Japanese Non-league Football News

This week's JFL fixtures are spread over three days and a couple of important top-of-the-table games were played on Friday - and there are new league leaders as a consequence. It's Rosso Kumamoto who have knocked Sagawa Kyubin SC off their perch, Yutaka Takahashi netting twice as the Kyushu side strolled to a 3-0 half-time lead at Ryutsu Keizai University, later to run out 4-1 winners. Rivals FC Gifu, however, failed to follow suit as they lost 1-0 at home to Honda FC and so provided YKK AP with an opportunity to close the gap in the front three.



Another Rosso Kumamoto goalscorer, Yoshio Kitagawa

Fri 29 Jun: FC Gifu 0-1 Honda FC
Fri 29 Jun: Ryutsu Keizai University 1-4 Rosso Kumamoto

1. Rosso Kumamoto 40 (+21)
2. Sagawa Kyubin SC 39 (+23)
3. FC Gifu 36 (+11)
4. YKK AP 31 (+10)
5. JEF Reserves 28 (+5)
6. Alo's Hokuriku 27 (-)
7. Tochigi SC 25 (+7)
8. Yokogawa Musashino 25 (+6)
9. Mitsubishi Mizushima 25 (-1)
10. Honda FC 24 (+1)
11. Ryutsu Keizai University 21 (-5)
12. TDK SC 20 (-5)
13. Sony Sendai 20 (-11)
14. Gainare Tottori 18 (-5)
15. FC Kariya 17 (-7)
16. Sagawa Printing 17 (-10)
17. FC Ryukyu 13 (-18)
18. Arte Takasaki 5 (-22)

... Having taken over at the start of the 2006 season, FC Kariya coach Nariyasu Yasuhara has resigned, along with several members of his backroom staff. The JFL side - formerly known as company team Denso before moving under the control of the local authority in Kariya, Aichi prefecture - have failed to improved under Yasuhara's leadership and still find themselves among the weaker teams in the division. No details of a replacement have yet been announced... Gainare Tottori have signed 18-year-old forward Kayne Takagi from Cerezo Osaka. Takagi, who has dual Japanese and New Zealand nationality, was born in Auckland and is a Kiwi U20 international...

... Kyushu League side V Varen Nagasaki have signed 20-year-old Cerezo Osaka goalkeeper Kenta Tanno on loan until the end of the year...

Konica Minolta Toyokawa may have dropped a couple of points on Sunday, but they are still running away with Division 2 of the Tokai League this season. A 1-1 draw at Mind House Yokkaichi combined with a 1-0 defeat for nearest rivals Nagoya Club has Konica seven points clear at the top of the standings. But MIE Rampole dropped into the relegation zone for the first time this year after they lost at home to Toyota Football Group in disappointing fashion, while Morishin's FC picked up a second consecutive win by beating FC Kawasaki.



MIE Rampole and Toyota splashing around

Sun 24 Jun: Fuyo Club 1-0 Nagoya Club
Sun 24 Jun: MIE Rampole 0-3 Toyota Football Group
Sun 24 Jun: Mind House Yokkaichi 1-1 Konica Minolta Toyokawa
Sun 24 Jun: Morishin's FC 3-1 FC Kawasaki

1. Konica Minolta Toyokawa 17 (+11)
2. Nagoya Club 10 (+2)
3. Mind House Yokkaichi 10 (+2)
4. Fuyo Club 9 (+1)
5. Toyota Football Group 8 (+1)
6. Morishin's FC 7 (-8)
7. MIE Rampole 5 (-3)
8. FC Kawasaki 2 (-6)

It's all gone wrong in the last couple of rounds of Yazaki Valente in their attempts to challenge Shizuoka FC at the top of the Tokai League Division 1. Last week they dropped points in a shock draw and on Saturday they were beaten 3-0 by the very side they are aiming to overhaul. The middle of the table is till tight, however, with Fujieda City Hall moving third after a 4-3 defeat of Chukyo University, while Honda Suzuka managed a useful win at Kasugai Club. In the other match of the round, Maruyasu Industries scored a 1-0 win at Sagawa Kyubin Chukyo.

