These 11-a-side seasons aren’t half dragging out, aren’t they? Another week slightly affected by teams catching up games in midweek, which simply isn’t fair, surely there can’t be much longer to go……

LEAGUE NEWS

Big news with regards to our Ballers World Cup, as we’ve been able to secure the main pitch NEXT THURSDAY, 24th May, so will be running the first heat of this event then, with a 7.30pm kick off. Don’t forget, 50% of all money cleared from this event will be going to SoccerAid, so get in touch to register.

The BRAND NEW SUNDAY LEAGUE kicks off on 27th May. The format for the league will be getting finalised next Wednesday, 23rd May, so that will be the cut off date for any new teams wanting to get involved. If your 11-a-side season is finishing up and you want to keep playing through the summer months, this would be ideal as this new league will be finishing in early August.

For more details on any of our leagues, fill in a Join A League form on the home page, or call or text 078092526589.

SUNDAY LEAGUE

Depending on how results went this week, both the Premiership and League One titles could have been decided this week. Team Tom’s cancellation against Duno effectively stopped that possibility from occurring in the top flight, but Kinky Slipper needed a win in their game with old rivals Insole to put themselves in the box seat. A win for Insole would keep alive their slim hopes of winning the top flight for a 4th time, and they took the lead through Kyle Clarke’s 4th minute opener. The lead didn’t last long as Jordan Hutchinson drew the leaders level three minutes later, but Insole restored their lead through Aaron Campbell’s goal half way through the period. Two goals in a minute turned things in Kinky’s favour and they went into the break with a 3-2 lead. Things were tight in the opening stages of the second period, but two goals in three minutes saw this one turn again, Jordan Cunningham grabbing them both to give Insole the edge again. Campbell got his second 5 minutes from time and Kinky’s title hopes were fading away, and though Hutchinson got his second three minutes from time it wasn’t enough as Insole held on to leave themselves two points behind Duno with both teams having one more game to play. Duno will win the league with victory over Team Tom next week, Insole will nick it if they beat Kipsta and Duno fail to win, while Kinky have to hope for a Duno defeat and Insole failing to win. This is how it should be! One team that have made a statement since they joined are Bangers & Pash, who will have to remain at this level next season having taken 4 points off Kinky and Insole since joining. This week’s game against Kipsta was a bit of a grudge match as Bangers were formed as a breakaway from two of their rebellious players, but they hit the front in the first minute through Alex Fowell’s finish. Kipsta debutant Kieron Mills leveled things up 7 minutes later, then put them in front 11 minutes before the break, but we were all square at the break as Harry Kilmartin made it 2-2 4 minutes later. Mills put Kipsta back in front three minutes into the second half, but again that lead didn’t last long as Fowell got his second to make it 3-3, before Jack Horgan put Kipsta back in front for the third time with 15 minutes left. Again Bangers hit back through Chris Carroll’s leveler three minutes later, and it was the same player who struck the decisive 9th goal 7 minutes from time to give Bangers a win that gives them 10 points from the 5 games they have played since joining up. They could be in the mix next season…..

After a fantastic opening half of the season where no teams missed a game, the Championship was a barren wasteland for a second week in a row as a couple of teams have found things to be a struggle. In League One, only a win for Pat’s Giants against Stockport Eagles would keep the title race alive going into the final week. Despite Paddy Bannister putting them in front in the 5th minute, for much of the first half they didn’t look like picking up the win they needed as Ray Donnelly, Shaun Mather, Paul Waugh and Ben Waugh turned things very much in Eagles favour. Danny Brookes pulled one back for Pat’s 5 minutes before the break, but Michael Winn quickly restored Eagles three goal lead two minutes later. The Giants finished the half with a much needed flourish as Brookes scored two more to send them into the break with what looked like an unlikely one goal deficit. The second half started in cautious fashion, but Ryan McAndrew looked to have grabbed the decisive goal for Eagles 13 minutes from time to give them a two goal cushion. The Giants weren’t for giving this one up, and out of nowhere they were level three minutes later as Jack Emmerson and Paddy Bannister scored to make it 6-6 with 10 to play. It was the Eagles that grabbed the vital 13th goal of the game as an unfortunate own goal gave them the 7-6 win that confirms their place as League One winners! The Giants defeat meant that second place remained up for grabs, and a win for Polish Army would see them move to within three points with a game in hand. They played FC AOTS this week who needed points to avoid the possibility for dropping into the Sunday league basement for next season. A goal each for Bania and Adam Atherton had us all square at 1-1 after 10 minutes, but two more for Bania and another for Julian saw the Army lead 4-1 at the break. Three more in the opening 12 minutes of the second half put the result beyond doubt as Grzegorz, Bania and Marcin put the Army out of sight, and even though Steve Whittle and an own goal gave AOTS a bit of consolation, Julian grabbed three more and Bania another in the final 11 minutes to give Polish Army a fairly comfortable victory. Murder On Zidane’s Floor’s team bares more and more resemblance to The McMuffin Men on a weekly basis, and they took on The Veterans this week with The Vets in need of points to drag themselves out of the bottom two. Mark Bailey gave Murder the lead on 9 minutes, but three goals in 7 minutes turned this one The Veterans way as Paul Atherton grabbed two and Ben Mercer the other. Jack Searle got McMu….. Murder off to the ideal start in the second half as they looked to get back into this one, but Paul Atherton quickly restored The Vets two goal lead. Charley Eyre kept Murder in the hunt, Atherton got his 4th to keep them at arms length, Daniel Havern grabbed another for Murder to make it 5-4 with 10 minutes to play, but Simon Grainger scored the 10th and final goal of the game to give The Veterans a much needed win that is guaranteed to keep them out of the relegation places come the end of the season.

