Hucknall Sports U12's Saturday 2 Kimberley MW Trojans 4

Saturday 18th March 2006

SPORTS LOSE OUT IN CLOSE ENCOUNTER

Fielding a strong team for the second game running Sports narrowly lost out to Kimberley when luck decided to turn against them. 

Sports started brightly and with Jack ‘birthday boy’ Moore making his presence felt in midfield Sports could have been two goals up before Kimberley’s front two worked a well taken goal to go one up against the run of play. 

Sports continued to dominate with Billy Edwards showing some delightful touches in midfield and Josh Leatherland running hard up front. Sport’s pressure finally told as a defensive clearance was volleyed back in by Jack Moore’s sparkling new boots and swerved into the Kimberley net to level the score. 

As Sports pressed on, the referees attention was diverted to Buster Simpson in the Sports net. Having had virtually nothing to do all game Buster had to come off with an injured ankle and the only obvious replacement was Jack Moore who had been outstanding in the first twenty minutes. The subsequent re-shuffle affected Sports and although substitute Thomas Lambert slotted seamlessly into his usual position Sports seemed out of sorts.  

Half time and with the scores level the game was there to be won. Both sides continued to play well in the second half although the game became more even as Kimberley pressed forward, only to be stopped by the outstanding Jak Craig at right back who again was in the running for man of the match. Kimberley scored a well worked second to beat the stand in keeper but Sports replied with perhaps their best move of the season. A ball played out of defence by Jak Craig found Billy Edwards who turned and found Clayton George. Two touches later a beautiful through ball found Josh Leatherland beating the offside trap and with a well timed first time shot he levelled the scores up. 

Clayton George was superbly denied by the Kimberley keeper as Sports pressed but as Kimberley broke and an ill timed challenge by Jordan Burch resulted in a penalty to Kimberley. Jack Moore stood no chance as the ball was blasted into the bottom corner and once again Sports were behind. As Sports pressed forward to level the scores again a   Kimberley break led to their fourth and decisive goal. 

A 4 – 2 defeat did not do justice to Sports in this excellent match, superb spirit was shown by all players and supporters in the bitter conditions. 

Man of the match went to goal scorer and brave stand in keeper Jack Moore to round off his birthday in style.