End of Season Awards

Leading Goal Scorer - James Hallam

Goal of the Season - Charlie Blatherwick (vrs Trowell)
Most likely to lose his Kit - Charlie Blatherwick

I don't like football, but I am really good at it - Kal Orton

Silent but Deadly - Dylan Smith

Has the Season already Finished? - James Stenson

Most likely to be in a Boy Band - Joe Newton

Best Impression of Ady 'Taff' Evans - Kieran Green

Homer Simpson Doh!!! - Matt Leivers

Most Facebook Messages - Maleek Batten

Most Different Hair Styles - Danny Darlow

Duracell Bunny Energy Award - Mitch Davies
Best Trainer - Mitch Davies

I'll Play Anywhere Award - Jarrod Davies

Alan Wicker World Traveler Award - Tom Eastwood

Best Overseas Player - Ellis 'Welsh Wizard' Evans

Best Goal Celebration (shhhsh) - Dante Diriso

Top Scout - Ryan Towle

Penalties Cost Sports in final Game

U15's Saturday Division One Notts Youth League

Notts Colts 3 Hucknall Sports 0

26/4/14

Sports last game of the season saw them playing away to League finalist Notts Coltz on in Clifton.

On a really dry and poor surface Sports passing game was always going to be hard to execute but the boys tried their best to keep the ball down play a styling game of football. New midfield partnership of Mitch Davies and Jarrod Davies showed some promising signs once the early nerves had been expelled. Both boys broke up the play time and again to try and get their team forward. In defense Sports had their tried and tested line up but things looked bad for skipper Stenson early on when he appeared to pull up with a recurrence of his hamstring injury but thankfully it was nothing more than a temporary niggle. Not for the first time Sports opposition played a 'long ball' game and one such punt put Coltz lightening fast striker through only to be caught by Kal Orton - No question, it was a stonewall penalty and they took the lead. Moments later the referee appeared a little confused when he gave a second penalty after Sports defenders swung and missed both the ball and the man - two nil to Coltz.
Sports best chance of the half came when Darlow and Green combined cleverly from a corner to swing a great cross to the far post but the chance went begging with three Hucknall players narrowly failing to connect.

Half-Time: Notts Coltz 2 Hucknall Sports 0

In the second half Sports welcomed back Matt Leivers from injury and Ellis Evans from holiday as they went in search of goals and both boys wasted no time putting their mark on the game. Leivers calm approach to the game seemed to settle his team mates and the good football started to flow from Sports. A terrific move where Jarrod Davies linked with Evans to set up a strike from the edge of the box deserved a goal just for the share quality of the move itself but the ball narrowly missed the target.
Another great delivery by Eastwood from a corner was scrambled away from the goal line just before Sports strikers could pounce and a typical James Hallam thundering run at defense resulted in a lobbed shot that agonisingly missed the target by inches.
Coltz scored a third after Sports defenders got caught on the break with the team pushing for goals. But Hucknall refused to be bowed and there was still time for a Towle run and shot and another effort from Eastwood and a Danny Darlow twinkle toes run at goal. But, eventually time ran out and Coltz took the points.

Full-Time: Notts Coltz 3 Hucknall Sports 0

Despite losing this was a much better performance from Sports. They created enough chances in this game indicate that they are not far away from matching the big boys.

Today's Man of the Match was our returning Skipper James Stenson. He was simply awesome at the heart of defense and showed all the qualities required of a skipper to set the example and push his team forward - brilliant Steno, well done.

James Stenson MOM

Can't finish this report without saying how proud I was to hear from the Leicester Scout how much he enjoyed the way we set about trying to play the game and the performance of 'Greeny' in particular.
You never know who's watching you boys and win, lose or draw good football will always be appreciated by those that recognise it. 

