Sports Miss Out on Top Spot

U14's Saturday Division 1b 

Hucknall Sports 1 Long Eaton Utd 2

16/2/13   

Hucknall Sports hosted table-topping Long Eaton United in their third game of Division One knowing that a win would put them joint top.

Missing a number of boys Sports could only field 11 players but they started the match wonderfully with a passing game that their opponents could only stand and admire. They stroked the ball around looking for an opening and showed wonderful patience. Long Eaton’s defence was continually undone, particularly down the left-hand side where Matt Leivers, Tom Eastwood and Jacob Barlow all combined well. Eastwood managed to get around the back and put in a number of dangerous crosses that just evaded Sports front line. Midway through the half Long Eaton has their best period of pressure and forced a number of corners. However, Sports defence stood strong with the centre-half partnership of James Stenson and Joe Newton dealing admirably with everything that United had to throw at them. On the rare occasion that Sports backline was breached Keeper Kal Orton was in imperious form and stopped everything. Long Eaton’s frustration started to show and inevitably it seems in Division One this means that the tackles start to fly in. Eventually, after one too many flying lunges Referee Dennis has no choice but to book United’s midfielder. Shortly before the end of the half an innocent ball played to the edge of the box drew a challenge that was adjudge to be a foul and United made no mistake with the resulting spot kick. Hucknall were continually being fouled in the middle of the park but just couldn’t make their free-kicks punish the offenders. The half-time whistle blew with United leading 1-0.

Half time: Hucknall Sports 0 Long Eaton Utd 1

Hucknall gathered themselves together at half time and came flying out of the blocks at the start of the second half. A series of attacks stretch Long Eaton’s defence to the max and eventually Sports got their reward. DANTE DIRISO picked up the ball wide on the right and drove into the penalty area. He evaded a number of challenges and fooled the United defence by smashing the ball home from a tight angle as they stood waiting for the cross. Eventually, the heavy pitch and lack of substitutes started to catch up with Sports midfield and Long Eaton began to dictate the play. Keeper Orton was being called on more and more and pulled off two outstanding saves to keep his team in the game. United retook the lead after winning a free-kick wide on the left and curled a neat finish high to the top right corner.

Sport still had their chances and James Hallam worked incredibly hard to find an opening but probably the best opportunity feel to Ryan Towle who’s free kick from just missed the target late on.

Full time:  Hucknall Sports 1 Long Eaton Utd 2

Hucknall’s boys left the field battered and bruised but can take lots of positives from this game and know that they able to compete with all that this division has to throw at them. Long Eaton should be congratulated on playing some nice football but it was two ‘soft’ fouls that lead to their goals that enabled the win.

Today’s winner of the Man of the Match Award was Kal Orton for a simply outstanding goalkeeping performance – well done Kal, awesome.

Leivers inspires Sports to victory

U14's Saturday Division 1b 

Lowdham Colts 1 Hucknall Sports 2

9/2/13   

Hucknall Sports travelled the short distance to Lowdham for their second game in Division 1b of the YEL to play a Lowdham Colts team who had started with a draw and a loss. Sports were missing Dylan Smith and Charlie Blatherwick but fielded a strong squad of 12 boys looking to put last week’s Shield disappointment behind them.

A last minute change of venue saw the game kick-off at Lowdham Playing Fields on a dreadful, boggy, pitch with long grass and a disgusting amount of dog mess!

Despite the conditions Hucknall started like an express train. Dante Diriso on the right and Jacob Barlow on the left provided the width to enable Sports to get around the back of Colts defence, with Barlow in particular proving a constant threat. For all their pressure and good play it looked like Hucknall would not be rewarded with a goal. But then a wonderful move stared in their own half when Kieran Green expertly ‘showed’ for the ball from a throw-in by Matt Leivers released JAMES HALLAM from his marker to put his team into the lead with a well taken goal.

This was quickly followed by cool play from James Stenson who snuffed out any danger with a ball back to keeper Kal Orton who set Green free to storm up the pitch and find TOM EASTWOOD who smashed the ball beyond the Colts keeper for a great second goal for Sports.

Hucknall thought they had scored a third when Eastwood picked out Hallam at the far post but a combination of goalkeeper and woodwork saw the ball bounce extremely close to being over the line before being hoofed clear. Colts breathed a mighty sigh of relief as the half-time whistle blew and they regrouped in the changing rooms to collect their thoughts.

