It’s time to start thinking about those post-World Cup resolutions! We’re sure everyone has been enjoying the BBQ’s and beers over the past month, but now it’s nearly time to get back to it.

Not going to lie, while we’ve personally been massively enjoying the World Cup and the incredible weather, it’s done nothing for getting players on the pitches of Ballers in recent weeks. At least one of them will be over by next week…..

LEAGUE NEWS

We conceded defeat in our attempts to get the NEW TUESDAY LEAGUE started before the World Cup ended, with the first scheduled night having dropped on the night of England’s second round game, and then the World Cup semi final, so we’ll be getting kicked off NEXT WEEK, with a potential space still available for anyone wanting to get back into it.

The current MONDAY LEAGUE is approaching the end of the season, and we’re looking at having a couple of spaces for any teams wanting to get involved. Now’s the time to let us know.

FOR ANY INFORMATION ON ANY OF THE ABOVE, FILL IN A JOIN A LEAGUE FORM FROM THE HOME PAGE.

SUNDAY LEAGUE

A better overall turnout this week saw at least two games played in each division, and after missing the last couple of weeks El Caliente were looking to continue their impressive recent form with a tough test against Champions and leaders Duno FC. Early goals from Liam Watson and Jay Berrisford had us level at 1-1 with 6 minutes on the clock, and it remained tight going into the final 10 minutes of the half as Nathaniel Odysseus-Kingsley replied to goals from Jack Cope and Zak (just Zak, he only has one name, a bit like Cher) to leave us at 3-2. It was the leaders who pulled away with three goals in the final 7 minutes of the half, two from Ray Donnelly and one from Calvin Alexander. Caliente needed to get back in it early in the second half, but the next goal also went Duno’s way with Donnelly getting his second, and though Danny King did get the next goal for Caliente, Duno pulled away with further goals from Watson (2), Alexander and Donnelly. Ross Grealey got another for Caliente but that was obviously not going to mean much, and Donnelly got his 5th before Watson joined him by adding another couple before the full time whistle. Insole have been looking back to their old selves lately, while Bangers & Pash have barely been here but were here this week. They didn’t really turn up for the first half as Insole raced into a 4 goal lead through goals from Kurtes Curran, two from Kyle Clarke and another for Liam Atkinson. MacKenzie Hope got Bangers on the score sheet 4 minutes before the break, but Jack Atkinson made sure Insole were 4 up at the break three minutes later. Jack and an own goal pretty much sealed the win for Insole, and though Michael (just Michael) got another for Bangers, Insole completed a comfortable win with further goals from Jordan Cunningham, Curran, Liam Atkinson and Clarke. Insole have jumped from bottom to second with two consecutive wins.

New boys Netsix & Chill agreed to play two games this week as they attempt to catch up missed games, and they started the evening by taking on Team Tom, who were winless going into this week’s games. They looked like remaining winless as Netsix raced into a 5 goal lead in the opening 15 minutes, Joe Cole with three of them, Jaden Robinson and Kai Lawless the other two. Tom Hornsby got the Tommers on the board, and his second three minutes into the second half meant it could be game on again. Lewis Hall edged Netsix clear again, but Liam Bancroft quickly replied and Adam Priest added another to send us into the final 15 minutes at 6-4. The new team finished on a high though, as Robinson and James Riley grabbed late goals to give Netsix their first Ballers win at the second attempt. Their third attempt will be one for them to forget as the immediately took on one of the promotion favourites Stockport Eagles. The Eagles soared into a three goal half time lead through two goals from Ryan McAndrew and one from Ray Donnelly, but on a hot Sunday evening Netsix wilted in the second period. Paul Waugh got two, Liam Watson three, Calvin Alexander, McAndrew and Michael Winn one apiece, with Joe Cole denying Eagles a clean sheet in the latter stages.

With Ladzio missing their first game since joining Ballers, Sevilla Lacatalent had the chance to close the gap on the leaders as they took on the very hit and miss Step Brothers. Thomas Cioffi gave Step Brothers an early lead, and namesake Dom restored their lead after Jake Riley had briefly leveled for Sevilla, before Riley scored two in a minute to send Sevilla into the break with a 3-2 lead. Things turned back in the Brothers favour as Tom and Dom scored in the first 5 minutes of the second half to put them back in front, and a couple of pieces of magic from Chris Moore looked to have given them a shock win as they lead 6-3 with 8 minutes left . Riley got his 4th to reduce the deficit, and we had a grand finale as Sam Melling and David Witter scored in the final few minutes to give each team a share of the spoils. Inter Your Sister were looking to add to their first win of the season last week as they took on FC Stront Bakken, but they fell behind in the 5th minute as Declan Matthews gave the Bucket Boys the lead. The returning Brandon Byers-Wilkes leveled up for Inter, and they lead 3-1 at the break as Dave Smythe helped himself to two goals before adding a third in the first minute of the second period. The game looked done as Gaz Sumner added their 5th a minute later, and though Matthews pulled one back for Bakken Inter quickly added two more through Smythe and Byers-Wilkes. The game was lost for Stront Bakken, but Matthews did grab another couple before Sumner completed the scoring in the final minute. All of a sudden Inter have gone from being bottom to being 4 points off second place, Stront Bakken are now bottom.

