20/11/10
Saturday U12's Cup
Clifton AW 1 Hucknall Sports 3
Dark and damp conditions welcomed Sports to this weekends Cup match with Clifton All Whites at South Notts College on Farnborough Road. Both teams had met only two weeks previously and on that occasion, despite Sports having many chances to win the game before half time, it was Clifton who won 2-1.
All Whites started the game the better of the two teams and looked dangerous with their neat style of football creating space in and around the Sports defence. But Hucknall defended well and Keeper Kal Orton's handling was solid as a rock. At the other end of the pitch James Hallam was once again a constant threat and wingers Oliver Bowley and Jacob Barlow gradually started to find some space to try and put Hallam in on goal. Shortly after sending a shot narrowly wide of the Clifton goal Sports coaches were left scratching their heads when All Whites bundled the ball into the net to take the lead with a clear foul going unnoticed. Just before half-time Sports where awarded a free-kick for a deliberate back-pass but could not find a way to goal through a packed penalty area.
Half time: Clifton AW 1 Hucknall Sports 0
For the start of the second half Sports introduced Dante Diriso and William Brown and both boys went on to make a significant impact on the game. Charlie Blatherwick and Ellis Evans began to take a firm grip of the midfield and showed some sublime passes to split the Clifton defence time and again. One such pass found its way to Hallam whose strong shot squirmed out of the goalies grasp and into the back of the net. This was just the break that Hucknall had been seeking and as a result the whole team suddenly found an extra yard of pace and the confidence came flowing back - Sports looked like the Title Winners of last year.
Then the move of the game saw Hucknall turn defence into attack when Keeper Orton threw a long ball to Thomas Eastwood who ran the length of the pitch before putting in a ball that found its way to Hallam who slotted home with the coolness of a well practiced training ground finish ;-) Blatherwick and Evans combined again to create an opening for Dirso who goal from a narrow angle saw him lifted should high in celebration from his Hucknall team mates.
Sports fans wanted more goals but the final whistle blew for a great win and we all look forward to the next round of the Cup.
Final Score: Clifton AW 1 Hucknall Sports 3
This result is great reward for a team that has worked so hard recently but without getting any reward for their efforts on Match Days. As with previous weeks there were many great performances to provide nominations for Man of the Match.
Ryan Towle and Harry Saxton both deserve a special mention for adapting well to their new positions.
Thomas Eastwood and Jacob Barlow are putting together a great partnership on the left, whilst Welsh Wizard Ellis Evans and Dante Diriso looked dangerous on the right.
Up front James Hallam continues his good run of form, both scoring and providing goals.
But for providing a solid and courageous performance in goal, today's winner was Kal Orton - brilliant Kal and well done.
Thursday, 25 November 2010
Vernon come-back breaks Sports hearts
13/11/10
Saturday U12's Division One
Hucknall Sports 2 Vernon Colts 4
Bright sunny weather welcomed Sports and Vernon to Newstead Recreation Ground for a match between the bottom two teams in the league, but if anyone was expecting a poor game then they were sadly mistaken. Sports and Vernon put on a great display that belied both their league positions.
Hucknall thought they would have to start this game with only 11 players after losing two boys to County representative teams, but fortunately both Dante Diriso and Buckly Gibson-Brown made the long journey back from York in time for kick-off.
Starting with a new midfield pairing of William Brown and Charlie Blatherwick Hucknall could have been in the lead after seconds of the game starting when Jacob Barlow's shot went narrowly wide after great work from Blatherwick to create the chance. This gave Sports the confidence to push forward time and again but somehow the Vernon goal remained in tact. James Hallam was in splendid form and he latched onto clever passes from Oliver Bowley, Ryan Towle and Charlie Blatherwick only to by denied by the either the woodwork or Vernon's giant of a goalkeeper. Sports keeper Kal Orton hardly had a save to make and his team were well on top. Harry Saxton narrowly missed out on getting on the end of a Towle free-kick but the half time whistle blew with Hucknall frustrated and the scores level.
Half time: Hucknall Sports 0 Vernon Colts 0
Sports began the second half in wonderful spirits and sought out the goal that their first half play had deserved. Finally, the breakthrough came with both Hallam and Gibson-Brown finding the back of the net in quick succession. Both goals coming as a result of great football with the team moving the ball cleverly from midfield to attack to stun Vernon. Surely, this was the queue for Hucknall to push on and take their first victory of the season. But Colts got themselves back into the game by converting a penalty. Even then Sports still looked the team most likely to push on and could have scored twice more before Vernon equalised.
