Zac Jones – Haverfordwest County (Welsh/Cymru Premier)

You already know how Zac Jones got here. You know about how he won the gloves at Haverfordwest County with a series of strong performances last season. You know about his penalty heroics in helping them qualify for the Europa Conference League prelims. You know about how he was the main reason they came away from their first leg against Shkëndija in North Macedonia with only a 1-0 deficit despite a bit of a battering. You know about how Haverfordwest County have done all this as a semi-pro club that barely retained its licence to play in the Welsh top flight this season.

Now you know that the brother in gloves has been at it again...

Despite the odds it was Hwlffordd who started the second leg much sharper than Shkëndija. They were jumping into challenges and whipping the ball into the area, looking well up for the fight. Zac Jones got his hands on a few searching passes in behind nice and safe-like. So far so good. Possession eventually began to swing strongly towards the visitors but it wasn’t until the 35th min that Jones had to save a shot in anger, showing steady hands against a heavy effort from outside the box (struck well but straight at him).

There was also an angled 1v1 later in the half which was conveniently stabbed wide by Eraldo Cinari as Jones rushed out. Perhaps some cosmic justice since Cinari looked to be offside yet the flag never went up (and there was no VAR). Hence as the first stanza ended it was Hwlffordd who’d had the better chances. Their 5-4-1 formation was doing excellent defensive things... just a matter of whether they could get enough numbers forward to find the goal they needed.

Haverfordwest did have a good chance blocked early in the second spell however Shkëndija were otherwise all over them. That included them copping a couple yellows to prevent counters, which had seemed to be HC’s best outlet. This week though it was the defenders making all the stops as they scrapped and hounded and got their bodies in the way of those Shkëndija shots. Not so many saves for Jones to make – his team still hanging in there. Then, suddenly, Jones did hit the deck and called for some medical attention.

Not saying he was milking it, not at all, but that was a timely break in play for the home side with twenty mins to go. Jonesy soon had to slap away a rocket long range shot and then came a diving stop with two hands to turn a header wide. A solid punch from the resulting corner too. Haverfordwest were still in range and were now willing to take a few more risks going forward but could they find that equalising goal?

Yeah mate. Lee Jenkins in the 89th minute. The scenes were absolute. Hwest had almost won a penalty but the foul had been just outside the area. The shot from the free kick was saved but then a long throw into the mixer was never properly cleared and Jenkins’ first-time shot took a handy deflection to loop past the keeper’s reach. If Jones was feeling sore before, he sure wasn’t when he made a 70 metre dash to join in the celebrations.

Jones got the opportunity to pump a couple long free kicks into the area but nothing to split them in injury time, so it was off to extras. There both teams fizzed several set pieces into the danger zone. Jones was beaten to a bouncer on the edge of his box by an attacker (who wasn’t blocked off properly) but a spare defender had that one covered. No goals in the first spell. Haverfordwest had a great headed chance on 108’ but it was straight at the keeper. Shkëndija couldn’t find a shot that wasn’t blocked. Still nothing to split them after 120 minutes. No matter what followed it had already been a brilliant performance from Haverfordwest County. Remember though: it was back to back penalty shootouts that got them into Europe and now they had another with the main man Jonesy between the sticks.

HC went first... and Dan Hawkins pushed his effort wide of the post. Jones dove the right way for the next but it was too good, 1-0 to Shkëndija. Welsh international Jazz Richards (who was superb at the back all game) scored an emphatic strike to get the home side on the board. Then guess what? Zac Jones with the legs save to keep it at 1-1. Back on evens.

Jack Wilson scored a banger next up before Jones dove the wrong way only to see the ball come back off the post. Both teams traded confident makes to have it at 3-2 after four attempts. Ben Fawcett had a chance to seal it for the Welsh club but missed wildly to give Shkëndija the chance to tie things up instead. Except that Jonesy saved that one too. Unbelievable. A 1-0 win on the day. A 1-1 draw on aggregate. A 3-2 win in the penalty shootout. A truly remarkable underdog story highlighted by some more Zac Jones heroics.

