Hallam’s Hat-trick see’s off Gedling

U13's Saturday Division 2

Hucknall Sports 5 Gedling Southbank 1

31/3/12  

Gedling Southbank arrived at Goosedale Sports Complex with only 11 players after losing three boys to injury. Sports had steadied their season with a great performance against Hyson Green in the previous week and remained in second place with three games left to go.

Hucknall set-up their formation to attack and score goals but early on both teams struggled to get the ball under control on a rock hard pitch that had been dried out with the recent unseasonal sunshine. Sports won a series of free kicks just outside the 18 yard box but efforts from James Hallam and James Stenson were well saved by Southbank’s keeper. Hucknall thought they had finally taken the lead when a superb free-kick from Ryan Towle beat the keeper but smashed back off the far post to safety. All too often Hucknall’s final pass went too long, mainly due to the pitch and wind blowing at their backs. Finally, Sport did get the breakthrough they deserved when Hallam nodded in a close range from a great corner by Towle. Jacob Barlow thought he had put his team further ahead when he converted a great defence splitting pass from Ollie Bowley only to see the goal ruled out by the linesman’s flag. Gedling were limited to long range efforts as Sports defensive line of Stenson, Joe Newton and Dylan Smith put on another master-class of defending. Anything that did get passed them was easy dealt with by Hucknall Keeper Kal Orton. The ref’s whistle blew for half-time with Sports on top but only leading 1-0.

Half time: Hucknall Sports 1 Gedling Southbank 0

Sports made three changes for the second half and introduced Charles Blatherwick, Dante Diriso and Harold Saxton. With the message to play ‘wide’ Sports looked formidable but still continued to struggle to find the goals to make things more comfortable. Then up stepped James Hallam to put the game beyond Gedling with two exquisite goals of the highest quality. Firstly he showed wonderful composure to take on and round the goalkeeper to slot home his second of the game and then he latched on to a ball over the top and chipped the on rushing keeper to finish off a terrific hat-trick. Barlow eventually got the goal he richly deserved with an elaborate overhead kick and in the final moments Blatherwick hooked in Sports fifth. Credit to Gedling for never giving in and they did score a well taken goal mid-way through the half to make the score 3-1. But Hucknall’s attacking approach eventually brought the rewards and kept the team in the hunt for promotion with a valuable three points.

Full time:  Hucknall Sports 5 Gedling Southbank 1

Sports can be very happy with the number of goals scored and three point won but they will know that they can play much better. There are two more games left of what has been a great season so far. Let’s put on the ‘style’ for the remaining matches.

Defensive duo James Stenson and Joe Newton were both worthy contenders for today’s Man of the Match but were beaten to the award by ‘super-striker’ James Hallam. He scored the goals to see his team to victory and his general play and movement was superb – excellent performance James.