Deja vu time for Sports

U15's Notts Youth League

Saturday Division 1 

Hucknall Sports 1 Greenwood Meadows 4

28/9/13

Sports welcomed Greenwood Meadows to Goosedale for Saturdays 3:00pm kick-off in Division One of the Under 15 league. Greenwood had made a 100% start to the season and thrashed Rolls 7-0 in their last game so Sports knew this was going to be the sternest of tests.

Hucknall had almost everyone to call on for once with only Matt Leivers and Ryan Towle unavailable. With the exception of a swap of Dante Diriso for Leivers Sports started with the same team that had done so well in the previous game against Long Eaton. Greenwood’s first attack saw them get around the back of Sports defence too easily and Hucknall were relieved to see the header loop up and over the cross-bar. Good work from Charlie Blatherwick in midfield found James Hallam in space and a wonderful pass inside the Greenwood defender presented a great chance for Diriso to go one-on-one with the keeper only to see his shot smothered at the second attempt. This served to give Sports a shot of confidence and for the next 20mins they penetrated Greenwood’s back line time and again. Tom Eastwood stood out as Sports danger man on the left side and turned his marker inside and out. Skipper James Stenson got on the end of an Eastwood corner and his fantastic shot just missed at the far post. More corners followed and Blatherwick went close in a scramble soon followed by a Mitch Davies shot being blocked on the line. Greenwood got a lucky break when a bad bobble in the penalty area presented them with the easiest of opportunities to take the lead. Hucknall responded by bringing Maleek Batten and Danny Darlow into the game and this helped make Sports the dominant team in midfield. Unfortunately, just prior to half-time Skipper Stenson had to limp off for the 3^rd week running with a recurrence of his hamstring problem.

Half time: Hucknall Sports 0 Greenwood Meadows 1

Sports were forced to move Mitch Davies to centre-half alongside Joe Newton with Blatherwick and Batten renewing their midfield partnership for the start of the second half. Greenwood used the strong wind to great effect and lumped the ball long time and again to try and exploit the space behind Sports defenders. Three quick goals followed and effectively the game was over, or so Greenwoood thought. But Sports refused to throw in the towel and continued to press forward. Batten and Eastwood combined well on the left side on a number of occasions but their crosses just could not find a Sports player and Greenwood were happy to clear their lines. Finally, the goal came when Blatherwick collected the ball on the edge of the area and drilled a lovely shot into the bottom right corner. Further chances followed for Sports and Kieran Green smashed a wonderful volley from just over the bar from the edge of the area. Blatherwick had another good shot saved and Dante Diriso made the most of his pace on the right-side to get around the back of the Greenwood defence but the goal would simply not come and the game finished 4-1.

Full time:  Hucknall Sports 1 Greenwood Meadows 4

This was a great game of football played in the right spirit. Yes, Greenwood played well but for the second week running Sports will be ruing the missed chances early on and wondering what might have been had they taken them.

Lots of positives to take from the game though and much credit to the boys for refusing to give in. They created enough problems for the league’s top team to know that better times are just around the corner for Hucknall.

Mitch Davies

Man of the Match today was Mitch Davies. First half saw him give a terrific ‘midfield general’ performance where he lead by example and showed for the ball time and again. In the second half he played in centre defence and put in a battling performance alongside Joe Newton – well done Mitch, really great performance.

Brilliant Sports pay price for missed opportunities

U15's Notts Youth League

Saturday Division 1 

Long Eaton Utd 2 Hucknall Sports 1

21/9/13

After a week’s break Hucknall Sports U15’s made the journey to Long Eaton to resume their Division One campaign. Previous meetings between the two teams had been close affairs and Sports knew they were playing well without getting the ‘rub of the green’ on some vital decisions in their previous two matches.

