Kal the Cat inspires Sports to Third

U15's Saturday Division One Notts Youth League

Hucknall Sports 3 Hyson Green 0

22/2/14

After another week without football Sports next game in Division One saw them up against their last opponents Hyson Green. That game had been really tough for both sets of boys due to strong howling winds and a dreadful pitch. Sports had had to come from behind twice but goals from new signing Ethan Barnes had helped them to eventually secure victory. This time around weather conditions were much improved and even the sun came out to welcome back Sports Skipper James Stenson from his 3 month injury lay off.

Hucknall started the game really, really, well and could have been out of sight in the first 10mins but chances went begging as James Hallam, Danny Darlow, Maleek Batten and Ethan Barnes all struggled to find the net. Frustration started to show and Hucknall’s  game plan went out of the window. Sports were unrecognisable as they started to look for long balls every time instead of varying their play. Changes were made to try and remind the boys of the plan but the frustration remained and Sports just couldn’t find a route to goal. In defence Hucknall were only troubled by Hyson Greens speculative, wind assisted, long balls over the top but centre-backs Joe Newton and Ryan Towle stood firm and anything that did get past them was expertly fielded by Kal Orton in goal.

Half-Time: Hucknall Sports 0 Hyson Green 0

Charles Blatherwick joined James Hallam up front in the second half and grabbed Sports first goal with an exquisite piece of skill that saw him dribble past 3 opposition defenders, ‘Ronaldo Chop’ in from the goal line and smash the ball low into the bottom right corner. This settled Sports and their usual style of football quickly returned. Maleek Batten danced his way through and was unlucky to see his shot deflected away. A good move started by Kieran Green drove Sports forward, Evans found Blatherwick on the edge of the box and with everyone expecting a shot he cleverly played in Dante Diriso who took his chance well and moved Sports further into the lead.

Hyson Green gathered themselves for a final effort to try and get themselves back into the game and had their best period of play midway through the second half where they forced a number of corners which were dealt with clinically by Sports. The turning point of the game came from the most unlikely of sources – Sports Goalie Kal Orton. As the opposition pushed for a goal he made what has to rank as the best save ever made by a boy in this league when firstly diving to his left to parry the ball away and then reacting quickly to flip the follow-up point blank shot up and over the bar. Moments later he showed fantastic vision to pick out Sports striker James Hallam who burst clear from his markers and killed the game off with a lovely finish when he finessed the ball around the on-rushing keeper.  

Full-Time: Hucknall Sports 3 Hyson Green 0

After a frustrating start to the game Sports eventually got the result they deserved. It was nice to have a full squad for the first time in ages and particularly pleasing to get James Stenson back into a game. This is a great squad where everyone has earned the right to ask for a place in the starting line up. The victory takes Sports to joint third in the division with eight games to go and we fear nobody.

MOM - Joe Newton

Today’s Man of the Match went to Joe Newton for a tremendous performance at centre half. He has played every minute of every game this season and leads the team by example as you would expect from a skipper. As well as stout defending he even found time for a Beckenbauer-like shot to the top corner only for it to drift wide – well done Joe, keep it up.

The final word has to go to Kal Orton and THAT save – there are no words left to describe it, so I’ll leave you to your own. 

Barnes Debut Double moves Sports up to Fifth

U15's Saturday Division One Notts Youth League

Hyson Green 2 Hucknall Sports 4

8/2/14

Hucknall Sports stop-start season saw them travel the short distance to Greenwich Avenue in Basford for a match against Hyson Green in the only Division One fixture to survive the poor weather. Injuries, illness and suspension had left Sports squad looking a little threadbare recently so they joined the likes of Chelsea and Manchester United to make a ‘deadline day’ signing of their own by bringing in local boy Ethan Barnes.

