Select inevitably.
Weak challenges and team removals didn't help anyone's cause, but it's quite obvious that Select would continue to dominate. The gap was again 11 points, The closest rivals were Crown and SR-1. Lance Roberts also put up a good fight.

But as always, Select controlled it from start to finish, but they wobbled a bit for the first time when Crown Electrics defeated them 3-1 in a decisive game. However, the only other defeat was a 4-3 loss against a declining Slipway. They also drew against the same team when 3-0 down! A high scoring 4-4 draw against Sporting was the only other blip.

Inter, Ellie and Slipway had bad league campaigns while the likes of Sex & Chocolate, Wearview and Sporting never threatened the hierachy of Select, Crown, SR-1 and Lance.

Crown win their first trophy.
Amazingly enough, despite their dominance, Select never won the treble. This time they were set for a final show down with Crown but suffered a highly charged encounter against Team Inter. Two goals from Middlemiss set the scene as the Inter defence was pounded in the second. A late goal from Walker wasn't enough as Crown viewed a new opponent in the final. Crown had reached the summit, but they stumbled through the group stage. A 2-0 win over Boldon was followed by a 1-0 defeat v SNC. The critical game was 2-1 over SR-1, which put them into the second round.
There they faced Select and drew 2-2 and also had a 1-1 v Wearview to see a Semi clash with SNC. 2-1 put them into the Final - and not against Select.

Inter opened the scoring, but Crown equalised and took the game on penalties.

8th April 2003

Select 11 points clear at the end.

Crown throw away a 2 goal lead.

Season 5 concluded with two highly entertaining games.

Firstly Crown raced into a two goal lead with a first goal from Steve Smith followed by a long ranger from Clark against Anthony Mouat of Sporting. Yet even at 2-0 it was evenly balanced. The game was essentially decided by two goals at the end of each half. Stephen Wilson lashed in a goal at the end of the first and at the end of the second. Sporting could have deservedly snatched it in the last minute of the game, but Gav Greener fired wide.

Crown finished in 2nd place – 11 points behind Select, who easily defeated SNC 3-1. Williamson, Walker and Hunt scored for Select while Dixon scored the consolation for SNC.

John Cairns was awarded the Golden Boot for the fifth season running as he took 35 goals in all competitions. Walker and Williamson followed with 27 and 25. Wardle got 21. Also, Gary Davison was awarded Player of the Season for his sterling performances, as Select rarely lose when he is playing despite having a lack of cover in defence.

Verbal award went to Sex & Chocolate as the Team of the Season. They have had a considerable improvement over the course of the last few seasons. Semi Final in Season 2. Promotion in Season 3. Consolidation in Season 4. And in Season 5, a good league placing and appearances in two semi finals. Also Dave Robason was nominated as Best Player in the AGUK.net Super League for Crown and John Hunt for Select in the 5th SFL Cup.

Honours: Season 5

League Champions Sunderland Select

5th SFL Cup Winners Sunderland Select

AGUK.net Super League Winners Crown Electrics

Leading Goalscorer John Cairns (Select)

Player of the Season Gary Davison (Select)

Team of the Season Sex & Chocolate

Best Player SFL Cup John Hunt (Select)

Best Player Super League Dave Robason (Crown)

 1st April 2003

Inter achieve the impossible.

Crown edge it to their first ever Trophy.

It’s safe to say that the headline of the night was, without a doubt, team-intermedia.com’s 2-1 victory over Sunderland Select in the Semi Finals of the AGUK.net Super League. A truly battling and awesome adrenaline filled performance put Inter 2-0 ahead in the first 15 minutes. Middlemiss and Kelsey grabbed the goals. It was then backs to the wall as Select piled on the pressure. Inter pressure constantly and kept the shooting down to a minimum. Walker reduced the deficit with a shot from an angle to make it 2-1 to set up a frenetic last eight minutes. But slowly time ebbed away and Inter had achieved the impossible – which completely belied their third from bottom finish. Yet in a way, history was on their side. A 4-3 win was Select’s first ever defeat in Season 3. And in Season 4, it was Inter which were and still are the only team to prevent Select from scoring in a 0-0 draw. This season we saw a 2-2 draw and a narrow 3-2 defeat.

