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.