So that’s the World Cup done and dusted, and it won’t be long before we’re moaning about the weather again, so can we please just get back to having our normal weekly game of football?

league news

The new TUESDAY LEAGUE kicked off this week, but with a space still remaining any new teams could still sign up and not start the season behind any of the other teams as there’s still time to catch the games up.

The next new league to start after that is the MONDAY LEAGUE, which kicks off a week on Monday, 30th July. With a question mark hanging over a couple of teams, there maybe spaces to be had for any new or returning teams. Friendlies available this Monday for anyone who might want a one off trial game before the season starts!

We, as always, would love to add a 5th division to our biggest league night, the SUNDAY LEAGUE, and after a season heavily affected by holidays, the World Cup, festivals and the weather, we should be looking good for at least the next three weeks until the Premier League reappears to cause us problems again!

FOR MORE INFORMATION ON ANY OF THE ABOVE, FILL IN A ‘JOIN A LEAGUE’ FORM ON THE HOMEPAGE OR CALL OR TEXT 07809252658

sunday league

With the World Cup Final on the agenda, none of Kinky Slipper, El Caliente, Real Maskid or Duno were able to play this week, meaning no Premiership games took place. Maybe next week will be better……

It was a relatively similar story in the Championship as a number of teams continue to struggle throughout the summer months, but at least one game survived as Stockport Eagles took on a Wellspring team who have been mostly absent from the Sunday league this season. Playing on other nights has obviously kept them active, so despite going into this game as heavy underdogs they were only two down at the interval as Ray Donnelly scored both of the Eagles goals. Wellspring were back in it 7 minutes into the second half as Mike Devitt grabbed a goal, but the promotion chasers pulled clear in the latter stages as Ryan McAndrew and Paul Waugh scored to see Eagles go 6 points clear of Kipsta at the top of the table, with Kipsta having a couple of games in hand.

With Ladzio absent for a second week in a row, Sevilla Lacatalent had the chance to close the gap at the top of the table as they took on Inter Your Sister. A close first half saw just the one goal, from Max Liversedge, give Inter the narrow lead at the break. He scored his second two minutes into the second half, and his third 9 minutes from time to edge Inter closer to the win, and though Mark Lomas pulled one back for Sevilla two minutes later, Inter looked to have it won when Craig Johnson quickly added Inter’s 4th. Sevilla didn’t want to let this one go easily, and David Witter pulled two back to give us a grandstand finish, but Inter held on for the win to move them to within a point of second spot. Step Brothers and FC Stront Bakken are at the other end of the spectrum, both trying to avoid relegation into the bottom flight, which for Step Brothers would be a first. The Bucket Boys started the night off bottom of the table, but they lead at half time through Sam Fitzpatrick’s 6th minute goal. Step Brothers were level two minutes after the break as Dom Cioffi got a goal, and they went in front when Chris Sinclair scored with 15 minutes left to play. Within two minutes Stront Bakken ‘keeper Connor Atkinson scored a freak goal from a long clearance to make it 2-2, and Declan Matthews won the game for them with two goals in a minute as we headed towards the full time whistle. Stront Bakken leapfrog Step Brothers to leave one of the Ballers originals staring at their first season in the bottom division.

Deportivo Lack Of Talent have been clinging onto top spot in recent weeks with an on fire Beercalona breathing down their necks, but they were up against an in form Rooneytunes this week. This was another game with a tight first half, but the only two goals went the way of Rooneytunes as Josh Borthwick and Dec Church gave them a 2-0 half time lead. Borthwick made it three 6 minutes after the restart, and though Ashley Ellwood pulled one back for Deportivo with 17 to play, Rooneytunes were the team that finished the stronger as Borthwick added another three to his personal total, and Rooneytunes now sit just 4 points behind Deportivo with a game in hand. After a strong start to the season with three straight wins, The Veterens had suffered three staight defeats to all but end their promotion hopes for the season. A win over a struggling FC AOTS would give them a narrow chance of staying in the mix, and a crazy first 9 minutes saw the teams share 6 goals. The Vets twice lead through and Paul Atherton goal and an own goal, but two Adam Duty goals pegged them back straightaway before Eoghan Scott edged AOTS in front. Atherton’s second made it 3-3, but it was advantage AOTS at the break as debutant Zac Jamieson got a first Ballers goal on 14 minutes. Simon Grainger leveled up for The Veterans 5 minutes into the second half, and did it again after Scott had grabbed his second to edge AOTS in front again. Duty got his third 8 minutes from time, and AOTS lead by two for the first time when Charlie Hutchinson scored 5 minutes later. That was the end of the scoring as AOTS pick up a first win of the season to edge away from the wooden spoon position.