Injuries meant that Danny Darlow and Maleek Batten did not travel to the game whilst Dante Diriso and Ryan Towle could only start on the bench. That said Hucknall began like a ‘house on fire’ and penned United into their own half for most of the first half. Sports midfield of Charlie Blatherwick, Mitch Davies, Tom Eastwood and Matt Leivers ran rings around the opposition and forced a number of free kicks around the edge of the box that Sports, regrettably, couldn’t convert into goals. All Sports possession and fantastic play needed rewarding with a goal and right on time up stepped Charlie Blatherwick to cap off a wonderful first half performance with a stunning drive low into the bottom corner from just inside the opposition penalty area. It was no more than Sports deserved and very soon after a brilliant turn and shot from Welsh-wizard Ellis Evans smashed the cross-bar with the keep ‘all at sea’. The only blight on a spectacular first period was an injury to skipper James Stenson who was replaced by Ryan Towle midway. Despite nursing an injury himself Towle stretched every sinew for his team and showed tremendous spirit to keep out the opposition and preserve his teams lead through to half time.

Half time: Long Eaton United 0 Hucknall Sports 1

Long Eaton were visibly shaken at half-time and it was clear their extremely vocal management team had sent them out with orders to regain the midfield battle from the early tackles that went flying in. The Referee had all one keeping things under control and had to stop play on numerous occasions to try and regain order. Sports keeper Kal Orton made a wonderful finger-tip save to knock a looping shot over the bar and Long Eaton felt harshly done by when the referee waved away appeals for a penalty. At the other end of the pitch Hucknall front man James Hallam terrorised the opposition back line to such an extent that at one point he had four defenders assigned to mark him. He still managed to break free and Sports thought they had won a penalty themselves when Hallam was caught by the goalie diving low to his feet in a one-on-one but the referee waved play-on once again. Long Eaton’s best player got his team back into the game when a speculative lofted shot crept in just below the bar and then with both team going for the win Long Eaton were awarded a penalty that Keeper Orton narrowly avoided tipping around the corner that took them into the lead.

Sports were not ready to throw in the towel and Blatherwick drilled a sumptuous shot from the edge of the area that the keeper did well to deal with. This was followed by a Davies volley that he just couldn’t stay over the top of after latching onto a Long Eaton clearance from a corner.

Diriso was introduce late on in an effort to snatch a late equaliser but despite all their efforts Sports just could not get the ball over the line.

Full time:  Long Eaton 2 Hucknall Sports 1

Such is the quality of Sports squad that even when missing five players through injury they still have the ability to take the game to Division One opposition. The only criticism that could be levelled at them is that they did not manage to convert all their fantastic play, particularly in the first half, into goals. It is no exaggeration to say that they could have been 3-0 by half-time.

Despite being disappointed not to take the points we will take massive positives from the performance and know that we are in good form for the rest of the season.

Dylan Smith

Tough to choose a Man of the Match winner today as the entire team did so well. However, the eventual winner was Dylan Smith who has started the season in tremendous form. He appears to be a yard quicker to the ball than anybody else on the pitch and is playing some wonderful football as well – brilliant Dylan, keep it up.

Some of the antics on the opposition touch line left a lot to be desired and 'Paul Daniels' would be impressed by their ability to make all the spare football's that were immediately returned to play when they were chasing the game suddenly disappear once they had take the lead.

Not to worry, our day will come and when it does it will taste really sweet.

Honours Even in Local Derby

U15's Notts Youth League

Saturday Division 1 

Hucknall Sports 2 Rolls Royce 2

10/9/13

Hucknall Sports first home game of Division One saw them host local rivals Rolls Royce in a 6:15pm kick-off at Goosedale Sports Complex.

Injury to Sports skipper James Stenson meant a last minute reshuffle that saw Ryan Towle drop to centre-half and Maleek Batten partner Mitch Davies in midfield.

For the second game running Hucknall started slowly and looked considerably off the pace. Rolls stroked the ball around nicely without ever threatening Sports goal apart from a shot low to the right corner that Kal Orton saved comfortably.

However, Hucknall eventually found their passing game and started to find plenty of space out wide.

Sports took the lead when a short throw-in was nicely controlled by Batten who skilfully beat his man and swung over a cross that James Hallam smashed into the back of the net to open his account for the new season. Shortly after Sports were two up when Rolls keeper fouled Tom Eastwood and Towle expertly dispatched the penalty to the bottom right corner.  Rolls were fighting to stay in the game and keeper Eddie Ridley made a number of outstanding saves.

