It’s tight at the top!
Promotion from Division 3 North of the Bay State Soccer League remains in the hands of Boston City FC II – but the Lions have to win their remaining four matches to guarantee securing either a place in Division 2, or a promotion playoff spot.
A 3-3 draw away to fourth-placed Gulls FC last weekend took the Lions out of the top two spots for the first time this season. The fall campaign got off to a rocky start as a change in personnel due to college commitments and some players leaving the side led to back to back losses, 6-2 to SR Young Boys and then 3-0 to fellow promotion chasers North Shore FC.
Boston City FC II won eight spring matches and lost one then a change in the coaching staff saw Roberto Mazzinghy take over from Cesar Deossa. He won 5-4 to open the fall campaign then bounced back from those two defeats with a 9-1 thrashing of BRFC Druids and Saturday’s draw.
Worcester County, a side the Lions beat 3-1 back in May, currently top the standings and with three games remaining can claim the title. They sit four points ahead of Boston City II, who have a game in hand.
Al Zawraa occupy second place having played the same number of games as the Lions, but with a two-point advantage. That makes the November 2 first-ever meeting between the rivals in Worcester critical to both clubs’ promotion dreams and each play again to close out the season.
The Lions take on Eastern Mass at home at Daly Field in Brighton this Saturday at 3pm, then travel to the Tyngsborough Sports Center in Lowell on October 26 to face Lowell United. The Lions beat those opponents 5-0 and 4-1 respectively, earlier in the season.
The curtain comes down with an as yet to be confirmed match at home to Lynnfield Legends, who were beaten 5-3 in the first league match of the season.
Throw Gulls FC on 30 points into a tight five-way fight for the top two places and there is still all to play for as the campaign comes to a close. The D3 North champion is promoted by right and the second placed team will play off home and away on November 16 and 23 against a D2 team, with Mystic River, Kendall Wanderers B and Groton House currently in the frame.
