Summary of the action from Week 4 of NTU's LIGA 11-a-side competition

NTU's LIGA always throws up goals and talking points galore and Round 4 of the 2013/14 season proved no exception.

The week took place two games down after Ajaxonometric requested a rearrangement of their game against FC Banterlona due to academic workload, whilst NTU's Development Squad did the same for their game against Kings Of Leon Osman due to player unavailability.

LIGA A still featured two highly competitive games though, that delivered on quality. FC Futsal and Bassetts All Sorts came into their game after a winless Week 3. The match produced little in the way of clear cut chances throughout, as both teams cancelled out the oppositions attacks with stoic defending. This was epitomised by Bassetts goalkeeper, who managed to contrive to (if not actually manage ) knock himself out on the goalpost in the process of saving a freekick. It was going to take something special to break the deadlock and with five minutes to go though a twenty yard screamer from Alex Kavanagh sealed the win for Bassetts All Sorts.

ACS FC vs BSOC Bulldogz also served up late drama. ACS took the lead twice in the first half to lead 2-1 at the break. However, missed opportunities came back to haunt them as BSOC clawed their way back into the game to take a 3-2 lead of their own. ACS pushed forwards for an equaliser and thought they'd succeeded in the final minute of normal time. However, the goal was ruled offside on a marginal call by the officials, leaving ACS feeling aggrieved at full time both for the disallowed goal and for letting themselves into a position where it cost them valuable points.

LIGA B was the only league that saw all three games completed, but even this didn't look to be the case after following the first half of the Chaps Society vs Bayer Lexerkusen game. With Chaps leading 2-0 their goalkeeper Sam Cocklin dislocated his knee in the process of taking a goal kick, leading to a lengthy stoppage and paramedic assistance being required. However, in part on Sam's insistence, the game did resume some twenty minutes later on the vacant pitch 6, with Chaps holding on to win 4-3. In further good news for them Sam has not suffered any serious long term damage and should be back playing again soon.

Thankfully the other two games in LIGA B provided drama of the more expected kind. History Society, last seasons LIGA C and NTU Cup winners, got their competative season underway at the third time of asking as they played Cypriot Society. At half time the game was close and seemingly poised on a knife edge at 3-1 to History. However, the History Boys ran away with it in the second half with the final score standing at 10-2 in their favour.

The last game at Victoria Embankment followed the trend of the majority of the games by producing a close match. Puyol Pants Down took the lead in the first half. Teenage Mutant Ninja Skrtels responded by again showing the fortitude they had displayed last week against Chaps Society and scored a deserved equaliser midway through the second half. However, Puyol struck a late winner to take the three points and extend their unbeaten run.

In LIGA C a kit clash saw the original fixtures have to be rearranged to feature Red Stripe Belgrade vs Blenheim FC and a table topping clash between Chamakh My Pitch Up and Expected Toulouse.

Red Stripe vs Blenheim proved to be another close game as the lead see-sawed back and forth between the two sides throughout the game with the score eventually finishing tied at 3-3.

Chamakh My Pitch Up against Expected Toulouse certainly delivered on the goals expected from the two top scoring sides in the division. In a game that featured sixteen goals (the most in a single game in any competition so far this year) Chamakh were able to run out 11-5 winners to maintain their 100% record at the top of LIGA C.

Week 4's Team Of The Award was tightly contested due to the standard of performances put in across the leagues. Despite BSOC Bulldogz picking up one of the shocks of the season so far in beating ACS FC, the award goes to Chamakh My Pitch Up for their convincing 11-5 win to take a clear lead and keep their 100% record in LIGA C.

Week 5 throws up fixtures that could well have a huge impact on all three tables. In LIGA A, with ACS going into their Bye Week, Bassetts All Sorts can move three points clear at the top if they pick up a win against Kings Of Leon Osman, whilst BSOC All Stars could do the same if they beat the NTU Men's Development Squad. In the final game int he top diviiosn FC Futsal go looking for their first win of the season against ACS's conquerers from Week 4, BSOC Bulldogz.

In LIGA B Chaps Societycan pull six points clear at the top if they beat Pub Sports, due to second placed Puyol Pants Down not having a fixture this week. Cypriot Society will be looking to get off the mark when they play Bayer Lexerkusen and History Society will want to continue their fine start to the year when they meet Teenage Mutant Ninja Skrtels.

In LIGA C Week 4's rescheduled match between Chamakh My Pitch Up and Red Stripe Belgrade takes place with Red Stripe now resplendent in their new Navy and Red kit. A rejuvenated Meridian Court will play FC Banterlona and Ajaxonometric meet Expected Toulouse who will be looking to bounce back from their defeat by Chamakh My Pitch Up.

Viva La Liga!