
Relegated: Bathurst Zenith FC, Bielstrich Timbers FC, SK Stryær, Sannegarden Fleet FK
Player of the Season:  Taito Weigel (FC1. Rangers)
Top Goalscorer: 19 -  Nathan Illg (KSC Brighthelmstone)

In the West meanwhile, Bennett and Zhokhov fulfilled their promise to take the top spot, with Ostermeier Old Boys involved in a battle with Torpedo and Logan United right to the very end of what was a thrilling season. It was a four-way title battle for much of the second half of the season, with the final spots only looking predictable right at the last. At the bottom, Larsen Bay go down on goal difference, but the margin was rather wider for Bulargen Independents, Machtspool Whitesleeves, and Devon Bay Seals.

------West Divisjon               Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts
 1  Bennett and Zhokhov          26   13   7   6    40   29  +11    46 - Promoted
 2  Ostermeier Old Boys          26   11  10   5    30   19  +11    43 - Promoted
 3  Torpedo Sibir RKA            26   11  10   5    38   32   +6    43
 4  Logan United FC              26   12   6   8    37   28   +9    42
 5  NKK Urri                     26   11   6   9    41   34   +7    39
 6  FC Fetlar                    26   11   6   9    30   28   +2    39
 7  Ueland-Alne                  26   10   8   8    33   28   +5    38
 8  FK Ost-Volonovsk             26    8  10   8    32   32    0    34
 9  Energie Zemlya FK            26    8   8  10    33   32   +1    32
10  Meteor Kholmsk SK            26    8   7  11    33   36   −3    31
11  Larsen Bay Thunder FC        26    9   4  13    25   33   −8    31 - Relegated
12  Bulargen Independents        26    5  11  10    30   40  −10    26 - Relegated
13  Machtspool Whitesleeves FC   26    4  12  10    21   34  −13    24 - Relegated
14  Devon Bay Seals FC           26    6   5  15    26   44  −18    23 - Relegated


CHAMPIONS: Bennett and Zhokhov
Runners-Up: Ostermeier Old Boys
Promoted: Bennett and Zhokhov, Ostermeier Old Boys
Relegated: Larsen Bay Thunder FC, Bulargen Independents, Machtspool Whitesleeves, Devon Bay Seals FC
Player of the Season:  Marcis Dzhurov (Bennett and Zhokhov)
Top Goalscorer: 17 -  Dennis Suss (Bennett and Zhokhov)

In the ever-competitive Regional League, the Central Premier was won by Deveon Bay Lights, meaning they'll pass the Seals in mid-air over the course of the off-season. Axel Town follow them up, and Almsborg Rushmori get relegated, but the real story of the season was a remarkable display of goalscoring from breakthrough teenager Bo Fichter at Lokomotiv Karlstadt. You have to wonder where he'll end up next season.

------Central Premier         Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts
 1  Devon Bay Lights FC      44   26   8  10    80   51  +29    86 - Promoted
 2  Axel Town AFC            44   25   7  12    76   43  +33    82 - Promoted
 3  1. Lokomotiv Karlstadt   44   23   7  14    82   56  +26    76
 4  FK Fairbanks             44   21  11  12    63   49  +14    74
 5  St Gallen 47             44   20   9  15    62   52  +10    69
 6  Royal NK Sikjonek        44   16  13  15    53   60   −7    61
 7  Bindelsfjorden Dynamo    44   17   8  19    67   69   −2    59
 8  SK Nolmkien 1949         44   14  11  19    45   55  −10    53
 9  West End                 44   14   9  21    58   74  −16    51
10  Green Star Kobelevskov   44   15   1  28    58   81  −23    46
11  AIK Winterthur           44   11  10  23    48   74  −26    43
12  Almsborg Rushmori        44    8  14  22    51   79  −28    38 - Relegated


CHAMPIONS: Devon Bay Lights FC 
Runners-Up: Axel Town AFC
Promoted: Devon Bay Lights FC , Axel Town AFC
Relegated: Almsborg Rushmori
Player of the Season:  Berg Langerud (Devon Bay Lights FC)
Top Goalscorer: 35 -  Bo Fichter (1. Lokomotiv Karlstadt)

In the North-Eastern, San Moranna powered away from Olympic in the end, with the Krykkjesund club nonetheless enjoying their own comfortable margin over Hanshaugen in the second promotion spot. AIK Oversetten were marooned at the bottom for much of the season and almost made a thrilling comeback, but Boden 61 also managed to create some form out of nowhere, and three wins from four meant they just about kept their heads clear, and even had FKS-North worried for a bit.

------North-Eastern Premier     Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts
 1  San Moranna FC             44   29   8   7    75   41  +34    95 - Promoted
 2  Krykkjesund Olympic        44   25   8  11    79   51  +28    83 - Promoted
 3  Hanshaugen Gate FK         44   21   8  15    67   56  +11    71
 4  Sporting Club Aasiaat 87   44   18   9  17    67   58   +9    63
 5  Oaks of Fjellisroy         44   18   9  17    57   53   +4    63
 6  Aurich-Hassen Scouts FC    44   16  12  16    64   63   +1    60
 7  Resolute Hills FC          44   15  10  19    52   58   −6    55
 8  FC Kampengar Magpies       44   15   7  22    44   64  −20    52
 9  FK Aagen Zenith            44   13  12  19    57   62   −5    51
10  FKS-North                  44   14   7  23    60   76  −16    49
11  Boden 61                   44   12  12  20    46   59  −13    48
12  AIK Oversetten             44   14   6  24    51   78  −27    48 - Relegated


CHAMPIONS: San Moranna FC
Runners-Up: Krykkjesund Olympic
Promoted: San Moranna FC, Krykkjesund Olympic
Relegated: AIK Oversetten
Player of the Season:  Andris Hellstern (San Moranna FC)
Top Goalscorer: 27 -  Jens Asker (Krykkjesund Olympic),  Ernesti Holscher(Sporting Club Aasiaat 87)

In the South-Eastern, Ingvar Peaks continue the theme of huge winning margins, powering to a league win over Hauken Orca with several weeks to spare. Alejavik's collapse in the last two months mean they fail to go up, and KFK Polshavn are relegated on the last day after being beaten heavily by Crusaders whilst Sleijnmakt limited their loss against Cap-Pele to a single goal. It's a cruel, cruel sport.

------South-Eastern Premier       Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts
 1  Ingvar Peaks FC              44   24  13   7    81   45  +36    85 - Promoted
 2  Hauken Orca                  44   23   9  12    65   47  +18    78 - Promoted
 3  AIK Alejavik                 44   22   8  14    60   42  +18    74
 4  US Saint-John                44   17  14  13    65   59   +6    65
 5  Friedrichsund Fencing Club   44   17  12  15    51   56   −5    63
 6  Holtrecht Force SK           44   15  13  16    62   60   +2    58
 7  Cap-Pele Cotdelapomais       44   15  10  19    60   59   +1    55
 8  Ilksporta IK                 44   14  12  18    55   60   −5    54
 9  Lindesvogne Violets          44   13  13  18    63   72   −9    52
10  Crusaders                    44   11  14  19    47   58  −11    47
11  Sleijnmakt Sport             44   10  14  20    57   81  −24    44
12  KFK Polshavn                 44   10  14  20    42   69  −27    44 - Relegated


CHAMPIONS: Ingvar Peaks FC
Runners-Up: Hauken Orca
Promoted: Ingvar Peaks FC, Hauken Orca
Relegated: KFK Polshavn
Player of the Season:  Benedict Knupp (Ingvar Peaks FC)
Top Goalscorer: 25 -  Joni Bartling (Ingvar Peaks FC)

Finally, the Western Premier sees us complete our roster of Challenge League sides for next season, and it is Northbrook Zenith who prove they are too big for this tier, securing promotion with a month to spare and scoring an awful lot of goals in the process. Pekarik join them in going up, whilst Orebro were nowhere near challenging when push came to shove, despite their substantial winnings in the cup. It's a sad story for Matua however, as the once-exalted 'Pride of Kuril' are relegated into the Conference second tier.

------Western Premier          Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts
 1  Northbrook Zenith FC      44   27   8   9    89   49  +40    89 - Promoted
 2  GVFFK Pekarik             44   22   9  13    76   62  +14    75 - Promoted
 3  Orebro FK                 44   19   9  16    64   56   +8    66
 4  SK Stromness Electric     44   17  10  17    58   58    0    61
 5  SV Keldira Zenith         44   17  10  17    62   73  −11    61
 6  Fjorhorgen SK             44   18   6  20    66   63   +3    60
 7  IHK Sirius                44   14  16  14    55   59   −4    58
 8  Okhotsk Kholmsk Town FC   44   16  10  18    51   56   −5    58
 9  Gjornhammer Pier FC       44   16   8  20    65   74   −9    56
10  Dinamo Olsa FK            44   14  13  17    62   67   −5    55
11  Fynersturen Valhalla      44   13   9  22    62   82  −20    48
12  SK 1982 Matua             44   13   8  23    54   65  −11    47 - Relegated


CHAMPIONS: Northbrook Zenith FC
Runners-Up: GVFFK Pekarik
Promoted: Northbrook Zenith FC, GVFFK Pekarik
Relegated: SK 1982 Matua
Player of the Season:  Hanss Rindels (Northbrook Zenith FC)
Top Goalscorer: 25 -  Hanss Rindels (Northbrook Zenith FC)

And so with four teams relegated, we also need to say welcome to the four new teams promoted from the new second tiers of the Regional Conferences:
Aurora Hammarby, FC Velcosta Cliffs, Forrairn St Johan FC, and Waldenøya Bears




Having seen Rangers win their league by a considerable margin, it should maybe not be a surprise that they won the Challenge Cup three nil, but you never know. Sometimes closer leagues mean a stronger set of opponents, in which case Bennett and Zhokhov would've been better placed to win. An academic discussion now, I suppose, but on this evidence, Rangers are in a good position to compete in Divisjon Three next season. What a performance.

Final
FC1. Rangers 3-0 Bennett and Zhokhov

CHAMPIONS: FC1. Rangers

The Regional Trophy also creates some added interest in the final weeks of the season, and the four conference winners go toe-to-toe as per usual in a battle to claim some bragging rights going into the next Challenge League season. Ingvar Peaks squeaked past Devon Bay Lights in their semi-final despite being comfortably outplayed in the second leg, and Northbrook Zenith swept San Moranna away as soon as they had home advantage. The final was a tense affair that exploded into life in the last fiften minutes, where a double from Northbrook captain Hanss Riedels saw them lift the trophy.

Semi-Finals
Ingvar Peaks FC 2-0 Devon Bay Lights FC (2-0 agg)
Devon Bay Lights FC 1-0 Ingvar Peaks FC (1-2 agg)

San Moranna FC 2-2 Northbrook Zenith FC (2-2 agg)
Northbrook Zenith FC 3-0 San Moranna FC (5-2 agg)

Final
Northbrook Zenith FC 2-1 Ingvar Peaks FC

CHAMPIONS: Northbrook Zenith FC

So, to the Latitude Cup final then; the centerpiece of the closing weeks of the season. This year, after having had considerably different times of it in the league since they each reached the final, we're faced with two contrasting narratives as we enter the final stretch. Having not won since that Elfsteijn Derby in the semi-final, will East Franz rescue their disappointing final quarter of the season and add to their considerable tally of Latitude Cups? Or will Northbrook continue their strong form and take another small step up the list of previous winners - a list in which they are curiously low given their league successes...?

Well, the latter.

Nico Wickenheiser and Marten Kallenberger put the Diamonds into a strong position in the first half, before the Spires came back strongly and hit the post through Joni Siebel just before half-time. East Franz did score after the restart courtesy of a shot-cum-cross from Sho Itō that snuck its way under the crossbar at the back post, but when Ryn Jaxon almost immediately restored the Diamonds' two goal lead, they never looked like giving it up again. Congratulations to Diamonds, and commiserations to an East Franz side that must be glad this season is over at last.

Final
Northbrook Diamonds FK 3-1 East Franz Athletic

CHAMPIONS: Northbrook Diamonds FK

Polar Islandstates (PIS) qualifiers
Champions League: FC1. Bjarnarey Flotilla
Challengers Cup: Northbrook Diamonds FK, SK Nasjonale Hauker, SK Franz Josef City
Liga B Champions Trophy: RSK Longyearbyen Town, Novaya Sibir Reds, Melville Celtic
Cup Winners’ Cup: Northbrook Diamonds FK

CdC: FC1. Bjarnarey Flotilla

[The Valhallan Union]

Placeholder for the MVL.

[Polar Islandstates]

2055
Season 67 Preview

Last season turned into a bit of a cakewalk for Bjarnarey in the end, with the Flotilla winning with several games to spare and allowing themselves to take the foot off the pedal somewhat. Which is a bit of a shame as it denied us what should, or at least could, have been an end of season to remember as the fixture computer threw up Bjarnarey vs Aasiaat on the final day; the two previous winners of the league. As it was, that win against Bjarnarey on the final day had no impact at all on the outcome of the title, but did help Aasiaat to just about scrape a top six finish. Let’s hope for something a bit more exciting this year.

Speaking of which, I’ll just check the fixture’s computer and have look at what it’s given us for this seaso-...WOH. Northbrook Diamonds vs FC1. Bjarnarey Flotilla, and East Franz Athletic vs SK Franz Josef City. On the final day of the season. Ambassador, you’re spoiling us. So that’s last year’s second placed team and Latitude Cup holders at home to the reigning champions of the league, and an Elfsteijn Derby thrown in for good measure. Well. Good luck, FJC Police Department, that’s all I’m saying.

Anyway, enough from me, let’s have a look at what the clubs have been up to in the off-season...



FC1. Bjarnarey Flotilla
The Barge (32,340), Bjarnarey, Norscelt.
Last season: Champions
So it turns out you don’t really need defenders after all. Who knew? Arno Ziegenhagen raised plenty of eyebrows last season when, despite losing a whole host of influential defenders in the transfer window, not least among them being Odbjorn Ohm, he opted to not really replace any of them with the resources at his disposal – which, given the Pallasmaa money, was considerable. Instead, he opted to spend pretty much all of his money on attacking midfielders; a confusing move given the amount of space that position actually takes up on the pitch. Anyway, all of which just went to show how much we pundits know nothing, and how much we should just let managers get on with things, as Bjarnarey absolutely romped home to reclaim the title they vacated the year before. The decision to move to a narrow formation with interchangeable attacking midfielders behind the attacking lynchpin of Youssef Nijgaard proved to be a masterstroke, with Mêlçôr Ënàrsòn and Povl Kazimir each surprised at not having to fight for their place in the squad but dovetailing nicely instead, and Chromatik winger Kyong Tripp being asked to play narrower than usual, but given a free role in the process. Such a shift meant Michael Baer started pretty much every game in a bid to replace the experience Pallasmaa took with him. Ziegenhagen was also boosted by the way Aalstadt and Makkinen absolutely stepped up to the plate, but let’s be real; last season was all about the revolutionary attacking midfield formation. Will they repeat the feat this season? Well, probably, but I’m saying no just to provoke some arguments.
Transfer Window: Having made their best moves last season domestically, despite the successes of Tripp and Ënàrsòn, it should come as no surprise to anyone that the Bargemen have been up to their tricks again, this time wrestling Valentin Brunel from Norscelt rivals Surtsey, to join Baer in the midfield and offer a sturdier base from which the attackers can do their thing. Nijgaard well and truly bested Harju in the race to become Flotilla’s lone striker, which was hardly a surprise given his known ability to drift deep and bring players like Ënàrsòn and Kazimir into play, so it came as little surprise to see Harju move abroad to get more playing time, leaving a striker spot available in the roster for Ziegenhagen to totally ignore, true to form. This time, I’m saying nothing. Instead, as well as intriguing young Deltic prospect Tudor Nelmoe, Ziegenhagen has brought in an experienced centre-back in the form of Brookstation’s Mark Jamieson, and versatile Tikariot full-back Kelvin Rowley, who should work well with Makkinen at the back. At the other end of the pitch, the most eye-catching capture of the window was Quebecois right-winger Khephren Sassou, whose ability to also play as a second striker should work perfectly with Ziegenhagen’s current philosophy.
Prediction: Runners-Up
Manager: Arno Ziegenhagen
Key Players: Youssef Nijaard, Mikkel Makkinen, Povl Kazimir, Khephren Sassou (QUE), Mêlçôr Ënàrsòn (FFD), Kyong Tripp (CMT), Jori Sipp, Michael Baer (PAS), Sigmunder Aalstadt, Kelvin Rowley (TKT), Mark Jamieson (BRO)


