Looks like summer has already been and gone…..

LEAGUE NEWS

There’s only one place to look at the moment if you want to get some immediate Ballers action, and that’s the SUNDAY EVENING LEAGUE, where we are looking to add a 5TH DIVISION when the new league starts in May.

All of our other league nights are currently full, but if Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday are the only options for you, feel free to get in touch and we’ll look to try and arrange friendlies for you while we wait for a space to come up.

SUNDAY LEAGUE

Insole weren’t playing this week as Kipsta Cobras couldn’t field a side, so Kinky Slipper and Insole were playing for the chance to join them on 12 points at the top of the table. Kinky have generally got the better of the two sides in this game and they struck first through Wesley Harney’s 7th minute goal. Duno were level three minutes later, and went in front 11 minutes before the break through Jack Cope’s finish. James Radcliffe pulled Kinky level for all of 60 seconds before Calvin Alexander restored Duno’s lead, but Kinky blitzed the Duno goal with three goals in as many minutes as Joe Lailey, Jordan Hutchinson and Radcliffe ensured they had a two goal lead at the break. Duno had arguably been the better side in the opening half, and Kinky ‘keeper Luke Braden had done his share to ensure they took that lead into the break, and the champs dominated the second half as Lailey and Radcliffe struck early to ease them 4 goals in front. Three more in the final 11 minutes, one from Harney and two from Hutchinson gave Kinky a comfortable looking 10-3 victory in the end. Team Tom already seem to be counting down the days until they are playing Championship football again, but they continue to field a side and went into the unknown this week against new boys Bangers & Pash, who put up a fairly decent showing in defeat to Duno last week. We looked like heading into half time with Bangers leading by a solitary Rory Kelly 11th minute goal, but a flurry of action before the break saw Matt Sheehan grab two and Kelly another while James MacDonald pulled one back for the Tommers. Matt Toft and Kelly scored in the opening 5 minutes of the second period to put Bangers out of sight, Robbie Fallon made it 7 with 18 minutes remaining, and he added a second alongside a Chris Carroll goal in the final 5 minutes to give Bangers a comfortable first Ballers win.

Real Maskid came closer than ever to losing their 100% record with us last week as McMuffin Men ran them close, but previously Inter Row Z had been the team team who’d challenged them in the opening half of the season. It looked likely that there wasn’t going to be a repeat of this when Jack Wilson and Kieran O’Connell put Maskid two up in the first three minutes, but Inter hit back to level things up through goals from Ryan McAndrew and Brandon Byers-Wilkes with 15 minutes on the clock. Jack McConnell put Maskid back in front on the stroke of half time, and the same player added his second two minutes after the break to restore their two goal lead. Alecs Pattison made that three a couple of minutes later before Michael Winn pulled one back for Inter. McConnell looked to have killed the game off by making it 6-3 12 minutes from time, with Byers-Wilkes goal three minutes from time proving to be just a consolation for Inter. El Caliente had the chance to take second spot from Inter if they could pick up the points against Wellspring this week. Given how well grouped the teams below Maskid are, a win for Wellspring would see them remain in the promotion chase, and they lead 2-1 after 10 minutes when James McGrail and Nathan Wilkinson scored to cancel out Nathaniel Odysseus-Kingsley’s 5th minute opener. Lewis Arden edged them 3-1 in front three minutes before the break, but Jay Berrisford quickly replied for Caliente to make it 3-2 at the break. The second period started slowly before 4 goals in 4 minutes, one for Arden, one for Wilkinson, one for Murray Tupman and an own goal, all in Wellspring’s favour, put them well in control at 7-2. O-K pulled one back with 6 minutes left, and though Berrisford and Kyle Sparked also got on the score sheet for Caliente, it was too little too late, and Wellspring close to within a point of second place with a game in hand on those above them. Step Brothers and The McMuffin Men could yet make a play for the promotion places as the Brotherhood started the night three points off second place and McMuffin Men 5 after drawing three of their 6 games. McMuffin started like a house on fire as they went two up in the first 5 minute through goals from Maison Heywood and Sam Delgado. Chris Moore’s reply for the Brothers a minute later was met with a swift response from Heywood to restore McMuffin’s two goal lead before we’d reached the 10 minute mark. This remained the score at the break, and Step Brothers went chasing the game in the  second period. It took until 11 minutes from time for Josh Armitage’s finished reduce the McMuffin lead, and two minutes later Moore produced a moment of magic to draw the Brothers level. That ended up being the final goal of the game, as McMuffins make it 4 draws and no wins from their 7 games, while Step Brothers drop a place to second from bottom but remain two points off second.