Playing with the strong wind at their backs Hyson Green made the best possible start by smashing in a ‘worldly’ goal after only 5mins. But Sports have a strong believe in their own abilities nowadays and refused to be bowed. Lead by Ellis Evans and some terrific energy from midfielders Mitch Davies, Matt Leivers and Maleek Batten Sports cleverly used their passing game to move the team forward and started to carve out opportunities. Tom Eastwood found the head of Evans from a series of corners but playing into a ferocious wind made it really difficult to get anything on goal with power. Eastwood looked dangerous on the left but had to leave the game with a nasty ankle injury after his great drive into the box was cleared by a last ditched tackle from the opposition keeper. Evans moved over to the left in his place and substitute Ethan Barnes was brought on to partner James Hallam up front. Two minutes on, Barnes used to his pace to streak clear of the last defender before smashing an absolute screamer into the top corner to mark his debut for Sports. Moments later good work between Hallam and Barnes looked to have resulted in a penalty only for the referee to wave play on.

Hyson Green, encouraged by the strengthening wind, continued to pick out shots from range but Sports Keeper Kal Orton fielded them well and rarely looked troubled. However, with only moments of the first half left to play a hopeful looping cross to the far post evaded all Sports defenders and was bundled into the net by Hyson Green to go into the break leading 2-1.

Half-Time: Hyson Green 2 Hucknall Sports 1

Sports only change after the break was to bring on Dante Diriso who took up position the on right wing as Hucknall looked to quickly try and get themselves back on level terms. Their equaliser dully arrived when central defender Jarrod Davies won the ball on the edge of his own penalty box and charged forward. His pass found Diriso who showed brilliant vision to pick out Barnes in a crowded penalty area to score his second of the game with a neat finish low into the bottom right corner. Diriso looked dangerous whenever he got the ball and was rewarded with a chance to try his luck from distanced with a free-kick that narrow missed the target with the keeper looking on helplessly. More Diriso action followed in the form of a masterclass on taking corners in such difficult conditions. He skilfully drove the ball in dangerously time and again and finally picked out Jarrod Davies who smashed in a towering header to move Sports into the lead for the first time in the game. Hyson Green threw men forward adventurously but Sports defensive line of Dylan Smith, Joe Newton, Jarrod Davies and Kieran Green played magnificently to repelled everything that was thrown at them. Kieran Green was caught with a late challenge as he drove his team forward but all credit to the referee for playing advantage to Sports and allow Hallam to show his own terrific pace to race into the area and cleverly use the wind to loop the ball up and over the opposition defence to grab a well deserved goal. Still time for more chances from Sports as Batten and Davies tried to extend the lead even further but finally the game ended and Hucknall celebrated a hard-earned victory.

Full-Time: Hyson Green 2 Hucknall Sports 4

Both teams deserve massive credit for playing a fantastic game of football in such poor conditions. When other teams shied away and cancelled games these two sets of boys rolled their sleeves up and got on with it.

Sports won the game due to a fantastic team effort where everyone played their part. But the contribution of Dante Diriso and Ethan Barnes deserves special mention and they ran Jarrod Davies very close for the Man of the Match Award.

However, Jarrod was the deserved winner in a game that saw him play wonderfully well in defence, drive his team forward to assist the equalising goal and then cap it off with a towering header – well done Jarrod, keep it up.

MOM Jarrod Davies

This great run of just 1 defeat in their last 7 games has seen Sports move to fifth in the league but keep playing like this and you never know where you might be at the end of the season - Keep it up everyone.

Lightning provides flash of inspiration for Sports

Lightning bolt inspires Sports to victory
Picture copyright: Joanne Stenson

U15's Saturday Division One Notts Youth League

Hucknall Sports 4 Edwalton Cavaliers 2

25/1/14

After the local council declared Edwalton’s pitch unplayable this game was moved to Goosedale Sports Complex where an immaculate surface presented every opportunity for a great game of football.

Newly promoted Edwalton had found points hard to come by in Division One but their results showed that they had been unlucky to miss out by the odd goal here and there and Sports certainly were taking nothing for granted.

