Davies Double helps salvage a point for Sports

U16's Saturday Division One Notts Youth League

Lowdham Colts 3 Hucknall Sports 3

27/9/14

Horrendous traffic in the Lowdham area due to the ‘World Ploughing Championships’ (really?) meant that this game was delayed by almost an hour. Adrian Evans stepped in to replace the official referee who was stuck in traffic himself.

Sports looked half asleep as the game started and were punished in the very first minute when a corner to the edge of the penalty area was expertly smashed home on the volley by Lowdham. Hucknall were understandably rattled and Lowdham’s confidence was sky high. Some 15 mins into the game the referee arrived and Ady took a well deserved rest. Colts drove forward again and a dangerous cross to the near post was turned into his own net by Sports centre-half Joe Newton. Then poor defending allowed Lowdham to go 3-0 when Sports keeper parried the ball away but his team mates could only stand and watch as the diminutive Lowdham winger tucked the ball home. The game was only 25mins old and Sports had their backs well and truly against the wall. The narrow pitch, continual flow of injuries and inevitable wasted time waiting for the ball to be retrieved from the stream meant that Sports frustration grew and grew. They simply couldn’t find a rhythm and started to look for a long-ball forward instead of sticking to their game plan. Finally, they got themselves into the game when good play from Adey Lang in midfield saw him slip in Jarrod Davies who side-footed the ball home to give his team hope of a second half come-back.

Half-Time: Lowdham Colts 3 Hucknall Sports 1

The message to Sports at half time was simply - “believe in your style of play and you will get rewarded”.

Thankfully the good football started to return for Hucknall. Jarrod and Mitch Davies gradually took a hold of the midfield. Patience on the ball and shorter passing also emerged and things looked a lot more promising. The back four got themselves organised and keeper Kal Orton was able to feed the ball out to his full backs on a more regular basis. Sports got their second goal when Jarrod Davies skilfully beat two opposition players in midfield and played a simple pass just behind James Hallam who produced a sublime back-heel back to Davies who made no mistake with a curled shot around the Keeper and into the far corner – a contender for goal of the season but Sports were not done yet. Now it was time for Sports to be on top but the equalising goal just wouldn’t come. Danny Darlow’s shot was well saved and efforts from Lang and Hallam were blocked. With less than 10mins remaining Hucknall had to throw caution to the wind and adopted a 3-4-3 formation with Ellis Evans moving into midfield and Tom Eastwood joining Hallam and Lang up front. This brought about the move of the game when Evans started a 20-pass move that saw Sports patiently move the ball from side to side before Jarrod Davies once again provided the final impetus to drive at the Lowdham defence and thread a lovely waited pass (straight out of Rues coaching manual) to Eastwood who took a touch and then belted the ball into the roof of the net.

If anyone looked odds on to win now it was Hucknall Sports but time got the better of them and in the end they had to settle for a draw.

Full-Time: Lowdham Colts 3 Hucknall Sports 3

The lead up to today’s game was far from ideal with many boys having to abandon their parents cars and walk from the outskirts of Lowdham to the ground in order to give this game any chance of starting. But Sports can’t use that as an excuse. The lesson HAS to be learnt that good, patient, controlled football is the only way forward and so it proved to be. Sports final goal was from the ‘top drawer’ and a managers dream

This was far from vintage Sports football but you have to applaud the team spirit and inner belief that brings your team back from 3-0 down to eventually draw 3-3.

Some good play from many today. Special mention to Ellis Evans for stepping in at an unaccustomed left-back position and making some tremendous passes to move his team forward, particularly in the second half. 

Jarrod Davies MOM

However, today’s winner of the Man of the Match award was Jarrod Davies. His play reminded us that he has many different dimensions to his game not just defending and his goals reminded us of our promotion campaign where he contributed so well – great job Jarrod, keep it up.

Finally, our best wishes for a speedy recovery go to Ronnie of Lowdham Colts who suffered a broken jaw during the game – get well soon.

Honours Even between Sports and Trowell

U16's Saturday Division One Notts Youth League

Trowell Blue 1 Hucknall Sports 1

20/9/14

Game three in the 2014-2015 season saw Sports travel over to Pitt Lane for their match with Trowell Blue. Having strengthened their squad with the acquisition of various Division One players Trowell had their sights set on the top of the table and had started the season with a victory over West Bridgford who Sports had been unlucky to lose to in the previous week.