Northbrook Diamonds FK
Palace Approach (31,392), Northbrook, Northbrook.
Last season: Runners-Up
After two seasons of putting together some strong runs of results and managing to sit pretty in the top three, it was a widely held opinion last season that the departure of Sebastian Nylund to Mytanija was almost certain to catch Otkupshchikov’s development of this Diamonds side into one capable of a proper title challenge for another year or so at least. But then, look what happened: they were Bjarnarey’s only challengers for most of the year, and they came home at the end of the season with the Latitude Cup for their troubles as well. Critics this season are saying that it is actually the departure of Kallenberger that they’re going to find most painful, but... once bitten and twice shy – I’m going to say they’re winning the league this season. Because, well, why not? Otkupshchikov has got a consistent and well-seasons squad of quality players here, and I don’t see any reason they can’t go on and win the whole thing this year.
Transfer Window: Marten Kallenberger moving to Litala is obviously a huge loss for the Diamonds, that much is clear, but in limiting his losses just to that one sale of any significance, Otkupshchikov has been allowed to build upon the rest of his significant foundations. Mátyás Vass has been signed to try and solve the direct departure of Kallenberger, but the astute reinforcements of Leroux at right back, Martin Edwards in the middle of defensive midfield, and the significant outlay on Joel Wolfgangsson up front have turned this into a fearsome squad.
Prediction: Champions
Manager: Victor Otkupshchikov
Key Players: Magnus Dahm, Mátyás Vass (PAS), Joel Wolfgangsson (GRÆ), Ryn Jaxon (CMT), Tariq Will (CMT), Nico Wickenheiser, Jens Carlquist, Uwe Grendahl, Ruben Herzog, Rafaela Pilzer (CMT)


SK Nasjonale Hauker
Kungsdocks (30,297), Franz Josef City, Franz Josef.
Last season: 3rd
Nasjonale are a funny side, often seeking to do what would be funniest or have the biggest impact on those around them rather than focusing on winning games. Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn’t, so I guess we’ll have to put last season down as one of those that worked. One day, the board are going to appoint a sensible manager that focuses on the ‘right’ thing, and then we’ll really see how far Nasjonale fans’ known devotion to attacking and reckless football really is, but for now, Ronkainen is perfect. Third was a massive overperformance, if you ask me, which you probably didn’t but you’re reading this so far, and I don’t think they’ll manage that same mercurial moment next season. We said last year that the strength of their season would come down to two players; Aslak Hrafninnsson, and Emmanuele Niemi. And so it proved, with the latter building on the steadying effect of the former on the Hawks’ defence to score an awful lot of goals. So, quite how Teitur Ronkainen builds a squad without either of them is going to be interesting...
Transfer Window: ...by going on the attack, is how! Yes, Niemi might have finally been tempted away by the bright lights of Farfadillis, and was very emotional and apologetic as he did so, but the Hawks have gone for broke in their pursuit and capture of Red Star’s Elmo Polland to replace him – an almost like-for-like switch that could well be a shrewd move by Ronkainen. Orchideeën’s purchase of Hrafninnsson in a high profile campaign to get their man has dented the ability of Nasjonale to keep them out next season, but with the central and attacking signings of Mirko Ovcina, Leon Bruvoll, and Ainsley Stenhouse – all to add to the presence of Raino Jeppersen – it would appear that Ronkainen might be trying to beat Ziegenhagen at his own game.
Prediction: 6th
Manager: Teitur Ronkainen
Key Players: Elmo Polland, Eddie Mostert (CMT), Karl Kvist (SEM), Raino Jeppersen, Owen Toole (XAN), Yanni Eklund, Ainsley Stenhouse (TKT), Leon Bruvoll (VAL), Kyugagun Zurrald (KOR)


SK Franz Josef City
Landstadt Stadion (54,195), Franz Josef City, Franz Josef.
Last season: 4th
And if you thought Nasjonale were a funny side, then SK must be absolutely hilarious to you all. The free-spending revolution continues at SK, and whilst they have definitely made improvements – apparently even without actually having to spend the money, just the knowledge that they are able to seems to have lifted their performances – you can’t yet say that this is a team that looks sincerely like the SK of old. It’s been an awfully long time since they won the league that they used to consider their own private property – over ten years, in fact – and Northbrook and East Franz have drawn up to within one and two titles respectively of being level at the top of the all-time table. Accordingly, fans are impatient that they start winning things again soon. Will that be this year? Nnnnnnnot sure about that. Despite that however, the fans are pretty happy to just be getting talked about again, which makes them the fanbase with the second weirdest set of priorities in the league, I reckon.
Transfer Window: Having sold nobody of any note, SK were in the position of only having to strengthen areas where they were considered to be weak, and spent the highest individual fee of any Divisjon One club when they landed highly rated youngster Antonio Govorcinovic from Energija-Nuklearna in Mytanija. He might not come good immediately, but this is a weaker league than the one he left, so perhaps the scope is there for an instant impact. Certainly, much is hoped for. Also coming in were Rabia Safarov from North Sabrefell to bolster the defence, whilst a big bid for Elmo Polland that was placed despite SK already being flush with talent up front came to nothing, as expected, prompting reporters to ask Vladimir Lucic what the thinking was behind trying to rival Nasjonale Hauker for his signature. “Funny”, came the reply, accompanied by a smirked shrug.
Prediction: 3rd
Manager: Vladimir Lucic
Key Players: Alf Lofthus, Igerne Félix (CMT), Loick Sorensen (SEM), Rahmonberdi Zhusupov (DEL), Gunnar Keppler, Heino Olsen, Jalmari Hagen, Tord Alexandersson, Noah Leonhardt, Antonio Govorcinovic (MYT), Rabia Safarov (SRS)


East Franz Athletic
Rendahl Stadion (47,911), Franz Josef City, Franz Josef.
Last season: 5th
Chtgheglovski has his work cut out a bit at East Franz, I think, with only a series of high profile wins earlier in the season saving his job, once the dust had settled on their season. A disastrous run in saw them drop all the way out of the international competition spots entirely, as well as losing the Latitude Cup final to Diamonds, and fans will be hoping that the close-season funk that seemed to settle over them last year has been well and truly ditched by now. However, only time will tell. Once upon a time, fifth in this league would have been enough for a fun little UICA campaign the following season, but time and isolation have not been kind to the international standing of Divisjon One, so fans are right on the backs of the board to make sure the Spires don’t slip down that reputational table even further by continuing to miss out on getting their passports stamped.
Transfer Window: Coming in to add some needed muscle at the back are Petar Pejakovski - an experienced and versatile defender from Mytanija, and the Quebecois Joo Pil-Seung, who brings Red League experience with them into the league. Up front, and Joni Siebel’s protestations at preferring to play alone have been countered all off-season with a picture of the last league table, meaning Andrea Fuentes was snapped up for a bit of a bargain from Phoenix, and somewhat more money wa outlaid on Pasargan striker Katinka Fazakas. However, critics will point out that the biggest loss of last season, Povl Kazimir, maybe still hasn’t been properly replaced, and they’re looking at his performances for Bjarnarey with envy...
Prediction: 5th
Manager: Andriy Chtgheglovski
Key Players: Joni Siebel, Hans Aigner, Sho Itō (SQR), Arsene-Michael Litt (QUE), Gunner Martikainen (KSK), Jere Karschner, Arni Lauff, Katinka Fazaka (PAS), Joo Pil-Seund (QUE), Petar Pejakovski (MYT)


SK Aasiaat Harbour
Harbour Walk (28,385), Aasiaat, Victorrinn.
Last season: 6th
So, maybe not the worst title defence we’ve ever seen, but, it probably makes the top ten shortlist. Or, should that be bottom ten? Either way, the performance last season of the Pilots seems at least to have nixed the rumours of Finn Kirkkegaard taking over at the Terns. Well, that, and Aalto’s style picking up some traction at last. Whether that is a blessing or a curse from the fans’ point of view obviously depends on how things go this season. Or this season and next. Depends how much patience the board have, I guess. Still, the only way is up, surely? It looks like they’re preparing to shift back to the focus that won them the league originally, with set pieces and out-muscling the opposition the name of the game, but after a season of trying to move away from that, will it be so easy to go back again?
Transfer Window: Like a number of other top clubs, Aasiaat managed not to have to sell any of their shining lights last season, meaning they were free to strengthen their roster for another tilt at the title. So, it was somewhat disappointing for fans that the only transfer inwards of any note was Oberour ar Moro striker Thomas-Austin l’Establier. As good a purchase at that looks, was that all Kirkkegaard really thought they needed? Or was his chequebook stayed by forces thinking about the lack of international football to come?
Prediction: 4th
Manager: Finn Kirkkegaard
Key Players: Matteus Henchsen, Matias Langager, Rafael Kowaleski, Ragnar Holst, Jaan Reusser, Cixin Nguyen (ZWZ), Duncan McCariot (TKT), Gustav Kommersen


Red Star Severny
Carravale (41,734), Severny, Novaya Zemlya.
Last season: 7th
I know we said they’d do alright, but I’m not sure anyone was expecting Red Star to complete quite as well as they did last season. A lot of that has to come down to Elmo Polland bagging goals like they were going out of fashion, but you have to give credit to Sebastian Enger as well. Rumours are that he tops the shortlist for a number of big clubs in case they need to open their little black books, and with good reason: this is a hard-working squad that look ready to run through brick walls for their manager. There is talent all over the pitch, not least in the colossus that is Aake Meinke, and with Carravale back to its most raucous best, there’s no reason to imagine that Red Star might not repeat that performance against this season. Oh, except one major thing, I suppose...
Transfer Window: ...which of course, the elephant in the room – Red Star were perhaps the biggest victims of La + Querida’s move for Emmanuele Niemi, as it was they who Nasjonale called upon for a replacement in the form of Elmo Polland. Polland leaves big shoes to fill, and in case his understudy Kain Arnoldy isn’t up to the task, Enger has reached out to Islay Town to snap up young striker Sylvester Sandbjorn. Even with the two of them however, is that going to be enough firepower to replace the big man? Managing to keep hold of Ludvig Altermatt may in fact have been their best business of the window.
Prediction: 8th
Manager: Sebastian Enger
Key Players: Kain Arnoldy, Sylvester Sandbjorn, Ludvid Altermatt, Michael Morck (TKT), Silas Nielsen, Aake Meinke, Benedikt Gipp


FC1. Surtsey Island Gulls
Stadion Solberg (45,924), Surtsey, Norscelt.
Last season: 8th
Well, I was rather critical of Surtsey in last year’s previews, but I have to say, I’m here to eat humble pie now. They played out of their skins, and Lefebvre may have finally managed to balance that mix of young talent and wise old experienced heads. We could all spot the blank spaces in their roster, and to be fair to the Gulls, they’ve absolutely gone out there and filled them, and then a little bit extra too, apparently. Lefebvre’s ability to replace the likes of Stockman and Rex when they finally retire could be the real test of his legacy at the Gulls, but there’s definitely reason for optimism at Stadion Solberg right now, and I’d say they’re probably the closest to challenging the Big Six.
Transfer Window: Well, Surtsey have been very busy. Buoyed by the money from, or kicked into action by the results of, Valentin Brunel’s sale to Bjarnarey, they dipped into the international market several times. Five, in fact, which has caught the attention of several of the bigger teams. Might there be some looking over the shoulders in the Big Six? Ghosi Eckles admittedly comes in on a free from Tunn’s Farm Academy, and is ‘only’ one for the future, but the likes of Kanmer’s Hauril Darder and Sylestone’s Liam Bradley should create a much more instant impact. It is the eye-catching signings of both Kieron Player and Marcus Autta in the middle though that have attracted the most impressed noises from onlookers, as surely they will bring a sturdiness to the midfield that Brunel never could have on his own. Also a key decision will be not allowing Volkhardt Grief to leave on loan this time around – not after helping the Chicks to another DBC final.
Prediction: 7th
Manager: Sim Lefebvre
Key Players: Christoffer Rex, Volkhardt Grief, Niko Wederberg, Dan-Arne Kystebo (TKT), Goran Stockman, Kieron Player (FLA), Marcus Autta (CMT)


North Star Grímsey
Steffansen Lane (32,492), Grímsey, Norscelt.
Last season: 9th
One of the streakier teams in the league, North Star are always capable of upsetting the big boys on their day, possessing an ability to surge up the table at any given moment with a string of performances worthy of any international qualifier. Getting the team to sustain those runs for longer is the job of Kiriyenko, and in strikers Borjeson and Lehning he has at his disposal one of the best natural partnership in the league, but they can't do it all. The loss of Dementieva was a big one, and I was pleased to see that my prediction of a solid mid-table performance was accurate – rather than the Big Six challenging seasons they’d had previously. I think another year of exactly the same thing probably beckons, but they always have the ability to mix things up.
Transfer Window: Although they avoided the big losses of last season, a la Dementieva, North Star did still move on youth striker Ilian Eggen to Xanneria on a free, and young right back Lars Nordenmeyer was tempted away by the bright lights of Tikariot. Best of luck to them both. Only one high profile signing came in however, which is leaving North Star fans feeling a little light going into next year: Semarland defender Gael Larsen was a significant outlay at the back, but if it leads to North Star moving up the table, it’ll all be worth it.
Prediction: 9th
Manager: Alexsandr Kiriyenko
Key Players: Georges-André Drouin-Lacroix (TKT), Cornelius Thornburrow (TKT), Mihal Harodman (KAN), Nuut Borjeson, Philip Lehning, Eirikur Schoenly Gael Larsen (SEM)


FC Axel Heiburg
Axel Torvig Park (39,345), Axel Heiburg, Axel Heiburg.
Last season: 10th
Ah yes, another vintage Axel Heiburg season in the books, let's do it all again, yeah? You know the drill by now; talented youngsters, a veteran manager adept at bringing them through, and an inability to hold onto form long enough to really make a dent in the teams at the top of the table. Olav Glanzer being retained is a major tick for Argonauts fans, with the previously unsettled player looking like making Axel Heiburg his home for a long time now. It’s been an awfully long time since Axel Heiburg were challenging for titles, but they appear particularly skilled at beating the Big Six teams whenever they feel like they fancy it, apparently. That might have to be enough for fans at Axel Torvig Park for another season, as they’re a long way off the top spots right now.
Transfer Window: As is usual with Axel Heiburg, they have attempted to fill any and all holes in their roster through internal means, with a series of promotions from the excellent Haapa-Mechelin Youth Academy into the main squad. Even as they did that however, one was poached away, with Mytanija giants 1923 Esca paying a reasonably substantial fee to prise Bergmundur Engebraaten southwards across Rushmore. That money was reinvested, too, at least in part, with Richard Rasmussen – a defender from Semarland – being brought in to provide a readymade solution at the back to some of their issues in recent years.
Prediction: 11th
Manager: Ricards Egge
Key Players: Olav Glanzer, Vilhjalmur Wedland, Melvin Ferg, Arvid Wedemeyer, George Nelson (EUR), Liselotte Strannegård (TKT), Viljo Nilsen, Richard Rasmussen (SEM), Roald Eike-Rasmussen


Jan Mayen Islanders
Victoria Stadium (51,293), Jan Mayen, Norscelt.
Last season: 11th
Jan Mayen had a very mixed season last year, failing to consolidate on the previous year where they almost cracked the Big Six. The money at Jan Mayen is all being pumped into the youth academy at the moment, as they look to build Norscelt’s equivalent of the Haapa-Mechelin; a noble ambition, but does mean that investment in the squad has slackened off a bit, and I can’t see them improving significantly on last season, if at all. Nonetheless, Klemmensen has his side playing with a distinct style, and that does make them a very pleasing team to watch in their famous violet shirts.
Transfer Window: A very quiet window for Jan Mayen this season, which is of course a double-edged sword. On the one hand, there were no significant losses to add to last year’s exodus. On the other, it meant only Toshikushi Nakagone was able to come in at centre-back from Ridgewell Rovers, and Ospreys fans may well consider that more reinforcements were required than that.
Prediction: 12th
Manager: Karl-Franz Klemmensen
Key Players: Bryce Larkingham (TKT), Carl Urdahl, Heiki Uhlgren, Li Zhen (YZH), Toshikushi Nakagone (KOR), Arnold Brunner


FC Cape St Paul
Millerntor Arena (49,592), St Paul, Nunivak.
Last season: 12th
FC Cape St Paul managed to build on their runaway promotion with a really impressive performance in the top flight, just managing to sneak into the middle third and avoid any serious talk of a relegation fight altogether. So. What next for Schoenfeld? You would put your money on a season of level expectations and hoping to avoid second season syndrome by not taking any significant risks. Which, I’m going to confidently predict will go just fine for the Dockers. This is a sleeping giant of a club and no mistake, so after a couple of seasons of building the coffers, who knows, maybe they’ll be aiming their sights slightly higher next season...
Transfer Window: After staying up so comfortably last season thanks to the raiding of Divisjon Two, that’s mainly what St Paul have done again this season. That, and add Valerie Noir – an experience Chromatik right-winger that should add a little more bite in the attack.
Prediction: 10th
Manager: Nataneal Schoenfeld
Key Players: Gabriel Rieben, Usko Stomberg, Vivaldi Schmelz, Jake Church (CRT), Nick Moe, Aleksejs Weneke, Jan-Erik Kochalka, Joonas Piipi, Valerie Noir (CMT)


