-18th August 2005| back to top

Southwell retain the League.

A day of draws keeps Southwell nervous until the end.

Southwell FC 0 Sporting Redhouse 0
Typical 0-0 draw. Both these teams cancelled each other out. Greenwell was the only hope for Southwell, while Sporting didn't really have any hope to draw on, with a team of defenders. A positive result for Southwell, though as they only needed to stay ahead of Sporting.

Southwell 1 Hylton View 1
This one was a classic. Ross Mullen couldn't get a team out which meant that Southwell would have probably gained the League by default. However, he had enough stragglers on the side line to put out a pseudo-Redhouse Youth team. The kit rule went to pot, but at least six lads were there - and they gave it their all. They actually scored first as Southwell were slow and lethargic. Eventually, Greenwell hit the equaliser, but both teams came very close. So now, Sporting had to defeat Hylton Castle to take the League to a play-off situation. With results awarded during the season due to games being cancelled, it's always been decided to play off when the top two are on level points..

Sporting Redhouse 0 Hylton Castle 0
Sporting fell short. Hylton were probably more positive during the game, but they couldn't break the deadlock. Therefore the Title went to Southwell again.

Southview 4 Sassco.co.uk 2
Sassco conceded two early ones and looked to be on the end of a lashing off Southview. But the second saw a brilliant comeback. Southview's fitness and skill showed in the end with two further goals to take the game.

-4th August 2005| back to top

A 0-0 stalemate for Southwell and Castle.

Sassco walloped again. Youth's take over Hylton. MFS defeated heavily.

Southwell FC 0 Hylton Castle 0
A controversial game was replayed and it didn't disappoint. A rare shut out for both teams as they played out a tense 0-0 draw. A decent result for Southwell, but on reflection, a bad one for Hylton as they're probably out of the running now.

Southview 2 Hylton View 0
The Hylton View team have been taken over by Redhouse Youth, but a depleted team suffered an opening defeat (which is a double result). Southview gained a good win after so many disappointments over the course of this season. A great result for them as the season comes to a close.

Sporting Redhouse 4 Sassco.co.uk 0
Despite a fairly balanced first half which ended 0-0. The second saw Sassco conceded early and then suffer their usual collapse in morale, organisation, etc. The Salmon was playing outfield (after being dumped from Hylton View) but even he couldn't make an impact.

Southwell FC 4 MFS 0
Playing two games in one night hampers quite a lot of teams, but not Southwell. They got the 0-0 out of their system with four goals against Ally Hiles' team to keep in pace at the top. Some critical games coming as the season ends and especially the mouthwatering clash against Sporting.

Hylton Castle 3 Surestart 0 - result awarded

Surestart have pulled out of the league which means that Hylton Castle are awarded the win.

Season 4 of the Thursday League is going to be continued by Tarnjit Sangha. Also the Sassco.co.uk team will not be run by myself and is open for any of the existing players to take over. I will still do the site and report uploading and also fixtures, etc, but the day-to-day running and payments from now on should go to Tarnjit Sangha. At the end of the season, the Cup competition will start and that will be the official handover to Tarnjit Sangha. The league will still be strict on kits and payments.

-28th July 2005| back to top

Games cancelled.

Waterlogged pitch.

Incessant rain has forced us to cancel the games. The missing games will added to the end of the season.

-21st July 2005| back to top

Southwell v Hylton Castle to be replayed.

Surestart quit the League. Sporting win easily. MFS force Hylton View to give up a good lead.

Southwell FC 2 Hylton Castle 1
The rules were not clear enough in regards to players playing for different teams, so the game needs to be replayed. For the replayed game, It's not necessary for the exact same players to be there and the full game will be played, as it was 1-1 at half time, so it was a deadlock. Kev Snowdon had played for the Southwell team before he played for View last week so in theory he's supposed to stay with View for three games as he's already played for a team. Apologies to both teams for this error, but a replay seems a fair idea. So just to confirm, Kev Snowdon can play for Hylton View next week if required as the result in this game is cancelled.

To write a report about a cancelled game seems strange, but here goes. Fatty's lot turned up with five players and were there for the taking. Hylton opened the scoring from a free kick which went through a wall with as many gaps as Wayne's teeth. But, amazingly, Jeff Clark, who still runs with his arms down, squeezed in an equaliser. In the second half, Fatty, still heavily soiled from his chimney sweep job, made his fatal error by calling on Kev Snowdon to play for him. While he was getting ready, Wardle scored and it was 2-1. The scoreline remained the same, but as mentioned, the game's going to be replayed. The replay date is going to be next week (28th July) with a 7:00pm kick off. Hylton Castle also play at 8:00pm v Southview so I need to confirm if they're okay playing two games (they only pay for one though).