In what seems to already become a trend with Sports this season they were forced to adjust the starting line-up again to cope with injuries to Skipper Kieran Green and dangerous winger Dante Diriso. Fortunately, centre-half James Stenson had made a miraculous recovery in time to replace the absent Joe Newton and Matt Leivers also returned to take part in his first game of the season. Hucknall started well and the combination of Ryan Towle, Danny Darlow and Maleek Batten worked nicely to continually slice a way through the left side of Trowell’s team. A super first-time ‘round the corner’ pass from Adey Lang set James Hallam free for Sports first attempt on goal which the opposition goalkeeper did well to turn around the corner. Then a mazey run from Darlow saw him drift past three Trowell players before releasing a cracking shot that was also just tipped away by the Trowell keeper. Hucknall were definitely looking the most dangerous but needed a goal to reward them for all their efforts. Maleek Batten gathered the ball on his own half-way line, got his head up, and drove forward. His turn of pace was electric and in a matter of seconds he was bearing down on goal only to be tripped by a desperate lunge from the Blues defender and the referee awarded the most obvious penalty likely to be seen all weekend. Birthday-boy Adey Lang stepped up to expertly dispatch his spot-kick to the bottom left corner for his fourth goal of the season and take his team into the break deservedly leading by 1-0

Half-Time: Trowell Blue 0 Hucknall Sports 1

The second half was a fairly evenly matched affair. A terrific run from defence by Jarrod Davies saw him crudely hacked down in full flight but the resultant free-kick was well dealt with by Trowell backline. In a repeat situation James Hallam was unceremoniously tripped just as he had played in Mitch Davies who rounded the keeper only for play to be brought back and a yellow-card issued – no advantage to Sports unfortunately. Hallam’s injury looked nasty and he had to be replaced by the mercurial Charlie Blatherwick. As Sports legs started to tire Trowell started to looked more dangerous. But Sports Keeper Orton was in good form and made a neat tip around the corner from a dangerous long range effort followed by a towering punch from an in-swinging free-kick. Then Trowell got a lucky break when a clearance in the Hucknall six yard box deflected off the legs of their centre-forward and bobbled into the back of the net. Trowell were on top now, but in a fast moving breakaway Eastwood put in a dangerous cross to the near post and Blatherwick’s brave header saw him clash heads with his marker which resulted in him having to leave the field of play with suspected concussion. The final moments were end-to-end as each team tried to find a winner. Lang was released through on goal only to lose his balance as he rounded the keeper and the ball ran to safety. Despite claims for a penalty the referee, after consulting with his linesman, awarded a goal kick which appeared to the be the correct decision.

Still time for one more piece of action when Sports defenders failed to deal with a long punt up field and were grateful to Dylan Smith for a tremendous block as the Trowell striker set his sights on goal.

Full-Time: Trowell Blue 1 Hucknall Sports 1

Sports continue to play some really attractive football which is very pleasing on the eye. But they also need to remember to stick to their game and not be distracted by opposition players or match-day officials. In truth either team could have won this match but in the end a draw was about the right result.

MOM Dylan Smith

Once again there were many fantastic performances from Sports today. The reshaped defence with Jarrod Davies at heart did brilliantly well and limited a dangerous Trowell team to only a handful of clear cut chances. Mitch Davies and Maleek Batten  really bossed the midfield, particularly in the first half. Danny Darlow and Tom Eastwood both provided the danger from the flanks. Whilst, up front Hallam and Lang continue to look really dangerous and with them Sports know that they are always in with a shout of a goal. However, today’s winner was our ‘silent assassin’ Dylan Smith. Playing in an unfamiliar left-back position he was simply brilliant. He never missed a tackle, but what was really pleasing was his confidence to drive the team forward, show for the ball from midfield and make some really clever passes to pick out his team mates – well done Dylan, keep up the great work.

Spiders beat Sports

U16's Saturday Division One Notts Youth League

Hucknall Sports 0 West Bridgford 2

13/9/14

Sport Management duo of Rue Hallam and Stewart Bowley were both unable to attend this game but massive thanks to Julian Davies, Justin Stenson and Ady Evans for putting their hands up to take over the reigns for the day. Sports had been soundly thumped by Spiders towards the end of last season in a game when it seemed that no matter how hard they tried nothing was going to go right but were determined to try and set the records straight and entered the game brimming with confidence after a terrific opening day performance.

The curse of the Captains armband had struck after only one game and this seasons Skipper Kieran Green is now sidelined for 3 weeks with knee ligament damaged. Also, influential centre-half James Stenson was ruled out after being carried off in the closing moments of the previous weeks fantastic victory. To add to Hucknall's problems Dante Diriso and Matt Leivers were also struggling with niggling injuries which meant both were unlikely to play a full part in the game. And so it was that Sports sent out a reshaped lineup, particularly at the back with Tom Eastwood filling in at left back.