Resolute Storm 1913 FC
Mossy Park (42,920), Resolute, Victorrinn.
Last season: 13th
Resolute’s ability to pull a result of the bag just when they need it has been something of a saviour in recent years, although to be fair you have to say that last year they were able to create a very stable platform from which to strike out from. Bjorn Konigstein isn’t exactly setting pulses racing with his tactical style, but it gets results, and that’s the important thing when you’re one of the little guys looking to punch up at the teams with better resources than you. Their continued status as a DivOne team also means the Feud of Victorrinn continues to be a fixtures in our diaries too, and that can only be a good thing in my book. As to what they’ll make of this season? I don’t know, a relegation scrape? They’ll probably be fine, but I think other teams might have improved more than they have.
Transfer Window: In their efforts to maintain their Divisjon One status, Resolute Storm have continued to add frugally to their squad, picking up three free transfers this season. Stellan Osterberg looks like a fine young keeper, whilst strikers Kayrat Entin and Ali Ari also offer similar age, but this time apparently in the form of a strike partnership that Storm fans will be hoping to see develop over many years. It also looks like a policy shift from the Storm management team, from trying to stay up at all costs into something of a ‘buy low, sell high’ approach. Sustainable growth. Good for them.
Prediction: 15th
Manager: Bjorn Konigstein
Key Players: Oskar Olsen (CRT), Dorian Klamer, Aleksandrs Weitz, Ken Bruckner, Huugo Offen, Ali Ari (STR)


Scapa Bay Rovers
Fleet Road (29,424), Scapa Bay, Farosea.
Last season: 14th
Continuing to punch above their weight in this league, Scapa Bay Rovers have even forgiving FC Torshavn legend Johannes Gauer for being from Torshavn, which is saying something. They might not be the only Farosea team in the top flight forever, but their status as a team that just ‘feels’ like a top flight side means they’re going to fight to keep it that way. I think. You’d have to ask the commentators in Mytanija or Farfadillis. Feels like they know more about Divisjon One than I do something, which isn’t hard to be fair...
Transfer Window: Like Storm, Scapa Bay have bolstered mostly with negligible fees for players from the league below, dipping into the international market only for three free transfers in the form of Fourteen Starsian right back Benjamin Thompson, and a pair of Semarland youngsters – Karl Jenstrom and Hakan Berg. Whether it will work for them as successfully this season as a similar strategy did last season is yet to be determined of course, but they’ll like be around the bottom of the table.
Prediction: 16th
Manager: Johannes Gauer
Key Players: Vadim Arkhipov (SRS), Ragnar Spar, Gabriel Ziedler, Phillip Kallela, Arti Beckerle, Benjamin Thompson (TFS)


Skipsbyggere IFK
The Drydock (10,548), St Paul, Nunivak.
Last season: 15th
Finishing comfortably below their fierce rivals FC Cape, the Shipbuilders will be hoping for a resurgence this year that sees them re-overtake their cross-city foes to establish themselves as the premier side in the south-east of the nation. It won’t be easy with their budget, but Eyvindur Zelic has an established track record at this point of keeping Skipsbyggere’s eyes looking up rather than down, and you have to fancy his chances of managing to do the same again this season. They remain the little team that could out of the current crop of eighteen, and they’re just fine with that thank you very much.
Transfer Window: For the third preview in a row, I am forced to acknowledge a lack of spending from a team hoping first and foremost to stay up. They might have done handily last year, but the Waves are apparently just as scared of going down with bills they can’t pay as the other teams in the bottom third, and so here we are. The players brought in consist of two youngsters = Artemiy Tkachyov and Sven-Olof Cederling, both in central midfield and bought direct from foreign academies, and Chance Benton – an experienced centre-back who joins from the Taxhavn league.
Prediction: 13th
Manager: Eyvindur Zelic
Key Players: Ilgonis Lett, Euan Berby (KOR), Torild Sternberg, Hjalmar Gummer, Rolands Wiesenthal, Douglas Alf-Finisterre (TFI), Chance Benton (GRU)


RSK Longyearbyen Town
Sivertsson Road (28,548), Longyearbyen, Svalbard.
Last season: 1st, Divisjon Two
Joachim Elden might have made a slow start of it, and it wasn’t as convincing as some thought it might be, but RSK are back in the top flight having won Divisjon Two last season, and surely they’re going to stick around this time? It’s coming up to the thirtieth anniversary of their shock title win, and whilst those halcyon days are definitely beyond them for the time being, it’s not too much of a stretch to imagine Svalbard’s best supported team as being capable of something big in the next few years. They’ve got the backing, they’ve got the momentum, and so long as Elden doesn’t overthink things and mess it up, they’ve got a style of play that is more than capable of ‘working’ any talented team off the pitch through effort alone. They’re pragmatic, but they pack a punch.
Transfer Window: There is a school of thought that actually, RSK’s roster should already be strong enough to keep them in the top flight, but that hasn’t stopped them from dipping into the market of course. Auprussian defensive midfielder Floriss Marshavin came in for a small fee, whilst Zandre Cohen and Kiril Sendar both arrived on frees. The former is a defensive midfielder from Vilwandia, and the latter a young Kanmer prospect for the future of the Citizens’ attacking midfield.
Prediction: 14th
Manager: Joachim Elden
Key Players: Joel Bieri, Phillip Shea (CRT), Raymond Bury, Zandre Cohen (VWD), Floriss Marshavin (AUP), Illar Aslin, Stanislaus Gronewold, Stig Barie


Novaya Sibir Reds
Uverdale Velde (29,194), Sibir, Landt Sibir.
Last season: 2nd, Divisjon Two
The Reds are back in the top flight as well, having finished as runners-up to RKS but definitely being the best placed team in terms of talent and attainment, I’d say. Talismanic left-back Jari-Andrej Coia has already signed on the dotted line for Atletik, but is hanging about to try and sample Divisjon One football for what might be the only occasion before a jet-setting career takes off. In the meantime, Boris Swoboda has done his best to pack the side with enough talent to help keep them up, but I think it’s going to be a long, long season for Reds fans. Sorry. Still. It’ll give them another chance to extend their record haul of second flight titles the following year if they do...
Transfer Window: The big news of the Reds’ transfer window is that they were able to convince Atletik Težia to allow Jari-Andrej Coia to stay with them for one more season on an immediate loan-back situation. That’s huge. Make no mistake, this lad is a future star, and he’ll be a big loss when he leaves. Three other significant signings were made in the other direction, although all on frees. Ava Monfierre and Lance D’Ainglaux are both Auprussian teenagers that will be looking to develop over time, but Xannerian striker Zeana Roquan is going to be relied upon to make an instant impact with their goals.
Prediction: 18th
Manager: Boris Swoboda
Key Players: Jari-Andrej Coia, Zeana Roquan (XAN), Jonas Kaster, Sven Herde, Jens Ovchinnov, Mathias Pitter


Melville Celtic
Melville House (19,284), Melville, Hans and Melville.
Last season: 3rd, Divisjon Two
Melville Celtic are flying right now with the investment from the group of local business professionals who decided to back their city’s biggest club rather more enthusiastically than they had been. Thanks to the legislation put in place when Lions SC collapsed all those years ago, dreams of a money-inspired take-over of the league are going to remain just that: dreams. But will that stop the fans? Absolutely not. Jon Wisliceny has been promised that money is on the way if he can keep them up this season, but either way I think it’s next season that we’ll really see the impact of that financial security. It’s a good squad, but it might not be good enough.
Transfer Window: Although this may have been seen as an incredibly overdue promotion in some respects, in others it was also completely unexpected, and so Melville were left scrambling slightly to fill their squad with players who might be able to keep them up. Kolgrímur Hersisson and Leon Eriksen were both brought in on free transfers to bolster their hopes in midfield and up front respectively, but it was the host of squad players they managed to pick up for cheap from teams in the upper half of the table that might actually give them a chance – one each from each of the Norscelt sides, proving that maybe those Celtic ties run deeper than we realised.
Prediction: 17th
Manager: Jon Wisliceny
Key Players: Kolgrímur Hersisson (GRÆ), Koit Rickenbach, Vilmundur Drydahl, Leon Eriksen (SEM), Max Witting




Polarian football doesn't just start and end with Divisjon One though of course, and the teams in what was at one point the 'Strongest Second Tier in the Multiverse'™ are all vying to take or re-take that next step up and join the big teams at the top table. Not least amongst those are the relegated teams from last season, but unlike in previous years, I wouldn't say that this time they're necessarily the favourites to go right back up again. Instead, Islay Town are probably my tip. Despite losing some key players, they've got a really deep squad, and the home advantage they'll enjoy with all those teams making the trip down to Terra Scotia might just overhaul the drag of travelling up to Greater Valhalla for the rest of the season. Also expect decent runs from Neuerlatz, Rapid, and Viking.
Teams:
Bohemiens Grise Fiord
Eintracht Moss-Rygge
FC Solovetsky Monastery
FC Torshavn
Franz Josef Young Boys
Hospitaliers
Islay Town Mechanical - (Favourites)
Koppen Rig Force
Lokomotiv Barentsberg
Måriussa Viking FK
Matahiko Viktory SK
Neuerlatz AFK
Rapid Jan Mayen FK
Rapid SK Eysturoy
SC Kiel
SK Sturm Nuuk
SK Yuzhny Albion
Sutherland Foundry SK



In the third tier, there are still a lot of big names waiting for their resurgence, and Aleutia have surely got to be the favourites here. Look, if Melville can make it to the top flight again, so can the Volcanoes. It's been ages since they were even a second tier side, so surely their time is coming soon. Right? Right? Elsewhere, the likes of Viipuri and Agheim are also probably thinking it's time to get back up and out of the third tier, but the likes of Universitet, Severnaya, Ostermeier and McAvery will all be focused mostly on staying in it.
Teams:
AC Aleutia Volcanoes - (Favourites)
AFK Hans Island Pioneers
Agheim CF
Bennett and Zhokhov
FC North Melville
FC1. Rangers
FC1. Sturm Grímsey
FK Grise Fiord
FK Viipuri 56
Franz Josef Sharks
Klub Atletisk Spitsbergen
Maritime Hove FC
McAvery Centurions
Ostermeier Old Boys
Seratakki Villagers
Severnaya Zemlya 88 Equinox
Universitet
Yuzhny Equinox FC




Whilst Aleutia Volcanoes are looking upwards, Aleutia Town Dragons are maybe doing the opposite, trying to keep their heads above water in the ultra competitive Challenge East this year. Uelmark are surely favourites after their shock relegation last year, but I would expect Sisimut Black Star and Vale of Moray to push them close.
Teams:
Aleutia Town Dragons
Hauken Orca
IHK Geddesberg
Ingvar Peaks FC
Invermuir Highlanders FC
KA Rikyaare
Korsten Lokomotiv
Krykkjesund Olympic
San Moranna FC
Sisimut Black Star
SK Thor 1898
Steffansson Island FC
Uelmark MK - (Favourites)
Vale of Moray



In the Challenge West, FC Fetlar are surely too big to languish in the fourth tier for much longer, although the likes of Energie Zemlya and maybe even Ost-Volonovsk are looking to join them in a title fight. Who really knows until the leagues starts, but Northbrook Zenith, NKK Urri, and Logan United will also fancy their chances. It's cut-throat, out there.
Teams:
Axel Town AFC
Devon Bay Lights FC
Energie Zemlya FK
FC Fetlar - (Favourites)
FK Norsviken Cossacks
FK Ost-Volonovsk
GVFFK Pekarik
KSC Brighthelmstone
Logan United FC
Meteor Kholmsk SK
NKK Urri
Northbrook Zenith FC
Torpedo Sibir RKA
Ueland-Alne



Lastly, for your interest, the premier divisions of the Regional Conferences...

1. Lokomotiv Karlstadt - (Favourites)
AIK Winterthur
Bindelsfjorden Dynamo
FC Velcosta Cliffs
FKS-North
Green Star Kobelevskov
Larsen Bay Thunder FC
Machtspool Whitesleeves FC
Royal NK Sikjonek
SK Nolmkien 1949
St Gallen 47
West End



Aurich-Hassen Scouts FC
Aurora Hammarby
Boden 61
FC Kampengar Magpies
FK Aagen Zenith
Hanshaugen Gate FK
Oaks of Fjellisroy
Resolute Hills FC
Sannegarden Fleet FK
SK Stryær
Sporting Club Aasiaat 87 - (Favourites)
Waldenøya Bears



AIK Alejavik
Bathurst Zenith FC
Bielstrich Timbers FC
Cap-Pele Cotdelapomais
Crusaders
Forrairn St Johan FC - (Favourites)
Friedrichsund Fencing Club
Holtrecht Force SK
Ilksporta IK
Lindesvogne Violets
Sleijnmakt Sport
US Saint-John



Bulargen Independents
Devon Bay Seals FC - (Favourites)
Dinamo Olsa FK
Fjorhorgen SK
FK Fairbanks
Fynersturen Valhalla
Gjornhammer Pier FC
IHK Sirius
Okhotsk Kholmsk Town FC
Orebro FK
SK Stromness Electric
SV Keldira Zenith



So, there you have it. The only thing left to do now is to start the games!

[Polar Islandstates]

Eight matches into the sixty-seventh season, lets have a quick summary of what has happened so far...


MATCHDAY 1
Red Star Severny 1–3 Northbrook Diamonds FK
Resolute Storm 1913 FC 3–1 Skipsbyggere IFK
Scapa Bay Rovers 0–1 SK Aasiaat Harbour
East Franz Athletic 0–1 Jan Mayen Islanders
Novaya Sibir Reds 1–1 SK Franz Josef City
North Star Grímsey 2–1 FC Cape St Paul
RSK Longyearbyen Town 3–3 Melville Celtic
FC1. Surtsey Island Gulls 0–3 SK Nasjonale Hauker
FC1. Bjarnarey Flotilla 2–1 FC Axel Heiburg
All eyes on one match in particular then as the season kicks off, and it’s a successful start to the title defence from Bjarnarey; Roald Eike-Rasmussen had them momentarily worried, but a quickfire double from Povl Kazimir means that Flotilla pick up exactly where they left off last season. Ominously for the rest of the league. Elsewhere, the three promoted teams had exceedingly similar fortunes as their campaigns to stay in the league started with a point each; Melville and Longyearbyen sharing the points in a three-all thriller at Sivertsson Road, but Novaya Sibir’s point at home to SK was a very impressive start to the season from them. There was a lot of attention on Jari-Andrej Coia, of course, but a star performance showed the league exactly what they’ll be missing when he moves to Mytanija next season.


MATCHDAY 2
Northbrook Diamonds FK 4–1 FC Axel Heiburg
SK Nasjonale Hauker 2–0 FC1. Bjarnarey Flotilla
Melville Celtic 2–1 FC1. Surtsey Island Gulls
FC Cape St Paul 0–3 RSK Longyearbyen Town
SK Franz Josef City 1–0 North Star Grímsey
Jan Mayen Islanders 1–0 Novaya Sibir Reds
SK Aasiaat Harbour 1–0 East Franz Athletic
Skipsbyggere IFK 1–1 Scapa Bay Rovers
Red Star Severny 1–1 Resolute Storm 1913 FC
That’s a tough start to the season for Axel Heiburg. They didn’t manage to take any points form their trip to The Barge, and they haven’t managed any from their trip to Palace Approach either – two goals each from new signings Mátyás Vass and Joel Wolfgangsson endearing them to their new supporters and ensuring the Diamonds take full advantage of Bjarnarey’s stumble at Kungsdocks; Elmo Polland scoring his first goals for his new club as Nasjonale pick up where they left off in terms of upsetting the applecarts. Aasiaat score from a set piece (natch) in their win over East Franz, whilst a late winner from Antonio Govorcinovic at the Landstadt completed a day of success for new signings as SK picked up the points at home to North Star.