In friendlies, Beercalona turned up despite their opposition having cancelled, and with Insole having already arrived before their opposition had told us they couldn’t play, the two teams from opposite ends of the Ballers leagues played off in a friendly. The League Two team put up a decent fight, before Insole ran out 8-4 winners with two goals each from Kyle Clarke, Matthew Atkinson and Kurtes Curran, while Jay Ratcliffe grabbed a double for Beercalona. Kipsta Cobras were also the victims of a late cancellation this week, something that hardly ever happens, but Stront Bakken were kind enough to stop on and give them a game which turned out to be a reasonably competitive one. Kipsta ran out 7-3 winners as the Bucket Boys tired in the second period, with Callum Jones and Warren Yeo scoring two goals each.

THE SUNDAY EVENING LEAGUE REMAINS FULL, BUT THERE ARE QUESTION MARKS OVER THE CONTINUED PARTICIPATION OF A COUPLE OF TEAMS, SO IF YOU WANTED TO JOIN IT’S DEFINITELY WORTH ASKING THE QUESTION…..

monday league

As we get to the business end of the season, the Premiership title has become a two horse race between Not A Chance and AC Milmanchester, with the possibility of the title being decided this week a real thing. First up were Milmanchester, who needed to beat Phantom Brazilians in their last game of the season to force Not A Chance to win their final two games for the title. An explosive first 5 minutes saw 4 goals, two for each team, as Matt Barton and James Stanton scored either side of a Jason Singleton double for ACM. Milmanchester edged in front through goals from Reece Nevins and Singleton, but there was only one goal in it at the break as Jimmy Leeson pulled one back a minute before the break. Another quick start to the second half saw Milmanchester remain a goal ahead after Singleton’s third was quickly followed by Leeson’s second, and we were level again when Chris Gee scored with 18 minutes left. Billy Gallagher restored Milmanchester’s lead yet again with 11 to play, but we headed towards the final 5 minutes level as Stanton scored his second. ACM needed the win, and they got it as Singleton got his 5th and the winner to leave them 5 points clear before Not A Chance kicked off this week. They were taking on J Stands Barmy Army in a game that didn’t look like being a gimme as they looked to remain in control of their own destiny, but they did score first through Kyle Bell’s third minute goal. J Stands turned things around during the midway point of the half as Jay Willingham scored two and Jimmy Leeson another as they went 3-1 up. Chris Priestley pulled one back for the Chancers, but Aaron Collins made it 4-2 to J Stands at the break. Bell got his second 5 minutes into the second period to keep the title hopefuls in touch, but they found themselves three behind with 12 minutes to play as Reece Nuttall got on the score sheet and Collins got his second. Champions find a way, and the Chancers roared back with 4 goals in 5 minutes from Mark Usher, Dom Andrew, Ryan Usher and Priestley to leave them on the brink of playing for the title next week. It wasn’t to be however, as Leeson got his second (which made up for an earlier penalty miss…..) to deny Not A Chance the win and the chance of the title. AC Milmanchester regain the crown they lost last season in the most dramatic of circumstances.

The title in the Championship was already decided before the second meeting of the top two as Diva Fever couldn’t last the course after a promising start as they finish second to Jeremy Cheadle. Cheadle were well in control at the break as three Phil Monaghan goals and another from Alex Whelan saw them lead 4-1 at the break, an own goal being the only Diva reply. Monaghan got his 4th two minutes after the restart, but Joe Dodd and John Brookes quickly pulled two back for Diva before Monaghan added his 5th to keep Cheadle three up. Dodd pulled two more back to bring the score back to 6-5, but the champs finished the stronger as Whelan added two more and Monaghan his 6th to give Cheadle a winning end to their successful league campaign. Pathetico Madrid were looking for a third win in a row this week after a season of struggle both in terms of getting players on the pitch and picking up any results when they do! The final game of Nice Buns first full season with us started with them taking the lead through Dale Kirkham’s third minute goal, but the returning Danny Hamlett quickly drew Pathetico level. Paul Cheetham restored the Buns lead, and two goals in as many minutes from Cheetham and Charlie Williamson in the final 5 minutes of the half put them in control at the break. Williamson got his second three minutes into the second half, and his third 10 minutes from time took the result beyond doubt as Buns looked like having one of their good weeks! Nathan Thomson did pull one back a minute later, and James Litttlewood got their third three minutes from time, but in those three minutes Kirkham still had time to grab two more to give Buns a comfortable victory to end the season.

Exciting news in friendly action this week as the former Monday Premiership champions Ruud van Nipplerooy finally returned to Ballers action with a friendly against Netsix & Chill. They may take a little time to get back to the side they once were though, as two Mike Pinder goals were enough to give Netsix a 2-1 victory with Joe Lailey getting the Nips consolation.

