It’s amazing the difference as we step into September, and this review contains a lot more words than any from the previous couple of months, which is a good thing. Hopefully the good start we’ve had to September will continue as we head towards our two year anniversary!
LEAGUE NEWS
The BRAND NEW TUESDAY LEAGUE kicks off on 9th October, and we currently have a couple of spaces to fill
Two days before that, we’re going for it….. We currently have 4 teams on standby for the SUNDAY LEAGUE, so on the 7th October we will be adding in the 5TH DIVISION we’ve been talking about for ages! Two spaces, who wants them?
The MONDAY LEAGUE is slowly picking up, with a couple more spaces filled this week, but we can still find room for ONE MORE team in the top division if anyone fancies their chances.
We also have the Players Pool group that we’ve set up on Facebook to help teams find players, players find teams, line up last minute friendlies and put teams together, so feel free to add yourself to it. Here’s the link: https://www.facebook.com/groups/441897286297839/
SUNDAY LEAGUE
BOOM! Week 2 of the Sunday league saw just two out of the 24 teams unable to field a side, and the return of Under Rated to fill in for a friendly in one of those spaces. Wilmslow Whoppers were denied an opening night win last week by a last ditch Insole goal, while Bangers & Pash were comfortable winners over Premiership debutants Stockport Eagles. Whoppers struck first through Olly Ford’s 8th minute goal, but when Callum Delaney doubled their lead 10 minutes before the break the game exploded into life. Chris Carroll got Bangers on the board, but that was the first of 8 goals in 8 minutes as Ford grabbed another three and Liam Delaney another for Whoppers, as they lead 6-4 at the break, with Alex Fowell getting two and Robbie Fallon the other for Bangers. Goals in the first 6 minutes of the second period from Ford, and Callum’s Delaney and Hewitt moved Whoppers into a 5 goal lead, but Fowell and Rory Kelly kept Bangers in touch heading towards the final 10 minutes. Three more from Callum Delaney and a 6th of the game from Ford eased Whoppers to their first win, with Carroll’s second of the game all that Bangers could muster in the final stages. Champions Duno opened their defence of the title with a game against Stockport Eagles, who were looking for their first Ballers top flight point. Duno went through the whole of last season unbeaten, so not many of us were giving Eagles much of a chance of ending that run, but they did score first through Ray Donnelly’s 5th minute opener. Jack Cope leveled up for Duno two minutes later, but Donnelly got his second to restore the Eagles lead half way through the period. Liam Watson made it 2-2, and Duno lead for the first time when Cope got his second three minutes from the break. Brandon Byers-Wilkes drew Eagles leve again almost immediately, but Duno responded in kind to lead 4-3 at the break through Cope’s third. Duno lead by two for the first time when Luke Newsham scored 5 minutes into the second half, but as we thought they might run away with it from here, Eagles hit back again as Lee Clarke and Callum Davies scored to make it 5-5 inside the final 10 minutes. With both teams going for the win it was Donnelly who grabbed the final goal in the final minute to give Eagles the shock win, as the Sunday Premiership looks like being one to watch this season.
Kinky Slipper were narrow winners in week one, but remain hot favourites for a swift return to the Premiership, and were even hotter favourites to win this week’s game with Beercalona after two Wes Harney goals and one from Tommy Schofield in the opening 11 minutes put them three up. Anthony Corns pulled one back for Beercalona, but Harney quickly restored the three goal lead with 9 minutes remaining in the half. Beercalona roared back with three goals in two minutes fro Jay Ratcliffe, Corns and Chris Murray, and though James Ratcliffe put Kinky back ahead soon after, we were level after an own goal made it 5-5 at the break. A tighter second period saw Harney score again to put Kinky back in front, and an own goal 9 minutes from time looked like it might be enough to secure the win. We were set for a big finish when Tom Ratcliffe made it 7-6 three minutes from time, but Rob Cresswell scored in the dying stages to ease Kinky to another hard fought win. Polish Army are still easing their way back into things as it stands, but they started well this week against Ladzio, Pawel and Bania turning things in their favour in the opening 10 minutes after Lewis Findlow had given Ladzio an early lead. Ladzio quickly regained control, and two goals from Owen McNally and one from Lewis Findlow saw them take a two goal lead into the break, and the only goal of the second period came from Rory McKenna as Ladzio secured their first Championship points of the season.