Sat 23 Jun: Fujieda City Hall 4-3 Chukyo University
Sat 23 Jun: Sagawa Kyubin Chukyo 0-1 Maruyasu Industries
Sat 23 Jun: Shizuoka FC 3-0 Yazaki Valente

Sun 24 Jun: Kasugai Club 0-1 Honda Suzuka

1. Shizuoka FC 18 (+21)
2. Yazaki Valente 13 (+9)
3. Fujieda City Hall 10 (-)
4. Honda Suzuka 10 (-6)
5. Maruyasu Industries 7 (-2)
6. Chukyo University 6 (-6)
7. Sagawa Kyubin Chukyo 4 (-4)
8. Kasugai Club 1 (-10)

The two favourites were in action in Division 2 (South) of the Tohoku League on Sunday, both notching up convincing wins in their quest to gain promotion and so move a step closer to their ambitions of reaching the JFL and beyond. Leading the way at present are FC Perada Fukushima, who handed out a 12-0 thrashing to poor Kureha; but neighbours and rivals Viancone Fukushima are not far behind after their 5-1 defeat of Marysol Matsushima.

Sun 24 Jun: Kureha 0-12 FC Perada Fukushima
Sun 24 Jun: Marysol Matsushima 1-5 Viancone Fukushima

1. FC Perada Fukushima 16 (+35)
2. Viancone Fukushima 13 (+19)
3. Soma SC 12 (+8)
4. Marysol Matsushima 7 (-)
5. Kanai Club 6 (-32)
6. Nakaniida SC 4 (-3)
7. Shichigahama SC 3 (-2)
8. Kureha 0 (-25)

An exciting race is developing at the top of the Tohoku League Division 2 (North) this season, 2006 winners FC Akita Cambiare just a point ahead of Tono Club after Sunday's games in which Cambiare pulled off a 2-0 win at Mizusawa Club and Tono beat struggling Omiya Club 2-1. At the other end of the table, Vanraure Hachinohe achieved their first victory of the year at the expense of Hokuto Bank.

Sun 24 Jun: Mizusawa Club 0-2 FC Akita Cambiare
Sun 24 Jun: Omiya Club 1-2 Tono Club
Sun 24 Jun: Vanraure Hachinohe 4-0 Hokuto Bank

1. FC Akita Cambiare 16 (+17)
2. Tono Club 15 (+6)
3. Fuji Club 2003 8 (+3)
4. Mizusawa Club 8 (+1)
5. Saruta Industry 6 (+1)
6. Vanraure Hachinohe 6 (-3)
7. Hokuto Bank 3 (-12)
8. Omiya Club 2 (-13)

Title favourites Grulla Morioka pulled off the key victory of the year so far in Division 1 of the Tohoku League on Sunday, defeating their nearest challengers NEC Tokin 3-2 to open up a six-point gap at the top of the table. But given that there will definitely be two teams from the region in the end-of-season promotion Play-offs for a place in the JFL, NEC are still in a strong position. Furukawa Battery were crushed 5-2 at FC Primeiro, allowing Wiese Shiogama to move third after a 2-0 win over Morioka Zebra.



Acrobatics between FC Primeiro and Furukawa Battery

Sun 24 Jun: FC Primeiro 5-2 Furukawa Battery
Sun 24 Jun: Morioka Zebra 0-2 Wiese Shiogama
Sun 24 Jun: NEC Tokin 2-3 Grulla Morioka

1. Grulla Morioka 21 (+20)
2. NEC Tokin 15 (+11)
3. Wiese Shiogama 10 (+2)
4. Furukawa Battery 10 (-4)
5. FC Primeiro 9 (+1)
6. Morioka Zebra 7 (-11)
7. Nippon Steel Kamaishi 4 (-7)
8. Sendai Nakata Club 0 (-12)

Things are inevitably still neck-and-neck in the Shikoku League in what is turning out to be a remarkable season for non-league football on Japan's fourth island. Tokushima Vortis Amateur continued to storm through their games in sensational style, Ehime Shimanami being their latest victims - but 2006 champions Kamatamare Sanuki are just a whisker behind on goal difference after a 4-0 win at Tokushima Comprille SC. Comprille are likely to have to play in the relegation Play-offs alongside Sanwa Club, 3-1 losers at Nangoku Kochi, although Shimanami and Ventana AC could still be dragged into trouble after the latter's defeat by Sanyo Electric Tokushima.



Sanyo show off their rather groovy white and red shirts at Ventana

Sun 24 Jun: Nangoku Kochi 3-1 Sanwa Club
Sun 24 Jun: Tokushima Comprille SC 0-4 Kamatamare Sanuki
Sun 24 Jun: Tokushima Vortis Amateur 5-0 Ehime Shimanami
Sun 24 Jun: Ventana AC 0-1 Sanyo Electric Tokushima

1. Tokushima Vortis Amateur 25 (+43)
2. Kamatamare Sanuki 25 (+37)
3. Nangoku Kochi 21 (+19)
4. Sanyo Electric Tokushima 12 (-9)
5. Ventana AC 10 (-14)
6. Ehime Shimanami 10 (-15)
7. Tokushima Comprille SC 3 (-24)
8. Sanwa Club 0 (-37)

