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20/9/2000 Hopefully, a full set of updates for the new season should begin to appear over the next few days.
Briefly, the new season has brought mixed fortunes for Fireplace Centre, now managed by the team of David and Gary Smith. The first four league games have brought two wins and two defeats, more losses than in all of last season. The fluctuating form is hardly surprising considering the heavy transfer activity of the close-season. The defence of the Championship began with a tie with Ben Lomond, formerly Longship, which ended in a 3-2 defeat. Fireplace have since won 5-1 at home to College, lost 4-2 to the scummy Carpet Warehouse and last Sunday, picked up the points after a thrilling 4-3 win over Jeff Raine Dairyman. Also coming soon will be some new look-a-likes, some new additions to the Hall of Fame and some new polls to occupy you. 12/5/2000 Fireplace have finally secured the title thanks to a 2-1 win over second placed Carpet Warehouse. The victory completes Fireplace's league campaign with 55 points out of a possible 60.
Fireplace took an early lead in the match thanks to a goal from Aaron Davison, who was the lone striker. Fireplace, only needing a draw for the league, were happy to sit back and soak up the Carpet pressure, with the possibility of a goal on the break. Man-markers were set on the Carpet front two, and Scott and Purvis strifled the threat, with David Smith sweeping behind.
Carpets were let back into it on the stroke of half-time when a debatable penalty was given against Purvis for handball. Blythe stepped up and converted to make it 1-1 at half-time. Fireplace were lifted however, as they knew they would be playing with the wind in the second half. The second half went by simlarly to the first, Carpets having lots of possession, but being unable to break down the dogged back-line. Special mentions should go the the midfield players who worked tirelessly to deny Carpets a winner. Fireplace continued to hit Carpets on the break, and a rush forward by Purvis led to a corner. Gary Smith headed home a good delivery from McDonald to give Fireplace the lead again. All Fireplace had to do then was hold on, at least for the draw. Carpets forced Gary Deans into his first save of the match, a straight-forward shot right at him, which was dealt with with ease. Fireplace never really looked in too much trouble from then on, and they could have even increased their lead through Dematas or Davison shots tipped wide. The final whistle blew amid scenes of delight for the Jarrow side, who picked up their first honour since forming four season ago. Fireplace now only have one game of their most successful season to date left, the match for the Lofthouse Shield v Bentinck, at a date tba, possibly Sunday 21st May.
5/5/2000 On Thursday night, Bentinck shook off the disappointment of the last minute equaliser that denied them all three points on Tuesday with a 3-2 Cup final victory over Carpet Warehouse.
Bentinck had led 2-0 after only ten minutes, but were clawed back to 2-2 before half-time. The winner came mid-way through the second half through Fletcher, and booked Bentinck's Lofthouse Shield appearance against the League Champions. Carpets did well to get back to 2-2, but looked tired following their recent gruelling schedule. Carpets now must pick themselves up for their five remaining league matches, which must be completed by Sunday 14th May.
4/5/2000 Fireplace ensured at least a championship play-off with Carpet Warehouse with a 2-2 home draw with Hebburn Bentinck, thanks to a last-minute equaliser from Aaron Davison.
The Jarrow side came through a tough test against Bentinck, who were warming up for their Cup final appearance on Thursday. Fireplace were twice behind to goals from Bentinck top scorer Fletcher, but twice came back, first thanks to an own goal forced by front two Strike and Davison's pressure. Fireplace are now looking for a point from their last match, at home to Carpets, or for Carpets to drop any points in their other four remaining matches, against Bentinck (H & A), Millenium (H) and Silksworth (H) to secure the title. 2/5/2000 Sorry for the lack of news recently, but Fireplace are now one win away from claiming the Premier League Title following a 3-1 win over Grey Hen and a 6-3 win at Longship.
