Hucknall Sports White 3 West Bridgford Harriers 1

27/2/10
Saturday U11's Division 2
Hucknall Sports White 3 West Bridgford Harriers 1

'Super Kal' keeps Hucknall on track for Title

A waterlogged pitch in West Bridgford meant that this game was switch to Newstead Recreational Ground and Hucknall looked forward to meeting a West Bridgford side noted for their clever style of football.

Harriers started the game like a rocket and took the lead from their first attack when a well worked move saw them cut open the Sports backline. Whites were stunned but confident that they could get back into this game with so much time remaining on the clock and sure enough a sustained spell of pressure saw Jacob Barlow level the scores and keep his own rich vein of form going with his 13th goal of the season. Oliver Bowley then played in James Hallam for him to smash Hucknall into the lead and soon after Ryan Towle converted his own free-kick, scoring high into the top corner, to have take Hucknall into the break leading by 3-1.

Half time: Hucknall Sports White 3 West Bridgford Harriers 1

Kieran Wilson entered the match as a second half substitute and slotted into midfield along the impressive Jarrod Davies to try to starve Harriers of the ball. But Bridgford showed why they are considered on of the best footballing sides in the League and had the confidence to play the ball 'backwards to go forwards'. Whites defence was working overtime and time and again defenders Joe Newton, Harry Saxton and the outstanding Dylan Smith shut out Harriers with last ditch tackling. Harriers continued to press and broke free from the Hucknall defenders only to find themselves confronted by Whites Keeper 'Super' Kal Orton who showed tremendous bravery to dive at the feet of the Bridgford attackers a least three times to stop them from scoring. West Bridgford were awarded a penalty and sensed a way back into the game only for Orton to foil them with a 'cat-like' save that saw him push the ball onto the cross-bar and have the speed of thought to pounce on the lose ball - truly breath-taking.
Dylan Smith defended wonderfully well when he was left as the last man and tackled not once, but three times in quick succession to foil the tricky Harriers winger and then Orton totally demoralised Harriers when he saved bravely again when one-on-one with the Bridgford attacker for one last time. As the clock ticked down, Hucknall saw out the game in the attacking half of the pitch and the referees whistle blew for a hard fought win much to the relief of the fans and coaches.

Final score: Hucknall Sports Whites 3 West Bridgford Harriers 1

This was a wonderful football match for the neutral (as they say on Match of the Day) and both teams deserve great credit for playing some outstanding football on a muddy pitch that Division One teams would be proud of.
Dylan (The Silent Assassin) Smith, Jarrod (Patrick Vieira) Davies and James (Didier Drogba) Hallam worked their socks off today but an outstanding performance from Hucknall Keeper Kal Orton won him a long over due Man of the Match away - fantastic Kal, well done.