Heroic win for Sports

U13's Saturday Davison 2
Wollaton Hall 3 Hucknall Sports 6
17/09/11

Sports second game of the season took them to Wollaton Park for a game against newly promoted Wollaton Hall.
During a pre-season friendly Hall had shocked Sports by playing well to win 4-3 and with only 11 players available Hucknall knew they had to pull out a special performance get anything from this game.

Short of players Sports had to juggle their line-up for this match and selected Welsh Wizard Ellis Evans to play along side James Hallam in attack and Harry Saxton filled in at centre half with Joe Newton.
Five minutes into the game Dylan Smith released Hallam with an amazing pass that allowed him to continue his fine start to the season with a goal made out of pure pace and skill as he rounded the Wollaton defence to fire an angled shot over the head of the keeper to put Sports into a lead.
Hucknall were absolutely rampant and Tom Eastwood scored his second of the season with a well taken goal and then Evans smashed in an exquisite volley that wouldn't have been out of place in the Premiership to put Sports 3-0 up.
On a rare break Wollaton were foiled by a magnificent save from Kal Orton and then with half time approaching Oliver Bowley put in a great corner that Captain Mitch Davies smashed into the back of the net with a trademark towering header.
Phew, what wonderful half of football from Sports - probably their best ever.

Half Time: Wollaton Hall 0 Hucknall Sports 4

Injuries to Bowley, Hallam, and Smith meant that Sports effectively started the second half with only 8 fit players but they continued to play a fantastic brand of football. Charlie Blatherwick put in another stunning performance at the heart of midfield showing a wonderful range of passing and vision. He looked all set to cap his day with a goal only to see it balloon over the bar after a bad bobble. Playing through the pain, Hallam turned creator and his blistering wing play set up Evans for a well deserved second.
Sports were out on their feet and inevitably gaps started to appear. Newton, Saxton, Diriso and Smith defended brilliantly well and behind them keeper Orton pulled off a string of great saves late on. All credit to Wollaton Hall for never giving in and two quick goals provided a spark of revival. But any chance of a shock comeback were shattered when Bowley smashed in a shot from just inside the box to seal victory for Sports. Hall grabbed a late consolation but Sports ran out winners for the second week running.

Final Score: Wollaton Hall 3 Hucknall Sports 6

This was a truly heroic performance by Sports that was built on a fantastic passing game and wonderful team spirit. Having no substitutes available meant tiredness was always going to play its part but Sports boys gave absolutely everything for the team and got their rewards.
Some many good performances once again made picking a Man of the Match very difficult but on this occasion the stand out performance was clear to all. With one of the best creative performances witnessed for a long long time today's winner was Ellis Evans - absolutely awesome, well done Ell and we look forward to more of the same.