With four rounds to go in Division 2 of the Kanto League, MSDF Atsugi Marcus have given themselves an excellent chance of regaining their top flight position at the first time of asking - while Club Dragons look as if they might seal a second consecutive promotion, to play fourth-flight football next year for what would be the first time in their history. The sailors from Atsugi are undefeated since the opening day of the season and on Sunday beat Kanagawa Teachers to stay on top, while Dragons strolled past relegation candidates Nirasaki Astros. Furukawa Electrics Chiba are best placed to put in a late challenge, but they were not helped by a disappointing 3-2 defeat at Yonoshukonkai. Hanno Bruder moved fourth after they beat Ome FC.

Sun 24 Jun: Kanagawa Teachers 0-1 MSDF Atsugi Marcus
Sun 24 Jun: Nirasaki Astros 1-5 Club Dragons
Sun 24 Jun: Ome FC 0-2 Hanno Bruder
Sun 24 Jun: Yonoshukonkai 3-2 Furukawa Electrics Chiba

1. MSDF Atsugi Marcus 21 (+13)
2. Club Dragons 20 (+20)
3. Furukawa Electrics Chiba 16 (-1)
4. Hanno Bruder 14 (+6)
5. Kanagawa Teachers 13 (+3)
6. Yonoshukonkai 13 (-4)
7. Ome FC 8 (-11)
8. Nirasaki Astros 6 (-26)

It may have taken ten matches of the season but FC Machida Zelvia have finally dropped a couple of points in Division 1 of the Kanto League. After nine consecutive wins, they could only manage a goalless draw at mid-table Saitama SC - but still remain on course for the league title in what is the Tokyo club's first year at this level following from promotion from Division 2. Now lying second, ten points behind the frontrunners, are Hitachi Tochigi Uva, 3-2 winners over bottom side and neighbours Yaita SC. Luminozo Sayama dropped down to third following a draw at Toshiba Fuchu, while Toho Titanium were surprisingly held at home by YSCC.



Machida Zelvia prepare to drop points

Sun 24 Jun: FC Machida Zelvia 0-0 Saitama SC
Sun 24 Jun: Hitachi Tochigi Uva 3-2 Yaita SC
Sun 24 Jun: Toho Titanium 1-1 YSCC
Sun 24 Jun: Toshiba Fuchu 0-0 Luminozo Sayama

1. FC Machida Zelvia 28 (+19)
2. Hitachi Tochigi Uva 18 (+11)
3. Luminozo Sayama 17 (-1)
4. Toho Titanium 15 (-2)
5. Saitama SC 14 (-2)
6. Toshiba Fuchu 8 (-3)
7. YSCC 7 (-7)
8. Yaita SC 6 (-15)

In Division 2 of the Kansai League, Hannan University and Takada FC look almost certain to gain promotion come the end of the year, although both dropped points in unexpected circumstances in the weekend's fixtures. Champions-elect Hannan were held 1-1 at home to Kohga School, while Takada could manage only a goalless draw at struggling Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Kobe. Indeed, that result combined with Hermano Osaka's 2-0 defeat at Riseisha FC has given Mitsubishi a better chance of avoiding the relegation Play-off that goes with a seventh-place finish. Kihoku Football Group, however, are nearly guaranteed to be playing Prefectural League football this year after their 8-2 thrashing at home to Kyoto Shiko Club left them ten points adrift with only four games to go.

Sat 23 Jun: Hannan University 1-1 Kohga School
Sat 23 Jun: Kihoku Football Group 2-8 Kyoto Shiko Club
Sat 23 Jun: Riseisha FC 2-0 Hermano Osaka

Sun 24 Jun: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Kobe 0-0 Takada FC

1. Hannan University 24 (+25)
2. Takada FC 22 (+15)
3. Riseisha FC 16 (-1)
4. Kyoto Shiko Club 14 (+9)
5. Kohga School 13 (-5)
6. Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Kobe 11 (-8)
7. Hermano Osaka 10 (-6)
8. Kihoku Football Group 0 (-29)

With a 4-1 win over third-placed Ain Food on Saturday, Banditonce Kobe virtually ensured that their final fixture of the season at FC Mi-o Biwako Kusatsu will act as the Kansai League Division 1 title decider. Banditonce themselves remain two points clear at the top, but the loss for Ain Food combined with a 4-0 triumph for FC Mi-o at AS Laranja Kyoto means that there is surely too much ground for Osaka's Ain to make up in four remaining matches. Equally, at the other end of the table FC Glaspo Kashiwara are surely doomed to relegation following a 5-0 pasting at FC Kyoto 1993. But the identity of the other team who will have to play Division 2 football next season is unclear, after Kobe FC 1970 pulled off a vital 1-0 win over rivals Sanyo Electric Sumoto to give themselves a lifeline.



