This was not quite the classy, flowing football that the under eights have been playing on a regular basis this season, but it did show that even on an off day Sports are capable of grinding out results against good opposition. 

With a gusting wind at their backs it was Sports who created most of the chances early on. Two well taken corners from Kieran Sheppard were scrambled clear. The first strike on goal was a terrific solo effort from Joe Barnes. Having won good possession at the halfway mark, he then set off on the most direct route to goal possible, crashed through two tackles without flinching, only to see his eventual shot from three yards out clatter the bar before being cleared. Sports were having too many passes go astray in the strong wind. So when Conner Gilby collected the ball deep in his own half, he wisely decided to run with it. And run with it. And run with it. Before finally sending Joe Barnes clear to tuck his shot into the corner from just inside the area for 1-0. Conner Gilby almost put Sports two up, right on the stroke of half time but his shot was dragged a fraction, the wrong side of the post.

In the second half Keyworth began to commit players in more advanced positions in search of an equaliser. But with Thomas Shaw, Thomas Howarth and Will Onley all putting in big tackles whenever required, Sports were beginning to look good for the win. The closest they came to adding to their lead was when Aaron Bond cleverly angled his pass to allow Ben Oscroft a run in on goal, but the Keyworth keeper read the situation superbly to clear the ball at his near post. It was at about this point, with ten minutes of the game still remaining that lapses in concentration did begin to creep in. Although Sports were still pushing for a second goal, poor marking allowed the Keyworth attack a run in on goal on at least three occasions. But each time the danger was thwarted by man of the match Carter Newton. Who gave an outstanding display of goalkeeping to help ensure all three points went to Hucknall in the first game of the new year.