Team Tom had picked up an impressive win with 5 men against Inter Your Sister on the opening night, while Murder On Zidane’s Floor took a point from their first game of the season last week. It took 15 minutes for the deadlock to be broken here, as Tommy Schofield gave Murder the lead, but they quickly added three more through Dan Evans, Karl Mason and an own goal to lead 4-0 at the break. The mysterious John (just John) made it 5 early in the second half, and by the time he scored again 10 minutes later it was 8-0 as Danny Derbyshire and Evans had added goals in between. Rob Jordan ensured there would be no place on the golden gloved board for Murder ‘keeper Matt Barker, and with the result already well decided, Derbyshire got his second before Adam Priest had the final word for Team Tom on a night to forget for them. The McMuffin Men were here for the first time this season, but they were two down early on as Matt Sands scored two for Pat’s Giants in the opening 9 minutes. Sam Delgado got McMuffin’s first goal of the season, and Mark Bailey drew them level 6 minutes before the break. Joe Marsland edged the Giants ahead again, but it was 3-3 at half time as Delgado got his second a minute before the whistle. An unfortunate injury to Sands meant that Pat’s were effectively playing most of the second half with 5 men, and the McMuffins took advantage as Logan Sherer put them in front 4 minutes in before Calan Sherer added two more to give them a three goal lead with 9 minutes left. Rick Nuttall did pull one back, but two more from Charley Eyre and another from Bailey meant that McMuffins ran out 9-4 winners. Nice Buns doubled up and joined the Sunday league as well this week, and they were given a helping hand against Inter Your Sister who had to start the game with 5 players with three players running (very) late. Tom Hall, Jimmy Williamson and Dale Kirkham scored first half goals to have them looking comfortable, but when restored to 6 players Inter hit back with two Craig Johnson goals before the break. Brandon Byers-Wilkes drew them level with 16 minutes left on the clock, and the same player scored the winner 5 minutes from time to complete the Inter comeback.
Step Brothers are at the bottom of the mountain again looking up as the former Premiership side look to escape from the Sunday basement at the first attempt. They would go in as favourites against SK Six who continue their search for a first Ballers win, but they went behind to Chris Sinclair’s 3rd minute goal. They ran Stront Bakken close last week, and drew level here when Steve Blunsten scored halfway through the opening period, but they couldn’t hang on til the break as Sinclair got his second just before the half time whistle. They needed to pull a rabbit out of a hat when Chris Moore extended the Brothers lead with 13 to play, and an own goal 5 minutes from time and Tom Cioffi’s last minute goal sealed the second win for them at the start of a season that’s seen them field a side all by themselves for two weeks in a row! Stront Bakken got off to a winning start as they looked to put themselves amongst the promotion party on their return to League Two, but FC AOTS will also fancy a promotion push this season after improving as the previous season went on. The Bucket Boys went in front on 4 minutes as Declan Matthews scored the opener, but that lead lasted just a minute as Eoghan Scott quickly leveled things up for AOTS in their first league game in their spanking new kit. They took control as Zac Jamieson and Adam Duty scored at the mid point of the opening period, and in an otherwise tight game they scored the only other goal 8 minutes from time, Scott with his second to give AOTS their first win from their first league game of the season. Deportivo Lack Of Talent were back in action after missing their first league game in an age last week, while The Veterans were looking for their first points after an opening day defeat to Step Brothers. There were 4 goals in the opening period, all in a 5 minute spell just after the 10 minute mark. Adam Pinder’s opener for The Vets was quickly matched by Brad Peet’s finish, before Rinder and Ryan Prestwich put The Vets in control at the break. Simon Grainger scored three in the opening 6 minutes of the half to tighten the Vets grip, with just a Rob Parker reply for Deportivo wedged in between them. Parker added two more to reduce the deficit to two with 13 minutes left, but The Veterans ended the stronger with Pinder grabbing another two and Andy Carrington getting the other as The Vets get off the mark with a 9-4 win.
Under Rated are wanting to get back into it after a bit of a break, and they gave Kipsta Cobras a highly competitive friendly, leading 3-1 just after the restart as Chris Leah, James McIver and Colin Stelfox scored after Connor Harding had given Kipsta an early lead. Kipsta ran out narrow 4-2 winners as Harding grabbed two more and James Bamgbose the winner as Under Rated showed the level we can expect them to be at when we find them a space!
THE SUNDAY LEAGUE IS FULL. A 5TH DIVISION IS A POSSIBILITY, AS IS ADDING TEAMS TO THE EXISTING LEAGUES, SO GET IN TOUCH TO JOIN OUR BIGGEST LEAGUE NIGHT!
