OVER 40 ROUNDS OF THE SEASON

It's that time of the year when extra shirts are pulled on and the second half is played under the shimmer of moonlight. Good thing it all comes to an end, which it did this Friday for the Over 40 team. They rounded of the season with the fifth loss of the season ending it with a 2-1-5 record. Not exactly what was expected, but not as bad as feared either. Vidar and George scored for Norton Friday "night" with George scoring this years last goal for the team. Vidar had two more shots hitting the post. What is it with him and them darned posts?

SEASON CONCLUSION: We have to remember that this was the teams first year in the top division and taking that into consideration ending up with only two wins was not all that bad. Come spring season they will have a division 1 season in the bag, which will help them for the next year. Thing is the lads are enjoying the competition and as some of them say "It's far more enjoyable losing and be competitive than win by five or more goals each game".  And as long as the game is enjoyed no complaints are due.

INDOOR SOCCER THIS WINTER

Norton will roster two Over 30 teams and one Over 40 team for indoor soccer this winter. Over 30 games will be played at Play-On Soccer and Club on Copley Road on Wednesday night kicking off on November 2nd. The Over 40 team will play at Springside on Monday nights. Opening day for that is not yet clear. So, if you are a Norton Supporter, show up and follow the teams through a long winter season.

INDOOR MONDAY SCRIMMAGE

Mondays throughout the indoor season Play-On Soccer will open the doors for scrimmage as usual. You have to be Over 30 to participate and the fee per scrimmage is as usual $5. The scrimmage starts at 8pm and goes on for about two hours. Beer drinking however starts at around 8.15pm. Everyone is welcome to show up so bring your gear and a positive attitude and do so.

OVER 30 LEND OUT PLAYERS TO HELP OPPONENT

The Over 30 team are so confident now a days they actually have started lending out players to the opponent to make it a more even game. last Sunday 4 Norton players helped out Wadsworth so that they could at least bring some sort of a fight. When Norton went two goals up before the clock reached the five minute mark, Norton players Aidie, Scott Miller, Kazu and Jeff Watson felt so utterly sorry for the opponent they pulled red shirts on and played for them instead. Jeff Watson who have been in tremendous form this season bagging several goals and providing several goal making passes actually had an assist for both teams in this game. And Kampai Kazu first scored Nortons second goal playing for Norton in the fourth minute and then playing for Wadsworth he made a penalty kick that led to Wadsworth's second goal. That must be something for the Norton Soccer history book. Anyways as the Norton players helped out Wadsworth the game became more even although Norton would prove to be the best team at the end of the day. Final score 4-2 with two goals  from Michael Goebl and one each from Vidar and Kazu. It should have been more though. Vidar had two shots from distance hitting the top post both times, Michael had one shot hitting the side post, Ernie "Dactah" Freeman hit the post after a tremendous run from his defensive midfield position. All in all Norton had 4 goals and a total of six shots hitting the posts during the game. Worth mentioning in this game was Norton goalie Jack "The Tiger" who had a series of saves that would make Manchester United legend Peter Schmeichel look like a rookie in his best days.
This was the Over 30 team's fourth victory this season and the record is now 4-2-3. MVP: Vid..... no wait... Jack.

OVER 30 WINS AGAIN

It was good to see the Over 30 lads come back from 2 behind in this Sunday's game. Even though they controlled the game completely they still went two goals down, before the goals started popping in. It's all to clear that the pick-up came after two utterly fantastic passes that led Jeff Watson, who bagged yet another one, and Fadi to bring the team to level terms. Then during the last few minutes pure magic happened. Michael Goebl puts the team ahead with an outstanding finish that Ronaldo would be proud of, a bullet smack up in the far corner. Then only a minute later Kazu takes advantage of a chance that came out of nothing. He picks up a lose ball that no Arsenal players seemed to want to touch. Safely he bags it and Norton win the game 4-2. The Over 30 team record is now 3-2-3.  "And we are just starting to have fun. Come spring we'll start to play soccer" said Ernie "Dactah" Freeman.