A rampant Vernon pushed Sports further and further back as they went in search of the winner and with Hucknall's earlier discipline and formation nowhere to been seen the visitors turned 2-0 down into a 4-2 lead. Hucknall still had their chances and a fine Jacob Barlow run and cross was headed narrowly wide by the unlucky Towle.
Final Score: Hucknall Sports 2 Vernon Colts 4
As with previous weeks, Sports could have been well in the lead before half time but unfortunately history repeated itself and it just wasn't to be.
Candidates for Man of the Match were numerous in the game.
Jacob Barlow is carrying his great skill on the training ground into matches and posing a real threat once more.
Thomas Eastwood and Joe Newton continue to prove solid in defence, with both looking to push the team forward by running the ball forward rather than simply blasting it long.
James Hallam quite literally shed blood for his team and lead his team by great example to continually provide a serious threat to the Vernon goal.
But the award went to Birthday Boy and debutant Charlie Blatherwick, who showed enough skill in his centre midfield role to confirm that he is going to be a great asset to the team in any number of positions - welcome on board Charlie and well done.
Keep the faith boys.
Saturday U12's Division One
Hucknall Sports 2 Vernon Colts 4
Bright sunny weather welcomed Sports and Vernon to Newstead Recreation Ground for a match between the bottom two teams in the league, but if anyone was expecting a poor game then they were sadly mistaken. Sports and Vernon put on a great display that belied both their league positions.
Hucknall thought they would have to start this game with only 11 players after losing two boys to County representative teams, but fortunately both Dante Diriso and Buckly Gibson-Brown made the long journey back from York in time for kick-off.
Starting with a new midfield pairing of William Brown and Charlie Blatherwick Hucknall could have been in the lead after seconds of the game starting when Jacob Barlow's shot went narrowly wide after great work from Blatherwick to create the chance. This gave Sports the confidence to push forward time and again but somehow the Vernon goal remained in tact. James Hallam was in splendid form and he latched onto clever passes from Oliver Bowley, Ryan Towle and Charlie Blatherwick only to by denied by the either the woodwork or Vernon's giant of a goalkeeper. Sports keeper Kal Orton hardly had a save to make and his team were well on top. Harry Saxton narrowly missed out on getting on the end of a Towle free-kick but the half time whistle blew with Hucknall frustrated and the scores level.
Half time: Hucknall Sports 0 Vernon Colts 0
Sports began the second half in wonderful spirits and sought out the goal that their first half play had deserved. Finally, the breakthrough came with both Hallam and Gibson-Brown finding the back of the net in quick succession. Both goals coming as a result of great football with the team moving the ball cleverly from midfield to attack to stun Vernon. Surely, this was the queue for Hucknall to push on and take their first victory of the season. But Colts got themselves back into the game by converting a penalty. Even then Sports still looked the team most likely to push on and could have scored twice more before Vernon equalised.
A rampant Vernon pushed Sports further and further back as they went in search of the winner and with Hucknall's earlier discipline and formation nowhere to been seen the visitors turned 2-0 down into a 4-2 lead. Hucknall still had their chances and a fine Jacob Barlow run and cross was headed narrowly wide by the unlucky Towle.
Final Score: Hucknall Sports 2 Vernon Colts 4
As with previous weeks, Sports could have been well in the lead before half time but unfortunately history repeated itself and it just wasn't to be.
Candidates for Man of the Match were numerous in the game.
Jacob Barlow is carrying his great skill on the training ground into matches and posing a real threat once more.
Thomas Eastwood and Joe Newton continue to prove solid in defence, with both looking to push the team forward by running the ball forward rather than simply blasting it long.
James Hallam quite literally shed blood for his team and lead his team by great example to continually provide a serious threat to the Vernon goal.
But the award went to Birthday Boy and debutant Charlie Blatherwick, who showed enough skill in his centre midfield role to confirm that he is going to be a great asset to the team in any number of positions - welcome on board Charlie and well done.
Keep the faith boys.
