Rusty Sports crash out of Cup

U15's Cup

Hucknall Sports 1 Rolls Royce 3

9/11/13

  

After a five week gap Hucknall Sports U15’s at last took to the field in a cup match against local rivals Rolls Royce.

Sports had good possession early on and Danny Darlow went close to opening the scoring in the first 10mins when pushing an effort narrowly wide. Good combination play between Tom Eastwood and Kieran Green looked the most likely to create chances for Sports but Rolls defenders stood strong and did well. The lively Kieran Beales won a number of free-kicks in and around the edge of Sports penalty area but Hucknall keeper Kal Orton was more than a match and protected his goal well. Rolls were first to score when pulling a ball back from the goal line for Tom Dickin to drive home. With 10mins to go in the first half Mitch Davies received a ball from a throw-in level with Rolls penalty area and managed to find Ellis Evans who hit an absolute screamer to level the scores and set things up for a tense second half.

Half time: Hucknall Sports 1 Rolls Royce 1

Rolls took control of the game by scoring 2 goals in the first 20mins of the second half through Beales and an unfortunate own-goal by Maleek Batten when the ball rebounded of him and into the net from a corner. As Sports pushed to get back into the game they risked conceding further goals but keep Kal Orton was in great form and never looked like being beaten again. A great run and cross from Hucknall’s Green just evaded James Hallam and Matt Leivers at the far post. Rolls Keeper Eddie Ridley expertly dealt with long range shots from Ryan Towle. In the final moments Sports looked set to get back into the game only for Hallam to be denied by a good block and in the final moments Darlow’s wonderful run saw his lobbed shot land on top of the cross-bar.

Full time:  Hucknall Sports 1 Rolls Royce 3

Sometimes it is simply not your day and today was certainly not Sports. They had the majority of the possession but just could not get the goals to win this game. We looked rusty and chose the wrong option time and again. But all credit to Rolls who were worthy winners on this occasion and best of luck in the next round of the Cup.

Kal Orton

Man of the Match today was won by Kal Orton. Being a goalie  is a thankless task where any mistake tends to result in a goal. But today’s performance was faultless – well done.

Sparkling Sports stun Rolls

U14's Saturday Division 1b 

Hucknall Sports 3 Rolls Royce 0

9/3/13   

On a wet and windy day Hucknall Sports entertained local rivals Rolls Royce in the first meeting of the two teams since both clinched promotion to Division 1b at Christmas. The league table showed that there was nothing between the two teams and in the last encounter a Kieran Beales hat-trick had secured Rolls victory.

Once again Sports had to make last minute changes to their starting line-up when inspirational midfielder Mitch Davies pulled-up in the pre-match warm-up. Charlie Blatherwick was installed as his replacement alongside Ryan Towle with James Stenson resuming his defensive partnership with skipper Joe Newton after Kal Orton returned from injury. Hucknall set off like an express train and totally dominated the play early on with their midfield taking control and dictating play. Blatherwick in particular relished his return to the Sports team and set about giving a master class on creative football. The link from front to back was great to see for Sports supporters and it was BLATHERWICK who scored the first goal when a twisting, turning, run through midfield presented him with the opportunity to shoot and his deflected shot just crept in at the bottom left corner. Strikers Dante Diriso and James Hallam worked tirelessly to find space to receive the ball and pulled their markers all over the pitch. Hallam so nearly got on the score sheet himself when great cross from wide on the right found him unmarked only for Rolls keeper to block well. Tom Eastwood continued to find space on the left flank and his interplay with Diriso stood out. Time and again he managed to beat his opponent to the byline and cross dangerously but unfortunately Sports just could not capitalise. A looping EASTWOOD shot narrowly missed the target but he then secured Sports second goal when he smashed home after great work from Hallam on the right-hand side.

Rolls occasionally looked dangerous and persisted with their familiar long-ball approach looking to release the strikers but Sports defence were in no mood to allow a goal today and withstood everything, Kieren Green and Dylan Smith particularly catching the eye.

Half time: Hucknall Sports 2 Rolls Royce 0

An injury to James Stenson just before half-time meant that he was unable to return for the second half and once more Sports had to reshuffle the ‘pack’. Ryan Towle dropped to centre-half and new signing Maleek Batten took his place in midfield.

