Poor Decisions Cost Sports

Hucknall Sports U13's White 0 West Bridgford Harriers 2
Saturday 22nd October 2011
YEL Division 2

Sports looked forward to their return from a weeks break with a match against West Bridgford Harriers. Both teams are renowned for playing open and entertaining football and the crowd licked their lips in anticipation.
The opening exchanges were evenly matched and each attack from one team was match by the other. The return of Charlie Blatherwick in midfield brought about the creative edge that Sports had missed in the previous game and he almost put Sports into the lead on a couple of occasions, once from a corner and once from an amazing long range free kick. Harriers found their stride and showed a fantastic range of movement and passing but the Sports defence of Dylan Smith, James Stenson, Joe Newton and Harry Saxton held strong. As the game entered its final moments of the first half the referee adjudged a fantastic block by left-back Saxton to be a foul and despite a wonderful effort by goalie Kal Orton the ball sneaked into the bottom corner. Sports still created chances to draw the scores level but had to settle for a one goal deficit at half time.

Half Time: Hucknall Sports 0 West Bridgford 1

Playing with the wind at their back Harriers pinned Sports back in their own half for much of the second period but stout defending kept Sports in the game. When Hucknall's defence was breached Harriers found Sports Keeper Orton in fantastic form. Time and again he blocked shots by diving at strikers feet showing bravery that many in the Premiership would be proud of.
Harriers went further into the lead when a neat pass inside the Sports defensive line set free their striker to finish well as Hucknall players and management waited for the off-side whistle that never came.
Sports refused to drop their heads and James Hallam strained every sinew to get his team back into the game and was unlucky on a number of occasions to see the shots narrowly miss the target. Dante Diriso just failed to convert a fantastic cross from Hallam and another trademark free-kick from Blatherwick rattled the cross-bar. But alas the full-time whistle blew for a victory to Harriers.

Final Score: Hucknall Sports 0 West Bridgford 2

Sometimes things simply don't go your way and that was definitely the case for Sports. Take nothing away from Harriers, who played a great game of football but Sports deserved to get something from this game.
Today's Man of the Match went to Kal Orton for an outstanding goalkeeping display - brilliant Kal, well done. Boys you deserved more, but your day will come.