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Press
Press releases from Ultimate League
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Viking back into third tier despite boss
Viking North Utsire secured the Division 3d title more by luck than judgement last Monday, with a very fortunate 1-1 draw at Fridgetosofa Rovers in the absence of manager VelvetAndroid, who was waylaid elsewhere at the crucial hour and never made it to the Bearded Arena for the crunch game. With his side still needing a point to clinch top spot ahead of Brough Unt, there was a nervous 45 minutes for the travelling fans before their stomachs were settled via an unlikely source: 20-year-old defender Bo Fardal, who had never scored in 4 seasons at the club, got on the end of a Conrad Austrheim corner to put the Utsirans ahead. Ivan Cordone levelled for 4th-placed Rovers with 20 minutes to go, but rather to everyone's surprise the rudderless Norsemen hung on for the draw they required -- leaving Brough's late 1-0 home win over relegated Wollaston Phoenix in vain.
It left the top of the table as tight as you could wish, but with VNU on 9-4-1, 25-12 to Brough's 9-3-2, 25-12 -- with Fatties & Foreigners seven points further back in 3rd despite an almost identical goals F/A too of 26-14. Happily, too, Brough were able to see off Clem Legacy in their playoff on Wednesday, meaning they and Viking will get to face each other again next season too up in Div 2b. It is North Utsire's first divisional title, and indeed first promotion, since they won 2b eight seasons earlier, and first at Division 3 level since Season 40. They return to the third tier after four straight campaigns down in the fourth, after finishing 3rd in each of the previous three seasons straight.
There was immediate deja vu on Friday, when VNU kicked off preseason with a 2-1 loss at top-flight side and old friends Timrous Beasties, f.k.a Square Hammers, with boss Android missing again -- this time allegedly on a scouting mission. Conrad Austrheim put his rather barren second half to last season behind him with a solo opener, but the Beasties hit back after the break to turn the game around with a brace from José Luis Cabestany.
The new term kicks off next Friday with a trip to the incredibly-named Trendscrobe Smarties in the 1st round of the Ultimate League Cup.
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