Rebekah Stott & Vic Esson – Avaldsnes IL (Norwegian Toppserien)

Welcome to the weirdest Flying Kiwis of the year. Can you hear the echoes in the hallways? The house creaking and shuddering as if haunted by the silence within? That’s because it’s an international window for the male players and all the Football Ferns, while not in an international window, are away in New Caledonia for the Nations Cup. In other words: hardly anyone played this week.

Which could have meant a week off for the number one weekly account of kiwi players abroad but, nah, there’s always something going on. Like this bit of news, for example. According to NZ Football’s website, a couple of the current Ferns squad have signed in Norway for next season: Rebekah Stott and Victoria Esson.

Now, the Stott news is not news. We had that scoop a couple weeks ago in Flying Kiwis. But Ferns backup keeper and Canterbury United Pride gloveswomen Esson joining her definitely is.

It’s a shame that Stotty won’t be returning to the NWSL, hopefully somebody else makes that leap and we still keep at least an even four representatives in that competition, but you can hardly blame Stott for leaving after the season Sky Blue just had – winning just one game in 2018. Especially not for what’s traditionally one of the stronger teams in Norway, albeit Avaldsnes had a shocker of a season this year. Probably why they need the reinforcements.

Rebekah Stott: “I’m excited to go to Europe and start a new chapter in my career. I love all the culture in Europe and it’s always better going to a place that’s so far away from home with a friend so it’s great that Vic is going to be there as well. I know they usually do very well in the league and most years they play in the Champions League as well. And the place looks pretty cool so I’m excited about living there.”

As for Esson, she’s already spent some time at the club a few years ago after finishing her American university career. Now she’s back for a proper go at it, which is superb for the national team getting another keeper out there on the professional stage. As she says in the NZF piece, she’s currently working 40 hour weeks balanced with her footy career so you can’t underestimate the effect that a pro lifestyle can have. And of course there’s another kiwi in Norway at the moment too, with Kirsty Yallop playing for Klepp IL the last few years.

Vic Esson: “I actually played for the same team and went over straight after college in the States. I was only there for a short period but still got a taste of the professional lifestyle and what pre-season in Norway is all about – which is mainly the cold! I ended up coming home for personal reasons which was the right decision at the time but now, five years down the track, I’m in a position where I want to go back over again and this is a good opportunity. It’s fantastic to have one of your best mates sign as well, she’s such an experienced professional so hopefully she’ll be able to settle in quite quickly and I’ll be able to follow on. I know a little bit from being over there a few years ago so I understand the demands of the club, their facilities and the schedule of training and games throughout the year. But it’s a new coach now so everything changes a bit and we’ll just have to see what happens when we get over there.”

Up Next: Important business at the Nations Cup

Clayton Lewis – Scunthorpe United (English League One)

Busy week for The Iron with three games in eight days. Two different cups competitions and a league game. It was so busy that Clayton Lewis got out there again, after becoming a bit of a regular as an unused sub – which itself has been an improvement. Might be that he’s finally starting to break through at Scunthorpe.

Lewis was an unused sub as Scunthorpe advanced to the next round of the FA Cup with a 2-1 victory over Burton Albion, first half goals to James Perch and Lee Novak doing the damage there. But with a Checkatrade Trophy game away to Mansfield a few days later there were rotations required and one of those was Clayton Lewis getting a start in midfield. Top of a midfield diamond, specifically. There were eight changes from the game on the weekend so you know it was a bit of a second string side… however it sure sounds like Clayton impressed a few folks.

Scunthorpe gaffer Stuart McCall: “The lads coming in will want to stake a claim – there are lads like Stephen Humphrys and Dales in the forward areas, while big Kyle will be looking forward to making his mark too. James Horsfield will get a start as well, as will Clayton, Yas and young Pughy will travel with us too. There are lots of lads who haven’t been playing who will be itching to show what they can do. All these lads are fit but haven’t had many matches so it’s been hard to judge them. They’re looking forward to going out, doing their best and putting in a good performance.”

The Iron only needed a point to advance to the next round but that ain’t the way it happened. Mansfield took the lead through Nyle Blake in the first half and Calum Butcher made it two after the break. Lewis had a few slick moves, a nice free kick which went close and a few sharp passes feeding his forwards. But it was new signing Yasin Ben El-Mhanni who scored the goal that got Scunthorpe back into it. Andy Dales dramatically levelled with a minute to go but then Timi Elsnik got Mansfield on top again for a 3-2 victory. A shame as the Checkatrade Trophy is where Lewis has made both of his starts this season, another game or two in that tournament might have worked nicely. So it goes. He was subbed off in the 86th minute of this one.

Grimsby Live Player Ratings: “Clayton Lewis – Did well in the first half and almost scored with a clever free kick. Faded a bit in the second – 7/10”

Scunthorpe then travelled to Bristol Rovers for a league game on the weekend where a Matthew Lund goal gave them a 2-1 win. Jak Alnwick also saved a penalty with fifteen minutes left, big drama. Clayton Lewis didn’t get out there but as is becoming the regularity he was on the bench and available.

Up Next: Scunthorpe vs Portsmouth, Sunday at 4am (NZT)

Aimee Phillips – USV Jena (German Bundesliga 2)

It’s been a frustrating start to things in Germany for Aimee Phillips, only in the last couple weeks being able to get out on the park for her new club. This week it was Jena away to FC Köln and that meant a bit of a sentimental moment as a year ago this would have seen three different kiwis in contention to start (CJ Bott, Meikayla Moore and Amber Hearn). This year, with both teams haven gotten relegated, it’s just Aimee Phillips and she was on the bench. First sub that the coach turned to in the search for an elusive win… but wasn’t able to hit the net in her 21 minutes out there. Game ending 0-0.

