Sunday, 26 September 2010

First points for Sports

25/9/10
Saturday U12's Division One
West Bridgford Spiders vrs Hucknall Sports Whites

Hucknall Sports travelled to Regatta Way for their third game of the season looking for their first points in Division One with a game against West Bridgford Spiders.

In blustery conditions Sports played into the wind for the first half and the two evenly matched teams cancelled each other out in all areas of the pitch with chances few and far between. Hucknall's defensive line of Smith, Saxton, Newton and Eastwood all kept their discipline and played well as a unit behind a combative midfield pairing of Jarrod and Mitch Davies.

Half Time: West Bridgford Spiders 0 Hucknall Sports 0

Playing with the wind at their backs Hucknall set about looking for a goal but as the wind got stronger it was difficult to control the speed of passes and the ball travelled through to the Spiders Keeper countless times. West Bridgford cleverly played the ball to feet and looked dangerous when trying to get around the back of the Sports defence. But Hucknall's goal finally came through great play from the hard-working Dylan Smith which saw him break forward from right-back to make a perfect pass to James Hallam who took his chance well and Sports took the lead. Hucknall fans thought this would calm the boys down and see them go on to win the game, but all credit to Spiders for bringing the scores level through a bustling goal from a corner.
The game was any ones to win now and in the final moments Spiders hit a superb free-kick against the cross-bar. This was followed by a great effort from Sports left-back Thomas Eastwood who picked the ball up in midfield and created space for a wonderful shot of his own that looked to have won the game but agonisingly for Hucknall hit the post and bounced out of play to safety.

Full Time: West Bridgford Spiders 1 Hucknall Sports 1

Conditions made this into a battling football match rather than a skilful one and in Mitch and Jarrod Davies Hucknall have two boys who can battle with the best of them. Today's Man of the Match went to Jarrod for a really strong performance and commanding game in the middle of the park - well done Jarrod.

Monday, 20 September 2010

Déjà vu for Sports

18/9/10
Saturday U12's Division One
Hucknall Sports 1 Carlton Town Blue 4

Hucknall Sports entertained Carlton Town in their first home game of the season and an immaculate Newstead pitch provided a great playing surface for both sets of boys to show off their best footballing skills.

Carlton Town are renowned for playing attractive football and took the lead early in the game after a mistake for Hucknall's back line allowed the Carlton striker to finish neatly. But Hucknall showed no sign of nerves and almost drew level immediately when Ryan Towle seized on a through ball but saw his shot go narrowly wide. Buckly Gibson-Brown was dangerous around the edges of the penalty area and tested the Carlton keeper a number of times, but the goal just would not come. James Hallam was a constant threat but Sports just could not find that killer ball to set him free and for the second game running Sports thought that they should have had a penalty but the referee waved away all appeals and the half-time whistle blew with the score at 1-0 to Carlton.

Half Time: Hucknall Sports 0 Carlton Town 1

Changes to Whites early in the over half time saw Ellis Evans replace Gibson-Brown at the heart of midfield and surround by the combative pair of Jarrod and Mitch Davies (no relation) Sports started to take control and got themselves back into the game when centre-half Harry Saxton blasted the ball into the net during a goalmouth scramble. Sports confidently pushed forward only to see the ball slip agonising wide of the post during another scramble. Then Carlton showed good composure by putting in a great cross that found their striker unmarked on the penalty spot who made no mistake to take them back into the lead. Whites had chances and a couple of Ryan Towle free-kicks tested the Carlton keeper but he stood firm and did a great job for his team.
Then Carlton won a free-kick of their own and showed just how to make the most of it by planting the ball into the top corner. With time running out Carlton closed out the game with a fourth and it was déjà vu time for Sports.

Full Time: Hucknall Sports 1 Carlton Town 4

Just as the previous week Whites fought their way back into the game but couldn't find a way to make their domination tell.
Once again, there were many good performances from Whites with Buckly Gibson-Brown, Ryan Towle, Oliver Bowley and the entire defensive unit of Harry Saxton, Joe Newton and Tom Eastwood all playing well.
Mitch Davies and Jarrod Davies can count themselves unlucky not to win the Man of the Match award, but for his great defensive performance this weeks award was won by Dylan Smith - well done Dylan you've got to be the best right-back in the league.

Division One is a tough league with no easy games, but Whites can take heart from the fact that they could have and probably should have got something out of this game just as they should have last week. But the points will come guys so keep up the hard work and lets look forward to next week.

Regards,

Stewart

Friday, 17 September 2010

First Home Game of the new season

This weekend will see us playing our first Home game of the new season. The boys worked really hard in training last night and listened well to all the coaches. Let's hope that all our hard work pays off with the right result this weekend.

Sunday, 12 September 2010

Unlucky Whites miss out in thriller

11/9/10
Saturday U12's Division 1
Dunkirk Colts 4 Hucknall Sports 1

Unlucky Whites miss out in thriller

A trip to treble winners Dunkirk was Hucknall's reward for winning League 2 last season. The Ron Steele Sports Ground was busy as ever but eventually the mini soccer finished and Sports first game in Division One got underway.

Colts started confidently and good work out wide resulted in them taking the lead after 5 mins when the ball loop up high over Whites keepers head. Sports needed to steady themselves and so they did by putting in a massive amount of work from the front to the back. Gradually, they started to win the midfield battle and chances started to appear as a result. New signing Buckly Brown was unlucky not to score after good work from his midfield colleagues provided him with the opportunity to shoot but the ball went narrowly wide. However, soon after, the same player made no mistake and slotted the ball in the net to get Sports back into the game and level the score. Dante Diriso demonstrated how much he has improved over the last 6 months and his composure on the ball allowed him to create space under pressure that resulted in great passing and shots on goal. In the final minutes of the half a short corner from Sports was intercepted and from the break away, and against the run of play, Colts broke forward and punished Sports for not clearing the ball by snatching back the lead to go into the break leading 2-1.

Half time: Dunkirk Colts 2 Hucknall Sports 1

Playing down the slope and with the wind at their backs it was obvious that Colts would look to play ball over the top but Sports defence held out well and played as a unit to catch Dunkirk off-side time and again. Strong work in midfield, particularly from Captain Jarrod Davies, provided the platform for Sports to mount attacks. Colts defence had to be on their toes and made a series of last ditch tackles and saves to deny striker James Hallam. Appeals for a Sports penalty were waved away when it seemed that Hallam's leg had been taken from under him. Colts cruelly went further into the lead after another deflection off of a Sports player found its way into the net and in the final minute Colts sealed victory with a well taken free-kick but the referee might have stopped play earlier had he seen a foul on Sport Keeper Kal Orton.

Final score: Dunkirk Colts 4 Hucknall Sports 1

The score does not tell the full story of the game and realistically it was more like a 2-1 game. Sports battled really well but paid the price for trying to play football in defence when putting the ball out of play might have been a safer option. That said, the boys deserve a massive amount of credit for giving last season Champions a real fright and with a little bit of luck might have got something out of this game.

Difficult to choose an outright Man of the Match in today's game when everyone put in so much effort to try and get a result for Sports. But a confident and skilful performance from Dante Diriso on the left and right won today's long over due award - well done Dante and we look forward to you having a great season.

Friday, 10 September 2010

First game of the new season tomorrow. Boys are playing last season Division One Champions so it will be an interesting day no doubt. Watch this space for the match result.
Warmed up by playing a local Derby against Hucknall Harriers. All a bit wierd as 5 boys play for both teams so it was difficult to read too much into the game.
Lost 5-2 in the end, but much better performance in the second half were we won 2-1.