Japanese Non-league Football News

Results have only just become available from the three final rounds of the Hokushinetsu Prefectural Play-offs Tournament, that decides promotion between the relevant prefectures and Division 2 of the Hokushinetsu League - but despite a last-gasp defeat at the hands of the Niigata University of Health & Welfare, it is the familiar faces of Nissei Resin who will make their way back up to the level of Regional League football in 2008.

The Nagano prefecture-based company side were relegated out of the Hokushinetsu League just twelve months ago and indeed have a considerable amount of experience in that competition, having taken the title on no fewer than eight occasions. They will replace Toyama Shinjo Club, while Play-off runners-up the Health and Welfare students face a further pair of home-and-away games against Teihens FC to see if they can make the step up for what would be the first time.

Sun 07 Oct: LionPower Komatsu 0-2 Niigata University of Health & Welfare
Sun 07 Oct: Nagaoka Billboard FC 3-0 Tateyama Bears
Sun 07 Oct: Nissei Resin 2-0 Fukui KSC

Sun 14 Oct: Fukui KSC 0-1 LionPower Komatsu
Sun 14 Oct: Niigata University of Health & Welfare 4-2 Nagaoka Billboard FC
Sun 14 Oct: Tateyama Bears 2-4 Nissei Resin

Sun 21 Oct: Fukui KSC 3-1 Tateyama Bears
Sun 21 Oct: Nagaoka Billboard FC 0-1 LionPower Komatsu
Sun 21 Oct: Niigata University of Health & Welfare 2-1 Nissei Resin

1. Nissei Resin 12 (+9)
2. Niigata University of Health & Welfare 12 (+6)
3. LionPower Komatsu 9 (+2)
4. Fukui KSC 6 (-2)
5. Nagaoka Billboard FC 3 (-6)
6. Tateyama Bears 3 (-9)