Hylton View 2 MFS 2

The Hylton View team seems to be clicking into place. Dixon had a stormer and took his two goals with style instead of launching them east and west as you'd expect him to. The opponents were MFS who seem to be getting a grip with the league and putting out a good balanced side. Ally Hiles, as ever, was controlling his team and the comeback, which seemed unlikely, bore fruit. Firstly a penalty given away made it 2-1, but a second penalty was missed so MFS were still 2-1 down. Yet soon after, a cracking free kick went through the wall to make it 2-2. A great game which was disappointing from View's angle but excellent for MFS.

Sporting Redhouse 5 Southview 0
Another solid performance from Sporting as they enter the final stages. Southview played good football but unfortunately lacked an end product. The defeat was heavy with five goals conceded. Middlemiss scored three while Walker and John Hunt scored the others. Southview have a very difficult game next week against Hylton Castle so progress is needed to halt these unexpected heavy defeats from an obviously talented side.

Sassco.co.uk 3 Surestart 0 - result awarded

Surestart have pulled out of the league which was half expected. Ever since Richie Press left the team a while back, the side have been struggling with kit and have incurred at least two fines. Rob Weiss was the reluctant manager, and from personal experience, when a manager changes, the team tends to fall apart. A replacement may be entered (similar to View, a team put together) but until then, 3-0 wins will be awarded to the opposition.

After this season ends, there will be small cup competition, but after that, there won't be a new Thursday season for the forseable future. Thursday Season 4 might start up in Summer 2006, but that depends on the availability of the pitch and the amount of teams etc. This season started off with 6 teams and then went to 8. However, two weak entrants, Surestart and Hylton View pulled out, leaving myself to arrange replacements which is very difficult now considering that I also run the Tuesday league and that the 11-a-side team kicks off in competitive football in September. Also the point of a Thursday league has always been to be hassle free and easy going. However with teams dropping out it's far from it.

-14th July 2005| back to top

Makeshift View get a win!

Sassco smashed. Sporting and Southwell keep winning.

Hylton Castle 7 Sassco.co.uk 1
Without Middlemiss, Gaz, Jase and John, Sassco kept hold of Hembrough and then added Pearson with Anth Mouat in goal. Muers was playing outfield and managed to score in one of his first meaningful chances. However after that, he was shite (can't say it any plainer than that). Hylton Castle came back strongly and peppered the Sassco goal with shot after shot. Most of them went in. It was 3-1 at one stage and Sassco simply collapsed allowing Hylton Castle to run from the back unopposed, thus wreaking havoc. It was 7-1 in the end and could have been more. Good win for Hylton as they try and keep pace with the top two. Their games against Sporting (again) and Southwell are going to be crackers and could well decide if they have it in them to catch up, despite the dropped points earlier in the season.

Hylton View 3 Surestart 0

Who could have believed it. After removing the old Hylton View team who were becoming a laughing stock, this new one couldn't be more of a contrast. The veteran legs of Mitchell and Garrett, both outfield, along with the three Youth players, with Mullen in goal, was a perfect combination. Dixon and Smithee were also in the side and they took the lead against a strong looking Surestart side. They eventually ran out 3-0 winners, with Smithee getting two and Snowdon getting one. More importantly, Mullen kept it tight at the back and didn't concede. Garrett's performance was noteworthy. He hasn't kicked an outfield ball in anger for nearly three years. Well done lads and especially to the Youth for keeping the old ones going. MFS next week.

Sporting Redhouse 6 MFS 2
Ally Hiles, the much troubled MFS manager, did get a team out this week without any major problems. Only problem was that the Geordie was outfield for them and he happily gave the ball away to Minnie to concede a goal to make it 2-2 to Sporting. Minnie added to his tally with another goal, but John Hunt was the hero of the night with a brilliant hat-trick. Trevor added to the goals as well. Sporting are still keeping pace with the Champions and look like the closest candidates to knock them off the summit. However with another game v Hylton Castle a week after their Southwell encounter, it could be a very tight finish.

Southwell FC 6 Southview 0

The last game between these two was a tight game, but this time Southview suffered badly. But their own lads knocking each other out (not deliberately) didn't help. Southwell opened with goals from Wardle and Greenwell before Jimmy "Crouch" Donkin added to his ever increasing table. A good win for the Pennywellites as they look to keep their trophy. With only five weeks remaining, it looks likely that Castle and Sporting have to take something from them for definite.

-7th July 2005| back to top

1.875 goals per minute for Hylton Castle.

16 against View. Southwell still ahead. MFS and Southview share the points.