Half time: Lowdham Colts 0 Hucknall Sports 2

Sports had the first attack of the second half but, predictably for a team used to playing at the highest level, Lowdham reorganised themselves and looked much more threatening going forward. Hucknall’s backline of Matt Leivers, James Stenson, Captain Joe Newton and Kieran Green really had to be on their toes as wave after wave of attacks were repelled. Colts got themselves back into the game when a jinking run through midfield managed to evade a number of Sports tackles and the ball was slotted into the net. A good chance to equalised was spurned at the far post but gradually Sports took back control of the match. Hucknall reorganised their midfield to take on a stronger shape and finished the game in the  ascendancy.

Hallam’s late free kick was well saved and in the final moments a mesmerising run from Diriso brought a magnificent save from Colts keeper.

The final whistle blew and Sports were victorious.

Full time:  Lowdham Colts 1 Hucknall Sports 2

Hucknall’s first half performance was a joy to watch for their coaching staff and fans. The boys movement was fantastic and they made the game look easy. In the second half it was a battling performance that saw them through.

You don’t win games in this division without everyone making a contribution and that was certainly the case today where every boy can consider it a job well done.

Today’s winner of the Man of the Match Award was Matt Leivers.

Playing his first full game for Sports since signing in November he showed what a talented boy he is. He has had to be patient for an opportunity to start but after a performance like today’s I am sure he won’t have to wait too much longer for the next.

Well done Matt – outstanding performance at right back.

Sports lose out to Ashfield once again

U14's Saturday Shield Quarter-final 

Hucknall Sports 1 Ashfield Youth 2

2/2/13   

Sports reward for a fantastic 3-1 victory against West Bridgford Spiders in the previous round of the Shield was a home fixture against Ashfield Youth of the Mansfield Chad league. Ashfield are a highly rated side and regularly win the Division One Championship. Last year they beat Sports in extra-time and made it all the way to the Shield final.

From the first tackle of the game it was clear that Ashfield had decided on a physical approach to the game and Sports knew that they would be in for a bruising encounter. Referee Dave Dennis was the perfect man to officiate and made it very clear that he was in charge and would not tolerate any dangerous play. Sports started well and the new ‘Christmas’ tree formation worked reasonably well with Dante Diriso and Tom Eastwood providing the threat on the wings. Hucknall struck first when a neat free-kick from Ryan Towle was expertly headed home by JAMES STENSON. Ashfield were clearly rattled and immediately pushed forward for the equaliser and looked dangerous from a series of corners and ‘Stoke City-style’ long throws. Tempers flared when an innocent looking tackle from Mitch Davies left an Ashfield player writhing on the floor only for the same player quickly recover and then lash out a boot in retaliation. Referee Dennis awarded a yellow card to Sports Davies and had no choice but to send off the Ashfield boy despite protest from their management. Sports were living dangerously and conceding far too many free kicks. Keeper Kal Orton made a fantastic save to keep his team in the lead. However, a free kick on the edge of the penalty area was expertly dispatched by Ashfield striker BRANDAN RICHARDS to the top corner and the teams went into half-time with the scores level.

Half time: Hucknall Sports 1 Ashfield 1

Things settled down in the second half but neither team really played their best football. Sports repeatedly looked for the long ball instead of being patient and keeping possession. Ashfield ensured the game was continually stopped by making numerous substitutions. Tom Eastwood’s looping shot evaded the Ashfield keeper but agonisingly dropped the wrong side of the cross-bar. Sports best chance came 10mins from time when Charlie Blatherwick set James Hallam free. Hallam’s cross from wide right found Matt Leivers who squared to Blatherwick in the box but neither he nor Tom Eastwood could get a shot away on target. Almost immediately Ashfield broke to the other end of the pitch, Sports midfield appeared to stop playing looking for an infringement and the visitor scored what proved to be the winning goal.

Full time:  Hucknall Sports 1 Ashfield Youth 2

This was certainly not a great game of football and there were far too many nasty elements to the game to make it enjoyable. For the second year running Sports have pushed one of Mansfield’s best teams all the way but eventually came up just short.

We wish Ashfield Youth all the best in the next round but can’t help wondering of what might have been.

Sports defensive four of Dylan Smith, Joe Newton, James Stenson and Kieran Green were immense today but the Man of the Match award went to Mitch Davies. He set the example to his team mates by continually ‘showing’ for the ball and made sure that Sports keep possession as much as possible as per the pre-match instructions – well done Mitch, great effort.