And how must young Dave Gourlay feel now? He prioritised an important indoor game in favour of his Semi Final against Crown as he expected Select in the Final. They weren’t and two sparkling goals from the man of the moment, Steve Stubbs sent Crown through. SNC hadn’t been beaten off Crown this season and would be classed as their bogey team – but not anymore. A narrow 2-1 defeat set up an Inter v Crown Final.

Crown, in the Final, were placed under similar pressure which Inter applied in the Semi. So it was no surprise to see Middlemiss fire in an opener. A defensive mix up saw Wardle lash in an equaliser and that was where the scoring ended. The second half saw some intense pressure from Crown as Keith Mouat for Inter was a hobbling passenger. Nothing came of it – so it was penalties. Mark Kelsey missed a critical one before sudden death, but Sangha saved a good strike from Jeff Clark. Kelsey then missed another one and it was left to Sangha to attempt to save, but he couldn’t and Crown managed to win their first ever Trophy since their entrance in January 2000.

Boldon and Ellie played out their final League game. A 0-0 draw was a surprise and demonstrated Boldon’s progress. Disappointing overall as Ellie really need a better Season in Season 6 and Boldon need to grab some wins.

Two friendlies again tonight. Ryhope succumbed to a 3-2 defeat off the demoralised Select and Posithread.co.uk beat JJB Sports 4-1.

 25th March  2003

Ellie get two consecutive wins.

Select easily trounce Lance Roberts.

Select, comfortable Champions, did not take their foot off the pedal against Lance Roberts in an easy 3-0 win. Trevor Walker, John Cairns and John Hunt scored the goals for the Champs in a one sided game.

Lance followed this with an uncomfortable win over Sex & Chocolate. The game flared up in the second half which resulted in Neil Middlemiss being sent off. This was Lance’s last ever game in the League and despite ending with a win, it ended on a sour note. . . and I lost a bloody ball as well.

Two notable friendly games were played on this night. Team-intermedia.com comfortably waltzed past a hapless JJB Sports team under the control of Craig Henderson. Only this time, Hendo didn’t have the likes of Alan Burn or Lee Cuddihy to bolster his attack. A comfortable 8-0 victory for Inter.

Ryhope made their debut in a friendly against Posithread.co.uk and actually opened the scoring. Shaun Snowdon’s team hit back to take a share of the match in a 1-1 draw. A very positive result. Alan Slack’s Ryhope team could make a similar impact two what Ellie Leisure did a few season’s back – well organised, strong and definitely up for it.

18th March  2003

Select have retained the Title.

2-1 win over Crown confirms the Championship.

A thrilling opening game between Select and Crown in the Cup ended in a 2-2 draw. This was played with openness as both teams were assured of a Semi-Final berth. Goals from Wardle, Cairns and Williamson graced the game which swung from end to end.

The “proper” game ended in a decisive 2-1 win for Select. Wardle grabbed a late consolation, but goals from Lawton and Walker had already secured an expected Title. There was an exceptionally slim chance of Crown sneaking it. To do this, they had to hope that Select failed to gain maximum points in their last two games as well as losing this one. Well done to Select who have graced the League for the last three Seasons. In Season 3 they were under the control of Tarnjit Sangha to win at a canter. In Season 4, John Hunt was in sole control, and with Trevor Walker on board, they turned into a formidable unit. Season 5 simply confirms this.

It may be getting to a stage where the League is uncompetitive because of Select’s involvement, but this is irrelevant. Select would win ANY league which they entered and it’s a pleasure to have such a well organised and good to watch team. It speaks volumes to know that Select have only utilised 7 players this Season, the smallest squad in the League.

