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Isle of Sodor Premier – early evening Matchday 37 results are in … and a champion is crowned!

updated 11:50 PM ET, 5/23

The celebration is on at Dryaw FC! With just Matchday 38 to play (Sun., 5/26), they now lead Peel Godred FC by four. Here’s a smexy link to the updated table.

Dryaw may not have gotten the full three points, but coupled with PGFC‘s loss, it was enough! The Isle of Sodor has its first ever champion of their new FA era. Noob’s not crying. You’re crying.

Dryaw‘s match-tying E.T. goal deprived Ffarquhar of a season-defining win. Still, the point earned was just enough was to stake FFC a four-point lead over #18 Ulfstead. The last Relegation slot in the table is now a battle just between Ulfstead and #17 Brendam United, who lead them by two.

**The weekend’s “Feature Match” recap is now below the results.**

Here are all the results from Wednesday’s historic day:

Wednesday, 5/22 – 6:00 PM UTC

#1 Dryaw 3 vs. 3 #17 Ffarquhar
#6 Junction & Sheds 4 vs. 2 #15 Brendam Harbor
#20 Arlesburgh Utd. 2 vs. 4 #12 Lakeside
#4 Kirk Ronan 4 vs. 2 T9 Glennock
#13 Vicarstown 4 vs. 3 #2 Peel Godred

Wed., 5/22 – 8:00 PM (UTC)
#19 Tidmouth City 2 vs. 1 #14 Castle Rolf
#17 Brendam Utd. 4 vs. 2 #3 Knapford Town
#5 Crovan’s Gate 4 vs. 8 #11 Marron
#18 Ulfstead 5 vs. 2 #7 E.C.D.
T9 Suddery 6 vs. 6 #8 Wellsworth

Feature Match in Review: Marron stays red hot with SIXTH straight win!

Image result for MFC crest A double brace (six goals) by Marron striker Finlay Creamer led his club to a resounding 4-8 win at then-#5 Crovan’s Gate Wednesday night. The win is Marron‘s straight! They remain in 11th, but are now in position to possibly overtake 10th place on the final Matchday for a top-half finish. CGFC drops to 6th.

The Scottish national and scoring wizard danced through Crovan Gate‘s defense early and often, beginning in the 9’. Creamer had two goals and the team four before CGFC finally broke through for one, just before the half.

Crovan’s Gate improved after the break. In the first half, they simply couldn’t maintain enough possession to employ their trademark whiplash-quick changes of offensive formation. For the second 45, Marron relaxed just a little and the hosts were able to put some things together, pulling as close as 3-5.

But Creamer & Co. were able to push through three more in the last several minutes. CGFC had to bring everyone forward late, which allowed the rout.

Creamer was in a class of his own, scoring in open space from distance with a rocket leg as well from up close. He even notched an assist on a well-lofted corner kick. Marron already knows they need to lock him up. Home calls, and Scottish League Two club Albion Rovers (Coatbridge, North Lanarkshire) have expressed interest in acquiring him. (Hey, when you second-to-last in Scotland’s semi-professional fourth tier of football, you look anywhere.)

The 28 year-old’s masterful performance puts him at 51 goals on the season. (A lot by any stretch, but remember that Sudric football doesn’t focus much in defense. At all.)

"It was something special. I took the ball and then I tried to move forward. In the box it was hard for the defense, since no one likes to touch each other," Creamer told Noob after the match, in what I can only describe as an awkward turn of phrase on his part.

Next up for for Marron is their final match of the season – at #1 Dryaw FC. It’s hard to say how Dryaw will come out, given that they’ve now wrapped up the league title, leaving this one a coronation match of sorts. Marron trail Glennock and Suddery by just a point as they aim for a top-half league finish.

Gate travels to #14 Castle Rolf for their last outing on Sunday. They could retake 5th place from East Coast Diesel, cannot finish lower than 6th where they stand now.

Isle of Sodor Premier League – matchday 36 (5/18-19) In Review – tie for 1st is broken, derbies decided

In the wake of winning the most important match of the season, the scene at the local Joseph Tidy’s in village Dryaw was perhaps the most raucous anyone could remember, ’twas said.

Image result for Doug Barr A dramatic win for their beloved home team. Noob drinking partner, actor/ producer/ vintner Doug Barr of 1980’s TV series “The Fall Guy” leading the patrons in celebratory song, buying shots of Vicarstown raspberry vermouth. Image result for Hollywood and Vine Cellars Everyone excited as he shook hands with Dryaw FC‘s club president over the league’s first-ever stadium naming sponsorship deal, naming the local stadium after his Los Angeles area “Hollywood and Vine Cellars” business starting next season. Nary a dry eye was to be found. I was blessed just to be there.

