[Nogrod]

Pelori vs. Tirion

The friendlies are called friendlies for the fact that there is not as much at stake as the teams are not playing for points or qualification, but merely testing their squads and different tactics. That said, the footballing community has learned to expect some level of competition from the friendly games as well, but when Pelori and Tirion met in their first match of the season it was not only “friendly” but at times looked more like a two team joint practice-session.

At times the spectators could see Manwë and Varda chatting with Aulë and Finwë in the center of the field and then adjusting their team’s play according to a plan worked out on the spot. It’s hard to know what the exact deals were, but it was clear to the eyes of any informed onlooker that Aulë had asked Manwë not to send forwards his full force as the Tirion defences are quite inexperienced and need time to adjust to the game. Also it was clear that Pelori turned on their suffocating defence for the second half as to give Tirion’s seasoned but new to the team talent some challenging testing.

As much as the game was walked through in a practice-mode, it was clear that Pelori were a step ahead all the time and were the stronger team overall. Losing the powerhouse trio Miriel, Nerdanel and Fëanor is clearly a mighty blow to team Tirion and Aulë’s decision to leave his post at the goal doesn’t look like the best move he has made as Orodreth didn’t seem to be at home at the goal. But there’s still time before the tournament begins…

Pelori 2-1 Tirion
tot shots 13-13
on target 6-6
GOALS:
*35, 1-0 Varda (Irmo)
*44, 1-1 Aredhel (Finwe)
*72, 2-1 Eonwe (Vana)
YELLOW CARDS:
*Pelori- Nienna, Irmo
*Tirion- Elemmire, Caranthir


Barad Dûr vs. Westernesse

The opposite interpretation of the concept of a friendly game was seen when Barad Dûr and Westernesse clashed in their first game of the season. The proud kings of men left nothing for second-guessing and showed how lonely the Last Alliance boys are at the beginning of the tournament.

Westernesse was more aggressive, more physical, meaner and tougher, and more efficient by a wide margin. They totally dominated the first half an hour and only let the Barad Dûr team breathe after they had scored twice. But unlike many would have guessed, they came to the second half yet again with full force and scored a third goal in less than fifteen minutes. After that they seemed satiated with goals and pulled back to make a rehersal on total team defence taking Barad Dûr out of any space and time in the field freezing their opponents quite sovereignily.

Team Westernesse looks just as formidable a team in reality as it looks on paper. Barad Dûr on the other hand seems to have a difficult road ahead, even if it plays in one of the lousiest groups of this year’s tournament. .

Barad-Dur 0-3 Westernesse
tot shots 7-16
on target 3-8
GOALS:
*14, 0-1 Elros (Mardil)
*29, 0-2 Ar Adunakhor (Hyarmendacil)
*58, 0-3 Ar Pharazon (Ar Adunakhor)
YELLOW CARDS:
*Barad-Dur- Fellbeast #1, Shagrat, Gothmog II
*Westernesse- Hyarmendacil, Ar Pharazon, Elendil


Anfauglith vs. Himring

Anfauglith and Himring met in an amicable athmosphere, the Balrog’s of course play it quite rough every time they are released to the field, but even they didn’t seem to be in the liking of butchering their enemies. But even if most of the players were clearly in the gentleman-mode, there was no question about which team was calling the shots in the field.

Maedhros had decided to try and make his defenders mark the star-scorers of Anfauglith man to man. In general opinion that was thought equaling with throwing them to the wolves – and that was also the end-result with Maeglin scoring twice, Gwindor once and Gothmog only near missing it a few times. With the defence-material he has at his disposal Maedhros would do well to opt for other tactics, at least against strong scoring teams.

But the match also proved that Himring has potential. Managing to make 10(5) shots and one goal against a defence built on the cream of the last year’s defences of Gondolin and Utumno and Huor on goal is no small feat.

Angfauglith 3-1 Himring
tot shots 15-10
on target 7-5
GOALS:
*21, 1-0 Maeglin (Ecthelion)
*42, 2-0 Gwindor (Gothmog)
*61, 2-1 Maedhros (Borthond)
*82, 3-1 Maeglin (Fingolfin)
YELLOW CARDS:
*Angfauglith- Balrog #4, Azaghal
*Himring- Ulfast


Beleriand vs. Mithrim

There is not a lot to report from the sunny afternoon game between Beleriand and Mithrim. The game was quite friendly and fairly even unlike the numbers would let one understand. The greatest difference between the teams was in the efficiency of their shooting where Beleriand managed to put seven shots in between the posts from the twelve attempts it had while Mithrim only got four to the target.

Beleriand wasn’t exactly pressing to gain twice the two goal lead it did as Marach made it 2-0 after a corner and Angrod could thank the Mithrim defence for his 3-1 as he got totally free against Maglor when Uldor as the lowest defender tripped down.

Neither team made an impression and it’s hard to say whether the high number of shots both were able to produce were because of the goodness of their forwards or the sloppiness of their defences. The next friendlies should make us wiser on that issue.

Beleriand 3-1 Mithrim
tot shots 12-12
on target 7-4
GOALS:
*38, 1-0 Telchar (Gamil Zirak)
*64, 2-0 Marach (Aegnor)
*71, 2-1 Nienor (Annael)
*78, 3-1 Angrod (Nellas)
YELLOW CARDS:
*Beleriand- Daeron, Gamil Zirak
*Mithrim- Grithnir, Asgon


Doriath vs. The Forest

There’s nothing new under the sun one could say after watching the friendly between Doriath and Forest. The fabulous trio of Túrin, Beleg and Húrin is just as dangerous as it has always been and now backed by the magnificient Eöl we can easily speak about one of the most dangerous attacks this year’s tournament will see. It’s also no news that Tom Bombadill goes with the wind and that the rest of the team just lacks stamina and spirit.

