Hucknall Sports Whites 3 East Valley 0

21/1 1/09Saturday U11's Division 2
Hucknall Sports Whites 3 East Valley 0

Towle's Hat Trick wins it for Whites
Having witnessed the terrible weather conditions on Saturday afternoon you would be forgiven for thinking that this might mean a 'kick and run' approach to football but neither Hucknall or East Valley were prepared to play that way and instead put on a real treat for the football connoisseur.

Valley started the game with the wind at their backs and looked dangerous on the break with their new-look speedy forward line. A good spell of pressure by the opposition saw Whites concede a free-kick in a dangerous position but stand-in Keeper William Brown was a match for anything this game and calmly dealt with the long range effort. Hucknall started to spray the ball about neatly and both Dante Diriso and Jacob Barlow started to impose themselves on the game with some terrific wing play.
A slick move involving Oliver Bowley and Diriso created an opening for Ryan Towle to smash the ball home and soon after Towle pounced on a loose ball in the penalty area to double his total and take Hucknall into the break leading.

Half time: Hucknall Sports Whites 2 East Valley 0

Hucknall started the second half with the same line-up and Towle completed his first hat-trick for the team with a well taken goal after good work by Ellis Evans in midfield. Whites defenders still had to be on their toes to not allow East Valley a way back into the game and Keeper Brown pulled off a miraculous safe at the feet of Valley's centre-forward to bring loud applause of appreciation from both home and away fans. On a narrow pitch, Hucknall found space out wide time and again and chances were plentiful in the second half. Towle and Barlow thought they had extended Whites lead only for the referee to rule both efforts out for off-side but in the end it didn't matter as Hucknall closed down the game and celebrated a hard won victory at the final whistle.

Final score: Hucknall Sports Whites 3 East Valley 0

This was probably the best team performance of the season so far for Hucknall. Every boy contributed to the outcome of the game and selecting a Man of the Match was extremely difficult.
Jacob Barlow, Oliver Bowley, Dylan Smith and William Brown can all count themselves unlucky, but Ryan Towle's three goals coupled with some wonderful skills on both touch-lines made him a worthy winner - well done Ryan.