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.