NILSEN MAGIC ATTRACTS TAPS

Vidar Nilsen's magic on the field this year has attracted TAPS, The Atlantic Paranormal Society. It's believed that they will come to the Sunday 16 game against Wadsworth as they believe there's some paranormal activity going on. Vidar however is cool about the whole thing saying that there's obviously something paranormal going on but it ain't his game. "It's all good to be recognized for what I do on the field, but there's nothing paranormal about it. There is however something paranormal going on in this team", he said in an interview and looked towards a teammate across the table.

NO MORE BLUE!!

Over 30 player William Birkner was relentless when he went public last week on National TV saying "Yeah, blue soccer balls are stupid" The reason for the blatant outburst is yet unknown, but it just might be that blue soccer balls actually are... stupid.

AND OVER 40 LOSES TOO

Last Friday's game against Kent Juve ended with a loss for the Over 40 team who has bagged a few wins lately. Fadi scored Norton's only goal in a 1-4 loss. Not very much to say about the game other than the fact that they were outplayed in a relentless manner. We'll blame the new game hours as only two to three players make it to the game in time. The King of Norway said in a statement that playing games at 5.30pm is ridiculous. How are people supposed to make it there in time after work, he said.

OVER 30 LOSES TWO

While Norton Web took a short vacation Norton Over 30 lost both games with the numbers 4-5 and 6-2 against Green Crush and Limeys. Jeff Watson signed in another goal of which he is very proud. he is hoping to finish the season within the top ten goal scorers list. And he just might pull it off. He's been in vicious form lately. Michael Goebl took care of the rest of the goals in these two games and he is definitely climbing the list... fast! Fellow goalgetter Vidar Nilsen, who bags goals a pearls on a string, states that he is happy to see other players come in and take care of business while he is away or having an off day.

OVER 40 THRASH DISGRUNTLED GREENLEAF

(Friday Sep. 16 Greenleaf Park.  Norton vs. Greenleaf Fireballs score 6-2. Attendance: whooping)

The over 40 lads had a field day with Greenleaf Fireballs last night (Friday). Greenleaf who have won all their games so far this fall was taught a lesson they will soon want to forget as the Norton boys runs them over in a 6-2 spanking. The game was played at Greenleaf Park.

The beating took them to higher and various levels of unsportsmanlike behavior that does not belong at any level of the game. A comment from the vast crowd came from a 5 year old girl. "Hey, you are acting like babies!" she screamed, aiming it at the disgruntled Fireballs players.  But the Fireballs players were still most focused on screaming at the referee and pay attention to his "bad" calls. Norton took advantage of this and scored goals like pearls on a string.

New Signing Michael Patterson marked his debut with a fine strike from 20 yards out via the cross bar and in. George "Tiiime!" Fernandez took care of the opening goal last night by heading a inch perfect pass coming from the mentioned Patterson.  Don Harbert had a good day last night and added two goals to his record, one from a rebound off the post which he put safely into the net and one coming late in the second half after a pass from Vidar. Don seemed like coolness itself as he put it in. We could feel the breeze all the way up on row 13. Vidar added two goals as well, both after dribbling the Fireballs goalie a dozen times, making him nice and dizzy, before finishing off. The Fireballs goalie was heard after the game continuously asking where he was.

The win was the Over 40's first for the season, and we are hopeful this win will be brought into the next four and last games of the season. Greenleaf was not in this game at all and could just as well have stayed home cooking pasta.

OVER 30 IN SMASH AND GRAB WIN

The Over 30 team have started the fall season with one loss, one draw and two wins in the first four games. It's clear that the reinforcements made before the season have mad a big difference. This Sunday's game against Green Beans looked to end with a loss after going down two to nothing in the first half. The heat was turned on and a teenaged referee certainly had trouble seeing anything from the spot he had picked out to stand on in the midfield circle. As bad calls heaped up against the Norton team players started to lose their temper and the teenager with the cards in his pocked failed to take control. But as the heat came to life so did Michael Goebl who scored two to put the lads even 2-2 midways in the second half. Then a Norton goalie got nervous about his delicate fingers so he decides to kick the ball instead of grabbing it with his hands. needless to say... disaster and 2-3. After that it was a one way game. And all of the sudden the teenage referee decides to Norton a few calls. As a result, Norton was given not one but TWO penalty kicks. Aidie took the first and Michael Goebl the second. Both scored to secure Norton's second win of the fall season. Michael recorded his first hat-trick for Norton. There will surely be more to come.

