Sports not afraid of Spiders

U14's Saturday Shield Competition

Hucknall Sports 3 West Bridgford Spiders 1

01/12/12

Goosedale Sports Complex hosted the Shield clash between Hucknall Sports and West Bridgford Spiders, the Division 1A team sitting respectfully in third spot.

Unbeaten Hucknall were looking to maintain their run of form and would need an outstanding performance to overcome a side a division above and with their inspirational manager Stewart Bowley missing due to work commitments.

Sports had a reshuffled side with Hallam and Diriso chosen to spearhead the attack for this game between two fabulous football teams.

On a bright sunny day but heavy pitch, West Bridgford  started the game as expected, a strong, big team, showing why they are in the top division, passing the ball well and winning plenty of fifty fifty balls. However Sports started the game stronger and forcing most of the play into the opposition half, making many chances with Diriso, Towle and Eastwood coming close. After some great wing play by Everton the ball was lobbed into the box with Hallam chasing down only to see his shot cleared off the line by some great defending.  However Spiders began to press hard into the last quarter of the first half, testing Kal Orton who displayed a brilliant performance giving the Bridgford  side very few chances to break the deadlock. Bowley and Evans were introduced to keep the pressure on Spiders and made an immediate impact as Hucknall then took the lead.

A free kick from Mitch Davies, was cleared away then Evans returned towards the six yard box, when it fell to a surprised James Stenson way up the pitch who turned well and powered home a strike from just inside the box, right into the top corner only minutes before the break.

As half time approached Sports were deserved leaders but knew a single goal was not going to be enough to beat a dangerous Bridgford  side and Sports defence of Smith, Newton, Stenson and Green would have to be at their best in the second half.

Half time: Hucknall Sports 1 – West Bridgford  Spiders 0

Sports introduced Barlow and Leivers at the break to bolster the team for Spiders second half assault which did begin as the second half got under way but Sports were strong in all departments and soaked up the pressure well and dealt with a rejuvenated Bridgford  side.

Inevitably as in the first half Sports began again to break down the opposition with slick passing football and strength in midfield to win the ball and speed up front to unsettle the Spiders defence. Few real clear cut chances were made by any of the two sides so with a tiring Spiders defence mid way through the half Sports re-introduced Eastwood and Diriso to inject some pace and it almost had an immediate impact with the two driving at the heart of the defence and Eastwood skipping past two then the keeper to slot home.

This inspired Sports for more and began to dominate the game pushing forward in numbers but got caught with good wing play by Spiders who were awarded a penalty which was dispatched well giving Orton no chance.

This made for a tense final five minutes with Spiders pushing for an equaliser and nearly succeeded with Newton having to clear a lobbed shot off his own line to deny Spiders.

But the final say was left to Hallam whose pace took him past the Bridgford  back line and rounded the keeper to dispatch the winner with only two minutes remaining and they went on to run down the clock for an outstanding win

Full time:  Hucknall Sports 3 West Bridgford  Spiders 1

In heavy conditions much credit to both teams for a great game of football. There is very little between the two sides which gives Sports great confidence to finish the season on a high and shows Sports time to join the big teams in division 1B after Christmas may now be here.
Man of the Match today was an impossible choice for stand in managers Andrew and Justin, so the entire team was chosen for their fantastic giant killing performance with every player in the squad showing determination, heart and desire to do their best for the team well done boy`s. Keep it up!!!