Sports end Rolls winning run

U13's Saturday Division 2 

Hucknall Sports 1 Rolls Royce 0

3/3/12   

Hucknall Sports welcomed high flying Rolls Royce to Goosedale Sports Complex for a top of the table clash between two great local football teams. Rolls arrived with a record of 9 consecutive wins and Sports knew that they had to win to try and keep some distance between the two teams in the league table.

Hucknall started slowly and looked rusty after not playing a competitive game for over a month. But their defence found a good shape and although they were put under some pressure in the early stages Rolls would no doubt be disappointed that they weren’t able to force a clear opening on goal. It was Sports who created the clearer chances and Hucknall thought they had taken the lead when James Hallam’s shot beat Rolls keeper only to rebound back off the cross-bar. Tom Eastwood and Mitch Davies both had long shots that narrowly missed the target and on the right-hand side Ryan Towle eventually managed to find space to get his crosses into the box to create more danger. But Sports just could not find the goal and the half time whistle blew with the scores level.

Half time: Hucknall Sports 0 Rolls Royce 0

Playing with the breeze at their backs Sport started the second half much better and looked much more composed. Defenders Ellis Evans, James Stenson, Joe Newton and Dylan Smith were solid as a rock and dealt well with Rolls long balls over the top. These defenders can also play a bit of football and it was great to see them passing the ball out of defence and through midfield rather than simply ‘booting it’ long. Sports now had Dante Diriso playing wide on the right and he showed his class to round his marker on a number of occasions but was unlucky to see his shots beat the keeper but also miss the target. On the left side Jacob Barlow found space in the penalty area and beat Rolls keeper but could not believe his luck when the ball come back off the post. Sport were wondering if the goal would ever come. Then a wonderful move initiated by Hallam saw him find Diriso wide on the right. Diriso’s cross picked out Barlow unmarked in the six yard box to smash the ball into the back of the net. Initially, it appeared that the goal had been ruled out by the linesman flagging for off-side but the referee overruled and correctly awarded the goal.

Rolls pushed hard for an equaliser and did hit the cross-bar but late on Diriso almost made it 2-0 to Sports only to see his wonderful run and shot hit the side netting.

No matter, the final whistle blew and Sports celebrated a well earned victory.

Full time:  Hucknall Sports 1 Rolls Royce 0 

Sports players really wanted this result and worked their socks off to try and get a victory. Much credit to the entire squad of players who all played a part in securing 3 points.

Today’s Man of the Match award went to Dante Diriso who put in a terrific display of football that included speed, skill and pin-point crossing to setup his teams winner. Well done Dante and we look forward to seeing much more of this in the remaining games.

Sports beat Blades for the second week running

U13's Saturday Division 2 

Hucknall Sports  2  Carlton Town Blades  0

28/1/12   

For the second week running Hucknall Sports faced Carlton Town Blades. Last week Sports took the spoils with some clinical finishing but Carlton considered themselves unlucky and were keen to set the record straight.

Hucknall got off to the perfect start when Jacob Barlow smacked in the rebound from Dante Diriso's shot after a great cross from Tom Eastwood. Shortly after Barlow turned provider when his strong work in the penalty area allowed James Hallam to find the unmarked Diriso who fired his team into a 2-0 lead with only 20mins on the clock. Carlton looked rattled and Sports thought they had a third when Hallam's looping shot was saved at the second attempt by Blades goalie as the ball was about to bounce into the back of the net.

Predictably Blades did regroup and started to get a hold of the ball around the edges of Hucknall's penalty area but great defending from Dylan Smith  and Harry Saxton on the flanks coupled with a solid central partnership from Joe Newton and James Stenson meant that Sports goal was rarely threatened. Diriso had a chance to extend Sports lead further after good work from him to create an opening. But at half time Sports had to settle for a well earned 2-0 lead but wondered if it would be enough to win the game.

Half time: Hucknall Sports  2 Carlton Town Blades 0

After a well respected minutes silence at half time for the 14 year old boy who died this week on the Colwick Loop Road both teams resumed and Carlton moved up a gear in search of a goal to get them back into the game.

The first 15 minutes saw lots of pressure from Blades but they just could not work a clear opening. Sports Keeper Kal Orton was well protected by his great set of defenders, with Ellis Evans taking on the left-back role from Saxton. Sports were now playing on the break and although Ollie Bowley and James Hallam found space in front of goal they just could not score the third that would have closed out the game. Late on Mitch Davies looked certain to find the net when a great cross from Ryan Towle found him unmarked in front of goal but Blades keeper did well with a fine reaction save. Eventually, the whistle blew and Sports had done enough for a well earned victory.

Full time:  Hucknall Sports  2  Carlton Town Blades  0 

Sports played well in places and continue to try and play the game the 'right' way. Dante Diriso and Jacob Barlow both deserve credit for their massive contributions to the teams victory.