In the next round they’ll meet B36 Tórshavn of the Faroe Islands after that crew dropped Paide (Estonia) 2-0 on aggregate after extra time. Another fascinating match-up. First leg is in a couple of days and the second leg one week later. Advance from that tie and they’ll catch the winner of Dukagjini (Kosovo) and Rijeka (Croatia) in the third round.

By the way, as obscure as this draw may have seemed... the other prominent kiwi to have played in Wales in recent years, Greg Draper, also happened to meet Shkëndija in a European qualifier a few years back. That was in the Champions League preliminaries with The New Saints. TNC won the home leg 4-0 (no goals for Draper who played 35 mins off the bench) but then somehow lost 5-0 in the reverse leg. That TNS side dominated an entire era of Welsh football winning league title after league title so that puts what Haverfordwest just did into more glowing context.

Up Next: Friday at 6am, B36 vs Hwlffordd in the ECL second round qualifying first leg (NZT)

Logan Rogerson & Ollie Whyte - FC Haka (Finnish Veikkausliiga)

Could FC Haka match the feat of Haverfordwest County and roll on into the second qualifying round of the Europa Conference League? Short answer: no. They’d drawn 2-2 in the first leg but that was at home and they’d had to play a chunk of the second half with ten men. That red card did allow Ollie Whyte to move into the starting line-up alongside Logan Rogerson for the second leg away to Crusaders FC in Northern Ireland... but they lost 1-0.

Paul Heatley scored the decisive goal in the 73rd minute of action. In a tight and scratchy game it was a slight error from a Haka defender in not getting their body behind a bouncing ball on halfway which allowed Healey to dash through, finishing well at speed to give his team the lead. He’d struck the post earlier in the game which had been the closest either team had come to a breakthrough at that point.

A frustrating way to bow out. Haka had been slight favourites going into the tie but they weren’t good enough in that first leg and then got squeezed out in a conservative second leg in which ‘not losing’ seemed to be the priority for both sides. Rogerson was subbed soon after the goal while Whyte, making his continental debut, lasted a few minutes longer. Simply didn’t happen for them.

Nor did things pan out back in the Veikkausliiga a few days later. Maybe it was the lingering hangover from their European exit but they took on VPS away and were smoked 4-1. It wasn’t nearly that one-sided in the stats, although VPS did have a lot more of the ball, but one team created better chances and scored more goals and that’s usually how football games get decided. Neither Rogerson nor Whyte started for Haka as they were rested on the bench to begin with. Both were summoned up after 55 mins with the team down 2-1 but it was VPS who usually looked more likely to score again... and that they did with a couple more strikes across the final fifteen mins.

Not a great week for FC Haka. They’re out of Europe and with Mariehamn winning against FC Lahti in one of the other games that means that Haka have now sunk to last place in their domestic league. Still got six more games plus the relegation rounds to solve this conundrum but it’s going to be a scrapper the rest of the way. That objective could get a big boost next week if they can win against the team directly above them on the ladder though.

Up Next: Sunday night/Monday morning at midnight it’s Haka vs Lahti (NZT)

Vic Esson - Rangers FC (Scottish Premier League)

You cannot fault Rangers Football Club for their timing. Presumably the deal to re-sign Vic Esson had been sorted out weeks ago considering how she’s been with the Football Ferns preparing for the World Cup. Same deal with CJ Bott at Leceister City the other week, right? Bott’s announcement even had fresh photos of her with a club scarf at the training ground... clearly those weren’t taken that morning given how CJB was already with the national team by then.

Leicester City did that because they were spreading out their copious transfer/signing news to give everyone their deserved spotlight. Rangers apparently just love to keep things funky because they revealed a new one-year contract for Victoria Esson mere hours after Esson had kept the most important clean sheet in NZ footballing history in Aotearoa’s 1-0 win over Norway at the World Cup.

Granted, the fact that the official club website write-up kept mention of the Norway clean sheet until the fourth of five paragraphs suggests that maybe it was a late re-write... but nah we’ll give them the benefit of the doubt here.

Esson played for several years in Norway for Avaldsnes, funnily enough. She moved to Rangers last season ahead of a Champions League qualifying campaign in which she played all four games but over the course of the full season she split starter’s duties with Scottish international Jenna Fife... who had already re-signed with Rangers earlier in the offseason.

