Hucknall Sports U9's Saturday 2  Clifton All Whites White 0

Saturday 17th December 2005

A scintillating Sports performance sees them unbeaten in December after winning five games on the trot. 

Clifton tested the Sports keeper, Dean Harris early in the game but after a fine save he had nothing to do for the remainder of the half. Sports turned the heat up in this match and dominated the entire half creating numerous scoring opportunities that sadly went begging until Daniel Long, who had an outstanding game on the left side of the park, pulled the trigger and fired home for his seventh goal of the season. Sports continued to press and again produced some marvellous flowing football that saw Stephen Whitley and Joe Walker causing Clifton all kinds of problems. Kieran Sheppard was always a threat up front and was unlucky not to bag a brace of goals. The half finished one-nil to Sports. 

Clifton are not a side to lie down, and started the second half with a good five minute spell but again the rock solid defensive partnership of Daniel Crump and man of the match Liam Kilcullen denied Clifton any shots on goal. After coping well with the Clifton pressure, Sports again turned on the style and when Walker threaded the ball through the heart of Clifton’s midfield, Long showed a blistering turn of speed to latch onto a ball that should have been the Clifton defenders ball all day long before leaving him in his wake and finding the back of the net for his second goal of the day.

Clifton battled on and was only denied by two excellent back-to-back saves from Harris before Crump cleared the ranks and immediately Sports turned defence into attack and were unlucky not to make it three but Joe Mee, on for the injured Walker, saw his shot sail narrowly over the bar. New signing Nathan Gull gave a good account of himself when he came on for an out of steam Whitley. The match finished two-nil to Sports, which is a complete reverse to the opening match of the season against Clifton. 

Another good all round team performance by Sports, with every player giving his all and then a little bit more.