However, the unanimous winner of the Man of the Match Award was the brilliant Dylan Smith. This boy has been a revelation at right-back. His ability to spot danger and snuff it out before his team become exposed is second to none. But he  is not just about defending, when giving he opportunity it is great to see him drive his team forward also. Well done Dylan - we look forward to seeing you play the rest of the season to the same high standard.

Sports players are happy to be top of the league for the second week running but the half-time silence was a stark reminder to all that we are very lucky to have our boys fit and well enough to play a game of football at any level. 

Clinical Sports put Blades to the Sword and go Top

U13's Saturday Division 2 

Hucknall Sports 3 Carlton Town Blades 1

21/1/ 12   

The previous week saw Sports spurn the chance to go top. This week Hucknall welcomed Carlton Town Blades to Goosedale Lane. Carlton are littered with Division One players and only languish mid-table due to being three games behind everyone so Sports knew that they had to be on top form from the kick-off.

Dante Diriso and Jacob Barlow started as the strike-partnership and last weeks Man of the Match Owen Everton moved forward to play central midfield. Carlton got the first shot in from a long range free kick that Sports were happy to see fly well over the cross bar. Hucknall's tackling was adjudged too strong on a number of occasions and more free kicks followed by the back line of Dylan Smith, Joe Newton, James Stenson and Harry Saxton all dealt with the pressure particularly well. Whilst behind them, goalie Kal Orton snapped up everything.

It is fair to say that Hucknall were unusually slow to start and all too often they played the ball long rather than their normal passing game. This meant that strikers Barlow and Diriso were, through no fault of their own, living on scraps. Ryan Towle showed great industry on the right side and managed to get around the back of Carlton's defence to help create the opening for Sports first goal. The ball broke in the box to Dante (New Boots) Diriso and he smashed the ball into the back of the net. True to say that Sports hadn't really got going but as we saw in previous weeks this division is all about taking your chances. Hucknall's centre-half pairing of Newton and Stenson were rarely troubled and showed fantastic confidence to build from the back even when under pressure rather than simply 'booting' the ball away. Tom Eastwood's run and shot late in the first half could have taken Sports further ahead but he was unlucky to see it drift over the bar.

Half time: Hucknall Sports 1 Carlton Town Blades 0

Ollie Bowley and James Hallam took on the strike partnership role for the second half and looked to have got Sports a second when good work from Towle caused panic in the Blades back line who did just enough to clear the ball. Carlton lashed the ball forward and a bad bobble saw it evade the hands of Kal Orton to present Blades with an easy equaliser. As a result of equalising Carlton's confidence rose and they really got into top gear. Sports defence were relieved to see a cross evade everyone and go begging at the far post. But Sports rode out the storm and midfielders Charlie Blatherwick, Tom Eastwood and Mitch Davies started to wrestle the possession back to Sports. A great ball from Blatherwick saw Eastwood burst past the Blades left back and send a sublime looping shot into the back of the net. There cannot have been a better goal than this scored all season long across all divisions. The Sports 'simple' football returned and Towle, Hallam and Bowley started to create openings on the right side. It was Towle who setup the final goal with a training ground move the saw Blatherwick swivel and smash in his own contender for goal of the season. Still time for Bowley to see his smart turn and shoot blocked and Captain Fantastic Mitch Davies brilliant run and shot just evaded the goal. With Sports on top the final whistle blew to spark celebrations as Hucknall climbed to top of the Division 2.

Full time:  Hucknall Sports 3 Carlton Town Blades 1 

Sports didn't play their best football but were clinical in front of goal and that is what won them the game. Ryan Towle had a strong game on the right side and brought the training ground moves into the game which is always great to see. Tom Eastwood really put in a brilliant performance and his goal will live long on the memory.

However today's Man of the Match goes to Hucknall Captain Mitch Davies. This was a game that needed someone to get a hold of midfield by the scruff of the neck and he certainly did that. He inspired his team to believe that simply football will win games - a real Captains performance, well done Skipper.

"We are top of the league, said we are top of the league!"

Sports lose out to Harriers

U13's Saturday Division 2 

West Bridgford Harriers 1 Hucknall Sports 0

 14 /1/ 12   

Hucknall Sports took the long journey over to Regatta Way to take on West Bridgford Harriers knowing that a win would move them 5points clear in second place. But with Keeper Kal Orton and left-back Ellis Evans missing through injury Sports could not take anything for granted and knew that Harriers would put up a stern test.