Banditonce scorer Masafumi Yoshida

Sat 23 Jun: Ain Food 1-4 Banditonce Kobe
Sat 23 Jun: AS Laranja Kyoto 0-4 FC Mi-o Biwako Kusatsu
Sat 23 Jun: FC Kyoto 1993 5-0 FC Glaspo Kashiwara

Sun 24 Jun: Kobe FC 1970 1-0 Sanyo Electric Sumoto

1. Banditonce Kobe 27 (+33)
2. FC Mi-o Biwako Kusatsu 25 (+29)
3. Ain Food 20 (+1)
4. AS Laranja Kyoto 15 (-10)
5. FC Kyoto 1993 12 (-3)
6. Sanyo Electric Sumoto 9 (-13)
7. Kobe FC 1970 7 (-13)
8. FC Glaspo Kashiwara 2 (-24)

FC Antelope Shiojiri are the only team in Division 2 of the Hokushinetsu League to have defeated frontrunner Saurcos Fukui this season - and their 2-1 win on Sunday means that they've done it twice, following on from a 1-0 victory in round two in the middle of April. This enables Antelope to remain in touch with the two automatic promotion places, although Granscena Niigata still seems the most likely side to challenge Saurcos for the title.

Granscena managed their sixth consecutive win to beat likely relegation candidates Toyama Shinjo Club and now lie just a point behind Saurcos with three games to go (the two play each other next weekend). In danger of joining Shinjo in the Prefectural leagues next year are Maruoka Phoenix, losers at CUPS Niigata, while Teihens FC's slump continued as they went down 6-0 at Ohara School JaSRA.



Yet another shocker of a photo of Granscena Niigata

Sun 24 Jun: CUPS Niigata 2-0 Maruoka Phoenix
Sun 24 Jun: FC Antelope Shiojiri 2-1 Saurcos Fukui
Sun 24 Jun: Ohara School JaSRA 6-0 Teihens FC
Sun 24 Jun: Toyama Shinjo Club 1-2 Granscena Niigata

1. Saurcos Fukui 25 (+16)
2. Granscena Niigata 24 (+14)
3. FC Antelope Shiojiri 21 (+7)
4. Ohara School JaSRA 19 (+6)
5. CUPS Niigata 14 (-3)
6. Teihens FC 11 (-9)
7. Maruoka Phoenix 9 (-1)
8. Toyama Shinjo Club 4 (-30)

Fervorosa may be out of the hunt for the Hokushinetsu League Division 1 title, but they can still cause a considerable amount of difficulty for the teams still hoping to take on the crown from 2006 winners Japan Soccer College. For the Ishikawa prefecture side pulled off a remarkable 4-1 over Matsumoto Yamaga Club, which ultimately caused Yamaga to drop out of the top two in the standings - thereby raising huge doubts over whether or not they can hope to gain a place in the promotion Play-offs at the end of the year.

Moving into second above their neighbours from Matsumoto are AC Nagano Parceiro, who beat Niigata University of Management, while Zweigen Kanazawa still cannot be discounted after thrashing relegation favourites Ueda Gentian 9-0. But holding on to top spot and hoping that they can retain their title are Japan Soccer College, for whom their 8-0 drubbing of Valiente Toyama was their sixth consecutive win.



Party time in the rain for Fervorosa

Sun 24 Jun: Fervorosa 4-1 Matsumoto Yamaga Club
Sun 24 Jun: Niigata University of Management 0-2 AC Nagano Parceiro
Sun 24 Jun: Ueda Gentian 0-9 Zweigen Kanazawa
Sun 24 Jun: Valiente Toyama 0-8 Japan Soccer College

1. Japan Soccer College 28 (+26)
2. AC Nagano Parceiro 25 (+16)
3. Matsumoto Yamaga Club 24 (+28)
4. Zweigen Kanazawa 24 (+22)
5. Fervorosa 18 (+12)
6. Valiente Toyama 6 (-18)
7. Niigata University of Management 4 (-46)
8. Ueda Gentian 1 (-40)



Ueda Gentian try desperately to keep out Zweigen Kanazawa

Just two games were staged in the Chugoku League this weekend, with a day off for leaders Fagiano Okayama. But FC Central Chugoku took the opportunity to close the gap between themselves and Fagiano to a trifling twelve points as they squeezed past Mazda SC by the odd goal in five. Sagawa Kyubin Chugoku were hot favourites to maintain their own push for second place, but sensationally fell to a 2-1 defeat at Yamaguchi prefecture's lowly Hitachi Manufacturing Kasado.