MATCHDAY 3
Resolute Storm 1913 FC 0–5 Northbrook Diamonds FK
Scapa Bay Rovers 0–2 Red Star Severny
East Franz Athletic 1–0 Skipsbyggere IFK
Novaya Sibir Reds 1–1 SK Aasiaat Harbour
North Star Grímsey 2–1 Jan Mayen Islanders
RSK Longyearbyen Town 0–3 SK Franz Josef City
FC1. Surtsey Island Gulls 3–0 FC Cape St Paul
FC1. Bjarnarey Flotilla 3–0 Melville Celtic
FC Axel Heiburg 1–1 SK Nasjonale Hauker
I don’t know what they’re feeding them up in Northbrook right now, but they’re average four goals a game after three weeks of the season. Resolute Storm are the unfortunate team at the hands of the Diamonds’ treatment this week, with Wickenheiser, Vass and Wolfgangsson all finding themselves on the scoreboard, before a double from Ryn Jaxon put a very nice gloss on things for the early leaders. Katinka Fazaka got off the mark with a winner for The Spires at home to Skipsbyggere, whilst Red Star record their first three points of the post-Polland era, kain arnoldy and Sylvester Sandbjorn with a goal apiece at Scapa Bay’s expense.


MATCHDAY 4
Northbrook Diamonds FK 2–1 SK Nasjonale Hauker
Melville Celtic 0–2 FC Axel Heiburg
FC Cape St Paul 3–2 FC1. Bjarnarey Flotilla
SK Franz Josef City 2–1 FC1. Surtsey Island Gulls
Jan Mayen Islanders 1–1 RSK Longyearbyen Town
SK Aasiaat Harbour 0–1 North Star Grímsey
Skipsbyggere IFK 2–1 Novaya Sibir Reds
Red Star Severny 0–2 East Franz Athletic
Resolute Storm 1913 FC 2–0 Scapa Bay Rovers
Two defeats in four for the defending champions is the headline from this weekend; FC Cape st Paul stunning the Flotilla with a late comeback, scoring two goals through Noir and Stomberg to leave the Millerntor Arena absolutely rocking. Northbrook took advantage of the situation once again, coming from behind themselves to overcome a spirited Nasjonale performance, whilst SK Franz Josef City also continued their fine start to the season with a win over Surtsey; Loick Sorensen with the brace for the home side. Elsewhere, Jari-Andrej Coia scored a rare goal of his own that wasn’t enough to stop Skipsbyggere picking up the points at home to some presumed relegation rivals, and Aasiaat lose at home to North Star thanks to a contentious Lehning penalty.


MATCHDAY 5
Scapa Bay Rovers 0–1 Northbrook Diamonds FK
East Franz Athletic 1–0 Resolute Storm 1913 FC
Novaya Sibir Reds 3–1 Red Star Severny
North Star Grímsey 4–0 Skipsbyggere IFK
RSK Longyearbyen Town 4–2 SK Aasiaat Harbour
FC1. Surtsey Island Gulls 1–1 Jan Mayen Islanders
FC1. Bjarnarey Flotilla 1–2 SK Franz Josef City
FC Axel Heiburg 1–1 FC Cape St Paul
SK Nasjonale Hauker 2–4 Melville Celtic
I know I keep going on about them at the moment but it would be foolish not to mention Northbrook’s form. Five from five paints a very ominous picture for the rest of the league, particularly when they’re able to win without even playing very well; a last minute Ryn Jaxon goal condemning Scapa Bay after what had been a resilient performance. If they’re able to keep that up week on week they should be just fine. Jan Mayen frustrated Surtsey in one of many Norscelt derbies with a late equaliser that was probably undeserved on balance, Li Zhen netting the leveller after Volkhardt Grief had put the Gulls ahead. Longyearbyen stunned Aasiaat with a fine win at Sivertsson Road, but the biggest results were at The Barge, where two late goals from Sorensen and Govorcinovic overcame the reigning champions after Nijgaard’s stunning opener, and at Kungsdocks, where Melville Celtic stunned Nasjonale with a phenomenal four goal second half comeback. Divisjon One is back, baby.



LATITUDE CUP Round One
Korsten Lokomotiv 0-1 NKK Urri
Crusaders 2-2 FK Fairbanks (3-2 AET)
SK Stryær 3-0 SK 1982 Matua
KA Rikyaare 0-2 SK Thor 1898
Sisimut Black Star 0-1 Bielstrich Timbers FC
Krykkjesund Olympic 0-0 US Saint-John (1-0 AET)
FK Weisshaus 2-2 Larsen Bay Thunder FC (2-2 AET, 3-0 PKs)
Steffansson Island FC 1-0 Sisimut Town AFK
St Gallen 47 1-1 Sporting Club Aasiaat 87 (1-1 AET, 1-0 PKs)
SK Stromness Electric 1-0 Boden 61
Sannegarden Fleet FK 2-1 1920 Brokstedt
Gjornhammer Pier FC 0-0 FC Fetlar (0-0 AET, 4-3 PKs)
Uelmark MK 1-2 IHK Geddesberg
FK Ost-Volonovsk 1-0 San Moranna FC
Invermuir Highlanders FC 3-2 Green Star Kobelevskov
Fjorhorgen SK 0-1 Orkhanger White Star
SK Nolmkien 1949 0-1 Toyoharo Revolutionaries
Bathurst Zenith 0-1 Meteor Kholmsk SK
Axel Town AFC 2-1 FK Aagen Zenith
Okhotsk Kholmsk Town FC 0-2 Hauken Orca
Aleutia Town Dragons 2-1 Holtrecht Force SK
Hanshaugen Gate FK 1-1 KFK Polshavn (1-1 AET, 3-1 PKs)
AIK Alejavik 0-0 1. Lokomotiv Karlstadt (0-1 AET)
Oaks of Fjellisroy 1-3 West End
Aurich-Hassen Scouts FC 0-1 FK Norsviken Cossacks
Machtspool Whitesleeves FC 1-0 Resolute Hills FC
Ueland-Alne 1-1 Bulargen Independents (1-2 AET)
FKS-North 2-0 AIK Oversetten
Logan United FC 1-0 Ingvar Peaks FC
Energie Zemlya FK 1-1 KSC Brighthelmstone (1-1 AET, 1-0 PKs)
Grass-Lisch AFC 0-1 Devon Bay Lights FC
Northbrook Zenith FC 2-1 Friedrichsund Fencing Club
Henfergen Town FC 2-0 Dinamo Olsa FK
GVFFK Pekarik 1-0 FC Kampengar Magpies
Lindesvogne Violets 1-0 IHK Sirius
Vale of Moray 1-1 Torpedo Sibir RKA (2-2 AET, 3-1 PKs)
Thorsager Unity SK 1-0 Orebro FK
Devon Bay Seals FC 0-1 Almsborg Rushmori
We interrupt your regular Divisjon One programming however, to bring you the first round of this year's Latitude Cup, where the lowest level of VFA leagues duke it out for glory and some much appreciated prize money. There are several notable games this year, with dramatic equalisers deep into stoppage time and extra time stoppage time all being in vain for Topedo Sibir, as Vale of Moray prevailed on penalties anyway, as well as eye-catching wins for Hauken Orca, Bulargen Independent, an extra time winner for Crusaders, and an incredible three-goal comeback from Invermuir Highlanders.


MATCHDAY 6
Northbrook Diamonds FK 0–0 Melville Celtic
FC Cape St Paul 1–1 SK Nasjonale Hauker
SK Franz Josef City 6–0 FC Axel Heiburg
Jan Mayen Islanders 0–3 FC1. Bjarnarey Flotilla
SK Aasiaat Harbour 1–1 FC1. Surtsey Island Gulls
Skipsbyggere IFK 1–3 RSK Longyearbyen Town
Red Star Severny 0–0 North Star Grímsey
Resolute Storm 1913 FC 1–1 Novaya Sibir Reds
Scapa Bay Rovers 1–1 East Franz Athletic
So, Northbrook finally drop points, but to an unexpected source as newly promoted Melville Celtic showcase their ability to stay in the top flight with a gritty nil-nil draw at Palace Approach. Not to be sniffed at! SK turn full ‘beast-mode’ with a six-nil drubbing of Axel Heiburg thanks to the performance of what looks like a potentially transformational signing in Govorcinovic – two goals and two assists from the man from Mytanija is a fine return for fantasy team owners up and down the country. Elsewhere, the Citizens’ fine run since promotion continues with a strong win in Nunivak, whilst Mêlçôr Ënàrsòn and Kyong Tripp each score their first goals of the season as Bjarnarey got back to winning ways in Jan Mayen.


MATCHDAY 7
East Franz Athletic 0–0 Northbrook Diamonds FK
Novaya Sibir Reds 5–4 Scapa Bay Rovers
North Star Grímsey 0–2 Resolute Storm 1913 FC
RSK Longyearbyen Town 4–1 Red Star Severny
FC1. Surtsey Island Gulls 2–0 Skipsbyggere IFK
FC1. Bjarnarey Flotilla 2–1 SK Aasiaat Harbour
FC Axel Heiburg 3–2 Jan Mayen Islanders
SK Nasjonale Hauker 0–1 SK Franz Josef City
Melville Celtic 2–0 FC Cape St Paul
From free-scoring heroes to two blanks in a row, Northbrook’s sudden inability to find the back of the net would be of concern to fans if they weren’t also able to keep things tight at the back. Magnus Dahm put in the player of the match performance in this away game at East Franz, but any member of the back five could’ve picked up the accolade, really. RSK striker Joel Bieri continued his own fine form with a brace against Red Star, and Volkhardt Grief kept pace at the top of the goalscorers chart with a brace of his own against Skipsbyggere. SK stunned Kungsdocks with a goal in the first minute from Sorensen to give them a lead that they defended all game, but the match of the weekend was undoubtedly in Sibir, where an inspired Zeana Roquan put three goals past Anthony Gates in the Scapa Bay net, before Jens Ovchinnikov and Jonas Kaster put the home team back into lead after Rovers managed to haul themselves level not once but twice. Jari-Andrej Coia chipped in with three assists, underlining once again how easily he could’ve settled into Divisjon One football were he not already signed up to leave for Mytanija.


MATCHDAY 8
Northbrook Diamonds FK 2–1 FC Cape St Paul
SK Franz Josef City 2–1 Melville Celtic
Jan Mayen Islanders 1–3 SK Nasjonale Hauker
SK Aasiaat Harbour 1–0 FC Axel Heiburg
Skipsbyggere IFK 2–3 FC1. Bjarnarey Flotilla
Red Star Severny 2–0 FC1. Surtsey Island Gulls
Resolute Storm 1913 FC 2–1 RSK Longyearbyen Town
Scapa Bay Rovers 1–1 North Star Grímsey
East Franz Athletic 4–2 Novaya Sibir Reds
Elmo Polland scored a perfect hat trick to mark his own credentials in the top goalscorers chart, at Jan Mayen’s expense, whilst Axel Heiburg continue to struggle, this time losing one-nil in Aasiaat. Bjarnarey’s title defence hasn’t exactly been fluent so far, but a dogged performance from Skipsbyggere was eventually overcome thanks to a wicked pair of finishes from new signing Khephren Sassou. Axel Heiburg aren’t the only ‘big’ team to struggle at the start of the season however, with Red Star’s win at home to Surtsey meaning both of those teams have the same record as the Argonauts and the Ospreys. SK came from a goal behind at home to Melville to get the points they were expected to, but a late equaliser from Drouin-Lacroix meant Scapa Bay were denied their first win of the season.



So, your table at the quarter-mark then, and it’s SK Franz Josef City who are currently sitting pretty at the top of the table, with an unbeaten record and their tails well and truly up. At one point it looked like Northbrook were going to blow every team before them away, but things have slowed down a bit in that regard recently, and they are now only the third highest scorers. With another unbeaten record however, they’re currently the closest team to SK. From there, there’s a reasonable jump down to Bjarnarey on fifteen points – three defeats being uncharacteristically sloppy from the Bargemen to be honest, although we all know how well they’ve finished the season in the past – whilst the next four teams are all on fourteen points; a group that includes Resolute Storm, somehow, as well as newly promoted Longyearbyen. Nasjonale and Aasiaat will be disappointed to be so firmly mid-table at this point in the season, whilst the aforementioned group of ‘strugglers’ will also be hoping to pull themselves clear of any dangerous moments in the coming weeks. The bottom three clubs, including both St Paul sides, are only able to split twelve points and just two wins between them. Early days yet, though.

------Divisjon One               Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts
 1  SK Franz Josef City          8    7   1   0    18    4  +14    22
 2  Northbrook Diamonds FK       8    6   2   0    17    4  +13    20
 3  FC1. Bjarnarey Flotilla      8    5   0   3    16   11   +5    15
 4  RSK Longyearbyen Town        8    4   2   2    19   13   +6    14
 5  North Star Grímsey           8    4   2   2    10    6   +4    14
 6  East Franz Athletic          8    4   2   2     9    5   +4    14
 7  Resolute Storm 1913 FC       8    4   2   2    11   10   +1    14
 8  SK Nasjonale Hauker          8    3   2   3    13   10   +3    11
 9  Melville Celtic              8    3   2   3    12   13   −1    11
10  SK Aasiaat Harbour           8    3   2   3     8    9   −1    11
11  Novaya Sibir Reds            8    2   3   3    14   15   −1    9
12  FC1. Surtsey Island Gulls    8    2   2   4     9   11   −2    8
13  Jan Mayen Islanders          8    2   2   4     8   13   −5    8
14  Red Star Severny             8    2   2   4     8   13   −5    8
15  FC Axel Heiburg              8    2   2   4     9   17   −8    8
16  FC Cape St Paul              8    1   2   5     7   16   −9    5
17  Skipsbyggere IFK             8    1   1   6     7   18  −11    4
18  Scapa Bay Rovers             8    0   3   5     7   14   −7    3

In the second flight, things are already looking pretty ridiculous to be honest with you, as top side Bohemiens have only managed to actually win three games despite their unbeaten record, and have only won two more games than bottom side Rapid SK Eysturoy. A staggering twelve teams are split by only three points at this stage of the season, and I’m not even going to bother trying to get into the stories and surprises in all that. Just sort yourselves out already, will you?

------Divisjon Two             Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts
 1  Bohemiens Grise Fiord      8    3   5   0    16   10   +6    14
 2  SK Sturm Nuuk              8    4   2   2    14    8   +6    14
 3  Matahiko Viktory SK        8    4   2   2    13   10   +3    14
 4  FC Solovetsky Monastery    8    4   2   2    13   10   +3    14
 5  Rapid Jan Mayen FK         8    4   2   2    10    7   +3    14
 6  Koppen Rig Force           8    4   1   3    16   12   +4    13
 7  Måriussa Viking FK         8    2   6   0     9    6   +3    12
 8  FC Torshavn                8    3   3   2    16   14   +2    12
 9  Neuerlatz AFK              8    3   3   2    13   13    0    12
10  SC Kiel                    8    3   2   3    12   12    0    11
11  Islay Town Mechanical      8    3   2   3    11   11    0    11
12  SK Yuzhny Albion           8    3   2   3     7   10   −3    11
13  Lokomotiv Barentsberg      8    2   2   4     9   10   −1    8
14  Eintracht Moss-Rygge       8    2   2   4     8   11   −3    8
15  Sutherland Foundry SK      8    2   2   4     8   12   −4    8
16  Hospitaliers               8    2   1   5     8   12   −4    7
17  Franz Josef Young Boys     8    2   1   5     7   11   −4    7
18  Rapid SK Eysturoy          8    1   2   5     5   16  −11    5

Divisjon Three sees North Melville gunning for an unlikely promotion back into the second tier – perhaps inspired by their cross-town rivals’ successes thus far in the top flight, whilst, although slightly further away from Melville, Hans Island Pioneers are also apparently in the same habit of being inspired by their rivals. Viipuri split them in the top three, and are probably looking best placed for a title-tilt at the moment. Pre-season favourites Aleutia have had a torrid time however, and find themselves scrabbling at the bottom with Klub Atletisk and Agheim joining them in the category of “we’re too good to be here, surely?” teams.

------Divisjon Three               Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts
 1  FC North Melville              8    5   2   1    14    6   +8    17
 2  FK Viipuri 56                  8    4   3   1    14    9   +5    15
 3  AFK Hans Island Pioneers       8    4   2   2    13   11   +2    14
 4  Maritime Hove FC               8    4   2   2    12   10   +2    14
 5  Franz Josef Sharks             8    4   1   3    13    9   +4    13
 6  Seratakki Villagers            8    4   1   3     8    6   +2    13
 7  Universitet                    8    3   3   2    18   18    0    12
 8  FK Grise Fiord                 8    3   2   3    10    9   +1    11
 9  Yuzhny Equinox FC              8    3   2   3    11   11    0    11
10  FC1. Rangers                   8    3   2   3     8    9   −1    11
11  Severnaya Zemlya 88 Equinox    8    2   4   2    13   10   +3    10
12  Bennett and Zhokhov            8    3   1   4    11   12   −1    10
13  McAvery Centurions             8    2   3   3    12   13   −1    9
14  FC1. Sturm Grímsey             8    2   3   3     8   11   −3    9
15  AC Aleutia Volcanoes           8    2   2   4     4    9   −5    8
16  Klub Atletisk Spitsbergen      8    2   1   5    10   13   −3    7
17  Agheim CF                      8    2   1   5    11   17   −6    7
18  Ostermeier Old Boys            8    1   3   4     8   15   −7    6

[Polar Islandstates]

Halfway through the season, let’s have a quick summary of what has happened in the last few MDs...


