All to play for
What a final week we have in store – the top four teams all face teams from the bottom half in week 14 and any one of them can take the crown and be named league champions 2017.
Honey Badger FC have the upper hand, having beaten top of the league Jimmy Sevilla last night and climbing to 23 points, a position where even a draw could be enough for them to win the league. That would depend on how Jimmy Sevilla themselves fare, as they face off with three-time champions CrownEroon (who are now guaranteed to have lost their title). In the event of a draw for the Badgers, a win for Jimmy would see them win by goal difference.
Both Park teams, the Arabs and their Young counterparts are also in with a shout should the Badgers and Jimmy both slip up. The Park Arabs hold a slim upper-hand in goal difference there, but that could be clawed back if the Young Arabs are on song. They both have what seems like the easiest of the fixtures on paper for those vying for top spot, but if this season has taught us anything, it is that no game is easily predicted.
It’s all to play for, and has the making of a great night. It’s in the Badgers’ hands, and should they fail to seal the title in their 6.45 kick off, the last two games will surely be full of tension and excitement.
Good luck everyone, may the best team win!
Week 13 round up
Week 13 was another disappointing turn-out as two teams, CrownEroon and Scouting for Goals, failed to field a team once again. It meant 3 hour-long games kicking off with FC Snorkel vs Park Arabs.
The Arabs started slowly, just as they did in the reverse fixture in week 6, and Snorkel were 3-0 up in no time. Arguing ensued between the Arabs’ players and Snorkel soon found themselves leading 6-1 shortly after half time, with some lovely finishes from Nathan Smith, Callum Walters and Luke Howells among the goals. The Arabs got themselves back into the game through Nathan Whelan, Jack Lewis and Johnny McNamara but the game ended 6-4 in Snorkel’s favour. It leaves the Park hoping teams above them slip up in the final week while they face off with The Vaders. Snorkel look set finish in sixth, with seventh the lowest they can fall, and they will have a big say in the title race as they play current leaders Honey Badger FC.
The second game of week 13 was a friendly between the two teams set to play CrownEroon and Scouting, and ended in a 3-3 draw between the Young Arabs and The Vaders. A neat finish from Shaun Mizen meant the Young Arabs came from behind for the second time to lead 3-2 and looked well in control as they stopped almost every attack from The Vaders in the final 10 minutes. It was to be the last kick of the game which brought the equaliser, Richard Boydell converting a one-on-one at the second time of asking after a good initial save from Keane Watts. The Young Arabs face Scouting for Goals next week in our first game and can lay down a marker for the rest of the teams in the title race, a remarkable turn around after just one win in their first eight games.
Game three was the big one. After the Park Arabs failed to win earlier in the night, Jimmy Sevilla were in a position to clinch the title if they could overcome third-placed Honey Badger FC. Rhys Dyke got the Badgers off the mark with a thunderous left foot shot from distance. It was a lovely strike but goalkeeper Christian Davies may have been disappointed not to keep it out as it flew through his hands. He extended the lead further before Luke Whittaker got a nice goal back for Jimmy with a low, near-post drive. With time ticking down, the game was on a knife edge at 3-2. At that point, it was possible a draw would be enough for Jimmy to win the league, with uncertainty over whether CrownEroon could raise a team for the final week, their 4 point lead would be unassailable. But it was the Badgers who took control of both the game and the league, as unlikely goal hero Alex Blacker fired in a fourth to calm Badgers’ nerves and earn them a 4-2 win.
I will try my best to help all teams field a side next week, as anyone winning the league by default of a walk-over win would be a great shame after a terrifically competitive season. Once again, good luck to everyone.