Japanese Non-league Football News

Shizuoka FC retain the narrowest of leads at the top of the Tokai League Division 1 after round 4 of fixtures on Sunday. Their 3-2 win at Maruyasu Industry means that they continue to hold onto pole position on goal difference from FC Gifu, more comfortable victors over Chukyo University. The bottom two sides played each other on Saturday and Fujieda City Hall picked up their first points of the season with a 1-0 win at ACM Central, but promoted outfit Sagawa Kyubin Chukyo continued their own disappointing start to life in the top flight with a home defeat to Yazaki Valente.



Yuki Tazawa goes for goal for FC Gifu against Chukyo University

Sat 27 May: ACM Central 0-1 Fujieda City Hall

Sun 28 May: FC Gifu 2-0 Chukyo University
Sun 28 May: Maruyasu Industry 2-3 Shizuoka FC
Sun 28 May: Sagawa Kyubin Chukyo 1-2 Yazaki Valente

1 Shizuoka FC 10 (+10)
2 FC Gifu 10 (+7)
3 Maruyasu Industry 7 (+2)
4 Yazaki Valente 6 (-)
5 Chukyo University 5 (-1)
6 Sagawa Kyubin Chukyo 3 (-2)
7 Fujieda City Hall 3 (-8)
8 ACM Central 1 (-8)



Shizuoka's Yasuhiro Tanaka, scorer of the winner v Maruyasu Industry

With the postponement of the scheduled fixture between Kureha Chemicals and Furukawa Battery, there was only one game played in Division 2 (South) of the Tohoku League this weekend. Marisol Matsushima eased past Shichigahama SC and thus maintained their 100% record in five matches thus far. This puts them nine points clear at the top, although second placed Furukawa already have three games in hand.

Sun 28 May: Shichigahama SC 0-4 Marisol Matsushima

Some late scorelines from a week ago in Division 2 (North) of the Tohoku League, as well as a further two fixtures from Sunday. Favourites FC Akita Cambiare made it four wins out of four, having seen off the challenge of both TDK Shinwakai and Fuji Club 2003, who had earlier lost their first ever game at Regional level to Tono Club. It seems likely that Mizusawa United Club, in their second year out of the Prefectural leagues, might be Cambiare's nearest rivals, and they knocked five past Vanrarure Hachinohe.



Ryosuke Yamaoka, scorer of the winner v Fuji Club for Cambiare

Sun 21 May: Mizusawa United Club 5-3 Vanrarure Hachinohe
Sun 21 May: TDK Shinwakai 1-3 FC Akita Cambiare
Sun 21 May: Tono Club 2-1 Fuji Club 2003

Sun 28 May: FC Akita Cambiare 2-1 Fuji Club 2003
Sun 28 May: Vanrarure Hachinohe 3-1 TDK Shinwakai

1 FC Akita Cambiare 12 (+7)
2 Mizusawa United Club 6 (+3)
3 Vanrarure Hachinohe 6 (-)
4 Tono Club 4 (+1)
5 TDK Shinwakai 4 (-3)
6 Fuji Club 2003 0 (-2)
7 Hokuto Bank 0 (-2)
8 Aster Aomori 0 (-4)



Mizusawa in blue take on Vanrarure

Just two fixtures to report on from Sunday's action in the Chugoku League - and following on from their defeat of Renofa Yamaguchi, Fagiano Okayama are now two points ahead of Sagawa Kyubin Chugoku and five in front FC Central Chugoku, although Sagawa and FC Central do have one and two games in hand respectively. In the other match, JFE Steel moved off the bottom of the table in fine style, thanks to a 4-0 win over Hitachi Manufacturing Kasado.



Renofa Yamaguchi in orange on the attack against Fagiano Okayama

Sun 28 May: Hitachi Manufacturing Kasado 0-4 JFE Steel
Sun 28 May: Renofa Yamaguchi 0-3 Fagiano Okayama

1 Fagiano Okayama 12 (+14)
2 Sagawa Kyubin Chugoku 10 (+6)
3 FC Central Chugoku 7 (+6)
4 Hiroshima Fujita SC 6 (+1)
5 Renofa Yamaguchi 6 (-8)
6 JFE Steel 5 (-3)
7 Iwami SC 3 (-10)
8 Hitachi Manufacturing Kasado 2 (-6)

Relegated from Division 1 of the Kanto League at the end of 2005, FC Aries look in danger of making it two demotions in consecutive seasons as they lie at the bottom of Division 2 at the halfway stage of 2006. Hitachi Tochigi Uva were their latest conquerors, leaving Aries two points behind All Kamisu SC, who picked up a 7-0 drubbing at home to leaders FC Machida Zelvia. Machida themselves are five points ahead of Furukawa Electrics Chiba, 3-0 winners over Ome FC, while Nirasaki Astros are fourth.