Played in atrocious conditions of heavy rain and hailstones, Fireplace were able to do enough to see off the challenge of a young Grey Hen side, despite being forced to play centre-half Kevin Deans in goal due to injury to regualr keeper Gary Deans. The goals came from Aaron Davison, Mick Dematas and star man Graeme Strike. Sunday's match against Longship turned into a leisurely affair after Fireplace went three goals up, as Longship no longer have anything to play for this season. The goals came from pairs for Davison, Dematas and Gary Smith. The match completed Fireplace's away games in the league this year, and it meant that they have taken a maximum 30 points from their ten away games. One win is all Fireplace are looking for from their two remaining matches, at home to Bentinck (Tuesday 2 May) and Carpet Warehouse (tba). In the event of Fireplace becoming League Champions, they will also compete for the Lofthouse Shield, at a date tba. Meanwhile, the Dave Foster Cup Final will now be played on Thursday night, 4th May, between Carpet Warehouse and Bentinck. 13/4/2000 Thursday night's league match against Hebburn Bentinck was postponed due to a waterlogged pitch. A date has not yet be set for the rematch.
The weather also claimed Tuesday night's match between Bentinck and Carpet Warehouse, a match with huge significance for Fireplace Centre. One match did take place on Thursday, a Bill Finch quarter-final between Carpets and Santinos. I watched the first half and Carpets led 4-1 at half-time, so it looks likely that it will be Carpet Warehouse who will face Fireplace Centre in Sunday's semi-final, weather permitting. 10/4/2000 Fireplace Centre lost their Tony Pickett Cup final to Carpet Warehouse 4-2, with Graeme Strike and Gary Scott scoring the goals.
Fireplace never really looked like performing on the day, and were lucky to go in at 1-1 at half time following a poor half. Some may say that the interval came at the wrong time for Fireplace, as they were beginning to overcome a poor 35 minutes to dominate up to the break. 3 sloppy goals were conceded in the first 10 minutes of the second half, and although substitute Scott pulled one back with the best goal of the game, Carpets held on to lift the trophy. Longship title hopes extinguished
Longship are now out of the title race following the league's decision to deduct 3 points from their total and a 2-1 defeat at Bentinck. The league committee took the dicision following the club's postponed league match verses Low Simonside, when they could not produce a team. The defeat on Thursday night means the highest number of points they can reach is 44, and Fireplace Centre already have 45, with four matches to go. The win for Bentinck kept alive their faint hopes for the title, allowing them to finish on 47 points if they win their remaining 3 matches against Carpet Warehouse (home & away) and Fireplace Centre (a). Carpet Warehouse are the only other side who can deny Fireplace the title - it is still possible for them to finish on 52 points with maximum points from their remaining six league matches - Bentinck (h&a), Fireplace (a), Silksworth (h&a) and Millenium (h). Fireplace fixtures announced
The fixtures for the last month of the season were announced on Thursday night. Fireplace are currently looking at picking up 8 points to be mathematically certain of winning the league title. Their fixtures are:
Thu 13 Apr Bentinck (Pp) H D Allan Sun 16 Apr Carpet W / Santinos (Bill Finch Cup SF) A D Allan (linesmen : B Rossiter, T Cooper) Thu 20 Apr Grey Hen H P Law Sun 23 Apr Possible BF cup final v Clock M Regan (linesmen : D Allan, P Law) Tue 25 Apr Carpet Warehouse H L Thompson Sun 30 Apr Longship A S Alderson Sun 7 May Possible Lofthouse Shield match S Alderson (linesmen : L Thompson, M Regan) *Bentinck match postponed due to waterlogged pitch, rearranged fixture tba, possibly Tuesday 18 April. 29/3/2000
The Clock secured the Division One title on Thursday night with a 5-1 victory over N&N Designs.
However, the league is not expected to retain it's two division format next season, so promotion may be irrelevant as all clubs may be in the same division next year. The win has simply confirmed what everyone knew for a long time, as the Clock currently hold the only unbeaten League record in the two divisions. They now have a 16 point lead at the top, with only three games remaining