Half time: Hucknall Sports 2 Rolls Royce 0

Hucknall started the second half really well and got forward at every opportunity. Batten hit the post, Hallam forced good saves from the Rolls keeper and Danny Darlow had a chance to put the game out of site but just missed with a brave header at the far post. Sports knew that the next goal was going to vital and they looked odds-on to score until Rolls nicked on one the break through Trevell Lindo.

This gave Rolls renewed hope of victory and they worked hard to try and get the equaliser with a serious of Wimbledon-like long throws.

A full 6mins into injury time Rolls were awarded an indirect free-kick and in the ensuing scramble the ball was bundled into the back of the net with the last kick of the game.

Full time:  Hucknall Sports 2 Rolls Royce 2

Poor officiating certainly affected the outcome of this game and quite where that amount of injury time came from when the trainer was on the pitch only once in the second half we will never know. The award of an indirect free-kick was baffling given that Sports keeper Kal Orton was caught with a late challenge after gathering the ball but the referee obviously didn’t see it.

That said, Sports will know that they had the chances to put this game well beyond their opponents and need to be more clinical in front of goal.

We are all disappointed but will use this to strengthen our resolve to do well in this division.

James Hallam

Today’s winner of the Man of the Match Award was James Hallam for an outstanding performance at centre forward where he was almost unplayable at times. He ran the Rolls defence absolutely ragged – well done James, awesome.

Tough Start for Sports

U15's Notts Youth League

Saturday Division 1 

Trowell 4 Hucknall Sports 2

7/9/13

Hucknall Sports started their Notts Youth Division One campaign travelling to Pitt Lane for an away match against Trowell, a team tipped to win the division by many after an impressive season last year.

Sports had their entire squad to choose from and set themselves up with Ellis Evans playing just behind striker James Hallam. But they couldn’t have got off to a worse start when slack defending saw them concede a goal in the second minute.

Hucknall’s Keeper Kal Orton had to be on his toes in the early stages of the game and bravely dived at the feet of the Trowell striker to thwart a one-on-one attempt and followed that with a fantastic, cat-like, leap to tip a ball that was heading for the top corner just over the bar.

Sports eventually got themselves going and Dante Diriso started to find a route round the back of the opposition defence. One such run resulted in a corner that Charlie Blatherwick headed just over. On another occasion Sports looked set to equalise but they just couldn’t find a clear shot on goal with the ball bouncing around penalty area and Trowell’s goalie finally grabbed hold of  it.

With the half drawing to a close Hucknall got a well deserved equaliser after debutant Danny Darlow coolly stroked home a penalty after Hallam had been adjudged to be tripped.

Half time: Trowell 1 Hucknall Sports 1

The second half was very even with both teams playing some great football at times. Again Sports paid the price for not clearing their lines and Trowell’s ‘bruiser’ of a centre-forward bundled the ball into the net.  This seemed to inspire Sports to up their game and Skipper James Stenson had a wonderful shot from the edge of the box that just missed the far post. For the second time in the game Sports brought the scores back to level when Maleek Batten was fouled on the edge of the box and Blatherwick smashed the free-kick straight over the goalie and into the net.

As the match was nearing full time a wonder full goal from Trowell’s right wing put them into the lead once more but Sports refused to lie down and had two fantastic opportunities to equalise but Hallam’s flick was cleared off the line and Maleek Batten’s header was somehow clawed away at the last minute.

With Sports pushing forward they got caught on the break and conceded a penalty in the final seconds.

Full time:  Trowell 4 Hucknall Sports 2

Welcome to Division One boys. This was a tough game and we know that we can play much better but that said you can count yourselves very unlucky not to have taken something from the game. The opposition manager was full of praise for the way we refused to lie down and predicts a bright season for us – let’s make sure that we all work hard and do that. Our season starts Tuesday night now!

Dylan Smith

Today’s winner of the Man of the Match Award was Dylan Smith for an outstanding performance at right-back – well done Dylan, awesome.