Hucknall won the toss and decided to play with a strong wind at their backs in the first half and started really well. They put Edwalton’s back line under immense pressure and this resulted in a number of dangerous Tom Eastwood and Dante Diriso corners but unfortunately Sports just could not covert them. The one occasion that Eastwood found James Hallam at the far post his headed was well saved by the impressive Edwalton keeper. A Diriso corner looked to be headed for the far corner only to see it clawed away at the last moment. Only 10 minutes into the game an injury to inspirational midfielder Mitch Davies saw him replaced by Maleek Batten who immediately imposed himself on the game with a neat inter-change on the edge of the box. But the shot was closed down just as he was about to ‘pull the trigger’. As the clock ticked away and the scores stayed level Sports became more hurried as they knew that the second half would be a different proposition. Finally, the goal came when a looping ball over the opposition defence saw Hallam bravely put himself in between opposition centre half’s and goalie to somehow scramble it into the net. But if Sports thought that this would open the floodgates they were wrong, well not in the football sense anyway.

Half-Time: Hucknall Sports 1 Edwalton Cavaliers 0

Buoyed by an impressive defensive display Edwalton started the second half really well and a fine move saw them get themselves back into the game and level the scores. Hucknall were rattled and starting to get overrun in midfield. Clear cut opportunities for strikes on goal were non-existent as Sports insisted on playing down the middle instead of going wide. Edwalton on the other hand looked odds on to find another goal and with it possibly secure their first three points of the season.

Sports needed a spark of inspiration and it arrived in the most unlikely of sources. The heavens opened! Hail stones, lightning bolts and wild lashing rain brought a temporary halt to proceedings and both teams took shelter waiting for the weather to improve.

On their return to play Sports looked like a completely different team and were back to their magnificent best. Maleek Batten and Mitch Davies regained control of midfield and the left sided combination of Kieran Green and Tom Eastwood started to terrorise the opposition. Time and again they got around the back and on one occasion they found Hallam who was crudely upended by the goalkeeper to win a penalty. This was to prove the turning point of the game and much praise must go to Danny Darlow for showing the courage to step up in such tense circumstances. He dispatched his shot expertly, Edwalton’s heads dropped and before they could recover Darlow had got a second when he tiptoed his way through the mud to slot nicely into the bottom corner. Sports had not finished yet and Ellis Evans got himself a goal which was richly deserved for his terrific performance. In the final minutes Edwalton got a second but it proved to be nothing more than a consolation as Sports claimed victory from the jaws of defeat.

Full-Time: Hucknall Sports 4 Edwalton Cavaliers 2

Sports will know that but for the lightning bolt that stopped play this result could have been very different. However, the last 20 minutes of play from them was nothing short of brilliant. Hucknall scored three times and could have had at least a couple more. The challenge for them is to play like that from the outset in the remaining games of the season and you never know where that might take you.

Special mention goes to Sports central defensive partnership of Skipper Joe Newton and Jarrod Davies who gave the team a solid back line that was essential for the second half and helped build the platform for the eventual victory.

Ellis Evans

Man of the Match today was Ellis Evans for a wonderful display of creative football. Rue Hallam was right to mention that Ellis probably never made a pass of more than 15 yards all game but he never wasted a pass either. Some boys can used their strength to muscle their way through a match but players like Ellis prefer to use their football skills instead – keep it up Ellis.

Late update to this report. Could'nt resist including these pictures of our dedicated mums. Thanks for sharing Joanne Stenson.

Kelly Brandom

Vonny Hallam

Eleven Heroes

U15's Saturday Division One Notts Youth League

Hucknall Sports 1 Notts Colts 3

18/1/14

Sports first game after a 5 week break saw them take on Notts Colts. The opposition had made a solid start to the season but Sports were in confident mood after a run of 4 games unbeaten in the League.

