Sports get the double over Colts

U14's Saturday Division 2A 

Cotgrave Colts 0 Hucknall Sports 5

17/11/12   

After a resounding victory the previous weekend Sports made the long trip to Cotgrave looking to extend their unbeaten run to 7 league games.

On a truly dreadful pitch Hucknall’s normal smooth passing game was always going to struggle and for the first 20 minutes despite having numerous corners it was very difficult to create clear-cut chances. The ball got caught up in the long grass time and again but finally Dante Diriso got the opening goal when he showed a turn of speed and neat skill to finish low into the bottom right corner. Hucknall tinkered with their formation and moved Kieran Green forward to midfield leaving a back three of Smith, Newton and Stenson and it was Green who got the next goal with a fine run and shot from just outside the box that curled delightfully into the net. Still time for one more goal when Tom Eastwood drove the ball home to notch up his 11^th of the season to put Sports into a commanding lead by half time.

Half time: Cotgrave Colts 0 Hucknall Sports 3

For the third week running Sports made three changes at half-time. Most of Hucknall’s play came down the left-hand side as the grass on the right wing rendered it almost unplayable. Ellis Evans and Diriso both took a turn in the left wing position and threatened to get around the back. But it was a rare right wing move that provided the next goal when Evans picked out Ollie Bowley who beat his man and cross well for James Hallam to smash the ball into the net. Many more changes followed with Sports rearranging the entire midfield and adopting a 3-4-3 formation to see the game out seeking more goals. In the final moments Jacob Barlow got a richly deserved goal for himself when skipper Joe Newton found him with a raking pass just on the edge of the penalty area. He jinked left and right and then left again to curl a wonderful shot home.

Full time:  Cotgrave Colts 0 Hucknall Sports 5

Through no fault of the players, good football was hard to find today. The pitch didn’t help either team to play in the style that they would have liked but Hucknall’s victory was well deserved and rarely in doubt.

Today’s Man of the Match went to Jacob Barlow for a terrific performance and a fine goal but mostly for listening to his instructions and carrying them out to the letter – well done Jacob

The season starts now boys and we fear nobody!

Tigers tamed by Sports Goal-fest

U14's Saturday Division 2A 

Hucknall Sports 10 Toton Tigers 1

10/11/12   

On the day before ‘Remembrance Sunday’ Hucknall Sports went back to league action against Toton Tigers. The opposition have found the going a little bit tough of late having been relegated from Division 1 at the end of last season. However, a recent strong showing in the Shield gave them renew confidence for this game.

Both teams observed a minutes silence impeccably before kick-off and in the first 5 minutes of play it was Toton who looked the more likely to open the scoring. But after a slow start Sports eventually found their rhythm and an immaculate pass from Ryan Towle picked out Dante Diriso who’s stunning finish gave the keeper no chance. Diriso doubled his tally as he repeated the same finish for his second of the game and Jacob Barlow also continued his rich vein of form with two poachers goals of his own.

Hucknall were well on top and it was hard to remember the defence having anything significant to deal with. Kieran Green made way for Matt Leivers just before half-time in a precautionary substitution to protect a tight hamstring and Leivers continued to show just what a great addition to the squad he is. Sporst midfield of Ellis Evans, Towle, Mitch Davies and Owen Everton dominated the play and although leading by 4-0 at the break Sports would have been forgiven for thinking that they might have had more.

Half time: Hucknall Sports 4 Toton Tigers 0

Sports made three changes at half-time and the impact was immediate. Tom Eastwood plundered 4 goals in 20 minutes with a display of finishing of the very highest calibre. Not to be left out James Hallam got back on the scoring trail with a couple of his own, one in particular stood out when he hit a sublime ‘lob’ from distance with his unfavoured left foot to leave the crowd speechless in admiration.

Toton’s keeper made some fine saves to keep the score down as much as possible and all credit to the opposition for keeping going when others might have chosen to simply throw in the ‘towel’. Referee Dennis awarded Toton a couple of penalties late on and they did manage to convert one for a consolation goal that they thoroughly deserved.