Sun 24 Jun: FC Central Chugoku 3-2 Mazda SC
Sun 24 Jun: Hitachi Manufacturing Kasado 2-1 Sagawa Kyubin Chugoku

1. Fagiano Okayama 33 (+62)
2. FC Central Chugoku 21 (+12)
3. Sagawa Kyubin Chugoku 18 (+10)
4. Renofa Yamaguchi 18 (-4)
5. Hiroshima Fujita SC 11 (-7)
6. Mazda SC 8 (-16)
7. JFE Steel Western Japan 7 (-24)
8. Hitachi Manufacturing Kasado 6 (-41)

JFL leaders Sagawa Kyubin SC were twice pegged back from being a goal in front and eventually had to settle for a 2-2 draw in their match at Honda FC on Sunday. It was star defender Masayuki Ishii who proved the hero for Honda, with an 89th-minute equaliser that prevented Sagawa from going four points clear at the top of the table - but they do remain two points ahead of their nearest challengers as a result of Takuya Kimura's shock winner for Mitsubishi Mizushima, midway through the first half of their match with second-placed Rosso Kumamoto.

All of which leaves the top of the division a little more compressed than it was prior to the weekend and FC Gifu's defeat of Gainare Tottori on Saturday. And YKK AP made it three wins in a row to stay fourth after they beat TDK SC. The other main movers in the top half of the table were Alo's Hokuriku and JEF Reserves, both of whom picked up their expected three points against strugglers FC Ryukyu and Arte Takasaki respectively.

In the other two matches, Ryutsu Keizai University underlined the great improvements made by their club this season with an excellent 3-1 defeat of Yokogawa Musashino - a result that would have been more or less unthinkable only a year ago - while Sony Sendai continued their own recent climb up the rankings. Motoki Kamegabuchi's goal in the dying seconds of their match at FC Kariya gave the Tohoku side a 2-1 win, their fifth victory in a row and a record that makes them the distinctly unexpected form side in the division.



Mitsubishi Mizushima go for goal against Rosso Kumamoto

Sun 24 Jun: FC Kariya 1-2 Sony Sendai
Sun 24 Jun: FC Ryukyu 0-2 Alo's Hokuriku
Sun 24 Jun: Honda FC 2-2 Sagawa Kyubin SC
Sun 24 Jun: JEF Reserves 2-1 Arte Takasaki
Sun 24 Jun: Mitsubishi Mizushima 1-0 Rosso Kumamoto
Sun 24 Jun: Ryutsu Keizai University 3-1 Yokogawa Musashino
Sun 24 Jun: TDK SC 0-1 YKK AP

1. Sagawa Kyubin SC 39 (+23)
2. Rosso Kumamoto 37 (+18)
3. FC Gifu 36 (+12)
4. YKK AP 31 (+10)
5. JEF Reserves 28 (+5)
6. Alo's Hokuriku 27 (-)
7. Tochigi SC 25 (+7)
8. Yokogawa Musashino 25 (+6)
9. Mitsubishi Mizushima 25 (-1)
10. Honda FC 21 (-)
11. Ryutsu Keizai University 21 (-2)
12. TDK SC 20 (-5)
13. Sony Sendai 20 (-11)
14. Gainare Tottori 18 (-5)
15. FC Kariya 17 (-7)
16. Sagawa Printing 17 (-10)
17. FC Ryukyu 13 (-18)
18. Arte Takasaki 5 (-22)



Roll up, roll up, for the match of the year

... former Vissel Kobe and Ventforet Kofu coach Hideki Matsunaga has been promoted from amongst the club's coaching staff to replace Tetsuya Totsuka in charge at J-League hopefuls FC Gifu...

A last-minute equaliser from Kentaro Yoshida saved Tochigi SC from defeat at struggling Sagawa Printing in one of the two JFL fixtures to be staged on Saturday. It's now seven games without a win for Tochigi, whose hopes of a top-four finish and a place in J2 would seem to be receding, despite the recent appointment as coach of Koichi Hashiratani. Meanwhile an Atsushi Katagiri hat-trick helped FC Gifu to a 4-2 win over Gainare Tottori, giving his team their first win in four matches and cementing their place among the division's frontrunners.