The League Two season has been a little fragmented this season, and with Stront Bakken already having claimed the title a few weeks ago. Inter Your Sister still needed to try and secure a second place finish that they would have done well to throw away! They fell behind to Deportivo Lack Of Talent in the second minute through Ben Proctor’s goal, but quickly turned things around to lead 2-1 within 5 minutes, Craig Johnson and Gaz Sumner with the goals. Ryan McAndrew doubled their lead 4 minutes before the break, but Proctor’s second of the game kept Deportivo in the mix at half time. Two more McAndrew goals in the opening 10 minutes of the second half looked to have put Inter out of sight at 5-2, but Proctor got his third with 15 minutes to play to keep Deportivo within two.Two more Johnson goals in the final 6 minutes did finish this one off, with McAndrew grabbing his 4th of the game in the final minute to complete an 8-3 win for Inter and second place. Due to games missed earlier in the season, Beercalona and SK Six’s game this weekend was for double points, and Beercalona struck first through Tom Ratcliffe’s second minute goal. Harry Bridge drew SK level 10 minutes in, but two goals in three minutes from Jay Ratcliffe put Beercalona in control at the break. Ratcliffe got his third three minutes into the second half, and they looked to have the 6 points wrapped up when Ratcliffe and Scott Williams scored in quick succession to make it 6-1. Bridge did pull another one back for SK with 16 minutes still to play, but Ratcliffe got his 5th three minutes later and Ste Bowler grabbed Beercalona’s 8th in the final minute to give them a comfortable win.

Just one friendly played this week as a couple of teams wanted to keep going while they waited for the new season to get going. El Caliente had 6 different scorers as they beat Rooneytunes 9-5, with a mysterious man known only as ‘Jimmy’ grabbing three of them.

WE CAN FIND SPACE FOR NEW TEAMS AS WE LOOK TO ADD A 5TH DIVISION TO THE SUNDAY LEAGUE FOR THE NEW SEASON. IF YOUR 11’S SEASON IS FINISHING UP AND THE LADS WANT TO KEEP PLAYING THROUGH THE SUMMER, THIS IS IDEAL!

MONDAY LEAGUE

Since starting up the new Championship at the start of the season we’ve pretty much been onto a winner, and a full house of second tier games accompanied just the one in the top flight this week. That top flight game saw Expected Toulouse return after missing a couple of weeks, and they got off to an absolute flyer as they looked to get back to winning ways after their shock opening day defeat to Not A Chance, going two up against Pink Panthers in the opening two minutes. Jordan Milne and Liam Mottram got those goals, and though Christy O’Brien pulled one back before we’d reached the 5 minute mark, Mottram’s second and a Waz Akram goal saw last season’s champions lead 4-1 with just 9 minutes on the clock. Ray Donnelly pulled one back a minute later, but after that we actually went 8 minutes without a goal before two in a a minute from Niall Hillen and Mottram seemed to have put Toulouse over the top at 6-2 6 minutes before half time. Their lead was trimmed before the break as Ross Wheret and Gage (just Gage) reduced the deficit to just two goals, and Gage’s second 5 minutes into the second half meant there was just one goal in it with 19 minutes still to go. Donnelly’s second of the game 11 minutes from time meant we were all square again, and despite a massive effort from both teams, 6-6 was how it finished.

