I’M THE TEACHER’S PET, I MAKE FOOTBALL BETS
Congratulations to San Dimas High School, the 2004/2005 WSFFL FA Cup winners! Despite wagers to the contrary that this would be a tight game, perhaps even needing a replay to separate two form teams, San Dimas opened up a veritable can of whoop-ass over their opponents Claymore Athletic FC. Peej’s High School ended up romping home 6-1 winners to record the biggest ever Cup Final (FA or PCMT) winning margin. A full report on the Cup Final is included in this newsletter. Enjoy! (Not you, Clive, obviously…)
JINGLE JANGLE THAT’S THE SOUND
Nerves will be jangling as we go into the final league programme of the season next Sunday, as what was looking like a Boston Rock title walkover has now turned into the most exciting title finish in Fantasy League history. It’s tighter than a gnat’s chuff at the top, with the top 3 teams separated by one point, and goal difference may end up deciding the title for only the second time ever.
We also have new leaders at this late stage; Aardvark Abacus now top the table, following a 2-0 win over Prettier Than You. They lead by goal difference only; plus 2 over long-time leaders Boston Rock FC, who scrambled a draw with Fred West Landscape Gardening XI with a late Robert Pires equaliser. One point further back sit champions Claymore Athletic, who crushed Mega Bucks 4-1, Malbranque and Weir both bagging braces for Clive’s team.
So, the title permutations are many, but here are the main ones;
· If Aardvark Abacus win their last game against the Dead Parrots, and Boston Rock fail to do so, Aardvark will win the title for an unprecedented 4th time.
· If Ady wins, Boston Rock must beat their last-day opponents Mega Bucks by a winning margin of 3 goals greater than the Abacus’ margin, or Ady’s greater goal difference, or greater goals scored tally, will win him the title.
· If Aardvark draw or lose and Boston Rock win, Boston Rock are champions.
· Claymore must beat their last day opponents Fred West, and hope that Boston Rock and Aardvark both fail to win, to be certain of the title. If Claymore draw and both Boston Rock and Aardvark lose, all 3 will be tied on 61 points and it will then depend on the margin of those 2 defeats. Ady would need to lose by 4 goals or more, and Boston Rock by 2 goals or more, for Clive to win the title this way.
All clear? Good, now please explain it to me!!!
There were other games played this weekend, of course, but these were mainly draws!!! Two exceptions were San Dimas cementing their 4th place finish, and underlying their excellent late-season form, with a 2-1 win over the Dead Parrots. Saving yourself for next weekend I hope, Deano?? Also, Nil Satis’ POTW £100,000-winning 5-1 win over York’s Returning Glory all but ensured Kylie Bumcheeks, who drew 1-1 with the Muppets this weekend, will finish bottom. Kylie, Champions only 2 seasons ago, remember, need to overturn a –20 goal difference to avoid a seemingly inevitable wooden spoon.
TRANSFER NEWS
Boston Rock’s clearout starts early this season. Should the title not find its’ way to Whitby Grove, surely more departures will follow…
Player From To Fee
Robbie Blake (A) YKY Boston Rock FC Pool £1.25m
Zatyiah Knight (D) YKY Boston Rock FC Pool £2m
John Welsh (M) Pool YKY Boston Rock FC £500K
James Morrison (M) Pool Claymore Athletic FC £500K
Hugo Viana (M) Pool Claymore Athletic FC £500K
Don’t forget that the players highlighted are now subject to the pool “cooling off” period, Any managers interested in buying them can bid until close of play Saturday 14 May 2005, after which time they go into the pool proper and are readily available. All bids to me please.
THE FF£100,000 QUESTION
And, for the final Newsletter Question this season, here’s one to get you scrabbling through your old Newsletters…
The “Bevan Dodge” is named after Aardvark Abacus boss Ady Bevan, who allegedly first employed the tactic. But whose goal did he infamously “dodge” in, to create the furore which caused the tactic to be so christened?
Answers to me by close of play Saturday 14 May 2005. First correct answer out of the metaphorical hat wins the dosh.
Tranmere Rovers were forced to use 3 goalies in a game but still lost 6-1. Their League 1 opponents were Hull City, at the Kingston Communications Stadium on 18 December. Starter John Achterberg was injured early on and replaced by Russell Howarth, who let the first goal in, during the first half. When Howarth failed to reappear after the interval due to injury, midfielder and “Reggae Boy” Jamaican international Theodore Whitmore went in goal for the second half. Hull then powered to victory with five second-half goals.
Correct answers from Peej and Ceri. Final Fantasy won the coin toss this week, so Ceri gets the £100,000. Well done.
SHORTS
· Big shoutouts of “Read the damn newsletter, Jack!!” go out to Ceri, Dave, Julian, Fred and Beef. All 5 of these managers reported in new team line-ups on the weekend of the WSFFL FA Cup Final, therefore making it the first Cup Final contested by 7 teams!!
· A great April for Ady, as far as WSFFL is concerned. Aardvark Abacus started the month 6 points shy of Boston Rock and end it topping the table, with a title win well and truly in their own hands. An unbeaten April – the only team to get through the month without losing – gave Ady Bevan of Aardvark Abacus the April 2005 Manager of the Month award and £250,000. Well done Ady lad!
· Anyone who regularly tramps up and down the Motorways of Great Britain will surely have seen the “Tough. Just Don’t Let It Go To Your Head” advert for Terra boots, prominently displayed in Service Station urinals. You know the one; the guy in a yellow footy shirt on the terrace holding up his yellow scarf, cheering on his team surrounded by a sea of annoyed-looking blue-shirted fans. But take a closer look and check out the teams in question… the game these fans are watching, judging by the scarf insignia, appears to be Dumbarton vs Everton!!!
