Sports not afraid of Spiders (again)

U16's Division One

West Bridgford Spiders 0 Hucknall Sports 1

29/11/14

After a disappointing loss to Keyworth on the previous weekend Sports traveled to high flying West Bridgford Spiders for their last league game of the year looking for a positive reaction and in need of three points.

Both teams are renowned for playing a stylish brand of football but faced with a ‘pudding’ of  a pitch they were going to find it a real struggle.

Missing several members of the squad Sports had to shuffle the pack and took the opportunity to play Ryan Towle in central defence and give Danny Darlow a run in central midfield. With traffic at a standstill on the ring road Skipper James Stenson and Dylan Smith arrived just as the team were about to kick off. Hucknall moved the ball around nicely trying to find a way through the mud but all too often the pitch intervened and thwarted any chance of fluid passing. The best chances to score looked like being from set pieces and a dangerous Tom Eastwood free-kick from the right edge of the penalty area was tipped over with a fine save from Spiders keeper. A clever Adey Lang corner to the near post nearly caught the opposition out but was scrambled away to safety. Later James Hallam thought he was through on goal but was narrowly adjudged off-side as he took aim. Hucknall’s new shape defence looked very solid and the only real notable danger came from a corner when the tall Spiders right-back stole in at the far post but Towle did enough to ensure that his header just missed the target. Full backs Matt Leivers and Kieran Worthington ‘showed’ for the ball at every opportunity and regularly threaded neat passes to their midfielders.

In a flash the first half was gone and the scores were still level.

Half-Time: West Bridgford 0 Hucknall Sports 1

After cleaning the mud from their boots Sports re-entered the game with the only change being Dylan Smith resuming his normal right-back position. Hucknall sensed a victory was theirs for the taking and Lang was desperately unlucky when he beat the keeper only for the ball to cannon off the post and back across the penalty area. Shortly after appeals for a penalty were waved away when the same player was dragged down in the area. Mitch Davies broke free on the left side and swung over a terrific cross but Dante Diriso’s header narrowly missed the target. Maleek Batten entered the game in central midfield and sent in a stinging shot that was well held by the keeper. Then a goal kick from Kal Orton picked out Diriso and his glancing header beat the defensive line of Spiders to set Lang free. Still with plenty to do Lang hit a ‘Ronaldo-esque’ shot that looped over the opposition keeper to give Sports a well deserved lead. Eastwood looked to have setup a chance to put the game out of reach but his cross for Hallam to score was judged offside. Sports had more chances but the opposition goal lead a charmed life as goal-bound shots were bundled away to safety. Spiders switched to a front three but Sports defenders were in no mood to concede goals today. The central combination of Towle and Stenson looked unbreakable and wing-backs Dylan Smith and Matt Leivers were simply immense not just for their tackling but also for driving their team forward in creative fashion rather than panicking and booting the ball clear. Spiders threw the kitchen sink at Sports looking for the equaliser and looked about to score when a ball broke clear just outside the penalty area for their striker to rifle in a blistering drive only for Hucknall keeper Orton make the save of the season and palm the ball onto the crossbar and then see his defenders clear away to safety.

Full-Time: West Bridgford 0 Hucknall Sports 1

How soon things can change in football. Last week we were scratching our heads wondering how we didn't get something out of the game. This week we were wondering how we would cope when playing a top team with a number of members of the squad missing. But this was a truly remarkable performance. From front to back every single boy put in a terrific performance and shows the strength in depth that we possess.

All credit to Rue Hallam for putting together a training ground drill to iron out the problems of last week, but even greater credit to the boys for having the belief to carry it onto the pitch.

For the second week running the winner of today’s Man of the Match was Mitch Davies. An almost impossible decision but the deciding votes came from opposition management and the referee who all picked out the same player for the award – well done Mitch, truly awesome performance.

Special mention goes to the defensive unit of skipper Stenson, Towle, Smith, Leivers, Worthington and not forgetting Keeper Orton and THAT save and our first clean sheet of the season in the league - well done boys.

Phew what a game!

#properfootball

Keyworth exact revenge on Sports

U16's Division One

Hucknall Sports 1 Keyworth Utd 2

23/11/14

Hucknall Sports entertained Division One Keyworth United for the third time this season and entered the game full of confidence after winning their previous encounters by 5-1 and 7-1.