Oi! We're over here! No wonder All Kamisu SC lost 7-0 to Machida Zelvia

Sun 28 May: Aries FC 0-3 Hitachi Tochigi Uva
Sun 28 May: Nirasaki Astros 2-1 Kanagawa Teachers
Sun 28 May: Furukawa Electrics Chiba 3-0 Ome FC
Sun 28 May: All Kamisu SC 0-7 FC Machida Zelvia

1 FC Machida Zelvia 18 (+21)
2 Furukawa Electrics Chiba 13 (+3)
3 Nirasaki Astros 12 (+1)
4 Hitachi Tochigi Uva 11 (+1)
5 Kanagawa Teachers 8 (-1)
6 Ome FC 6 (-6)
7 All Kamisu SC 5 (-10)
8 Aries FC 3 (-9)

Potentially the shock side across all the Regional Leagues in 2006 are Yaita SC in Division 1 of the Kanto League, who midway through the season are seven points clear at the top of the division. Their most recent success was a 1-0 win at nearest challengers YSCC and as a result Toshiba Fuchu moved second following their 2-0 success over Hanno Bruder. Hanno won Division 2 last season and had high hopes of being able to make the step up, but instead are looking as if they may simply be relegated back immediately. Fighting with them to avoid the drop are MSDF Atsugi Marcus and Toho Titanium, who were pitched against each other on Sunday with Atsugi managing the only goal of the game - only their fourth of the season to date.



Hanno Bruder prepare for their defeat by Toshiba Fuchu

Sun 28 May: Luminozo Sayama 0-0 Saitama SC
Sun 28 May: MSDF Atsugi Marcus 1-0 Toho Titanium
Sun 28 May: Toshiba Fuchu 2-0 Hanno Bruder
Sun 28 May: YSCC 0-1 Yaita SC

1 Yaita SC 19 (+10)
2 Toshiba Fuchu 12 (+3)
3 YSCC 11 (+3)
4 Luminozo Sayama 11 (+2)
5 Saitama SC 8 (+1)
6 Toho Titanium 7 (-6)
7 MSDF Atsugi Marcus 6 (-8)
8 Hanno Bruder 5 (-5)



Saitama SC defend against a very short Luminozo Sayama player

Frontrunners Valiente Toyama and TOP Niigata faced each other on Sunday in round 7 of the Hokushinetsu League Division 2, Valiente emerging as clear leaders following a 4-0 victory. In second place now are Maruoka Phoenix, putting together a decent performance in this their first season at Regional level and 2-0 winners over fellow new boys LionPower Komatsu. At the bottom, Nissei Resin moved away from the foot of the table after their fourth draw of the season against FC Kanazu and it's all going horribly wrong this year for Toyama Shinjo Club, now dead last having lost 1-0 to FC Antelope.



"We are top of the league!" sing those happy fellows from Valiente Toyama

Sun 28 May: FC Antelope 1-0 Toyama Shinjo Club
Sun 28 May: Maruoka Phoenix 2-0 LionPower Komatsu
Sun 28 May: Nissei Resin 1-1 FC Kanazu
Sun 28 May: Valiente Toyama 4-0 TOP Niigata

1 Valiente Toyama 14 (+6)
2 Maruoka Phoenix 13 (+3)
3 TOP Niigata 11 (+3)
4 FC Antelope 11 (-1)
5 FC Kanazu 9 (+4)
6 LionPower Komatsu 9 (-1)
7 Nissei Resin 4 (-3)
8 Toyama Shinjo Club 4 (-11)

It seems as if every week is a vital week in Division 1 of the Hokushinetsu League and Sunday was no exception, as newly-promoted Matsumoto Yamaga Club finally made it to the top of the division thanks to their 6-0 crushing of Niigata University of Management. They were nevertheless aided by Nagano Elsa inflicting a first defeat of 2006 upon Japan Soccer College, which means that Nagano move second, just a point behind their prefectural rivals from Matsumoto. And it's those three teams who will almost certainly contest the title, as Zweigen Kanazawa were held to a 2-2 draw by Fervorosa; while the two most likely relegation candidates, Ueda Gentian and Teihens, shared a 0-0 draw.



Zweigen Kanazawa all out of breath after their draw with Fervorosa

Sun 28 May: Nagano Elsa 3-1 Japan Soccer College
Sun 28 May: Niigata University of Management 0-6 Matsumoto Yamaga Club
Sun 28 May: Teihens FC 0-0 Ueda Gentian
Sun 28 May: Zweigen Kanazawa 2-2 Fervorosa

1 Matsumoto Yamaga Club 19 (+19)
2 Nagano Elsa 18 (+21)
3 Japan Soccer College 16 (+20)
4 Zweigen Kanazawa 10 (+12)
5 Fervorosa 8 (+1)
6 Niigata University of Management 4 (-22)
7 Ueda Gentian 2 (-24)
8 Teihens FC 2 (-27)



Nagano Elsa on the way to victory over Japan Soccer College

The JFL round 12 fixtures were completed on Sunday, with Kodai Suzuki's last-minute strike - his tenth of the season - giving Honda FC the edge over Rosso Kumamoto in the day's big match. The win puts Honda into second place behind leaders YKK AP with Tochigi SC moving into third thanks to their 2-1 win at Sagawa Kyubin Tokyo. Elsewhere, last-placed Sagawa Printing gained a valuable point in a draw with Mitsubishi Mizushima to stay in touch behind Ryutsu Keizai University, but SC Tottori pulled off only their second win of the year in stunning style. Their 7-0 scoreline against Honda Lock - including two apiece for Tetsuya Hori and top scorer Hideki Uchiyama - is the biggest victory achieved in the JFL this season and moves the club closer to mid-table.