So the dual keeper thing looks likely to continue which is pesky since we’d obviously rather see the NZ number one getting as many games as possible. But then Esson and Fife do seem to have a very friendly competitive relationship which is never a bad thing. Plus it clears the path for any frisky international duty releases thanks to the benefit of squad depth.

The other reason she might have considered leaving is that Rangers missed out on Champions League qualifiers for the upcoming season. Only finished third in the league. Esson could probably have found something comparable, particularly if she waited until after the World Cup, but as someone didn’t go pro in Europe until about five years ago so she’s not one to take a settled and supportive situation for granted. Fair enough.

Up Next: Just got that cheeky World Cup to deal with first

Jamie Searle – Forest Green Rovers (English League Two)

The transfers keep coming even when you’re not expecting them. Jamie Searle still had a year to run on his contract at Barnsley, where he’d made a couple of first team appearances last season. After a couple of goalies left and a couple more came in, it was looking like Searle would remain the third-choice keeper there. Instead he could get the chance to compete for the number one gig at recently relegated Forest Green after a permanent transfer was arranged between the clubs. One which even included an undisclosed fee.

Forest Green have been in the market for goalies since losing all three glovemen who’d featured in League One last term. They have already signed 35yo Luke Daniels, now Jamie Searle jumps in alongside. That restocking of the goalkeeping shelves probably isn’t the worst thing for a club that finished a distant last in the third tier last term.

Forest Green are a fascinating club. They’ve existed for 133 years but predominantly in the lower leagues. Last season was their first competing as high as League One. They’re also famously eco-friendly with carbon neutral certifications and everything. We’re talking team kits from recycled materials, a stadium (Eco Park) powered by solar energy, vegan food options, non-emission away day travel... all sots of good stuff.

FGR were also very recently the first EFL club to appoint a female manager when academy director Hannah Dingley took interim charge of the first team to start the offseason. However Dave Horseman has since been appointed on a permanent basis.

Notable undertone to this Jamie Searle move is that Barnsley had apparently already been trying to sign Corey O’Keeffe from Forest Green in a move that was confirmed a few days after Searle’s own. This one isn’t necessarily connected to that one but it seems likely that those conversations will have helped grease the wheels. Barnsley sold keeper Brad Collins to Coventry last week but had also brought in two more GKs hence Searle was allowed to leave for a better gig. This will be the fourth club that the Waikato keeper has signed with since he moved to England. One year in the Aston Villa academy. Two with Swansea City. Up to first team footy with Barnsley. Now it’s Forest Green Rovers.

FGR Goalkeeping Coach Dan Connor: “Jamie has the physical and psychological profile we’ve been looking for. He comes here with ambition, international pedigree and with youth on his side - and we’re all looking forward to working with him.”

FGR manager David Horseman: “Jamie is a goalkeeper with high potential. He’s hungry to play games and his personality type really fits with the group. He’s been at some big clubs and has played under some good coaches. We’re really excited to have him with us.”

Up Next: The League Two campaign begins on Sunday 6 August at 2am when FGR take on Salford City (NZT)

Nikko Boxall – Inter Turku (Finnish Veikkausliiga)

Nikko Boxall has returned to Finland. Back in a land where he’s played much of his professional career, totalling 112 Veikkausliiga appearances between VPS, KuPS, and SJK. Now, following brief stints with the Wellington Phoenix and Auckland City, he’ll be playing for Inter Turku where he’s reunited with his old SJK coach Ramiro Muñoz (as well as a couple common teammates). Only signed until the end of the year... but it does seem like there’s scope to extend that if everything goes smoothly.

Ramiro Muñoz: “Nikko is a top professional who is able to lead by example both when playing and also in the dressing room. He already has experience in Finland and in tougher leagues. He will strengthen the team in terms of physicality, technicality, defensive ability, and also set piece situations.”