Next victim will be Soccerfever Ballbusters from Copley on Sunday 18th of September.

OVER 40 FEELS THE QUALITY DIFFERENCE

The Over 40 lads have played three games so far and all games have been lost by one goal. The quality of play from division 1 down to division 2 is apparently enormous. The team needs to get used to this difference and that will take a few games. Their last loss came to GSF at Donau Park. A game which ended 1-2. Norton's goals scored by Dave Hall. GSF scored their two goals within the first fifteen minutes and before the referee arrived at the field. The referee was 20 minutes late, so kick-off was made in a gentleman's agreement to ensure that the game would finish before sundown. After the referee arrived Norton took over the game, was robbed of two obvious penalty kicks.

OVER 30 SMASH ONIEDA REBELS

Onieda Rebels will be cursing their former player Ernie Freeman whom they most likely feel betrayed them by transferring to Norton Over 30 for a six pack of Rolling Rock. Ernie were invaluable today in Norton's midfield and made the Rebel's midfield dizzy at times. New Signing Michael Goebl, instantly found the tone with fellow striker Vidar Nilsen. It will prove to be a great addition to the Norton team.  Between them they had three goals, two for Vidar and one for Michael. Jerry and Aidie also scored a goal each to make the final score 5-3.

NEW SIGNING TO DEBUT ON SUNDAY

New signing Michael Goebl (32) will make his debut this Sunday for the Over 30 team at Schnee Park against Onieda Rebels. He is so eager to get going he'll probably camp at the field from Saturday just to make sure he's there at kick off. He will link up with striker Vidar Nilsen in Norton's attacking formation.

OVER 30 TIES WADSWORTH

The Over 30 team tied Wadsworth this Sunday after being one goal down. Nothing much to say about this game other than Vidar scored the equalizer about ten minutes before full time. Before that Norton should have scored five more goals as the chances to do so were plenty. The game was played at home.

SEASON STARTS OFF WITH LOSSES ON ALL DECKS

Both men 40 and men 30 lost their opening games this fall. The Over 40 team lost 2-4 at NC SOCCER after being 2-0 up at half time. a very unlucky Danny in the Norton goal had problems with the sun and could barely see the ball in the second half. At 2-0 Pat Sweeney also missed a penalty kick.

The Over 30 were unlucky to lose their game at Arsenal with the final score 5-6. The Norton lads came from being down 2-5 and leveled the game 5-5 about ten minutes before full time. One of those pick-up goals was an own goal deflected from a shot by Adie. Vidar scored three utter beautiful goals and Ernie Freeman's shot was unstoppable from a tight angle. Unfortunately the lads gave up a silly goal 30 seconds before full time and by that lost 5-6. The silly goal curse once again hit the Over 30 team as four of Arsenal's goals were gifts from Norton defenders. In a statement a fan demanded that the boys cleaned up the defensive line before he's forced to claim a refund for his season ticket.

NEW SCHEDULES FOR FALL 2005

The new schedules for fall is ready. So far the Norton Web have been updated with the Men Over 30 and the Men Over 40 schedules. Over 40 B, open men and Women over 30 will be updated during the week.

Take notice that the Men Over 40 are this fall in division 1. They will play only 8 games this fall as there are only 5 teams in the division. Another curiosity is that the first four games are away games and the last four are played at home in Norton.

The Over 30 team which this season is strongly improved, at least on paper, will play ten games as usual in division 3.