Kodai Suzuki turns in the winner for Honda FC against Rosso

Sun 28 May: Honda FC 2-1 Rosso Kumamoto
Sun 28 May: Sagawa Kyubin Tokyo 1-2 Tochigi SC
Sun 28 May: Sagawa Printing 1-1 Mitsubishi Mizushima
Sun 28 May: SC Tottori 7-0 Honda Lock

1 YKK AP 32 (+26)
2 Honda FC 28 (+12)
3 Tochigi SC 27 (+12)
4 Rosso Kumamoto 25 (+11)
5 Alo's Hokuriku 24 (+15)
6 Sagawa Kyubin Osaka 23 (+7)
7 Yokogawa Musashino 20 (+4)
8 Sagawa Kyubin Tokyo 19 (+14)
9 Sony Sendai 16 (-2)
10 SC Tottori 14 (+3)
11 Arte Takasaki 14 (-8)
12 FC Kariya 11 (-13)
13 FC Ryukyu 9 (-4)
14 JEF Club 9 (-6)
15 Mitsubishi Mizushima 9 (-15)
16 Honda Lock 8 (-25)
17 Ryutsu Keizai University 7 (-16)
18 Sagawa Printing 6 (-15)



It's true, you know. Seven goals. For Tottori

The Hokkaido League table is taking shape now, after two rounds of fixtures over the weekend. Title holders Norbritz Hokkaido dropped their first points of the year in a goalless draw in round 4 against Barefoot Hokkaido, which has allowed Blackpecker Hakodate to move to within a point in second place. It was an excellent weekend, too, for Thank FC, who followed a 7-0 thrashing of Tokachi Fairsky on Saturday with a 4-3 win over Sapporo Football Group. After an opening day win, Tokachi are clearly finding it hard to compete at Regional level, but it's the northern-most senior club in Japan - ACSC Asahikawa - who prop up the table after defeats against Barefoot and Toyota Motors Hokkaido left them with no points made it four losses out of four.



Toyota Motors Hokkaido host ACSC Asahikawa at Tomakomai

Sat 27 May: Barefoot Hokkaido 2-1 ACSC Asahikawa
Sat 27 May: Sapporo Football Group 1-3 Norbritz Hokkaido
Sat 27 May: Thank FC 7-0 Tokachi Fairsky
Sat 27 May: Toyota Motors Hokkaido 2-4 Blackpecker Hakodate

Sun 28 May: Blackpecker Hakodate 1-0 Tokachi Fairsky
Sun 28 May: Norbritz Hokkaido 0-0 Barefoot Hookaido
Sun 28 May: Thank FC 4-3 Sapporo Football Group
Sun 28 May: Toyota Motors Hokkaido 1-0 ACSC Asahikawa

1 Norbritz Hokkaido 10 (+13)
2 Blackpecker Hakodate 9 (+3)
3 Thank FC 7 (+5)
4 Sapporo Football Group 6 (+3)
5 Barefoot Hokkaido 5 (-)
6 Toyota Motors Hokkaido 5 (-1)
7 Tokachi Fairsky 3 (-11)
8 ACSC Asahikawa 0 (-12)



Norbritz Hokkaido in red, scrapping their way past Sapporo

There were five JFL matches played on Saturday and not many goals scored - but nevertheless, YKK AP managed to extend their lead to seven points thanks to late efforts against Arte Takasaki from marksman Hiroki Kishida and Kohei Onishi. This was Kishida's eleventh of the season, two more than the whole Takasaki team have managed, in what is turning into something of a disastrous year for the Gunma-based J-League hopefuls, who are now struggling to get into the top half of the JFL.

YKK are the form team as well as the current league leaders, but with recent results that are almost as good are Sagawa Kyubin Osaka, who made it five wins in six matches with a 1-0 scoreline against FC Ryukyu to close the gap between themselves and the top teams. Alo's Hokuriku continue to travel in the opposite direction, their 0-0 draw at Sony Sendai meaning that they now have one win and one goal in their last six games. Yokogawa Musashino meanwhile scraped past JEF Club for their first win in five, while relegation play-off-threatened Ryutsu Keizai University managed a home draw with FC Kariya.



It was very windy at Sagawa Kyubin Osaka - FC Ryukyu, apparently

Sat 27 May: Sony Sendai 0-0 Alo's Hokuriku
Sat 27 May: Arte Takasaki 0-2 YKK AP
Sat 27 May: Yokogawa Musashino 1-0 JEF Club
Sat 27 May: Sagawa Kyubin Osaka 1-0 FC Ryukyu
Sat 27 May: Ryutsu Keizai University 2-2 FC Kariya