At this stage of the season it’s up in the air whether he’ll get to meet Logan Rogerson and Ollie Whyte’s FC Haka team – those two teams met for the second time about a month ago with Rogerson setting up a goal in a 2-2 draw. If they do get another rematch then it’ll mean that Inter Turku have dropped into the relegation rounds and as it stands they’re right on the fringes of the top six so it could go either way (Haka will deffo be in the bottom six though, they’ve been bad).

Believe it or not, Boxall has already made his debut for Inter. They got the rego done straight away (probably helps that he’s played there before) so it was only a matter of whether the jet lag would allow him to take part against his old team SJK, who are the current league leaders. Well, either the trip was a breeze or he’s simply a tank because not only did he play but he started and got ninety minutes. Even reacquainted himself with the Finish refereeing community along the way...

That free kick was whipped just over the top so they got away with it. Got away with everything in a relatively gentle first half, in fact. However their luck didn’t last much longer as SJK broke the deadlock with a headed goal from a corner two minutes into the second frame. Inter had a useful chance from a long throw later on but SJK scored again on 66’ as a deflected shot went miles up in the air then was flicked in from a header as it dropped. Inter finished strongly with several good opportunities which eventually did lead to a goal... but not until the fourth minute added on. It ended 2-1 to SJK.

Up Next: IFK Mariehamn vs Inter Turku on Monday at 3.30am (NZT)

Max Mata & Nando Pijnaker – Sligo Rovers (League of Ireland Premier Division)

He scores in cup games too. Number 12 of the season overall. Never in doubt as he placed the ball on the spot after Stefan Radosavljevic had been fouled late in the first half against Drogheda United. A tricky tie to get the cup run going, particularly for Sligo Rovers who have been a long way from amazing this season. But Mata’s precision meant they were 1-0 up at the break with designs on a spot in the next round.

But they soon threw it away. Drogheda upped the ante in the second half and tied things up on 57’ when Adam Foley buried his chance at the second attempt. Still 1-1 at that point and Sligo Rovers were able to steady things for a while. Until Daniel Lafferty was marched with around quarter of an hour to go. He’d gotten tangled up with an attacker as they both shaped for an aerial cross. Lafferty got away with the grapple tackle but then he swung an arm at the bloke while they were on the turf. Red card and a penalty, which was converted by Ryan Brennan.

Mata was booked in stoppage time for shouldering a guy off the ball in his stress to win the ball back whilst searching for a late goal. There was a moment just before when Radosavljevic had nodded wide from a deep cross when Mata was right there open in the middle for the header back across. But they never really looked like scoring at any point in the second half. To be honest they didn’t create enough throughout the game. Drogheda won 2-1 and Nando Pijnaker nearly flattened a fella as he hoofed the ball away on the final whistle...

Okay then, no cup run for Sligo Rovers. But Wexford did have a solid 3-0 win over Avondale United in a much more convenient draw. Corban Piper’s remain alive in the cup. Piper forced a couple good saves with low drives in the first half before he took an early rest on 57’ as part of a double sub with his team already up a couple goals. Good yarns.

Up Next: A rematch against Drogheda United vs Sligo Rovers back in the LOI, Saturday at 6.45am (NZT)

Callum McCowatt - Silkeborg IF (Danish Superliga)

Somehow the 2023-24 season has already started in Denmark. Teams in other countries are only just getting back into preseason but in Denmark they’re way ahead – presumably to make room for the winter break in the middle of the term.

Silkeborg faced Brøndby to get things underway. A potential Flying Kiwis derby with Callum McCowatt named on the bench in search of his club debut... but Joe Bell wasn’t selected for BIF. Not even on the bench. More on that later, because first it’s a shout out to Callum McCowatt as he was subbed on in the 83rd minute for his first competitive appearance with Silkeborg, becoming the sixth New Zealander to play in Denmark’s Superliga following on from Winston Reid, Marco Rojas, Marko Stamenic, Joe Bell, and Elijah Just.

Callum McCowatt, pre-game: “We can always get better, but I feel that both I and the team are approaching 100 percent. I'm really looking forward to playing in front of our home crowd for the first time in the league, and I hope a lot of people come to the stadium. I think it will be a good match-up where and we have a real opportunity to take the victory. I've enjoyed my start here. People have been very welcoming and that has translated into the training. I would very much like to learn the language completely and be able to handle myself, but there have been no problems at all. I’m still getting to know Kent Nielsen's ideas and style of play but it comes to me very naturally – also because I played in a very similar way in New Zealand. So, as I said, I'm close to the team, and I hope to be able to make a difference from the start that could suitably be against Brøndby.”