MATCHDAY 9
Novaya Sibir Reds 0–1 Northbrook Diamonds FK
North Star Grímsey 1–0 East Franz Athletic
RSK Longyearbyen Town 2–1 Scapa Bay Rovers
FC1. Surtsey Island Gulls 2–0 Resolute Storm 1913 FC
FC1. Bjarnarey Flotilla 2–1 Red Star Severny
FC Axel Heiburg 2–0 Skipsbyggere IFK
SK Nasjonale Hauker 1–0 SK Aasiaat Harbour
Melville Celtic 0–0 Jan Mayen Islanders
FC Cape St Paul 1–0 SK Franz Josef City
Roald Eike-Rasmussen scored an extremely high-class double for Axel Heiburg today; the first a delicately clipped finish with the outside of his foot, and the second a curling dipping effort from outside the box. Skipsbyggere were the victims of the much-admired teenager’s talent today, but they won’t be the last ones this season by the looks of it. Mêlçôr Ënàrsòn scored the winner for Bjarnarey as they squeaked past Red Star at home, and SK Franz Josef City finally lost – shockingly, to FC Cape St Paul thanks to a drilled finish from Valérie Noir. That left Northbrook as the last unbeaten team in the league, and this they managed to keep up with a gritty win in Sibir – Ruben Herzog with the winner.


MATCHDAY 10
Northbrook Diamonds FK 2–1 SK Franz Josef City
Jan Mayen Islanders 0–0 FC Cape St Paul
SK Aasiaat Harbour 3–0 Melville Celtic
Skipsbyggere IFK 1–2 SK Nasjonale Hauker
Red Star Severny 1–2 FC Axel Heiburg
Resolute Storm 1913 FC 0–2 FC1. Bjarnarey Flotilla
Scapa Bay Rovers 1–1 FC1. Surtsey Island Gulls
East Franz Athletic 1–2 RSK Longyearbyen Town
Novaya Sibir Reds 0–5 North Star Grímsey
Kyong Tripp scored the pick of the goals today, adding a second for Bjarnarey in their comfortable win over Resolute in Victorrinn, but it was a good day for Chromatik imports all round, with Marcus Autta scoring a late equaliser for Surtsey at Scapa Bay, and Ryn Jaxon scoring both goals as Northbrook inflicted a successive defeat on SK – a result that could have huge ramifications for the title by the looks of it. Aasiaat romped to a three-nil win at home to Melville, whilst Longyearbyen continued their fine form with an away win against East Franz; Floris Marshavin and Joel Bieri with the goals. North Star hammered Novaya Sibir in their own back yard, a result that might set the alarms going a bit for the home side, but I would still expect them to be fine. Probably.


MATCHDAY 11
North Star Grímsey 1–1 Northbrook Diamonds FK
RSK Longyearbyen Town 1–1 Novaya Sibir Reds
FC1. Surtsey Island Gulls 3–1 East Franz Athletic
FC1. Bjarnarey Flotilla 2–0 Scapa Bay Rovers
FC Axel Heiburg 1–1 Resolute Storm 1913 FC
SK Nasjonale Hauker 3–0 Red Star Severny
Melville Celtic 1–0 Skipsbyggere IFK
FC Cape St Paul 1–0 SK Aasiaat Harbour
SK Franz Josef City 1–1 Jan Mayen Islanders
SK really are in a costly little dip in form right now, aren’t they? This time, it’s old rivals Jan Mayen Islanders who cost them points, with only a late equaliser from Loick Sorensen sparing the Griffons from a third consecutive defeat. The days of Jan Mayen and SK battling it out for the title might be gone for now, but apparently that doesn’t stop Ospreys fans from revelling in the misfortune of SK fans. Red Star continue to struggle without Elmo Polland, a fact underlined when he scored the third goal against them today in Nasjonale’s powerful win, and Aasiaat also lost to a former player, when youth product Vivaldi Schmeltz resurfaced to win it for FC Cape St Paul with a header in the seventieth minute. Bjarnarey win again, prompting talk of déjà vu amongst pundits across the Federation, and East Franz’s miserable start to the season continues with a three-one pasting at Surtsey.



LATITUDE CUP Round Two
Henfergen Town FC 2-2 1. Lokomotiv Karlstadt (3-3 AET, 1-3 PKs)
FC1. Sturm Grímsey 1-1 Logan United FC (1-1 AET, 2-3 PKs)
St Gallen 47 0-3 FC North Melville
FK Grise Fiord 2-1 Meteor Kholmsk SK
Toyoharo Revolutionaries 2-2 Franz Josef Sharks (2-2 AET, 3-2 PKs)
Yuzhny Equinox FC 7-2 Thorsager Unity SK
Bennett and Zhokhov 1-0 Gjornhammer Pier FC
Northbrook Zenith FC 0-1 Ostermeier Old Boys
Energie Zemlya FK 0-0 West End (0-0 AET, 2-0 PKs)
IHK Geddesberg 2-0 Maritime Hove FC
Hauken Orca 0-1 Bulargen Independents
SK Stryær 2-1 Lindesvogne Violets
Seratakki Villagers 1-1 Severnaya Zemlya 88 Equinox (1-1 AET, 2-1 PKs)
Almsborg Rushmori 1-1 AC Aleutia Volcanoes (1-2 AET)
Axel Town AFC 3-2 Universitet
SK Thor 1898 1-1 Klub Athletisk Spitsbergen (1-1 AET, 0-2 PKs)
SK Stromness Electric 1-5 FK Ost-Volonovsk
Aleutia Town Dragons 0-0 FK Norsviken Cossacks (1-0 AET)
Bielstrich Timbers FC 1-0 GVFFK Pekarik
Invermuir Highlanders FC 1-0 Hanshaugen Gate FK
NKK Urri 2-1 Agheim CF
Sannegarden Fleet FK 0-6 Krykkjesund Olympic
Machtspool Whitesleeves FC 1-1 AFK Hans Island Pioneers (1-1 AET, 1-2 PKs)
FK Weisshaus 1-0 Crusaders
Devon Bay Lights FC 0-1 Steffansson Island FC
FKS-North 2-0 FC1. Rangers
FK Viipuri 56 2-0 Orkhanger White Star
Vale of Moray 1-1 McAvery Centurions (1-2 AET)
The second round of the Latitude Cup always seems to come around earlier than you expect it to, and as the lower league teams chase the chance to have a money-spinning tie against the big teams when they enter the competition in the next round, we are treated to some classics, with struggling NKK Urri breaking their losing streak at home to similarly struggling Agheim CF. Ost-Volonovks smash five past Stromness on the road, whilst Krykkjesund go one better with a six-nil annihilation of Sannegarden in their own back yard. Several games go to penalties, including Toyoharo’s thriller at home to Franz Josef Sharks, and Karlstadt’s win in Henfergen after being behind in the game on three separate occasions.


MATCHDAY 12
Northbrook Diamonds FK 4–2 Jan Mayen Islanders
SK Aasiaat Harbour 1–0 SK Franz Josef City
Skipsbyggere IFK 1–2 FC Cape St Paul
Red Star Severny 1–0 Melville Celtic
Resolute Storm 1913 FC 3–2 SK Nasjonale Hauker
Scapa Bay Rovers 0–0 FC Axel Heiburg
East Franz Athletic 2–1 FC1. Bjarnarey Flotilla
Novaya Sibir Reds 1–1 FC1. Surtsey Island Gulls
North Star Grímsey 3–0 RSK Longyearbyen Town
Thomas-Augustin l’Establier scored a long range piledriver in today’s highest profile match – the only goal of the game proving enough to consign the visiting Griffons to a third defeat in four goals. Vladimir Lucic has already expressed his desire to retire at the end of the season, but it feels like that might have been a mistake, as the players at SK look in a bit of disarray right now. Resolute Storm are proving hard to beat this season, and they took advantage of some slack Nasjonale defending to beat the Hawks three-two at Mossy Park. North Star hammered Longyearbyen meanwhile, and the Norscelt side are quietly putting together a little run of form right now that might challenge the teams at the top at this rate. At Rendahl Stadion meanwhile, East Franz answer questions about their form with an emphatic two-one win over the reigning champions. It wasn’t as close as it looks on paper, and has left Arno Ziegenhagen with plenty of questions to work on finding answers for if he wants the Bargemen to retain their title.


MATCHDAY 13
RSK Longyearbyen Town 0–3 Northbrook Diamonds FK
FC1. Surtsey Island Gulls 0–0 North Star Grímsey
FC1. Bjarnarey Flotilla 3–0 Novaya Sibir Reds
FC Axel Heiburg 0–2 East Franz Athletic
SK Nasjonale Hauker 1–0 Scapa Bay Rovers
Melville Celtic 0–0 Resolute Storm 1913 FC
FC Cape St Paul 1–0 Red Star Severny
SK Franz Josef City 1–0 Skipsbyggere IFK
Jan Mayen Islanders 2–2 SK Aasiaat Harbour
Any title retention ambitions that Bjarnarey have will have to go through Northbrook however, and they look in unbeatable form right now – quite literally. Today’s result - a three-nil win in Longyearbyen - was nothing less than they deserved, and the goals from Ryn Jaxon, Nico Wickenheiser, and Mickaël Leroux have propelled the Diamonds into a commanding lead at the top of the table right now. Bjarnarey matched them with a three-nil win of their own over Novaya Sibir, goals from Sessou, Ënàrsòn, and Kazimir, but it’s a hell of a gauntlet being thrown right now by the team from the far north. SK finally get back to winning ways over basement club Skipsbyggere, and East Franz’s pick-up continues with a strong performance in Axel Heiburg. The only game to see both teams scoring this weekend was a thriller meanwhile, with Jan Mayen and Aasiaat sharing a late goal each at the end of either half in an end-to-end fixture that deservedly ended all-square.


MATCHDAY 14
Northbrook Diamonds FK 2–0 SK Aasiaat Harbour
Skipsbyggere IFK 1–3 Jan Mayen Islanders
Red Star Severny 3–2 SK Franz Josef City
Resolute Storm 1913 FC 3–1 FC Cape St Paul
Scapa Bay Rovers 1–2 Melville Celtic
East Franz Athletic 1–1 SK Nasjonale Hauker
Novaya Sibir Reds 2–0 FC Axel Heiburg
North Star Grímsey 0–3 FC1. Bjarnarey Flotilla
RSK Longyearbyen Town 2–3 FC1. Surtsey Island Gulls
Joel Wolfgangsson scored a brace for leaders Northbrook this weekend, meaning they maintain their gap to the teams below that are chasing hard. Well. Most of them are. Bjarnarey won again with another three-nil win – this time in Grímsey – but SK stuttered again just when they looked back to winning ways; Red Star Severny picking up a welcome three points at the Griffons’ expense. East Franz and Nasjonale played out a tense East End Derby, Katinka Fazakas and Mirko Ovcina getting the goals for their respective teams, whilst Zeana Roquan showed that Novaya Sibir aren’t just a one-man team by scoring both goals in a win over Axel Heiburg. Volkhardt Grief scored a fine brace away to Longyearbyen meanwhile, and Jan Mayen’s Li Zhen scored a fine hat trick at Skipsbyggere’s Drydock ground.


MATCHDAY 15
FC1. Surtsey Island Gulls 2–2 Northbrook Diamonds FK
FC1. Bjarnarey Flotilla 5–1 RSK Longyearbyen Town
FC Axel Heiburg 3–1 North Star Grímsey
SK Nasjonale Hauker 1–0 Novaya Sibir Reds
Melville Celtic 0–4 East Franz Athletic
FC Cape St Paul 2–1 Scapa Bay Rovers
SK Franz Josef City 4–0 Resolute Storm 1913 FC
Jan Mayen Islanders 1–1 Red Star Severny
SK Aasiaat Harbour 3–0 Skipsbyggere IFK
Elmo Polland’s right boot is proving as good a replacement for Emmanuele Niemi’s as Nasjonale could’ve hoped for at this point in the season, with his sixth goal of the season ensuring the Hawks beat Novaya Sibir Reds by a slender margin. SK’s wrath is taking out on an unfortunate Resolute side; goals from Goliat, Langager, Sorensen, and Félix. East Franz hammer four of their own past Melville Celtic, Sho Itō scoring the pick of the goals with a superb bicycle kick, but as Northbrook drop points away to Surtsey it is Bjarnarey who make the biggest statement of the weekend: Youssef Nijgaard reminding everyone that he can score goals as well as provide assists for the attacking midfielders behind him, scoring twice and assisting twice again as they smash five past Longyearbyen and remind Northbrook ever so subtly that they’re there.


MATCHDAY 16
Northbrook Diamonds FK 2–2 Skipsbyggere IFK
Red Star Severny 0–1 SK Aasiaat Harbour
Resolute Storm 1913 FC 1–1 Jan Mayen Islanders
Scapa Bay Rovers 0–0 SK Franz Josef City
East Franz Athletic 2–4 FC Cape St Paul
Novaya Sibir Reds 1–0 Melville Celtic
North Star Grímsey 1–3 SK Nasjonale Hauker
RSK Longyearbyen Town 1–0 FC Axel Heiburg
FC1. Surtsey Island Gulls 1–1 FC1. Bjarnarey Flotilla
Nasjonale win again, this time away to North Star, whilst the highest profile match between Surtsey and Bjarnarey for years ends in a bit of a damp squib. Player and Baer might have scored in the second half, but it seems neither side really wanted to live up to the billing of the match, even if Makkinen did miss a golden chance to win it for the Bargemen at the very end. Northbrook fluffed their chance to pull away again ahead of their match against Bjarnarey next week however, with Skipsbyggere of all sides slightly embarrassing the Diamonds at Palace Approach; Chance Benton the unlikely scorer of the last minute equaliser for the visitors. Li Zhen scored again as Jan Mayen rescued a point against Resolute Storm, and St Paul overpowered an unpredictable East Franz side at the Rendahl.


MATCHDAY 17
FC1. Bjarnarey Flotilla 4–1 Northbrook Diamonds FK
FC Axel Heiburg 1–2 FC1. Surtsey Island Gulls
SK Nasjonale Hauker 3–1 RSK Longyearbyen Town
Melville Celtic 1–1 North Star Grímsey
FC Cape St Paul 1–1 Novaya Sibir Reds
SK Franz Josef City 4–0 East Franz Athletic
Jan Mayen Islanders 4–1 Scapa Bay Rovers
SK Aasiaat Harbour 3–2 Resolute Storm 1913 FC
Skipsbyggere IFK 2–2 Red Star Severny
In a thrilling day of DivOne action, there are dramatic scenes and storylines absolutely everywhere you look. In fact, I think we’re only a Docklands Derby and an all-Commonwealth clash away from a full house of derbies. First of all, in the first Feud of Victorrinn of the season, Kirkkegaard’s side won a thriller by the odd goal in five; goals from Holst, Karman, and l’Establier ensuring a late comeback from Resolute and two goals from Joel Bieri were all in vain. Then, to the Elfsteijn, where goals from Antonio Govorcinovic, Rabia Safarov, and a double from Jalmari Hagen of all people were far too much for East Franz to handle, leaving their fans licking their wounds as they went back south over the Channel and leaving SK feeling triumphant. The biggest news of the day was at The Barge, however, where last season’s champions reduced the gap to the leaders to just a point with a powerful win that answered a lot of questions. Mikkel Makkinen got things off to a great start for the hosts, before Nijgaard added a second. Ryn Jaxon was able to pull things back, but as the Diamonds searched for an equaliser, a quickfire double from Tripp and Ënàrsòn made the points safe for the home side. A timely reminder as well that this set of fixtures will be reversed on the final day of the season, which is an almost unbelievably tantalising prospect if this set of results if going to be repeated...