Pat’s Giants had had a good run of it since they took over from SK Dons in the early stages of the season, but they faced a tough one this week against Murder On Zidane’s Floor, who’d picked up a win over FC AOTS in their first game last week. The Giants got off to the better start as two goals from Jordan Pryce put them two up after 11 minutes, and Fred Winterbottom made three 4 minutes before the break. Mark Bailey did pull one back for Murder two minutes later, but Pat’s all but killed the game off with two Paddy Bannister goals in the opening 4 minutes of the second period. Dan Havern got Zidane’s second with 15 minutes remaining, but there was no way back for them as the Giants saw the game out to go level with Stockport Eagles on 12 points ahead of Eagles game this week. AOTS provided Eagles opposition this week with a stronger looking squad than they were able to field last week, and that proved to be the case as three goals from Adam Duty and two from Eoghan Scott gave them a 5-0 half time lead. On what was proving to be a miserable evening for the league leaders at start of play, Charlie Hutchinson made it 6-0 4 minutes after the break. Paul Waugh gave them a glimmer of hope when he scored two in 4 minutes, one of them a spectacular overhead kick, to reduce the arrears to 4, but Duty added two more for AOTS in the final few minutes to give them a surprisingly comfortable win. They move onto 9 points, three behind Pat’s and Eagles in the race for promotion.

FC Stront Bakken look to be strolling towards the League Two title, so if Inter Your Sister were to hold out any hope of making up the 9 point deficit at the start of play they were going to need to beat them this week. Declan Matthews put the leaders in front on three minutes, but Max Liversedge quickly drew Inter level. A tight first half edged the Bucket Boys way as Lukas Voveris restored their lead 8 minutes before the break, before two Brandon Byers-Wilkes goals either side of Matthews second of the game meant we were level at 3-3 with 17 minutes left to play. Matthews third put Stront Bakken in front for a 4th time, but Craig Johnsno looked to have snatched a point for Inter with the 4th leveler three minutes from time. There was a final twist though, as Voveris got his second in the final minute to maintain Bakken’s 100% record for the season. They will guarantee the League One title with two games to spare if they win this weekend. Deportivo Lack Of Talent looked to continue their recovery against SK Six this week, but didn’t get off to the best of starts as Harry Bridge put SK in front in the 11th minute as they went looking for their second ever Ballers win. Ben Proctor leveled things up for Deportivo 6 minutes later as we went into the break all square. Brad Peet put Deportivo in front for the first time two minutes into the second half, and two goals in three minutes from Ashley Ellwood and Gaz Sumner looked to have secured the win with 9 minutes to play. Brad Bent pulled one back for SK two minutes later, but two Rob Parker goals in the final 5 minutes secured a second win for Deportivo since they took the drop. Beercalona were fresh off the back of their first Ballers win, and went up against a Rooneytunes team who were back after their issues of last week. This one was tight from start to finish, and the only goal of the first half was scored by Scott Williams of Beercalona. Rooneytunes drew themselves level through Chris Sinclair’s goal 4 minutes after the break, and as the game looked to be heading for a draw, Ashley Taylor grabbed a winner for Rooneytunes two minutes from time.

THE SUNDAY LEAGUE IS CURRENTLY FULL, BUT WE ARE LOOKING TO ADD THAT 5TH DIVISION IN FOR THE NEW SEASON IN MAY. GET IN TOUCH FOR DETAILS. 

MONDAY LEAGUE

The final night of the Monday league came and went this week with not a massive amount to play for in all honesty, but that didn’t stop a lot of the games that were played from being competitive. Not A Chance and Phantom Brazilians had Premiership third place to play for, with Phantom in the box seat due to their superior goal difference, and while that in itself might not be much it still meant these two were likely to be involved in a tight game, and a goalless first half backed up that theory. The deadlock was finally broken 6 minutes after the break as Matt Barton put Phantom in front, and when he doubled that lead 10 minutes from time the three points and third place looked secure. Phil Carroll pulled one back for the Chancers with three minutes left, and out of nowhere Chris Priestley made it 2-2 a minute later to mean a share of the spoils and third place for Phantom.

