Lightning provides flash of inspiration for Sports

Lightning bolt inspires Sports to victory
Picture copyright: Joanne Stenson

U15's Saturday Division One Notts Youth League

Hucknall Sports 4 Edwalton Cavaliers 2

25/1/14

After the local council declared Edwalton’s pitch unplayable this game was moved to Goosedale Sports Complex where an immaculate surface presented every opportunity for a great game of football.

Newly promoted Edwalton had found points hard to come by in Division One but their results showed that they had been unlucky to miss out by the odd goal here and there and Sports certainly were taking nothing for granted.

Hucknall won the toss and decided to play with a strong wind at their backs in the first half and started really well. They put Edwalton’s back line under immense pressure and this resulted in a number of dangerous Tom Eastwood and Dante Diriso corners but unfortunately Sports just could not covert them. The one occasion that Eastwood found James Hallam at the far post his headed was well saved by the impressive Edwalton keeper. A Diriso corner looked to be headed for the far corner only to see it clawed away at the last moment. Only 10 minutes into the game an injury to inspirational midfielder Mitch Davies saw him replaced by Maleek Batten who immediately imposed himself on the game with a neat inter-change on the edge of the box. But the shot was closed down just as he was about to ‘pull the trigger’. As the clock ticked away and the scores stayed level Sports became more hurried as they knew that the second half would be a different proposition. Finally, the goal came when a looping ball over the opposition defence saw Hallam bravely put himself in between opposition centre half’s and goalie to somehow scramble it into the net. But if Sports thought that this would open the floodgates they were wrong, well not in the football sense anyway.

Half-Time: Hucknall Sports 1 Edwalton Cavaliers 0

Buoyed by an impressive defensive display Edwalton started the second half really well and a fine move saw them get themselves back into the game and level the scores. Hucknall were rattled and starting to get overrun in midfield. Clear cut opportunities for strikes on goal were non-existent as Sports insisted on playing down the middle instead of going wide. Edwalton on the other hand looked odds on to find another goal and with it possibly secure their first three points of the season.

Sports needed a spark of inspiration and it arrived in the most unlikely of sources. The heavens opened! Hail stones, lightning bolts and wild lashing rain brought a temporary halt to proceedings and both teams took shelter waiting for the weather to improve.

On their return to play Sports looked like a completely different team and were back to their magnificent best. Maleek Batten and Mitch Davies regained control of midfield and the left sided combination of Kieran Green and Tom Eastwood started to terrorise the opposition. Time and again they got around the back and on one occasion they found Hallam who was crudely upended by the goalkeeper to win a penalty. This was to prove the turning point of the game and much praise must go to Danny Darlow for showing the courage to step up in such tense circumstances. He dispatched his shot expertly, Edwalton’s heads dropped and before they could recover Darlow had got a second when he tiptoed his way through the mud to slot nicely into the bottom corner. Sports had not finished yet and Ellis Evans got himself a goal which was richly deserved for his terrific performance. In the final minutes Edwalton got a second but it proved to be nothing more than a consolation as Sports claimed victory from the jaws of defeat.

Full-Time: Hucknall Sports 4 Edwalton Cavaliers 2

Sports will know that but for the lightning bolt that stopped play this result could have been very different. However, the last 20 minutes of play from them was nothing short of brilliant. Hucknall scored three times and could have had at least a couple more. The challenge for them is to play like that from the outset in the remaining games of the season and you never know where that might take you.

Special mention goes to Sports central defensive partnership of Skipper Joe Newton and Jarrod Davies who gave the team a solid back line that was essential for the second half and helped build the platform for the eventual victory.

Ellis Evans

Man of the Match today was Ellis Evans for a wonderful display of creative football. Rue Hallam was right to mention that Ellis probably never made a pass of more than 15 yards all game but he never wasted a pass either. Some boys can used their strength to muscle their way through a match but players like Ellis prefer to use their football skills instead – keep it up Ellis.

Late update to this report. Could'nt resist including these pictures of our dedicated mums. Thanks for sharing Joanne Stenson.

Kelly Brandom

Vonny Hallam

Eleven Heroes

U15's Saturday Division One Notts Youth League

Hucknall Sports 1 Notts Colts 3

18/1/14

Sports first game after a 5 week break saw them take on Notts Colts. The opposition had made a solid start to the season but Sports were in confident mood after a run of 4 games unbeaten in the League.

Unfortunately, Sports were only able to muster 10 fit players for this game but were grateful to Danny Darlow deciding to play through the pain to at least make the numbers up to 11. The reshaped line-up saw a back four of Matt Leivers, Dylan Smith, Joe Newton and Kieran Green and the midfield comprised of Ellis Evans, Mitch Davies, Tom Eastwood and Dante Diriso.
The opening exchanges were fairly even and although Colts maybe carried more of a threat they didn't really create too many changes on goal. Sports new look defensive line defended a series of corners well and gradually the midfield started to impose themselves more. Mitch Davies was unlucky to see his free kick just miss at the top right corner and James Hallam was always a handful playing as the lone striker. Just before half-time Colts took the lead with a fluke goal when a clearance by Davies smashed into the opposition player and rebounded into the goal.

Half-Time: Hucknall Sports 0 Notts Colts 1

Rue Hallam and Justin Stenson took on the running of the team after half-time and played three at the back to enable Dante Diriso to play along striker James Hallam up front. This created much more pressure on the opposition back line and resulted in a great goal on the overlap from Mitch Davies. Unfortunately, the opposition punished Sports by scoring from a couple of free-kicks.
In the final 10 mins Sports had to play with only 10 men but refused to throw in the towel and gave absolutely everything for their team in search of the goals that their effort deserved. But in the end both time and energy ran out and Colts took the victory.

Full-Time: Hucknall Sports 1 Notts Colts 3

On days like this when things seems to be conspiring against you the team needs everyone to pull together and show that they are up for the fight and all 11 boys did that today lead admirably by their skipper and man mountain Joe Newton who was today's winner of the Man of the Match award - well done Joe.
Sometimes you see best of a team in victory. 
Today we saw the best of a team even in defeat - #11heroes.