Inter failed to beat SNC again as they went down to a solitary Chris Dixon goal. This win meant that Lance were eliminated and SNC leapfrogged over Inter to head the group and face Crown Electrics – a team they have beaten twice and drawn with this season. This means that Inter have a formidable task ahead of them in Select. Inter’s enjoyable Cup escapades could come to an abrupt end.

In the League games played this night, Posithread (Wearview) trounced Ellie Leisure with goals from Dave Hutton (2) and Lee Rumley. This concludes Posi’s involvement this Season which has seven games played and only one loss. A good sign for Season 6.

Ellie went on to secure a narrow win over Boldon by 4-3. Boldon were actually a few goals down but turned the tide when the inept Simon Keir (Cola Boy) threw down his gloves and graced the pitch to instigate a magnificent fight back. In vain, however as Ellie held on.

Slipway also suffered at the hands of Sporting Redhouse again. A 3-0 defeat puts them second bottom on goal difference with the hapless Inter.

11th March  2003

Inter into the Semi’s.

SR-1 blast their way into third place. Posithread hold Crown.

The surprisingly large crowd watching the Inter v Lance game erupted after a truly wonder strike from David Staples past Chris Conifey in goal. Inter were 1-0 ahead in a game, where if they won, would put them into the semi finals. Lance and SNC had played out a very enjoyable 3-3 draw the previous week which meant Inter had two chances to get through. They had beaten and drawn against Lance this season in the League, but had lost to SNC twice. Lance, fired on by Greenwell, Middlemiss and Muers piled on the pressure but the solitary first half goal put Inter into the Semi Finals. A pretty decent record now. Inter (previously as Herrenknecht and Sassco) reached the semi final stage in Season 3 (1-0 defeat to Royal Mail in the SFL Cup), and won 4-0 v Sporting last season in the SFL Cup.

Lance have to hope that team-intermedia.com beat SNC by at least two clear goals to put them through.

Slipway edged out Boldon 2-0 in a not so timid game. Boldon, as always, felt hard done by with Referee Tommy Foster. But Slipway made their chances count. Melvin Keith and Terry Halliwell grabbed the goals. Boldon were to face off later against SNC – who had a bad night. Sporting Redhouse walloped them 5-0 with goals from Greener (3), Butler and Wilson. SNC had played out a draw against the same team only two weeks ago. Boldon then were cruising past SNC with a 1-0 lead. This was soon equalised as SNC, despite playing horrendously, grabbed a share of the points. Boldon, again, went 2-1 ahead only to be pegged back by a weak goal. 2-2 the final score and, once more, missed chances from Boldon.

Finally, SR-1 signed off in style with 5 clear goals past Ellie Leisure. Lee Cuddihy scored two, while Lyall, McClements and Ward grabbed a share of the rest. A brilliant performance, and allied with SNC’s bad day, it pushed SR-1 into third place. SNC need maximum points against Select and Lance Roberts to finish in third.

 4th March  2003

Posithread shocker!

6-0 reverse in the Super Cup.

The much vaunted Posithread v Select game took place tonight. Posi were the unbeaten new boys who were about to face their sternest test to date. It’s safe to say that they failed miserably. Select took control and hammered six goals past them in thirty minutes. Shaun Snowdon’s side tried to make a difference but clearly struggled after a weak early penalty was conceded. John Hunt, Simon Williamson and Trevor Walker all shared six goals between them as Select topped their group and look set for the semi finals.

The other game in the other group was a perfect result for team-intermedia, despite them not playing. Lance and Sex & Chocolate battled out an impressive and highly enjoyable 3-3 draw. Gourlay bagged two for SNC as they came back to share the spoils.

Inter were actually playing on the night, but in the League. A 3-1 defeat against Sporting was nothing really to be ashamed about, but missed chances and weak shooting cost them. Greener opened the scoring for Sporting followed by Wilson. Leithes grabbed one back and for most of the second half it was a case of when Inter were going to score. But as mentioned, missed chances led to Lee Butler firing in a third at the death.

SR-1 saw off Boldon’s brief and impressive challenge with three goals – two from Cuddihy and one from Dennis. Boldon had all the early chances but as always, struggled to score – which is exactly the reason that they are at the foot of the table.

