Still Open Season at the Midway Mark

WSP's second season at The Inlet has just passed its halfway point, with everything still to play for. At the top of the table, it's no surprise to see the perennial FC Headers; whilst at the bottom, AC Kermans have managed to threaten the opposition in each game. And in-between these two teams, there are six that can still reach the summit by the season's end.

Here's a team-by-team summary of events thus far. (Match reports will likely follow all remaining games.)

FC Headers' ten points in four games make them the league's only undefeated team. Their scintillating start to the season has been in keeping with their fast forays into first place from season to season since their 2007 inception. But last night's draw to a determined and (finally) full-strength Badgers has left FCH just one point ahead of second place Berry Park. With goals and assists coming from nearly every player, and with a league-tying best defense, it's hard to see FCH finishing anywhere but first. But I think we said this last season, and they didn't win the league. They've something to prove now. And they seem up for it.

Berry Park is right on FCH's tail with nine points. The team comprises a large core from last season's disbanded Bangarang. But this same core has a different and daring chemistry this season, thanks in part to the injection of new blood from Messi-esque Nick A. at centre mid, and in Vidic-like Beth P. at right back. Whereas last season's Bangarang would have had trouble pointing out a net in a fleet of moored shrimp trawlers, Berry Park has pulled out 17 scores in just four nights. At the mid-way mark, Captain Mike G. has already quadrupled his total points from last season. And the team's veteran 11v11 player, Alex K., seems to have settled well into a short-sided game this season with quick and deft passes on the ground and with darting, end-to-end runs. We expect BP to get even better, as half this team is made up of free agents. They may have gelled quickly. But they're not done developing their best combinations just yet.

Scousers are tied for third place with seven points. Like last season, they are the most threatening looking team on a given night. But unlike last season, consistency on the scoreboard eludes them. Offense hasn't been their biggest problem, however. Now that their keeper has returned from vacation, and with the expected return of Paul D. next week, you should see at least a semblance of last season's watertight defense. And Paul D. - last season's highest scoring defender - should also add some extra scoring punch. Captain Neil continues to lead this team expertly in pre-game organization and, on the pitch, by example. He knows where people play their best and who plays best with whom. And he's been the top scorer in three of four nights. By no means, however, is this a one-man show. A typical Scousers goal involves a touch on the ball from all 6 outfielders. This is a team in the true sense of the word.

Chico's Bail Bonds - the defending league and cup champions - find themselves tied for third place after a slow start to the season. Like in their double championship Spring season, look for them to perform much better in the second half. Despite some uncharacteristically unconvincing offensive performances, they remain defensively sound. They're tied with FCH for the least number of goals conceded. And that's saying something, given they haven't managed to replace championship-winning keeper Chee W., who moved back to Glasgow after game one. Accordingly, CBB has been forced to play quality outfielders between the sticks. This could hurt the team's title defenses. But you can never count out a team that's not letting in much more than a goal a game.

Just a point behind CBB and Scousers is Team Hawk, whose high goal count belies the team's fifth spot in the standings. In just four games, TH has almost doubled its total goals from last season. How? We think it's new forward, Marriana R., who could fix the part in your hair in 9 out of 10 crosses. And it's not just her passes that are accurate: she finds the back of the net as well. Team Hawk's new keeper also looks good and is allowing Captain Hock (last season's chief keeper) to do what he does best: prevent shots from occurring in the first place. Despite TH's solid back line in Captain Hock and Benny J., whose speed and gritty resolve frustrate many an attacker, the team has conceded more than it has scored. The problem lies in turnovers, mostly in the midfield. And the result: defenders and keeper have all too often been left to flounder in the face of outbalanced attacks. If midfielders can shift the ball to open players earlier rather than trying so often to be heroes (in the words of Captain Hock himself), this team should break into the top four soon.

Badgers FC got off to a promising start by soundly beating last season's league and cup champions. But since game one, they've been hampered by absences. They thus find themselves sitting well back from where they were at the Spring season's midway mark. Last night's 1-1 draw against the league leaders has shown, however, that Spring's third place team shouldn't be taken lightly this Summer. Dave K.'s return from injury was indeed welcome. He slotted the goal to prevent BFC from suffering a third successive loss. With their new and solid keeper and with a full and healthy roster, this team should soon get back on track.

Wild Turkeys continue to give all teams a hard night. But the team remains extraordinarily unlucky when it comes to shifting the mesh. And their defensive gaps, which we pointed out last season, still need filling. They would get more chances at net if WT forwards would spread the field, giving midfielders more passing options and allowing midfielders more space to take people on. And midfielders would also benefit from playing more in the direction they're facing, rather than trying to move singularly upfield. Curiously, WT often looks the most threatening when its keeper ritually plays the ball from hand to own foot, leaving his goal area in search of assists.

AC Kermans have struggled with numbers from the season's opener. But if last night's narrow loss to CBB is anything to go by, you should expect ACK to crawl up the ladder during the season's second half. With the return of its attacking and defending foundation in Zoe, and with the solid, new to New York Molly now on board, ACK looks very much like a top-tier team. If they would consider a different formation, with an emphasis on defense (e.g., a 3-2-1), they'd likely fair better in the tables. But this team doesn't seem to want to play like Italy. Fair enough.