Blues pip Sports in Thriller

U16's Saturday Division 1

Hucknall Sports 2 Trowell Blues 3

17/1/15

Despite drawing in the league in September Trowell had handed out a sound thrashing in the Cup just after Christmas to Sports so Hucknall went into this match looking to restore some pride and set the record straight.

Playing with a reshaped line-up Sports finally got a chance to play Ellis Evans in the 'hole' behind Hallam up front and the good football soon returned. Hucknall took the game to Trowell and looked in fine fettle. The opposition recognised the need to win the midfield battle and looked to impose themselves on game with a series of bruising challenges. But Hucknall's combination of Jarrod and Mitch Davies went toe-to-toe and gave as good as they got. Sports needed a goal to reward all their great play and they thought they had released Tom Eastwood for a run in on goal only to see the off-side flag being raised by the opposition linesman. But it was Blues who struck first when Gee slotted home a well taken shot. Soon after Sports appealed for a penalty after a goal bound shot hit the arm of the blues defender on the line but to no avail and half time arrived with Sports losing 1-0

Half-Time: Hucknall Sports 0 Trowell Blue 1

Sports introduced Charlie Blatherwick into the game just before the break with the instruction to chase everything down up front but frustratingly Trowell smashed a fluke goal from just inside the half-way line in the early moments of the second half with keeper Orton powerless to do anything. Sports refused to be bowed and got themselves back in the game when Blatherwick tucked away a neat shot and soon after the scores were level when Hallam reacted first to a loose ball in the opposition penalty area. It was anyone's game now and Sports pushed for another goal to put themselves into the lead but it just wouldn't come and with a draw looking the most likely outcome Blue stole the points when bundling in the winner from a corner.

Full-Time: Hucknall Sports 2 Trowell Blues 3

Ryan Towle MOM

Today's Man of the Match was Ryan Towle who had a terrific game at 'sweeper'. He listened to his instructions and carried them out to the full. Well done Ryan - keep it going now.

It's never nice to lose and after clawing ourselves back into this game we deserved something for our effort. Even the opposition manager suggested that a draw would have been a fair result. But let's not feel sorry for ourselves and instead look at the positives in this game. To a man, we stood up and be counted. Everyone played their part and didn't shirk a single challenge. Our stylish football returned and playing like this will bring it's rewards in the remaining games of the season and beyond. Well done guys and keep the faith.

Shot shy Sports pay the ultimate price

U16's Saturday Division 1

Hucknall Sports 1 Edwalton 2

10/1/15

In a welcome change Sports could boast 16 players for their game against Edwalton. A howling wind blowing directly down the pitch meant that this was always going to be a bit of a lottery with the winning team likely to be the one who could handle the conditions the best.

Sports won the toss and elected to play with the wind at their backs in first half. However, all instructions to test the keeper and gamble on the conditions with long range shots were forgotten. Instead Hucknall elected to maintain their passing game in the hope of picking their way through the opposition defense. Unfortunately, no matter how much possession they boasted the final pass was almost impossible to judge and regularly ran out of play or through to the keeper. Lang stumbled as he was about to pull the trigger and Hallam unselfishly squared across goal instead of driving on and smashing home. Sports managed just one shot from outside the area in the entire half of play and went into half time with the score level.

Half-Time: Hucknall Sports 0 Pelican 0

Edwalton took the lead when Sports failed to react to the second phase and stood watching as the opposition headed a bouncing ball home. Moments later Edwalton extended the lead further when they used the conditions to perfection to punt a long, wind assisted, shot up and over Keeper Orton. With time running out Towle couldn't quite get his shot away with the goal at his mercy and with only minutes left Lang scored after great work from Hallam. But time ran out and Sports trudge off knowing that they had missed another opportunity to take points.

Full-Time: Hucknall Sports 1 Edwalton 2

We can blame the conditions for a poor game but there is no excuse for not changing your game to suit them. As mentioned before football is not all about ability, some times its about be clever enough to see things differently.

Dylan Smith MOM

Today's Man of the Match was Dylan Smith who had a simply terrific game. Playing at right-back he showed for the ball time and again. He also took the opportunity to drive his team forward when the opportunity presented itself - well done Dylan, keep it going

Pelican put Sports to the sword

U16's Saturday Division 1

Hucknall Sports 1 Pelican 6

3/1/15

Sports first game back after the Christmas break saw them take on Pelican. In their only previous meeting Hucknall considered themselves unluckly to lose after playing well and failing to take their opportunities to score.

After recent snow the Goosesale pitch was heavy but perfectly playable and Sports started reasonably well and were unlucky not to take the lead when Hallam's shot was well saved by the Pelican keeper. Sports appealed for a penalty for the late challenge on Hallam before he got his shot away but it was waved away by the official. Hucknall players seems to be finding the conditions more difficult than their opponents and time and again Sports players seemed to be slipping over. Pelican took the lead with a well taken goal and extended it further when a speculative shot to the near post crept in. Late in the half Sports had another goal scoring opportunity denied when Pelican's keeper made another terrific save. That said, Sports considered themselves still in with a shout despite being two goals down at half time.

Half-Time: Hucknall Sports 0 Pelican 2

For the second game running Sports were almost unrecognisable in the second half of the game. Sure they lost Mitch Davies from midfield by there was still plenty of quality on show to mean that this should not have been crucial. However, Pelican ran riot and notched up another 4 goals to put the match well beyond the reach of Sports. Adey Lang did managed to grab a consolation goal to take his seasons tally to 15 but this was scant reward.

Full-Time: Hucknall Sports 1 Pelican 6

This was another disappointing result for Sports. We need to learn that there is more to winning a match than football ability alone. Sometime it is the things that you do without the ball that really have a effect.

Joe Newton MOM

Today's Man of the Match was Joe Newton who was commanding at the heart of defence for Sports. He also took the opportunity to drive his team forward and showed some real fight and determination - well done Joe.

Final word goes to Pelican for a really nice style of football that was very pleasing on the eye unless you were an Hucknall Sports supporter.

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

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