The next goal was going to be vital and Hucknall anticipated Rolls would come flying out of the blocks for the second half but instead the opposition appeared subdued. Sports continued where they left off and if anything gained an even tighter grip of the game. Matt Leivers maintained his wonderful run of form with a tireless display in midfield and he showed some lovely touches when cleverly threading passes to his strikers. HALLAM deservedly got on the score sheet when his lightening speed took him clear of the Rolls last man to finish exquisitely. Rolls only shot on target in the second half came from a free-kick that Kal Orton gathered in with little fuss. Tom Eastwood had a chance for his second of the game when Diriso released him late on but the impressive Rolls keeper saved expertly to keep the ball out.

The final whistle blew and Sports celebrated victory.

Full time:  Hucknall Sports 3 Rolls Royce 0

What a different a week makes! Sports couldn’t get out of first gear against Hyson Green but today they were ‘at it’ from the very first whistle.

Hucknall’s coaching staff finally saw the training ground potential converted into match day brilliance with a performance of the very highest quality.

The challenge now is to reproduce this level of performance every week and show that you really do ‘WANT IT’.

First the first time in the running of this team the award for Man of the Match was given to the entire team – well done everyone.

Diriso’s Hat-trick guides Sports through to Round 3

U14's Saturday Shield 

Hucknall Sports 4 Trowell 0

03/11/12   

Sports reward for a hard fought victory in the first round of the Shield was a home game against unbeaten Trowell Yellow of Division 2B.

Hucknall had the luxury of 16 players for the first time this season and decided to play the in-form Dante Diriso in partnership with dangerous lefty Jacob Barlow up front. Charles Blatherwick and Mitch Davies retained the central midfield slots after their stunning performance against Bottesford in the previous game and Sports got off to the perfect start when Diriso coolly slotted home after good work from Blatherwick within the first minute of the game. Trowell reverted to a lone striker and this allowed Hucknall’s Kieran Green to move forward into midfield and Ellis Evans to play a strike role. Green lapped up his new advanced position and provide a constant threat with some tremendous interplay with Evans and Jacob Barlow. Diriso slotted home his second after turning the opposition defence inside and out. Then Barlow played an incisive pass to split the back two of Trowell and Diriso pounce once more to smash his first hat-trick of the season (many more to follow).

Sports were well on top and Captain Joe Newton nearly got on the score sheet when he rose to power a Diriso corner just over the bar. Owen Everton also continue his great form and was unlucky to see wonderful run and shot just miss at the far post.

Good half for Sports and Diriso but special mention to the midfield boys for playing some great football and providing the platform for some great attacking moves.

Half time: Hucknall Sports 3 Trowell 0

All change after half-time saw Sports introduce James Hallam, Ryan Towle, Tom Eastwood, Ollie Bowley and new signing Matt Leivers. Understandable Hucknall took a little while to adjust but the chances eventually started to flow. Hallam was unlucky to see his one-on-one just slip by the far post. Eastwood continued where Barlow had left off and trust down the left side time and again. Leiver’s ‘showed’ for the ball time and again and initiated one of the best moves of the game when Keeper Orton rolled the ball to him on the edge of his penalty area. Leivers drew his man and found Evans, Evans fed Towle who played a wonderful ball into Bowley who put a first time cross into Hallam but his shot was scrambled away by the Trowell Keeper at the last minute.

Long shots from Towle and Blatherwick tested the keeper once more and he pushed more efforts on to the woodwork to keep the score down. Eventually Sports did find the back of the net when Hallam won the ball in a challenge with the keeper and Eastwood took advantage to drive the ball home for his 6^th goal of the season. Still time for a Blatherwick special that grazed the cross-bar and Bowley’s late corner also clipped the woodwork before going over.

Referee Walters blew his whistle for full-time with Sports wanting more but happy in the knowledge that they are through to the next round of the Shield.

Full time:  Hucknall Sports 4 Trowell 0

After 2 consecutive 4-4 draws in the league Sports defence went into the game determine to keep a clean sheet.

The concentration of Green, Smith, Newton, Stenson and Leivers was clear for all to see and they never really looked troubled throughout the entire game – well done boys.

In centre midfield Davies, Blatherwick and Towle controlled everything.

Sports could have had more goals but all credit to Trowell for keeping going and in particular to their goalie who had a fantastic game.

Man of the Match was a choice between Barlow, Green and Diriso with the latter taking the award for the second week running after a great first half hat-trick and tremendous attacking play throughout - Well done Dante.

This was a ‘good’ performance, not ‘great’. The boys know that they are capable of playing better and will need to if they want to progress further in this competition.

Great effort by all the boys at this weekends soccer tournament. Unbeaten in the League games, but unfortunately lost in the semi-finals.
All boys have re-signed for the team and new signing are looking great.
Friendly this saturday and tournament the following week.
Life is never dull.