Week 18 (and Cup replay) Results

Aardvark Abacus 3 v 0 York’s Returning Glory
Athletico Phoenix 4 v 3 Claymore Athletic FC
Fred West Landscape Gardening XI 2 v 0 Bassett Allsorts
San Dimas High School 4 v 3 The Cow-Faced Juniors
The Dead Parrots 3 v 2 Final Fantasy XI
The Fabulous Artisans 4 v 0 Mega Buck Bandits
Trusted By Millions 1 v 0 Nil Satis Nisi Optimum
You Know Your Boston Rock FC 1 v 4 Real Muppets


plus FA Cup 1st Round replay

Claymore Athletic FC 4 v 2 Final Fantasy XI

Fred's lead is back to four points after differing fortunes for our top two. Fred doesn't pick Danny Higginbotham very often these days but he's glad he did this week as the defender scored and kept a clean to defeat the Allsorts. Ben's team have only won one league game in the last six which has stalled his push up the table. Boston Rock slipped to their first defeat since November at the hands of the Muppets. Raul Meireles opened his Muppets account when firing through a crowded penalty area on the half hour and Carlos Tevez added a second just after the break following a superb solo run. Kevin Nolan struck his ninth of the season (what a signing he's been) soon after but when Tevez added another to take his tally to 12 for the campaign the game was up for Sheriff.

The CFJs had crept into contention after seven straight wind but they came a cropper at the improving San Dimas. Nenad Milijas poked in to set the ball rolling and my team were three up at half-time. Chris fought back through Etherington and Anelka but Peter Odemwingie's second with three minutes left calmed my nerves and meant Gareth Bale's clean was nothing but a consolation. It took me 27 weeks to get to 27 points last season so things are looking up! Trusted are hanging in in fourth place but it was another subdued showing from Beef's men needing a Robert Huth clean to put paid to Nil Satis. Paul's team have sunk from one point off the top this time last year to two points off the bottom.

After their slow start the Artisans have now only lost one of their last ten. Ben is right in the thick of the chasing pack after a 4-0 win over Mega Bucks. Hugo Rodallega's lob broke the deadlock on 57 minutes and Clive lookalike James Collins added a deflected shot a quarter of an hour later. Dave's team with one league win in eight now and three points off the bottom. The Mega Bucks are on the same points as Claymore as Clive was beaten by an awakening Phoenix side. Robert van Persie scored twice and started to show signs of what he is capable of. Jermaine Beckford and James Morrison both netted too to give Brian a cushion that Ivanovic and Bosingwa were unable to haul back. (Can you haul a cushion back?)

That result sees Brian off the foot of the table after seven weeks and Ceri returns to bottom spot. Final Fantasy pegged the Parrots back to 2-2 when Andy Johnson scored with five minutes left but Dean had an Alan Hutton clean to give him the three points. The patchy Aardvarks put their best foot forward this week but still took them three quarters of the game to break down a stubborn York's defence. Dirk Kuyt got the opener from the spot and Asamoah Gyan scored deep in injury time which, along with a Cech clean, finished Julian off. Seven teams are within four points of the bottom of the table, it's getting interesting down there!

In the Cup Clive needed a host of clean sheets to make it to the quarter-finals after Andy Johnson looked to have put Ceri through with a goal five minutes from time.