Southwell FC 5 Sassco.co.uk 3
With Muers in goal, it's always going to be a gamble. But to be more precise it's like betting on the Titanic not sinking even when you know it's been under the ocean for 80 bloody years. Anyway, the opener wasn't his fault, but the second was a true clanger in every sense of the word. Imagine a frog standing up and you'll see how Muers positioned himself for the second strike. It was like the gap to end all gaps, it was like that school kid with "kick me" written on his back, it was a gap bigger than the ones between Wayne's teeth. From the build up it's quite obvious that you know it was 2-0, but Sassco hit one back to make it 2-1 from Hembrough. Game on, but the second saw Southwell, again, take the lead from slack marking. But Jason Amour unleashed a bullet past Paul Martin in goal. It wasn't good enough. Even another goal didn't stop Southwell from getting five. It was Wardle with two, Lee Smith (on his debut) with two and most disturbing of all, Greenwell getting one. For Muers, it was more shame as I ran out of languages to swear at him in. Also disappointing was Middlemiss shearing his locks off, the same locks which were put to so much good use on Tuesday. Never mind, Sassco plug away and, yes, Muers will be there again next week.

Hylton Castle 16 Hylton View 0
If only they had the electric chair in Downhill, because Hylton View do need to be put out of their misery. With Sassco banging 11 past them (and Sangha scoring. The Olympics come round more often then him scoring), Hylton View thought it couldn't get worse - but it did. Hylton Castle, fresh from excellent performances last week and also on Tuesday, hit them with all they had. View suffered a record defeat of 16 goals which really can't be bettered. That's a ratio of 1.875 goals per minute. Even the Love Doctor was usurped by Pottsy streaming out of goal, weighed down by his trackies, but still caressing in a left footer to the top corner. Amongst the goalscoring highlights, Keith Moon got a hat-trick but Cresswell and Snowball bettered it with four each. It really couldn't get any worse. On a downer though, Hylton View owe too much money to the league and the deadline for payment was today. From next week onwards, a representative team will be replacing them organised by Davinder Sangha. Hylton View management will have to pay the outstanding money via Durham FA now who will receive all the paperwork. If any players out there fancy a kickabout for View's six remaining games, then feel free to contact me or place a message on the message board.

Sporting Redhouse 4 Surestart 0
Frustration got the better of Sporting as they beat Surestart but not by a margin they would have wanted. Middlemiss scored one goal while Trevor helped himself to a hat-trick. Surestart were stubborn, exactly as they were in their opener against Sporting, but the quality simply wasn't there. Hunt and Keith Mouat both got yellow cards and Hunt nearly suffered a red after one too many wisecracks. Not needed Mr. Hunt, best to just get on with the game and not to backchat the referee.

Southview 1 MFS 1
With Ally Hiles returning and still struggling with a team, their game against Southview was going to be difficult. But just as they performed against Hylton Castle in similar circumstances, they did the same here. An opening goal scored was a bonus and to be perfectly honest, there should have had more if it wasn't from acrobatics from Brian Marley, this time in goal. His good work paid off and eventually Southview equalised in one of their rare openings. This game counted as double due to the late entry of both teams, so both came away with two points each.

Surestart are fined £5 for one player wearing incorrect shorts and socks, again.

Hylton View are due to be replaced by a new team, or by a representative team. Anyone interested in playing for this new team, please click here to contact us.

-30th June 2005| back to top

Hylton Castle 1 Sporting Redhouse 0.

Southwell's five hit seven. Southview/Sassco share nine goals.

MFS v Surestart
MFS, as expected, didn't turn up. Ally Hiles, their manager is currently on holiday and despite refusing to cancel the game (like I requested) his deputies didn't get a team out. This now means that they are fined £15 and also have two points deducted. I'll discuss the way ahead with Ally Hiles as it seems likely that the team will be replaced.

Southwell FC 5 Hylton View 2
This time it was Southwell who had only four players prior to kick off. Stubba popped in late and the five superstars took on a full Hylton View team which also featured Super Kev. However, it didn't work out. Southwell got themselves an opener (which was soon cancelled out) and never looked back. Final score was 7-2 which puts View well and truly in the doldrums after their 11-0 hammering the previous week.

Hylton Castle 1 Sporting Redhouse 0
The game of the night for definite. Hylton Castle were buoyant after their superb win over the Sporting "A" team on Tuesday and weren't surprised to see a full strength line up. Tactical genius, Tarnjit Sangha, threw in a proper clanger though, by replacing Walker with John Hunt; "John Who?" I hear you say. Well, Hunt was the mastermind behind Sunderland Select's dominance of the Tuesday league but his laborious and some would say tank-like movements failed to ignite the massive audience as Hylton were clearly superior. Both Hunt and the returning Keith Mouat got physical, but Hylton, brilliantly didn't respond but responded by Keith Moon slotting past (or is it through) Sangha in goal. 1-0 and Hylton never remotely looked like losing this encounter. Great game and great result.