LATITUDE CUP Round Three
Krykkjesund Olympic 0-1 FK Grise Fiord
North Star Grímsey 1-1 Lokomotiv Barentsberg (2-1 AET)
Steffansson Island FC 1-1 Northbrook Diamonds FK (1-2 AET)
SK Stryær 0-1 Scapa Bay Rovers
Klub Athletisk Spitsbergen 1-1 Axel Town AFC (1-1 AET, 1-2 PKs)
FC Torshavn 1-0 SC Kiel
Rapid SK Eysturoy 2-1 Novaya Sibir Reds
Neuerlatz AFK 3-1 FK Ost-Volonovsk
Logan United FC 0-3 Bulargen Independents
Eintracht Moss-Rygge 1-1 FC North Melville (3-1 AET)
Aleutia Town Dragons 0-3 Jan Mayen Islanders
FKS-North 0-1 Toyoharo Revolutionaries
Invermuir Highlanders FC 2-1 AFK Hans Island Pioneers
IHK Geddesberg 0-0 NKK Urri (1-0 AET)
SK Aasiaat Harbour 1-2 FC1. Bjarnarey Flotilla
Seratakki Villagers 1-4 FK Viipuri 56
Energie Zemlya FK 2-0 McAvery Centurions
Red Star Severny 0-1 AC Aleutia Volcanoes
Rapid Jan Mayen FK 2-1 Franz Josef Young Boys
Bielstrich Timbers FC 0-0 Koppen Rig Force (0-0 AET, 0-2 PKs)
Hospitaliers 1-1 1. Lokomotiv Karlstadt (1-1 AET, 5-2 PKs)
Måriussa Viking FK 3-1 Bennett and Zhokhov
SK Sturm Nuuk 2-0 FK Weisshaus
SK Yuzhny Albion 0-1 Matahiko Viktory SK
FC Axel Heiburg 2-0 Melville Celtic
Islay Town Mechanical 1-0 FC Solovetsky Monastery
East Franz Athletic 0-2 Resolute Storm 1913 FC
Sutherland Foundry SK 3-0 Ostermeier Old Boys
FC1. Surtsey Island Gulls 3-1 RSK Longyearbyen Town
Bohemiens Grise Fiord 2-1 SK Nasjonale Hauker
SK Franz Josef City 3-1 Skipsbyggere IFK
Yuzhny Equinox FC 1-1 FC Cape St Paul (1-1 AET, 2-4 PKs)
The third round of the Latitude Cup is always a highlight in the Polarian football calendar, and of course this year is just like any other. The big teams enter at this point, looking to avoid an embarrassing upset, so of course that’s exactly what we’re going in search of. Now, let’s see... North Star managed to avoid one with an extra time win over Barentsberg, whilst the holders managed the same away to Steffansson; a close shave for Diamonds fans. Struggling Eysturoy knock out Novaya Sibir however, and that’s definitely an upset, as is Aleutia’s win in Severny over Red Star. Bjanarey had to rely on Mêlçôr Ënàrsòn to get them out of a tight spot away to Aasiaat in an all DivOne clash, whilst Axel Heiburg and Resolute win a couple more just like that against Melville Celtic and East Franz respectively. So, I guess the latter is a bit of an upset, especially as it took place at the Rendahl. SK ease past Skipsbyggere and Surtsey battled past Longyearbyen, but FC Cape St Paul needed extra time and penalties to get past Yuzhny Equinox in what was almost the biggest shock of the round. As it is, I think we have to settle For Axel Town knocking out Klub Atletisk, or Energie Zemlya beating McAvery Centurions.



We reach the halfway point then, and that costly little drop-off from SK has seen them slip to third, whist only four points dropped by Bjarnarey in the last nine games has seen them climb to just a point behind leaders Northbrook, thanks mostly to that win in the last matchday. The Diamonds have been here before of course, as have Bjarnarey, and fingers crossed we’re headed for a hell of a finish on the last day of the season. Nasjonale have turned things around to come level with SK, whilst FC Cape St Paul, Aasiaat, and Surtsey must also come under the category of teams who’ve done well to turn things around and climb. At the other end, Axel Heiburg and Jan Mayen are apparently in no rush to drag themselves out of the mess, an attribute they share with a lost looking Red Star Severny. RSK and Melville fans are probably happy, knowing that that early season form was unlikely to have last anyway, but Skipsbyggere and Scapa Bay are looking in all sorts of trouble at the bottom. Scapa Bay are yet to win at all, despite somehow not being bottom of the table, and both are twelve points from the safety of fifteenth already. Both sides could be in for a record breaking season, for the wrong reason entirely.

------Divisjon One               Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts
 1  Northbrook Diamonds FK      17   11   5   1    35   16  +19    38
 2  FC1. Bjarnarey Flotilla     17   12   1   4    39   17  +22    37
 3  SK Franz Josef City         17   10   3   4    31   12  +19    33
 4  SK Nasjonale Hauker         17   10   3   4    30   17  +13    33
 5  SK Aasiaat Harbour          17    8   3   6    21   17   +4    27
 6  North Star Grímsey          17    7   5   5    23   17   +6    26
 7  FC1. Surtsey Island Gulls   17    6   7   4    24   20   +4    25
 8  FC Cape St Paul             17    7   4   6    20   24   −4    25
 9  East Franz Athletic         17    7   3   7    22   21   +1    24
10  RSK Longyearbyen Town       17    7   3   7    29   33   −4    24
11  Resolute Storm 1913 FC      17    6   5   6    21   26   −5    23
12  Jan Mayen Islanders         17    4   8   5    22   24   −2    20
13  Melville Celtic             17    5   5   7    16   24   −8    20
14  FC Axel Heiburg             17    5   4   8    18   27   −9    19
15  Novaya Sibir Reds           17    4   6   7    20   28   −8    18
16  Red Star Severny            17    4   4   9    17   27  −10    16
17  Scapa Bay Rovers            17    0   6  11    12   28  −16    6
18  Skipsbyggere IFK            17    1   3  13    14   36  −22    6

In Divisjon Two, I asked them to sort themselves out, and they have done. Kinda. Koppen Rig look transformed from the team that looked to be going nowhere fast last season, whilst Bohemiens, Rapid Jan Mayen, Neuerlatz, and FC Torshavn are in a closely bunched pack behind them. Islay Town and Matahiko are probably in a bit of a false position in that mid-table right now, but Young Boys will be disappointed to find themselves anywhere near that cluster at the bottom. Barentsberg are the foot of the table right now, and you’d be hard-pressed to find anyone who doesn’t think they’re going to stay there until the end of the season now.

------Divisjon Two             Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts
 1  Koppen Rig Force          17   11   2   4    33   18  +15    35
 2  Bohemiens Grise Fiord     17    8   7   2    32   24   +8    31
 3  Rapid Jan Mayen FK        17    9   4   4    22   16   +6    31
 4  Neuerlatz AFK             17    8   6   3    34   25   +9    30
 5  FC Torshavn               17    8   6   3    31   23   +8    30
 6  SK Sturm Nuuk             17    8   3   6    30   26   +4    27
 7  Islay Town Mechanical     17    7   5   5    27   23   +4    26
 8  Matahiko Viktory SK       17    8   2   7    25   27   −2    26
 9  SC Kiel                   17    7   4   6    27   23   +4    25
10  Måriussa Viking FK        17    5   8   4    23   16   +7    23
11  FC Solovetsky Monastery   17    6   5   6    27   25   +2    23
12  SK Yuzhny Albion          17    6   4   7    23   28   −5    22
13  Franz Josef Young Boys    17    5   5   7    21   22   −1    20
14  Sutherland Foundry SK     17    4   4   9    15   26  −11    16
15  Eintracht Moss-Rygge      17    4   3  10    18   25   −7    15
16  Hospitaliers              17    4   3  10    17   26   −9    15
17  Rapid SK Eysturoy         17    3   4  10    13   32  −19    13
18  Lokomotiv Barentsberg     17    2   5  10    18   31  −13    11

In Divisjon Three, Hans Island and North Melville are still in the mix, but they have been overtaken at the top by Maritime Hove in a surprise run of form. Aleutia’s fortunes have also transformed thanks to a change in management, with the Volcanoes jumping all the way up to fourth at this halfway point of the season, whilst Viipuri have dropped right off by comparison. Agheim are still lurking dangerously close to the bottom, with Ostermeier and Severnaya Zemlya looking certain for the drop already.

------Divisjon Three               Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts
 1  Maritime Hove FC              17   10   3   4    35   22  +13    33
 2  AFK Hans Island Pioneers      17   10   2   5    29   19  +10    32
 3  FC North Melville             17    9   4   4    28   20   +8    31
 4  AC Aleutia Volcanoes          17    9   3   5    23   19   +4    30
 5  Yuzhny Equinox FC             17    8   4   5    33   23  +10    28
 6  Seratakki Villagers           17    9   1   7    23   16   +7    28
 7  FK Viipuri 56                 17    7   5   5    30   24   +6    26
 8  FK Grise Fiord                17    8   2   7    24   25   −1    26
 9  Franz Josef Sharks            17    7   4   6    21   20   +1    25
10  FC1. Sturm Grímsey            17    6   4   7    27   27    0    22
11  FC1. Rangers                  17    6   4   7    23   27   −4    22
12  Bennett and Zhokhov           17    6   3   8    25   27   −2    21
13  Klub Atletisk Spitsbergen     17    6   3   8    23   27   −4    21
14  McAvery Centurions            17    6   3   8    26   34   −8    21
15  Universitet                   17    5   4   8    27   32   −5    19
16  Agheim CF                     17    5   3   9    26   30   −4    18
17  Ostermeier Old Boys           17    3   5   9    17   36  −19    14
18  Severnaya Zemlya 88 Equinox   17    2   5  10    18   30  −12    11

Skipping over to the East Divisjon of the short and sharp Challenge League, and it is Korsten Lokomotiv who are leading things from Vale of Moray at the moment, though Steffansson Island, Invermuir, and Krykkjesund are all lurking dangerously. Uelmark, pre-season favourites for a reason, are surprisingly nowhere to be seen. SK Thor might look in a bit of a sorry state, but consider this: they’ve still got more points than Scapa Bay and Skipsbyggere right now, in four fewer games, too.

------East Divisjon             Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts
 1  Korsten Lokomotiv          13    8   4   1    24   13  +11    28
 2  Vale of Moray              13    8   2   3    17   14   +3    26
 3  Steffansson Island FC      13    6   3   4    21   14   +7    21
 4  Invermuir Highlanders FC   13    5   4   4    19   15   +4    19
 5  Krykkjesund Olympic        13    5   4   4    17   16   +1    19
 6  Uelmark MK                 13    5   3   5    20   16   +4    18
 7  IHK Geddesberg             13    5   3   5    20   23   −3    18
 8  Sisimut Black Star         13    5   2   6    23   22   +1    17
 9  Ingvar Peaks FC            13    4   5   4    18   18    0    17
10  San Moranna FC             13    5   2   6    14   16   −2    17
11  Hauken Orca                13    4   4   5    13   14   −1    16
12  Aleutia Town Dragons       13    3   5   5    16   16    0    14
13  KA Rikyaare                13    2   4   7    17   24   −7    10
14  SK Thor 1898               13    2   3   8    13   31  −18    9

In the West Divisjon, Meteor Kholmsk have done supremely well to turn things around considering at this point last season they were rock bottom. What a difference a year makes. GVFFK Pekarik and Ost-Volonovsk are looking like the best placed challengers, but there’s still an awful lot of football to go yet, and Torpedo Sibir and Norsviken won’t be counting themselves out just yet.

------West Divisjon          Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts
 1  Meteor Kholmsk SK       13   10   0   3    25   12  +13    30
 2  GVFFK Pekarik           13    8   1   4    17   16   +1    25
 3  FK Ost-Volonovsk        13    7   3   3    23   12  +11    24
 4  Torpedo Sibir RKA       13    5   5   3    17   13   +4    20
 5  FK Norsviken Cossacks   13    6   2   5    18   17   +1    20
 6  Energie Zemlya FK       13    5   4   4    17   16   +1    19
 7  Logan United FC         13    5   2   6    15   17   −2    17
 8  Ueland-Alne             13    4   4   5    16   18   −2    16
 9  Axel Town AFC           13    4   4   5    15   18   −3    16
10  KSC Brighthelmstone     13    4   3   6    15   19   −4    15
11  Devon Bay Lights FC     13    3   5   5    16   14   +2    14
12  Northbrook Zenith FC    13    4   2   7    20   25   −5    14
13  FC Fetlar               13    4   2   7    17   25   −8    14
14  NKK Urri                13    2   3   8     9   18   −9    9

Not forgetting the Regional League, of course, whose divisions look like this at the halfway point. Still 2000 minutes or so to play however, and a lot can happen yet. The teams at the bottom of each division will be cast out into the cold of the Regional Conferences, so a lot rides on this.

------Central Premier             Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts
 1  Larsen Bay Thunder FC        22   15   5   2    49   22  +27    50
 2  West End                     22   12   6   4    33   20  +13    42
 3  Machtspool Whitesleeves FC   22   11   6   5    41   31  +10    39
 4  1. Lokomotiv Karlstadt       22   10   7   5    42   31  +11    37
 5  Royal NK Sikjonek            22    8   6   8    38   38    0    30
 6  FKS-North                    22    9   2  11    26   31   −5    29
 7  St Gallen 47                 22    7   6   9    30   39   −9    27
 8  Bindelsfjorden Dynamo        22    7   5  10    38   40   −2    26
 9  Green Star Kobelevskov       22    7   5  10    27   33   −6    26
10  SK Nolmkien 1949             22    6   6  10    27   35   −8    24
11  FC Velcosta Cliffs           22    6   3  13    33   41   −8    21
12  AIK Winterthur               22    3   5  14    20   43  −23    14

------North-Eastern Premier     Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts
 1  Sporting Club Aasiaat 87   22   14   4   4    44   23  +21    46
 2  Aurich-Hassen Scouts FC    22   12   7   3    43   21  +22    43
 3  SK Stryær                  22   12   5   5    42   25  +17    41
 4  FC Kampengar Magpies       22   11   3   8    40   33   +7    36
 5  Sannegarden Fleet FK       22    8   7   7    39   36   +3    31
 6  Hanshaugen Gate FK         22    8   7   7    29   26   +3    31
 7  Resolute Hills FC          22    8   5   9    27   31   −4    29
 8  Aurora Hammarby            22    8   4  10    22   42  −20    28
 9  Oaks of Fjellisroy         22    7   3  12    30   32   −2    24
10  FK Aagen Zenith            22    6   6  10    23   32   −9    24
11  Waldenøya Bears            22    4   6  12    22   36  −14    18
12  Boden 61                   22    2   7  13    25   49  −24    13

------South-Eastern Premier       Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts
 1  AIK Alejavik                 22   14   4   4    39   23  +16    46
 2  Bathurst Zenith FC           22   12   4   6    42   19  +23    40
 3  Ilksporta IK                 22   12   4   6    31   27   +4    40
 4  Bielstrich Timbers FC        22   10   6   6    43   37   +6    36
 5  Forrairn St Johan FC         22   10   5   7    34   31   +3    35
 6  Friedrichsund Fencing Club   22   10   3   9    36   35   +1    33
 7  Holtrecht Force SK           22    7   8   7    26   29   −3    29
 8  Sleijnmakt Sport             22    8   4  10    31   36   −5    28
 9  US Saint-John                22    7   3  12    34   40   −6    24
10  Lindesvogne Violets          22    6   4  12    29   39  −10    22
11  Cap-Pele Cotdelapomais       22    5   5  12    27   37  −10    20
12  Crusaders                    22    3   6  13    20   39  −19    15

------Western Premier          Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts
 1  Bulargen Independents     22   11   7   4    43   23  +20    40
 2  Fynersturen Valhalla      22   12   3   7    32   27   +5    39
 3  Devon Bay Seals FC        22   10   8   4    30   20  +10    38
 4  FK Fairbanks              22    8   6   8    28   24   +4    30
 5  Orebro FK                 22    8   6   8    28   29   −1    30
 6  SV Keldira Zenith         22    6  10   6    24   28   −4    28
 7  Okhotsk Kholmsk Town FC   22    6   9   7    25   28   −3    27
 8  SK Stromness Electric     22    7   5  10    28   34   −6    26
 9  Dinamo Olsa FK            22    5  10   7    26   28   −2    25
10  Gjornhammer Pier FC       22    7   4  11    22   36  −14    25
11  IHK Sirius                22    5   8   9    22   28   −6    23
12  Fjorhorgen SK             22    4  10   8    25   28   −3    22

[Polar Islandstates]

Third part of the league season, and there is everything to play for still.


MATCHDAY 18
Northbrook Diamonds FK 1–2 Red Star Severny
Skipsbyggere IFK 0–1 Resolute Storm 1913 FC
SK Aasiaat Harbour 3–0 Scapa Bay Rovers
Jan Mayen Islanders 1–2 East Franz Athletic
SK Franz Josef City 2–2 Novaya Sibir Reds
FC Cape St Paul 1–2 North Star Grímsey
Melville Celtic 3–1 RSK Longyearbyen Town
SK Nasjonale Hauker 1–1 FC1. Surtsey Island Gulls
FC Axel Heiburg 4–2 FC1. Bjarnarey Flotilla
Coming soon...


