division 2 News
BIRKENHEAD LOSE CHALLENGE MATCH
Birkenhead, founder members of the National League in 1962, will drop into Division Three for the first time next season after going down 11-8 to University of Bristol in the play-off at Loughborough (12 December).
The University, under the experienced guidance of ex-GB coach Mark Taylor, go up to Division Two for the first time. It was only a year ago that they earned promotion from Division Four by beating Ealing in a play-off.
The sides were level at 3-3 after two periods. But the University, a mix of students and players with extensive experience with other NWPL clubs, led 8-7 after three and then controlled the last quarter. Sean Love (3), ex-Cheltenham forward Mark Taylor (3), Nick Hemmings (2), Fergus Allerton, David Evans and Anthony Rogers scored the Bristol goals. Birkenhead: Chris Howard (3), Stuart Parry, Julian Bewley, Andy Howard, Andy Fowler, Lee Cadwallader.
Division Two runners-up Polytechnic's bid for promotion failed when they lost 13-7 to Penguin in their play-off at Loughborough.
SUTTON STROLL TO DIVISION TWO TITLE
Former Hungarian international Gergely Fulop proved too hot to handle as Sutton & Cheam wrapped up the Division Two title at the University of Bath (28/29 November).
Fulop scored nine in an 18-6 defeat of Leeds and claimed eight more against Sheffield, who went down 11-5.
Sutton, founder members of the NWPL in 1962 and champions on six occasions, will return to the top flight after a ten-year absence. After relegation from Division One in 1990, Sutton spent five seasons in Division Two and one in Division Three before successfully rebuilding with a mix of experienced players such as ex-GB international Chris Evans and a clutch of homegrown youngsters.
The club's only defeat this season was against Polytechnic, who finished runners-up and now have a chance to bid for promotion in a play-off against the ninth-placed side in Division One.
It was a mixed weekend for Poly. They beat Birkenhead 10-6, including three goals each for Richard Polya and Giacomo Cesari, but came up against nine-goal Richard Chambers in their derby against Otter and crashed 14-9. Otter were always in charge after moving into a 7-2 lead after two periods.
Invicta Marlins finished the season without a point - but could easily have gained some consolation again Otter. Otter were cruising at 10-3 before allowing the Marlins to hit back and find some real goal-scoring form - including seven in the final quarter. Eventually, Otter won 15-13, including four goals by Chambers and two apiece for Ollie Holman, Jacques Venter, Anthony Mulloy and Carl Ainley. Invicta goalscorers included Robert Spurr (3), Mark Cheetham (3), Ben Carter (2) and Tom McDonald (2).
After their heavy defeat against Sutton, Leeds finished on a high with an 11-8 victory over Croydon, scoring through Andy Marshall (3), Luke Franks (2), Lewis Young (2), Shane Seddon, Elliott Thompson, Chris Blakeley and Mike Grantham.
A goal a minute from the end by Nat Snook gave Croydon a 7-6 victory against Sheffield, who recovered from 6-3 to 6-6 with goals in the third period byRichard Ratlidge, Liam Humphreys and John Faren.
Birkenhead beat Invicta Marlins 13-4 to collect their second win of the season thanks to goals by Stuart Parry (3), Andy Fowler (3), Lee Cadwallader (2), Chris Howard (2), Julian Bewley (2) and Andy Howard.
POLY PUT SUTTON TITLE AMBITIONS ON HOLD
Sutton & Cheam's 100 per cent record in Division Two was brought to an end when they crashed 7-5 to London rivals Polytechnic at Millfield School (14/15 November).
But Sutton will still be favourites to claim top spot when the final fixtures of the season are played at Bath University on 28/29 November. Three points from matches against City of Leeds and City of Sheffield will definitely do it. Even if Sutton manage only two points and Poly, who are due to face Birkenhead and Otter, finish level on points, Sutton hold the trump card thanks to a superior goal difference.
Poly led 2-1 against Sutton after the first period and 3-2 after two before opening up a 5-2 lead in the third with two goals by Conrad Bertoluzzi. It was 6-3 little more than a minute from the end when two goals by Kieran Bayles put Poly under real pressure for the first time. Poly's defence held out, however, and Miguel Ardid added a seventh goal just before the final whistle. In the end, Sutton paid the penalty for missing seven out of eight man-ups.
Earlier, Sutton beat Invicta Marlins 10-2. Then they won their derby against Croydon Amphibians, racing into a 9-1 half-time lead before easing up and winning 13-6. Stephen Bayles scored five.
Poly led Croydon 8-4 in the third period before goals by Mark Bayliss (2) and Brendon Heath cut the margin to 8-7. Bertolozzi made it 9-7. Then Bayliss added his fourth goal a minute from the end.
It was a good weekend for Otter, who leapfrogged Croydon and Sheffield into third place thanks to a hat-trick of wins against Birkenhead (11-10), Leeds (12-9) and Sheffield (8-4).
Birkenhead looked set for their second win of the season after building an 8-4 lead towards the end of the third period. But Otter recovered to 8-8 and then 10-10 before Jacques Venter's third goal with 23 seconds remaining settled it.
Further defeats for Birkenhead against Sheffield (8-7) and Leeds (14-6) mean they are likely to finish in seventh place, which would mean a play-off against Division Three runners-up, University of Bristol.
FULOP'S GOALS KEEP SUTTON ON TOP
A potent mix of Swiss and Hungarian skill and goal-scoring ability is helping to keep Sutton & Cheam firmly on target for a return to Division One after an absence of nine years.
Sutton made it nine wins from nine matches with three more very comfortable victories at Lancaster's Salt Ayre Pool on 17/18 October. Hungarian Gergely Fulop scored five as his team warmed up with a 15-4 defeat of London rivals Otter.
