“Finally, after another early cup exit, Season Four kicked off for former Premiership Champions-come-Premiership clingons, Real Sociedead.

Their first game was set to be against the team that had gone out to destroy them last season in a bid to beat relegation, multiplying Real’s growing injury problems… the fearsome Sylvania Villa!

On OBBA Team Rating statistics, the teams looked equal, but a closer inspection of the team sheet revealed quite the contrary. Where Real boasted skilled zombies and largely rookie positionals, Sylvania was quite the opposite, three excellent Ghouls and two great Mummies amidst fodder zombies.

As they took to the field, Sylvania were quick to show why it’s not a good idea to invest your season’s training budget on zombies and quickly scored two CAS on the LOS, effectively retiring wannabe elf-slayer, Arturo Sevillano!

Quid pro quo, unable to threaten the three Ghouls that defended the ball amidst a following of Zombies, Real began to plan for the long haul and take out key players from the Sylvannia side that had been left in vulnerable positions. First Sylvania’s Wight was fouled into regeneration, then as Sylvania threatened to stall so too did Juanito put Mummy, Wilfed Boomer expertly into the BH box.

With their other Mummy lying prostrate amidst several Real players, the Sylvania coach astutely ordered the early score, for an easy 1 – 0 lead.

Real were hopeful of levelling the score, but their minds clearly weren’t on the task ahead. A determined drive down the flank hit the road block of nimble Ghouls and a single Mummy that scoffed at the attempts of a lone zombie to hold him in place. Real tried to break to the other flank, but yet again failing to realise the threat of Sylvania’s Ghouls, allowed them an opportunity at an assisted blitz, which they duly took with effect!

Despite several attempts to remove the nimble Ghouls, even by tackling expert, Leadalis Ramoura, the Ghouls refused to budge and scuppered the chance of a reply.

Second half, and only securing draw was on the mind of Real now. However, this half would be in grand contrast to the first. Real began with a zombie on zombie CAS and quickly caged around the ball carrier. Sylvania charged in with all but the Ghouls and their fouler, the bold Mummy, Dieder Agony leading the charge.

Real didn’t need to think twice… with Dieder out of the picture their charge would be all the easier. Mummy on Mummy action ensued as Enaut toppled Dieder amongst a mass of Real zombies. Ion stepped up and quickly booted the hapless Mummy into the KO bin! Sylvania were forced to bring their Ghouls into the dangerous fray. Then with two more zombies KO’d all that remained were the ghouls, a Wight and a Zombie… suddenly Real realised their was a potential victory on the cards. Enaut sent the Wight to the BH box as the Real players boxed in the remaining Sylvania rabble, whilst David Vaughan headed to the goal line.

Sylvania could do very little but watch on as Enaut charged in and completed his CAS-Trick in amazing style by killing Ghoulish Jaun Allieu Scareyou… who soon after signed with Real, such is their desperation for players to take on someone thus named.

Real then made it 1 – 1.

Five Sylvania players lined up against the Real horde. Real pounced as the ball was kicked. Unfortunately, with a deep kick they were unable to threaten the ball, but did take the opportunity to box in the few players at the LOS.

It was time for Sylvania star, Ghoul – Gabor Killally to make up for his teams otherwise abysmal performance this half. The star picked up the ball, then dodged in and out of the Real pursuers before throwing a pass a short distance away. Gabor was promptly knocked to the ground, and surrounded whilst Real set up for an imminent pass… but Gabor was far from finished yet. Another sequences of dodges left him besides the ball making a nuisance of himself. Real were forced to go with a different, less speedy passer who failed to ever recover the ball.

The game ended with a mixed feeling 1 – 1 result.

Now, the under par premiership team move on to face arguably the best team in the whole league, Sirius, and if scout reports are true, a team that will likely be better still on match day with some last minute foreign Star Loans! Real are currently protesting this move under the new Transfer Window rules of season four that went regrettably uncirculated with the new rules booklet.

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First and foremost, a really enjoyable game against fellow undead struggler, pml007!

Really was a game of two halves, the early CAS on my LOS left me with the option of using Wights as fodder, which didn’t appeal to me and our egg shell like players, so I opted for trying to remove the Mummies, which worked out… fortunately.

I made several mistakes to tie the score before the half, forgetting the Mummy had BT, and allowing the Ghouls a relatively easy Blitz on my ball carrier… seems I’m playing all Russo-like these days. (That’s my obligatory Russo insult for the day) :P .

PML had a terrible second half, or rather I had a great second half, almost every turn resulting in someone going off the field.

PML made a great nuisance of himself with his Ghoul to stop me winning with the aid of the blitz to end the game in a deserved tie.

The only regret in the game was actually killing his Ghoul, all other injuries were BH or regen’d, which should keep him fighting fit to take out future opposition, especially given he has time to develop his team over the next three games before meeting the Khemri and Orc!

GG PML!
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