This time next week the festival of football that is the World Cup will be underway with Russia playing Saudi Arabia next Thursday. Let’s hope we’re still just talking about football on the Friday….. A better week this week with the bank holidays done for now, just a little matter of Parklife and SoccerAid to deal with this week, and a World Cup for the 4 weeks after that……

LEAGUE NEWS

There is a consistency across each of the league nights at the moment, as we have ONE AVAILABLE LEAGUE SPACE ON EACH NIGHT! The Sunday league is still in the first few weeks so any new teams wouldn’t be starting too far behind and could potentially catch games up, while the new Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday leagues will all be starting in the not too distant future, providing a few weeks for new teams to get friendlies on the go before starting up for real!

The third heat of the BALLERS WORLD CUP takes place this Sunday at 3pm. At time of writing there’s still a couple of spaces left, but by the time you read this they might be gone….. There’s only one way to find out!

For details on any of the above, get in touch for details.

SUNDAY LEAGUE

This Sunday top division looks set to be a belter, with three highly competitive games taking place this week. Champions Duno went straight from the World Cup Tournament into a game with a Real Maskid team featuring a couple of changes from their regular numbers this week, but it didn’t look to affect them as they took a two goal lead in the opening 10 minutes. Zac Ferguson and Dietar Downs, both making their Ballers debut got the goals, but the lead was halved 10 minutes before the break when Liam Watson pulled one back for Duno. Jordan Milne drew Duno level two minutes after the break, and they were in front for the first time when the same player scored again three minutes later. With no subs, Maskid ran out of steam in difficult conditions, and Duno sealed the victory with further goals from Jack Cope, Calvin Alexander and Milne in the final 15 minutes to make it two wins from two to start their title defence in the best possible way. The Sunday Classico arrived early this season as Kinky Slipper and Insole looked to claim back a title they’ve won 6 times between them since Ballers started. Adam (not just Adam) Seddon gave Kinky the lead in the third minute, but Aaron Campbell leveled up for Insole three minutes later. Seddon restored the lead with his second 11 minutes from the break, but again Insole hit back through Jordan Cunningham’s 21st minute equiliser. Kinky lead at the break through Seddon’s third two minutes later, but wouldn’t you just know it we were level for a third time when Jack Atkinson struck 4 minutes into the second period. James Ratcliffe put Kinky in front for a 4th time 14 minutes from time, and they looked to have the game won when Seddon got his 4th 7 minutes later. Cunningham pulled one back for Insole two minutes later, but they couldn’t pull another leveler out of the bag and Kinky pick up their first win of the season to sit second in the early league table. Bangers & Pash got their first full Ballers season underway (25 minutes late) against promoted El Caliente, and got off to a flyer against a side that had already also played in the World Cup heats that afternoon as Harry Kilmartin scored in the second minute. The remainder of the half was fairly tight, but two goals in the final 6 minutes of the half turned things Caliente’s way as Kieran Norris and Emmanuel both scored to see them into the break with a 2-1 lead. Devine extended their lead 5 minutes into the second period, and they looked set for a minor shock when Michael Jennison made it 4-1 two minutes later. Three goals in a mad two minute spell had us level again just three minutes after Jennison’s strike, as Alex Fowell scored two and Matt Sheehan the other to make it 4-4 with 15 to play. It was Bangers who had the energy to go on and win the game as Fowell and Sheehan both scored in the final 5 minutes to give them a winning start to the season.

Stockport Eagles had an impressive opening day win over Team Tom last week, and were looking to keep up their good start against Pat’s Giants, who they’d had a couple of very competitive games last season. Ryan McAndrew gave them a 5th minute lead here, that was quickly wiped out by Fred Winterbottom’s leveler. The Eagles soared into a half time lead through Ben Waugh’s 18th minute goal, but Winterbottom sent us into the final 19 minutes all square at Desmond. It was the Eagles who made it 6 points from 6 with the winner from McAndrew 12 minutes from time, and they sit top in the early stages. A much changed Kipsta Cobras team took on Wellspring in both teams first games of the season following the bank holiday of last weekend. Kipsta took early control of this one through Mike Pinder’s opening minute goal, and they didn’t let up throughout a one sided first half. Matty Aked added a second on 10 minutes, before Pinder added two more and Kieron Mills a double to give them a 6-0 half time lead. The second half didn’t get much better for Wellspring, as Mills added another two in the opening three minutes, before they finally had some success of their own as Mike Devitt scored two to launch their comeback. The launch was aborted when an own goal,, two more from Mills and another from Kenny Chui rounded off a most comfortable win for Kipsta. The regular players might not get back in at this rate…..