MONDAY LEAGUE
While we can’t fit enough teams into our Sunday league at the minute, we have issues with a number of Monday teams being able to field a side. It’s mostly Premiership teams who are finding the struggle real, and we only had one game take place this week. It was a proper game though, as Kroos Control had the narrowest lead at the break against Ruud van Nipplerooy thanks to Ray Donnelly’s 12th minute goal. The Nips were level early in the second half through Jordan Hutchinson’s finish, and they lead with 9 minutes to go as Hutchinson got his second. They looked to be seeing it out for the win, but Cam (just Cam) popped up with a leveler with just two minutes remaining. As we looked set for a draw, Liam Watson took advantage of a mix up to give Kroos Control a last gasp win to make it three from three for them as the top division plays catch up.
Netsix & Chill look set to join the top flight next season, so it was a little mean of us to put them up against the newly formed Monday Randommers (better name to come). James Bamgbose struck early for the leaders, and they lead by 4 at the break as Mike Pinder added three more throughout the half. Warren Yeo made it 5 early in the second period, but Shaun Mulverney ensured there was no clean sheet for Netsix this week with probably the goal of the game. It didn’t lead to an unexpected comeback, as Netsix ran out 8-1 winners with further goals from Aaron Campbell and two more from Yeo. Phantom Brazilians have had injury and holiday issues in recent weeks, and while it hasn’t stopped them fielding a side, it has meant that side has dropped away in the race for the title. With a relatively full squad they were hoping to get back to winning ways against Pathetico Madrid, another side who’ve found the last few weeks a struggle, and they started well with Daniel Clayton’s first minute goal. Pathetico lead at the break as Nathan Wilkinson drew them level and Ethan Kaye put them in front, and it was 3-1 4 minutes after the restart as Kaye got his second. Paul Wilkinson scored in the 31st and 43rd minute to bring Phantom level with 7 to play, and Clayton’s second put them in front three minutes later. A frantic final couple of minutes saw Phantom nick a 6-5 win as Clayton and Wilkinson’s goals saw off the two goals from Pathetico’s Wilkinson to get them back to winning ways.
FC AOTS popped down for a game on Monday against Nice Buns, but we’ll have to see if it becomes a permanent thing as Buns ran out comfortable 7-2 winners, Dale Kirkham and Jimmy Williamson with three apiece and Tom Hall with the other as Andy Callahan and Zac Jamieson grabbed the consolation goals for the on tour Sunday team.
THE MONDAY LEAGUE IS SLOWLY PICKING UP AFTER A TRICKY SUMMER, BUT WE CAN FIND SPACE FOR A COUPLE MORE TEAMS. GET IN TOUCH FOR DETAILS.
TUESDAY LEAGUE
If Michu At De Gea Ba were to hold out any hope of catching Gangs Of Dwight Yorke, they would need to beat them this week, and probably by a pretty decent margin. It became quickly apparent that this wasn’t going to happen as goals from Callum Jones, two each from Connor Harding and Chris Singleton and another from Josh Morrissey saw them lead 6-1 at the break, with just a Pete Lennon goal in reply for Michu. Two more from Jones and one from Warren Yeo ruled out any hope of a Michu second half comeback, and though Fidelis Eberegbe pulled one back 10 minutes from time, Morrissey added another three in the final stages to give Gangs another comfortable victory. Championship winners Stroke Titty have had a mixed season, while Shaka have had a different team out every week and have struggled to click as a result. They did lead 4-3 at the break as Mark Brookes helped himself to three and Liam Paull the other, with Jimmy Leeson, Jay Willingham and Mike (just Mike) replying for Stroke. Leeson added a couple more after the break, alongside another goal from the mysterious Mike and a missing scorer, to give them a 7-6 win with Paull and Jack Roberts getting the second half goals for Shaka, who will now finish up back in the Championship next season. Stroke were looking forward to relegation last week, they now sit third!