As the final whistle blew Hucknall showed commendable ‘sportsmanship’ that the was much appreciated by both sets of managers and coaches as they shook every member of the Toton’s team hand. Very few teams have the luxury of going through the YEL leagues without have a ‘rough’ season and Sports know only too well how it feels.

Full time:  Hucknall Sports 10 Toton Tigers 1

The score doesn’t really reflect how well Toton played in this game but today they came up against a Sports team who converted pretty much every chance they created.

Goals win games but without the hard work of the defensive line and creativity of the midfielders the chance to score simply would not happen. So this has to go down as one of the best displays of the season for all 15 boys who took part.

Candidates for Man of the Match included Ryan Towle for his midfield masterclass, Dante Diriso for his fantastic finishing and Jacob Barlow for his brilliant wing play. But the award rightly went to Tom Eastwood for his 20 minutes of pure genius. His four goals were all taken with such style and panache that I doubt we will see it repeated. Just goes to show everyone that you don’t have to be playing the entire game to make an impact – well done Tom, fantastic effort.

The performance was certainly improved on the previous week and 10 goals in a single game is very rare but believe it or not this team can play even better!

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.

Bowley strike grabs valuable point for Sports

U14's Saturday Shield 

Bottesford 4 Hucknall Sports 4

20/10/12   

In the only game of the Division during the Half-Term break unbeaten Sports made the long trip to Bottesford. New boys Bottesford had recovered from a poor start to the season to put together a fine run of 3 consecutive victories and knew that a win would take them top of the table.

On what has to be the smallest pitch in the league Sports started the game very well and took the match to Bottesford. Early pressure produced opportunities for Sports and they were unlucky not to go into the lead after a well taken corner went narrowly wide of the target. But soon enough the lead was theirs when the in-form Owen Everton lashed a curling shot under the Bottesford keeper. However, almost directly from the restart Sports normally reliable defence were caught napping and Bottesford equalised with a simple tap in. This was quickly followed by a second with the referee unsighted to a blatant handball that pushed the ball passed Sports last man. Bottesford extended their lead even further when a harmless looking free-kick from wide on the right somehow found its way in at the near post. Hucknall looked rattled and sought to get back into the game as quickly as possible. Returning winger Jacob Barlow provided the spark that Sports needed when he made the most of a fumble by the opposition goalie to score his first goal of the season. He very nearly had a second after a great through-ball from Hallam gave him a chance to shoot only for the Keeper to deny him with a fine save. The introduction of Dante Diriso injected more pace up front and he continued his rich vein of form with some thrusting runs to stretch the well marshalled Bottesford back line.

Half time: Bottesford 3 Hucknall Sports 2

Bottesford extended their lead early in the second half when Sports attempt to keep the ball alive backfired and you would be forgiven for thinking that the game looked to be heading the oppositions way. But Sports are made of stern stuff and you can never write them off. A triple change saw Ollie Bowley, James Hallam and Charles Blatherwick all introduced within the space of 5mins and the game suddenly took on a different complexion once more. Good work by Sports forced a corner that Bowley delivered into the danger area for Blatherwick to power home  a fine header. Now is was Bottesford’s time to looked rattled. Great battling play in midfield, in particular by Captain for the day Mitch Davies, created the platform for Sports to drive forward looking for the equaliser. Tom Eastwood, carrying a knee injury, made a terrific run to the byline and put in a wonderful cross that Sports just couldn’t convert. Hucknall had to swap centre-half James Stenson for Ryan Towle after his week in a sick-bed finally started to take its toll. Then fine work once more by Blatherwick and Eastwood saw the ball find its way to the unmarked Bowley who hit a first-time shot in at the near post to draw the scores level with only 10 minutes to go. It was Sports who looked the more likely to grab the winner after staging a fantastic come-back. But efforts from Blatherwick, Hallam and Dylan Smith drifted narrowly wide and with Hucknall encamped in the opposition half the referees whistle blew all too soon with the score level.