 25th February 2003

Crown drop points.

0-0 against SR-1.

The much vaunted Sporting Redhouse tried and tried, but couldn’t manage to breakdown a resilient (if not late) SNC team. A few seasons back this would have probably been a four or five nil game for Sporting, but times have changed and SNC are more than able to hold their own up against the best. The point pushes them into third, above both Lance and SR-1 – who almost forfeited the game against Crown due to an injury crisis. Lee Cuddihy somehow managed to cobble a team together which performed outstandingly against Crown. A 0-0 draw against Crown was much better than the 2-1 defeat in the Cup last week and also the 3-0 hammering earlier in the Season. SR-1 are now in fourth place. Slipway, despite being holed up at the bottom of the table with Boldon, grabbed an all to important win against team-intermedia.com. Despite Inter’s miraculous qualification into the Cup Second Round, the team failed to finish it’s chances despite going ahead with a rare Michael Booth goal. Davinder Sangha was playing out of goal for the second week running and didn’t do too badly – but fellow veteran, Melvin Keith stole the show with a two smash and grab strikes. Mark Kelsey flared up again and, as expected, referee Tommy Foster didn’t produce a card again.

Finally, Ellie faced off against Select for what seemed like the umpteenth time. The result was the same – three points for Select with two goals from Trevor Walker. Select have now defeat Ellie 5-1 and 2-0 in the League, and 4-2 and 4-0 in the Cups – the latter coming in the 5th SFL Cup Final.

 18th February 2003

Inter into the Second Phase.

Helping hand from the “new look” Sporting.

Posithread’s first dropped points since replacing Wearview came against Inter in a 1-1 draw. Surprising, really, considering that Inter were well under strength, fielding the veteran, William Harper and Sangha outfield. A penalty late in the game was scored by Mark Kelsey, although it was cancelled out near the end. Slipway then had to beat Sporting to progress. They were, however, facing a Sporting team considerably changed from last week’s 5-1 debacle. Only Wilson was left from the original team. The new look team contained Lee Butler, Ryan McNaught, Paul Mouat, Anth Mouat and Gavin Greener. They ran out 2-1 winners in a bad tempered game. So for what seemed the first time since Season 1, the Slipway were ready to progress to the latter stages, but failed again.

The other games went to form. Crown shattered SR-1’s faint hopes of qualifying with a 2-1 win. Select dismissed Ellie Leisure 4-2 to enjoy a 100% record matched by SNC, who defeated Boldon 2-1 in a very bad tempered game. Simon Keir was sent off in the dying moments for dissent.

 11th February 2003

Posi, Select and SNC are through.

Inter and SR-1 have a fighting chance. Boldon and Sporting are out.

Inter gave themselves a lifeline in the group stage by surprisingly thrashing Sporting Redhouse 5-1 in their best performance of the Season. The recalled Middlemiss weighed in with two brilliant goals to match Mark Kelsey’s two and also an opening penalty from David Staples. Stephen Wilson, for Sporting, grabbed a consolation to make it 3-1, but Inter stepped up a gear to give themselves a fighting chance to get out of the group.

Especially when Posithread trounced Slipway 3-0 thirty minutes later. Slipway put out a strong team, but Posithread were far too good for them. Shaun Snowdon’s squad hasn’t been defeated since taking the reigns from Wearview, with three straight wins (two in the Cup Group). Ben Gawthaw, Dave Hutton and Lee Rumley (off the bench) grabbed the goals.

Select ran out comfortable 5-2 winners over Lance to set up an excellent decider between Lance and Ellie. Both teams are on equal points, but Lance have a lesser deficit and more goals scored, so a draw will see them through – but Ellie will take heart from an opportunity to get through.