Clincal Spiders Thrash Sports

U15's Saturday Division One Notts Youth League

Hucknall Sports 1 West Bridgford Spiders 7

15/4/14

10 days after narrowly missing out on a famous victory to Spiders after a last minute equaliser Sport entertained West Bridgford at home in their penultimate Division One game.

Sports started the match with a 4-3-1-2 formation in the hope that this would bring goals. Unfortunately, it completely backfired on them and by half-time they were losing 3-0. Spiders found space in behind Sports backline time and again and showed some clinical finishing. Hucknall had their chances to score but just couldn't find the back of the net. Darlow just missed out on applying the final touch to a lovely move that deserved a goal. Inexplicably a dreadful challenge on Mitch Davies in the penalty box went completely unpunished and shots from midfielders Jarrod Davies and Charlie Blatherwick were well saved by the opposition Keeper.

Half-Time: Hucknall Sports 0 West Bridgford 3

Sports started reasonably and Dante Diriso sprinted onto a terrific Blatherwick through ball only to be denied by the keeper. But slack play saw them concede a fourth goal before Jarrod Davies smashed his team back into the game after a neat one-two with Dante Diriso. Unbelievable Spiders scored straight from the restart after a long punt to the corner found Sports defenders napping. Hucknall refused to give up and Blatherwick was unlucky not to find the net after a couple of brilliant moves presented him with chances for first time volley's that only narrowly missed the target. A Jarrod Davies header smashed he cross-bar and another shot from the same player was well saved. Every time Sports looked like getting back into the game they either lost players to injury or Spiders grabbed another goal. They showed some clinical finishing that Sports just could not match.

Full-Time: Hucknall Sports 1 West Bridgford 7

Well it was hard to find any consolation in this result which goes down as Sports worst in the last three seasons. All too often passes went astray and any movement was in short supply. Decision making when receiving the ball was often poor as players chose to keep hold of the ball and take on opposition rather than playing in their team mates. Far too often tracking back by midfielders was non-existent leading to defenders being stretched all over the park.

Sports players know that they did not do themselves justice in this performance and thankfully there is one more game to go to put things right. Let's end the season with a victory and prove to everyone that this result was a 'freak' and Hucknall Sports are much better than they showed tonight.

Rogues Gallery

 

 

Dunkirk defeat Sports

U15's Saturday Division One Notts Youth League

Hucknall Sports 1 Dunkirk Colts 3

12/4/14

Sports welcomed Dunkirk Clots to Goosedale Saturday’s Division One game. Dunkirk had a slow start to the season but improved dramatically after the return of various ex-academy players and recently made it to the Final of the League Cup.

Playing with the wind at their backs Colts started the stronger of the two teams and laid siege to Sports goal from the outset. As seems to be the pattern of recent games Hucknall’s defensive line worked extremely hard to stop their goal from being breeched and made some fantastic last ditched tackles to deny the opposition. Sports Keeper, Kal Orton, continued his impressive run of form with another series to truly world-class saves that left the Dunkirk management team with their heads in the hands wondering what they needed to do. Finally, and somewhat inevitably, the goal came when poor tracking back by Sports midfielders allowed Dunkirk a shot on goal that arrowed into the top corner with Orton powerless to do anything about it. However, the lead was quickly pegged back after a sweeping left-sided moved from Hucknall saw Tom Eastwood cross for Maleek Batten to calmly side foot into the net. This gave Sports the confidence to move forward and James Hallam worried the Colts defence time and again with his blistering pace and combative style. Hucknall finished the half on top but just couldn’t find a goal to move their team into the lead.

Half-Time: Hucknall Sports 1 Dunkirk 1

Hucknall had the wind at their backs for the second half and started confidently enough and early on the combination of Batten and Hallam looked like it would bring more goals. Batten broke down play high in the opposition half but just couldn’t find his team mate with the goal begging. Hallam looked to have been upended in the box after a trademark run saw him power past a number of Dunkirk defenders but the fact that he stayed on his feet appeared to encourage the referee that no infringement had taken place. Dunkirk retook the lead after a well worked move saw them cross from the left side and finish neatly. This was quickly followed by the decisive goal as Sports marking went astray. Hallam tried disparately to get his team back into the game but just could find a way past the opposition keeper after a terrific run in the final moments of the match.

