SUBBUTEO NZ: NGD SOLO LEAGUE

NGD Solo League teams

A stunning match concluded the NGD season 2.

Top side Wolvendean played Redpool who at the start of play were sitting second, two points adrift.

The match started brightly and was an open and flowing affair. Wolvendean, who only needed a draw to clinch the title, did not sit back - but powered forward numerous times in the opening quarter of the game. They got their reward following a well worked move that left striker (insert name) one on one with the keeper. The keeper seemed rooted to the spot (as indeed he was...well, more like stuck to a door stop with some blu-tack) and the ball was slotted cooly home. The game continued end to end, but Redpool couldn't muster a meaningful shot on goal until just before the break when a slide rule pass was drilled into the net at the near post by Coca Kit.

After the break Wolvendean lay seige to the Redpool goal and increased their lead. Only a combination of smart saves and poor finishing kept the away in the game. However, as the half grew on Redpool increased in confidence and after a finely crafted move managed to regain parity with a well taken goal by Cooper.

Wolvendean initially rocked, continued to produce some moments to delight and looked to be taking the point they needed to be worthy winners of the league. Redpool seemed all out of ideas. With a minute to go a hopeful punt upfield left Redpool wideman Jared Quimby to chase but he failed to get there. What should have been a simple clearance turned to disaster, when the Wolvendean left back nervously missed the ball and found his head brushing the base of the advanced opposition player. The ref had no option but be point to the penalty spot. Kit stepped up to convert the kick and put the team in red (and sky and white) into the lead.

There was barely time for the restart before the ref blew the whistle (or in actual fact, for the song to finish – as I play by number of tracks rather than exact times...I like it better that way).

Redpool regain their title after a difficult season – Wolvendean will never come as close again without winning it.

OLDER NEWS

The NGD is a solo league that I began in 2012. It is currently in it's second season. It started with eight teams, season two saw an increase to ten teams.

Next season a second division is planned, both of which will have eight teams, the sides finishing 9th and 10th this season will go into division two along with the six new teams.