Full weekend results:

Sat., 5/18
#10 Suddery 2 vs. 1 #5 Crovan’s Gate
#19 Tidmouth City 4 vs. 4 #20 Arlesburgh Utd.
#18 Ulfstead 0 vs. 8 #13 Lakeside
#1 Dryaw 4 vs. 2 #3 Knapford Town
#16 Ffarquhar 4 vs. 1 #7 Wellsworth

Sun., 5/19
#11 Marron 4 vs. 3 #9 Glennock
#15 Brendam Harbor 6 vs. 2 #17 Brendam Utd.
#8 E.C.D. 4 vs. 3 #12 Vicarstown
#14 Castle Rolf 6 vs. 2 #2 Peel Godred
#6 Junction & Sheds 4 vs. 3 #4 Kirk Ronan

Here’s a smexy link to the updated Table.

In Review highlights

* With a 4-2 win – and coupled with Peel Godred's loss – Dryaw FC reclaim the #1 spot, leading by three points with just two Matchdays remaining.

* In the Brendam Derby II, Brendam Harbor wins 6-2, avenging their 0-7 loss to B-Utd. in the season's first edition.

* In the Walney Channel Derby II, East Coast Diesel wins a tense, sensational affair 4-3 over Vicarstown. Their match earlier this season ended in a 6-6 draw.

* Ffarquhar's win Saturday guarantees they can do no worse than tie for 18th, the last spot in the Relegation Zone. (Should there be a tie, a relegation playoff match will happen in Suddery.)

Feature Match in Review: Dryaw FC back alone in 1st

The fairy tale season for Dryaw is alive and well after a shiny 4-2 win over #3 Knapford Town!

As merely a larger village team, Dryaw were picked to finish well in the table’s bottom half. Yet with two matches to play, they now lead Peel Godred (matchday 36 upset victims) by three in the table. More, KTFC – while still 3rd – trail the leaders by five. This inaugural IoS PL season is now a two-horse race.

Image result for Knapford Town FC Knapford Town took advantage early (8′) for an 0-1 lead thanks to sloppy defensive play from Dryaw. A lazy pass from the center back was picked off midfield, flicked to an open man just outside the box and absolutely rocketed home. Dryaw‘s backstop had no shot at that top corner score!

Play ping ponged all over the pitch for nearly the rest of the first half, Knapford Town creating several more chances to just two for Dryaw. The halftime momentum looked to be all KTFC‘s when Dryaw‘s hero stemmed the tide! Picking on a shorter defender, Christopher Wilbertson took what was a mediocre lofted ball in the box and smashed home a header at 44′. Halftime: 1-1

All the second half, Dryaw pushed harder than ever, but could only trade single goals with the more offensively-balanced visitors. But just as it appeared things would go beyond 90′, disaster struck for the guests. Even with two defenders hard on Wilbertson, a third allowed himself to be lulled toward the star striker as he broke just a bit free. The pass went to the quickly-covered POTY candidate, who then himself had only to make a simple push pass to an open winger for a wide open gimme. 3-2 (89′!)

Dryaw would add one more on a corner set piece at 93′ to make the final 4-2. (Noob predicted a 4-3 Dryaw result — not bad!)

Image result for BHFC crest Congrats are due today to Brendam Harbor on being their city’s unofficial champs with their Brendam derby win today over United. Image result for east coast diesel crest E.C.D.’s win over Vicarstown had to feel good in the Walney Channel derby, even if not quite big enough by margin to overcome the 0-7 butt-kicking they’d taken earlier this season.

Check in every day for IoS FA news! And remember, Matchday 37 is -Wednesday, 5/22!

Isle of Sodor Premier League – IN REVIEW – matchday 35 (5/11-12): Down to three in title hunt, more Relegation do-si-do

Image result for English Premier League trophy The Isle of Sodor FA congratulate their English Premier League cousins on a stellar finish to a captivating season! Manchester City ran the table after 1/29. One-loss Liverpool finished as the runners-up with most points in EPL history. Gofightwin. Now, IoS PL have their own high drama to complete!

Tied-for-1st Peel Godred and Dryaw had home matches against Relegation candidate clubs they were expected to win. The weekend’s Feature Match was #3 Knapford Town hosting the tougher #7 outfit. Could KTFC keep presumed pace two points back of the co-leaders?