They didn’t get the win. Despite Tonni Adamsen finishing smoothly from a low cross to give SIF a fifth minute lead they weren’t able to kick on. Ten mins later Brøndby had turned home an equaliser via Nicolai Vallys and eventually Hakon Evjen (64’) bagged a winner for the visitors in yellow. This despite Silkeborg having way more chances to score, with the BIF goalkeeper in some inspired form. An equaliser was ruled out for offside in the build-up by VAR with about a dozen mins left. McCowatt came on as an attacking midfielder. He did have one shot off target but it was a short cameo to get him underway at his new club. Good to see them already turning towards him for a game in the balance.

That’s plenty more encouragement than we can take from this Joe Bell situation. The tricky thing there is not only was Bell not in the squad for the Silkeborg game but the following day they played a friendly match designed for the reserve players, specifically those who didn’t feature in the season opener, to get some minutes... and bloody hell he wasn’t in that squad either. It’s possible that there’s an injury that’s gone unreported although most of the chat seem to suggest that Bell is very much on the outer. He’s not the style of midfielder that his new manager wants and thus is considered surplus to requirements. Fans are anticipating a transfer.

A couple of weeks ago there was a report that multiple clubs in the MLS were interested in Joe Bell’s services. As well they should be given how he bossed it there at college level and was poised to be one of the top draft picks until he chose to move to Norway with Viking FK instead. Plenty of scouting reports will already exist within the ranks of those MLS teams – two of his teammates from his University of Virginia days are already USA internationals: Henry Kessler and Daryl Dike, the former at New England Revolution and the latter at West Bromwich Albion via Orlando City – both were top six draft picks and Bell was rated higher than them.

But Bell also made a specific choice to move to Europe rather than America when he finished college. It hasn’t been a great fit at Brøndby but he was superb at Viking and with his English heritage (and past links to Barnsley, who were outbid by BIF when he left VFK) he should have options there too. It’ll be a sneaky one to follow. Bell does have three more years under contract at Brøndby which could be a complication depending on how much interest he gathers – although there is always the possibility of a loan move if clubs can’t stump up a transfer fee.

Up Next: Forget about Brøndby since they don’t want to pick Bellinho, elsewhere Silkeborg have a tough start to things as they face Midtjylland away at midnight on Sunday/Monday in game two (NZT)

Dalton Wilkins - Kolding IF / Elijah Just - AC Horsens (Danish Division 1)

The Flying Kiwis Derby in the Superliga didn’t go as planned... but the Aotearoa clash down a tier in Division 1 went brilliantly. Former Helsingør teammates Dalton Wilkins and Elijah Just met in the middle for the clubs they each left FCH for. Wilkins went down a tier looking for game-time after a long-term injury and eventually got promoted back into Div 1. Just went up a tier looking for a new challenge but ended up being relegated. Now they happened to run into each other in round one of the 2023-24 Division 1 season.

And they both started too. Wilkins as a wing-back in a 3-4-3 formation for Kolding. Just as the number ten in behind the striker in a 4-4-1-1 shape for Horsens. It was Horsens who began sharpest with Just getting a few touches and helping spark some things. However he wasn’t able to keep Wilkins from dashing past him along the edge of the penalty area after 25 minutes... with the ACH keeper tipping an excellent shot from Wilkins over the top.

Horsens scored first when Aron Sigurdarson fizzed in a wonderful direct free kick on 33’. The offside flag kept them from adding to that lead before the break while Just went close to an assist at the start of the second half when his quick shift to Sigurdarson led to the Iceland international firing near post for a good save. Yet mere minutes later Thomas Mikkelsen tied things up at the other end for Kolding, who then turned it on in the last half hour.

