West Bridgford Tigers 3 Hucknall Sports U11's Sunday 4  a.e.t

Sunday 13th March 2005

In an absolute thrilling semi final of the YEL Sunday Cup, Hucknall Sports Under 11s were victorious over West Bridgford Tigers 4-3 after extra time. This match epitomised the spirit of the cup competition as West Bridgford, lying near the bottom of the league and already beaten twice by Hucknall, made a real battle of it and almost caused a major upset.

Hucknall made a good start as Joe Wells scored twice within the first ten minutes to give Hucknall a comfortable lead. However, as the game went on Bridgford came more and more into the game. Good play by William Spray and Eammon Loftus released Wells and his measured chip was agonizingly clawed away by the Bridgford keeper to keep them in the game.

As the teams changed round for the second half Hucknall made a poor start as they conceded a sloppy goal to give the home team hope. Sports pushed to finish the game off but as Joe Wells contested a 50/50 ball with the keeper a poor referees decision saw him booked. Hucknall dug in and Man of the Match Chris Goodacre and Danny Stenson were in formidable form in the centre of the park. Chances fell to both sides but it was Bridgford who scored next with 5 minutes to go and take the game into extra time.

As extra time started Hucknall seemed to lift their game once more, Ryan Warner and Anthony Timmins never stopped running and competing and they forced a corner from which a goal mouth scramble produced a goal for Maca Hayes. As the second period of extra time kicked off Hucknall were ten minutes from their first final but West Bridgford to their credit knew what they had to do and a long ball over the top found their striker and his shot slipped between the keepers legs to level the score once more. At this point they almost took the lead with a long range shot but for a great save by Buster Simpson as he just managed to tip it round the post. With just 2 minutes left before the end of the match and a possible penalty shoot out looming a towering clearance from Cian Marriot saw Wells through on goal to coolly slot home his third and his 50^th goal of the season.

This made it a memorable day for a great team and a tremendous squad of players who for all their efforts this season deserve all the credit for a remarkable season in the cup and the league and now a place in their first final.