The top three teams – the legitimate remaining title contenders with four matches to go – are all in action Saturday. Here’s the Matchday 35 complete weekend schedule:
Sat., 5/11
T1 Dryaw vs. #19 Tidmouth City
#11 Marron vs. #20 Arlesburgh Utd.
#3 Knapford Town vs. #7 Wellsworth
T1 Peel Godred vs. T17 Ulfstead
#9 Glennock vs. #14 Castle Rolf
Sun., 5/12
#12 Vicarstown vs. #16 Brendam Utd.
#15 Brendam Harbor vs. #8 East Coast Diesel
#10 Suddery vs. #6 J&S
#13 Lakeside vs. #5 Crovan’s Gate
T17 Ffarquhar vs. #4 Kirk Ronan
Last weekend saw Peel Godred catch up with Dryaw FC, tie them for 1st place. Knapford Town FC, despite having had all the seeming momentum versus previously fading (#4) Kirk Ronan team, got thrashed 4-10. Still, KTFC only trail the leaders by two points.
So, for the second week in a row, their match will get Featured status. #7 Wellsworth will be no easy meat coming to town. They’re 2-2 in their last four, including a road W over then-#7 East Coast Diesel. But they’ve lacked consistency on offense, scoring 1, 14, 6 and 1 over that stretch. If KTFC can keep them on their heels early, they won’t likely recover.
Knapford Town are 2-1-1 in over their last four. Earlier in the season, they were losing all their close matches, only winning when in blowout fashion. Lately, that’s been flipped on its head. Their margin for for error is slim. Only two points down, yes. But Dryaw and PGFC both host Relegation candidates today. They likely can’t afford to drop any points here.
Noob’s call: I think KTFC will recover from giving up that ten-spot to Kirk Ronan last week, at least defensively. Also, pitch conditions will be soggy after the midweek storm that swept over Sodor. Pace will be slowed. The title race becomes even more two-teamed as this one ends 2-2.
A little about Knapford the town and Sodor. Knapford is one of the two "main towns" on the Isle. Tidmouth - just to the north of them here on the west-southwest coast - is the larger settlement. One might expect the larger areas (ie: Vicarsrtown) to be on the east side of Sodor - "facing" England - but no. Both Knapford and Tidmouth are port towns. Knapford deals a little more with imported goods, whereas Tidmouth leans some on more local products and the uranium mines nearby. Knapforders consider their town to be the transportation capital of the island, but are no more or less so than Tidmouth really. Soccer-wise, Tidmouth are besting their intra-city rivals by quite a lot. Knapford's other PL team is Junction & Sheds, which sit in 8th place. Meanwhile, Tidmouth City are almost certainly going to be Relegated. Tidmouth Works FC didn't even qualify for the Premier this inaugural year, though they're in position to get Promoted from the Championship in all likelihood.
Noob will update the Saturday scores come evening tomorrow. Enjoy the sportsball!