1 YKK AP 32 (+26)
2 Rosso Kumamoto 25 (+12)
3 Honda FC 25 (+11)
4 Alo's Hokuriku 24 (+15)
5 Tochigi SC 24 (+11)
6 Sagawa Kyubin Osaka 23 (+7)
7 Yokogawa Musashino 20 (+4)
8 Sagawa Kyubin Tokyo 19 (+15)
9 Sony Sendai 16 (-2)
10 Arte Takasaki 14 (-8)
11 SC Tottori 11 (-4)
12 FC Kariya 11 (-13)
13 FC Ryukyu 9 (-4)
14 JEF Club 9 (-6)
15 Mitsubishi Mizushima 8 (-15)
16 Honda Lock 8 (-18)
17 Ryutsu Keizai University 7 (-16)
18 Sagawa Printing 5 (-15)



Koji Murayama on the attack for Yokogawa Musashino

Konica Minolta Toyokawa are maintaining their somewhat surprise early lead in Division 2 of the Tokai League, a 1-0 win on Sunday over FC Kawasaki keeping them ahead on goal difference of Honda Suzuka, who were relegated at the end of last season from Division 1. Morishin's FC gained their first ever win at Regional level against Fuyo Club, who seem to have collapsed after missing out on promotion in 2005. Mind House TC have also failed to build on a promising year and went down to Nagoya Club.



Pass and move, lads. Morishin's cut their way through the Fuyo Club defence

Sun 21 May: Honda Suzuka 1-0 Kasugai Club
Sun 21 May: Nagoya Club 2-1 Mind House TC
Sun 21 May: Fuyo Club 1-3 Morishin's FC
Sun 21 May: Konica Minolta Toyokawa 1-0 FC Kawasaki

1 Konica Minolta Toyokawa 9 (+4)
2 Honda Suzuka 9 (+3)
3 Kasugai Club 6 (+4)
4 Nagoya Club 6 (-1)
5 Morishin's FC 3 (-1)
6 Mind House TC 1 (-2)
7 Fuyo Club 1 (-4)
8 FC Kawasaki 0 (-3)



Honda Suzuka’s 1-0 win over Kasugai Club

Tokai League Division 1 title holders Shizuoka FC seem determined to hold on to their crown despite the new challenge of FC Gifu - and a 7-1 crushing on Saturday of ACM Central kept them top of the league on goal difference from their rivals, who managed a single-goal victory at Yazaki Valente. Fujieda City Hall remain rock bottom after their third defeat of the season, while Maruyasu Industry were held for the first time in a goalless draw at Chukyo University.



ACM Central struggle to hold off Shizuoka FC

Sat 20 May: Shizuoka FC 7-1 ACM Central
Sat 20 May: Yazaki Valente 0-1 FC Gifu
Sat 20 May: Fujieda City Hall 0-3 Sagawa Kyubin Chukyo

Sun 21 May: Chukyo University 0-0 Maruyasu Industry

1 Shizuoka FC 7 (+9)
2 FC Gifu 7 (+5)
3 Maruyasu Industry 7 (+3)
4 Chukyo University 5 (+1)
5 Sagawa Kyubin Chukyo 3 (-1)
6 Yazaki Valente 3 (-1)
7 ACM Central 1 (-7)
8 Fujieda City Hall 0 (-9)



No less evocative an image than Yazaki Valente v FC Gifu at half time

Marisol Matsushima made it four wins on the run with a remarkable 9-2 trouncing of FC Perada Fukushima in Division 2 (South) of the Tohoku League - but second place Furukawa Battery have two games in hand and have yet to concede a goal after their 3-0 win over Shichigahama SC. Bottom of the division are Kureha Chemicals, who still managed to lose despite knocking in five goals at Kanai Club.



Furukawa Battery prepare for battle against Shichigahama SC

Sun 21 May: Furukawa Battery 3-0 Shichigahama SC
Sun 21 May: FC Perada Fukushima 2-9 Marisol Matsushima
Sun 21 May: Kanai Club 7-5 Kureha Chemicals

1 Marisol Matsushima 12 (+12)
2 Furukawa Battery 6 (+5)
3 Northern Peaks Koriyama 6 (+1)
4 Shichigahama SC 4 (-3)
5 Kanai Club 3 (-1)
6 FC Perada Fukushima 1 (-10)
7 Kureha Chemicals 0 (-4)

The pattern of fixtures in the Tohoku League tends to be rather confusing and so despite their having been, on paper at least, four rounds of matches, only FC Primeiro and Morioka Zebra have in fact played four times so far - indeed, newly promoted Sendai Nakata Club were taking part in their first match at Regional level following promotion from the Prefectural leagues. Not surprisingly they found title challengers Grulla Morioka rather tough to deal with and crashed to a 5-2 defeat. Leaders TDK Akita made it three wins out of three against NEC Tokin and have yet to concede a goal in 270 minutes of football. Fukushima's FC Primeiro moved third as they won at Zebra, while Wiese Shiogama followed two draws with a 5-0 thrashing of bottom-placed Nippon Steel Kamaishi.