The 2004/05 WSFFL FA CUP FINAL
W/E of 30 April 2005
San Dimas High School 6 – 1 Claymore Athletic FC
Distin 4, 90 Rooney 67
Reid 67
Boumsong 90
Terry 90
Senderos 90
At the Millennium Stadium, Cardiff, Attendance 75,000
San Dimas High School Team:
Tomas Sorensen
Sylvain Distin, John Terry, Philippe Senderos, Jean-Alain Boumsong
Matt Holland, Jonatan Johansson, Andy Reid, Ricardo Gardner
Yakubu Aiyegbeni, Mateja Kezman
Subs: Stefan Postma (on 1 for Sorensen), Alain Goma, Antoine Sibierski, Dean Ashton (on 1 for Kezman)
Claymore Athletic FC Team:
Brad Friedel
Fernando Hierro, Olivier Bernard, Steve Watson, David Weir
Leon Osman, Lee Clark, Steed Malbranque, Stuart Downing
Wayne Rooney, Robert Earnshaw
Subs: Paul Smith, Radhi Jaidi, Lee Carsley (on 1 for Malbranque), Marcus Bent (on 69 for Rooney)
San Dimas High School won the 2004/2005 WSFFL FA Cup Final by the biggest ever Cup Final margin, beating title challengers and current champions Claymore Athletic FC. Peej restored Jean-Alain Boumsong to his starting XI, and his partnership with Man of the Match Sylvain Distin proved the difference between the two sides.
It was Distin who gave San Dimas an early advantage, nodding home a Johansson corner in the 4th minute. San Dimas then absorbed great pressure from Claymore, but their impressive back line, also including Terry and Senderos, held firm.
After an even first half, the game exploded in the 67th minute. Wayne Rooney finally breached the steadfast San Dimas defence with a right foot shot from the middle of the penalty area. From the kick-off, Andy Reid restored San Dimas’ advantage with a thundering 25 yard shot which beat Friedel all ends up. From then on, Claymore looked vulnerable, and the result became a rout in the latter stages, with the entire back four registering on the scoresheet. Congratulations to San Dimas High School!
WSFFL RESULTS;
Week 29, W/E 7 May 2005
Kylie Bumcheeks 1-1 Real Muppets
Van Der Sar Southgate 25,477
Mega Buck Bandits 1-4 Claymore Athletic FC
Fabregas (1) Malbranque 2
Weir 2 34,766
Nil Satis Nisi Optimum 5-1 York’s Returning Glory
Martyn Crouch
Hibbert
Yobo
Higginbotham
Cahill 26,046
Prettier Than You 0-2 Aardvark Abacus
Gallas
Carvalho 39,645
San Dimas High School 2-1 The Dead Parrots
Yakubu (1) Neill
Ashton 42,065
Thommo’s Titans 1-1 Final Fantasy XI
Musampa Drury 38,119
Trusted By Millions 2-2 22 Legged Groove Machine
Gerrard (1) Hall
Angel Makelele 40,438
You Know Your Boston Rock FC 2-2 Fred West Landscape Gardening XI
Glen Johnson Giggs
Pires Diouf 67,827
Performance of the Week: Nil Satis Nisi Optimum
WSFFL LEAGUE TABLE
| ||||||||||
Season 2004/05
| ||||||||||
As at 8 May 2005
| ||||||||||
Team
|
P
|
W
|
D
|
L
|
F
|
A
|
Diff
|
Pts
| ||
1
|
Aardvark Abacus
|
29
|
19
|
4
|
6
|
84
|
38
|
46
|
61
| |
2
|
You Know Your Boston Rock FC
|
29
|
19
|
4
|
6
|
80
|
36
|
44
|
61
| |
3
|
Claymore Athletic FC
|
29
|
19
|
3
|
7
|
89
|
47
|
42
|
60
| |
4
|
San Dimas High School
|
29
|
16
|
3
|
10
|
59
|
52
|
7
|
51
| |
5
|
Fred West Landscape Gardening XI
|
29
|
14
|
5
|
10
|
60
|
47
|
13
|
47
| |
6
|
Trusted By Millions
|
29
|
13
|
5
|
11
|
57
|
45
|
12
|
44
| |
7
|
22 Legged Groove Machine
|
29
|
13
|
3
|
13
|
51
|
56
|
-5
|
42
| |
8
|
The Dead Parrots
|
29
|
13
|
2
|
14
|
48
|
46
|
2
|
41
| |
9
|
Final Fantasy XI
|
29
|
12
|
3
|
14
|
51
|
53
|
-2
|
39
| |
10
|
York's Returning Glory
|
29
|
11
|
4
|
14
|
42
|
52
|
-10
|
37
| |
11
|
Real Muppets
|
29
|
9
|
6
|
14
|
32
|
57
|
-25
|
33
| |
12
|
Thommo's Titans
|
29
|
9
|
6
|
14
|
37
|
66
|
-29
|
33
| |
13
|
Prettier Than You
|
29
|
10
|
2
|
17
|
34
|
55
|
-21
|
32
| |
14
|
Nil Satis Nisi Optimum
|
29
|
8
|
5
|
16
|
35
|
53
|
-18
|
29
| |
15
|
Mega Buck Bandits
|
29
|
7
|
7
|
15
|
26
|
44
|
-18
|
28
| |
16
|
Kylie Bumcheeks
|
29
|
7
|
4
|
18
|
26
|
64
|
-38
|
25
| |
TOTAL
|
464
|
199
|
66
|
199
|
811
|
811
|
0
|
663
| ||
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