MATCHDAY 19
FC Axel Heiburg 3–1 Northbrook Diamonds FK
FC1. Bjarnarey Flotilla 2–1 SK Nasjonale Hauker
FC1. Surtsey Island Gulls 3–0 Melville Celtic
RSK Longyearbyen Town 1–1 FC Cape St Paul
North Star Grímsey 0–1 SK Franz Josef City
Novaya Sibir Reds 2–2 Jan Mayen Islanders
East Franz Athletic 0–1 SK Aasiaat Harbour
Scapa Bay Rovers 1–1 Skipsbyggere IFK
Resolute Storm 1913 FC 0–1 Red Star Severny
Coming soon...


MATCHDAY 20
Northbrook Diamonds FK 3–2 Resolute Storm 1913 FC
Red Star Severny 2–0 Scapa Bay Rovers
Skipsbyggere IFK 1–5 East Franz Athletic
SK Aasiaat Harbour 4–1 Novaya Sibir Reds
Jan Mayen Islanders 2–5 North Star Grímsey
SK Franz Josef City 4–1 RSK Longyearbyen Town
FC Cape St Paul 1–3 FC1. Surtsey Island Gulls
Melville Celtic 1–2 FC1. Bjarnarey Flotilla
SK Nasjonale Hauker 1–3 FC Axel Heiburg
Coming soon...



LATITUDE CUP Round Four
Islay Town Mechanical 1-2 FC Axel Heiburg
Matahiko Viktory SK 0-2 FC1. Bjarnarey Flotilla
FK Grise Fiord 2-6 FC1. Surtsey Island Gulls
SK Sturm Nuuk 1-2 Energie Zemlya FK
North Star Grímsey 0-0 Northbrook Diamonds FK (0-0 AET, 2-4 PKs)
Måriussa Viking FK 5-1 Hospitaliers
Sutherland Foundry SK 2-0 Rapid SK Eysturoy
Invermuir Highlanders FC 2-0 AC Aleutia Volcanoes
Toyoharo Revolutionaries 2-0 Scapa Bay Rovers
FK Viipuri 56 2-0 Resolute Storm 1913 FC
Eintracht Moss-Rygge 2-1 Jan Mayen Islanders
Rapid Jan Mayen FK 2-1 IHK Geddesberg
Bohemiens Grise Fiord 1-2 FC Torshavn
FC Cape St Paul 3-1 Bulargen Independents
Axel Town AFC 0-6 SK Franz Josef City
Koppen Rig Force 1-1 Neuerlatz AFK (1-1 AET, 3-4 PKs)
The fourth round of the Latitude Cup comes around, and from here on out the teams that progress would be forgiven for allowing themselves to dream just a little bit. Full write-up coming soon...


MATCHDAY 21
SK Nasjonale Hauker 1–0 Northbrook Diamonds FK
FC Axel Heiburg 3–1 Melville Celtic
FC1. Bjarnarey Flotilla 2–1 FC Cape St Paul
FC1. Surtsey Island Gulls 3–1 SK Franz Josef City
RSK Longyearbyen Town 2–1 Jan Mayen Islanders
North Star Grímsey 0–2 SK Aasiaat Harbour
Novaya Sibir Reds 2–0 Skipsbyggere IFK
East Franz Athletic 2–1 Red Star Severny
Scapa Bay Rovers 2–2 Resolute Storm 1913 FC
Coming soon...


MATCHDAY 22
Northbrook Diamonds FK 1–1 Scapa Bay Rovers
Resolute Storm 1913 FC 2–1 East Franz Athletic
Red Star Severny 0–1 Novaya Sibir Reds
Skipsbyggere IFK 2–1 North Star Grímsey
SK Aasiaat Harbour 2–3 RSK Longyearbyen Town
Jan Mayen Islanders 0–3 FC1. Surtsey Island Gulls
SK Franz Josef City 0–0 FC1. Bjarnarey Flotilla
FC Cape St Paul 2–1 FC Axel Heiburg
Melville Celtic 2–0 SK Nasjonale Hauker
Coming soon...


MATCHDAY 23
Melville Celtic 0–0 Northbrook Diamonds FK
SK Nasjonale Hauker 3–1 FC Cape St Paul
FC Axel Heiburg 2–1 SK Franz Josef City
FC1. Bjarnarey Flotilla 3–0 Jan Mayen Islanders
FC1. Surtsey Island Gulls 3–0 SK Aasiaat Harbour
RSK Longyearbyen Town 0–1 Skipsbyggere IFK
North Star Grímsey 2–3 Red Star Severny
Novaya Sibir Reds 2–1 Resolute Storm 1913 FC
East Franz Athletic 2–2 Scapa Bay Rovers
Coming soon...


MATCHDAY 24
Northbrook Diamonds FK 1–1 East Franz Athletic
Scapa Bay Rovers 2–0 Novaya Sibir Reds
Resolute Storm 1913 FC 1–0 North Star Grímsey
Red Star Severny 1–0 RSK Longyearbyen Town
Skipsbyggere IFK 0–2 FC1. Surtsey Island Gulls
SK Aasiaat Harbour 1–0 FC1. Bjarnarey Flotilla
Jan Mayen Islanders 1–0 FC Axel Heiburg
SK Franz Josef City 1–0 SK Nasjonale Hauker
FC Cape St Paul 0–0 Melville Celtic
Coming soon...



LATITUDE CUP Round Five
Invermuir Highlanders FC 2-1 FC Torshavn
Måriussa Viking FK 2-3 FC1. Bjarnarey Flotilla
FC1. Surtsey Island Gulls 5-1 Sutherland Foundry SK
FK Viipuri 56 0-3 Northbrook Diamonds FK
SK Franz Josef City 3-0 Toyoharo Revolutionaries
FC Cape St Paul 0-0 Neuerlatz AFK (0-0 AET, 0-2 PKs)
Energie Zemlya FK 1-1 Eintracht Moss-Rygge (2-2 AET, 1-2 PKs)
FC Axel Heiburg 1-1 Rapid Jan Mayen FK (1-1 AET, 0-1 PKs)
And so we move back to the Latitude Cup, and a spot in the quarter-finals awaits the winners of these eight ties. Full write-up coming soon...


MATCHDAY 25
FC Cape St Paul 0–2 Northbrook Diamonds FK
Melville Celtic 3–0 SK Franz Josef City
SK Nasjonale Hauker 5–0 Jan Mayen Islanders
FC Axel Heiburg 0–1 SK Aasiaat Harbour
FC1. Bjarnarey Flotilla 3–2 Skipsbyggere IFK
FC1. Surtsey Island Gulls 0–0 Red Star Severny
RSK Longyearbyen Town 3–0 Resolute Storm 1913 FC
North Star Grímsey 1–0 Scapa Bay Rovers
Novaya Sibir Reds 2–3 East Franz Athletic
Coming soon...


MATCHDAY 26
Northbrook Diamonds FK 0–0 Novaya Sibir Reds
East Franz Athletic 2–0 North Star Grímsey
Scapa Bay Rovers 1–2 RSK Longyearbyen Town
Resolute Storm 1913 FC 1–0 FC1. Surtsey Island Gulls
Red Star Severny 1–1 FC1. Bjarnarey Flotilla
Skipsbyggere IFK 2–0 FC Axel Heiburg
SK Aasiaat Harbour 2–1 SK Nasjonale Hauker
Jan Mayen Islanders 3–1 Melville Celtic
SK Franz Josef City 4–2 FC Cape St Paul
Coming soon...



Eight games left then, and we are beginning to see where the battles will play out in the final couple of months...

------Divisjon One               Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts
 1  FC1. Bjarnarey Flotilla     26   17   3   6    54   28  +26    54
 2  Northbrook Diamonds FK      26   13   9   4    44   26  +18    48
 3  SK Aasiaat Harbour          26   15   3   8    37   25  +12    48
 4  SK Franz Josef City         26   14   5   7    45   25  +20    47
 5  FC1. Surtsey Island Gulls   26   12   9   5    42   24  +18    45
 6  SK Nasjonale Hauker         26   13   4   9    43   29  +14    43
 7  East Franz Athletic         26   12   5   9    40   32   +8    41
 8  RSK Longyearbyen Town       26   11   4  11    42   47   −5    37
 9  Resolute Storm 1913 FC      26   10   6  10    31   38   −7    36
10  North Star Grímsey          26   10   5  11    34   31   +3    35
11  FC Axel Heiburg             26   10   4  12    34   39   −5    34
12  Red Star Severny            26    9   6  11    28   34   −6    33
13  Melville Celtic             26    8   7  11    27   36   −9    31
14  Novaya Sibir Reds           26    7   9  10    32   42  −10    30
15  FC Cape St Paul             26    8   6  12    29   42  −13    30
16  Jan Mayen Islanders         26    6   9  11    32   47  −15    27
17  Skipsbyggere IFK            26    4   4  18    23   51  −28    16
18  Scapa Bay Rovers            26    1  10  15    21   42  −21    13

In the second flight...

------Divisjon Two             Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts
 1  FC Torshavn               26   15   8   3    48   29  +19    53
 2  Koppen Rig Force          26   16   3   7    44   25  +19    51
 3  Islay Town Mechanical     26   12   7   7    44   34  +10    43
 4  Neuerlatz AFK             26   12   7   7    46   39   +7    43
 5  Bohemiens Grise Fiord     26   11  10   5    44   37   +7    43
 6  Matahiko Viktory SK       26   13   3  10    41   39   +2    42
 7  SK Sturm Nuuk             26   12   5   9    46   43   +3    41
 8  Rapid Jan Mayen FK        26   11   6   9    30   30    0    39
 9  FC Solovetsky Monastery   26   10   5  11    38   39   −1    35
10  SC Kiel                   26    9   6  11    36   41   −5    33
11  Franz Josef Young Boys    26    7   9  10    33   29   +4    30
12  Måriussa Viking FK        26    6  11   9    33   36   −3    29
13  Eintracht Moss-Rygge      26    8   5  13    28   32   −4    29
14  Rapid SK Eysturoy         26    7   8  11    26   37  −11    29
15  Hospitaliers              26    7   7  12    25   33   −8    28
16  SK Yuzhny Albion          26    6   9  11    27   36   −9    27
17  Lokomotiv Barentsberg     26    4  10  12    32   42  −10    22
18  Sutherland Foundry SK     26    5   7  14    21   41  −20    22

In Divisjon Three...

------Divisjon Three               Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts
 1  Yuzhny Equinox FC             26   14   6   6    53   35  +18    48
 2  Maritime Hove FC              26   14   6   6    53   37  +16    48
 3  AFK Hans Island Pioneers      26   14   5   7    45   31  +14    47
 4  FK Viipuri 56                 26   13   6   7    43   33  +10    45
 5  FK Grise Fiord                26   13   6   7    41   34   +7    45
 6  AC Aleutia Volcanoes          26   13   4   9    34   30   +4    43
 7  Franz Josef Sharks            26   11   9   6    34   26   +8    42
 8  FC North Melville             26   11   7   8    40   32   +8    40
 9  FC1. Rangers                  26    9   8   9    37   38   −1    35
10  Seratakki Villagers           26   11   2  13    33   34   −1    35
11  McAvery Centurions            26    9   6  11    37   44   −7    33
12  Bennett and Zhokhov           26    9   5  12    38   44   −6    32
13  Klub Atletisk Spitsbergen     26    8   6  12    33   44  −11    30
14  FC1. Sturm Grímsey            26    7   8  11    40   42   −2    29
15  Ostermeier Old Boys           26    7   7  12    29   50  −21    28
16  Agheim CF                     26    6   7  13    40   46   −6    25
17  Universitet                   26    6   7  13    36   47  −11    25
18  Severnaya Zemlya 88 Equinox   26    3   7  16    30   49  −19    16

[Polar Islandstates]

Final part of the league season, and we finally get our exiting conclusion!


MATCHDAY 27
SK Franz Josef City 1–2 Northbrook Diamonds FK
FC Cape St Paul 0–1 Jan Mayen Islanders
Melville Celtic 1–2 SK Aasiaat Harbour
SK Nasjonale Hauker 2–1 Skipsbyggere IFK
FC Axel Heiburg 2–1 Red Star Severny
FC1. Bjarnarey Flotilla 2–2 Resolute Storm 1913 FC
FC1. Surtsey Island Gulls 0–1 Scapa Bay Rovers
RSK Longyearbyen Town 1–2 East Franz Athletic
North Star Grímsey 1–1 Novaya Sibir Reds
Coming soon...


MATCHDAY 28
Northbrook Diamonds FK 2–1 North Star Grímsey
Novaya Sibir Reds 1–1 RSK Longyearbyen Town
East Franz Athletic 0–1 FC1. Surtsey Island Gulls
Scapa Bay Rovers 1–3 FC1. Bjarnarey Flotilla
Resolute Storm 1913 FC 1–0 FC Axel Heiburg
Red Star Severny 1–2 SK Nasjonale Hauker
Skipsbyggere IFK 5–2 Melville Celtic
SK Aasiaat Harbour 2–2 FC Cape St Paul
Jan Mayen Islanders 1–1 SK Franz Josef City
Coming soon...



LATITUDE CUP Quarter Finals
Invermuir Highlanders FC 0-2 Northbrook Diamonds FK
SK Franz Josef City 0-1 FC1. Bjarnarey Flotilla
Neuerlatz AFK 1-1 Rapid Jan Mayen FK (1-1 AET, 4-1 PKs)
FC1. Surtsey Island Gulls 2-1 Eintracht Moss-Rygge
The Latitude Cup always brings intrigue with it, and the quarter-finals - played mid-week under the lights as usual - are no exception. Full write-up coming soon...


MATCHDAY 29
Jan Mayen Islanders 0–1 Northbrook Diamonds FK
SK Franz Josef City 1–0 SK Aasiaat Harbour
FC Cape St Paul 2–2 Skipsbyggere IFK
Melville Celtic 2–2 Red Star Severny
SK Nasjonale Hauker 2–0 Resolute Storm 1913 FC
FC Axel Heiburg 0–2 Scapa Bay Rovers
FC1. Bjarnarey Flotilla 1–1 East Franz Athletic
FC1. Surtsey Island Gulls 1–0 Novaya Sibir Reds
RSK Longyearbyen Town 2–0 North Star Grímsey
Coming soon...


MATCHDAY 30
Northbrook Diamonds FK 2–1 RSK Longyearbyen Town
North Star Grímsey 1–2 FC1. Surtsey Island Gulls
Novaya Sibir Reds 1–3 FC1. Bjarnarey Flotilla
East Franz Athletic 3–1 FC Axel Heiburg
Scapa Bay Rovers 0–1 SK Nasjonale Hauker
Resolute Storm 1913 FC 3–3 Melville Celtic
Red Star Severny 2–1 FC Cape St Paul
Skipsbyggere IFK 1–0 SK Franz Josef City
SK Aasiaat Harbour 0–1 Jan Mayen Islanders
Coming soon...

So, four games left, twelve points on the table, and with the customary late break for the Latitude Cup semi final next weekend, here's how things are looking...

------Divisjon One               Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts
 1  FC1. Bjarnarey Flotilla     30   19   5   6    63   33  +30    62
 2  Northbrook Diamonds FK      30   17   9   4    51   29  +22    60
 3  SK Nasjonale Hauker         30   17   4   9    50   31  +19    55
 4  FC1. Surtsey Island Gulls   30   15   9   6    46   26  +20    54
 5  SK Aasiaat Harbour          30   16   4  10    41   30  +11    52
 6  SK Franz Josef City         30   15   6   9    48   29  +19    51
 7  East Franz Athletic         30   14   6  10    46   36  +10    48
 8  RSK Longyearbyen Town       30   12   5  13    47   52   −5    41
 9  Resolute Storm 1913 FC      30   11   8  11    37   45   −8    41
10  Red Star Severny            30   10   7  13    34   41   −7    37
11  FC Axel Heiburg             30   11   4  15    37   46   −9    37
12  North Star Grímsey          30   10   6  14    37   38   −1    36
13  Jan Mayen Islanders         30    8  10  12    35   49  −14    34
14  Melville Celtic             30    8   9  13    35   48  −13    33
15  Novaya Sibir Reds           30    7  11  12    35   48  −13    32
16  FC Cape St Paul             30    8   8  14    34   49  −15    32
17  Skipsbyggere IFK            30    6   5  19    32   57  −25    23
18  Scapa Bay Rovers            30    3  10  17    25   46  −21    19

LATITUDE CUP Semi Finals
Neuerlatz AFK 0-1 FC1. Bjarnarey Flotilla
Northbrook Diamonds FK 2-1 FC1. Surtsey Island Gulls
Full write-up coming soon...


MATCHDAY 31
SK Aasiaat Harbour 2–0 Northbrook Diamonds FK
Jan Mayen Islanders 1–1 Skipsbyggere IFK
SK Franz Josef City 2–1 Red Star Severny
FC Cape St Paul 0–0 Resolute Storm 1913 FC
Melville Celtic 0–1 Scapa Bay Rovers
SK Nasjonale Hauker 5–2 East Franz Athletic
FC Axel Heiburg 7–2 Novaya Sibir Reds
FC1. Bjarnarey Flotilla 1–0 North Star Grímsey
FC1. Surtsey Island Gulls 2–3 RSK Longyearbyen Town
Coming soon...