Just was subbed off after 64’ with Horsens trying to steady the ship. That didn’t really work as a header soon flew back off the crossbar for KIF. Wilkins was replaced on 69’ to signal a switch to a back four with a winning goal in sight. That goal arrived via Mikkelsen again, burying his second on 75’ at the far post. 2-1 to Kolding was the final score. Looks like both these two teams should be pretty competitive this season.

Up Next: Kolding vs Hillerød at midnight on Sat/Sun; Aalborg vs Horsens at midnight on Sun/Mon (NZT)

Abby Erceg – Racing Louisville (American National Women’s Soccer League)

The grind continues for those NWSL players not at the World Cup, such as the retired Abby Erceg. But she loves the grind of being a professional athlete so no dramas there. She loves the grind so much that she’s been ever-present in not only the NWSL but also the Challenge Cup this year. Louisville are still working on their league form but by taking the Challenge Cup as seriously as they have done they’ve been able to stack up the wins... with the latest match no exception.

No World Cup players, no problems for RL. They simply picked a team of ten Americans plus Abby Erceg and went about beating Chicago Red Stars 2-0 to keep themselves perfect in this group stage. Jordan Baggett and Paige Monaghan each scored inside the first twenty minutes. Would’ve been three but Erceg pinged a header off the crossbar from a corner kick in between the goals. Monaghan also hit the bar from a long shot later in the first half. But two goals was enough. They locked it up at the back for a win that means they’ve almost qualified for the semi-finals already. They’re the only team to have won every game so far.

Only 12 players remain who’ve played every minute of the NWSL season to date and four of them are goalkeepers. Four of them are also Racing Louisville players: goalie Kaite Lund and defenders Erceg, Lauren Milliet & Carson Pickett. Lund and Erceg have also played every minute in the Challenge Cup and all four of them were in action against Chicago.

Up Next: It’s all Challenge Cup while the World Cup’s on, with Houston Dash vs Racing Louisville on Sunday at 12.30pm (NZT)

Michael Boxall – Minnesota United (American Major League Soccer)

It’s Leagues Cup time. Top flight USA and Mexican clubs all battling away in a new version of what used to be a gimmick competition. Ain’t a gimmick no more thanks to Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami debut but how about the kiwi lads?

Yeah so Bill Tuiloma picked up an injury in training meaning he didn’t play as Charlotte FC drew 2-2 with FC Dallas and then won a penalty shootout for a bonus point (Americans are obsessed with penalty shootouts). As for Michael Boxall, he got sent off after 29 minutes of Minnesota United’s game against Puebla...

This was indeed the first red card in Michael Boxall’s entire career. It came after a long VAR intervention with the incident having initially been missed by the referee. What happened is that he got tangled up with a Puebla forward, who then took a tumble clutching at his back. Replays found a lovely high definition angle which showed Boxy throwing a cheeky kidney punch into the fella so that was what the red card was for. Looked worse in slow motion. Still can’t be throwing hands around like that on a footy pitch, although clearly something else had to have happened to spark that reaction – possibly some stray hands of the Puebla bloke’s own. Nothing that the pesky cameras were able to pinpoint though.

Thing is, it didn’t even matter. The Loons were already 1-0 up at the time after Bongi Hglonwane had charged into the area from the right wing and drilled in a sharp finish on 22’. They went on to win 4-0 with Emanuel Reynoso in particular having a scintillating game – Minnesota’s form has gone gangbusters ever since he returned to the team, no coincidence there. They handled the absence of their best defender by running in a few more goals and earning the biggest win of any MLS team against a Liga MX team in the opening week of the Leagues Cup (rumours are it led to crisis meetings amongst the Puebla top brass). If Minny can get through the Chicago Red Stars without Boxy then he’ll be able to return for the knockout rounds that follow.

Up Next: Chicago at 12.30pm on Friday... but Boxy’s suspended (NZT)

Alex Greive - St Mirren (Scottish Premiership)

The Buddies dug themselves into a League Cup group stage hole with a shock 1-0 loss to lower tiered Montrose last week. But they climbed back out of it in the two games that followed. Starting with an emphatic 4-0 win over Arboath. Working within a new 3-5-2 formation, Greive only came on for the last quarter of an hour with the score already at 3-0 by then. He did make a nice run into the middle for the fourth goal but Stav Nachmani scored himself instead. No dramas. Good win.