Full-Time: Hucknall Sports 1 Dunkirk 3

There was a time when playing well but losing to a top team in the division was worthy of praise and Sports certainly had their moments in this game. But you couldn’t help think that this was a missed opportunity for Sports to grab a result that would have sent a really strong message to the other teams that they are a force to be reckoned with. Unfortunately, second half instructions were ignored and some players appeared more intent on trying to wind-up opposition players or talk with team mates instead of concentrating on the game.

Kal Orton  MOM

Sports Man of the Match today was Kal Orton who was simply outstanding. It has been said many times, but he is simply the most naturally gifted Goalkeeper in the Division and continues to have a spectacular season for Sports.

Two games left, both of which are winnable - COYS

Spiders nick Draw with last Gasp Goal

U15's Saturday Division One Notts Youth League

West Bridgford Spiders 2 Hucknall Sports 2

5/4/14

Sports travelled the busy ring-road to Rushcliffe School for their Division One game with high flying West Bridgford Spiders who were looking for points to help their push for a second place finish. Not for the first time this season Hucknall’s preparations were hindered by injuries and could only field 11 fit players after injuries to Hallam, Leivers, Diriso, Blatherwick and midfield maestro Mitch Davies away on holiday.

West Bridgford are renowned for playing a neat and tidy passing game but for reasons best known to themselves they decided to employ a ‘long ball game’ and set their stall out from the kick-off with a rugby-style kick for touch. Sports on the other hand played the ball on the deck and the new look midfield of Tom Eastwood, Jarrod Davies and Ryan Towle proved an instant hit and linked the ball cleverly to their front players Danny Darlow and Maleek Batten.

Spiders, playing with the wind at their backs, won a series of corners and although Sports defended manfully they did get caught out on one occasion and the ball found the back of the net from close range. But with plenty of time on the clock Sports knew that their patient passing game would pay dividends eventually and so it proved. Good work from Kieran Green, Eastwood and Batten saw them win a corner of the left side. Up stepped Towle to rifle in a ball to the near post and inspirational leader James Stenson smashed in from close range. More long ball punts and corners from Spiders meant that Sports back-line were kept on their toes. But apart from Green making a neat clearance off the line Sports Keeper Kal Orton was rarely troubled.

Towards the end of the half Sports started to ‘pull the strings’ with Ellis Evans once again catching the eye with some terrific control and visionary passing. One such ball from Evans picked out Danny Darlow who looked to have put his team into the lead only for his shot to be booted clear after the keeper had parried. Half-time arrived with the scores level.

Half-Time: West Bridgford Spiders 1 Hucknall Sports 1

James Hallam came off the treatment table to help his team out in the second half and immediately caused problems. This boy doesn't know the meaning of a ‘lost cause’ and refused to give up on anything. Time and again he got himself between central defenders and goalkeeper but just couldn't get the little bit of luck that would see the ball nestle in the back of the net.

Sports had the wind at their backs now but still continued with their passing game. Jarrod Davies was immense in midfield and showed a glimpse of what was to come when he fired over from distance. Moments later the same player set his sights more accurately and smashed a tremendous 25 yard shot up and over Spiders keeper to put Sports into a well deserved lead. Dylan Smith and James Stenson took their lead from Davies and both showed great composure to move their team forward with neat passing rather than simply booting the ball forward. Smith in particularly showed great form to dribble the ball from defence to attack and was inches away from setting up Eastwood and Darlow. Hucknall were on top again and Batten nearly helped extend their lead when breaking down play high in opposition territory but just couldn’t found a team mate with the goal at Sports mercy.

