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.