Christmas comes early for Sports

U15's Saturday Division One Notts Youth League

Hucknall Sports 4 Long Eaton Utd 1

14/12/13

Hucknall Sports White final game of 2013 in Division One pitched them at home to third-placed Long Eaton Utd. It’s was fair to say that United had been Sports bogey team and in eight years of trying Hucknall had not registered a single victory. But with confidence at a high after a run of three matches unbeaten Hucknall sensed that this might be their best chance of a stunning victory.

The only change to Sports starting line-up was Jarrod Davies who recently returned to Sports after a spell with Long Eaton. Davies partnered Joe Newton at the heart of one of the leagues outstanding defences with Dylan Smith and Kieran Green playing in the wing-back positions. After a Man of the Match performance the previous week Ellis Evans was selected to partner the ever-dangerous James Hallam up front.

With the wind at their backs Long Eaton started the better of the two teams and settled into their customary sleek style of play. A nice move saw United’s Jack Warner find Bailey Walker in the box and he cleverly side footed home. However, this only served to galvanise Sports into action and soon the gaps started to appear in front of the opposition goal. Dante Diriso, Matt Leivers and Evans all had chances but were unable to find the net. Sports breakthrough came after great work from Hallam saw him drive to the byline and pull the ball back for Maleek Batten to smashed home to level the scores.

Half-Time: Hucknall Sports 1 Long Eaton United 1

Hucknall made a couple of changes for the second half and introduced Tom Eastwood and Danny Darlow into the game. Ryan Towle slotted back into his usual centre midfield role after deputising at centre-half for the previous weeks and he showed great vision in picking out Hallam in the first 5mins for him to finish coolly and put Sports into the lead. With a strong wind at their backs you would have been forgiven for thinking that Sports might have elected to play ‘long-ball’ – but you would be wrong! This is a ‘footballing’ team where every player looks comfortable on the ball and they looked to play from the back, through the midfield and then pick out the strikers. Never more was this the case than the work done by wing-backs Green and Smith who regularly drove their team forward from the edge of their own penalty area up to the oppositions. Hallam grabbed a second with an exquisite finish and now Sports where rampant. Chances fell to Eastwood, Batten and Darlow to extend the lead but the final goal was grabbed by one of the hardest working boys you will see, Mitch Davies. It was rich reward for another tireless effort by him where he covered every blade of grass and broke down play time and again. Skipper James Stenson was introduced for the final 10mins to help maintain the midfield dominance and he showed great form to create space for a couple of shots that only  just missed the target. The final shot of the game was from Sports when up stepped Green to try his luck with a 30 yard free-kick that just drifted over the far angle.

Final Score: Hucknall Sports 4 Long Eaton Utd 1

Man of the Match today was James Hallam who was at his unplayable best once again. The mark of a good striker is that when you’re having a lean spell you don’t hide and he certainly didn’t hide in this game. He absolutely terrorised the Long Eaton defence and even the opposition supporters gave him a round of applause when he left the team with 5mins to play – brilliant James, well done.

James Hallam MOM

There is no more pleasing site for the coaches than to see boys fulfilling their potential and today was that day. All 15 boys played their part in a tremendous victory that will send shockwaves through the division. The next match can’t come soon enough but we can all enjoy our Christmas after a fabulous last 4 games that have seen the team pick up 10 points.

Merry Christmas to everyone and thanks for the early present boys

Sports put Colts to the sword

U15's Saturday Division One Notts Youth League

Lowdham Colts 0 Hucknall Sports 1

07/12/13

Hucknall Sports traveled the short distance to Lowdham for their Division One fixture with Lowdham Colts. Sports had played Colts in last season’s Spring league and done well but after beating Rolls Royce last week Lowdham were high in confidence.

Hucknall got off to an electric start and were unlucky not to take the lead in the opening 5mins when they hit the post in a goalmouth scramble and Lowdham were grateful to see the ball bounce back into their goalkeepers hands. Wave after wave of  attacking football from Hucknall created chances galore but try as they might opportunities for Hallam, Diriso, Evans and Batten all went begging. At the other end of the pitch Hucknall Keeper Kal Orton had little work to do thanks to some controlled defending from Smith, Towle, Newton and Green. Hucknall were so dominant it was surely only a matter of time before they would take the lead. In midfield the quartet of Diriso, Davies, Batten and Leivers played extraordinary well. Diriso and Leivers both got around the back of the defenders and put in dangerous crosses but again Sports just couldn’t find the goal they deserved.