THE NEW MONDAY LEAGUE STARTS ON 30TH JULY. WE CURRENTLY HAVE A SPACE AVAILABLE FOR A NEW OR RETURNING TEAM, BUT WE KNOW IT WON’T STICK AROUND LONG, SO GET IN TOUCH FOR DETAILS.

tuesday league

The opening night of the new Tuesday season started with a couple of games in each division and a couple of new teams on show, both of them with very differing results. The first of the new teams were the first ever Ballers Monday league winners, Total Bala, who were taking on Championship winners Stroke Titty in an interesting looking game. The opening 10 minutes passed by without a goal but with chances at either end, before two goal in as many minutes from John Wood and Rick Kelly gave Total a two goal advantage. A second from Kelly three minutes from the break seemed to have put them in control, but Joe Lailey pulled one back early in the second half as Stroke finally took one of their chances. Almost immediately Kelly restored the three goal lead, and Wood’s second with 17 left to play looked to have put them out of sight. Jay Willingham got another back for Stroke, but as they continued to chase the game they were picked off in the latter stages as Kelly and Paul Thornton scored two, Wood and Ste Yates one apiece in the final 12 minutes to ease Total to an impressive opening night win. Michu At De Gea Ba’s Wednesday league debut came against last season’s runners up Shaka, and it looked like getting off to a winning start as Fidelis Eberegbe, Matt Barton and Adam Porter gave them a three goal lead in the opening 9 minutes. Eberegbe’s second in the 16th minute meant it was already a long way back for Shaka, but they made inroads in the final 5 minutes of the half as Ryan Green and Tom Hannan halved the deficit before the break. Barton got his second 4 minutes after the break, and they looked to have the game won with 9 minutes left as Porter also got his second. We looked like having an interesting last few minutes when Hannan grabbed a couple of quickfire goals with three minutes to play, but Michu held on to join Total on maximum points from the opening night.

The second new team were Europeans, and they looked to hold their own in the opening 10 minutes as Jamie Berrisford’s two goals for Wellspring were replied to by Dani. Things quickly started going south for the new team as Wellspring shared the goals around with George Quayle scoring two and Nathan Wilkinson, Lewis Arden, Mike Devitt and Shane Bridges all getting first half goals with just a solitary Dani reply at the other end. Wellspring made sure they would be taking top spot on the opening night as they fired in 15 unanswered second half goals to indicate that Europeans may have a way to go to get up to speed with the Ballers game. Berrisford got 4, Devitt three, Jack Kerton, Quayle and Bridges two each, Arden and an own goal the others. There’s always next week…… Mercifully the other game in the Championship was much tighter, as Beercalona and Rooneytunes, two teams who are familiar with each other from the Sunday league, went into the break all square at 0-0. Tom Ratcliffe finally broke the deadlock with 20 minutes to play, then added a second 5 minutes later, and as Rooneytunes tried to find a away back into the game Martin Bell added another couple in the final 10 minutes to give Beercalona three points on opening night.

THERE ARE STILL SPACES AVAILABLE IN THE TUESDAY LEAGUE, WITH ANY TEAMS JOINING NOW AND PLAYING NEXT WEEK STILL ABLE TO CATCH GAMES UP AS THE SEASON GOES ON. GET IN TOUCH FOR DETAILS. 

wednesday league

A couple of games played in the Wednesday league this week as we were forced to let Stockport Eagles down after Gareth Lager Sometimes Cider found better things to do….. Ajax Treesdown looked to take advantage of this turn of events as they could go three points clear with a win over Exeter Gently. It didn’t start the way they would have wanted as Exeter flew into a three goal lead with the Ajax defence all over the place. Mike Belshaw opened the scoring and Tom Harrison added two more as they scored three in as many minutes before Daniel Kitchingham quickly pulled one back for Ajax. Within 10 minutes Ajax were two up as Josh Batch got their second, Sam Cawthra the leveler, before Callum Jones grabbed two. ‘Keeper Will Hudson slotted home a penalty to give them a three goal lead, and though Belshaw pulled one back three minutes from half time, Cawthra’s second made it 7-4 at the break. Jones got his third 5 minutes after the break, and the game was done when Jordan Hardman and Jones added further goals with 15 minutes still to play. James Magnani made it 10-5 as Exeter gamely kept at it, but Jones got his 5th a minute later to restore the 6 goal lead. Harrison grabbed two more in the final few minutes, but Ajax had the last word as Kitchingham, who originally started the comeback, finished the game off with their 12th in the final minute. Wellspring and Magpie had only previously met once, when they played out a tight 2-2 draw in a friendly early last season, so we expected this one might be close as well. It started with a goal in the opening minute from Callum Walmsley to give Wellspring the lead, and their lead was doubled through Jack Phillips goal half way through the period. Tomasz Glebiowski pulled one back for Magpie before the break, and they turned things around with two goals in 5 second half minutes from Mariusz Koszla and Stanislaw Cierpiatka to put them on the brink of a first win of the season. Wellspring denied them the victory and shared the points after Phillips second of the game 7 minutes from time left us with a full time score of 3-3.

THE WEDNESDAY LEAGUE REMAINS FULL, BUT GARETH LAGER BETTER PULL THEIR FINGERS OUT IF THEY WANT TO KEEP THEIR LEAGUE SPACE! IF YOU WANT AN IMMEDIATE START HAVE A LOOK AT ANY OF OUR OTHER LEAGUE NIGHTS!