Jeremy Cheadle were looking to make it three wins out of three since rejoining, and they got off to a quick start against struggling Pathetico Madrid as Kieran Monaghan’s two goals and an own goal put them three up in the opening 10 minutes. The rest of the first half didn’t go much better for Pathetico as Alex Whelan and Phil Monaghan grabbed two apiece to make it 7-0 at the break. That break didn’t help Pathetico’s cause as Adam Whelan added two in the opening 6 minutes of the second half and Alex and Phil another one each to make it 11-0 with 14 minutes remaining. Joe Bates pulled one back in a rare high moment for Pathetico a minute later, but Mike Astley and Phil Monaghan scored in the final 10 minutes to ease Cheadle to a 13-1 victory. The game between Netsix & Chill and Nice Buns was likely to be much closer, but it didn’t seem that way as Buns raced into a three goal lead in the opening 9 minutes with two goals from Jimmy Williamson and one from Charlie Williamson. Netsix whittled away at that lead as the half went on, and goals from Calvin Alexander and Phil Carroll saw them go into the break just one goal behind. The lead had disappeared completely when Liam Atkinson scored 6 minutes after the break, and goals from Kurtes Curran, Atkinson and Alexander saw them take a three goal lead into the final 12 minutes. This time it was Nice Buns turn to hit back, as Jimmy Williamson scored a minute later, and ‘un-named scorer’ reduced the deficit to one goal with 9 still to play. That same mystery man completed the second three goal comeback of the game to make it 6-6 with three minutes left, but it was all in vain as Carroll popped up with the winner in the dying second to make it three straight wins for Netsix going into the new season.

In friendly action this week, Red Hands FC (who will be known as Pink Panther FC going forward) took on the possibly soon to be renamed NG Bailey FC in a game between two teams who could have both been going into the Premiership for the new season. It looked like being both early in the second half as a close game was sat at 5-4 in Pink Panthers favour, but they ended up running away with it as 4 goals each from Ray Donnelly and Mike Dolan saw them run out 12-6 winners. Diva Fever joined us for a first game this week as they looked to ease back into the small sided game with a friendly against Exeter Gently who kindly stepped in for a game. It was a good one too which looked to be heading comfortably Exeter’s way as they sat 4-1 up with less than 10 minutes remaining. Late Bevan Southward, Des (just Des) and Kev McCreavey goals weren’t enough for them to take a draw as Kristian Igo’s second of the game gave Exeter a narrow 5-4 win. Pique Blinders let the side down late on this week, so a scratch team made up of Netsix and Pink Panther players gave FC Rhino Ket a game. It was a pretty decent one too, as Rhino Ket eased to a 6-3 win against their fatigued opposition.

THE NEW MONDAY LEAGUE STARTS NEXT WEEK AND IS FULL! WE ALSO HAVE A COUPLE OF TEAMS ON STANDBY, SO YOU CAN EITHER WAIT FOR A SPACE OR ASK ABOUT ANOTHER NIGHT! 

TUESDAY LEAGUE

With mancunian interest in the Champions League ended last week, we had a better turnout for our Tuesday league this week. Two games took place in the Premiership as 4 teams got their season up and running at the second attempt. Only Kruls & Horses faced Inter Row Z as two of the teams who were scrapping out for second place looked to get three points on the board early doors. Steven Whetham gave Inter the lead in the third minute, but Only Kruls were ahead within 6 minutes as Seb Etchells and Reece Douglas scored to turn things in their favour. Liam Watson brought Inter level half way through the period, but Douglas’ second put Kruls back in front 7 minutes from the break. Watson turned the game on it’s head with two goals in the last two minutes of the half to give Inter a 4-3 half time lead, but Kruls bounced back to go back in front with goals from Dan (just Dan) and Douglas in the first 4 minutes of the second period. They held onto that lead until 12 minutes from time when the game turned again as two goals in three minutes from Watson put Inter back in front again. This time there was no way back for Kruls as two in quick succession from Callum Donnelly and a 6th of the game from Watson put the seal on an impressive win for Inter to get their season off to a winning start. The other two teams who were in the mix for second place last season went head to head as Inter Mi Van faced Oooze FC with both teams missing several regular players. Oooze got off to the better start, going two up through goals from Adam Corr and Gaz Sumner before Karl Robins pulled one back for Mi Van before we’d reached the 10 minute mark. Three Oooze goals in 6 minutes in the run up to half time put them in control, one from Phil Parker and two from Tom Galbraith, but Lee Boshir’s goal on the stroke of half time kept Inter just about in contention. In a tighter second half, Inter’s chances were damaged by Jay Roddis’ goal 7 minutes in, and the game was up when Corr got his second 5 minutes from time. Lee and Blake Boshir did grab a couple of consolation goals which may prove vital to their goal difference if this season is anywhere near as close as last season was.