SNC, with a wonder goal to overcome Crown Electrics, are through with six points. The brilliant strike from new player, John Depardieu, midway through the second half means that Crown have to at least avoid a defeat against SR-1 in their last game. SR-1 dismissed Boldon in a lively and niggling 2-0 win. Lee Cuddihy and Joe Dennis scored the two goals in a game where Idris Balarabe and Mark Lyall were caution. Balarabe was close to a sending off, but the game petered out once SR-1 went 2-0 ahead.

 21st January 2003

AGUK.net Super League opens.

Sporting, Sassco, Boldon, Ellie and SR-1 face crunch games

A major event occurred in the Sassco League on this day, 21st January 2003. One can hark back to a misty evening on 3rd October, three years ago in the year 2000. On that night, Tarnjit Sangha bowed out of the limelight with Sporting Redhouse as they were eliminated by a solitary Steve Lawson goal for Royal Mail in the 2nd SFL Cup. This was only their second defeat in around 70 games under Tarnjit Sangha in all competitions. They had already surrendered their League Title to Royal Mail a week earlier and Tarnjit decided to bow out, handing the reigns to Darren Duggan. Yet merely three years later, Tarnjit was again back in control of Sporting Redhouse with only the enigmatic Stephen Wilson appearing with him. Giants of the past, the likes of Stuart Wright and Scott Wright were brought into the fold to form a new look Sporting. Yet age has taken it's toll on Tarnjit Sangha in the past few years and it clearly showed as a much more compact and impressive Posithread team tore Sangha's team of the last century apart as goals from Steve Willie and Dave Scott separated the teams. A third goal from substitute Lee Rumley was a reply to a Stephen Wilson strike, which gave a brief glimmer of hope. Yet apart from that, the sorry sight of Tarnjit Sangha misplacing passed and easily being beaten was a far cry from the once feared defender of three years ago.

Sibling rivalry doesn’t add up to much these days as both Tarnjit and Davinder Sangha came first and second in Season 1. Now both are floundering as Davinder Sangha, still playing (albeit not managing) team-intermedia.com suffered a harsh but fair defeat at the hands of the old enemy Slipway. Both Mooney’s (Michael and William) were playing alongside John Pybus. The average age of the Slipway was balanced by the addition of the Halliwell twins who performed fantastically to give their team a 3-1 win. So at the moment, both Slipway and Posithread head the group and look likely to proceed.

Lance Roberts had something to shout about with an emphatic win over a struggling Ellie Leisure team. A 4-0 win with goals from Hembrough, Muers and two from Middlemiss gave Lance Rackstraw a comfortable option in the group which also features Select. Ellie have to beat Select to have any real hope of progressing, something they have failed to do in League and challenge cup.

Sex & Chocolate also proved how good they are as a team by overcoming a tricky SR-1. Tim Gillespie put them 2-0 early in the second half as the result seemed certain. Yet a goal from SR-1 put them back into it before a simple one-two allowed Graeme Cassidy to stride through midfield to strike the winner. And all this occurred with Dave Gourlay only coming on as a second half sub.

Crown struggled past Boldon as only two late goals (one being a disputed, but brilliant Shaun Forrest free kick), saw them gain the three points. An evenly balanced game was watched by Jon Wardle on the sidelines as his goalscoring prowess was missing. A second from Dave Robason sealed the win.

17th December 2002

Crown crash!

Wearview/Posithread.co.uk open with an impressive win

The tie between Crown and SNC kicked off late due to an error in the schedule, which meant both teams were on edge. Two superb goals separated the teams in the opening half. Chris Scott scored an all too rare strike to put SNC 1-0 ahead, but Wardle blasted in an unstoppable free-kick past stand in keeper, Daykin to make it 1-1. A late strike from SNC, however, put Crown out of the running, albeit temporarily, as the defeat gives Select the initiative to race ahead for the Title.

Slipway were still, apparently, celebrating their “historic” win over Select and put out the same six players, who were rudely awakened by a rampant Lance Roberts team who simply wanted it more. A 5-0 defeat for Slipway puts them back to square one as the win over Select seems a distant memory.

