Metro Mom

[barnaclebill58]

13a Mainly level side. Ans is eleven which is a football side. I can see that even is level but where does the extra el come from, please?
21a Ran up to row south and ended in straits. Ans is narrows which is ran backwards + row +s. I thought that up meaning reverse direction only worked in a down clue. Is this sloppy setting or is poetic license given?

[fiction-factory]

mainly level = even too. Maybe it's a sea reference?

[barmy]

I always read 'up' to mean backwards irrespective of clue direction.

Regarding eleven - I got the answer only because even makes up most of the answer.