Conference Archives - Subbuteo Club

The Conference Divisions have been settled after what has proved to be a very challenging season. There has been an increase in strengths for the teams in the division, meaning the risk of slipping out of the league has never been higher.

In Conference Group 4A, there was a huge upset as Birmingham City defeated West Brom 2-0. The score line pushed Birmingham up into the play-off position, dumping West Brom down to 3rd place.

If Portsmouth beat local rivals Bournemouth in the final match, West Brom could have lost their place in the league. Luckily for them, Portsmouth only managed a goalless draw, which was not enough to save them. The point was enough for Bournemouth to win the division and book their spot in the Conference Promotion Final.

Group 4B was just as interesting, with everything to play for in the last week. Burnley needed to win to save them from relegation, although they faced a tough fixture away at promotion chasing Brighton. After a poor start to the season, Burnley have really excelled and this has been rewarded with an FA Cup quarter final against Tottenham Hotspur, as the last conference team in the Cup. Their form prevailed as they won convincingly 2-1 against Brighton. Sadly for Burnley, the goal difference was not enough to steal second place from Brighton, but they will be back next season to challenge once more.

Blackburn gave it everything in their last game against Fulham but came up short. They were leading 2-1, which would have left them in second place, but a late equaliser for Fulham dropped them out of the league.

The Conference has a new play-off structure this season. The two group winners play in the Promotion Final, with the winners gaining promotion to Division 3. The two runner-up teams play in the Second Place Play-off, with the winners meeting the loser from the Promotion Final for the remaining promotion spot.

Fulham are Group 4B winners and the London team have had a great season and they deserve their place in the Promotion Final. They will play Bournemouth, the winners of Group 4A.

The second place play-off will be Birmingham against Brighton & Hove Albion. The winner of this match will play the loser from the Promotion Final.

West Brom and Burnley will return to the Conference next season, with two new teams joining from non-league. They will be joined by the losers from the Second Place Play-off and Promotion Play-Off. The final two teams will be those relegated from Division 3.

The upcoming matches for the Conference are as follows:

1. Promotion Final

Bournemouth v Fulham

2. Second Place Play-Off

Birmingham City v Brighton & Hove Albion

3. Promotion Play-Off

Loser of Promotion Final v Winner of Second Place Play-Off

The battle to claim a place in the league is hotting up as the Conference teams completed their Week 2 games.

In Conference 4a, there were wins for Bournemouth and West Bromwich Albion. After the four teams drew their Week 1 matches, it leagues Bournemouth and WBA top, whilst Portsmouth and Birmingham sit at the bottom of the table on 1 point each. There is everything to play for in the final fixtures, with all four teams capable to grabbing one of the vital top two positions.

In Conference 4b, the teams are in a similar position to 4a, with two teams level on 4 points. In the East Lancashire derby, Burnley took on Blackburn in a vital match after both teams lost their first game. Whoever lost the derby would be in big trouble.

Despite Burnley having home advantage, it was Blackburn who got off to a surprising lead. Burnley were able to even the score, before Blackburn took a surprise lead after their sticker scored a tap in from an unbelievable angle. The the dying minutes Burnley found the equaliser to leave the score at 2-2. Although neither team lost, it gives each team only a single point from two games and a struggle to finish in the top 2.

The second game involved league leaders Brighton & Hove against Fulham. After both teams won their opening game, a win would guarantee a team a top 2 position and a place in the promotion finals.

Brighton got off to the stronger start and they managed to hit the crossbar in the first half, as Fulham found it hard to find traction on the soggy pitch.

In the second half, Fulham pushed forward and it was their turn to come close as they hit the post. Despite good chances at either end, the score finished 0-0, leaving both teams on 4 points.

There will be everything to play for in Week 3 as the final league positions will be decided and the places in the promotion finals completed.