Can anyone stop Newcastle!? Following on from their faultless start to life in the National League, all eyes were firmly fixed on Newcastle United PFC in November’s Championship fixtures. Looking ever destined to grace the top-flight, the Magpies were incredible, recording four wins from their four fixtures to cement their position at the table’s summit.  On Saturday Newcastle registered superb wins over Norwich City (3-0) and North West Bees (5-0). Sunday, was much of the same, recording emphatic wins over Nottingham Forest PFC (5-1) and WBA Dudley (6-1). Five additional goals to his already impressive goal tally sees Lee Armstrong continue to top the Championship goal charts. Notable performances in week two from Alby Morris, Olly Cranshaw & Aran Guthrie who all chipped in with goals signifying the depth of this formidable side. Week three will serve in giving the Magpies their greatest test so far in the National League; on Saturday the side play back-to-back games against promotion contenders Leeds Chariots and Middlesbrough PFC. On Sunday they face fierce local rivals, Teesside PFC in a 1st vs 2nd clash, before a final matchup with Electric Eels.

With a lot of expectation placed on their young shoulders, Leeds Chariots PFC exhibited their talent in week two, demonstrating exactly why many have touted them as promotion favourites. A Dan Rigby hattrick and double from Seb Copeland ensured an excellent win over WBA Dudley early on Saturday. Unable to break down a stubborn Norwich City defence, Leeds failed to grasp the three points in their second fixture, which ended 0-0. Needing to keep up with their North East contingent in Newcastle and Teesside, Leeds needed a big Sunday. In their first game, a sole Dan Rigby goal was just enough to see them over the line against Muscle Warriors. In their fourth and final game of week two against Cheltenham SW All-Stars, Leeds produced a superb one-sided performance, goals from Jack Britton (x2), Seb Copeland and Kizzy Wade sealing a 4-0 win. A big week three awaits the Yorkshire-based side; Up first, Leeds will be looking to avenge their earlier defeat to their most local rivals, Electric Eels, before taking their shot at being the first team to inflict defeat upon Newcastle United. On Sunday they would be disappointed with anything other than six points against Shifnal Town and North West Bees.

Teesside PFC brilliantly leapfrogged fellow promotion chasers, Leeds Chariots in the MDUK Championship standings in week two. Four superb goals from summer signing Tyler Reeve aided an opening 5-0 win over Electric Eels. In their second fixture, little could separate them from Muscle Warriors as the half-time whistle blew. Needing a big second, Teeside took charge early on with patient play leading to well-worked goals from Owen Swift and Tyler Reeve, 3-1 it finished. The third and final fixture of Saturday fell against a struggling Shifnal Town side; bringing momentum from their earlier success, four Thomas Mett goals and a single strike from Dylan Pearson sealed a dominant 5-0 victory. Taking confidence into Sunday’s fixtures, the North East side produced exciting performances against Cheltenham SW All-Stars (3-0) and North West Bees (8-0). Thomas Mett and Tyler Reeve had arguably their finest weekend in the National League. An exceptionally tough set of games awaits them in week three of the Muscular Dystrophy UK Championship; Teesside face Norwich City and Newcastle United on Saturday and Nottingham Forest and WBA Dudley on Sunday.

Middlesbrough PFC had a very strong week two in the MDUK Championship, going unbeaten throughout their four fixtures. On Saturday, Boro played out two very close 1-1 draws with both Cheltenham SW All-Stars and North West Bees. On Sunday the North East side was fantastic. In their first fixture, two Ryan Dack goals helped secure a comfortable 2-0 win over a struggling Nottingham Forest PFC side. Head Coach, Carolyn Bean will be proud with the team performance produced against Shifnal Town, where goals from Umar Hanif, Cath McNicol, Ellie Renton and Sandra Rey (x2) aided a 5-0 win. Despite a tough Championship weekend ahead, Boro will be fully focused. Games against Norwich City and Newcastle United on Saturday will be challenging, with games against Electric Eels and WBA Dudley to contend with on Sunday.

Considering week two’s opposition, Electric Eels will be happy with the seven points earned across their five fixtures. A difficult opening game against Teesside PFC ended in a 5-0 defeat. Not letting that effect following fixtures, a Joel Rothery double helped them to secure three points against a defensive Shifnal Town PFC side before earning a point in a goalless draw with Nottingham Forest PFC. Goals from Emma Hodson and Kole Simpson in a 2-0 win over North West Bees did well to overshadow a disappointing 1-0 defeat to Norwich City. Eels have arguably the toughest week three of all the Championship sides to contend with; on Saturday the side play Leeds Chariots, WBA Dudley and Muscle Warriors, on Sunday, Middlesbrough PFC and league leaders Newcastle United PFC. With only two points separating the Eels from fourth-placed WBA Dudley, every point counts!

It was a mixed second week two for Cheltenham SW All-Stars in the MDUK Championship. Faced with some of the league’s fiercest opposition, the South West side did brilliantly to secure four points in their pursuit of league safety. Despite going a goal down in their opening game against Muscle Warriors, Amy Lee-Julian’s superb quickfire double ensured an opening three points. Another Amy Lee-Julian strike secured a fantastic point in a 1-1 draw with Middlesbrough. On Sunday, the side failed to register a goal in defeats to Teesside PFC (3-0) and Leeds Chariots (4-0). A massive weekend looms for Cheltenham SW All-Stars in the National League. On Saturday they face Shifnal Town and Nottingham Forest, the only two teams below them in the league standings; With only two points separating the three sides, all will be gunning for them crucial three points. On Sunday the All-Stars will want revenge in their tough opening fixture against Norwich City PFC, who beat them 6-1 back in September. They finish the weekend off with another huge fixture against North West Bees, who sit both one point and position above them in the league standings.