Full time:  Bottesford 4 Hucknall Sports 4

Incredibly Sports last 2 matches have now finished 4-4. In the previous week we were unlucky to drop points to a fluke goal. But this week a fantastic fighting spirit and determination to keep an unbeaten run going allowed the boys to grab a draw when others might have folded.

Today’s Man of the Match was awarded to Dante Diriso for his strength and speed. Dante’s improvement this season has been a joy to behold and we look forward to what will surely be an outstanding season for a boy who has worked so hard to improve his game – well done Dante, keep it going.

Well done all the boys on a great start to the season. Enjoy your half-term break and look forward to our cup game with Trowell on the 3^rd November.

Freak goal snatches victory from Sports

U14's Saturday Shield 

Hucknall Sports 4 West Bridgford 4

13/10/12   

On the back of a 100% start to the season Sports went in their game with West Bridgford full of confidence. However, last year Bridgford had got the better of Sports on both occasions so the players were taking nothing for granted and gave the opposition the respect that they are due.

West Bridgford started brightly and worked the Sports defenders hard in the opening minutes of the game. But Hucknall stood firm and protected their goal well. Gradually, Hucknall found their feet and started to create openings around the back of Bridgford’s defence. Ollie Bowley delivered a dangerous corner that Charlie Blatherwick looked to have scored from, only for the ball to be cleared off the line. But the clearance fell to Tom Eastwood who smashed it into the back of the net to take Sports into the lead. Bridgford then equalised with a goal directly from a free-kick and took the lead when an ‘air shot’ by Sport’s defence presented an unmissible opportunity to the Bridgford striker. But Sports were in no mood to lose this game and quickly got back on level terms when Mitch Davies thundered in a long range free-kick. Tom Eastwood got his second of the game and put Sports back into the lead with a magnificent shot that the keeper had no chance to save. West Bridgford had the last chance of a pulsating half when a well taken corner looked to have been headed in only for a combination of Davies and Kieran Green to clear it away.

Half time: Hucknall Sports 3 West Bridgford 2

Sports got out of the blocks like lightening in the second half and soon extended their lead to make the score 4-2 when the returning Blatherwick got on the end of Ellis Evans fine pass to finish well. Bridgford looked shell shocked and Hucknall thought they had put the game out of site only for James Hallams’ cheeky back-heeled goal to be ruled out for off-side. Hallam looked certain to score when was put clear on goal only for Bridgford’s goalie to deny him with a wonderful full-stretch save. The visitors sought to find a way back into the game and were awarded a penalty when Sports Keeper Kal Orton was adjudged to have fouled his opponent despite making contact with the ball first. Still Sports looked comfortable and were still looking the more likely to score. Jacob Barlow’s fine run and cross just evaded the on rushing Evans. The ever dangerous Dante Diriso terrorised his marker and produced a brilliant cross to the far post that Sports were unable to convert. With less than 5 mins to go a clearance by Sports landed at the feet of the West Bridgford defender who hoofed it high into the sky and Hucknall players watched in agony as it looped into the top corner. Hucknall still had a chance to win the game but rushed a shot instead of making a simple pass to Hallam.

Full time:  Hucknall Sports 4 West Bridgford 4

Prior to the start of the game and given last season’s results Sports might have taken a draw. But you can’t help but feel ‘gutted’ after being denied victory in such a cruel way.

But Hucknall’s boys can take some massive positives from this game. Their play at times was outstanding and even the opposition coaches complimented on what a pleasure it was to see boys ‘playing the right way’.

Sports are still top of the league and are unbeaten in all games still so no reason to feel too sorry for yourselves boys.

Today’s Man of the Match award went to Mitch Davies for a truly outstanding performance in midfield alongside the equally great Charlie Blatherwick. Mitch’s goal was tremendous but his ability to take training ground drills and half-time instructions into the match is a managers dream – well done Mitch, brilliant performance.