Stroke Titty won the only game of the opening night last week and were looking to continue what looks like being a promotion push against Beercalona. Ross Graham gave Stroke the lead in the 8th minute, and his second 6 minutes later had them looking good for maintaining their good start to the season. Jay Willingham and Ryan Stevens added two more before half time to leave Stroke in comfortable control, and in a game that wasn’t as one sided as the scoreline suggested further second half goals from Joe Lailey, Willingham, Graham and Sam Tattersall gave Stroke an 8-0 win that unsurprisingly sees them sit top of the table as the only team to have played two games! Turkish Delight played their first Championship game having failed to pick up a point in the second half of last season’s Premiership despite always being competitive. There’s looked to be a good game this week against Black Jack who finished second in the feeder Championship last season, and it got off to a flyer as Veysel’s third minute opener for Turkish was leveled up by James Corser’s rocket a minute later. Veysel put Turkish back in front on 8, and two more goals in the latter stages of the half put them three up at the break. They killed the game off in the opening 10 minutes of the second half as Veysel added his 5th, Deigo became the first player who isn’t Veysel to score, and they even had the lucky break of a heavily deflected goal to put them 7-1 up. The final 15 minutes remained goalless as Turkish Delight also look set to have a bash at a top two finish this season.

Shaka couldn’t field a team this week, so Inter Row Z stopped on to give Gangs Of Dwight Yorke a game. Despite leading throughout the game, Inter ran out of gas and Gangs ran out 11-9 winners.

THE TUESDAY EVENING LEAGUE IS FULL! FRIENDLY MATCHES CAN BE ARRANGED FOR ANY TEAMS WANTING TO GET INVOLVED WHEN A SPACE COMES UP 

WEDNESDAY LEAGUE

Champions Michu At De Gea Ba struggled to field a side again this week, meaning our ‘7th’ Wednesday team, Wellspring, filled in to make sure we had another full Wednesday of Ballers action. Stockport Eagles lost a hard fought game with Duno last week, but were looking to get back to winning ways against Exeter Gently, who are unrecognisable from the team that struggled so badly at the start of last season. The only goal of the opening 10 minutes went the way of the Eagles as Shaun Mather put them in front, but the final 15 minutes of the half were painful for Exeter as Eagles pretty much wrapped up the game before the break. Connor Harding got an 8 minute hat trick to go alongside Paul Waugh’s goal to see the Eagles soar into a 5-0 half time lead. The second half was tighter, and Exeter wasted their chance to get a foothold in the game as Lee Bridge saved a penalty on the way to a clean sheet that sees him climb the Golden Gloves chart. Waugh and Ray Donnelly scored two in a minute as we went into the final 10 minutes to complete a comfortable win for Eagles as they go to the top of the table having played more games than others around them. Duno just about managed to field a side this week, meaning their game with Polish Army looked like it could go either way. Aaron Owens gave Duno the ideal start with two goals in the opening 8 minutes to put them in early control, but Bania pulled the Army level with two goals in 4 minutes of his own. Marcin put the Poles in front 7 minutes from half time, but three goals in as many minutes, two more from Owens and one from Regan Mannion looked to have given Duno a two goal half time lead. Bania got his third of the half on the stroke of half time to make it a one goal game again, but Jack Cope eased Duno two goals up again three minutes after the break. Bania’s 4th kept the Army in touch heading in to the final 10 minutes, but Joe Owens grabbed the final goal of the game to make it two wins from two for Duno. 7th team Wellspring took on a Magpie side that were looking back to healthy squad numbers this week having tried to leave us a few weeks ago, and a really good, tight first half saw us go in level at the break as Karol canceled out Mike Devitt’s 16th minute opener for Wellspring. It was more of the same in the second half, but Magpie looked to have won it through Stanislaw Cierpiatka’s 35th minute goal before Callum Wilkinson grabbed a last gasp leveler for Wellspring to give both teams a point.

THE WEDNESDAY LEAGUE IS FULL, AND WE EVEN HAVE OUR RANDOM 7TH TEAM TO FILL IN IN CASE OF OTHER TEAMS MISSING! SUNDAY IS YOUR BEST BET IF YOU WANT TO SIGN UP NOW!