FC Primeiro kick Morioka Zebra when they're down

Sun 21 May: NEC Tokin 0-3 TDK Akita
Sun 21 May: Wiese Shiogama 5-0 Nippon Steel Kamaishi
Sun 21 May: Morioka Zebra 1-2 FC Primeiro
Sun 21 May: Sendai Nakata Club 2-5 Grulla Morioka

1 TDK Akita 9 (+14)
2 Grulla Morioka 9 (+6)
3 FC Primeiro 7 (-)
4 Wiese Shiogama 5 (+5)
5 NEC Tokin 4 (-)
6 Sendai Nakata Club 0 (-3)
7 Morioka Zebra 0 (-9)
8 Nippon Steel Kamaishi 0 (-13)

A first point of the season for Ventana AC via a 2-2 draw at Tokushima Vortis Amateur was in some senses the key factor of Sunday's fixtures in the Shikoku League, while Alex SC strengthened their grip on a place at Regional level by beating fellow strugglers Sanwa Club. At the top of the table, however, Kamatamare Sanuki are heading for the promotion play-offs for a place in the JFL, as they continued their perfect start to the season with a sixth straight win against Sanyo Electric Tokushima, and Nangoku Kochi moved into second spot after an important win over challengers Ehime Shimanami.



Top-of-the-table Kamatamare Sanuki fly past Sanyo Electric Tokushima

Sun 21 May: Alex SC 2-1 Sanwa Club
Sun 21 May: Tokushima Vortis Amateur 2-2 Ventana AC
Sun 21 May: Nangoku Kochi 3-1 Ehime Shimanami
Sun 21 May: Sanyo Electric Tokushima 1-4 Kamatamare Sanuki

1 Kamatamare Sanuki 18 (+16)
2 Nangoku Kochi 13 (+11)
3 Ehime Shimanami 13 (+10)
4 Sanyo Electric Tokushima 10 (-)
5 Alex SC 7 (-2)
6 Tokushima Vortis Amateur 5 (-6)
7 Sanwa Club 1 (-9)
8 Ventana AC 1 (-20)



Ventana AC in white clash with Tokushima Vortis Amateur

Nippon Steel Oita made a move to the top of the Kyushu League on Sunday, thanks to a narrow 3-2 win over a fading Volca Kagoshima side, thus leapfrogging them over V Varen Nagasaki. Volca are now level with Okinawa Kariyushi, enjoying something of a renaissance this year after just avoiding relegation last season and 3-0 winners on Sunday over Osumi NIFS United. In the bottom-of-the-table clash, meanwhile, Nanakuma Tombies picked up two points as they beat Kaiho Bank SC in the penalty shoot-out following a 1-1 draw.



Pre-match meets 'n' greets for Nanakuma Tombies and Kaiho Bank SC

Sun 21 May: Nippon Steel Oita 3-2 Volca Kagoshima
Sun 21 May: Okinawa Kariyushi 3-0 Osumi NIFS United
Sun 21 May: Kaiho Bank SC 1-1 Nanakuma Tombies (PK 2-3)

1 Nippon Steel Oita 18 (+14)
2 V Varen Nagasaki 16 (+14)
3 New Wave Kitakyushu 14 (+7)
4 Volca Kagoshima 12 (+6)
5 Okinawa Kariyushi 12 (+6)
6 Osumi NIFS United 6 (-7)
7 Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Nagasaki 3 (-6)
8 Nanakuma Tombies 2 (-19)
9 Kaiho Bank SC 1 (-15)



Shinichi Fujita, scorer for Volca Kagoshima against Nippon Steel

Kanto League Division 2 leaders FC Machida Zelvia crashed to a shock home defeat at home to Ome FC at the weekend. The Saitama-based team twice came from behind, clinching the winner with fifteen minutes remaining in what was in fact their first victory of the campaign so far. Furukawa Electrics Chiba closed the gap at the top to five points thanks to a 4-3 win at All Kamisu SC and now have Nirasaki Astros hot on their heels, 3-2 winners at Aries FC. Kanagawa Teachers also fought out a goalless draw with Hitachi Tochigi Uva.



Muneyuki Kasai, scorer of Ome FC's winner against Machida Zelvia

Sat 20 May: Kanagawa Teachers 0-0 Hitachi Tochigi Uva

Sun 21 May: Nirasaki Astros 3-2 Aries FC
Sun 21 May: FC Machida Zelvia 2-3 Ome FC
Sun 21 May: All Kamisu SC 3-4 Furukawa Electrics Chiba

1 FC Machida Zelvia 15 (+14)
2 Furukawa Electrics Chiba 10 (-)
3 Nirasaki Astros 9 (-)
4 Kanagawa Teachers 8 (-)
5 Hitachi Tochigi Uva 8 (-2)
6 Ome FC 6 (-3)
7 All Kamisu SC 5 (-3)
8 Aries FC 3 (-6)

Surprise package Yaita SC continued their unbeaten start to the Kanto League Division 1 season at the weekend, their fifth win in six games at home to Toshiba Fuchu extending their lead to five points from Yokohama Sports and Culture Club. Champions Luminozo Sayama move up to third following a win at bottom side MSDF Atsugi Marcus, while in mid-table Toho Titanium beat Saitama SC 1-0.



