Dynasty Qualify for Top Tier! (we think!)

Wow, am I interested again now! It's been one hell of an end to the season. I wouldn't normally blog about it in such detail but for once I think the tension deserves re-living.

When the bad form finally left, we were outside the top-12 that I figure we needed to - by my calculations - reach to be sure of making the top tier of final qualifiers. But we were still in with a shot. The problem was our last five games included the league leaders Little Badgers twice, and third place Auckland FC (who hammered us 4-0 earlier in the season) once.

Firstly Little Badgers away, I changed tactics to go 4-4-1-1, played defensive retain possession and attempted to shut up shop. And it worked! 0-0.

Next up, Little Badgers at home. Stuck with the 4-4-1-1 but went counter this time given home advantage and we sneaked it 1-0! Probably deserved it too - although they had more possession and more shots we created 3 clear cut chances to their 0 and so should have put the game to bed long before the 82nd minute winner that eventually clinched it.

I felt really sorry for Little Badgers manager Nicholas as these two results ultimately cost him the league - he only lost to me and the team who eventually clinched the title SF Cosmos.

Next up a 1-1 draw with Soepurb, AI game this so I can't tell you much about it! So two games to go and it was looking tight between me, Stanmore and Stoke Shadows for 11th-13th. And one of my remaining games is the Shadows. I have AI but decided to play my Auckland FC match first because I know Stoke's manager often comes on later in the evening and a win against Auckland would mean we only needed a draw from the final game.

After the hammering I took early in the season I decided to start the Auckland game defensive, but as it went by and stayed 0-0 I gradually came out of my shell more and more and we did have a couple of great chances to win it. Only for disaster to strike. In the 4th of 3 added minutes their goalie hoofs it long down field, my defence stands still (expecting the final whistle?!) and their star striker who has been marked out of the game for 93 minutes tucks it past my out of position keeper. Lost 1-0. Absolutely gutted.

But still if we beat Stoke we're guaranteed to finish above them, and hence in at least 12th place. Trouble is now I'm on a losing streak, AND 3 players picked up their 5th yellow cards in the Auckland game so they're suspended. But I needn't have worried. A hard fought 1-0 victory wasn't without its scares - one of my CB's could easily have been sent off for a last man foul but was only booked (his DC partner was just about covering I think), and they had a string of late corners. And not only did we win it, one of my off-season signings last year who I'd stuck with all season despite him underperforming got the winner with a 20 yard screamer. Love it!

So we're 11th, it will probably be 12th by the time Stanmore have played their last 2 games, but right now I don't care. Top tier 3rd season gives me more prize money, higher rep, and a shot at the top leagues. Give us something to play for - we cried. Man did we get it!