Hucknall Sports U10's White 0 Ravenshead Red 0 a.e.t

Sports win 3-0 on penalties

Sunday 29th January 2006

Sports march on to the semis in the Y.E.L. Trophy but what a good effort by Ravenshead.

Having played each other last week Sports knew this would be a tough match and so it proved to be. With a bitter wind blowing across the pitch the passion and effort from both teams kept everyone on the sidelines warm with excitement. The game was a very tight match with both teams being limited to a few half chances in the first half because of the effort put in to cancel each other out. Sports's chances in the first half fell to Charlie Miller and Joe Priestly who both had shots on goal saved by the keeper, while Ravenshead also went close with shots on goal just missing the post.

The second half was just as exciting with both teams working hard but again cancelling each other out in midfield. Sports started to get the upper hand late in the half with some passing moves leading to chances, the best of which fell to Joe Hewitt who hit the bar with an header from a Matthew Brierley cross. The Sports midfield of Mitchell Cassidy, Paice Lees and Matthew Brierley worked hard but could not get the break through. The game went to extra time and again no one could break the deadlock with the Sports defence of Sam Abbott, Joe Gill and Aaron Bradley holding firm and in fact keeper Aaron Bradley made a great one handed save to keep Ravenshead out late into extra time. The Ravenshead keeper also made some important stops late in extra time when he came out and dived at Paice Lees feet to stop Sports attack.

The game went to penalties with Sports shooting first and up stepped Joe Priestley who fired in to the right of the goal past the keeper. Ravenshead penalty was fired straight down the middle at Aaron Bradley who stood tall and pushed it away. Sports second was from Joe Hewitt who shot to the left and scored despite the keeper getting a hand to the ball. The Ravenshead second effort was shot wide of the right hand post by about a metre. Sports third came from captain Joe Gill who beat the keeper on his right with a fierce shot. Ravenshead's third penalty therefore had tot go in to keep them in the match but it was again saved by Sports keeper Aaron Bradley who again stood tall and pushed away the shot for a Sports win.

All the Sports players ran to the keeper and celebrated but as winner’s Sports must acknowledge the part Ravenshead played in this exciting trophy match, they pushed Sports all the way and should be proud of their effort today.

As for Sports, the semis await but lets hope it dosn't form a distraction from the push for the league but if the players put in the effort they did today the double could be on.