VIDAR NILSEN BREAKS LEG IN FOUR PLACES

Those were the words that spreaders of rumors, the typical news paper, used this week. In a comment Vidar himself said "These rumors are rubbish. I was unlucky and bit a nail a little to close to the quick and it hurt like hell. These are just silly exaggerations that the media put in their papers to sell issues. My nail biting is bad enough, but thankfully I haven't broken any legs from doing it... yet"

NORTON WEB WILL NOT COVER THE GFS TOURNAMENT

The GFS tournament will not be covered by NORTON WEB. "The tournament is a tourney where Norton and Magic 12 Over 40's joins as one team to play" the editor said tonight. "Besides, we are all going there to cheer them on and we are not planning to remember anything from that weekend" he said.

The tournament opens this Saturday with the first games at 8am and continues into Sunday with the final stages. The Norton magic team will play three games on Saturday and one on Sunday. If they go on they will play additional games all the way to a possible final.

NORTON TAKES STREAKING SERIOUSLY

Norton official said in a statement that streaking (running naked across the field during an event) at Norton games is absolutely prohibited and will not be taken lightly. "Offenders will be tossed out of the area and hauled to the police station immediately" a Norton official said this morning. He later commented further "Of course, after the game he or she is welcome to join the players and have a beer when we have our post game party. But during the game when players try to focus on the game we cannot have streaking ladies bouncing around, jumping up and down. It's not good for our immensely tuned game."

OVER 40 LOSES PLAYOFF FINAL

The Over 40 A team lost the final in this summers playoff to Magic 12 with two goals to nothing. Magic 12, a team our boys had beaten thoroughly in the seasons two meetings, deserved the win after playing the best game of their lives (according to a few of their players). For the Norton lads nothing really went their way and knowing they should have been 4 goals up before they score their first only describes the kind of a day they had. But even in loss the Norton boys are optimistic and as a result of winning the league this season they are headed for first division this coming fall.

ONIEDA REBELS DUO SIGNS FOR NORTON OVER 30

The double swoop previously reported as rumors are now no longer rumors. The two Onieda Rebels players, Ernie Freeman and Dave Williams, are set for Norton the next season. Ernie Freeman have already signed and taken care of the paper works, while Dave Williams is expected to do so in the next few weeks. Nortons transfer kitty this summer have been larger than ever. About 5 six packs of Rolling Rock was at the end of the season bookmarked for transfers this summer. Ernie who have already signed demanded ONE pack paid over a period of ten weeks. Dave Williams' fee are about the same and that leaves three more packs for future signings. The fans were heard praising the management for capturing two players of this caliber in one swoop.

MANCHESTER UNITED SIGNS KOREAN JI SUN PARK, NORTON OVER 30 SIGNS JAPANESE KAZU SHINOHARA.

Manchester United fans are delighted after manager Sir Alex Ferguson signed Korean JI SUN PARK. But the fans of Norton Over 30 will sing Kazu Shinohara's name on the Norton stands this fall. Amazingly Shinohara was transferred on a free as he was a free agent this summer. It's expected that Shinohara will add depth to the team this fall. Knowing his skills from previous seasons with the Over 40 team of Norton we know that he will be a success. In a statement Shinohara said that he loves the prospect of playing with such fun players and that second division is too hard on his delicate knees. The decision to join the Norton Over 30, who plays in third division was therefore easy. Norton fans and players welcome Kazu to the Over 30 team with open arms. His expected nickname by the fans is "Kanpai" and they are already singing it in the streets of Norton.

PLAYERS VOTE "NO" TO STADIUM LIGHTS

Players of Norton voted against the idea of setting up stadium lights at the field. Players were heard saying  "What do we need that for?" and "Hey, my game is at 9.30am, what are they trying to do? Tan me to death?" The vote was 45 against and 2 for. The majority agreed however to use this money to set up stadium lights over the parking lot instead, so that people could see their beers after the Friday night games. A spokesman for the over 40 team agreed "We need to know our priorities in life, parking lot lights to illuminate our liquids are definitely a priority. No more comments, I gotta go home and watch Al Bundy"