Luminozo's Yukihiro Hase puts MSDF Atsugi Marcus under pressure

Sat 20 May: MSDF Atsugi Marcus 1-2 Luminozo Sayama
Sat 20 May: Toho Titanium 1-0 Saitama SC

Sun 21 May: Hanno Bruder 1-1 YSCC
Sun 21 May: Yaita SC 2-0 Toshiba Fuchu

1 Yaita SC 16 (+9)
2 YSCC 11 (+4)
3 Luminozo Sayama 10 (+2)
4 Toshiba Fuchu 9 (+1)
5 Saitama SC 7 (+1)
6 Toho Titanium 7 (-5)
7 Hanno Bruder 5 (-3)
8 MSDF Atsugi Marcus 3 (-9)

The halfway point has now been reached in the Kansai League Division 2 season - and it's all change at the top, with as two consecutive drawn games have cost FC Kyoto BAMB 1993 the leadership. Technonet Osaka replaced them in first position thanks to a good 2-0 win at Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Kobe, while BAMB were held at Hermano Osaka. At the bottom, Kobe FC Senior C still have just one poitn and are looking odds-on favourites for relegation after losing 3-2 at Kohga School, while the other two sides in the bottom half - Kihoku Football Group and Riseisha FC - drew 2-2.



Riseisha FC pictured before their draw with Kihoku Football Group

Sat 20 May: Kihoku Football Group 2-2 Riseisha FC
Sat 20 May: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Kobe 0-2 Technonet Osaka

Sun 21 May: Kohga School 3-2 Kobe FC Senior C
Sun 21 May: Hermano Osaka 2-2 FC Kyoto BAMB 1993

1 Technonet Osaka 18 (+6)
2 FC Kyoto BAMB 1993 17 (+14)
3 Hermano Osaka 13 (+6)
4 Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Kobe 12 (+2)
5 Riseisha FC 8 (-1)
6 Kohga School 6 (-6)
7 Kihoku Football Group 5 (-13)
8 Kobe FC Senior C 1 (-8)



No idea what the keeper's doing there, but it's Mitsubishi against Technonet, anyway

With the Kansai League Division 1 reaching the halfway stage of the 2006 season over the weekend, the 100% record of champions Banditonce Kobe finally came to an end when they had to come from behind to claim a 1-1 draw with local rivals Kobe FC 1970. It's Kobe FC who remain banditonce's nearest challengers, some six points off the pace, but Sanyo Electric Sumoto move up into third following their 7-2 thrashing of Takada FC, while FC Mi-o Biwako Kusatsu went down to Ain Food and dropped two places in the table as result. Kyoto Shiko Club gained a vital win at AS Laranja Kyoto in the other match, to close the gap as they seek to avoid relegation back to Division 2.



Sanyo Electric Sumoto's first team squad for 2006, 7-2 winners over Takada FC

Sat 20 May: AS Laranja Kyoto 1-2 Kyoto Shiko Club
Sat 20 May: Takada FC 2-7 Sanyo Electric Sumoto
Sun 21 May: Ain Food 3-0 FC Mi-o Biwako Kusatsu
Sun 21 May: Banditonce Kobe 1-1 Kobe FC 1970

1 Banditonce Kobe 19 (+14)
2 Kobe FC 1970 13 (+2)
3 Sanyo Electric Sumoto 12 (+4)
4 FC Mi-o Biwako Kusatsu 12 (+1)
5 Ain Food 9 (-2)
6 AS Laranja Kyoto 7 (-5)
7 Kyoto Shiko Club 6 (-3)
8 Takada FC 4 (-11)

Hokkaido league title holders Norbritz Hokkaido continued their blazing start to 2006 in round 2 on Sunday, with a 4-0 trouncing of newcomers Tokachi Fairsky to add to their 7-0 win of the opening weekend. It was ACSC Asahikawa who fell to the champions a week ago and their own disastrous start to 2006 continued on Sunday when they lost 5-2 at home to Norbritz' nearest challengers, Sapporo Football Group. Elsewhere, Toyota Motors Hokkaido picked up a second consecutive draw, this time with Barefoot Hokkaido, and Thank FC were thumped 4-1 at Blackpecker Hakodate.



In the far distance, you can just about make out Toyota against Barefoot

Sun 21 May: Blackpecker Hakodate 4-1 Thank FC
Sun 21 May: ACSC Asahikawa 2-5 Sapporo Football Group
Sun 21 May: Toyota Motors Hokkaido 1-1 Barefoot Hokkaido
Sun 21 May: Tokachi Fairsky 0-4 Norbritz Hokkaido

1 Norbritz Hokkaido 6 (+11)
2 Sapporo Football Group 6 (+6)
3 Blackpecker Hakodate 3 (-)
4 Tokachi Fairsky 3 (-3)
5 Toyota Motors Hokkaido 2 (-)
6 Barefoot Hokkaido 1 (-1)
7 Thank FC 1 (-3)
8 ACSC Asahikawa 0 (-10)

Things are incredibly close in Division 2 of the Hokushinetsu League after six rounds of matches, with really only Toyama Shinjo Club and the winless Nissei Resin likely to be out of contention as the season nears its half-way point. TOP Niigata moved into first place on goal difference thanks to an easy win over Shinjo, while previous leaders Valiente Toyama still have yet to record their first home victory of the year after a goalless draw with FC Antelope. Promoted sides Maruoka Phoenix and LionPower Komatsu impressively occupy third and fourth spots.



