[Boromir88]

Final set of results for the Round 1 Friendlies!

Dunharrow vs. Mordor

This match was pretty sloppy and slow moving. Both teams seemed content to have a kick around and just practice against an opponent. The shooting was particularly poor from both. There was not much effort to build a sustained attack, but settle for taking long distance snipes on goal, and thus more often then not surrendering possession to the other team. The only difference in this game was the person (or well...thing?) in between the posts. The Silent Watcher's strong will stopped every shot, though any viewer would say the quality of the shots was quite poor, and we'll see if its will is strong enough to stop rockets from the better FWs. Aldor had quite a bit of trouble and whenever the Nazgul were around looked quite nervous in the goal. He may needed to just shake off some rust, because saving 50% will not get the job done in the tournament.

Dunharrow 0-2 Mordor
tot shots 9-10
on target 4-4
GOALS:
*40, 0-1 Grishnakh (Nazgul #7)
*72, 0-2 Nazgul #6 (Nazgul #7)
YELLOW CARDS:
*Dunharrow- Brego, Brytta
*Mordor- Shelob, Gorbag, Radbug

Eregion vs. Wilderland

Both teams again looked to be having a practice on the pitch. Sauron was definitely lacking his usual intensity, as he took more to watching and commanding his troops (as he had done from Barad-dur many ages ago), and Celebrimbor wasted his time being assigned to guard him.

The positive news for Wilderland is they look extremely deadly on set pieces, as both goals were scored from corner kicks. Khamul has the leg and accuracy to deliver excellent corners and the two dragons make large targets.

Eregion 1-2 Wilderland
tot shots 10-13
on target 5-7
GOALS:
*13, 1-0 Glorfindel (Elrohir)
*54, 1-1 Smaug (Khamul)
*83, 1-2 Scatha (Khamul)
YELLOW CARDS:
*Eregion- Elladan, Valandil
*Wilderland- Scatha, Bolg, Alatar

Esgaroth vs. Shire-Bree United

Another friendly in the sense that the teams were joking and laughing as they were playing against eachother. The fans saw a lot of goals, which is always exciting, but none of them were what I would call "great" goals. Either because the goal keepers were sloppy, or the defenses were uninterested and lackluster, or probably a lot of both.

You can see both teams liked to shoot, and Shire-Bree United a bit more so, but with far less accuracy as they peppered shots from every direction and angle, no matter how unlikely it was to go on target. Esgaroth worked with a better direction to their attacks, instead of everyone just kicking the ball from wherever, you could tell Girion was more methodical by being able to deliver good passes to Bard and Dain.

Esgaroth 3-3 Shire-Bree United
tot shots 13-16
on target 6-7
GOALS:
*11, 1-0 Bard (Girion)
*29, 1-1 Bandobras (Frodo)
*42, 2-1 Bard (Tomnoddy)
*61, 2-2 Frodo (Pippin)
*69, 3-2 Dain (Girion)
*83, 3-3 Merry (Samwise)
YELLOW CARDS:
*Esgaroth- Attercop, Thorin
Shire-Bree- Bandobras, Lumpkin, Ferny

Tol Eressea vs. Tol In Gaurhoth

Both teams, and in particular Tol in Gaurhoth, are known for clever trickery and deception, but this match they played it straight forward. My guess is they are saving the deception for when the games mean more and did not want to tip their hands too much.

With that said Tol In Gaurhoth had simply overwhelmed Tol Eressea by the wolves superior athleticism. Ulmo likes to build the attack from the defenders forward, but Tol Eressea simply could not do that against the werewolves who were running all around, harassing the Eressea players. This game could have been a lot uglier had Amandil not made some truly nice saves or had Phantomwolf shown that he cared at all. He was quoted post match saying, "psh - it's just the friendlies."

Tol Eressea 0-2 Tol In Gaurhoth
tot shots 6-13
on target 2-8
GOALS:
*32, 0-1 InzilWolf (GwathWolf)
*64, 0-2 NogWolf (GwathWolf)
YELLOW CARDS:
*Tol Eressea- Osse, Uinen
*Tol In Gaurhoth- GaladWolf, NilpWolf, GwathWolf