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.