Finally, Wearview, under the control of Shaun Snowdon played their penultimate game and gained a tremendous and highly impressive victory. The team which is known as Posithread.co.uk (albeit Wearview for their last two League ties), easily dismissed a weak show from team-intermedia.com who themselves were celebrating their previous week’s win over Lance Roberts. David Leithes was a limping passenger for most of the second half, but still, Posithread.co.uk fired in three impressive goals to give them a strong positive showing for their AGUK.net Super League campaign, which will pit them against Slipway, Sporting Redhouse and also team-intermedia.com

Winter Break: Games resume on the 7th January 2002. Thanks for all the support from teams and players this year. The season commences with three weeks of Super League games in January. . .

 10th December 2002

Lance Roberts played Mark Banks who is still signed on for the Slipway, against Crown Electrics which means that the result is declared void and Crown are through to the Quarter Finals. A similar event occurred at the end of Season 4, when Sporting Redhouse played Chris Middlemiss in the Play-Off Semi-Final against Castletown. The 1-0 win was reversed. Had this happened in the League, then Lance would have been deducted 3 points. Rules are there to be abided by – not to have certain players who are “bored” just to have a game. True, Lance were short, but then unfortunately they should have chose a player who wasn’t registered in the League. Mark Banks played in the 2-1 win for Slipway against Inter only the previous week.

Castletown secured an important win over Sex and Chocolate to move them up one place through a George Ferguson brace. Dave Gourlay scored yet again for Sex and Chocolate who will be disappointed with not picking up at least a point from the game.

Inter bounced back from last weeks narrow defeat off Slipway. In a ill tempted  game where 3 players received cautions. Inter were soon 2 up through David Staples (his first goal of Inter) and David Leithes. Simon “Cola Boy” give his team hope beating Michael Smillie with a weak shot. Inter were not to be denied and Craig Richardson fired home to give Inter the 3 points.

In the first round of the SFL Cup Sunderland Select scored 6 for the 2nd week running thumping Boldon Wanderers 6-0 with John Cairns bagging 4 and the in-form Trevor Walker hitting 2.

Wearview entertained Sporting in the battle of the “Jackson twins”. Gary was the happier of the 2 scoring 1 and assisting defender Rob Glanville to 2 goals as Wearview swept aside Sporting. Craig Spence also saved an early first half penalty from Stephen Jackson on a night Sporting will want to forget.

Lance beat Crown 3-2 on penalties with Dave Robason missed the decisive penalty kick after a 1-1 draw in normal time. However this result was overturned as Lance fielded an ineligible player in Mark Banks so Crown progressed through.

SFL Quarter Final Draw

Ties to be played on 19 November 2002

Crown Electrics v Slipway

Sunderland Select v Wearview

Castletown v SR-1

Sex & Chocolate v team-intermedia.com

Cup Results:

Select 6 Boldon 0

Crown 1 Lance 1

3-2 to Lance on Penalties (result declared void, Crown go through)

Sporting 0 Wearview 3

22nd October 2002

Select close the gap.

Slipway’s first win since mid July.

The opening game of the night produced 9 goals and could have been far more but for Davison and Spence pulling off some excellent stops. Gary Jackson and Alan Elliott gave Wearview an early 2 goal lead and produced an early onslaught at the Select goal with chances from Chris Middlemiss and Gary Jackson. It seems once Select go a goal down its spurs them on, they were soon ahead with 4 goals from Trevor Walker who has started to bang the goals in, in the absence of John Cairns and Simon Williamson bagging 2. Gary Jackson secured his  2 goal of the night but in the end his goals for only consolidations.

SR-1 slipped down to third place after a defeat at the hands of Lance. SR-1 had a few new signings including goalkeeper Graeme Roper (formerly of Wearview) who kept the score down. Lee Cuddihy missed a first half penalty whilst Mark Muers and Scott Hembrough scored at the other end to ensure that Lance recorded another victory.