Half-Time: Lowdham Colts 0 Hucknall Sports 0

Sports made three changes for the second half introducing Tom Eastwood on the left wing, Danny Darlow at centre forward and recent signing Jarrod Davies at centre half and all three players made an impact. Eastwood and Darlow sliced open the Lowdham defence on the right side but the pattern of the first continued Hucknall still couldn’t find the goal that their play deserved. Lowdham continued with long-ball tactics but Newton and Davies held firm held firm in the centre of defence. Colts best chance arrived in the form of a free kick after Orton had upended his man on the edge of the box and from the resultant shot Hucknall were relieved to see Orton push the ball onto the bar and the follow up header fly over. In truth that was really the only moment of danger such was the Sports dominance. With time running out Diriso looked certain to score only for his shot to squirm past the far post. But Hucknall kept believing that the goal would come and eventually it did. They won a corner on the far side and with boys lined up on the edge of the box to attack a cross to the penalty spot the team were ready for one final go a grabbing a goal. However Tom Eastwood had other ideas. Instead he curled a terrific looping delivery over the keeper and into the far corner. With only minutes left it was time for Sports to see the game out and Darlow showed great ball skills to keep the game in the Lowdham half. Things got a little unsavory towards the end and Colts frustration saw the tackles come flying in. Diriso was the victim of one crunching effort and was left reeling on the sidelines but we are happy to see him able to get to his feet in the end. The final whistle blew and Sports celebrated a well deserved victory.

Final Score: Lowdham Colts 0 Hucknall Sports 1

This match was one of Sports games in hand and it was really important to try and get the victory. The football at times was truly wonderful and so satisfying for the coaches to see training ground work put into practice to such great effect in the match.

Well done to all the boys for a great team performance where everyone did a brilliant job.

Ellis Evans

For the second week running choosing a man of the match award was incredibly difficult but the eventual, and worthy winner was Ellis Evans. Sports Team Manager had let him down badly the week before but all credit to him for taking the opportunity when presented to put in a brilliant performance and show what the Manager had been missing – well done Ellis.

Thrilling Draw for Sports

U15's Saturday Division One Notts Youth League

Hucknall Sports 2 Trowell Blue 2

30/11/13

Back row (left to right): James Stenson (Skipper), Joe Newton, Jarrod Davies, Ryan Towle, Kal Orton, Charlie Blatherwick, James Hallam, Danny Darlow, Maleek Batten

Front row (left to right): Matt Leivers, Tom Eastwood, Ellis Evans, Kieran Green, Dante Diriso, Dylan Smith, Mitch Davies.

Sports welcomed Trowell Blue to Goosedale Sports Complex for the reverse fixture of the first game of their 2013-14 Division One adventure.

In the earlier fixture Hucknall left feeling hard done by when going down 4-2 after having good chances to take the lead at 2-2.

The crowds turned out in force to witness a game between two sides renowned for playing stylish football. Sports were almost at full strength apart from their influential Skipper James Stenson whose long term injury continues to restrict his game-time. After a great performance last week Ryan Towle played alongside Joe Newton at centre-half and Matt Leivers earned himself a well deserved place in the starting line-up after performing brilliantly in training on the previous Thursday evening. Hucknall thought they had taken an early lead when James Hallam won the ball off of the Trowell defenders and slotted home neatly only for the referee to disallow the goal for an earlier infringement. Unusually, Trowell resorted to long ball tactics to try and release their lightening quick strikers and a mix-up between Sports defenders and goalie gifted them the lead when an innocent long punt sailed over everyone and into the back of the net.

Hucknall still looked likely to get back on terms and great work by Mitch Davies presented Kieran Green with the opportunity to pick out Hallam at the far post only for his header to miss by inches. Trowell were rocking and another effort from Sports was only kept out with a last gasp block on the line. Try as they might the goal that their play deserved just wouldn't materialise and Sports went into the break losing 1-0.

Half-Time: Hucknall Sports 0 Trowell 1

Hucknall entered the second half with instructions to continue playing their own game and not revert to desperate long balls. Charlie Blatherwick and Mitch Davies continued their great partnership in midfield and started to take control. Blatherwick showed some great inventive play as he looked to release his team mates with cleverly disguised passes and Davies ensured that Sports won every 50:50 ball with his terrific work ethic. Sports won a series of free-kicks in dangerous positions but just could not find the right delivery to make the opposition pay until Blatherwick smashed a 25-yard thunderbolt into the top right corner leaving the keeper with absolutely no chance. Hucknall were in the ascendancy now and moments later Maleek Batten made it 2-1 to Sports when he bundled the ball home. Trowell were shell-shocked and didn’t know what had hit them. But gradually they got their game going and started to threaten. But Sport looked strong and with the returning Jarrod Davies at the heart of defence Hucknall looked like they were on the verge of a famous victory. In the last moments Blatherwick was adjudged to have pushed his man and a free-kick awarded in a dangerous position. The first attempt went flying over the bar but the referee spotted another infringement and from the retake they made no mistake and equalised.

Final Score: Hucknall Sports 2 Trowell 2

Before the start of this game Sports might have been happy with a point but at the end you have to think that they deserved more. A fine save by Trowell’s keeper in the last moments of the game stood between them and victory.

But the team can take massive encouragement from this performance and it’s great to report that our play has won new fans from outside of Hucknall Sports.

Maleek Batten

It is often said that the choice of Man of the Match is a difficult task and that was never more true than today where every boy staked a claim. From front to back everyone can take a bow. However, the eventual winner was Maleek Batten who is continuing to improve every week - Well done, keep working hard and you’ll have a great season.