[Nogrod]

Much has been discussed pre-tournament about Tom Bombadill's interest - or the possible lack of it - to the game. Many speculators have thought the lengtht of his attention-span would correlate strongly with the succes and failure of the whole team. Today's match seemed like proving the point.

Bombadil opened the scoring already at the 8th minute blasting a powerful shot in from forty meters. After that his interest seemed to wane and Eithel Sirion went even and past the hosts before the half-time. In the lockers the home team had clearly awakened their star, and on the 4th minute of the second half Bombadil made fool of the entire defence of Eithel Sirion only to gallantly not score himself but giving Strider a chance to hammer the ball into an empty net.

Sadly for Breelanders, after the equaliser Tom went away to his inner spaces, purportedly composing a new lullaby for lilies and dafodills, and the team had to manage the rest of the game without his active participation.

Eithel Sirion won eventually 4-2.

But to be fair to both sides: Breeland was not bad without old Tom and especially the look of Eithel Sirion was a lot better than in the first game against Doriath. If that diesel-engine of talent and experience slowly starts gathering speed and momentum they might go far in the tournament indeed.

Breeland 2-4 Eithel Sirion
tot shots 11-19
on target 5-10
GOALS:
*8, 1-0 Bombadil (Roheryn)
*20, 1-1 Fingon (Gwindor)
*35, 1-2 Gwindor (Nienor)
*49, 2-2 Strider (Bombadil)
*61, 2-3 Hador (Gwindor)
*78, 2-4 Angrod (Galdor)
YELLOW CARDS:
*Breeland- River-Woman, Halbarad
*Eithel Sirion- Galdor, Gundor, Bregor

On other matches Eorl led Rohan to victory over Dale more or less single-handedly, and in front of rejoicing fangirls Legolas was the key to Pelennor's win over a somewhat slipshod Doriath-team (ten shots but only two on target!).

On the fourth match Gondolin continued it's impressive pre-season run beating Dol Guldur 4-1. There sure is scoring-talent in that team: eight goals in just two matches! But how will their defence hold when they will inevitably face some more stout forwards than those they have met thus far? Now that is the question anyone betting in the games would like to know an answer to...


Dale 2-3 Rohan
tot shots 11-18
on target 6-9
GOALS:
*13, 1-0 Thranduil (Dain)
*22, 1-1 Eorl
*44, 1-2 Cirion (Frumgar)
*65, 2-2 Smaug (Girion)
*83, 2-3 Eorl (Eomer)
YELLOW CARDS:
*Dale- Dain, Thror, Bard, Smaug
*Rohan- Helm, Firefoot

Dol Guldur 1-4 Gondolin
tot shots 9-18
on target 4-9
GOALS:
*7, 0-1 Fingolfin (Eol)
*17, 0-2 Aredhel (Glorfindel)
*29, 0-3 Eol (Asfaloth)
*60, 1-3 Witch King (Khamul)
*71, 1-4 Glorfindel (Eol)
YELLOW CARDS:
*Dol Guldur- Beorn, Tomnoddy, Bolg, Thrain, Khamul
*Gondolin- Asfaloth, Fingolfin

Doriath 1-2 Pelennor
tot shots 10-16
on target 2-8
GOALS:
*38, 0-1 Eowyn (Legolas)
*64, 0-2 Legolas (Duinhir)
*85, 1-2 Haleth (Haldir)
YELLOW CARDS:
*Doriath- Saeros, Elured, Algund
*Pelennor- Snowmane, Gimli, Gothmog II