Both Diva Fever and Jeremy Cheadle were looking for their second wins of the season and the chance to go top of the Championship in the early stages, but in the early stages it looked likely that the points would be heading Diva’s way. Joe Dodd scored a brace in three minutes half way through the period, and though Phil Monaghan pulled one back 4 minutes before the break, Des Savage and John Brookes scored to ensure the Diva’s went into the break 4-1 up. Cheadle needed a fast start to the second half, but Dodd’s third of the game helped DIva open up a 4 goal lead, before Cheadle kicked into life with goals from Jack Whelan and Kieran Monaghan to make it 5-3 with 14 minutes to play. That was as close as they got though, and Diva finished the stronger with two more goals from Brookes and one each for Savage and Dodd to make it two wins from two for the new team. Netsix & Chill bounced back from a humbling opening day defeat to pick up a first win of the season last week, and goals in the first half from Mike Pinder, Warren Yeo and Matty Aked put them in control against Nice Buns. Tom Dempsey got Buns on the board before the break to keep them in touch, but Aaron Campbell restored Netsix’ three goal lead three minutes after the restart. Tom Hall and Paul Cheetham scored to give Buns hope of a third league draw from 4 games with the score at 4-3 with 12 minutes to go, but Yeo’s second of the game a minute later gave Netsix a lead they didn’t relinquish in the final stages. they go second, level on points with Diva Fever. We tried to force Migg FC to take a spot in the top division after their impressive victory over Netsix in the opening week, but they’ve since followed that up with a draw with Nice Buns and a defeat in a friendly last week, so maybe we were jumping the gun. They would have expected to get back to winning ways this week against Pathetico Madrid, and struck early through Dan Wild’s third minute opener, but they were behind within three minutes as James Littlewood and Liam Needham turned things in Pathetico’s favour. Joe McDonald leveled up again for Migg, but before we’d even reached the 10 minute mark Pathetico were back in front again through Joe Bates finish. We looked like making it through to half time with the scoreline remaining the same, but Littlewood doubled Pathetico’s lead in the final minute of the half to send them into the break with a 4-2 lead. The second period started similar to the first with 4 goals in the opening 5 minutes, McDonald and Kyle Mulliner’s goals being quickly matched by goals from Bates and Needham as Pathetico retained their two goal lead with 20 minutes to play. From this point the second half drifted into the final 5 minutes with Pathetico looking set for a first win of the season, but there was a final twist as McDonald and Aaron Roby struck two goals in the final three minutes to give both teams a share of the spoils.

THE MONDAY LEAGUE IS CURRENTLY FULL, BUT FRIENDLIES CAN BE ARRANGED FOR ANY NEW TEAMS WANTING TO GET INVOLVED

TUESDAY LEAGUE

As the midweek 11’s games continue to be crammed in, we found ourselves with three games just about surviving this week. The only top division game saw title holders (who are yet to receive their trophies, ooops) Gangs Of Dwight Yorke take on a patched up Oooze FC. It looked like it could be a long night for the patched up team as Callum Jones gave Gangs a two goal lead in the opening 13 minutes, but they fought back well and three goals in 6 minutes, two from Sam Cawthra and another from Jay Berrisford gave them an unlikely 3-2 lead heading towards the interval. Jones’ third of the half sent us into the break all square, and the champs came out fighting (not literally) in the second half as two goals from Anthony Pugh and another from Jake Dean helped them open up a three goal lead in the early stages. Berrisford got his second to give Oooze hope, but that quickly disappeared as Gangs went through the gears as Dean added three more, Jones and Pugh another each. Berrisford did complete his hat trick with 5 minutes to play, but in those 5 minutes Gangs found time for three more goals, two from Chris Singleton and a 5th of the game for Jones, as Gangs continue their winning run at the start of the season.

