Week two of the RMC sponsored league

Submitted by Ian Nicol

15th September 2002

The first matter to report this evening is that a delegation from Pentland met up with league officials and a referees representative to put forward a case for allowing Pentland in the league. It was accepted that due to someone being on holiday and another of sick no one turned up at the meeting and Pentland always were looking to enter a side into the league. A quick chat between all interested parties has resulted in Pentland being admitted but must play all their matches at 9 o'clock against whatever team had a free week. This will commence on Monday 23 September. The games they have already missed against Strokes, Young Guns and JOG will be played later in the season to suit the teams. The league committee are stressing that this is a one off. All teams must be represented at next years AGM. There will be no exception!

Match 2 of the RMC sponsored league and the headlines are,
Workshops can only draw with Arctic Thistle as Ashes hit 9 against Sharks.

Workshops raced into a 2 goal lead against new boys Arctic Thistle with goals by Andrew Taylor and Dougie MacKay.
Arctic Thistle hit back through Huw Widgery and then hit a dramatic late equaliser from Chris Williamson to grab a share of the spoils.

Earlier league debutants Strokes recorded a fine 3-1 win over Top Joes. Bobby Thorburn hit an early goal for Strokes but George Sinclair levelled things. With five minutes left it looked like honours even but Thorburn again and 1 from John Holmes finished the match as a contest.

Ashes hit 9 against Sharks in the only 7 o'clock fixture this evening. A Graeme Roberson hat trick the pick of the bunch, he was also guilty of missing a penalty as Sharks goalkeeper Dave Terrace turned in a man of the match performance. 2 goals each for John Baikie and Scott Imlach with Mike Mcleod and Dave Stockan each with 1. Stockan also put through his own net for Sharks consolation.

RWE NUKEM powered into a 2 goal lead over Dynamo TJ's with goals form David Keith and Robert Macleod. TJ's pulled one back before half time through Craig Sutherland to make it game on. TJ's then enjoyed a spell of pressure but found RWE's goalkeeper Darryl MacAlpine in sparkling form. Just when it looked like RWE would nick the points TJ's managed a fine equaliser through Adam Sutherland as the points were shared. David Keith for RWE and Ian Smith of TJ's saw yellow.

Castletown saw a 2 goal advantage turn into a 2 goal defeat as Thurso Thistle showed they are serious contenders.
Goals from Stuart Mackenzie and Dougie Moar had Castletown flying. Terry Cannop hit a double to level things but Stuart McKenzie restored Castletowns lead. Steven Imlach pulled Thistle level again and Wayne McGinley put them in front for the first time. The match was finished as a contest when Andrew Newlands made it 5-3 for Thistle. Gary Calder for Castletown and Robert Campbell for Thistle both received yellow cards for dissent.

In the last game this evening Acks and JOG played the best football of the night. Fast and flowing this was sevens football at its best. Mark Banks fired Groats into the lead with a rocket shot from all of 20 yards. Acks pressed relentlessly but found Groats rearguard in rock solid form with Groats always ready to counter attack. Acks then missed a penalty after Brian Cormack was adjudged to trip in the box. Des MacKay fired the ball wide. The equaliser was coming though and James Mackay hit a shot which took a slight defection and somehow bobbled beyond the despairing grasp of Henderson in goals. The next goal was all important and with 5 minutes left it arrived for Groats. Acks disputed a free kick and the referee moved the ball forward 7 yards. As Acks tried to regroup Graeme Tate took advantage and fired home. 2 yellow cards in this game both for dissent. Stevie Reid for Acks and Mark Banks for Groats

Results

Arctic Thistle 2 Workshops 2
Strokes 3 Top Joes 1
Ashes 9 Sharks 1
Dynamo TJ's 2 RWE NUKEM 2
Thurso Thistle 5 Castletown 3
Acks 1 John O'Groats 2

Thursday 19th September fixtures
6 o'clock kick off
Top Joes v RWE NUKEM
Sharks v Workshops
7 o'clock kick off
Dynamo TJ's Thurso Thistle
Arctic Thistle v Strokes
8 o'clock kick off
Acks v Ashes
Castletown v Young Guns
Free week JOG

Top scorers

Graeme Robertson (Ashes) 4
Terry Cannop (Thurso Thistle) 4
George Sinclair (Top Joes) 3
Dougie MacKay (Workshops) 3