Crown Electrics faced Sporting Redhouse with Crown knowing that 3 points was essential after Select’s 6-3 win earlier. This game was a bit ill tempted with Tom Robason picking up a caution after a tussle with Paul Mouat. Jon Wardle who appears to have found his scoring boots once again fired Crown ahead after holding off Ryan McNaught. But Sporting denied Crown the 3 points enabling Select with a game in hand to within a point of Crown when Stephen Jackson fired home yet again in the 2nd half.

Sex & Chocolate appear to be moving up the table slowly, moving up to 5th after another solid performance against basement boys Boldon with Chris Scott, Dave Gourlay and Chris Dixon firing in the goals. Ian McDowell scoring Boldon’s solitary goal.

Slipway recorded their 1st win since mid July at the hands of Inter. Inter had a lot of possession in the early stages but Slipway created the best chances on the break mainly through Mel Keith. It was Mel Keith who ironically give the Slipway the lead after a neat header from a Mark Banks throw-in slipping through the goalkeepers hands. Mark Kelsey soon levelled things scoring his 2nd goal in 2 games. A deflected shot by Mel Keith put Slipway in the driving seat. Inter pressed forward to the end in search for a equaliser and were awarded a penalty  at the death when a Slipway defender was alleged to have ran across the box. Craig Richardson had the confidence to step up and take the kick but Stephen Keith who had been in fine form all night drove to his right and tipped the ball around the post to safety to ensure a narrow victory for Slipway.

 News

Gary Brown is in sole control of SR-1. Ellie Leisure now have a red/white 1st kit.

 15th October 2002

Select and Crown both win.

SR-1 still in Second Place

Unlike last week the games went according to the way the league suggested with the top 3 teams gaining maximum points as they battle it out for the title.

In the opening game of the evening S&C bounced back from their defeat at the hands of SR-1 last week recording a 1-0 narrow victory over Ellie Leisure with Dave Gourlay grabbing the only goal of the game.

SR-1 remained in 2nd spot after a hard fought match against the Slipway, managing to come from behind with 2 goals from Lee Cuddihy and Steve Hutchison grabbing a goal cancelling out strikes from Joe Dove and George Lavelle.

Boldon were full of confidence after their famous 1-0 victory over Crown last week but Sporting Redhouse were up for the challenge and Stephen Jackson 2 goals taking his tally to  in 2 games after missing last weeks thrashing off Lance Roberts.

Inter produced another solid performance hoping to make it two consecutive wins on the belt something they are yet to do. Mark Kelsey fired Inter ahead from a Sean Hounslow corner. This was a wake up call for Select and they were soon reversed the deficit with long range strikes from Trevor Walker and John Cairns as well as hitting the bar on 2 occasions. Inter levelled in the 2nd half through Craig Richardson but Select had the last laugh when John Hunt unmarked at the far post fired home to keep Select on course for the title once again.

It was expected to be a close encounter between Crown and Lance. Lance went into the match after a tremendous 5-0 win over Sporting and having only conceded 5 goals to their name. However Crown proved too strong on this occasion for Lance with Jon Wardle bagging 2 goals to help him get back on track towards the golden boot.  Steven Stubbs criticised on many occasions also helped himself to 2 goals whilst Neil Bainbridge rifled a long range shot past Paul Martin to score Lances only goal of the game.

 News

Davinder Sangha has been shifted (sacked) from his post as Coach for team-intermedia.com (six-a-side) and appointed Technical Director. Michael Booth takes over as Coach after guiding the team to a superb win (only their second) in his role as Temporary Team Selector.

 8th October 2002

Boldon achieve the impossible.

“Cola Boy’s” single strike ends a 21 match unbeaten run.

In the opening game of the night Boldon Wanderers pulled off the result of the season so far by ending Crown Electrics 21 game unbeaten record  with substitute Simon Keir scoring the solitary goal earlier in the second half. Ironically it was Boldon’s first victory of the campaign and who would have thought it would have came against Crown.

Third placed SR-1 moved up into second spot after a narrow win over S&C who conceded their first goal in four matches, Lee Cuddihy was the scorer.