Here are the updated table and weekend results:

Sat., 5/11
T1 Dryaw 2 vs. 0 #19 Tidmouth City
#11 Marron 2 vs. 0 #20 Arlesburgh Utd.
#3 Knapford Town 11 vs. 5 #7 Wellsworth
T1 Peel Godred 7 vs. 3 T17 Ulfstead
#9 Glennock 4 vs. 4 #14 Castle Rolf

Sun., 5/12
#12 Vicarstown 8 vs. 5 #16 Brendam Utd.
#15 Brendam Harbor 7 vs. 0 #8 East Coast Diesel
#10 Suddery 12 vs. 4 #6 J&S
#13 Lakeside 12 vs. 3 #5 Crovan’s Gate
T17 Ffarquhar 3 vs. 1 #4 Kirk Ronan

Review Highlights

* Top three remain the same. #3 Knapford Town puts on an offensive clinic in beating #7 Wellsworth.

* We bid farewell to #4 Kirk Ronan as a title contender. Another loss has left them eight points behind the league leaders with just three Matchdays remaining.

* It was Ffarquhar that beat KRFC. The win vaults them out of their former tie on the Relegation line with weekend losers Ulfstead and ahead of losers Brendam United as well.

Feature Match in Review

Image result for Knapford Town FC Let’s hear it for the grounds crew at Knapford Town, credit them with this W! Their pitch was not soggy as some others. Last Wednesday, a storm swept over the entire Isle, leaving pitches waterlogged. Noob predicted a 2-2 draw in the Matchday Preview post largely based on that.

But the aeration program KTFC‘s pitch caretakers put in place has been second to none! Couple that with the fact that the underlying ground isn’t as clayey as many parts of Sodor and the pitch and conditions weren’t terribly sodden, if hardly dry.

Wellsworth practiced on the field, but didn’t fully process just how OK the pitch was going to be by kickoff. They were in their poor-weather cleats. KTFC – in their standard gear – ran absolute circles around them, figuratively and sometimes literally, scoring from all over their offensive third. When halftime and a chance for the visitors to change into proper footwear arrived, they were already down 7-0.

Three Matchdays to go! The FA have made a slight adjustment to the remaining sched:

Matchday 36 Sat./Sun. 5/18-19
Matchday 37 Wed. 5/22
Matchday 38* Sun. 5/26

* previously, the matches were to be Sat./Sun. this weekend

Fin.

Isle of Sodor Premier League news – Phil Cotton’s star burns out, released from Arlesburgh Utd.

May 8, 2019 – Ffarquhar, Sodor

Image result for Philippe Coutinho funny Think Barcelona about to the former Liverpool star Philppe Coutinho the heave-ho is a surprise? [Here’s the CBSsports.com article on that likely one-time superstar’s release.] At Ffarquhar FC, the one-time Arlesbugh Utd. star midfielder Phil Cotton is out. The biggest preseason move by any Sudric club has been a bust.

Image result for FFFC football crest The decision to let Cotton go is one no one could’ve seen coming a few months ago. But this past weekend, the club dropped back into a tie for 17th/18th place – right on the Relegation line- after blowing a 3-0 halftime lead before losing to Crovan’s Gate 3-4.

Said Ffarquhar FC president Magnus Clucas:

Thank you to Phil Cotton for his efforts with our club.  His astounding 11 goals in the three matches of the group stage of last summer's inaugural FA Cup are hardly distant memory, obviously.  That run of his with Arlesburgh United to their Cup runners-up finish was why he brought him over.  We know there will be other clubs willing to roster him for the 2019-20 season.

To be fair, he's been injured as oft as not.  But when he's been healthy, Cotton just hasn't performed like a starter for us.  And so, we haven't always even made him one.   Three goals in 19 matches played wasn't what we envisioned.

But the last straw was his bitching about the locker room spread.  Look, we added the create-your-own-potato bar he contractually demanded.  If he wanted more than that and sandwich fixins', the time to address that was behind closed doors before Signing Day.

Thankfully, there is good news for Ffarquhar fans. While he may or may not be able to help the club stave off possible Relegation these last four matches, part-time starter and Cotton-replacement Mike Fourton has about eight months to get in game shape for the 2019-20 campaign.

Image result for funny amateur soccer player

Isle of Sodor Premier League matchday 34 (5/4-5) Sunday recap: The unbearable tension mounts!

First, nuts and bolts. Here is Saturday’s recap. And here are Sunday’s results:

T17 Ulfstead 0 vs. 2 #6 Junction & Sheds
#8 E.C.D. 2 vs. 5 #12 Marron
#1 Dryaw 3 vs. 3 #10 Suddery
#3 Peel Godred 2 vs. 0 #9 Glennock
#12 Lakside 3 vs. 5 #18 Brendam Utd.

We’ll recap that bolded Feature Match in a bit. Where does the weekend madness leave everything? Here’s a smexy link to the updated complete table.

Image result for madness funny With four matches in this inaugural league season to go, we now have a tie atop the table! More, there’s once again a tie for 17th, right on the Relegation line. And remember, in IoS PL, even on points means even – period. No goal differential or other tiebreakers. If needs be, tied teams will have a playoff match in Suddery at season’s end.

