Hucknall Sports U13's 5 Sherwood 4

Saturday 9th April 2005

A PENULTIMATE “ROLLER-COASTER”!

With all the tension of a Cup Final, Hucknall Sports set about their efforts to take their ‘Unbeaten in the League’ bid a game closer.  They have only been held to a draw on 3 previous occasions, all on home turf, and so with today’s victory, as well as Divisional Champions, ‘Unbeaten At Home All Season’ honours, can also to be acclaimed. 

Hucknall may have scored 5 goals of their own, and Sherwood had to put the ball in the net for the 4 they scored, but all 9 goals were to be of Hucknall’s making.  With the home side still in dream land it took Sherwood a mere 4 minutes to open the scoring.  Thankfully Hucknall responded 8 minutes later when the early substitute Vijay Digpal clattered the cross bar with his first kick of the game for Danny Jones to follow up and beat the ‘keeper for his first of the afternoon. 

The Hucknall front line settled to a steadier pace predicting with skill and precision the path of the ball against a substantial head wind.  The wind played a significant part in the reversal of compliments when Jones flicked on for a perfect one touch from Digpal to loft the ‘keeper and find the net from 28 yards out.  Unfortunately luck was not to favour the home defence as it favoured the attack.  A troublesome corner within the last 20 seconds of the half proved too tricky for the leaders to contain, and much to Sherwood’s delight an equalising opportunity was gifted to them on the stroke of half time. 

3 minutes after the restart, Digpal emerged from the midfield to break past the Sherwood defence to again deliver an inch perfect shot, bulging the top right hand corner of the net.  Hucknall paid very dearly indeed this time for seemingly resting yet again on a 1 goal lead, allowing the visitors acres of room to pressure the home defence at will.  Sherwood taking full advantage on 42 minutes for their equaliser, and forged ahead just a minute later, taking the score-line to 3 – 4. 

Hucknall responded with Champion determination and character, taking possession of the entire Sherwood end of the pitch in their bid to win the game.  The forwards turned on their magic when a superb throw from Alex Featherstone assisted by the two headed flick-ons floated neatly onto the path of the eager Danny Jones to deliver his second.  Fortune befell the agile Jones yet again when a crossed in ball from Ross Lamb turned into a frantic goal mouth scramble, with failed clearances and shots darting at all angles across the box, before Jones secured his hat-trick and all 3 points, with just 4 minutes remaining.  Undoubtedly a spectacular way to earn a thoroughly deserved Man-of-the-Match award, which was presented and received in style at the team’s Championship celebrations that evening.