Inter produced the second surprise of the night defeating Wearview comfortably 3-0, giving them only their second win accompanied with a clean sheet since the opening day of the season. Phil McNerney seeming to be hitting top form at the moment grabbing two and Craig Richardson completing the scoring to give Inter a much needed win.

Lance Roberts stormed to victory to add to their 3-0 win the previous week hitting five past Sporting Redhouse who were missing their new signing Stephen Jackson. This showed as Lance ran riot and Neil Middlemiss hit two, Mark Muers, Wayne Greenwell and an own goal completing the scoring

The final game of the night was an ill tempted game contested between Slipway and Ellie Leisure. Slipway only having five players created the early chances and were ahead on two occasions through Mel Keith but Ellie Leisure pegged them back almost immediately through Paul Noble and Gary Tyzack. Gary Tyzack then put Ellie Leisure ahead for  the first time in the game, a late penalty save by Ian Butler a John Pybus condemned Slipway to another defeat and looking precariously over their shoulder.

 News

Port of Tyne – who originally were replacements for JJB Sports – have been reluctantly deleted from the League. The team was struggling for players this week and normally a postponement would be at hand, but with them only having played one game, this postponement would have put them well behind the other teams in playing games.
 

 1st October 2002

Select and Crown – neck and neck.

A two horse race as last season’s top two break away.

The race between Select and Crown continued as both teams secured handsome wins. Select easily defeated Ellie Leisure by five goals to one in a game which was expected to be tight. Select opened the scoring but it was cancelled out by George Ferguson. Further goals from Select, however, made the crucial three points secure. Simon Williamson scored two goals and the others were shared between Hunt, Greener and Cairns.

Their rivals, Crown, sucker punched team-intermedia.com by a 4-1 score line. Two quick goals put them in the driving seat (the opener from Wardle who seems to be lagging behind in the goal scoring charts), but Inter grabbed one back from Craig Richardson after good work from Phil McNerney. More counterattack goals from Dave Robason (two) and Sean Forrest finished off the brief Inter fight back.

SR-1 played twice (back-to-back) and gained nothing from both games. The first was a 2-0 defeat against Sporting for whom Stephen Jackson grabbed another goal. Jeff Young scored the other as Sporting slowly climb back up the table.

Wearview, with goals from Elliott and Jackson, further dented SR-1, who are still in third place despite the two set backs.

Lance Roberts look comfortable in 5th place with several games in hand after a 3-0 trouncing of Boldon Wanderers, who have yet to win a game. Simon Keir’s team suffered at the hands of Neil Middlemiss, who scored two, and the “very fragile” Scott Hembrough, who seems to be making good progress towards full fitness.

 News

Sporting Club have been deleted from the League at their Manager’s request. The League now comprises of 12 teams. The new draw for the AGUK.net Super League and the 5th SFL Cup are as follows:

SR-1 have been moved from Group A to Group C. Top two in each group qualify for the Second Round Groups. The schedule will be amended accordingly.

 24th September 2002

Inter dropping into mediocrity.

Sporting Redhouse make some inspired signings.

Select opened the night with a comfortable and deserved 2-0 win against Lance Roberts who were unbeaten in 4 games spanning two months. John Cairns fired in an early opener and added to his tally in the second half to keep Select in third (points lost due to Sporting Club being deleted). They are three points behind Crown who suffered a minor setback in a 2-2 draw with Ellie Leisure. Tom Robason grabbed both Crown’s goals while Burnside and Ferguson scored for Ellie.

Slipway slipped further down the table with a 4-2 defeat against Wearview – a team they had previously beaten 1-0. Gary Jackson helped himself to the man-of-the-match award as well as two goals. Alan Elliott, returning from a self enforced ban got on the score sheet as well.

Joining them were the rapidly declining team-intermedia.com. An insipid performance led to a 2-0 defeat against SNC, a game where Kelsey and Hounslow had a running verbal battle in the second half. Michael Smillie appeared in goal, and despite some decent saves, could do nothing about a Chris Dixon pile-driver midway in the first.