Gainare Tottori on the defensive against FC Gifu

Sat 23 Jun: FC Gifu 4-2 Gainare Tottori
Sat 23 Jun: Sagawa Printing 2-2 Tochigi SC

1. Sagawa Kyubin SC 38 (+23)
2. Rosso Kumamoto 37 (+19)
3. FC Gifu 36 (+12)
4. YKK AP 28 (+9)
5. Yokogawa Musashino 25 (+8)
6. Tochigi SC 25 (+7)
7. JEF Reserves 25 (+4)
8. Alo's Hokuriku 24 (-2)
9. Mitsubishi Mizushima 22 (-2)
10. Honda FC 20 (-)
11. TDK SC 20 (-4)
12. Ryutsu Keizai University 18 (-4)
13. Gainare Tottori 18 (-5)
14. FC Kariya 17 (-6)
15. Sagawa Printing 17 (-10)
16. Sony Sendai 17 (-12)
17. FC Ryukyu 13 (-16)
18. Arte Takasaki 5 (-21)

... lots of transfer action to report from the Kansai League. FC Mi-o Biwako Kusatsu have announced the signing of no fewer than three defenders... coming to the club on loan until the end of October are 19-year-old Brazilian Platini Diaz and Tomoki Tao, from Oita Trinita and Gainare Tottori respectively. They've also brought in on a permanent deal experienced former J-League defender Masao Kiba, who most recently has been with Valiente Toyama in the Hokushinetsu League... meanwhile former Sagawa Printing forward Jovan Yamagishi has joined AS Laranja Kyoto...... and Thespa Kusatsu's Yusuke Kondo has joined current leaders Banditonce Kobe as their second-choice keeper...

Kanai Club took a break from picking up their usual hammerings in Division 2 (South) of the Tohoku League in the only fixture on Sunday, moving two places up the table as a result of their 5-4 defeat of Shichigahama SC.

Sun 17 Jun: Kanai Club 5-4 Shichigahama SC

1. FC Perada Fukushima 13 (+23)
2. Soma SC 12 (+8)
3. Viancone Fukushima 10 (+15)
4. Marysol Matsushima 7 (+4)
5. Kanai Club 6 (-32)
6. Nakaniida SC 4 (-3)
7. Shichigahama SC 3 (-2)
8. Kureha 0 (-13)

... ambitious JFL side Tochigi SC have reacted to their recent downturn in form by sacking coach Ko Takahashi. His replacement is ex-international star Koichi Hashiratani, previously in charge at Montedio Yamagata and Kyoto Purple Sanga...

Konica Minolta Toyokawa may be charging towards the Tokai League Division 2 title - they're six points ahead of the pack after having beaten Fuyo Club on Sunday - but the other promotion place is very much up for grabs. Nagoya Club are just holding on, but they lost 2-1 at home to Mind House Yokkaichi and a battle would seem to be set up nicely between those two for the rest of the season. New team MIE Rampole must be disappointed at how their first season of Regional League football is turning out, all the more so following their defeat at relegation candidates Morishin's FC. But it's FC Kawasaki who drop down to the football of the table, in spite of their 1-1 draw with Toyota Football Group.



Morishin’s in red get their first win of the year against Rampole

Sun 17 Jun: FC Kawasaki 1-1 Toyota Football Group
Sun 17 Jun: Fuyo Club 1-2 Konica Minolta Toyokawa
Sun 17 Jun: Morishin's FC 1-0 MIE Rampole
Sun 17 Jun: Nagoya Club 1-2 Mind House Yokkaichi

1. Konica Minolta Toyokawa 16 (+11)
2. Nagoya Club 10 (+3)
3. Mind House Yokkaichi 9 (+2)
4. Fuyo Club 6 (-)
5. MIE Rampole 5 (-)
6. Toyota Football Group 5 (-2)
7. Morishin's FC 4 (-10)
8. FC Kawasaki 2 (-4)

After three of last week's matches were postponed due to thunderstorms in the neighbourhood, there is now clear daylight between favourites Shizuoka FC and their nearest challengers Yazaki Valente in the Tokai League Division 1. While Shizuoka were beating Sagawa Kyubin Chukyo, neighbours Yazaki could only draw at struggling Maruyasu Industries, meaning that they fall two points behind as a result. Somewhat distant in third place are Fujieda City Hall, despite the disappointment for them of a draw at home to bottom side Kasugai Club; Honda Suzuka move up to fourth after their win over Chukyo University.