Deportivo Lack Of Talent remained top going into this week’s round of fixtures and would have been expecting to maintain their lead as they took on bottom placed SK Six. SK may be without a point this season, but they don’t often take a hammering and they hit the front through Harry Bridge’s 9th minute goal. Their lead lasted just two minutes as Josh Jackson drew Deportivo level, and two goals in two minute just before the break from Ben Proctor and Rob Parker put them in control heading into the second period. SK got the first goal of that second half as Brad Bent scored 6 minutes in, but Parker restored the two goal lead with 12 minutes remaining. The same player finished this one off with a couple of goals in the final few minutes, with Bent grabbing SK’s third as a consolation in the final minute. That result meant Deportivo would remain top regardless of the result of the game between in form Beercalona and The Veterans. An own goal in the third minute was the only goal of the opening stages as Beercalona hit the front, but things really opened up after Simon Grainger’s 11th minute leveler for the Vets. It didn’t go the Vets way for the most part though, as goals from Jay Ratcliffe and two from Tom Ratcliffe put Beercalona three up within 5 minutes of that equiliser. Grainger got his second to keep the Vets in touch, but Beercalona smashed in 4 more before the break to take firm control of this one. Martin Bell got the first before Jay Ratlciffe added two either side of Scott Williams’ goal. With the game effectively won the second half was a little quieter, but Jay Ratcliffe got his 4th 8 minutes into the second period. Debutant and probably one time only visitor James Brierley got a goal for The Veterans 10 minutes from time, but Bell got his second and the final goal of the game 7 minutes from time to leave us looking at a two horse race for the League Two title this season. FC AOTS were back for a second week in a row, which in itself is an achievement recently! They took on the hit and miss Rooneytunes and didn’t get off to the best of starts as Jack Hodkinson scored a hat trick in the first 5 minutes to put them in control. Paul Buckley (no relation) got a debut goal for AOTS three minutes later, but Hodkinson got his 4th 4 minutes before the break to see Rooneytunes into the break with a 4-1 lead. He added another alongside an Ashley Taylor goal to put them well in control with 18 minutes left, and though Tom Dennerly pulled another back for AOTS, Cameron Higginbottom and Chris Sinclair quickly replied for Rooneys. Buckly got a second near the end, but there was still time for Josh Borthwick and Hodkinson to add further goals to give Rooneytunes a comfortable win.

THE SUNDAY LEAGUE REMAINS FULL, BUT WE REMAIN DETERMINED TO ADD A 5TH DIVISION ONCE THIS WORLD CUP THING IS OVER. GET IN TOUCH FOR DETAILS.

MONDAY LEAGUE

One league game and two friendlies took place this week as the Monday season splutters towards it’s conclusion with the World Cup, the weather, and even some teams 11-a-side pre-season training being shifted, hopefully back to normal soon. The one league game that took place was the final game of Netsix & Chill’s somewhat disappointing season which started off with them as favourites for the Championship crown, but will finish with them ending up in third place at best. A win over Pathetico Madrid would secure that third place slot, but they were two down in the opening 8 minutes as James Littlewood and Luke Warburton got early goals. Netsix were back in it 10 minutes before the break as Wayne Reeves pulled one back, but Warburton’s second three minutes later gave them a two goal lead at the break. A frustrating night for Netsix saw them struggle to close the gap in a tight second period, and they only got on the score sheet again through James Bamgbose’ last minute strike, but Pathetico made it two wins in a row, which is unheard of!

J Stands Barmy Army were back for their second game as they took on possible top division opposition in Diva Fever this week. A hat trick on each side from Jamie Stokes and Chris Murray were amongst the highlights, but J Stands edged a close game 9-7 with Reece Nuttall and Jay Willingham grabbing a brace for them. AC Milmanchester and Nice Buns were also in friendly action, and as you’d expect it was the top division team who had the better of things here. Two goals each from MArtin Gordon, James Elmore and Jason Singleton helped them to a 10-4 win.

WE NOW HAVE A SPACE IN THE MONDAY EVENING LEAGUE AS WE APPROACH THE END OF THE CURRENT SEASON. TO GET SOME GAME TIME UNDER YOUR BELT AHEAD OF THE NEW SEASON, GET IN TOUCH.

TUESDAY LEAGUE

With the start of the Tuesday season delayed by another week, there was just the one friendly played this week as Michu At De Gea Ba eased themselves into action on a different night with a friendly against Wellspring. As you would imagine from a team who were three times winners of the Wednesday league, they were the stronger side here tonight against a side who are desperate to stay in the second division for the new season, and with Matt Barton scoring 8 of their 11 goals, they eased to a comfortable 11-4 win.

THE NEW TUESDAY LEAGUE STARTS NEXT WEEK. WE ARE LOOKING AT BEING ABLE TO FIND A SPACE FOR ONE MORE TEAM, SO GET IN TOUCH FOR DETAILS.

WEDNESDAY LEAGUE

Ha, as if there were any games played on a Wednesday this week……

HOPEFULLY WE’LL BE BACK TO A FULL HOUSE OF GAMES NEXT WEEK, AS THE WEDNESDAY LEAGUE REMAINS FULL. CHECK OUT THE OTHER NIGHT’S FOR CURRENT SPACES.