Sevilla Lacatalent look to have been put in at the right level after talk of them going in the bottom division was dismissed. They got off to a slow start against Step Brothers this week as they waited for their 6th player to arrive, and they were two down through two Tom Cioffi goals in the first 12 minutes. With a full squad they hit back, and a goal from Mike Lavin and two from Daniel Wilson turned things in their favour before half time. Wilson and Jake Riley both scored in the opening 10 minutes of the second half to ease Sevilla three goals clear, and though Rob Sheldon reduced that to two with 5 to play, Riley and Wilson added further goals to give Sevilla a second straight win. Ladzio FC made an instant impact on their Ballers debut last week with an impressive win over FC Stront Bakken, and took on one of our longest standing teams this week in Inter Your Sister. They started well again here as Lewis Findlow, George Cox and Jack Shepherd gave them a three goal lead in the opening 10 minutes. Craig Johnson pulled one back for Inter, but Cox restored the three goal lead before Johnson got his second to keep Inter in touch. Findlow and Cox both scored again as Ladzio looked like they might run away with this one, and though Ryan McAndrew pulled another back for Inter, the lead at the break was 4 as Shepherd also added his second of the game. Inter threatened a comeback at the start of the second half as McAndrew and Michael Winn reduced the Ladzio lead to two within 6 minutes of the restart, but two goals in as many minutes from Cox and Shepherd all but ended the Inter hopes of taking something from this one. Findlow grabbed his third 4 minutes from time to clinch a second straight win for the new boys, and they go into this week’s game with Sevilla with a 100% record to defend. Stront Bakken and The McMuffin Men were looking to bounce back from disappointing opening nights, and defences were hardly on top throughout this one. It was 4-4 at the break after an opening half where the lead changed hands several times, Declan Matthews and Lukas Voveris grabbing two each for the Bucket Boys, while Charley Eyre also grabbed two to goalongside goals from Sam Delgado and Logan Sherer for McMuffins in a half where there was never more than one goal between the teams. That changed at the start of the second half as Matthews and Voveris both scored in the first f=4 minutes of the half to give give Stront Bakken some breathing space. It didn’t last long as Eyre and Delgado quickly drew McMuffins level again, before a goal each from Patrick Mitchell an Eyre left us at 7-7 with 15 minutes still to play. Matthews 4th looked like it might have been the clincher as Stront Bakken desperately tried to hold on, but a last minute goal credited to Eyre gave him his 5th of the game and ensured McMuffins took a point from this one.

The Veterans started their quest to escape the Sunday league basement with a win over Rooneytunes last week, but faced an ever improving Beercalona this week trying to build on their momentum. Beercalona were another team who gave last week a miss, but they hit the ground running as Rob Prince and Dave Watson put them two up in the opening quarter of an hour. Paul Atherton pulled one back three minutes before half time, but Beercalona lead by two at the break as Prince got his second on the stroke of half time. For long periods of the second half it looked like the game was drifting towards a Beercalona win, but Atherton got his second 10 minutes from time to give us the potential for a big finish, and we got one as two goals in two minutes from Simon Grainger and Atherton gave The Veterans a victory that looked unlikely for long periods. Two out of two for them. Deportivo Lack Of Talent were here for a second week in a row, which in itself is an achievement, and they were also looking to make it two wins from two to start their campaign. This was FC AOTS first outing of the season, and Scott Robinson gave them a second minute lead  which Eoghan Scott added to in the 12th minute. Deportivo hit back and were level three minutes before the break as Rob Parker and Brad Peet scored two in 5 minutes, but Scott got his second a minute later to see AOTS into the break with a 3-2 lead. The second half was an attritional affair, but just as AOTS looked like seeing the game out, Parker grabbed his second a minute from time to maintain Deportivo’s unbeaten start to the season.

In friendlies this week Team Tom took on Exeter Gently, who kindly stayed on after the tournament to give them a game after the shock and upsetting departure of Polish Army until September. Let’s hope we’re still around! In a game that was the dictionary definition of friendly, the Tommers ran out 7-2 winners with 4 of the goals coming from new player Phil Partakis. Rooneytunes unexpectedly turned up despite their game being cancelled, so we hurriedly arranged for Wellspring to stop on and give them a game after their league game. We’re not sure how seriously either team took this game, but Rooneytunes ran out 10-3 winners. Apparently this was Cian Gillespie’s final game for them, as he is no longer needed to provide transport as other lads in the team now drive. Turns out he’d been playing to help the lads out as he doesn’t even really like playing football. Now that’s a true mate……!

