NEXT GAME; Sunday Oct 14th, Norwalk Mariners!

You ever feel broken and downhearted? You ever feel like sitting in your car after a game and just crying? Well you can join TomP after this weekends game for a group cry. Our next game is a home game against the team in second position, Norwalk Mariners, and it's an 8.30 am kick off at Town Campus. Believe it or not, this was the last team we managed to beat 8 games ago! We have been in a death spiral since then whereas they have gone from strength to strength. If we want to save ourselves from relegation then the fight has to start now. We need to start getting some points! No more tears, no more excuses! Control your fears and let's go out and play like we are enjoying ourselves!

If you want to know what is happening through the rest of the leagues as they get to the business end of the season then read below. The  following article is from Garry Archer of the SASL and it his assessment of the league campaign in all the divisions with only a few games left. We do get a mention but you can tell where Garry's sentiments lie!

"For the Shoreline Adult Soccer League, the 2012 league season has rounded
the "final bend" into the "home stretch."  For most teams fifteen matches
are already in the records book and there are only three more to go.

It is typically here where teams pour on the pressure -- or falter with
"the tape" in sight.  Championships, promotion and relegation are all at
stake.  Here is a brief look at how the 2012 season is shaping up in the
final weeks.

http://saslsoccer.com/2012/standings.html

*SASL Over-30 League*

*First Division*
Club Napoli currently lead the division with a "massive" five point lead *
and* a game in hand!  Only Danbury United and Waterbury Albanians, in
second and third place respectively, can catch them.

In the relegation battle, disbanded Westport FC will count as a relegated
team, so there is only one other spot open for relegation, currently owned
by Milford Tuesday.  The Tuesday are only three points behind Greenwich
Rhinos and Newtown Salty Dogs are the only other team who can be caught,
mathematically at least, and it would take a lot of goals to overtake
them.  Salty Dogs' safety seems assured, but a point from their last three
games will make it definite.  One of the Salty Dogs' remaining games is
away at Milford Tuesday.

*Second Division*
The teams who win the East and West divisions will be automatically
promoted to the First Division, but there will be a post-season play-off
game for the two winners to see who will be the overall Champions and
Runners-up for this division.

Currently the *West* division is being lead by Bridgeport Blue Dragons by a
healthy four points, but Henry Reid FC and Stamford FC can still catch
them, no-one else can.  It will still be a battle though, perhaps even
"down to the wire," but the Blue Dragons with the extra points in the bank
already are probably feeling pretty confident by now of reaching the
Championship play-off game.

In the *East* division North Branford SC lead Newington Portuguese by a
narrow two points.  Mathematically, Hamden Hawks could still catch these
two, but no-one else can.  It would take a massive collapse by the top two
for the Hawks to make the Championship play-off game.  North Branford SC
only need one more point from three games to ensure that does not happen.

*SASL Masters League (Over-40s)*

*First Division*
Wilton Ancient Warriors FC are leading the division by three points with a
game in hand.  Rowayton FC, Cheshire Azzurri and Greenwich Gunners are all
still in the chase for first place, but the Azzurri are six points behind
the Warriors and the Gunners are a huge eight points behind the Warriors.
Mathematically, Connecticut Storm FC could still finish in second, but
Rowayton FC only need one more point to ensure they do not.

*Second Division*
Vasco da Gama CC have lead the division pretty much all season with only
Norwalk Mariners and Greenwich Pumas in serious contention for the
Championship and Runners-up places.  One of those teams will be very
disappointed at the end of the season.  Vasco lead the Mariners by four
points and the Pumas are only one point behind the Mariners.

The remainder of this division have basically all been in one huge
relegation battle where anyone can beat anyone at any time, any place.  As
the season winds down, however, time is fast running out for the bottom
two, currently Fairfield GAC and Guilford Bell Curve.  Both can still get
out of this sticky situation, but they need to win points now rather than
later.  The Bell Curve are only three points behind eighth-placed Madison
Celtic FC *and* still have a game in hand, to prove that *both* the Bell
Curve and Fairfield can still escape the drop zone.  With 12 points still
to play for Bell Curve could haul themselves well out of trouble and
mathematically, at least, could still overtake Orange SC in fourth place!
This relegation battle is that close and it will be interesting to see how
it develops over the next few weeks.

*Third Division*
As if anyone has doubted it all season long, Ridgefield Kicks still have
four games to play, but are already Champions.  They have won every game
and have scored nearly an average of six goals per game.  For this
division, it has really only been to see who will finish with the
Runners-up trophy.  Currently, Cheshire Inter FC, Albanian Eagles and North
Branford SC are only separated by a mere three points -- one win -- and the
odds seem to favour one of these teams to finish in second place.  But!
Newington Portuguese, Delaney's FC and New Haven Americans -- all tied on
19 points! -- are only three points behind North Branford SC.  Perhaps a
late all-winning surge from one or more of these three could make the race
for second-place even more interesting, so hold on to your hats!  Even
Wallingford Morelia with 16 points have an extremely slim mathematical
chance!

*SASL Over-48 League*

*First Division*
The teams who win the North and South divisions will be entered into a
post-season play-off game for the two winners to see who will be the
overall Champions and Runners-up for this division.

In the *North* division Falcon Polonia Stars FC have lead the way the whole
season with only Glastonbury Celtic FC and New Britain Falcons,
interchangeably, giving the best chase, but both Cheshire United and
Waterbury Pontes have also given a good account of themselves.  Initially
this season, New Britain Falcons seemed to be the only team to challenge
the Stars as Celtic got off to a slow start.  But, as the Falcons faltered
this fall half of the season, Celtic have surged and are now nine points
ahead of New Britain and with a huge goal difference.  Celtic are now
"only" six points behind the Stars and with both clubs still with nine
points to play for, so, who knows?  The key game will be when Celtic host
the stars this coming Sunday!  Should be a cracking game!

In the *South* division it is Club Napoli who have lead the whole way and
have already qualified for the Championship play-off game with still three
games to go.  In fact, Club Napoli are 15 points ahead of their nearest
challengers, Vasco da Gama CC, so it was decided some time ago when, not
if, Club Napoli would make the Championship play-off.  The other contenders
where Greenwich Wolves, who got off to a solid start but have slowed up in
recent weeks.  Vasco got off to a slow start, but kept getting better as
the season went on"