Southview 5 Sassco.co.uk 4
An amazing end to end game where both teams scored 9 goals between themselves. Southview opened the scoring after dominating the first few minutes, but immediately, Jase unleashed the beast and got one back. "Muers you moron!" was the buzzword after the aforementioned idiot let a proper clanger in. But again, Sassco ignored his mess and got one back. Southview scored again! This time in the second half only to see Sassco score two to go ahead. 4-3, but with such an open game (i.e. bad defending) more goals were to come and Southview equalised before hitting the winner near the end. A great game - shame it wasn't a draw but Southview gain their second win on the trot.

MFS are fined £15 for failing to show for a game. They are also deducted two points and are most likely going to be replaced by a new team with new management (under the name MFS).

-30th June 2005| back to top

League News.

Rule changes.

• From now on, all teams must hand in team details before 9:30pm on the night. This can be done by writing the line up and goalscorers on a piece of paper and handing it in or via SMS or email (as long as sent before 9:30pm). A £2 fine will be administered if this doesn't happen. Warnings will be made for the next few weeks before fines start kicking in. From personal experience, the minute a fine is given, then the team usually complies with the rule.

• Anyone kicking a ball away in anger or frustration will now be forced to retrieve it. This has occurred in the past but mostly the ball stays within the ground. Sometimes the ball gets kicked over the fence and this is when the person will be forced to retrieve it (unless a passer-by throws it back). Be warned, if you have no substitutes then you'll be playing with 5 men while the idiot is forced to get the ball. This rule is going to be implemented immediately.

Player signing and transfers are much more flexible this season. A few examples come to mind:

McClusky played once for Sassco.co.uk. He then was called up by Sporting Redhouse. This is acceptable, but he's tied to Sporting for a minimum of three games (or weeks) before he can play for anyone else. So he's okay to play for Sporting at any time in those three weeks (or not if that's the case). For example, he can play for Sporting for three consecutive games and then is free to join, say, MFS. He will then have to play out three games/weeks for MFS before joining someone else.

Luckily, the Sassco League has never had a problem with "ringers" coming in for big games. Most of the teams understand that they need to be loyal to their players as getting rid of the regulars eventually leads to player shortages when the "superstars" tend to drop them in it.

-23rd June 2005| back to top

Boiling point for Hylton Castle.

Sangha scores*. MFS secure another win. Brilliant draw for Sporting Redhouse.

Sassco.co.uk 11 Hylton View 0
With last weeks inept performance behind them, Sassco lost the services of Oliver, Amour and Muers. The loss of Muers was acceptable though. In came Spong, Spence (in goal) and Kelsey, who made all the difference. Hylton View only had five players and Sassco struggled to get the goals in during this time. Two goals ahead and more chances missed before the sixth player turned up gave Sassco some worries. Ironically, a breakaway goal was scored to make it 3-0 and the team visibly relaxed. Eventually 11 goals were secured by Sassco, doing their goal difference a great favour after last weeks disaster v Hylton Castle. Middlemiss scored 6, Gaz 2 and Sangha (yes Sangha!), Kelsey and Spong scored the others.

MFS 2 Hylton Castle 1
Well, what can you say. Hylton Castle are always up for it, which is a good thing. But this time it spilled over with arguments between players of their own team and it flared up quite badly with two lads (Trotter and Gowy) going at it with each other. This obviously put them off their game as MFS quietly took their chances to gain a superb win. Question now is to see whether Ally Hiles, away on holiday can get his place back in the team which did really well under difficult and aggressive conditions. Their opponents, Hylton, were simply put out of their stride by actions off the pitch, but these things tend to happen - especially in the heat. Hylton were probably disappointed after throwing away all the good work after their great win last week.

Southwell FC 1 Sporting Redhouse 1
A vastly depleted team for Sporting took on a full strength Southwell team. It could have been a slaughter, but luckily, replacing Tarnjit "The Acrobatic Eel" Sangha was McClusky (who made one token appearance for Sassco0 and he pulled off saves to his usual high standard. Trevor Walker took full advantage and put Sporting into the lead. However, Wardle secured an equaliser late in the second and his team, based on possession and chances, should have won this one hands down. Also they weren't helped by two late clangers from Wayne Greenwell, although one was a great save from McClusky. This one also nearly flared up with Wardle, Greenwell and Stubba (the usual suspects) at each others throats constantly in the second half as time wore on and the extra two points evaporated.

Southview 2 Surestart 1
Southview's first win hit a stumble in the early stages as Steve Lay fired in the first goal for Surestart, who are now under the control of Rob Weiss. Southview soon got to grips with the encounter and in the second half turned the result around with two goals. Unfortunate for Surestart, but a good first win for Southview as their good football finally returned tangible results. There should have been more goals, but Ronnie Lay, this time safely behind his blue semi-circle, pulled off some great saves.

Surestart are fined £5 for two players wearing different coloured shorts and socks to the rest of their team.

* Sangha has never officially scored a goal in the Tuesday League, despite playing in there since January 2000.