The rest of the information in this match report is based on feedback from players and parents. The general consensus appears to be that Sports had the majority of the possession without hitting the same highs as the previous weeks. With a little more luck in front of goal they could have been out of sight before Spiders even registered their opening goal. In the second half after going a goal down to a poor piece of defensive play Sports elected to play a three at the back but just couldn't find the net to get them a foothold in the game.

Sometimes it's just not your day and no matter how hard you try the football 'gods' are not smiling on you. But this is only game 2 of a long season and there is no need to panic or be overly concerned. Yes we have injuries but they will get sorted and boys will return when they are fit and well (not before!). In the meantime we have a squad large enough to cope. We will not change our style of play, instead we will redouble our efforts and good football will win out eventually.

Danny Darlow MOM

Mitch Davies MOM

For this game we are awarding two MOM the match awards. One to Mitch Davies for an incredible show of energy in midfield and the other to Danny Darlow for a terrific show of football skills and his continued resurgence in form. Well done Mitch and Danny - keep it going.

Lang hat-trick gets Sports season off to a flyer

U16's Saturday Division One Notts Youth League

Keyworth United 1 Hucknall Sports 5

8/9/14

Hucknall Sports travelled across the county to newly promoted Keyworth United for their first game of the season in the U16’s Division One of Notts Youth League. Keyworth had won promotion with an impressive run of just one defeat in their league campaign and boasted Division 2’s most prolific strikers. Over the summer Hucknall welcomed Ady Lang to their squad that still boast six players from mini soccer days and steady results in pre-season gave them hope for another impressive season in the top flight.

In a slight change to their normal formation Ryan Towle started at right-back and he set the tempo for the teams play in the first half. He drove the team forward at every opportunity. All the training ground moves were delivered on match day to produce a series of chances for Hucknall to score. But try as they might Sports just could not find the Keyworth goal thanks to a combination of great goalkeeping and bad luck in hitting the woodwork three times. Lang was unlucky to see his lob just drift over the bar and his strike partner James Hallam looked odds on to score from a terrific header only for the keeper to produce a magnificent reaction save. A towering far post header from Jarrod Davies smacked the cross-bar and was booted away to safety. Whilst in defence Sports were rarely troubled and built play sensibly from the back through midfield and on to the strikers. As always Danny Darlow show his classy skills but he’s now added a newfound physical side that could prove to be a lethal combination for him as the season progresses. Along with the impressive midfield quartet of Tom Eastwood, Jarrod Davies and Mitch Davies, Darlow helped Sports dominate the play and their ball retention was terrific throughout. But as Sports chances went begging you started to wonder if they would prove crucial to the final outcome of the game. Unfortunately, a momentary lapse in concentration showed the qualities that Keyworth possess and they clinically punished Sports by scrambling in a cross from close range despite the best efforts of Hucknall keeper Kal Orton.  

Half-Time: Keyworth United 1 Hucknall Sports 0

After a great first half Sports elected to keep the same line-up for the second half and got themselves back into the game when debutant Ady Lang carefully placed a well taken free-kick into the bottom corner. Ellis Evans entered the match in place of the hard working Mitch Davies and scored with is his first touch to put Sports into the lead for the first time in the game. Hucknall were rampant now and the confidence flowed through the team. Lang score his second and put Sports further ahead when a terrific right wing run saw him cut into the area and clip the ball past the keeper. With 20mins still left to go Maleek Batten got a chance for a cameo appearance and made a killer pass with his first touch to set James Hallam free to skip around the keeper and score his first goal of the season which was just reward for an awesome performance. Unfortunately, a bad looking injury to James Stenson forced Hucknall into one final substitution and Towle re-entered the game at the heart of midfield to see out the final 10 minutes. Sports scored what was probably their most satisfying goal when a wonderful move saw Skipper Kieran Green combine nicely with Evans to play Hallam into the left wing position. He drove past the Keyworth defender and unselfishly squared the ball to Lang who coolly side-footed home to celebrate a terrific hat-trick on his league debut.

Full-Time: Keyworth United 1 Hucknall Sports 5

This was such a pleasing start to the season for Sports and the manner in which they won the game drew praise from the very sporting opposition management team. Sometimes it’s easy to let your heads drop when things aren’t going your way. But today’s victory was testament to a patient approach and commitment to playing football the right way.

Jarrod Davies MOM

Finding a Man of the Match in this game was almost impossible such was the level of performance from the entire squad. A hat-trick from Ady Lang coupled with terrific play from James Hallam made them both prime candidates. Danny Darlow’s virtuoso midfield performance was total joy and in defence any of the back line of Towle, Stenson, Newton and Green could have picked up the award. But the eventual winner was Jarrod Davies who showed that there is much more to his game than just defending. Time and again he broke up play and ensured that Sports retained possession by playing simple but really effective passes. He nearly grabbed a goal and ran himself into the ground - Well done Jarrod.