The fours teams involved were Tynemouth Blues, Reds, and Yellows together with Boldmere Falcons from Sutton Coldfield, taking part in an innovative round robin league tournament with the top two teams playing in a final, the 3rd and 4th teams playing off for 3rd spot. Teams were awarded 4 points for winning a game and 1 point for losing, and if group games finished tied, a penalty shoot out decided the winner were awarded 3 points losers on penalties 2 points a tournament format guaranteed to sort out final placings, or so we thought !
The first games saw Tynemouth Yellows play Tynemouth Reds , with Boldmere playing Tynemouth Blues. Boldmere defeated the Blues 2-1, and Yellows & Reds played out a goalless draw the Reds winning 3-1 on penalties.
The second round of games saw the Blues bounce back by defeating the Reds 1-0, and similarly the Yellows defeating Boldmere 4-0;
That meant all was left to play for in the final group games with all 4 teams holding every chance of qualifying for the final.
The Reds went 2-0 up against Boldmere who responded well by scoring just before half time to make it 2-1. The second half flowed back and forth without a further goal until with literally the final kick of the game Boldmere forced the ball home from a corner to make it 2-2 - more penalities !
But what of the Blues v Yellows game ? A tight evenly fought contest again went to penalties, with the Yellows prevailing. That meant the final league table looked like this :
Position Team P layed Points
1st Tynemouth Yellows 3 9
2nd= Tynemouth Reds 3 7
2nd= Tynemouth Blues 3 7
2nd= Boldmere Falcons 3 7

The Yellows were through but who would they play in the finals ? Each team had beaten one another and after much scratching of heads it was agreed a football first –
A Three Way Penalty Shoot Out !!
The Reds, Blues and Boldmere lined up on the half way line, fans thronging the pitch for the football first ! Luke, Chris, and Mac the respective keepers eager to do their bit, rotating through so each faced penalties against both respective opponents !
You could cut the tension as a knife as the teams rifled home their respective penalties but after a couple of saves and cool finishing the Reds won through to the Final !
So after about 4 burgers each,(not that I am bitter cos I didn’t get one all afternoon!), and with the sun coming out – The Reds & Yellows kicked off – no quarter asked or given during the tight opening exchanges, until midway during the half when a good break involving Mickey and Luke down the right saw Robbie turn sharply in the box to shoot home. On the stroke of half time the Yellows equalised. The Yellows started the second half sharply and two quick goals looked to have given them an unassailable lead, until Jamie halved the deficit. The Reds pushed for an equaliser but the Yellows fourth goal clinched it and the trophy.
Well done to all four teams for a great competition and let’s hope all that penalty practice comes in handy for the next season.