Hucknall Sports U13's 2 Netherfield Colts 0
Saturday 26th February 2005
HUCKNALL BAG THEIR 2nd
SEMI-FINAL SPOT
The Netherfield Colts fixtures
for some reason have always posed a bit of a problem for Hucknall Sports.
The last Hucknall home league defeat, back in November 2003, was against
Netherfield Colts, and despite beating them away 4-2 last season and this, they
have been the only team to deny Hucknall of any points this season, holding them
to a 1 all draw 5 weeks ago. Netherfield
are a gutsy, determined side who can play excellent, on the floor football, and
deserve to be higher than their mid-table position suggests.
An unsettled start saw the home
side trying to nervously play a high long ball style of play in an attempt to
drop balls into the danger zone. Frustratingly,
this only resulted in the Netherfield offside trap catching the Hucknall
forwards out too many times for comfort, leading to a confused and scrappy
midfield, struggling to regain possession, with the forwards becoming entangled
in the lack of space up front, to which they are more accustomed.
Despite the dominating Hucknall possession throughout most of the game,
Netherfield always looked dangerous on the offence, and nearly stole a goal just
before half time.
Hucknall changed tack after the
restart and settled to a more controlled methodical approach to the game, which
gave them even more possession, and the ability to pressure the Netherfield
defence at will. A Hucknall 49th
minute, Ross Lamb free kick from 30 yards out, was dangerously defended by
Netherfield’s offside strategy alone, and they paid the price dearly.
A beautiful flick on from the head of Harry Beal, into the path of the
formidable Vijay Digpal who ripped through the surprised Netherfield defence,
was left to score with ease past their scrambling ‘keeper.
An arguable penalty decision, although with the run of play, saw Alex Fetherstone take the spot kick, his first goal of the season, and a thoroughly deserved Man-of-the-Match award to take the game beyond the disheartened travelling side, securing Hucknall Sports’ Semi-Final fixture, away to Attenborough on the 12th March 2005. See you there!