Fluke Goal leaves Sports gutted

U16's Saturday Division One Notts Youth League

Hucknall Sports 1 Notts Coltz 2

18/10/14

Sports entertained Notts Coltz at Goosedale Sports complex with both teams looking to bounce back from defeats in the previous weeks.

Fair to say that both teams line-ups were almost unrecognisable with Sports playing Kal Orton at right-back instead of his customary goalkeeper position. Whilst in midfield last weeks MOM winner Ellis Evans moved to a more central position. The opening moments of the game were fairly even but Sports had the better of the chances to score.  A Tom Eastwood inswinging free-kick evaded everyone and narrowly missed at the far post. A near post shot by Mitch Davies from a Lang corner was cleared off the line and a repeat move almost brought about a goal moments later. Eventually Sports did take the lead when Lang smashed home from just inside the box after good work from strike partner James Hallam. In defense Sports rarely looked troubled as Notts reverted to a long ball game with Hucknall Keeper Keaton Sharpe safely dealing with everything that made its way through to him. Hucknall's best chance to extend their lead came towards the end of the half when the mercurial Danny Darlow jinked his way around a couple of players and pulled the ball back to the penalty spot where Lang blasted a first time shot that looked for all the world to be headed for the back of the net until a miraculous save from Notts keeper scrambled it away. 

Half-Time: Hucknall Sports 1 Notts Coltz 0

The second half was very similar to the first with Sports playing on the break with their lightning fast strikers terrorising Notts backline. Lang tested the keeper with a stinging shot that was parried away and then looked all set for a goal-bound shot only for a tremendous last ditched tackle from Darian Roberts to deny him. Coltz continued with their long ball tactics and got a lucky break when Sports failed to clear their lines and the ball was driven home. With 10 minutes to go Notts took the lead for the first time in the game when a 'shinned' attempt at a shot swerved away from the goal and Dylan Smith back-headed clearance rebounded off the head of the Coltz right winger and looped into the back of the net. Sports refused to throw in the towel and debutant Kieran Worthington had a terrific effort snatched from the top corner. Still chances fell to Sports but try as they might the goal just wouldn't come.

Full-Time: Hucknall Sports 1 Notts Coltz 2

How Sports didn't get something out of this game I will never know. They created all the best chances and played all the creative football. Another wonderful performance from the opposition keeper has denied them of victory. It's never nice to lose, particularly when playing so well but Hucknall should keep their heads high and opposition management and coaches were full of praise for how well we did. 

Tom Eastwood MOM

Man of the Match today was Tom Eastwood. From the first moments of the game he drove his team forward. His team mates need to gamble a little more to make sure they get themselves into the box to be on the end of some terrific crosses. But this was an exhibition of wing-play that his old coach Andy Dorrans would have been so proud of, as are his current coaches - well done Tom.

Sports run out of steam against Pelican

U16's Saturday Division One Notts Youth League

Pelican 5 Hucknall Sports 1

12/10/14

On a good run of form Sports traveled over to Clifton Bridge for an away game with Pelican. This is a new team by name only as they contain some well known faces from top division one sides of the recent past.

Pelican got off to a good start and Sports were thankful to Keaton Sharpe's efforts in goal for keeping the scores level in the first moments of the game. But gradually Sports found their rhythm they began to dominate midfield. Mitch Davies curled a lovely pass into the feet of Adey Lang who was tripped in the penalty as he rounded the keeper looking odds on to score. From the penalty spot the Pelican keeper redeemed himself with a terrific double save to deny the unlucky Lang not once by twice. Pelican grabbed themselves a lead when Sports old-boy Buckley Gibson-Brown scored from a corner but Sports had done more than enough to suggest that they could find a way back into this game.

Half-Time: Pelican 1 Hucknall Sports 0

With Dylan Smith suffering from flu-like symptoms Dante Diriso entered the game and fifteen minutes into the second half Sports got themselves an equaliser when Jarrod Davies smash home his fourth of the season from inside the penalty box after a clever pass from Lang. Sports were tiring but continued to create chances with James Hallam narrowly missing from a difficult chance and then Lang got on the end of a terrific Ellis Evans through-ball to lob the keeper but watched in agony as the ball hit the post and bounced away to safety. Pelican introduced their speedy wingers and in a matter of 15 minutes put the game to bed with a four goal salvo. Having only arrived at the game with one substitute Smith had to re-enter the game when Diriso himself making a last ditched tackle and in the end Sports were out on their feet after a magnificent effort from only 9 fully fit players.