Unfortunately, Sports were only able to muster 10 fit players for this game but were grateful to Danny Darlow deciding to play through the pain to at least make the numbers up to 11. The reshaped line-up saw a back four of Matt Leivers, Dylan Smith, Joe Newton and Kieran Green and the midfield comprised of Ellis Evans, Mitch Davies, Tom Eastwood and Dante Diriso.
The opening exchanges were fairly even and although Colts maybe carried more of a threat they didn't really create too many changes on goal. Sports new look defensive line defended a series of corners well and gradually the midfield started to impose themselves more. Mitch Davies was unlucky to see his free kick just miss at the top right corner and James Hallam was always a handful playing as the lone striker. Just before half-time Colts took the lead with a fluke goal when a clearance by Davies smashed into the opposition player and rebounded into the goal.

Half-Time: Hucknall Sports 0 Notts Colts 1

Rue Hallam and Justin Stenson took on the running of the team after half-time and played three at the back to enable Dante Diriso to play along striker James Hallam up front. This created much more pressure on the opposition back line and resulted in a great goal on the overlap from Mitch Davies. Unfortunately, the opposition punished Sports by scoring from a couple of free-kicks.
In the final 10 mins Sports had to play with only 10 men but refused to throw in the towel and gave absolutely everything for their team in search of the goals that their effort deserved. But in the end both time and energy ran out and Colts took the victory.

Full-Time: Hucknall Sports 1 Notts Colts 3

On days like this when things seems to be conspiring against you the team needs everyone to pull together and show that they are up for the fight and all 11 boys did that today lead admirably by their skipper and man mountain Joe Newton who was today's winner of the Man of the Match award - well done Joe.
Sometimes you see best of a team in victory. 
Today we saw the best of a team even in defeat - #11heroes.

Christmas comes early for Sports

U15's Saturday Division One Notts Youth League

Hucknall Sports 4 Long Eaton Utd 1

14/12/13

Hucknall Sports White final game of 2013 in Division One pitched them at home to third-placed Long Eaton Utd. It’s was fair to say that United had been Sports bogey team and in eight years of trying Hucknall had not registered a single victory. But with confidence at a high after a run of three matches unbeaten Hucknall sensed that this might be their best chance of a stunning victory.

The only change to Sports starting line-up was Jarrod Davies who recently returned to Sports after a spell with Long Eaton. Davies partnered Joe Newton at the heart of one of the leagues outstanding defences with Dylan Smith and Kieran Green playing in the wing-back positions. After a Man of the Match performance the previous week Ellis Evans was selected to partner the ever-dangerous James Hallam up front.

With the wind at their backs Long Eaton started the better of the two teams and settled into their customary sleek style of play. A nice move saw United’s Jack Warner find Bailey Walker in the box and he cleverly side footed home. However, this only served to galvanise Sports into action and soon the gaps started to appear in front of the opposition goal. Dante Diriso, Matt Leivers and Evans all had chances but were unable to find the net. Sports breakthrough came after great work from Hallam saw him drive to the byline and pull the ball back for Maleek Batten to smashed home to level the scores.

Half-Time: Hucknall Sports 1 Long Eaton United 1

Hucknall made a couple of changes for the second half and introduced Tom Eastwood and Danny Darlow into the game. Ryan Towle slotted back into his usual centre midfield role after deputising at centre-half for the previous weeks and he showed great vision in picking out Hallam in the first 5mins for him to finish coolly and put Sports into the lead. With a strong wind at their backs you would have been forgiven for thinking that Sports might have elected to play ‘long-ball’ – but you would be wrong! This is a ‘footballing’ team where every player looks comfortable on the ball and they looked to play from the back, through the midfield and then pick out the strikers. Never more was this the case than the work done by wing-backs Green and Smith who regularly drove their team forward from the edge of their own penalty area up to the oppositions. Hallam grabbed a second with an exquisite finish and now Sports where rampant. Chances fell to Eastwood, Batten and Darlow to extend the lead but the final goal was grabbed by one of the hardest working boys you will see, Mitch Davies. It was rich reward for another tireless effort by him where he covered every blade of grass and broke down play time and again. Skipper James Stenson was introduced for the final 10mins to help maintain the midfield dominance and he showed great form to create space for a couple of shots that only  just missed the target. The final shot of the game was from Sports when up stepped Green to try his luck with a 30 yard free-kick that just drifted over the far angle.

