24/4/10

Saturday U11's Division 2

Radcliffe Olympic 4 Hucknall Sports White 3

Unbeaten run comes to an end

Five weeks after clinching the league title Hucknall travelled to Radcliffe for the penultimate game of the season looking to preserve their unbeaten record but despite a fantastic second half fight back Sports left things too late and lost the game 4-3.

Radcliffe's early well taken goals in the first half rocked Hucknall to the core and unbelievably the Champions heads dropped and all confidence ebbed away. Sports had their chances to get on the score sheet but looked tentative in front of goal and often looked to take an extra touch with the goal at their mercy. But this should nothing aware from a great lesson in football from Olympic who played as a team despite having nothing to gain from winning the game.

Injury to Oliver Bowley saw Tyler Johnstone entered into the action but a frustrating first half for Sports came to a close with Radcliffe seizing on a misplaced goal kick to score their third goal and make the score 3-0 at half-time and leave Hucknall with a mountain to climb.

Half time: Radcliffe Olympic 3 Hucknall Sports White 0

Playing downhill and with the wind at their backs in the second half Hucknall galvanised themselves for 30 minutes of hard work to try and get back into the game and an early goal from the combative Jarrod Davies looked like the perfect start. But Radcliffe hit back with a well taken goal directly from a free kick and could have made the score 5-1 had they not missed from the penalty spot. Sports showed flickers of form and a fabulous goal from Jacob Barlow was followed up by a scrambled goal from Ryan Towle to see Hucknall in the ascendancy with the clock ticking down. A last gasp shot from Davies narrowly sailed agonisingly over the cross-bar and the game was done.

Sports unbeaten record was gone and Radcliffe celebrated a well won victory.

Final score: Radcliffe Olympic 4 Hucknall Sports White 3

For the neutral this was a great game, but for Sports Management this was a nightmare. Too many times Hucknall were second to the ball and guilty of arguing amongst themselves rather than trying to pull together and win the game.

This should not detract from what has been a fantastic season for Sports, but hopefully it will serve as reminder that, whether you like it or not, football is a team game and you must all pull together in order to win.

The outright winner for Sports Man of the Match award was Dylan Smith, although a special mention should go to one of this seasons most improved players Joe Newton for trying his best to rally the troops. But when all around him were losing there heads Dylan Smith stayed calm and collected and set an example that others would do well to follow.