Stroke Titty look set for a place in the top flight next season as they went into this weeks batch of games with a 9 point lead at the top, but this weeks game looked interesting as they took on a recently much improved Wellspring. The leaders hit the front in the 8th minute through Sam Tattersall’s finish and it looked like business as usual, but goals from Mike Devitt and Lewis Arden turned things in Wellspring’s favour before the break. An own goal 6 minutes into the second half got Stroke back on level terms, but Nathan Wilkinson restored Wellspring’s lead a minute later. Jay Willingham made it 3-3 with 15 minutes to play, and despite the best effort of both teams, this is how it finished as Stroke drop their first points of the season. Turkish Delight bounced back with a win last week to reclaim second place going into this weeks game with an improving, but patched up Beercalona. Ballers debutant Anthony Corns opened the scoring for Beercalona, before an unfortunate injury to Omur of Turkish Delight meant they were reduced to 5 men for the remainder of the game (get well soon!). Beercalona voluntarily played the remainder of the match with 5 themselves, but it didn’t negatively affect them as Corns second and fellow debutant Martin Bell’s first Ballers goal put them three up 4 minutes before the break. Volkan pulled one back a couple of minute later, but it was 4-1 at the break as Tom Ratcliffe scored a minute before the half time whistle. Volkan got his second a minute after the restart to keep Turkish in the contest, but Beercalona killed this one off with three goals in 8 minutes, two from Jay Ratcliffe, one for Tom. Turkish kicked into life in the final 5 minutes, and two more Volkan goals and one from Morgan pulled them back to 7-5 with two minutes to go, but Jay Ratcliffe’s third in the final minute put the seal on Beercalona’s first win of the season.

WE HAVE A SINGLE SPACE IN THE TOP DIVISION OF THE TUESDAY LEAGUE. IT WON’T BE AROUND FOR LONG, SO GET IN TOUCH FOR DETAILS

WEDNESDAY LEAGUE

Aaaaaand we’re back to a full house of games after what by Wednesday’s standards was a dodgy few weeks! Old foes Stockport Eagles and Polish Army went up against each other for the latest in their long running saga with the Eagles looking to maintain their position at the top of the table. Ryan McAndrew struck for for Eagles in the 4th minute, and though Mateusz drew the Army level 9 minutes later the Eagles looked well in control when Michael Winn, McAndrew and Callum Donnelly  scored three in 5 minutes to put Eagles 4-1 up 7 minutes from half time. These games are never straightforward though, and the Poles were back to within one by the break as Grzegorz and Bania scored in the final few minutes of the half. Bania made it 4-4 5 minutes into the second period, and when Marcin scored to put them 5-4 up with 9 minutes to go it looked like they had broken the Eagles resistance. Of course they hadn’t though, as Ray Donnelly leveled us up again a couple of minutes later, before Michael Winn scored a quickfire double and Ben Waugh the final goal as Eagles scored three in the last 4 minutes to pick up another win. Exeter Gently returned after a couple of weeks off and were thrown straight into a game with two times champs Michu At De Gea Ba. They started well as Mehrad Torkian put them in front in the second minute, but they were behind by the 10th minute as Matt Barton and Alex Brady scored for Michu. 4 goals in the final 6 minutes of the half saw Michu lead 5-2 at the break, Michael Jennison with two and Adam Porter another for Michu, Dan Williams with the strike for Exeter. It’s fair to say that Michu have had a more than decent record against Exeter, so we may have expected them to run away with things in the second half, but what we got was a lightning start to the second period for Exeter who were level within 7 minutes of the restart, Tom Harrison, Williams and Tom Wood with the goals. Michu responded by going two up again with two goals in a minute from Jennison and Nathan Brammer, and this time there was no way back for Exeter. Brammer grabbed two more in the final stages to ease Michu to a 4 goal victory that keeps them hot on the heels of the leaders. Ajax Treesdown (formerly Ice Cream Kone, formerly Cheadle FC, possibly still to be renamed) joined the Wednesday league this week, and they looked to be on the way to an opening night victory as they lead 3-1 in the early stages of the second half. Sam Cawthra got the only goal of the opening period in the 6th minute before Harry Lee’s two goals in the opening two minutes of the second half were either side of Bartosz Schmidt’s solitary strike for Magpie. Things took off in the final 10 minutes as Tomasz Glebiowski scored two in a minute to draw Magpie level, before Ajax looked to have won it all over again through Adam Taylor’s goal 5 minutes from time. In a final twist Magpie snatched a point through Adrian Hulicki’s goal a minute from the end, as Ajax look set to make a solid addition to a solid Wednesday league.

THE WEDNESDAY LEAGUE IS BACK AT CAPACITY AGAIN. GET IN TOUCH ABOUT ANY UPCOMING SPACES OR NEW LEAGUES!