Hucknall Sports U13's 7 Cotgrave Colts 3

Saturday 4th December 2004

HUCKNALL THROUGH TO ROUND 4.

Hucknall Sports U13’s are undoubtedly ruling the roost at the top of Division 3 in the YEL League, this winning form is running over into their FA Challenge Shield and YEL Trophy runs as well.  This Saturday’s win means they have won all this seasons games, now totalling 14 matches, with over 100 goals so far. 

This competition has provided the stiffest opposition this year, and Cotgrave Colts showed why they occupy a mid table spot in the Division above Hucknall Sports.  With all to play for, neither team allowed the other to settle, and the scrappy game that unfolded was by no means the beautiful football these talented young players are well capable of.  Within 5 minutes Vijay Digpal opened his account, delivering a cool finish from a Ross Lamb, Sam Sims progression.  The celebrations were however short lived when within a minute Cotgrave got an easy equaliser, and Hucknall knew that this game was going to take some winning. 

Hucknall responded instantly with Jan Westrik feeding Ross Lamb to tuck away a perfectly placed shot just inside the far right post, and 2 minutes later, Lamb was setting up Digpal for his second.  Both teams were at panic stations it seemed, with high balls popping out of the midfield like fireworks, catching both defences scrambling to recover and resume some sort of control.  One such explosion saw Lamb break down the left to pass to Westrik who managed a cross that was miraculously picked out by Digpal to complete his hat trick on 17 minutes, only for Cotgrave to respond again via a similar break within a minute at the other end. 

The mayhem continued for the remainder of the first half with no change to the 4-2 score line, and the second period continued for another 23 agonising minutes before Digpal predictable broke through from a Danny Jones pass, to slide it confidently past the Cotgrave ‘keeper.  2 minutes later a superbly struck Shaun Holmes corner sailed in to the 6 yard box for Harry Beal to body check the ball into the net for the team’s magical 100^th goal this season.  On a euphoric wave, Hucknall continued to pressure the visitors to advance their lead.  A Ross Lamb pass in the middle of the park was picked up by Jan Westrik, who took on the remaining Cotgrave defence to deliver a classic finish 5 minutes from time.  Time enough however for the travelling team to bounce one back of equal quality, this time via a perfectly weighted lob over the head of the outstretched ‘keeper, to finish the contest 7-3. 

Harry Beal picked up the Man-of-the-Match award for his dogged determination and relentless efforts to keep the right side of the pitch as well covered as possible, a fine role model for Hucknall’s latest signing, Alex Featherstone, who was trying out a right back position in his debut appearance for the team.