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.