WE HAVE ONE SPACE IN THE SUNDAY CHAMPIONSHIP. FOR MORE DETAILS OR TO REGISTER GET IN TOUCH.

MONDAY LEAGUE

This Monday Premiership looks set to go all the way, with no teams having managed to get to the three game point with a 100% record. Not A Chance are the early pace setters, and they faced a tough test of their title credentials against two time former winners AC Milmanchester. Kyle Bell gave the Chancers an early lead, before a mad spell of three goals in 4 minutes put them well in control, two more from Bell and another from Jack Halsall. Aaron Edwards got ACM on the board just before half time, and Simon Hackney got another 4 minutes after the restart. Milmanchester stepped up the pressure, and Chancers ‘keeper Paul Bardsley kept them at bay time and time again. Not only that, a speculative long clearance from the same player managed to make it’s way into the goal to give Not A Chance a 5-2 lead with 10 to play. Jam(?) quickly pulled two back for ACM and we were back to a one goal game, but Chris Priestley eased the Chancers two ahead again with 4 minutes left. Edwards grabbed his second in the final minute but it wasn’t enough, and Not A Chance maintain their position at the top of the table. After a slow start to the season, Expected Toulouse needed a win over Phantom Brazilians to stay in touch at the top. The first half was tight, with goals from Niall Hillen and Wasim Akram at either end of the half giving Expected a two goal half time lead. Matt Barton halved the deficit in the first minute of the second period, but Jack Grundy quickly restored the two goal lead before Akram and Jordan Milne put Toulouse out of sight half way through the second half. Andrew Shaw pulled one back for Phantom, and grabbed himself a second in the final minute, but Toulouse pick up a second straight wain against the same opposition to go second in the table, three points off the top.

Diva Fever have managed to do enough to pick up wins in all of their Baller games so far, but faced a tough test against pre-season favourites Netsix & Chill this week. Netsix started the better and missed a number of chances before they finally broke the deadlock through Brad Street’s 14th minute goal. They doubled the lead seconds later through Liam Atkinson’s finish, but Joe Dodd made the most of some slack play to get the Divas on the board soon after. Mike Pinder extended the Netsix lead 4 minutes before the break, and in a more even second half Matty Aked looked to have sealed the win with a goal 8 minutes from time. Football isn’t always that straightforward though, and within three minutes Diva were level as Will Thatcher and Dodd scored within seconds of each other to make it 4-4. Dodd got his third three minutes later to give Diva the lead for the first time, and Thatcher grabbed his second a minute later to give Diva Fever a lead that looked unlikely for long periods. 4 out of 4 for them. Jeremy Cheadle needed a win against Pathetico to stay in the mix for promotion, and they were two up in no time as Adam Whelan scored twice in the first 7 minutes. Nathan Thomson pulled one back for Pathetico, but Whelan added two more to make it 4-1 half way though the first period. James Littlewood halved the deficit again for Pathetico, but Jack Whelan quickly restored the three goal Cheadle lead. Whelan’s Adam and Alex both scored in the final 5 minutes of the half, but Joe Bates and Craig Moss responed for Pathetico to leave us at 7-4 at the break. The second half was a one sided affair as a recently struggling Pathetico ran out of steam, with Alex scoring three, Adam two, Jack one and Mike Astley the other as Cheadle pick up a comfortable win.

THERE IS ONE SPACE IN THE TOP DIVISION OF THE MONDAY LEAGUE (UNLESS RHINO KET REAPPEAR IN THE NEXT FEW DAYS). FOR MORE INFORMATION GET IN TOUCH.

TUESDAY LEAGUE

It’s a sad situation to have to report, but the recent drop outs of three previously reliable teams has left us with a Tuesday Premiership that needs the season to end in order to rebuild for next season. The one thing still to be determined was the actual destination of the title. Gangs Of Dwight Yorke remained the heavy favourites, but defeat for them against Shaka this week would keep the hopes of their opposition alive for now. Callum Jones gave the current title holders the lead in the 4th minute, but goals from Dan Kitchingham and Ryan Green had Shaka in front before the 10 minute mark. Josh Morrisey drew Gangs level 11 minutes before the break, before a frantic final few minutes of the half saw Shaka level up twice as all 4 previous scorers grabbed a second goal each. Jake Dean put Gangs back in front three minutes into the second half, and though Liam Paull quickly leveled again for Shaka, Morrisey and Dean scored again to give Gangs a two goal lead for the first time. When Jones added two more in a minute Gangs lead 9-5 with 14 to play. An own goal and a Mark Brookes finish reduced that lead back to two with 5 minutes left, but Chris Singelton’s goal three minutes from time meant that Green’s third in the final minute was just a consolation. It’s looking like another perfect 10 for Gangs this season.