Then came a meeting with Cowdenbeath and this time Greive was on at half-time... although it wasn’t until second half stoppage time (minutes after their opponents had been reduced to ten men) that Toyosi Olusanya finally bagged the goal that won it 1-0 for St Mirren. Had to sweat it there but the win means that they’re now in control of their own fate with a win against Forfar in the last group games enough to see them through to the knockouts.

Up Next: St Mirren vs Forfar at 2am on Sunday in the League Cup (NZT)

George Stanger – Ayr United (Scottish Championship)

No worries for Ayr United, they’ve never been in doubt through this League Cup stuff. A 1-1 draw with Stirling Albion was followed by a victory in the penalty shooutout for a bonus point. Then they took on Stenhousemuir and George Stanger and the lads kept a clean sheet on the way to a 1-0 win thanks to Mark McKenzie’s first half goal...

However the real feast arrived when they dropped St Johnstone 2-1, knocking the Scottish Premiership club out of the competition whilst sending themselves top of the group in the knowledge that a win over Alloa Athletic – Stanger’s former club – will guarantee them a spot in the next round draw. But that’s not all. Who scored the first goal for Ayr United in that win? Your boy George Stanger that’s who...

Mean header, that. Stanger’s immediately gone into being an important player in this Ayr United backline which hopefully should carry on into the league season. As has Will Gillingham for Cove Rangers. He’s played every minute of all three cup games to date, though after winning the first two he was booked in a 5-0 loss to Livingston most recently which has them needing a win against Hamilton Academical to have any hope of making the knockouts. Cove Rangers are the lowest ranked team of the three with kiwis though so that’s to be expected.

Up Next: Suday at 2am, Ayr vs Alloa (NZT)

Myer Bevan - Cavalry FC (Canadian Premier League)

Obligatory Myer Bevan goal for the week. Bagged a penalty early on to get his team going away to Vancouver FC. Bevan had won the penalty himself dashing in behind a high defensive line then hitting the deck as a defender dragged an arm across him. That was a red for the defender and MB buried the spot kick. Vancouver quickly levelled up but the numerical disadvantage soon caught up with them and by the 55th minute it was 4-1 to Cavalry.

Bevan then snapped himself a red card midway through the second half. He’d gone hard leading with his shoulder into a challenge near the sideline. That was rough but then he lashed out with a kick to another guy. It was only a yellow card initially but the ref upgraded it after a chat with the lino. Bevan didn’t really argue, particularly not after one of the Vancouver blokes was also marched for retaliating to nullify the damage.

Cavalry went on to win it 5-1. With that result they move top of the table, granted they will have to do without their top scorer for the next few games. Bevan’s eighth goal of the season keeps him tied top for the league golden boot however he’s now at risk of losing some ground.

Up Next: Suspension days

Matt Dibley-Dias - Fulham (English Premier League)

It was only a preseason friendly but that right there was still Matt Dibley-Dias making a Fulham first team debut. Another career milestone to carry on the recent trend. This after he made two matchday squads late in the Premier League season, followed by joining the first team not only for their initial preseason work but also as part of the touring squad that went to America. MDD then went on to play the last seven minutes (plus at least that much injury time) of this 3-2 exhibition win over Brentford – a club that, coincidentally, he used to belong to the academy system of... until Brentford dismantled their academy and he moved to Fulham.

The game itself was nothing worth mentioning. You know how these preseason matches go. By the time MDD got out there any sting that was ever on display on that pitch in Philadelphia (they played at the home stadium of the Philadelphia Eagles NFL team) was long since gone... but Dibley-Dias comported himself smoothly as a deep-lying distributor in the midfield.

There are a few more games where this one came from so fingers crossed he can keep popping up. Fingers crossed also that he can pop up in an NZ Football team at some stage because as the commentator said he’s got a few eligibility options. The 2024 Olympic Games feel like a pretty useful selling point for NZF.

Up Next: Thursday at 11am it’s Fulham vs Aston Villa, they also play Chelsea at 6.45am on Monday (NZT)

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