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Last week Gondolin and and their new captain Fingolfin were scolded by Melkor for playing boring football, sitting behind their miserly defense and seldom venturing forward. But with yesterday’s emphatic 4-0 win at Dale, the Hidden Rock has sent a clear message to the football world: this new-look team can not only defend, they can play attacking football too. A hapless Dale finished the match with ten men after Mayor Moneybags was sent off for trying to steal equipment from the dugout, but the Wilderland team was already well beaten by then, and the result did not flatter the flamboyant Gondolin.

Utumno kingpin Melkor, or the Morgoth as he is often referred to, had officially accused team Gondolin of taking a negative approach to the game and complained how this was detrimental to the entertainment value of the game and also Gondolin’s chances of winning the Arda Cup. “They've been building white walls around their penalty area”, said Morgoth to a MESPN-reporter. “That kind of play may work in the early rounds, but you don’t win tournaments with it. It’s pathetic really. But let them defend. If we meet I, I mean we, will crush them nonetheless.” When asked if he thought the addition of High King Fingolfin will give Gondolin the offensive edge they need, the imposing Melkor just shrugged his shoulders. “I have trampled Fingolfin into the mud before. I’d gladly do it again!”

In Dale, a relaxed Fingolfin took time to respond to Melkor’s criticism after yesterday's display of might: “We have a strong back four; of that I won’t make excuses. But verily we can also score goals, as we have shown tonight. Utumno will feel the bite of our bright steel, if we come to meet. If that is our fate Mandos alone knows.”

Yesterday’s friendlies:

Dale 0-4 Gondolin
tot shots 3-18
on target 1-10
GOALS:
*3 1-0 Aredhel (Glorfindel)
*16 2-0 Maeglin (Fingolfin)
*30 3-0 Fingolfin (Asfaloth)
*49 4-0 Ecthelion (Eol)
YELLOW CARDS:
*Dale- Moneybags, Dain, Thror, Nain, Roac
*Gondolin- Rochallor, Eol, Maeglin
RED CARDS:
*Dale- Moneybags (53, second yellow)

Dol Guldur 2-4 Thangorodrim
tot shots 18-15
on target 8-8
GOALS:
*11 0-1 Ancalagon (Durin’s Bane)
*22 0-2 Scatha (Ulfast)
*44 0-3 Durin’s Bane (Ulwarth)
*57 1-3 Witch King (Khamul)
*65 2-3 Khamul (Radagast)
*78, 2-4 Glaurung (Drauglin)
YELLOW CARDS:
*Dol Guldur- Beorn, Attercop, Bolg
*Thangorodrim- Drauglin, Ulwarth, Uldor, Ulfang, Scatha, Gorlim

Doriath 0-2 Eithel Sirion
tot shots 7-11
on target 3-6
GOALS:
*49, 0-1 Maedhros (Fingon)
*73 0-2 Hador (Nienor)
YELLOW CARDS:
*Doriath- Saeros, Thingol
*Eithel Sirion- Aegnor

Gelion 1-1 Rivendell
tot shots 10-10
on target 5-4
GOALS:
*60 1-0 Beren (Lenwe)
*76 1-1 Arwen (Elrohir)
YELLOW CARDS:
*Gelion- Bereg, Azaghal
*Rivendell- Bilbo, Thorin