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.