FOOTBALL

PJS FC 3 North Skelton Bulls Head 3

Bulls Head set about their game plan in very much the same way as they dominated the early play. Simon Nelson opened the scoring and minutes later Nelson was first to the ball following a poor throw-in and some quick thinking resulted in him getting his second goal. He completed his five minutes into the second half when the alert striker picked up a loose ball in the 18yard box and calmly placed it past the keeper. This spurred PJS into action and some determined play from midfielders Kevin Mitchell, Dave Mills and Mally Puttick pushed Bulls Head back. A PJS corner resulted in Bulls Head scoring in their own goal and they produced a carbon copy from Dave Mills' corner. PJS drew level late in the game when John Gilgannon unleashed an unstoppable shot.

South Park Rang. 1 Coulby Newham 4

South Park Rangers took the lead through Andrew Truscott as he beat the Coulby off sidetrap. But Coulby Newham soon got back into the game when Richie Cook played an absolute wonder ball for Richie May to control and lob the Rangers stand-in keeper Paul White. Coulby took a deserved lead when May cleverly put the ball through the keeper's legs. On 30 minutes Matty Symmonds converted a penalty and his team finished off the scoring when Craig Thomas notched from 25 yards.

North Skelton Village 2 Thornaby Village 6

The meeting of North Skelton and Thornaby brought about goals in abundance at Machine Lane in North Skelton. Although this game was a high scoring event the first fifteen minutes was very even contest with little to choose between the two teams. Nonetheless it was Thornaby who opened their scoring account when their striker made no mistake from directing the ball goalbound from a well worked cross. Thornaby went further ahead when a wind assisted cross directed the ball into the back of the net. North Skelton Village showing some tenacity pulled a goal back from Craig Harris when a deft touch from Mark Hanson put the ball in Harris's path. The celebrations didn't last too long as Thornaby Village further increased their lead just before half time. In the second half Thornaby scored the goal of the game with a terrific volley. Although 4-1 down North Skelton persisted in attack and Cameron Turner the Thornaby keeper made two exceptional saves from Antony McCabe and Craig Harris. North Skelton's Craig Harris did manage to score a second but it was a mere consolation as Thornaby Village went on to score a further two goals to make the full time score 2-6.

South Bank U 1 Thornaby Mandale 4

The first half score was stalemate as both teams' chances petered out, perhaps the best chances of the first half fell to Graeme Watson and Peter Renton who both got in front of goal and in both cases hit rising shots that went over the cross bar. In the second half the Bankers got the break they were looking for when Graham Cousins dribbled his way into the box only to be pulled down. Graeme Watson stepped up to take the penalty that resulted in a great save by the Mandale keeper Gary Poole. Mandale took the lead when great combination work from Steve Lambert and Andrew Dyson resulted in a good cross into the box and it was the dynamic Anthony Larsen who got on the end for a simple tap in.

The luck was with Mandale when they increased the lead through Andrew Dyson who's cross was deflected into the South Bank goal. Thornaby Mandale made the score comfortable when Brad Murray converted from the penalty spot following a great run from the half way line before being brought down by the South Bank keeper. A consolation goal for Bankers came when Graeme Watson broke down the left crossing the ball that beat the keeper for Daniel Martin to score his first goal for the club. Anthony Larson for Mandale always dangerous in attack put the game beyond doubt to making a credible final score 1-4.

Middlesbrough PO 4 Stokesley SC 0

With St Mary's College v Kings Head game being postponed, Post Office were able to put a comfortable four-point gap between themselves and the title challengers. Post Office wasted no time in taking an early lead with John Leach putting the ball in the net.

Paul McGlade made it 2-0 and a third came after via John Symon. He rounded off the scoring when some good work from Terry Edwards put Symon through to round the keeper to put the ball in the net.

Saturday's results: British Steel Sports 1 Woodmans Arms 2; Middlesbrough PO 4 Stokesley SC 0; North Skelton Village 2 Thornaby Village 6; PJS 2 NS Bulls Head 6; South Bank Utd 1 Thornaby Mandale 4; South Park Rangers 1 Coulby Newham 4; St Mary's College OB v Kings Head - postponed.

P W D L F A Pts GD

Middlesbrough Post Office 22 18 2 2 78 27 56 51

Kings Head FC 21 17 1 3 105 25 52 80

Ennis Square Social Club 23 15 3 5 81 33 48 48

Thornaby Mandale FC 24 13 6 5 95 45 45 50

Woodmans Arms FC 21 13 4 4 69 36 43 33

St. Mary's College OB FC 21 10 7 4 64 26 37 38

South Bank Utd FC 22 10 6 6 77 63 36 14

**Linx Hemlington FC 22 10 5 7 66 46 29 20

Thornaby Village FC 22 8 5 9 51 57 29 -6

*South Park Rangers FC 23 10 2 11 60 76 29 -16

*Coulby Newham FC 24 9 4 11 61 72 28 -11

Stokesley SC 25 8 2 15 36 68 26 -32

PJS FC 24 5 5 14 44 92 20 -48

British Steel Sports Club 26 4 4 18 36 112 16 -76

North Skelton Village FC 20 1 2 17 24 71 5 -47

*NS Bulls Head FC 22 0 2 20 29 127 -1 -98

**Denotes six points deducted

*Denotes three points deducted

TOMORROW'S FIXTURES (2pm): Coulby Newham FC v Woodmans Arms FC; Linx Hemlington FC v Kings Head FC; Middlesbrough PO v North Skelton Village FC; NS Bulls Head FC v Thornaby Village FC; PJS FC v Thornaby Mandale FC; South Bank Utd FC v St Mary's College OB; Stokesley SC v Ennis Square SC.