MATCHDAY 32
Northbrook Diamonds FK 1–2 FC1. Surtsey Island Gulls
RSK Longyearbyen Town 2–1 FC1. Bjarnarey Flotilla
North Star Grímsey 2–1 FC Axel Heiburg
Novaya Sibir Reds 4–1 SK Nasjonale Hauker
East Franz Athletic 2–0 Melville Celtic
Scapa Bay Rovers 1–1 FC Cape St Paul
Resolute Storm 1913 FC 0–1 SK Franz Josef City
Red Star Severny 2–1 Jan Mayen Islanders
Skipsbyggere IFK 2–1 SK Aasiaat Harbour
Coming soon...


MATCHDAY 33
Skipsbyggere IFK 1–3 Northbrook Diamonds FK
SK Aasiaat Harbour 0–2 Red Star Severny
Jan Mayen Islanders 1–1 Resolute Storm 1913 FC
SK Franz Josef City 1–0 Scapa Bay Rovers
FC Cape St Paul 0–0 East Franz Athletic
Melville Celtic 3–2 Novaya Sibir Reds
SK Nasjonale Hauker 1–0 North Star Grímsey
FC Axel Heiburg 3–1 RSK Longyearbyen Town
FC1. Bjarnarey Flotilla 4–0 FC1. Surtsey Island Gulls
Coming soon...


A word also at this point for the Divisjon Two showdown -

------Divisjon Two             Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts
 1  Koppen Rig Force          33   19   5   9    58   36  +22    62
 2  FC Torshavn               33   17  10   6    54   39  +15    61
 3  Matahiko Viktory SK       33   18   3  12    52   49   +3    57
 4  Neuerlatz AFK             33   15  10   8    60   47  +13    55
 5  Rapid Jan Mayen FK        33   16   7  10    47   40   +7    55
 6  Islay Town Mechanical     33   15   8  10    53   43  +10    53
 7  SK Sturm Nuuk             33   15   6  12    59   53   +6    51
 8  Bohemiens Grise Fiord     33   12  11  10    51   54   −3    47
 9  SC Kiel                   33   12   7  14    44   48   −4    43
10  FC Solovetsky Monastery   33   12   6  15    44   48   −4    42
11  Hospitaliers              33   11   7  15    37   44   −7    40
12  Rapid SK Eysturoy         33   10   9  14    37   43   −6    39
13  Franz Josef Young Boys    33    9  10  14    41   40   +1    37
14  Måriussa Viking FK        33    8  13  12    45   51   −6    37
15  Eintracht Moss-Rygge      33   10   6  17    35   42   −7    36
16  Sutherland Foundry SK     33    9   9  15    36   53  −17    36
17  SK Yuzhny Albion          33    8  10  15    35   48  −13    34
18  Lokomotiv Barentsberg     33    6  13  14    41   51  −10    31

MATCHDAY 34
Northbrook Diamonds FK 3–3 FC1. Bjarnarey Flotilla
FC1. Surtsey Island Gulls 1–0 FC Axel Heiburg
RSK Longyearbyen Town 1–1 SK Nasjonale Hauker
North Star Grímsey 3–3 Melville Celtic
Novaya Sibir Reds 3–0 FC Cape St Paul
East Franz Athletic 1–1 SK Franz Josef City
Scapa Bay Rovers 0–0 Jan Mayen Islanders
Resolute Storm 1913 FC 2–3 SK Aasiaat Harbour
Red Star Severny 1–1 Skipsbyggere IFK
Full write-up coming soon...

So, your final league table then...

------Divisjon One               Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts
 1  FC1. Bjarnarey Flotilla     34   21   6   7    72   38  +34    69 - Champions, IFCF CL, CdC
 2  Northbrook Diamonds FK      34   18  10   6    58   37  +21    64 - IFCF CC
 3  SK Nasjonale Hauker         34   19   5  10    58   38  +20    62 - IFCF CC
 4  SK Franz Josef City         34   18   7   9    53   31  +22    61 - IFCF CC
 5  FC1. Surtsey Island Gulls   34   17   9   8    51   34  +17    60
 6  SK Aasiaat Harbour          34   18   4  12    47   36  +11    58
 7  East Franz Athletic         34   15   8  11    51   42   +9    53
 8  RSK Longyearbyen Town       34   14   6  14    54   59   −5    48
 9  Red Star Severny            34   12   8  14    40   45   −5    44
10  FC Axel Heiburg             34   13   4  17    48   52   −4    43
11  Resolute Storm 1913 FC      34   11  10  13    40   50  −10    43
12  North Star Grímsey          34   11   7  16    42   44   −2    40
13  Novaya Sibir Reds           34    9  11  14    46   59  −13    38
14  Melville Celtic             34    9  10  15    41   56  −15    37
15  Jan Mayen Islanders         34    8  13  13    38   53  −15    37
16  FC Cape St Paul             34    8  11  15    35   53  −18    35 - Relegated
17  Skipsbyggere IFK            34    7   7  20    37   63  −26    28 - Relegated
18  Scapa Bay Rovers            34    4  12  18    27   48  −21    24 - Relegated



CHAMPIONS: FC1. Bjarnarey Flotilla
Runners-Up: Northbrook Diamonds FK
Relegated: FC Cape St Paul, Skipsbyggere IFK, Scapa Bay Rovers
Awards coming soon...

In the second flight, full write-up coming soon...

------Divisjon Two             Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts
 1  FC Torshavn               34   18  10   6    56   40  +16    64 - Promoted, IFCF LBCT
 2  Koppen Rig Force          34   19   6   9    58   36  +22    63 - Promoted, IFCF LBCT
 3  Matahiko Viktory SK       34   19   3  12    55   50   +5    60 - Promoted, IFCF LBCT
 4  Neuerlatz AFK             34   15  10   9    60   49  +11    55
 5  Rapid Jan Mayen FK        34   16   7  11    48   42   +6    55
 6  Islay Town Mechanical     34   15   9  10    54   44  +10    54
 7  SK Sturm Nuuk             34   15   7  12    61   55   +6    52
 8  Bohemiens Grise Fiord     34   13  11  10    56   55   +1    50
 9  FC Solovetsky Monastery   34   13   6  15    46   48   −2    45
10  SC Kiel                   34   12   8  14    45   49   −4    44
11  Rapid SK Eysturoy         34   11   9  14    39   44   −5    42
12  Hospitaliers              34   11   8  15    38   45   −7    41
13  Franz Josef Young Boys    34    9  10  15    42   42    0    37
14  Eintracht Moss-Rygge      34   10   7  17    37   44   −7    37
15  Måriussa Viking FK        34    8  13  13    46   54   −8    37
16  Sutherland Foundry SK     34    9  10  15    37   54  −17    37 - Relegated
17  SK Yuzhny Albion          34    8  10  16    36   53  −17    34 - Relegated
18  Lokomotiv Barentsberg     34    6  14  14    41   51  −10    32 - Relegated


Awards coming soon...

In the third tier, full write-up coming soon...

------Divisjon Three               Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts
 1  FK Viipuri 56                 34   18   9   7    59   42  +17    63 - Promoted
 2  Maritime Hove FC              34   18   7   9    70   50  +20    61 - Promoted
 3  Yuzhny Equinox FC             34   18   6  10    66   51  +15    60 - Promoted
 4  AFK Hans Island Pioneers      34   16   9   9    53   39  +14    57
 5  AC Aleutia Volcanoes          34   16   7  11    44   38   +6    55
 6  FK Grise Fiord                34   15   8  11    50   47   +3    53
 7  Franz Josef Sharks            34   13  12   9    43   35   +8    51
 8  FC North Melville             34   13  10  11    54   49   +5    49
 9  McAvery Centurions            34   13   8  13    51   54   −3    47
10  FC1. Sturm Grímsey            34   12  10  12    55   47   +8    46
11  FC1. Rangers                  34   10  12  12    46   51   −5    42
12  Bennett and Zhokhov           34   11   9  14    55   63   −8    42
13  Seratakki Villagers           34   13   3  18    39   51  −12    42
14  Agheim CF                     34   10   9  15    57   57    0    39
15  Klub Atletisk Spitsbergen     34   10   6  18    43   60  −17    36 - Relegated
16  Ostermeier Old Boys           34    9   9  16    42   65  −23    36 - Relegated
17  Universitet                   34    9   8  17    46   55   −9    35 - Relegated
18  Severnaya Zemlya 88 Equinox   34    6  10  18    41   60  −19    28 - Relegated


Awards coming soon...

In the Challenge League East Divisjon, full write-up coming soon...

------East Divisjon             Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts
 1  Korsten Lokomotiv          26   14   7   5    50   30  +20    49 - Promoted
 2  Uelmark MK                 26   13   5   8    52   33  +19    44 - Promoted
 3  Vale of Moray              26   13   5   8    32   30   +2    44
 4  Sisimut Black Star         26   13   3  10    44   38   +6    42
 5  Steffansson Island FC      26   11   8   7    41   29  +12    41
 6  Krykkjesund Olympic        26   10   8   8    34   29   +5    38
 7  IHK Geddesberg             26   11   4  11    40   46   −6    37
 8  Invermuir Highlanders FC   26    9   7  10    37   35   +2    34
 9  Ingvar Peaks FC            26    9   6  11    31   36   −5    33
10  San Moranna FC             26    8   8  10    24   29   −5    32
11  Aleutia Town Dragons       26    7   8  11    28   37   −9    29 - Relegated
12  Hauken Orca                26    6  10  10    23   28   −5    28 - Relegated
13  KA Rikyaare                26    6   7  13    34   44  −10    25 - Relegated
14  SK Thor 1898               26    6   6  14    25   51  −26    24 - Relegated


Awards coming soon...

In the West meanwhile, full write-up coming soon...

------West Divisjon          Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts
 1  Meteor Kholmsk SK       26   15   4   7    37   24  +13    49 - Promoted
 2  GVFFK Pekarik           26   14   3   9    41   39   +2    45 - Promoted
 3  Torpedo Sibir RKA       26   11  11   4    40   29  +11    44
 4  FK Ost-Volonovsk        26   13   3  10    46   32  +14    42
 5  FK Norsviken Cossacks   26   12   6   8    39   33   +6    42
 6  Ueland-Alne             26   11   5  10    42   41   +1    38
 7  Devon Bay Lights FC     26   10   7   9    36   27   +9    37
 8  Energie Zemlya FK       26   10   6  10    36   35   +1    36
 9  Logan United FC         26   11   3  12    35   36   −1    36
10  Axel Town AFC           26    9   8   9    38   43   −5    35
11  FC Fetlar               26    9   5  12    38   42   −4    32 - Relegated
12  KSC Brighthelmstone     26    7   7  12    30   43  −13    28 - Relegated
13  Northbrook Zenith FC    26    7   4  15    34   48  −14    25 - Relegated
14  NKK Urri                26    4   6  16    22   42  −20    18 - Relegated


Awards coming soon...

In the ever-competitive Regional League, full write-ups are also coming soon...

------Central Premier             Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts
 1  Larsen Bay Thunder FC        44   27  12   5    91   47  +44    93 - Promoted
 2  West End                     44   22  11  11    69   52  +17    77 - Promoted
 3  1. Lokomotiv Karlstadt       44   22  10  12    73   58  +15    76
 4  Machtspool Whitesleeves FC   44   20  14  10    79   57  +22    74
 5  Royal NK Sikjonek            44   15  15  14    69   70   −1    60
 6  Green Star Kobelevskov       44   17   7  20    58   61   −3    58
 7  FC Velcosta Cliffs           44   16   8  20    62   63   −1    56
 8  Bindelsfjorden Dynamo        44   15   9  20    70   79   −9    54
 9  SK Nolmkien 1949             44   13  14  17    63   73  −10    53
10  St Gallen 47                 44   11  12  21    55   79  −24    45
11  FKS-North                    44   11  11  22    44   62  −18    44
12  AIK Winterthur               44    8  11  25    41   73  −32    35 - Relegated


Awards coming soon...

In the North-Eastern, write-up coming soon...

------North-Eastern Premier     Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts
 1  Sporting Club Aasiaat 87   44   26  11   7    79   46  +33    89 - Promoted
 2  SK Stryær                  44   24  12   8    85   52  +33    84 - Promoted
 3  Aurich-Hassen Scouts FC    44   21  14   9    79   51  +28    77
 4  FC Kampengar Magpies       44   21   9  14    76   62  +14    72
 5  Sannegarden Fleet FK       44   20  11  13    74   61  +13    71
 6  Hanshaugen Gate FK         44   16  15  13    65   55  +10    63
 7  Resolute Hills FC          44   14  10  20    53   66  −13    52
 8  FK Aagen Zenith            44   13  12  19    53   62   −9    51
 9  Waldenøya Bears            44   11  16  17    49   63  −14    49
10  Oaks of Fjellisroy         44   13   8  23    61   69   −8    47
11  Aurora Hammarby            44   12   9  23    48   87  −39    45
12  Boden 61                   44    4  11  29    41   89  −48    23 - Relegated


Awards coming soon...

In the South-Eastern, write-up coming soon...

------South-Eastern Premier       Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts
 1  AIK Alejavik                 44   27   6  11    77   42  +35    87 - Promoted
 2  Bielstrich Timbers FC        44   20  15   9    75   61  +14    75 - Promoted
 3  Bathurst Zenith FC           44   21   8  15    79   52  +27    71
 4  Holtrecht Force SK           44   18  13  13    66   56  +10    67
 5  US Saint-John                44   20   5  19    68   66   +2    65
 6  Ilksporta IK                 44   18  10  16    62   60   +2    64
 7  Forrairn St Johan FC         44   17  10  17    59   62   −3    61
 8  Friedrichsund Fencing Club   44   16   8  20    62   74  −12    56
 9  Sleijnmakt Sport             44   15   8  21    54   69  −15    53
10  Lindesvogne Violets          44   13  11  20    57   73  −16    50
11  Cap-Pele Cotdelapomais       44   11  10  23    48   69  −21    43
12  Crusaders                    44   11  10  23    48   71  −23    43 - Relegated


Awards coming soon...

Finally, the Western Premier has a write-up coming soon...

------Western Premier          Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts
 1  Bulargen Independents     44   22  14   8    72   45  +27    80 - Promoted
 2  Devon Bay Seals FC        44   20  13  11    71   46  +25    73 - Promoted
 3  Orebro FK                 44   18  11  15    67   59   +8    65
 4  FK Fairbanks              44   18  11  15    60   53   +7    65
 5  Fynersturen Valhalla      44   18  11  15    55   57   −2    65
 6  Okhotsk Kholmsk Town FC   44   16  14  14    61   53   +8    62
 7  IHK Sirius                44   15  13  16    62   63   −1    58
 8  Gjornhammer Pier FC       44   14  11  19    51   65  −14    53
 9  Fjorhorgen SK             44   11  18  15    53   58   −5    51
10  Dinamo Olsa FK            44   10  20  14    60   66   −6    50
11  SK Stromness Electric     44   12   9  23    52   72  −20    45
12  SV Keldira Zenith         44    9  17  18    42   69  −27    44 - Relegated


Awards coming soon...

And so with four teams relegated, we also need to say welcome to the four new teams promoted from the new second tiers of the Regional Conferences:
TBC, TBC, TBC, and TBC.




Full final write-up coming soon...

Final
Meteor Kholmsk SK 2-1 Korsten Lokomotiv

Full final write-up coming soon...

Semi-Finals
Bulargen Independents 4-1 AIK Reykjavik
AIK Alejavik 3-2 Bulargen Independents (4-6 agg)

Sporting Club Aasiaat 87 1-0 Larsen Bay Thunder FC
Larsen Bay Thunder FC 1-1 Sporting Club Aasiaat 87 (1-2 agg)

Final
Sporting Club Aasiaat 87 1-0 Bulargen Independents

So, to the Latitude Cup final then; the centerpiece of the closing weeks of the season. And guess what, it has a full final write-up coming soon...

Final
Northbrook Diamonds FK 1-3 FC1. Bjarnarey Flotilla

CHAMPIONS: FC1. Bjarnarey Flotilla

Polar Islandstates (PIS) qualifiers
Champions League: FC1. Bjarnarey Flotilla
Challengers Cup: Northbrook Diamonds FK, SK Nasjonale Hauker, SK Franz Josef City
Liga B Champions Trophy: FC Torshavn, Koppen Rig Force, Matahiko Viktory SK
Cup Winners’ Cup: FC1. Bjarnarey Flotilla

CdC: FC1. Bjarnarey Flotilla