As seems to be the case with Hucknall recently they started the game really well and used the space of the Cottage pitch at Goosedale to full effect. Jarrod Davies fired in a stinging drive that the Keyworth did well to turn around the corner. Soon after James Hallam broke free on the right side and rounded his marked to square a ball to Adey Lang who just couldn’t get his shot away before being closed down. In defence things were pretty quiet for Sports apart from long range free kicks and the occasional corner, one of which Sports were relieved to see just miss the target. In the move of the game Sports scored one of their trademark goals. Keeper Orton fed the ball to Matt Leivers who threaded a neat pass through to Mitch Davies in midfield. He in turn found Hallam on the edge of United’s box and in a single move he spun and smashed an unstoppable shot into the top corner. Sports lead was all too short lived though and as shot from Keyworth’s left winger was only parried into the path of their striker to score easily. Sports continued to create chances and Hallam looked to have scored his second after a neat interchange with Lang only to see his lofted shot rebound back off the cross –bar and away to safety.

Half-Time: Hucknall 1 Keyworth United 1

A head injury to Lang meant that Danny Darlow entered the game and Sports pushed Ellis Evans up front to partner Hallam in the second half. Hucknall gave it a real go in trying to get another goal to take the lead but it just wouldn’t come. In fact it was Keyworth who took the lead when a free-kick awarded in midfield was blasted to the far left side and a clever header looped up and over Orton into the Sports goal. Not for the first time this season Hucknall were left scratching their head and this was now going to be a real test of character. Jarrod Davies continued to provide the drive from Sports midfield and went as close as any Hucknall player to grabbing an equaliser on a couple of occasions – once with a shot in the area that clattered the angle of post and cross-bar and another when a towering header flew just over. In the dying moments Hallam won a penalty when he was unceremoniously taken out by the Keyworth goalkeeper but Lang’s penalty was well saved and Sports crashed to a surprising defeat.

Full-Time: Hucknall Sports 1 Keyworth Utd 2

Looking back on this game the day after it is a real struggle to understand how Sports failed to get something from this match. But that’s football and we start again next weekend against West Bridgford Spider looking to make amends. Compliments from opposition supporters and management that Sports are the best ‘footballing’ team in the league are nice, but 3 points would be nicer.

MOM Mitch Davies

Today’s winner of the Man of the Match award was Mitch Davies. His work rate in midfield is second to none and he continues to improve by taking the training ground routines onto the pitch on match day – well done Mitch.

Finally, all the team and coaches would like to say a huge thank you to Audi Nottingham and especially Vonny Hallam for their continued sponsoring of the team and supply of this seasons new away kit.

Back row (left to right) Danny Darlow, Adey Lang, James Hallam, Ellis Evans, Jarrod Davies, Ryan Towle, Tom Eastwood, Joe Newton, James Stenson, Kal Orton

Front row (left to right) Kieran Worthington, Dante Diriso, Matt Leivers, Mitch Davies, Kieran Green (Skipper), Dylan Smith

#properfootball

No Luck for Sports

U16's Saturday Division One

Hucknall Sports 2 Dunkirk 5

15/11/14

After two successive weeks of cup games and a total of 24 goals Hucknall Sports entertained Dunkirk with confidence running high.

Dunkirk had the first attack of the game but Sports had the first scoring opportunity when James Hallam linked well with strike partner Adey Lang who cleverly lobbed the keeper but looked on in agony as his shot was scrambled off the line. Another terrific move saw Tom Eastwood set free on the left and his shot narrowly missed at the far post. With Sports having all the play it was important to make it pay and score the goal that they deserved. A clinical move involving Ellis Evans saw Jarrod Davies play a through ball to set James Hallam free in front of goal and he finished brilliantly to put Sports ahead. Dunkirk were shocked and the volume level from the touch line was increased as their defence looked vulnerable every time Sports got a hold of the ball. A hopeful ‘punt’ up field from Dunkirk brought about some indecision between Hucknall's defence and goalkeeper to present an easy chance to equalise and no mistake was made. But Sports were in no mood to take a back seat in this game and stormed forward time and again. Their brilliant build-up play was utterly mesmerising  but unfortunately they just couldn’t find the end product to put the ball into the net. Towards the end of the half Lang thought he’d won a penalty as he broke away from the Dunkirk keeper but his honesty in staying on his feet meant that the referee didn’t judge the tackle as a foul.