Defences on top as Valiente Toyama meet FC Antelope

Sun 21 May: FC Kanazu 1-2 LionPower Komatsu
Sun 21 May: Maruoka Phoenix 3-3 Nissei Resin
Sun 21 May: TOP Niigata 4-0 Toyama Shinjo Club
Sun 21 May: Valiente Toyama 0-0 FC Antelope

1 TOP Niigata 11 (+7)
2 Valiente Toyama 11 (+2)
3 Maruoka Phoenix 10 (+1)
4 LionPower Komatsu 9 (+1)
5 FC Kanazu 8 (+4)
6 FC Antelope 8 (-2)
7 Toyama Shinjo Club 4 (-10)
8 Nissei Resin 3 (-3)

The close-fought battle at the top of the Hokushinetsu League Division 1 continued in round 6 on Sunday, as Japan Soccer College scraped a 3-2 win at Fervorosa to keep hold of top spot on goal difference from Matsumoto Yamaga Club, who cruised past struggling local rivals Ueda Gentian. At the foot of the table, Niigata University of Management picked up a potentially vital three points at the expense of Teihens FC, but arguably the most significant result of the day saw Zweigen Kanazawa slip to their third defeat in four games at the hands of 2005 champions Nagano Elsa. This means that the richly-sponsored former Kanazawa SC now lie fully seven points off the pace and despite their wealth can surely be discounted from a place in the end-of-season promotion play-offs for this year.



Zweigen Kanazawa on the defensive against Nagano Elsa

Sun 21 May: Fervorosa 2-3 Japan Soccer College
Sun 21 May: Niigata University of Management 3-1 Teihens FC
Sun 21 May: Ueda Gentian 0-5 Matsumoto Yamaga Club
Sun 21 May: Zweigen Kanazawa 0-1 Nagano Elsa

1 Japan Soccer College 16 (+22)
2 Matsumoto Yamaga Club 16 (+13)
3 Nagano Elsa 15 (+19)
4 Zweigen Kanazawa 9 (+12)
5 Fervorosa 7 (+1)
6 Niigata University of Management 4 (-16)
7 Ueda Gentian 1 (-24)
8 Teihens FC 1 (-27)



Niigata University of Management in blue take on Teihens

With leaders FC Central Chugoku having their Sunday Chugoku League match against Hitachi Manufacturing Kasado postponed, the coast was clear for Sagawa Kyubin Chugoku, Fagiano Okayama and Hiroshima Fujita SC to make some headway in their absence. Sagawa and Fagiano both managed this in some style, picking up good away wins against some of the weaker teams in the region - but disaster struck Fujita, who lost for the second successive match, this time against the side that finished bottom of the table in 2005 but have been reformed with the long-term intention of bringing J-League football to a remote corner of Japan. Renofa Yamaguchi came from a goal down at half-time to win 2-1 and remarkably move level on points with Fujita in mid-table.



A Fagiano Okayama banner at the match with JFE Steel

Sun 21 May: Iwami SC 0-3 Sagawa Kyubin Chugoku
Sun 21 May: JFE Steel 0-5 Fagiano Okayama
Sun 21 May: Renofa Yamaguchi 2-1 Hiroshima Fujita SC

1 Sagawa Kyubin Chugoku 10 (+6)
2 Fagiano Okayama 9 (+11)
3 FC Central Chugoku 7 (+6)
4 Hiroshima Fujita SC 6 (+1)
5 Renofa Yamaguchi 6 (-5)
6 Iwami SC 3 (-10)
7 Hitachi Manufacturing Kasado 2 (-2)
8 JFE Steel 2 (-7)

YKK AP and friend(s) before their draw with Yokogawa Musashino

JFL leaders YKK AP came perilously close to a shock defeat in Sunday's clash with Yokogawa Musashino, but Hiroki Kishida's ten goal of the season three minutes from time gave the Toyama side an equaliser and kept intact their unbeaten start to 2006. Their nearest challengers now are Rosso Kumamoto, four points behind but with six wins in the last seven and a 100% record in their home fixtures. The former Kyushu Leaguers coasted to a 3-1 win over FC Kariya, with Yutaka Takahashi on target for the seventh time in eight games. Honda FC meanwhile slumped to a shock 3-0 defeat at home to the previously out-of-form Sagawa Kyubin Tokyo to drop back to third and Tochigi SC maintained their challenge thanks to a last-minute Yoshihide Nishikawa winner against Sony Sendai.

Towards the foot of the table, FC Ryukyu are improving fast and their 2-0 win over rock-bottom Sagawa Printing now means that the Okinawans have lost just once in six. Honda Lock gained a vital 3-1 win to leapfrog Ryutsu Keizai University and so move out of the bottom two; and SC Tottori continue to be the league's draw specialists, their failure to hold on to a lead at Mitsubishi Mizushima meaning that they have now tied a remarkable eight out of eleven games.



