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Viking slide quietly through D3 trapdoor |
Viking South Utsira's slump towards relegation from Division 3e this season has been like watching a slow-motion landslip, something gathering pace only incrementally yet with an inexorable, unstoppable momentum. The decision to focus on youth with such a large chunk of term to go has seen them first lose touch with the leaders then spiral remorselessly into the dropzone, via a run of results so bad relegation was confirmed this Tuesday with a week to spare.
A home reverse to bottom side The Norfolk Broads, who had a 1-2-9 record for the term previously -- despite possessing a stronger side than that would appear to indicate -- was a grimly appropriate way for it to happen. Viking were outplayed by their visitors and conceded just before and just after the break, having already lost midfielder Tyra Klovning to a career-worst injury, to slip to their fifth straight defeat and slide through the trapdoor without a whimper.
It leaves the final fixture against Deportivo Cruz Azul, a side guaranteed their second-placed finish, as a dead rubber. Therefore all eyes will instead be on the game between Misconduct United (4th) and St.Hallvards IF (5th), plus champions Kongo BK's trip to Homemaker Blues (3rd). All the midtable sides are level on 18 points and only 2 ahead of BV Cloppenburg -- who finish at home to the Broads, knowing they will leapfrog at least one team to safety if they can win.
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