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.