East Valley Utd 3 Hucknall Sports U11's Saturday 4

Saturday 13th November 2004

A WIN AT LAST FOR SPORTS

An amazing come back as Hucknall Sports Under 11 Saturday record their first victory of the season. 

Slow starting Sports let in 2 early goals, not the start we hoped for, so a change of formation was hastily called for. Then with yet another goal from East Valley things didn’t look good. But then deadlock as Thomas Curtis settled into his new role sitting in front of the back four. In the past Sports may have crumbled but this game was to be different and hopefully will prove a turning point for the remainder of the season. Spurred on by a determination rarely seen so far, Sports responded magnificently and were unlucky not to score a goal of their own when Leon Saunders and the tireless Tony Ellis both came close during the first half. 

The team talk at half time finally seemed to do the trick, and Josh Leatherland coolly slotted home shortly after the break to grab Sports a lifeline. From then on Sports became a different team, pushing forward in waves and Danny Stenson, switched up front after half time, drilled home a second.

To their credit East Valley continued to attack and only resolute defending by the ever improving Mitchell Elson, new boy Jack Bird, and Jordan Burch playing in a new sweeper role kept East Valley at bay.

Urged forward by captain Calum Curtis, continued pressure from Sports resulted in an equaliser, when a killer pass from Howard Howells and the perfect cross from Calum for Josh Leatherland to flick home his second and the same player wrapped up the points with a stunning strike from outside the penalty area with only a few minutes to go.

This was an all round team performance with Thomas Scarbro and Jason Harris cutting out last ditch attacks by East Valley. At the final whistle the entire team were applauded off the pitch by both thrilled parents and the East Valley manager, who congratulated Sports on a remarkable comeback.  

There were the usual suspects for man of the match Danny Stenson and Buster Simpson, Tony Ellis who made some crucial tackles in the dying seconds and Jordan Burch who after the changes had an outstanding game (possibly the best I have seen him play) and had my vote, until Josh Leatherland completed his hatrick with the winning goal.