WBA Dudley’s continue to excite and impress in the MDUK National League. Despite a few setbacks in their pursuit of promotion, Dudley are exceeding all expectations set on them. A difficult 5-0 defeat to a Premiership proven Leeds side will only serve in giving the young Dudley players the invaluable experience of competing with the best. In their second matchup, last season’s Young Championship Player of the Year, Jack McNaughton, added two goals to Oliver Rock’s earlier strike to seal a solid 3-0 win over Nottingham Forest. On Sunday, their matchup with Norwich City produced one of the most exciting, action-packed games of the season so far; two early Oliver Rock goals gave them a comfortable lead over the Norfolk-based outfit, before the opposition found a second wind, managing to level the tie just before the half time whistle blew. With Head Coach, Chris Gordon drilling his messages home in the half time interval, Dudley emerged for the second as they had the first, with Oliver Rock sealing both his hattrick and the three points. The side were unfortunate to catch Newcastle in such fine form in their last game of the weekend, losing 6-1. Looking forward, a tough weekend awaits; On Saturday Dudley play Electric Eels and Teesside, with games against Middlesbrough and Muscle Warriors on Sunday.

Week two was a frustrating one for the Watford-based outfit, Muscle Warriors PFC. Opening their weekend with a disappointing defeat to Cheltenham SW All-Stars, Muscle Warriors didn’t seem to get going, with their second game of the day against Teesside PFC also ending in defeat. In their first game on Sunday (against Shifnal Town), a superb goal from Shay Murray ensured their first win and three points of the weekend. Despite a narrow 1-0 defeat to promotion chasers Leeds Chariots in their last game of the weekend, Muscle Warriors will take positives from their performance. Currently eighth in the league standings, Muscle Warriors PFC will be looking to distance themselves from the leagues bottom half in week three’s fixtures. A tough opening fixture against Norwich City is followed by several credible opportunities to register three points; they play North West Bees, Electric Eels and Nottingham Forest. In their last game, the side will have to be at their best to secure anything from a fixture against WBA Dudley. 

On the face of it, Norwich City’s five points from a possible fifteen in week two doesn’t seem too impressive but considering their opposition, the Norfolk-based side should be happy with their performances and respective points haul. As everyone else has, Norwich failed in gaining anything from their fixture against league toppers Newcastle United in a 3-0 defeat. Mike Coleman’s early strike was cancelled out by North West Bees in their second game, 1-1 that finished. In their third and final fixture on Saturday, Norwich City will be delighted with the point gained in a tight game with Leeds Chariots. On Sunday morning, goals from Edward Boca and Johann George were unfortunately not enough to cancel out WBA Dudley’s three. Keen to finish the weekend on a positive note, Johann George registered his tenth goal of the campaign in a 1-0 win over Electric Eels. In Norwich’s consecutive five-fixture weekend they face Muscle Warriors, Middlesbrough and North West Bees on Saturday, with games against Cheltenham SW All-Stars and Teesside PFC on Sunday. 

Perhaps a weekend to forget for Shifnal Town PFC, who failed to register a single point in their pursuit of league safety. Jim Wright’s goal for Shifnal Town against Electric Eels would prove little more than a consolation in a close 2-1 defeat. From this Shifnal failed to register any goals in defeats to Teesside PFC (5-0), Muscle Warriors (1-0) and Middlesbrough (5-0). Likewise to that of Cheltenham, Shifnal has arguably their most important weekend of the season. In week three’s fixtures, bottom place Shifnal Town face Nottingham Forest, Cheltenham SW All-Stars & North West Bees, the three teams directly above them in the standings. A tough matchup with Leeds Chariots PFC, who beat them 5-1 last time out, completes their tough fixture list.  

Nottingham Forest PFC only managed to gain one point in week two’s Championship fixtures. Considering their stellar opposition, the side fell to unfortunate defeats against WBA Dudley (3-0), Middlesbrough (2-0) and Newcastle United (5-1). A well-earned point against Electric Eels side was without question the highlight of their weekend. In week three Nottingham Forest have a tough opening game against second-place side Teesside, before three massive 50/50 fixtures. The side play Cheltenham SW All-Stars on Saturday afternoon, with exciting clashes against Muscle Warriors and Shifnal Town on Sunday. Having scored three of his sides five goals this season, Nottingham Forest will be hoping that Aston Walls increases his goal tally further in the weekend’s fixtures.

North West Bee’s had a mixed week two in the MDUK Championship. Opening their account against a strong Norwich City side, North West Bees did superbly, a single Stephen Whittaker goal helping them to secure a point in a 1-1 draw. In their second, Newcastle United proved too much, beating the Bees 5-0. In their third and final matchup of Saturday, an Ethan Fisher goal helped the side secure another crucial point against Middlesbrough PFC, 1-1 it finished. Sunday was tough for the North West Bees as they fell to defeat to both Electric Eels (2-0) and Teesside PFC (8-0). Another five-fixture weekend will be a big ask for the Bees; they play Shifnal Town, Muscle Warriors and Norwich City on Saturday, with games against Cheltenham SW All-Stars and Leeds Chariots on Sunday.