With time running out Spiders threw everything they had at Sports but found Hucknall’s keeper Kal Orton in terrific form. He made a couple of top class saves in the dying moment that looked to have secured the points for his team.

But Sports hearts were broken when Spiders eventually found a way to goal from the final kick of the game when a corner evaded all Sports defenders and they tapped the ball home to snatch a draw.

Full-Time: West Bridgford Spiders 2 Hucknall Sports 2

Conceding this late in a game is heartbreaking when you have put so much effort in. But this should take nothing away from a brilliant Sports performance. For the majority of this game Hucknall played wonderfully well. If there is any criticism it is that Sports continued to try and play football instead of ‘shutting up shop’ but that’s simply not in our nature. We are ‘footballers’ and will not compromise on how we play whether it be the first or last minute – Cloughie would have been proud of you boys.

Kieran Green MOM

Sports Man of the Match today was Kieran ‘Greeny’ Green who must have covered every blade of grass. If there is a better left-back in this league then I have not see him. In a team performance that was truly wonderful he stood out. Whether it be heading, tackling, passing or driving his team forward – he did it all. Well done Greeny, brilliant stuff.

Finally, massive thanks to James Hallam for playing through the pain-barrier to ensure his team had at least one extra option on match day.

Three tough games left. Let’s continue to show everyone the quality and style that this side possess and play without fear – Come on Sports!!!

Sports and Cav’s Share Points

U15's Saturday Division One Notts Youth League

Hucknall Sports 1 Edwalton Cavaliers 1

1/4/14

Hucknall Sports entertained Edwalton in a rearranged game at Goosedale Sports Complex on Tuesday evening. Sports had secured their Division One status some time ago but were looking for more points to help them climb the table. Edwalton on the other hand were seeking points to stave off relegation and came into the game on the back of some respectable recent results.

Playing on a bumpy Cottage pitch Sports started reasonably well and Dante Diriso, starting in his favoured right wing position, nearly scored within 10mins when he latched onto a defensive mistake only to see is shot well saved by the impressive Edwalton keeper. Sports new look line-up saw Charlie Blatherwick playing the lone striker with Ellis Evans just in behind him and the two combined well to create an opening that again the opposition keeper did well to save. Edwalton took the lead when a long punt forward took a massive bounce up and over the Sports keeper to present an easy tap-in.  Hucknall moved up a gear and won a series of corners but despite their best efforts and one particularly good header from Joe Newton they just couldn’t get the equaliser they deserved. A Newton free-kick bounced up and over the opposition keeper and looked destined for the back of the but for a last minute finger tip connection that diverted it for a corner. Late in the half Evans danced his way around 2 or 3 players to create an opening but just couldn’t find the back of the net after some great individual skill. Maleek Batten and Mitch Davies continued their assured partnership in midfield with both players showing boundless energy. However, at half-time the visitors were still in the lead and sensing victory.

Half-Time: Hucknall Sports 0 Edwalton 1

Sports moved Jarrod Davies into midfield alongside Ryan Towle for the second half. Davies clearly relished this more advanced role and drove his team forward at every opportunity. After what felt like an age Sports finally got their equaliser when Eastwood and Davies combine for Eastwood to smash the ball into the roof of the net. Sports were on top but just couldn’t find a clear rout to goal thanks to some great defending from Edwalton. In the closing stages of the game Towle stepped up to curl a free-kick just over the bar and at the  other end Kal Orton leapt high to push a goal bound shot up and over.

In the end a score draw was probably the right result but not what either team was hoping for.

Full-Time: Hucknall Sports 1 Edwalton 1

MOM Jarrod Davies

Sports Man of the Match tonight was Jarrod Davies who turned in a performance of real determination. He clearly enjoyed his chance to play a little further  and with injuries mounting it’s great to be able to move players around and not weaken the shape of the side – well done Jarrod

Four tough games left. Let’s show everyone the quality and style that this side possess and play without fear – Come on Sports!!!