Goalmouth action from the Mitsubishi Mizushima - SC Tottori game

Sunday 21st May: FC Ryukyu 2-0 Sagawa Printing
Sunday 21st May: Honda FC 0-3 Sagawa Kyubin Tokyo
Sunday 21st May: Honda Lock 3-1 Ryutsu Keizai University
Sunday 21st May: Mitsubishi Mizushima 2-2 SC Tottori
Sunday 21st May: Rosso Kumamoto 3-1 FC Kariya
Sunday 21st May: Tochigi SC 3-2 Sony Sendai
Sunday 21st May: YKK AP 1-1 Yokogawa Musashino

1 YKK AP 29 (+24)
2 Rosso Kumamoto 25 (+12)
3 Honda FC 25 (+11)
4 Tochigi SC 24 (+11)
5 Alo's Hokuriku 23 (+15)
6 Sagawa Kyubin Osaka 20 (+6)
7 Sagawa Kyubin Tokyo 19 (+15)
8 Yokogawa Musashino 17 (+3)
9 Sony Sendai 15 (-2)
10 Arte Takasaki 14 (-6)
11 SC Tottori 11 (-4)
12 FC Kariya 10 (-13)
13 FC Ryukyu 9 (-3)
14 JEF Club 9 (-5)
15 Mitsubishi Mizushima 8 (-15)
16 Honda Lock 8 (-18)
17 Ryutsu Keizai University 6 (-16)
18 Sagawa Printing 5 (-15)



A distinctly wonky view of FC Ryukyu's win over Sagawa Printing

Saturday's big Kyushu League match ended in a 2-2 draw between title challengers V Varen Nagasaki and New Wave Kitakyushu, who let slip a two-goal lead. But the resulting penalty shoot-out, as dictated by local rules, was taken by New Wave by 8-7, so they notched up two points to V Varen's one. This means that the top three teams in the division have all played six games, V Varen lying on top with sixteen, Nippon Steel Oita second with fifteen and New Wave in third a further point behind. However, in one of the most exciting of the Regional competitions, Volca Kagoshima cannot be discounted as they have twelve points from only five matches and take part in another vital encounter at Nippon Steel on Sunday.



V Varen - New Wave. Guess what's just happened in the penalty shoot-out

Sat 20 May: V Varen Nagasaki 2-2 New Wave Kitakyushu (PK 7-8)

Arte Takasaki claimed their first away win of the season in one of the two JFL fixtures to be played on Saturday, former Sendai University player Satoshi Hongai firing in the last-minute winner at Alo's Hokuriku. While this hasn't moved the Gunma-based side up the table, it does mean that Takasaki now lie that bit closer to mid-ranking teams such as Sony Sendai and Yokogawa Musashino - a step in the right direction at least for a club with J-League ambitions after something of a disastrous start to the year. Alo's, meanwhile, now have just one win in five matches and are fading fast after a good opening six weeks to the campaign, despite retaining what is the best defensive record in the division.

Now up into sixth spot are Sagawa Kyubin Osaka, after they beat JEF Club 1-0 to return to winning ways after last weekend's defeat to leaders YKK AP. JEF , on the other hand, have lost three in a row and even more disastrously have yet to pick up a single point in their five home games.

Saturday 20th May: Alo's Hokuriku 0-1 Arte Takasaki
Saturday 20th May: JEF Club 0-1 Sagawa Kyubin Osaka

Three teams share top spot in the Tokai League Division 2, with Kasugai Club ruling the roost on goal difference, following a 3-0 win over Nagoya Club. Honda Suzuka and Konica Minolta Toyakawa joined them by beating the two promoted sides, FC Kawasaki and Morishin's FC - who currently prop up the early standings.



Fuyo Club whack in a free kick against Mind House TC

Sunday 14th May: Mind House TC 1-1 Fuyo Club
Sunday 14th May: Kasugai Club 3-0 Nagoya Club
Sunday 14th May: FC Kawasaki 2-3 Honda Suzuka 3-2
Sunday 14th May: Morishin's FC 0-2 Konica Minolta Toyokawa

1 Kasugai Club 6 (+5)
2 Konica Minolta Toyokawa 6 (+3)
3 Honda Suzuka 6 (+2)
4 Nagoya Club 3 (-2)
5 Mind House TC 1 (-1)
6 Fuyo Club 1 (-2)
7 FC Kawasaki 0 (-2)
8 Morishin's FC 0 (-3)

After their stalemate in last week's opening clash between the two, Tokai League Division 1 title hopefuls FC Gifu and Shizuoka FC wasted no time in getting their championship challenge proper underway in round 2 of this season's fixtures. Gifu saw off Fujieda City Hall 4-0, while 2005 winners Shizuoka triumphed 4-1 at Sagawa Kyubin Chukyo. In the meantime it's nevertheless Maruyasu Industry who top the division, after a single goal-victory over Yazaki Valente made it six points out of six.



FC Gifu fans at the club's Division 1 home debut against Fujieda City Hall

Sunday 14th May: Maruyasu Industry 1-0 Yazaki Valente
Sunday 14th May: ACM Central 0-0 Chukyo University
Sunday 14th May: Sagawa Kyubin Chukyo 1-4 Shizuoka FC
Sunday 14th May: FC Gifu 4-0 Fujieda City Hall

1 Maruyasu Industry 6 (+3)
2 FC Gifu 4 (+4)
3 Shizuoka FC 4 (+3)
4 Chukyo University 4 (+1)
5 Yazaki Valente 3 (-)
6 ACM Central 1 (-1)
7 Sagawa Kyubin Chukyo 0 (-4)
8 Fujieda City Hall 0 (-6)