Squandered Chances cost Sport dear
6/11/10
Saturday U12's Division One
Hucknall Sports 1 Clifton AW 2
After a weeks break Hucknall Sports U12's went into the game with Clifton AW knowing that a first win would move them up the league but unfortunately a catalogue of poor finishing, heroic goal line clearances and fantastic goalkeeping mean that Sport are still waiting for their first win of the season.
Playing with the slope and a slight breeze at their backs Sports started slowly and Clifton took the game by the scruff of the neck with a series of probing long balls that Hucknall keeper Kal Orton dealt with confidently. A breakaway goal from Clifton's newly signed striker put the visitors into the lead but Sports responded with a series of opportunities that they failed narrowly to convert. In one particularly amazing incident the Sports looked certain to score but the ball cannoned off a Clifton defender on the goal line and miraculously looped up and over the cross-bar. Further chances feel to Sports before the end of the half, but the goal just would not come.
Half time: Hucknall Sport 0 Clifton AW 1
Changes for the second half saw Ryan Towle moved to right-back, Dylan Smith pushed forward into midfield and Oliver Bowley to right midfield. James Hallam forced the Clifton keeper into a fine save early on but then his stunning long shot found the bottom corner and Sports were back in the game. Hucknall sensed victory and with Hallam in fine form surely it was only a matter of time before the second goal came for Sports. More great saves, glaring misses and unbelievable clearance meant that Clifton were still in the game and then with only 10 mins remaining All Whites broke forward to force themselves back into the lead once more. Still Sports pushed on and on, Hallam saw his goal-bound left footed clip the head of the Clifton centre half and loop over rather than drop into the net and then second half substitute William Brown saw his great shot well saved by the impressive Clifton keeper and for the second week running the final whistle arrived all too soon for Hucknall.
Final Score: Hucknall Sports 1 Clifton AW 2
On another day Sports would have been out of site by half time, but football is a cruel game and today the ball just would not find the back of the net.
A number of performances were worthy of note with Kal Orton, Mitch Davies, Jacob Barlow and Oliver Bowley all playing well but today's winner of the Man of the Match award was James Hallam. His fantastic display of inventive and intelligent forward play deserved more than his solitary goal - a truly great performance James.
Saturday U12's Division One
Hucknall Sports 1 Clifton AW 2
After a weeks break Hucknall Sports U12's went into the game with Clifton AW knowing that a first win would move them up the league but unfortunately a catalogue of poor finishing, heroic goal line clearances and fantastic goalkeeping mean that Sport are still waiting for their first win of the season.
Playing with the slope and a slight breeze at their backs Sports started slowly and Clifton took the game by the scruff of the neck with a series of probing long balls that Hucknall keeper Kal Orton dealt with confidently. A breakaway goal from Clifton's newly signed striker put the visitors into the lead but Sports responded with a series of opportunities that they failed narrowly to convert. In one particularly amazing incident the Sports looked certain to score but the ball cannoned off a Clifton defender on the goal line and miraculously looped up and over the cross-bar. Further chances feel to Sports before the end of the half, but the goal just would not come.
Half time: Hucknall Sport 0 Clifton AW 1
Changes for the second half saw Ryan Towle moved to right-back, Dylan Smith pushed forward into midfield and Oliver Bowley to right midfield. James Hallam forced the Clifton keeper into a fine save early on but then his stunning long shot found the bottom corner and Sports were back in the game. Hucknall sensed victory and with Hallam in fine form surely it was only a matter of time before the second goal came for Sports. More great saves, glaring misses and unbelievable clearance meant that Clifton were still in the game and then with only 10 mins remaining All Whites broke forward to force themselves back into the lead once more. Still Sports pushed on and on, Hallam saw his goal-bound left footed clip the head of the Clifton centre half and loop over rather than drop into the net and then second half substitute William Brown saw his great shot well saved by the impressive Clifton keeper and for the second week running the final whistle arrived all too soon for Hucknall.
Final Score: Hucknall Sports 1 Clifton AW 2
On another day Sports would have been out of site by half time, but football is a cruel game and today the ball just would not find the back of the net.
A number of performances were worthy of note with Kal Orton, Mitch Davies, Jacob Barlow and Oliver Bowley all playing well but today's winner of the Man of the Match award was James Hallam. His fantastic display of inventive and intelligent forward play deserved more than his solitary goal - a truly great performance James.
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