Image result for Relegation Starting at the bottom, Brendam United jumped back out of the Drop Zone again with a solid road win. After Ffarquhar‘s home loss Saturday, fated favored B-Utd. again as Ulfstead couldn’t even score a goal at their own place. The two losers sit on the Cutline, tied.

Image result for Peel Godred FC At table’s top, a team other than Dryaw FC sit on the top line for the first time in months! On a rainy day over most of the Isle that kept scores down, then-#3 Peel Godred scored two early, then played keep-away to win 2-0.

That meant Dryaw needed the full three points at home against Suddery to maintain their #1 solo status. Here was Noob’s prediction to this Feature Match:

Noob’s call:     Dryaw haven’t overwhelmed teams all season long for the most part, so one fears them overly.   Suddery will have confidence after having beaten them in March and be no less comfortable wearing visitors’ kits today.    But with Wilbertson back, DFC won’t drop all the points.    3-3

Even former full-time website prognosticator Noobstradamus had to admit I nailed this one COLD.

Image result for noobstradamus

“Lucky schmuck.”

The teams traded early goals and then that rain came in and made it tough on everyone. Visiting Suddery led 2-3 heading into stoppage time, appeared set to sweep the season series from Dryaw and perhaps ruin their championship campaign.

But after a week off with an injured neck, Dryaw star striker Christopher Wilbertson made his move on POTY! Clearly not 100% yet, he struggled to contribute all match long. Just couldn’t keep pace nursing that neck. It took a corner kick set piece to give our hero his chance.

CW hung back at the edge of the box, understandably seeming to not want to risk further neck injury in the scrum up front. But it was trickery! Suddery made the mistake of leaving him completely unmarked and could only ogle in wonder after CW went charging to an edge for the tying header at 93′. The late point earned keeps them even with PGFC.

Get ready for a wild and woolly finish, Noobites, Matchday 35 will be Wednesday with all 10 teams in action! They’ll all play the next two Wednesdays AND weekends these last two weeks to finish the amazing first-ever IoS PL season.

Isle of Sodor Premier League – IN REVIEW – matchday 33 (4/27-28): title race tightens, Relegation moves

Nothing changed in the table’s top ten this weekend (except for a tie for 8th being broken).

Yet EVERYTHING changed in the table’s top ten this weekend. Here’s a smexy link to the updated table, which is also always available under the “More Noobishness” Pages on this site.

Sat., 4/27
#3 Peel Godred 6 vs. 2 #19 Arlesburgh Utd.
#1 Dryaw 1 vs. 6 #11 Lakeside
#7 Wellsworth 14 vs. 10 #16 Brendam Utd.
#6 Junction & Sheds 1 vs. 5 #8 E.C.D.
#17 Ulfstead 1 vs. 0 #4 Crovan’s Gate

Sun., 4/28
#9 Glennock 2 vs. 3 #5 Kirk Ronan
#2 Knapford Town 3 vs. 2 #12 Castle Rolf
#14 Brendam Harbor 3 vs. 7 #14 Marron
#20 Tidmouth City 5 vs. 6 #15 Vicarstown
#10 Suddery 2 vs. 7 T17 Ffarquhar

Review Highlights

 * #1 Dryaw FC - minus freakily injured star striker Christopher Wilbertson  - lose again to Lakeside A.F.C. 

* #B Knapford Town and #3 Peel Godred each win, now trail Dryaw by just one and two points in the table, respectively. 

* Ulfstead and Ffarquhar both win, dropping Brendam United into the Relegation Zone.

Image result for Lakeside FC crest The key match of the weekend turned out to be Dryaw’s home loss to Lakeside A.F.C. The league leaders were missing star striker Christopher Wilbertson. Was it the difference? Hard to say. Sodor’s “L.A.F.C” held them to just one goal in their other match this season, too.

So what happened? Dryaw kept their injury news on the D-L. Not hard, considering Noob – your exclusive source for all things IoS PL – returned stateside for Easter.) It was holiday disaster for Wilbertson.

The club held an Easter egg hunt on the stadium grounds a week ago Saturday. Wilbertson won. And he celebrated as he celebrates everything, once again trying to perfectly re-create the famous Klinsmann Dive. His luck finally ran out, as he whiplashed his neck to the point of needing over a week off.

Image result for Klinsmann dive sodor Does Noob keep recycling the same photo for this guy, post after post?

Maybe Wilbertson just always does this exactly the same way.

Image result for soccer easter egg hunt

(But at least call the kids got participation prizes!)

Wilbertson is expected to return next week for Dryaw’s home match versus #6 Junction & Sheds. Noob will have updates as warranted as I am returning to the Isle midweek.