Full-Time: Pelican 5 Hucknall Sports 1

Looking at the final scoreline you would be forgiven for thinking this was a walkover for Pelican - however this would be far from the truth.
The fact of this game is that Sports didn't have enough fit players or substitutes to continue to play at the same pace as Pelican for the entire game. Had the match finished after 60 mins the game would have been all square - but through no fault of the boys on the pitch they simply couldn't last the distance.
This should take nothing away from a terrific performance where Sports played some great stuff and with a bit of luck in front of goal things would have been a lot different. Sure we have things to work on but its is clear that we have enough to match the best teams in the league.

Ellis Evans MOM

Man of the Match today was Ellis Evans. His ability to controlled the ball on  'six pence' was appreciated by both his own and opposition coaches. Couple this with the ability to pick a great pass and you have a lethal combination. Great stuff Els - keep it going.

Classy Sports too good for Long Eaton

U16's Saturday Division One Notts Youth League

Hucknall Sports 4 Long Eaton 1

5/10/14

Sports second home game of the season saw them up against Long Eaton United. Hucknall had made a steady start in their first 4 games but United were still searching for their first points. Injuries to Skipper Keiran Green and keeper Kal Orton meant that Sports had to make changes to the starting line-up again and brought in Keaton Sharpe for his debut in goal.

Playing on the super-flat surface that is the Cottage Pitch at Goosedale really suits Sports expansive game and from the off they looked in good form. Had it not been for a sterling performance in goal from the Long Eaton keeper Hucknall would have been out of sight in the first half but saves from James Hallam, Adey Lang and Ryan Towle kept the scores level. Sports needed a moment of magic and predictably it arrived in the form of Ellis Evans. He controlled the ball neatly in midfield and dinked a beautifully waited lob into the path of Lang who skilfully nicked the ball over the on-rushing keeper for a terrific opening goal. The chances kept coming for Sports with Jarrod Davies narrowly missing with a header from an inswinging Tom Eastwood corner. Eastwood himself was unlucky not to get on the score sheet when he volleyed just wide at the far post from a trademark Towle cross. Long Eaton’s best chances came from long punts over the Sports defence and the odd corner. But keeper Sharpe was alive to any danger and took full command of his penalty area. He also helped continue Sports football philosophy by quickly setting the attack going with some great distribution. Hucknall defenders were finding more time on the ball and it was great to see them having the confidence to ‘play from the back’ and move their team forward. This was a good half for Sports but more goals were needed to close the game out.

Half-Time: Hucknall Sports 1 Long Eaton United 0

Sports were even more dominant in the second half as once again the combination of Mitch Davies and Jarrod Davies took a strangle hold of midfield. Time and again they broke up play and set Sports off on wave after wave of attacks. When the pass forward was not available they had the good sense to recycle and be patient. Everyone was playing well by now. Matt Leivers brought his training ground game to match-day and showed what a talented footballer he is. He continually made himself available to take possession from Sports keeper and then played simple, but effective, passes to the midfielders. Hucknall moved further into the lead when Jarrod Davies was upended in the penalty area and Lang grabbed his second of the game by dispatching the spot-kick to the bottom corner. Davies then got himself on the score sheet with another contender for ‘Goal of the Season’ after he drifted in from the left-side to curl a sublime effort beyond the reach of Long Eaton’s keeper and into the top right corner – not bad for a centre-half! Danny Darlow and Dante Diriso entered the game to keep the pressure up for more goals and Darlow almost scored with an outrageous effort that narrowly missed to the right of the goal. Hallam and Lang were terrorising their markers now and once more Long Eaton had their keeper to thank for keeping the score down. The last goal of the game deservedly went to Hallam after Lang broke free on the right side and squared the ball from the goal line for him to smash into the net. In the final moments Long Eaton grabbed themselves a consolation goal but this game well over before then.

Full-Time: Hucknall Sports 4 Long Eaton United 1

The performance of Sports today was reminiscent to the opening game of the season against Keyworth. The whole team contributed massively to a great display of ‘proper football’. We have to keep our concentration and not be distracted by what is going on off the field of play. Patience was definitely the order of the day and eventually good football was the winner.

Matt Leivers MOM

Choosing a Man of the Match is incredibly difficult when everyone has done so well, but today’s winner was Matt Leivers. Anyone playing at wing-back nowadays has to have great control and creativity and thankfully in Matt we have exactly that – well done and keep it going.