Stroke Titty are Premiership bound for the new season, and looked to maintain their 100% record against a somewhat ropey LQ FC who were fresh 5 days of sociable drinking in Germany. Jay Willingham and Sam Cawthra put the leaders two up in the opening 10 minutes, but LQ were putting up a decent fight and missed plenty of chances of their own before Joe Lailey made it 3-0 at the break. Willingham added two more and Ryan Stevens another as Stroke went 6 up with 14 minutes to play, before LQ finally got on the board through Alex Brash’s finish. Willingham got his 4th immediately after, but LQ made the scoreline a little more respectable with goals from Brash and George Springer in the dying moments. Two improving teams faced off with Black Jack starting the night three points clear of this weeks opposition Beercalona, and only three behind second placed Wellspring. Beercalona started well as Tom Ratcliffe and Dave Watson gave them an early two goal lead, but after Ryan Alderson and Joe Dear struck to bring Jack level with 11 minutes of the half to go, the wheels fell off in the final 5 for Beercalona as two goals from Pat Bradshaw and one each for Jack Roberts and Alex Harper gave Black Jack a 6-2 half time lead. Beercalona regrouped at half time and the second half was fairly end to end, but it was Black Jack who took more chances as Roberts and Harri Budd extended their lead to 6 before Dave Seton grabbed a late consolation.

We welcomed new team Class On Fake Grass to the league this week, and they went up against some familiar foes in Wellspring in their first friendly, and despite making a decent fist of it for long periods the more experienced league team ran out 7-1 winners, with Lewis Arden and Jamie Berrisford both grabbing three, while Oli Wyatt became Class’ first Ballers goalscorer.

THE NEW TUESDAY LEAGUE STARTS ON  3RD JULY, WITH ONE SPACE LEFT TO FILL BEFORE WE START AGAIN. IT WON’T STICK AROUND LONG SO GET IN TOUCH ASAP FOR DETAILS OR TO REGISTER. FRIENDLIES AVAILABLE OVER THE NEXT THREE WEEKS.

WEDNESDAY LEAGUE

The game that would go a long way towards determining the winners of this season’s Wednesday league was here this week as Stockport Eagles, who for long periods of the season seemed to have the title in their grip, took on two time champions Michu At De Gea Ba. The Eagles form has dipped at the wrong time of the season, but they started well with Ray Donnelly’s second minute finish giving them an early lead. The majority of the rest of the half belonged to Michu though, as Adam Porter, Michael Jennison and Fidelis Eberegbe scored to put them 3-1 up 9 minutes before the break. An own goal a couple of minutes from half time got Eagles back into it, and they stepped up the pace at the start of the second half. Their pressure paid off when Donnelly and Ryan McAndrew scored two in a minute to put them back in front with 15 minutes to play. It was Michu’s turn to go for it as Eagles started running low on energy, but as chances came and went and time ebbed away, Jennison grabbed a leveler three minutes from time, and with almost the last kick of the game Alex Brady won it for Michu, who go a point clear at the top of the table with a game in hand. Polish Army’s final league game with us for the time being was, fittingly, a Polish derby against Magpie. After a quiet opening 10 minutes the game burst into life in the final 15 of the period as the Army stormed into a 5 goal half time lead. Mateusz got the first before two each from Marcin and Bania put the Army well in control. The second half also started slowly, but at least this time it was Magpie who got the first goal as Stanislaw Cierpiatka got them on the board 9 minutes in. The wheels fell off for them in the final 10 as the Army added 5 more, three from Marcin, two from Bania and the final Army goal coming from one of their newer players, Julian. A fitting end to their time with us for now, hopefully we will see them again in September. Ajax Treesdown will be one to watch next season as they have had an impressive start to Ballers life, and they went up against the always hit and miss Exeter Gently this week. Spolier alert, it was a ‘miss’ week for them this week as Evan Farrell grabbed 4, Daniel Kitchingham and Chris Gee one each as Ajax stormed into a 6 goal half time lead. Jordan Hardman, Sam Cawthra and Luke Novacki added further goals in the first 11 minutes of the half, before Exeter grabbed a couple of their own in the final 10 minutes from Kristian Igo and Dan Williams. Ajax finished with a flurry as Cawthra, Novacki and Hardman all grabbed their second of the half to ease Ajax to a comfortable win.

THE NEW WEDNESDAY LEAGUE STARTS IN A FEW WEEKS BUT LOOKS SET TO BE FULL. HEAD TO ONE OF THE OTHER NIGHTS FOR SPACES.