Sat 16 Jun: Maruyasu Industries 2-2 Yazaki Valente
Sat 16 Jun: Sagawa Kyubin Chukyo 1-3 Shizuoka FC

Sun 17 Jun: Fujieda City Hall 1-1 Kasugai Club
Sun 17 Jun: Honda Suzuka 3-2 Chukyo University

1. Shizuoka FC 15 (+18)
2. Yazaki Valente 13 (+12)
3. Fujieda City Hall 7 (-1)
4. Honda Suzuka 7 (-7)
5. Chukyo University 6 (-5)
6. Maruyasu Industries 4 (-3)
7. Sagawa Kyubin Chukyo 4 (-3)
8. Kasugai Club 1 (-9)

There was only one game in Division 1 of the Tohoku League over the weekend, pre-season favourites Grulla Morioka taking the opportunity to go three points clear of NEC Tokin with a 7-1 drubbing of neighbours Morioka Zebra.



Action from the Morioka derby as Zebra host Grulla

Sun 17 Jun: Morioka Zebra 1-7 Grulla Morioka

1. Grulla Morioka 18 (+19)
2. NEC Tokin 15 (+12)
3. Furukawa Battery 10 (-1)
4. Wiese Shiogama 7 (-)
5. Morioka Zebra 7 (-9)
6. FC Primeiro 6 (-2)
7. Nippon Steel Kamaishi 4 (-7)
8. Sendai Nakata Club 0 (-12)

There were convincing wins for both Tokushima Vortis Amateur and Kamatamare Sanuki at the top of the Shikoku League on Sunday, as the championship race continues to be a particularly close one. Vortis put six past their neighbours Sanyo Electric Tokushima and Kamatamare went one better against Kochi's Sanwa Club to close the gap - very slightly - on the shock leaders. Nangoku Kochi are still third after they beat Tokushima Comprille SC, while local rivals Ehime Shimanami and Ventana AC both sneaked ahead of Sanyo thanks to the point accrued from their 1-1 draw.



Kamatamare’s new mascots - Tama-chan and Kama-chan

Sun 17 Jun: Kamatamare Sanuki 7-0 Sanwa Club
Sun 17 Jun: Sanyo Electric Tokushima 0-6 Tokushima Vortis Amateur
Sun 17 Jun: Tokushima Comprille SC 1-4 Nangoku Kochi
Sun 17 Jun: Ventana AC 1-1 Ehime Shimanami

1. Tokushima Vortis Amateur 22 (+38)
2. Kamatamare Sanuki 22 (+33)
3. Nangoku Kochi 18 (+17)
4. Ehime Shimanami 10 (-10)
5. Ventana AC 10 (-13)
6. Sanyo Electric Tokushima 9 (-10)
7. Tokushima Comprille SC 3 (-20)
8. Sanwa Club 0 (-35)

The second half of the Kyushu League season kicked off with another weekend double-header of fixtures in Kagoshima - the most significant outcome being that it looks like the remainder of the campaign will be a thrilling three-horse race for the title. Top of the pile at present are New Wave Kitakyushu, who seem to have solved their early season goalscoring worries and knocked in a total of eleven without reply in games against Nanakuma Tombies and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Nagasaki.

The ex-JFLers of Honda Lock are second but crucially have a game in hand, having only played on Sunday - a 5-0 defeat of Kumamoto Teachers - while in third are pre-season favourites V Varen Nagasaki. The highlight of their weekend was a 10-0 crushing of Okinawans Kaiho Bank SC that featured a hat-trick from former Rosso Kumamoto forward Keisuke Shuto.

Nippon Steel Oita and locals Volca Kagoshima both managed a pair of wins apiece but are almost certainly too far off the pace to play a part in the fight for the championship, while Okinawa Kariyushi remain in mid-table after a disappointing defeat to Osumi NIFS United on Saturday. Mitsubishi Nagasaki continue to slip down the table although they have enough points in the bag to stay clear of the real strugglers - Nanakuma, Kaiho Bank and Kumamoto Teachers.



Kumamoto Teachers in white battle it out with Honda Lock

Sat 16 Jun: Kaiho Bank SC 1-4 Nippon Steel Oita
Sat 16 Jun: Kumamoto Teachers 1-3 V Varen Nagasaki
Sat 16 Jun: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Nagasaki 1-6 Volca Kagoshima
Sat 16 Jun: Nanakuma Tombies 0-7 New Wave Kitakyushu
Sat 16 Jun: Osumi NIFS United 2-1 Okinawa Kariyushi

Sun 17 Jun: Honda Lock 5-0 Kumamoto Teachers
Sun 17 Jun: New Wave Kitakyushu 4-0 Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Nagasaki
Sun 17 Jun: Nippon Steel Oita 2-0 Nanakuma Tombies
Sun 17 Jun: V Varen Nagasaki 10-0 Kaiho Bank SC
Sun 17 Jun: Volca Kagoshima 3-0 Osumi NIFS United

