Sports bad luck continues

U12's Saturday Division 1
11 /5/11
Underwood Villa 2 Hucknall Sports 2

Hucknall Sports played their penultimate league match against the improving Underwood Villa searching for a win to keep their Division One survival dreams alive. The combination of a warm early summers evening and Wigwam pitch with plenty of grass on it made for ideal playing conditions .

Oliver Bowley deputised at right-back due to the delayed arrival of Dylan Smith who had been caught up in traffic on his way to the game. Sports took a little time to settle into their game and Underwood pressured Hucknall's defence in looking for the opening goal. Villa relied on the long-ball over the top to set free their speedy striker but Hucknall's defence managed the tactic well and although chances were created none really threaten the Sports goal. On a rare sortie forward by Hucknall the ball broke to Ellis 'Welsh Wizard' Evans on the edge of the penalty area and he fired a looping shot into the top corner. Not long afterwards Charlie Blatherwick was unlucky to see his shot blocked when it seemed destined for the top corner. Underwood forced a fantastic save from Kal Orton when he managed to get finger-tips to shot and force it up and over the bar. But Villa's pressure eventually paid off and as the game reached half time the score was levelled at 1-1.

Half-time: Underwood Villa 1 Hucknall Sports 1

For the first time in a while Sports chose not to change things at half-time and with instructions to win the midfield battle ringing in their ears Hucknall burst into life as soon as the referees whistle blew. James Hallam's surging runs caused all sorts of problems for Villa. Sports were dominant in all areas of the game. Jacob Barlow made great use of the space afforded to him on the wings and Sports midfield of Mitch Davies, Charlie Blatherwick and Tom Eastwood won everything. Ryan Towle and Joe Newton mopped up the centre defence with style and drove the team forward from the back at every opportunity. The continued resurgence of Harry Saxton at left-back and sublime skills of Dylan Smith meant that Sports were well on top. Then came 10 mins that could effect the total outcome of Sports season.
A crunching tackle from Saxton created a chance for Eastwood to break and thread a neat pass through to Hallam who took on his man and slotted the ball home only for the referee to give off-side. Then to rub salt in the wounds a ball over the top found the Underwood striker in acres of space and looked for the world to be off-side himself only for the referee not to agree and Villa went into the lead. Sports were not done yet though and a Ryan Towle free-kick was parried into the feet of Charlie Blatherwick to blast Sports level. There was only one team in the game now and Hucknall thought they had won it when a head on from Bowley found Hallam in space to round the keeper but his shot hit the post, rolled along the line and was cleared to safety.

Final Score: Underwood Villa 2 Hucknall Sports 2

Difficult to find words to sum up how Sports felt after this game. Surely our luck has to change soon, and hopefully it will in our last game on Saturday away to Radcliffe Olympic.

This was a great team performance and it would be fair to say that everyone played their part in a great game and gave their all for the team.
Kal Orton, Dylan Smith, Ryan Towle, Joe Newton, Harry Saxton, Mitch Davies, Charlie Blatherwick, Tom Eastwood, Jacob Barlow, Ellis Evans, James Hallam and Oliver Bowley can all consider themselves very worthy of man of the match recognition. However, for his determination to push and push and push again this weeks award goes to James Hallam - a terrific display of leading the line, well done kiddo.