Hucknall Sports U12's 1 Long Eaton Utd 1

Saturday 19th March 2005

With both teams in contention for the runners up spot in the league championship, the scene was set for an exciting game.

Long Eaton United took charge from the kick off putting Sports under pressure with every kick of the ball.  Sports responded well with the ever tight defence keeping Long Eaton at bay.  The excitement continued as the ball moved from one end to the other with both teams playing pass and move football.  Sports keeper and Captain  Zac Flint led by example with a confident display and great ball handling, with several saves keeping Long Eaton off the score sheet.  Sports contained the
play in midfield with Jack Fearn laying inch perfect balls to Lewis Fensom and James Talbot who both challenged the Long Eaton defence.  Luke Bowen and Alex Orton had inspirational runs as right and left wing backs in aims to break the dead lock.

Long Eaton scored shortly after the start of the second half with a great move stating from inside their own half.  Sports responded by upping their game and putting even more effort in.  Tom Burton was given the task of disrupting the Long Eaton defence, which he did with tireless runs time after time.  Luke Peters gave a sterling performance up and down the right-hand side.  Daniel Yates was a inspiration to the rest of the team with his determination and strong ball play.  As the clock ran down, it was difficult to see which way the game was going to go.  Sports made one change by throwing caution to the wind and moved Lewis Early into attack, this left the ever dependable James Innes to hold the defence together, which he did without a problem.  Lewis was instructed to move forward and with his first touch in the new position he ran from the Sports eighteen yard box to Long Eaton's taking on several players as he went. Lewis passed and received the ball back and continuing his run he reached the eighteen yard box and lined himself up to shoot. However, two Long Eaton players challenged him resulting in Lewis being knocked to the ground and conceded a penalty.  Lewis Fensom confidently converted the penalty making the score even at 1-1.  Long Eaton responded by mounting a last serge which was held at bay by the strong sports defence.   Both team managers complimented both sides for a great game of football.