1. New Wave Kitakyushu 31 (+36)
2. Honda Lock 30 (+36)
3. V Varen Nagasaki 29 (+44)
4. Nippon Steel Oita 26 (+13)
5. Volca Kagoshima 21 (-4)
6. Okinawa Kariyushi 18 (+5)
7. Osumi NIFS United 13 (-9)
8. Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Nagasaki 12 (-17)
9. Kumamoto Teachers 6 (-24)
10. Kaiho Bank SC 6 (-50)
11. Nanakuma Tombies 3 (-46)



Yuya Yamada, scorer for Volca Kagoshima in both their weekend games

The top-of-the-table game in Division 2 of the Kanto League ended in a draw between Club Dragons and MSDF Atsugi Marcus, leaving the way for Furukawa Electrics Chiba to close the gap on the front pair courtesy of their 3-2 win over Ome FC. Jumping up into fourth place are Kanagawa Teachers, who scored five for the second match running to beat bottom team Nirasaki Astros. Hanno Bruder also ran in the same number without reply against Yonoshukonkai, who have now lost three in a row.



The undeniably scary Club Dragons

Sun 17 Jun: Club Dragons 1-1 MSDF Atsugi Marcus
Sun 17 Jun: Furukawa Electrics Chiba 3-2 Ome FC
Sun 17 Jun: Hanno Bruder 5-0 Yonoshukonkai
Sun 17 Jun: Nirasaki Astros 0-5 Kanagawa Teachers

1. MSDF Atsugi Marcus 18 (+12)
2. Club Dragons 17 (+16)
3. Furukawa Electrics Chiba 16 (-)
4. Kanagawa Teachers 13 (+4)
5. Hanno Bruder 11 (+4)
6. Yonoshukonkai 10 (-5)
7. Ome FC 8 (-9)
8. Nirasaki Astros 6 (-22)

All four fixtures in the Kanto League Division 1 finished 1-0 on Sunday, as the league table continues to separate out into three distinct groups of teams. At the bottom, Toshiba Fuchu boosted their chances of avoiding relegation by beating Yaita SC to jump up two places. While Yaita slip to last, the other spot in the drop zone is now occupied by 2006 champions YSCC, who lost at home to runaway leaders FC Machida Zelvia. Sandwiched in the middle are Luminozo Sayama, who went second after beating Hitachi Tochigi Uva; and Toho Titanium, victors over Saitama SC.



Celebration time for Machida Zelvia at YSCC

Sun 17 Jun: Luminozo Sayama 1-0 Hitachi Tochigi Uva
Sun 17 Jun: Saitama SC 0-1 Toho Titanium
Sun 17 Jun: Toshiba Fuchu 1-0 Yaita SC
Sun 17 Jun: YSCC 0-1 FC Machida Zelvia

1. FC Machida Zelvia 27 (+19)
2. Luminozo Sayama 16 (-1)
3. Hitachi Tochigi Uva 15 (+10)
4. Toho Titanium 14 (-2)
5. Saitama SC 13 (-2)
6. Toshiba Fuchu 7 (-3)
7. YSCC 6 (-7)
8. Yaita SC 6 (-14)

Saurcos Fukui continue to lead the promotion charge in Division 2 of the Hokushinetsu League. The ambitious former FC Kanazu made it eight games undefeated by beating Ohara School JaSRA on Sunday, while moving clear into second place behind them are Granscena Niigata. In what was undoubtedly a key match, they beat challengers FC Antelope Shiojiri 4-1 to put daylight between themselves and the chasing pack. Lower down the table, CUPS Niigata gained their first win in six by beating a Teihens FC side who are currently struggling to find their form, and Maruoka Phoenix did their chances of avoiding relegation the world of good with a 7-0 thrashing of wooden spooners Toyama Shinjo Club.



Granscena Niigata on the attack against FC Antelope

Sun 17 Jun: CUPS Niigata 5-2 Teihens FC
Sun 17 Jun: Granscena Niigata 4-1 FC Antelope Shiojiri
Sun 17 Jun: Maruoka Phoenix 7-0 Toyama Shinjo Club
Sun 17 Jun: Saurcos Fukui 4-2 Ohara School JaSRA

1. Saurcos Fukui 25 (+17)
2. Granscena Niigata 21 (+13)
3. FC Antelope Shiojiri 18 (+6)
4. Ohara School JaSRA 16 (-)
5. Teihens FC 11 (-3)
6. CUPS Niigata 11 (-5)
7. Maruoka Phoenix 9 (+1)
8. Toyama Shinjo Club 4 (-29)