Top Four Teams Advance to Second Round of Cup Championship

There were no upsets last Sunday night.

Three teams advanced to the semi-finals with decisive wins and a fourth got through owing to a disappointing forfeit - the league's first and hopefully last.

MATCH REPORT: Chico's Bail Bonds  vs. Wild Turkeys

Five minutes before the start, the Wild Turkeys looked the more relaxed and also ready squad. They had their keeper. Chico's didn't. Wild Turkeys had a full team out. Chico's were still looking over their shoulder, checking to see how many subs they may have by game time. Chico's were not only without their keeper but also without their top scorer, and so they were busy shuffling people into new positions, to discuss new roles.

But when the opening whistle blew, CBB came out flying. Normally a bit reserved in attack during the early part of the game, they thrust themselves into the Wild Turkey's half within the first 30 seconds. Yet WT responded in kind with some fine defensive work and nifty passing up the flanks. After a few early exchanges, a turnover deep in the CBB half led to an early goal for CBB. That goal was then followed soon after by another of the same kind. While this didn't seem to deflate the Turkeys, it perhaps led to their more desperate, individual play where the better of their players would try to take on CBB instead of looking for support.

CBB's Jimmy H. played well as usual, doing what is needed to score.  Also proving his versatility and showing off CBB's depth was Brian H., who moved up front (he usually plays D) and scoring a hat trick on the night.

MATCH REPORT: FC Headers vs. AC Kermans

This game, like most others on the night, started slowly. But the early edge on chances went to FC Headers. AC Kermans, however, responded well defensively. The ACK keeper made a few good saves in the first 10-12 min. This gave his midfielders and forwards the confidence to attack, resulting in a few dangerous possessions in the FC Headers' half.

Then, at the 15 minute mark, the reliable and dangerous Fernando C. opened the scoring with a calm and calculated move. A move that seemed so effortless that you'd think he could have done it earlier if he wanted and that he would do it again. And he did it again. This perhaps deflated ACK a touch. But they didn't let up entirely. When they had space, they took it and looked more dangerous than they have all season. And they created some space out of nothing as well. This bodes well for their next season.

But for every chance that ACK had, FCH seemed to answer back twice. By the half it was 5-0.

The second half saw a more balanced effort but FCH still managed two more scores, owing partly to ACK midfielders having been caught up field on attack.

MATCH REPORT: Badgers FC vs. Bangarang

Unfortunately Bangarang let Badgers FC and themselves down. One player from its team showed up.

Nevertheless, the rest of the league came through, with 8 players from other teams (and your reporter) volunteering to give Badgers a warm-up game for next week.

So it was WSP Barbarians against Badgers FC for the full 60 minutes.

It was a good opportunity for the Badgers to try some different combinations, as they will be without their two top scorers for the semis.

The game was a good one, with a lot of end to end action - perhaps because nothing was at stake.

But it was the Barbarians who came away with a 5-3 win.

MATCH REPORT: Scousers vs. Hounslow Harriers

The game saw a rather cautious start from both teams, with a few nerves showing over the first 10 to 12 minutes. Nerves were soon settled for the Harriers when their top scorer, Andre A. rifled a long-range shot into the bottom corner to give his team the lead at 15 minutes.

In turn, this gave the Scousers a bit of a wake up call.  Attacking midfielder Yohay B. soon answered back by delivering a smart through-ball to forward Dan W., whose determined follow through saw the ball bundled into the net off his knee after his first shot was saved.

A tense first half thus ended at 1-1.

In the beginning of the second half, the Scousers' defence looked a little bunched up, giving the opposition attackers the chance to penetrate. But the Scousers' keeper produced some fine saves to keep Harriers from going up 2 or more to 1.

The Scousers' defence settled back into its own and started to distribute the ball well and wide, creating more space for the midfield. Yohay B. and Neil C. played a neat 1-2, from which N.C. scored. From then on it was an open, attacking game, though the Scousers had the edge on chances.

The Harriers keeper saved a good 6 shots that could have easily been goals on a different night.

Captain Neil then put Caroline C. through into space, which she used to produce a technically brilliant finish. She then returned the favour for her Captain with just 5 minutes from death, putting the Scouser's final seal on the game.

Overall, it was a much more difficult and physical battle than two weeks ago, when the same two teams faced each other in the last game of the season. This hearkens well for the Harriers next season. And the solid if tentative Scousers performance will be enough to give them confidence going into the second round of the Cup Championship next week.