Doriath possessed the ball sovereignily and their passing was admirable. So they more or less had the control of the game throughout. Only at the last fifteen minutes, when Doriath seemed happy to the result and Bombadill had a flurry to play at last, did The Forest create few dangerous opportunities at Doriath’s goal. But then Huan had a chance to show his qualities and made a few spectacular saves.

Doriath will be strong this year but The Forest needs to pull their act together if they wish to advance from the group-stage.

Doriath 3-0 The Forest
tot shots 14-7
on target 9-3
GOALS:
*29, 1-0 Hurin (Turin)
*40, 2-0 Eol (Turin)
*74, 3-0 Beleg (Mablung)
YELLOW CARDS:
*Doriath- Carcharoth
*The Forest- Saeros, Haleth


Gondolin vs. Hithlum

The meeting of the two totally renewed teams raised a lot of curiosity beforehand and so the stadium was almost full for the first friendly between Gondolin and Hithlum. It tells something of the tradition of football in the great city of Gondolin that when they lost the core of their championship team from last year King Turgon ran to their aid and brought the core of last year’s number two team Vinyamar with him. But Hithlum isn’t bad this year either including some hot names from two well performed teams last year aka. Mithrim and Eithel Sirion. The most watched pair in the field was of course Hithlum’s dynamic duo Celegorm and Curufin who were the undoubtedly best defenders of last year’s tournament – but now they were going to play forwards, on their own request.

The game was very amiable and the teams seemed to be more or less in agreement on letting each other try pressing forwards in turns. Or was it just Turgon’s Gondolin calling the pace being happy to let the others try after they had scored to go ahead? Supporting that conclusion would be the fact that it looked quite clear that Turgon had decided not to commit to the defence fully, thus testing his backlines.

After Hithlum’s equalizer to two goals each, it seemed Turgon decided to press for a winner but then Imlach started showing his qualities at the goal and denied the Gondolinians from a victory that hung in the air the last twenty minutes.

Even if Celegorm scored one goal and Curufin pulled two assists, they seemed quite upset after the game complaining that they were not fed with enough with the ball to make a difference. Hador needs to walk the balance of keeping his stars happy without frustrating the rest of the team.

Gondolin 2-2 Hithlum
tot shots 17-11
on target 8-6
GOALS:
*22, 1-0 Turgon (Duilin)
*37, 1-1 Hador (Curufin)
*55, 2-1 Egalmoth (Idril)
*63, 2-2 Celegorm (Curufin)
YELLOW CARDS:
*Gondolin- Salgant
*Hithlum- Gundor, Curufin, Lorgan


Lothlorien vs. Valinor

It can be announced that Galadriel’s steal of Fëanor to play for Lothlorien was one of the hottest news in this year’s trading, but even a player like Fëanor can’t win the games alone if no one feeds him the ball. Used to be fed by players like Miriel, Nerdanel and Finwë last year it is easy to see him getting frustrated this season unless something changes dramatically with team Lothlorien. The seriousness of the situation is nicely marked by the fact that the only decent opportunity Lothlorien had at scoring came from Fëanor outrunning the field by himself on a long ball from defence. Galadriel’s team really needs to practice building attacks, and Legolas and Boromir need to do some target-practise...

Valinor on the contrary seemed confident and they moved the ball effortlessly up and down the field letting the ball do the work for them. Miriel and Nerdanel scored one each making a good start for their season. With that kind of team behind them it’s relatively easy to predict these ladies to end up in the top ten of scorers this year, once again.

Lothlorien 0-2 Valinor
tot shots 7-11
on target 2-6
GOALS:
*39, 0-1 Nerdanel (Miriel)
*75, 0-2 Miriel (Yavanna)
YELLOW CARDS:
*Lothlorien- Shadowfax, Boromir II, Feanor
*Valinor- Arien


Nargothrond vs. The Downer

The Downer is the odd team for everyone following the games this year – but it seems also their playing style is very odd. When any reasonable team would have backed down they rushed forwards and vice versa. They were also very physical, and not always within the limits of the rules (see the five bookings they earned, in a friendly game!).

The weird style of the team took Nargothrond by surprise and actually led to both of their goals – and conversely to the final equalizer by Finduilas. It will be interesting to see both whether they will continue this carnevalistic game of theirs and how other teams will adjust their game to play them.

On other news it is to be reported that after leading the disasterous defence of Thangorodrim last year resulting in total failure, Glaurung seems to be much more happy & alive back in a more attacking role this year. The bad news for Thangoridrim is Barahir’s performance at the goal. The Downer managed three shots on goal and scored twice letting Barahir to save only one shot! With that level of goaltending there is no chance for the team whatsoever even if the second place in their group is up for grabbing to any decent team.

Nargothrond 2-2 The Downer
tot shots 12-13
on target 5-3
GOALS:
*21, 1-0 Glaurung (Emeldir)
*38, 1-1 Saucepan Man (Peter Hampton)
*61, 1-2 Hookbill (John Fillis)
*77, 2-2 Finduilas (Gildor)
YELLOW CARDS:
*Nargothrond- Arminas, Mim, Guilen
*Downer- Soap Pope, Morsul, Lalwende, Philip Hampton, Alien