In the Championship, we had the potential title decider between Beercalona and Wellspring, with Wellspring knowing anything other than a defeat would leave them in pole position as a result of making the most of their earlier games with Europeans before they dropped out, but they set about taking any doubts away in the opening half as George Quayle and Shane Bridges scored two apiece against a changed Beercalona to lead 4-1 at the break, with a Tom Ratcliffe penalty the only reply for them. Ratcliffe got a second three minutes after the break, but Bridges quickly got his third to keep them three clear, but goals from Ratcliffe and Ste Bowler meant it was 5-4 with 10 minutes to play. An injury to Bowler in the final few minutes nearly ended the game early, but he dragged himself off the pitch to allow Martin Bell to fire home a leveler with two minutes remaining. There wasn’t enough time for a winner though, and the draw does a lot more for Wellspring than it does Beercalona. Bandit Athletic made their Tuesday bow against the rapidly settling Show Me Da Mane (I’ll be able to take the stabilizers off soon and let them go it alone). A very tight first half saw goals from Connor Atkinson and Chris Sinclair at either end of the half give Bandit a two goal half time lead. Tom Kessi made it three early in the second period, but Paul Swanson got Mane off the mark with 20 still to play. Kyle Clarke and Swanson exchanged goals to make it 4-2, and Clarke scored again after Andy Carrington had briefly reduced the deficit to one. It was back to one at 5-4 when Carrington scored again with 9 left, and in a frantic final couple of minutes Bailey Carroll looked to have clinched it for Bandit, only for Nathaniel Odysseus-Kingsley to make them sweat again, beofre Clarke finally finished this one off.
We had a bit of a glamour friendly this week as the highly experienced Total Bala (formerly Total Ballet, formerly Total Football, occasionally The Loveable Geeks) took on most of Sunday Premiership multiple winners Insole. The experienced guys started the better and lead 3-0 at the break with goals from John Wood, Lee Manion and Ethan Kaye. Wood made it 4 just after the restart, and though Jordan Cunningham scored 4 of his own in the second half, it was in vain as Manion and Kaye secured the win for Bala.
WE HAVE TWO SPACES IN OUR TUESDAY LEAGUE WITH THE NEW SEASON SET TO START ON 9TH OCTOBER. FRIENDLIES CAN BE ARRANGED FOR ANY NEW OR RETURNING TEAMS IN THE MEANTIME. WE’LL BE FLEXIBLE ON CHAMPIONS LEAGUE NIGHTS…..
WEDNESDAY LEAGUE
The first night of the extended 7 team Wednesday league took place this week with three very close games, one brand new team, and Unprotected Cesc starting their first full season. The champs got off to a flying start as Ajax Treesdown flew into a 5 goal lead against Exeter Gently in the opening 11 minutes, Daniel Kitchingham with the first two, followed by further goals from Adam Taylor Josh Batch and Matt Taylor. The game looked in the bag when Matt Taylor got his second 4 minutes after the break, but they weren’t going to keep a clean sheet as Kristian Igo finally got Exeter on the board with 15 minutes remaining. When he got his second, 4 minutes later, it was after Tom Berry and Mehrad Torkian had also scored, and all of a sudden there was only two goals in it. Ajax showed the stuff of champions, and got a couple of late goals to seal the win, Jordan Hardman and Evan Farrell with the decisive goals. Last season’s runners up Stockport Eagles would have been expected to get off to a winning start against Magpie, but the Mags can be a funny team and they took the lead through Mariusz Kozsla’s 5th minute goal. The Eagles turned it around late on in the half as Ray Donnelly scored twice and Liam Watson grabbed their third to put them 3-1 up three minutes from the break, but Karol reduced the deficit just before the half time whistle. We were level at 3-3 with 18 to play when Dawid got on the score sheet, but Eagles nicked it through Stevie Whetham’s goal 12 minutes from time. We welcomed CSKA Cheadle to Ballers this week, and they faced a much changed Unprotected Cesc, missing every single one of their regular lads this week. The first half was a goal fest as Callum Clarke opened the scoring for Cesc in the opening minute before Andy Whitelegg got CSKA’s first Ballers goal a minute later. They were never behind again throughout the half as Sam Casey gave them the lead, then added two more to go alongside another from Whitelegg, while Josh Armitage, Wez Hodkinson and Jack Phillips replied for Cesc to leave us at 5-4 at the break. Cheadle seemed to have it in the bag with two more in the first three minutes of the second half from Mark Carruthers and Whitelegg, but two goals in a minute half way through the period from Armitage and George Quayle meant there was one goal in it again with 13 to play. Casey edged CSKA two clear again, but they had to hold on when Phillips got his second two minutes from time. They held on for the win on their opening night, which is always handy in ensuring a new team come back for their second week……
THE WEDNESDAY LEAGUE IS NOW FULL. LOOK AT THE MONDAY OR TUESDAY LEAGUE FOR AN IMMEDIATE START