TLfC Gulf Coast: Union 10 moves into playoff contention

The Daphne outfit is banking points as it catches up in matches played; West Division race tightens as Pensacola pulls away in the East.

If the playoffs ended today, Pensacola FC would host Union 10 FC and Gaffa FC would host Tallahassee SC in the conference semifinals. CREDIT: The League for Clubs

We’re in the home stretch

The vagaries of lower-league soccer scheduling can leave tables unbalanced until the season’s final matches end.

The Gulf Coast Conference of The League for Clubs is a classic example: Gaffa FC (5-3-0, 15 points) leads the West Division with 15 points from eight matches; Union 10 FC is in second with 12 points from five matches — three points back with three games in hand.

Here comes U10FC

Union 10 FC — created in 2022 from the merger of Mobile United and Gulf Coast Rangers FC — plays twice this week, hosting AFC Mobile (0-5-1, 1 point) in the 251 Derby at 5:15 p.m. today at Village Park in Daphne, Ala., and traveling to Leesburg, Ga., on Saturday to play Sowegans SC (3-3-1, 10 points). In its final three matches, Force 10 will play matches home away against Gulf Coast United FC (2-5-0, 6 points) and host Pensacola FC Academy.

Pelicans flying high

Heading into Week Seven, only first-year side Valdosta (0-7-0, 0 points) is out of the postseason chase. Pensacola FC (6-1-0, 18 points) controls its destiny in the East Division after beating Tallahassee SC (5-1-1, 16 points) last Wednesday and the Battle Lions’ 1-1 tie against Sowegans on Saturday.

The Pelicans host Gaffa FC on Saturday, visit Valdosta FC on Sunday, June 29, and finishes the regular season against Sowegans on Saturday, July 5, at Ashton Brosnaham Stadium.

Tallahassee plays its next two matches at AFC Mobile and at Sowegans before hosting Valdosta in the final weekend of the season.

PFC Academy still alive

PFC Academy (3-2-1, 10 points) still could slip into the conference playoffs, depending on how Gaffa FC and Union 10 perform down the stretch. The Academy Pelicans have four matches remaining, all on the road: at Valdosta on Saturday, Gaffa on June 28, Union 10 July 2 and AFC Mobile on July 5.

Playoff details

The conference playoffs begin Wednesday, July 9, with division winners hosting the other divisions’ second-place teams. The conference championship match will be hosted Saturday, July 12, by the higher-seeded finalist.

The League for Cups hasn’t released information about how region champions will be determined, but the national semifinals and final are set for July 25 and 27, respectively, in the Dallas/Fort Worth metroplex.

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STANDINGS

EAST DIVISION

1. Pensacola FC, 6-1-0, 18 points, +22

2. Tallahassee SC, 5-1-1, 16 points, +17

3. Sowegans SC, 3-3-1, 10 points, -3

4. Valdosta FC, 0-7-0, 0 points, -29

WEST DIVISION

1. Gaffa FC, 5-3-0, 15 points, +15

2. Union 10 FC, 4-1-0, 12 points, +7

3. PFC Academy, 3-2-1, 10 points, +2

4. Gulf Coast United, 2-5-0, 6 points, -11

5. AFC Mobile, 0-5-1, 1 points, -22

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WEEK 7 MATCHES

(Times CDT)

Wednesday, June 18

• Union 10 FC vs. AFC Mobile, 5:15 p.m., Village Park, Dothan, Ala.

Saturday, June 21

• Sowegans SC vs. Union 10 FC, 5:30 p.m., Lee County Sports Complex, Leesburg, Ga.

• Valdosta FC vs. PFC Academy, 6:15 p.m., North Lowndes Park, Hahira, Ga.

• AFC Mobile vs. Tallahassee SC, 7:15 p.m., Davidson High School, Mobile, Ala.

• Pensacola FC vs. Gaffa FC, 7:15 p.m., Ashton Brosnaham Stadium, Pensacola, Fla.

WEEK 8 MATCHES

(Times CDT)

Wednesday, June 25

• Gulf Coast United vs. Union 10 FC, 7 p.m., Herbert Wilson Stadium, Gulfport, Miss.

Saturday, June 28

• Sowegans SC vs. Tallahassee SC, 6:15 p.m., Lee County Sports Complex, Leesburg, Ga.

• Gaffa FC VS. PFC Academy, 7:15 p.m., Stribling Field at St. Andrew’s Episcopal, Ridgeland, Miss.

• Gulf Coast United FC vs. AFC Mobile, 7:15 p.m., Herbert Wilson Stadium, Gulfport, Miss.

Sunday, June 29

• Valdosta FC vs. Pensacola FC, 3 p.m., North Lowndes Park, Hahira, Ga.

WEEK 9 MATCHES

(Times CDT)

Monday, June 30

• Union 10 FC vs. Gulf Coast United FC, 5 p.m., Village Park, Daphne, Ala.

Wednesday, July 2

• Union 10 FC vs. PFC Academy, 5 p.m., Village Park, Daphne, Ala.

• Tallahassee SC vs. Valdosta FC, 6 p.m., Gene Cox Stadium, Tallahassee, Fla.

Saturday, July 5

• AFC Mobile vs. PFC Academy, 7:15 p.m., Davidson High School, Mobile, Ala.

• Pensacola FC vs. Sowegans SC, 7:15 p.m., Ashton Brosnaham Stadium, Pensacola, Fla.