Sports humbled by Keyworth

U13's Saturday Division 2

Hucknall Sports 0 Keyworth 5

17/3/12  

Hucknall Sports Management were looking for a positive response after last week’s shock defeat to lowly Wallabies in this top of the table clash with Keyworth United. In the earlier fixture Sports has played well in bad conditions and secured a victory to put themselves top of the league.

The games started evenly with both teams probing for an early breakthrough. Sports strikers Dante Diriso and Jacob Barlow worked tirelessly for the team and carried their instructions out well. Diriso was unlucky not to be able to take advantage after his hard work pressured Keyworth’s defenders into an early mistake. Keyworth broke forward and forced a corner on the left hand side that Sports were too slow to deal with and a close-range header found the back of the net to take the opposition into an early lead. Hucknall appeared rattled and soon conceded another to go further behind. Then, with 15 minutes of the first half still to go, Sports finally got their passing game going and created a sustained period of play in the Keyworth half that saw numerous chances. Charlie Blatherwick’s rocket shot smash into the cross-bar and James Hallam’s follow-up header looped agonisingly over the cross-bar. Hallam was unlucky with another attempt on goal and Tom Eastwood saw his fabulous shot tipped around the post at the last minute. Try as they might Sports just could not find the back of the net and at half-time they trailed 2-0

Half time: Hucknall Sports 0 Keyworth 2

Sports started the second half strongly but in pushing forward for a goal that would surely see them get back into the game they were inevitably exposed at the back and a mixture of indecision in defence gifted and intelligent Keyworth play saw Sports concede further goals. Good work from Ollie Bowley set up Ryan Towle for a shot from the edge of the box that drifted just wide and Jacob Barlow was unlucky not to get on the end of a Hallam run and cross. Hucknall threw caution to the wind and paid the price a final time as Keyworth found the net for a fifth and final time.

Full time:  Hucknall Sports 0 Keyworth 5

Man of the match today was the immense James Stenson. Playing as captain for the day he had a tremendous game, strong in the tackle and clever with his distribution – well done James.

The result would suggest that Keyworth played Sports off of the park and although it has to be said that they have improved dramatically over the last three seasons you have the feeling that if Sports could have scored before half-time this might have been a different game. Some Sports players look a little wary as we near the end of the season but with 4 games to go and 36 points already won the challenge now is to break the 40 point barrier.

In a bizarre twist Sports actually gained three points this weekend as the League awarded them the victory over Clifton All Whites for late cancellation of an earlier fixture.

Away to Hyson Green this Saturday should be interesting – Sports are capable of winning this one, but have to arrive with the right attitude!