Hucknall Sports U11's 1 Hucknall Sports U12's Sat 4

Saturday 17th April 2004

HUCKNALL SPORTS:

AN ALL ROUND GREAT PERFORMANCE. 

This Saturday’s entertainment at Wigwam was provided by our U11 squad trying to remain focussed for their last YEL 1^st Division league appearance next week, against our U12 Saturday side, who are coasting after a superb season with their efforts placing them firmly in the top 4 of the YEL 3^rd Division.  This 3 x 20 minute period friendly encounter saw a superb all round performance from all the both teams’ players. 

The U11s got off to an eager start, resisting an early volley of attacks from the U12s to then capture most of the possession in the latter stages of the 1^st period, trying the U12 ‘keeper Josh Priestley many times from close quarters.  They succumbed eventually to a strong individual break from the U12 defender Shawn Holmes, of whom there is little chance of stopping once he has the scent of a goal in his nostrils. 

With the 2^nd period under way, Ben White, as well as digging the ball out of defence on many occasions, was chasing it up the field too.  Playing the whole match to his full potential, he had also positioned himself perfectly to connect so sweetly when the ball rebounded back to him, sending it sailing over the defence dipping under the bar, and nearly taking the net out with it.  The applause was truly rapturous, and this sterling performance was rewarded with the U12 Man-of-the-Match honours. 

The U12s 3^rd goal came from Jamie Thomas, the new “little piece of dynamite” player, trying out a right midfield position, in his debut guest appearance for the side.  A cunning individual effort took him into the box, and being left with only the ‘keeper to beat, cheekily slotted the ball just inside the right post.  The U11s rose to the challenge of this opportunity to raise their game against the older and more experienced side, and presented some stiff opposition to what was obviously a stronger squad. 

After 60 minutes of play the U12s illustrated the experience and strength gap when an innovative lay-off from Vijay Digpal picking out the advancing Ross Lamb who delivered an unstoppable half-volley missile of a shot from the edge of the 18 yard box sending the ball singing into the top right hand corner of the net.  The U11s battled to the end in great spirit with tremendous performances from Daniel Yates, James Talbot and ‘keeper Zac Flint, but it was the persistent efforts of Jack Fern that earned his team a consolation goal 3 minutes from time, and himself the Man-of-the-Match honours to boot.