Half-Time: Hucknall Sports 1 Dunkirk 1

Hucknall started the second half as they left off the first. But against the run of play Dunkirk took the lead with a good finish from a cross from the right hand side and then went further into the lead moments later. Sports were scratching their heads wondering how they could be losing this game after having all the play. Showing great resolve they got themselves back in the game when an Eastwood corner found Danny Darlow at the far post. His goal bound header was well saved but Jarrod Davies was on hand to smash in the rebound for his 11^th goal of the season to give Sports a chance.  A dubious free-kick awarded to Dunkirk wide on the left side should have presented no danger to Sports but a speculative ball looking for a far post header dropped into the back of the net after deceiving everyone. To add insult to injury Dunkirk put the game out of sight when they scored a fluke goal straight from a corner – if Sports didn’t have bad luck, then they would have no luck at all. As if things couldn’t get any worse Joe Newton was sent off for a second bookable offense and then Hucknall Skipper James Stenson was carried off with a nasty looking injury. Even playing with 10 men Hucknall were still creating chances but despite all their efforts the game was lost.

Full-Time: Hucknall Sports 2 Dunkirk 5

Sometimes it’s just not your day and today that was certainly the case for Sports. No one could question their desire and effort and there is little doubt that they played the best football. But next week is another game and a chance to put things right.

After all the events of Friday nights “Children in Need” it’s worth remembering that we are the lucky ones.

MOM Matt Leivers

Today’s winner of the Man of the Match award was Matt Leivers. He’s waited a long time to be given a chance to regularly start for Sports and even though he is playing out of position he has taken the opportunity with both hands -Well done Matt

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Seventh Heaven for Sports

U16's Saturday Cup

Hucknall Sports 7 Keyworth Utd 1

8/11/14

Sports entertained Division One Keyworth United in the first round of the U16’s Saturday Cup. After a slow start to their season United had improved and came into this game with confidence high after a great draw with high flying Notts Coltz in the previous week.

For the first time in a long time Sports managed to field 16 players for a game with Maleek Batten welcomed back after an absence of almost 4 weeks with injury. Sports started at a blistering pace and a terrific run from Matt Leivers drew the defender out of position to enable Tom Eastwood to drive into the penalty area and he looked for all the world like he had put Sports into the lead only for the final shot to rebound off the inside of the post and into the goalies hands. Soon after a towering header from Jarrod Davies flew just over the bar from an Adey Lang corner and as other Hucknall chances went begging you couldn’t help wondering if Sports would live to regret them. Keyworth weathered the storm and when Sports central defenders got themselves into a muddle to present the easiest of chances to score they took the lead. This gave them all the confidence they needed and Sports where indebted to their returning keeper Kal Orton for an unbelievable point-blank save and moments later they held their breath as a breakaway from Keyworth resulted in a shot that just missed at the far post. The game seesawed for a little while but gradually Sports started to find more space in between the lines with Ellis Evans starting to pull the strings. A good move from Hucknall released Adey Lang on the right wing and his driven cross was headed in his own net by Keyworth’s centre-half. As Hucknall turned up the pressure Ryan Towle ghosted in at the far post to crunch his header home and put Sports into the lead. 10 minutes before half-time Hucknall introduced Dylan Smith and Mitch Davies to lock the door on any more chances for the opposition and Sports cruised to half-time with a goal advantage.

Half-Time: Hucknall Sports 2 Keyworth Utd 1

Hucknall kept the same shape in the second half and produced what was probably their best 40 minutes of the season so far. Adey Lang and James Hallam set about putting the game to bed and plundered 4 goals between them with Lang grabbing his second hat-trick of the season against Keyworth with a tremendous rasping volley the pick of the bunch and Hallam showing the strikers instinct to smash home from close range after great work from Tom Eastwood ;-) Sports introduced Batten and Kieran Worthington to close the game out and Batten was rewarded for his fight back from injury with his first goal of the season and Worthington’s brilliant left foot drive looked set for the top corner only to be gathered in at the last moment. Jarrod Davies neat turn and shot was also saved and another shot from Lang skimmed just wide but in the end Sports were just too strong for the opposition and the game was won.

Full-Time: Hucknall Sports 7 Keyworth Utd 1

It’s not possible to praise the boys highly enough for their play in this game and all 16 boys played their part in the victory. After going a goal down and maybe riding their luck a little they simply dominated the opposition from 30 mins into the game until the end. The play was simply breathtaking at times and the speed of attack amazing. Rest assured nobody will want to draw Sports in the next round.

