Hucknall Sports 3 Wollaton Hall Pumas 2 a.e.t 

Sunday 6th February 2005

Hucknall Sports U11s Sunday produced an awesome and truly memorable performance to overcome Wollaton Pumas 3-2 in extra time in the YEL cup quarter final.

This was the clash of the titans as Wollaton the current Division One leaders entered the game with a 100% record this season and had already beaten Hucknall twice in the league to keep them in second spot. However from the start Hucknall looked like a team with something to prove and made the best start.

Powerful play, tremendous tackling and some out of this world football meant almost all of the first half was played in the Wollaton half. However, Wollaton were clinical in their finishing as the one chance they got in the whole half was dully dispatched to give the visitors a 1-0 lead at half time.

In the second half Hucknall kept their heads up and battled on. Cian Marriot was outstanding in defence Ryan Headington also ensured the Hucknall defence stood firm. Sports had chance after chance as Tony Ellis slipped the ball to Anthony Timmins only to see his goal bound shot take a unlucky deflection round the post. Chris Goodacre and Danny Stenson fought for every ball and William Spray had another great game in the middle of the Park

With one minute left on the clock Spray struck a screamer of a shot from outside the area only to see it come back of the cross bar and it seemed all Hucknall's efforts had been in vain. This team though has tremendous spirit and with just 20 seconds left a final assault on the Wollaton goal produced a goal for Maca Hayes as he drilled home a shot from 10 yards to make it 1-1.

The game then went to extra time and the strength and fitness of the Hucknall team began to show. A superb one two from Joe Wells and Maca Hayes released Wells through on goal with just the Keeper to beat. As the crowd and management held their breath the Iceman Wells held his nerve and coolly slipped the ball past the keeper to make it 2-1. Sports pushed forward and Eammon Bulldog Loftus scored with the sweetest of left footers to make it 3-1.

In the final moment Wollaton scored a late goal but the day belonged to Hucknall and the best performance ever by this team sees them into the semi finals knowing that they have a great chance of winning this competition now they have knocked out the favourites.