On a poor pitch Sports started reasonably well and were unlucky not to go ahead when Ollie Bowley's quick thinking released James Hallam but as the keeper came off of his line the ball went narrowly over. An injury to Bowley forced an early change and Ryan Towle entered the match. On a rare right-wing move Towle got around the back of the opposition defence to whip a cross over that just evaded Sports front line. The game was turning out to be a battle for midfield supremacy and Harriers were gradually finding the space to play a style of football usually associated with Sports. However, despite some clever work Harriers never really had opportunity to test stand-in Sports Keeper James Stenson thanks to great defending from Dylan Smith, Owen Everton, Joe Newton and Harry Saxton. Then an innocuous looking break from Harriers that looked to have fizzled when the ball appeared to have gone out of play the ball somehow found a way into the back of the net to take West Bridgford into the lead.

Half time:   West Bridgford 1 Hucknall Sports 0

Hucknall came storming out of the blocks after half-time and brilliant persistent play from Dante Diriso saw him put in a wonderful far post cross that Charlie Blatherwick's header just missed the target. A goal mouth scramble saw Hallam's shot cleared off the line and a wonderful turn and shot from Towle was placed just too close to the keeper to find the back of the net. Sports changed formation to 'three at the back' in an effort to find a goal and Jacob Barlow joined Hallam to play as a front two. Hallam looked through on goal but was adjudge off-side and then in a similar incident the same player was flagged for a foul with his marker looking to have fallen over his own feet. Sports really could not have done more to try to score and in the dying moments it looked like they would get a goal during a goal mouth scramble but Harriers defence cleared their lines to safety. The referee blew his whistle and game over!

Full time:  West Bridgford 1 Hucknall Sports  0 

Despite Sports possession, unlike previous weeks, they never really got a tight grip of the game. Sure enough they battled hard and Harriers hardly had a sniff of goal. But sometimes things don't really gel and that seems to sum up today's performance.

Division 2 is a really competitive league with any team able to beat the other and you get the feeling that the promotion places will not be decided until the final game of the season.

Today's Man of the Match award went to Owen Everton for an outstanding performance at centre-half - Well done 'Evo', we look forward to seeing more of the same next week.

Hallam's Double keeps Sports Second

Belmar Services sponsor this season waterproof jackets

U13's Saturday Division 2

Hucknall Sports  2 Cotgrave Colts 0

7/1/ 12   

Hucknall Sports returned to league action after the Christmas break with a game against Cotgrave Colts, a team who had recently beaten Sports 3-1.

Hucknall continued with their measured and controlled approach to football that saw them beat Gedling Southbank 5-2 in the last outing. Good team attitude and patience were in abundance as Sports totally dominated possession from the off. Cotgrave's keeper proved to be a strong last line of defence and did well to deny Ollie Bowley and James Hallam early on. Injury to Ellis Evans meant that Hucknall had to change formation and Ryan Towle slotted in as temporary left-back. The hard working Jacob Barlow was replaced by Dante Diriso and it was his persistence that created the opening for Hallam to calmly place the ball into the net to move his team into the lead. Injury to Bowley saw Sports change formation once more with Towle moving into right midfield and Owen Everton to left back. Towle made the most of the right-wing space to provide a couple of great crosses but despite various opportunities for a second goal that their play deserved Sports just would not find the back of the net.

Half time:  Hucknall Sports  1 Cotgrave Colts 0

Further changes to Sports formation saw Harry Saxton take on the left back position with Everton replacing Charlie Blatherwick in midfield. Saxton locked up the left side with some fantastic defending and drove his team forward with really clever use of the ball and overlapping runs. Diriso, playing wide left, showed great speed and battling to force his way to the by-line to deliver really dangerous crosses time and again. But still the Colts keeper continue his display of brave goalkeeping and he pulled off a fantastic save to deny Tom Eastwood. Barlow returned to the left wing and showed great determination of his own to get to the by-line and put in his own telling crosses but Sports just could not capitalise. Finally the important second goal came when Mitch (Captain Fantastic) Davies gathered the ball in midfield and played a slide-rule pass to James (Super-Striker) Hallam. Still with work to do Hallam showed great composure to skip wide of the keeper and score his and the teams second goal. Towle was robbed of a goal of his own when the ball took a cruel last minute bobble just as he was about to 'pull the trigger'. In the final quarter Sports changed formation once more with Blatherwick and Bowley returning in the place of Towle and Davies to help  Hucknall see out the game with a great display of keeping possession.

Full time: Hucknall Sports  2 Cotgrave Colts 0 

If the possession statistics for this game had been available then Sports would have been out of sight. The whole team showed a maturity beyond their years to play a really great game of football.

At times it was a bit like musical chairs for Sports with some many changes having to be made, but it is no exaggeration to say that every boy made a claim for the Man of the Match award today. However the winner was the outstanding Joe Newton. Playing with his equally brilliant partner James Stenson at the heart of defence Joe put in an awesome performance that had him voted the unanimous winner by coaches, parents and team mates.

Cotgrave were restricted to not a single clear-cut opening on goal thanks to a wonderful displayed by Sports defence lead by Newton - well done Joe.