MOM Adey Lang

There were many contenders for this week’s Man of the Match with Matt Leivers and Dylan Smith in particular counting themselves unlucky not to take the award after having their best games of the seasons. But today’s winner was Adey Lang for not only a terrific display of goal scoring but equally importantly some terrific training ground hold up play. Keyworth will be happy to see the back of him after he scored his second hat-trick of the season against them – awesome Adey, well done.

Finally, all the team and coaches would like to say a huge thank you to Audi Nottingham and Vonny Hallam for sponsoring our new away kit which looked simply terrific and was befitting today’s great performance.

#properfootball

Shield Victory for Sports

U16's Saturday Notts Shield - Round 2

Hucknall Sports 17 Sherwood Youth 0

1/11/14

After a one week gap due to school holidays Hucknall Sports U16’s entertained Sherwood Youth at Goosedale Sports Complex in the second round of the Notts Shield.

Sports changed their line-up slightly for this game and elected to go for a 4-3-3 formation with Ellis Evans playing in the ‘hole’ in front of a midfield three of Jarrod Davies, Tom Eastwood and Danny Darlow.

It wasn’t long before Hucknall had their first shot on goal when Adey Lang broke clear of his marker to square the ball to James Hallam who was unlucky to narrowly miss the target. The opening goal soon came though when Tom Eastwood smacked a looping shot up and over the advancing keeper and Sports were on their way. Hallam got himself on the score sheet as did Eastwood once again and all credit to the Sports strikers for unselfishly sticking to the game-plan and drawing defenders out of position to create the space in front of goal for the midfielders with Jarrod Davies being the main beneficiary as he helped himself to 5 first half goals. With Sports on top Ryan Towle, Charlie Blatherwick and Keiran Worthington all entered the game and as the goals flew in by half time the score was already 8-0.

Half-Time: Hucknall Sports 8 Sherwood Youth 0

More changes were made and Keaton Sharpe was rewarded for helping Hucknall through their mini goalkeeper crisis with a run outfield. In fact by the time this game was done Sharpe had played in pretty much every position possible including Keeper, Defender, Midfield and Striker. Try as they might though his Sports team mates just couldn’t tee him up for a goal. Many substitutions were made and boys were given chances to try different positions to what they might normally play but this didn’t stop the goal-fest. Davies secured his double hat-trick and Kieran Worthington scored his first goal for Sports with a neat header directly from a corner. Adey Lang grabbed a brace that included one shot that would probably have ended up in Bestwood Village had it not smashed into the back of the net. Returning from injury Towle and Blatherwick also got on the score sheet and by full time Sports had racked up 17 with the opposition unlucky not to find the net themselves for a consolation goal that they deserved.

Hucknalls goal scorers were: Danny Darlow 1, Jarrod Davies 6, Tom Eastwood 2, James Hallam 1, Adey Lang 2, Kieran Worthington 1, Charlie Blatherwick 1, Ryan Towle 1 and 2 own-goals.

Full-Time: Hucknall Sports 17 Sherwood Youth 0

Looking at the league positions before the game this appeared to be a game that Sports should have won and so they did. The value in this fixture is the rare opportunity to try out new formations and take training ground moves into a competitive match midway through the season. There were some really pleasing elements to Sports play and their patience on the ball was exemplary at times. Stiffer tests await in the next round for sure, but well done to everyone today.

MOM James Stenson

Today’s winner of the Man of the Match award was Skipper James Stenson for leading by example with a terrific professional attitude and respect for the opposition – thanks James.

A special mention for the opposition who fulfilled this fixture to the best of their abilities. They could have followed the lead of other teams in the competition and not even had the courage to play the game but they didn’t. Hucknall Sports players and parents will remember us losing by similar scores in our mini-soccer days. So all the best to Sherwood for the remainder of the season and thanks for the game.

Many thanks to Jo and Martin Eastwood of Belmar Services for sponsoring our new Training Tops – see picture attached.

Back row (left to right) Joe Newton, Ellis Evans, James Hallam, Danny Darlow, Keaton Sharpe, Ryan Towle, Jarrod Davies, James Stenson, Charles Blatherwick, Adey Lang,
Front row (left to right) Dante Diriso, Tom Eastwood, Kieran Worthington, Dylan Smith, Matt Leivers,
Kieran Green