Final Score: Hucknall Sports 4 Long Eaton Utd 1

Man of the Match today was James Hallam who was at his unplayable best once again. The mark of a good striker is that when you’re having a lean spell you don’t hide and he certainly didn’t hide in this game. He absolutely terrorised the Long Eaton defence and even the opposition supporters gave him a round of applause when he left the team with 5mins to play – brilliant James, well done.

James Hallam MOM

There is no more pleasing site for the coaches than to see boys fulfilling their potential and today was that day. All 15 boys played their part in a tremendous victory that will send shockwaves through the division. The next match can’t come soon enough but we can all enjoy our Christmas after a fabulous last 4 games that have seen the team pick up 10 points.

Merry Christmas to everyone and thanks for the early present boys

Sports put Colts to the sword

U15's Saturday Division One Notts Youth League

Lowdham Colts 0 Hucknall Sports 1

07/12/13

Hucknall Sports traveled the short distance to Lowdham for their Division One fixture with Lowdham Colts. Sports had played Colts in last season’s Spring league and done well but after beating Rolls Royce last week Lowdham were high in confidence.

Hucknall got off to an electric start and were unlucky not to take the lead in the opening 5mins when they hit the post in a goalmouth scramble and Lowdham were grateful to see the ball bounce back into their goalkeepers hands. Wave after wave of  attacking football from Hucknall created chances galore but try as they might opportunities for Hallam, Diriso, Evans and Batten all went begging. At the other end of the pitch Hucknall Keeper Kal Orton had little work to do thanks to some controlled defending from Smith, Towle, Newton and Green. Hucknall were so dominant it was surely only a matter of time before they would take the lead. In midfield the quartet of Diriso, Davies, Batten and Leivers played extraordinary well. Diriso and Leivers both got around the back of the defenders and put in dangerous crosses but again Sports just couldn’t find the goal they deserved.

Half-Time: Lowdham Colts 0 Hucknall Sports 0

Sports made three changes for the second half introducing Tom Eastwood on the left wing, Danny Darlow at centre forward and recent signing Jarrod Davies at centre half and all three players made an impact. Eastwood and Darlow sliced open the Lowdham defence on the right side but the pattern of the first continued Hucknall still couldn’t find the goal that their play deserved. Lowdham continued with long-ball tactics but Newton and Davies held firm held firm in the centre of defence. Colts best chance arrived in the form of a free kick after Orton had upended his man on the edge of the box and from the resultant shot Hucknall were relieved to see Orton push the ball onto the bar and the follow up header fly over. In truth that was really the only moment of danger such was the Sports dominance. With time running out Diriso looked certain to score only for his shot to squirm past the far post. But Hucknall kept believing that the goal would come and eventually it did. They won a corner on the far side and with boys lined up on the edge of the box to attack a cross to the penalty spot the team were ready for one final go a grabbing a goal. However Tom Eastwood had other ideas. Instead he curled a terrific looping delivery over the keeper and into the far corner. With only minutes left it was time for Sports to see the game out and Darlow showed great ball skills to keep the game in the Lowdham half. Things got a little unsavory towards the end and Colts frustration saw the tackles come flying in. Diriso was the victim of one crunching effort and was left reeling on the sidelines but we are happy to see him able to get to his feet in the end. The final whistle blew and Sports celebrated a well deserved victory.

Final Score: Lowdham Colts 0 Hucknall Sports 1

This match was one of Sports games in hand and it was really important to try and get the victory. The football at times was truly wonderful and so satisfying for the coaches to see training ground work put into practice to such great effect in the match.

