A top of the table clash in the Midlands the highlight and the cup groups in the North are fully underway during match week seventeen.
In the Midlands division, there was a top of the table clash between ESPFA Derbyshire (Mickleover FC Black) and ESPFA West Midlands (Rushall Olympic Amber) with a win for either side would take them level with ESPFA Derbyshire (Belper Town) at the top with two games left to play.
True to form in the Midlands division this season, the game was a tight affair with the breakthrough not coming until the 76th minute when Haiba Soueyeh weaved his way through the Pics defence before slotting home the opener to give his side the lead. Mattawus Morgan who has recently been training with the Rushall Olympic first team brought the visitors back into the game when his deflected free kick gave the goalkeeper no chance to adjust his feet.
In the final moments of the game, both sides were pressing for that vital winner but to no avail and for the second time this season, the game between the two sides was all square giving ESPFA Derbyshire (Belper Town) the advantage in the title race.
In the other Midlands division game between ESPFA West Midlands (Rushall Olympic Black) and ESPFA Nottingham (Carlton Town), in a rarity in the ESPFA, the game ended goalless with both sides having plenty of chances but a combination of good goalkeeping and poor finishing meant neither side could find the breakthrough as the spoils were shared.
In the North there were three cup group games taking place. ESPFA Greater Manchester (Mossley AFC) gave themselves a slight chance of qualifying from the North East group with a 6-3 victory over ESPFA West Yorkshire (Brighouse Town).
The hosts raced into a 6-1 lead at half time with goals from Nani Maki, Ibrahim Ahmet and braces from Aladin Yasin and Adam Omakwu with Jamie Marsden getting the visitors reply.
In the second half, the Oranges' responded well with goals from Oliver Midgley and Faisal Badat but it was not enough as the hosts gained a vital three points.
The North West group saw seven goals in each game. Firstly North division winners ESPFA Cheshire (Witton Albion) hosted ESPFA Cheshire (Runcorn Linnets) and got off to the perfect start after nine minutes when skipper Isaac Shaw put the Albion in the lead. Two goals from Adam Moseley turned the game on its head before half time before Zach Williams equalised ten minutes after the break.
Moseley responded immediately with his hat-trick before Desmond Ekhator doubled the advantage in the 74th minute. Williams' 94th minutes strike gave the hosts hope but the Linnets held out for the win.
ESPFA Lancashire (Skelmersdale United) travelled to ESPFA Staffordshire (Stafford Town) and came away with a convincing victory to put themselves in the driving seat in the group with a 100% record after two games.
Leyton Baines, Calvin Haddock and an own goal gave United a 3-1 lead at half time with Monty Tams responding for the hosts. A further three goals in the second half from Ryan Hunt, Harvey Adatsi and a second from Haddock secured the win and three points for the Blues'.
League Tables after Matchweek Seventeen
Cup Tables after Matchweek Seventeen
Post Match Interviews
TEAM OF THE WEEK - #MatchweekSeventeen
Congratulations to all students who have been nominated by their coaches for their performances during #MatchweekSeventeen.
Special mention to #ESPFACheshire student Adam Moseley who was named as the #PlayerOfTheWeek with his hat-trick being the difference in Runcorn's 4-3 cup victory over ESPFA Cheshire (Witton Albion)
The Highlights Show
Team lineups (scroll left)
