Trowell knock Sports out of the Cup

U16's Notts Cup

Trowell Blue 5 Hucknall Sports 1

6/12/14

After having beaten Keyworth comprehensively in the previous round Sports entertained Trowell Blue from Division One in the 3rd round of the Notts Youth League Division One cup. Knowing that the Quarter Final had paired the winners against Second Division leaders Basford should have provided all the incentive that Sports needed to try their hardest for the victory. However, come match day a severe frost threaten the game even going ahead but after a last minute switch to Sports home ground of Goosedale and even then a change from the cottage pitch to pitch 4 the match finally started.

Despite a dreadful pre-match warm-up session from Sports everything looked set for a victory in the opening exchanges and Ellis Evans put Hucknall into the lead after a great move that was started by Matt Leivers in the left-back position. But instead of driving on and seizing a wonderful opportunity to progress in the competition Sports let Trowell back into the game. All the flowing football from Hucknall dried up and instead the players were looking for something to happen instead of taking charge of making things happen instead. Almost inevitably Trowell got themselves back into the match when Sports defenders failed to clear the danger and at half time the game was evenly balanced at 1-1

Half-Time: Trowell Blue 1 Hucknall Sports 1

Sports entered the second half with instructions to play THEIR game which is based on pass and move but in truth all movement was in short supply. All too often possession of the the ball was lost and Trowell continued to threaten. Sloppy defending presented two easy chances for the Blues to surge into the lead and they didn't need to be asked twice. 3-1 soon became 4-1 when Matt Leivers tackle was rightly adjudge to be a foul and Trowell smashed home the resultant penalty. Hucknall carried a little more threat when Davies returned to his normal midfield role but the goal to get Sports back into the game just wouldn't come and final misery arrived in a fifth for Trowell.

Full-Time: Trowell Blue 5 Hucknall Sports 1

Well this was truly disappointing and belied the recent good form that Sports had been showing. We have proven that we can beat the top teams in this league but today Trowell wanted this victory more than Sports an in the end that's what saw them through.

The warning signs were there in the warm-up when a lack of discipline meant some boys started the game looking totally disinterested. We can all make excuses that we lost our Skipper and midfield dynamo. But that should not have caused a problem when having 16 players to chose from. The opposition had a bare 11 boys and were missing both Jacobson and Clarke up front!

Given other Cup results it now appears that the route to the semi final is Trowell's for the taking and with Dunkirk losing to Spiders it really is anyone's cup - but not Sports.

Let's hope that the 'real' Hucknall Sports turn up in the New Year.

Seven Up for Sports in the Shield

U16's Notts Shield

West Bridgford Harriers 2 Hucknall Sports 7

6/12/14

Sports travelled to Regatta Way for their Notts Shield 3^rd round match with Division 2 West Bridgford Harriers. Sports and Harriers had met many times in the past and Hucknall knew to their cost that the opposition always turned up with a positive attitude and looking to upset the form book.

As appears to be the norm with Sports their starting line-up was changed yet again from the previous week. Mitch Davies and Dylan Smith were stuck in traffic whilst Danny Darlow, Kieran Worthington and Maleek Batten were all missing. However, Sports couldn’t have started better when James Hallam smashed home after only 5 minutes when Jarrod Davies fed through a lovely through ball. But any thoughts of a Sports whitewash were quickly dismissed when Harriers got themselves back in the game with a neat finish when Sports defenders failed to clear the ball. Harriers confidence levels rose and for a 10 minute spell they really put Sports under pressure. A terrific in-swinging free-kick was headed over from close range and moments later Harriers were given the opportunity to take the lead when skipper James Stenson handled in his own area. Hucknall were let off the hook though as the spot-kick was skied up and over the bar. To add insult to injury Hucknall took the lead soon after when Adey Lang brought the ball down with a neat chest trap and played in Hallam for his second goal with a terrific left footed finish. Back came Harriers once again and Sports were thankful to a brilliant Matt Lievers tackle to avoid another chance on goal. Hucknall started to create more openings with Dante Diriso catching the eye with some great runs on his favoured right wing. Jarrod Davies was narrowly wide with a header from Lang’s corner and Ellis Evans well struck shot just missed at the far post. But half-time arrived with Sports holding the narrowest of leads in a very even sided game.

Half-Time: West Bridgford Harriers 1 Hucknall Sports 2

If the first half was close the second was not! Sports introduced Mitch Davies and Dylan Smith into the game and Davies soon made his mark. Hallam looked to be through for on goal again but his lobbed shot was clawed away by the Bridgford keeper. First to react to the loose ball was Davies though and he drove the ball home with the keeper trying desperately to recover his ground. Adey Lang got in on the scoring when he diverted a skillful volley past the wrong footed keeper after a great pass from Ellis Evans. Lang turned provider next when he freed Hallam to clinch his well deserved hat-trick and Man of the Match Award with a thunderbolt of a shot to take the score to 5-1. Hucknall were not done just yet. Jarrod Davies crashed a shot home after the ball broke free to him in penalty area and the final goal for Sports was calmly dispatched to the back of the net by Dante Diriso after great work from Eastwood and Lang. Harriers grabbed themselves a well deserved consolation goal and massive credit to them for keeping going and refusing to throw in the towel.

Full-Time: West Bridgford Harriers 2 Hucknall Sports 7

That’s two good victories on the bounce from Sports but without sounding churlish they know that they can play better football and will need to if they are to progress further in this competition. That said, on a bobbly, pitch they played some great football at times and the second half in particular was very good. This was a victory built on great passing and brilliant finishing.

James Hallam MOM

Today’s Man of the Match was James Hallam who gave a master class in scoring and showed great technique to finish well with both his left and right feet – well done James, keep it going.

On a day when we remembered the Christmas Day truce football match between English and German troops that took place 100 years ago on the frontline during World War One Sports could not have chosen a better opponent. Harriers are an example of all that is good in football and we wish them well for the rest of their season.

#footballremembers #properfootball