Darby double returns

Darby will take to the field in both Premier Divisions on Friday night as part of three matches to start the weekend.

The men’s team travel to St Catharines Roma Wolves looking to follow up their win last Friday over Master’s FA with another three points. For the home side, a win would take them level on points with Darby.

In the Women’s Premier Division, Darby are the home team and host Alliance United who would keep up with the table’s top two, Vaughan Azzurri and NDC Ontario, if they were to secure victory.

NDC Ontario could once again move to the head of the table as they welcome Electric City to the Ontario Soccer Stadium. They have three games in hand on leaders Vaughan Azzurri, who reclaimed top spot from NDC with a victory against North Toronto Nitros on Wednesday, and sit two points adrift.

All to play for at the top

Given NDC Ontario’s perfect form this season, it is likely that Vaughan Azzurri will need to win on their trip to FC London if they are to end the weekend on top. The hosts may pose a threat for the current league leaders; FC London have eight points from their last four while the Azzurri have collected five. This game is being streamed on L1O YouTube and you can predict the result in our fans' poll.

There’s more top-of-the-table action as North Toronto Nitros host ProStars and look to keep themselves in the mix at the summit. The Nitros have scored the most goals in the division in 2023; meanwhile ProStars have conceded the most.

Tecumseh against North Mississauga is our other women’s game on Saturday. Both sides are tied on 14 points and sit seventh and eighth respectively.

It’s very close at the business end of the Men’s Premier Division with the top eight separated by only three points. Scrosoppi and Simcoe County Rovers both have the opportunity to move top on Saturday ahead of Blue Devils; Scrosoppi host an FC London side who beat them 2-1 last season and Simcoe County Rovers are up against Unionville Milliken.

The final game of the day is between Master’s FA and Sigma. For the hosts, points are vital if they want to climb up the Road to 2024 standings, while a win can take Sigma level with current leaders Blue Devils.

Ten L1O games to enjoy

Sunday will be action-packed with 20 teams battling it out as we enter the second half of the season.

Blue Devils may head into their game having lost their place at the top of the Men’s Premier Division. In front of their home fans, they will be looking to get past a ProStars side who have failed to win any of their last three.

It’s currently third against sixth with Vaughan Azzurri travelling to Guelph United. Both are unbeaten in 2023 and it was close when they met last season, the Azzurri coming away with a 2-1 victory.

BVB IA Waterloo host playoff-hunting North Toronto Nitros who have scored three goals in each of their last two games. Burlington also need three points to remain firmly in top-six contention, and also find themselves in a tight contest for a place in the top division on the Road to 2024. The Bayhawks can move ahead of Woodbridge Strikers in the aggregate table if they beat them on Sunday.

Hamilton United also find themselves in the same battle ahead of 2024, in what could be a straight fight between them and Burlington to determine where they start next year. This weekend, live on L1O YouTube, they host Windsor City who are one place above them in the current regular-season standings and need three points to put themselves in better contention for a Premier Division spot next year. The visitors will be hoping another strong game from Performance of the Week winner Jonathan Agapito can give them the points.

The men’s games for this week conclude with ninth-placed Alliance United facing 11th-placed Electric City on Sunday. Both teams are chasing playoff spots and find themselves a point apart in the standings.

In the Women’s Premier Division there are four fixtures to look forward to starting with Woodbridge Strikers hosting Simcoe County Rovers. The home side are currently fifth in the table and in impressive form, winning their last five matches. Simcoe County Rovers, meanwhile, could only manage a tie in their last game against North Mississauga.

If either side can win when Guelph Union face St Catharines Roma Wolves, they’ll find themselves ahead of their opponents in the table as both teams have ten points on the board.

The final two fixtures of the weekend see Hamilton United against a Blue Devils side who have won two of their last three games in a push for Premier Division soccer next year, and Unionville Milliken host Burlington.