Thwaites Win To Make it Three out of Three!!

Thwaites FC made an amazing start to the season in a sensational game which
ended 6-6 against Magpies. However Thwaites were awarded maximum points as
Magpies had two men sent off in a fiery encounter. Bric officials ordered
both teams off as the rules state you must have at least 3 outfield players
at any one time.

Thwaites were the better team, squandering several one-on-ones and smashing
the woodwork twice. They took lead through a Carl Elmer strike in the
opening 3 minutes only for Magpies to equalise straightaway. Damian Tabbinor
then cut through the defence to slam home to make it 2-1. However, the same
occured after Thwaites last took the lead as Magpies made it 2-2 almost
instantly. Match referee then dismissed Tabbinor for 2 minutes for an
inocuous challenge much to the disbelief to the rest of the on-looking
Thwaites team. A Magpies player was then sent off for the whole game after a
nasty challenge which was followed by foul and abusive language directed
towards the asian match referee. He referee was simply appalling and the
game lasted twice as long as it should due to all the stoppages.Minutes
before the first half ended, Magpies somehow took the lead to make it 3-2.

Early in the second half, when Thwaites were back to full strength they
looked to make the extra man count. However, Magpies started to play with
more fluency despite Carl Elmer levelling the scores to make it 3-3.
Magpies, however, then stormed into a 5-3 lead. Simon Tipton got Thwaites
back in the game with a delightful free-kick only for Magpies to restore
their two goal advantage to make the scores 6-4. Thwaites then fought hard
and several fierce challenges had the referee dishing out warnings to
members of both teams. The brewery team levelled the scores minutes before
time to make it 6-6 following strikes from Carl Elmer and Mark Slater.
Magpies tempers flared and a second Magpies player was dismissed after
felling Thwaites tricky winger Simon Tipton and Thwaites were handed the
victory and maximum points by Bric officials to send them joint top of the
5-a-side league. Jubilant scenes followed as Thwaites are now top of both
7-a-side and 5-a-side league. Good news as well for Thwaites is that Jamie
Hopwood made an appearance and his rift with manager Gary Targett seems to
have finally healed. Thwaites board members refused to comment on
specualtion that several members of the team were involved in an incident
with a bottle of Jack Daniels in the Station Hotel. However, main
instigator, yet again Jamie Hopwood (when will he learn?).

Match Ratings

Southworth 8 - spectator the first half, busy in the second
Tabbinor 9 - Mr Consistency
Elmer 8 - Lively and aggressive
Tipton 9 - Star performance, quick and eager and bloodshed by the end
Hopwood 7 - Valid Contribution
Targett 6 - Not on long enough
Slater 8 - Another impressive display despite lack of aggression at times