With the conclusion of the ESPFA campaign, the stage is set for the season finale! Runcorn Linnets, Mickleover (Red) and Chesham United have been crowned the winners of their respective divisions and now progress to decide the inaugural winners of the ESPFA National Championships.
Runcorn Linnets
In a very competitive Northern Division, Runcorn Linnets managed to pip a whole host of challengers to the division title. Runcorn are team that enjoys possession of the ball and have a variety of threats across the field. In their 12 division games, they won eight, drew one and lost three.
Mickleover (Red)
Another team that is very well drilled when the ball is at their feet, Mickleover (Red) narrowly pipped challengers Stafford Rangers to the league title towards the end of the season. In their ten games they only lost one and won the other nine and boast a brilliant goal difference, scoring 50 goals and conceding just 5.
Chesham United
The Southern Division winners have great strength in depth, with a large squad full of talent that can slot into the starting XI and be more than effective. They are the only team in the whole of the ESPFA to go the season unbeaten and on top of this they achieved an excellent feat of winning all ten of their division fixtures.
How it works:
· Each team will play each other once at a neutral venue (Rushall Olympic FC), playing a total of two games each.
The fixtures will be the following:
MONDAY 24TH MAY - 12PM @ Rushall Olympic FC - Chesham United vs Runcorn Linnets
THURSDAY 27TH MAY - 12PM @ Rushall Olympic FC - Runcorn Linnets vs Mickleover (Red)
WEDNESDAY 9TH JUNE - 12PM @ Rushall Olympic FC – Mickleover (Red) vs Chesham United
· A win will be worth three points.
· A draw will be worth one point.
· A loss will be worth zero points.
· In the event of a draw, a penalty shoot-out will take place to determine who gets the extra bonus point.
· If a team draws and wins the penalty shoot-out, they will get two points. If a team draws and loses the penalty shoot-out, they will get one point.
· Whoever gains the most points once all games are completed, wins the group and are ESPFA National Champions.
· In the event that two or three teams are equal on points, the following tie breaking criteria will apply:
1. Superior Goal Difference
2. Highest number of Goals Scored
3. Lowest number of Goals Conceded
4. Who has the best head to head record (including bonus penalty shoot-out)
5. Highest number of goals scored as a designated away team (see above for designation per game)
6. The lowest disciplinary points in all matches. One for a sin bin, two for a yellow card, three for a red card.
· In the event of two teams still having equal ranking. A one-off game will take place at a later date.
· In the event of all three teams having equal ranking, the national championship will be shared.
· In the event that the North team win both games, the final game between South and Midlands will still take place to determine who will finish as runners up.