Well done to all the boys for a great team performance where everyone did a brilliant job.

Ellis Evans

For the second week running choosing a man of the match award was incredibly difficult but the eventual, and worthy winner was Ellis Evans. Sports Team Manager had let him down badly the week before but all credit to him for taking the opportunity when presented to put in a brilliant performance and show what the Manager had been missing – well done Ellis.

Thrilling Draw for Sports

U15's Saturday Division One Notts Youth League

Hucknall Sports 2 Trowell Blue 2

30/11/13

Back row (left to right): James Stenson (Skipper), Joe Newton, Jarrod Davies, Ryan Towle, Kal Orton, Charlie Blatherwick, James Hallam, Danny Darlow, Maleek Batten

Front row (left to right): Matt Leivers, Tom Eastwood, Ellis Evans, Kieran Green, Dante Diriso, Dylan Smith, Mitch Davies.

Sports welcomed Trowell Blue to Goosedale Sports Complex for the reverse fixture of the first game of their 2013-14 Division One adventure.

In the earlier fixture Hucknall left feeling hard done by when going down 4-2 after having good chances to take the lead at 2-2.

The crowds turned out in force to witness a game between two sides renowned for playing stylish football. Sports were almost at full strength apart from their influential Skipper James Stenson whose long term injury continues to restrict his game-time. After a great performance last week Ryan Towle played alongside Joe Newton at centre-half and Matt Leivers earned himself a well deserved place in the starting line-up after performing brilliantly in training on the previous Thursday evening. Hucknall thought they had taken an early lead when James Hallam won the ball off of the Trowell defenders and slotted home neatly only for the referee to disallow the goal for an earlier infringement. Unusually, Trowell resorted to long ball tactics to try and release their lightening quick strikers and a mix-up between Sports defenders and goalie gifted them the lead when an innocent long punt sailed over everyone and into the back of the net.

Hucknall still looked likely to get back on terms and great work by Mitch Davies presented Kieran Green with the opportunity to pick out Hallam at the far post only for his header to miss by inches. Trowell were rocking and another effort from Sports was only kept out with a last gasp block on the line. Try as they might the goal that their play deserved just wouldn't materialise and Sports went into the break losing 1-0.

Half-Time: Hucknall Sports 0 Trowell 1

Hucknall entered the second half with instructions to continue playing their own game and not revert to desperate long balls. Charlie Blatherwick and Mitch Davies continued their great partnership in midfield and started to take control. Blatherwick showed some great inventive play as he looked to release his team mates with cleverly disguised passes and Davies ensured that Sports won every 50:50 ball with his terrific work ethic. Sports won a series of free-kicks in dangerous positions but just could not find the right delivery to make the opposition pay until Blatherwick smashed a 25-yard thunderbolt into the top right corner leaving the keeper with absolutely no chance. Hucknall were in the ascendancy now and moments later Maleek Batten made it 2-1 to Sports when he bundled the ball home. Trowell were shell-shocked and didn’t know what had hit them. But gradually they got their game going and started to threaten. But Sport looked strong and with the returning Jarrod Davies at the heart of defence Hucknall looked like they were on the verge of a famous victory. In the last moments Blatherwick was adjudged to have pushed his man and a free-kick awarded in a dangerous position. The first attempt went flying over the bar but the referee spotted another infringement and from the retake they made no mistake and equalised.

Final Score: Hucknall Sports 2 Trowell 2

Before the start of this game Sports might have been happy with a point but at the end you have to think that they deserved more. A fine save by Trowell’s keeper in the last moments of the game stood between them and victory.

But the team can take massive encouragement from this performance and it’s great to report that our play has won new fans from outside of Hucknall Sports.

Maleek Batten

It is often said that the choice of Man of the Match is a difficult task and that was never more true than today where every boy staked a claim. From front to back everyone can take a bow. However, the eventual winner was Maleek Batten who is continuing to improve every week - Well done, keep working hard and you’ll have a great season.