Then six from Swiss international Mark Zumbueli and five more from Fulop proved too much for Birkenhead, who also went down 15-4.
Sutton's weekend programme concluded with a local derby a very long way from home against Croydon Amphibians. This time the margin was 16-3 - including eight more from the powerful Fulop.
With five matches to go, Sutton are certainly strongly placed, although they can afford no slip-ups. They still have to play a return against Polytechnic, who moved up to second place by winning their three matches at Lancaster.
Poly cruised to a 3-0 lead early on against Sheffield. But they were then pegged back to 3-3 and Sheffield then stayed very much in contention until three minutes from the end, when a Richard Polya goal gave Poly a 7-6 victory.
Against Leeds, Poly were 2-0 down at the start but then, remarkably, scored nine goals - including three by Miguel Ardid - without reply before eventually winning 11-6. The Londoners rounded off with a 14-7 defeat of winless Invicta Marlins. Josh Brown netted three of the winners' goals.
Otter recovered from their hammering by Sutton to beat Croydon 11-7, an evenly-fought match until the final period. They also beat Birkenhead 10-9 - a result that might have been very different if Birkenhead had not frittered away man-up opportunities.
In the Yorkshire derby, Sheffield edged out Leeds 7-6. Goals by Richard Rattlidge and John Faben helped Sheffield build a 5-1 lead. Then Leeds fought back, just failing to snatch a point in a frantic final quarter.
Mark Bayliss led the way with six in Croydon's 13-10 defeat of Birkenhead. Another player in form was Leeds'Lewis Young, scorer of five in a 12-6 success against the Marlins.
The picture above shows action from a recent Poly-Otter derby.
SUTTON OPEN UP FOUR-POINT LEAD
Sutton & Cheam, National League champions on six occasions between 1967 and 1990, are making a strong bid for a return to the big time after more success at the second Division Two weekend at Loughborough University (3/4 October).
Victories over City of Sheffield (6-5), Polytechnic (9-7) and bottom team Invicta Marlins (16-8) ensured that Sutton retained a 100 per cent record after six matches and, crucially, opened up a four-point advantage at the top of the table ahead of nearest rivals Croydon Amphibians, Poly and Sheffield.
The Sheffield game could have gone either way. It was all square at 5-5 afer three periods; then the only goal of the final period, by former Switzerland captain Mark Zumbueli, ensured success for Sutton. Chris Evans scored three for Sutton and Elliot Kelly three for Sheffield.
Against Poly, Sutton were always narrowly ahead. Their lead was cut to 7-6 at one point in the third, but six goals by Zumbueli, who played for his country in the recent European B Championships, made certain of both points.
Poly beat Croydon 7-6 even though they had to battle a man short for four minutes when Panagiotakopoulos was excluded for brutality in the first period. Croydon paid the penalty for only scoring twice during that spell.
In the London derby, Poly defeated Otter 11-6. Our picture (by Mike Coles) shows Poly's experienced Danny Davis (Blue 6) battling for supremacy in the pit.
Four goals by Chris Ainley - all in the second quarter - helped Otter defeat City of Leeds 12-9. Otter also beat Sheffield 10-7, with three goals apiece by Anthony Malloy and Spencer Corrigal, but went down 11-5 in the London derby against Poly.
Greg Shultz (6), David Payne (4) and Nat Snook (4) led Croydon's scorers in a 21-7 victory over Invicta Marlins, who are still awaiting their first point. Croydon's 11-5 defeat of Leeds featured four goals each for Ivan Drinkwater and Mark Bayliss.
Birkenhead beat Invicta 17-10 to secure their first points of the season. Julian Bewley scored four. Later, Birkenhead were 4-1 ahead against Leeds but had to settle for a point when an Andy Marshall goal a minute and a half from the end brought Leeds back to 7-7.
The next Division Two weekend is at Lancaster on 17/18 October.
SMITH'S THUNDERBOLT FLOORS POLY
Polytechnic's first season out of the National League's top flight saw them collect four points from three matches at Loughborough University - but miss out on a 100 per cent record thanks to the smart reactions of Sheffield goalkeeper Josh Smith.
Sheffield trailed 4-1 after the first period and 6-5 at the end of the third. But it was 7-7 in the last when Poly called a time-out and began to develop an attack. Unfortunately, possession was immediately squandered. And before Poly's excellent Australian veteran Australian keeper Greg Bray - who had received the ball on half-way at the start of the time-out - could sprint back to his goal, Smith took possession and threw straight into the vicant net at the opposite end.
Poly, still in shock, conceded another goal shortly afterwards by Jim Lafferty, earning Sheffield a 9-7 victory.
Sheffield and Sutton & Cheam emerged from the first weekend as the only teams with 100 per cent records.
Against Invicta Marlins, Sheffield cruised into a 4-0 half-time lead before allowing their opponents back to 4-4 midway through the third period. But Sheffield eventually sneaked home 7-6 and then went on to gain another one-goal victory - 8-7 against newly-promoted Croydon Amphibians. Croydon were 5-3 up at the half way stage but three goals by Mick Whitley ensured an excellent conclusion to the opening weekend for the Sheffield side.
Sutton beat Leeds 6-4 - after trailing 4-3 at half-time - and Birkenhead 6-3 before hammering Otter 11-4, including three goals in the last period by ex-GB forward Chris Evans.
Mark Bayliss scored five in Croydon's 14-4 demolition of understrength Birkenhead. Carl Ainley's four goals ensured Otter's 13-9 victory over Invicta in a match settled in the final quarter.