Tough times for USV Jena who have suffered from a lot of players leaving after their relegation and with only eight points from their first nine games they’re in danger of getting relegated again the way things stand. Hey but their kiwi striker is up and running now so it’s gotta be only a matter of time until they get rolling now.

Up Next: Saturday at 11pm, home to Hoffenheim II (NZT)

Ollie Whyte – Rio Ave (Portuguese Primeira Liga)

Up Next: Just kicking away, same old, looking to crack it in Portugal

Nikko Boxall – Viborg FF (Danish Division 1)

Eighteen games into the season, a little over halfway, and Nikko Boxall and Viborg are getting it done. Ten wins and five draws from those 18 games with a 20 win over Thisted the latest. Jeppe Grønning and Andreas Albers got the goals. They dropped a couple games in a row at the start of the month but have won consecutive games since so very much back on the wagon.

What’s more is that Silkeborg could only draw 0-0 with Fremad Amager and that means Viborg are six points clear at the top, looking good for that automatic promotion spot for a spot in the top division. Boxall missed one game with suspension after a red card earlier on in the campaign, but has otherwise started every week. Even scored a goal, which got covered a few months ago in FKs.  

Up Next: Nykøbing vs Viborg, 1.45am on Monday (NZT)

Bill Tuiloma – Portland Timbers (American Major League Soccer)

Nothing really to say here, it was a week off in the MLS with the international break. But just a reminder that there are two extremely important games coming up this week for the Timbers. Western Conference Finals. First game on Monday at home and then the second away on the following Friday… which is cool because they’ll each get a Flying Kiwis nod.

The Timbers are playing Sporting KC, who’ll be favourites in this contest. The pair have played twice this season with a 0-0 draw in Portland back in June and then a 3-0 win to SKC in August – a game in which Bill Tuiloma was a half-time introduction. That came smack-bang in the middle of Portland’s worst spell of form, a four-game losing streak, so maybe it ain’t the best indication of what’s to come. They’re playing much better now for sure. Doubt we see Tuiloma starting but you never know.

Up Next: Leg one of the Western Conference Finals, Portland vs Sporting Kansas City, Monday at 1.30pm (NZT)

Greg Draper – The New Saints (Welsh Premier League)

Just Greg Draper doing Greg Draper things.

Drapes made no mistake in slotting his penalty there to give TNS a late lead over Barry Town, with a Joash Nembhard goal a few minutes later capping a 2-0 victory that puts TNC back top of the WPL table ahead of Connah’s Quay on goal difference (albeit with a further game played). TNS are expected to win most years put after getting only one point from their last three games they’ve opened the door back up at this midseason stage.

Draper came off the bench in this one, introduced with the scores tied and twenty minutes left, and he swiftly helped make the difference. That’s been a theme of this season so far, only starting six of his thirteen games and yet still somehow scoring 12 goals to lead the golden boot standings… having won the award in 2017-18.

TNSFC.co.uk: “On as a substitute in the 71st minute for Kane Lewis, the JD WPL’s current golden boot took another step towards retaining the coveted award, when just five minutes later he converted a penalty to break the deadlock. You can’t keep a good man down.”

Up Next: Away to Cambrian & Clydach in the league cup semis, Saturday at 8.45am (NZT)

Moses Dyer – Florø SK (Norwegian Division 1)

Ah so not the best here. Moses has had a tough time getting minutes since moving to Norway, which is nothing unusual for kiwi players. It often takes time to settle in and make a name that that time can often be more than a season. So Moses only playing seven games (three starts and four subs apps) is nothing dramatic. Mate, he even got a goal in there too – a crucial last-minute winner in a 1-0 result away to Levanger in October.

Nope, the problem is what was going on around that settling in. After Dyer’s winner against Levanger, Florø lost their final three games to finish fifteenth on the ladder and suffer relegation to the third tier. Dyer wasn’t in the matchday squad for the last couple games, not sure if that was injury related or not because it did look like he’d worked his way into the XI. So not sure what that does for his future with the club… but here’s his goal anyway. Sweet little finish across the keeper after beating the offside trap.

Up Next: Offseason

Steven Old – Morecambe (English League Two)

And thus we close with the dependable Steven Old. Ended up making a bit of a thing of it despite the dearth of the top tier Flying Kiwis, aye? What do ya know.

Steven Old’s picked up where he left off since returning from injury. He wasn’t risked in a meaningless 1-0 defeat to Sunderland in the EFL Trophy, a game in which Josh Maja scored the winner in injury time. But that was so that he could play like a champ in the weekend’s League Two clash away to Forest Green.

The home side had 65% of possession and nineteen shots, with seven on target. Morecambe had just seven shots with only three on target. And yet Steven Old and Sam Lavelle played excellently at the back (Oldy had a goal-line clearance in the first half) and The Shrimps held on for a clean sheet which got a massive boost when midfielder Aaron Mildig popped up with an 86th minute winner. Another positive result from a team that’s really beginning to turn things around – Morecambe are now four points clear of the drop zone and up to 20th on the ladder, in range to rise a fair bit higher into the midtable murk if they can keep up recent form.

Up Next: FA Cup replay away to Halifax Town, 8.45am this morning (NZT)

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