Hucknall Sports U9's Sunday 4 Pelican Colts 1

Sunday 5th February 2006

How would the Under 9's bounce back after their cup disappointment from the previous week ? In style, with possibly their best display of team-work this season.

Pelican came with high expectations having won their last two games without conceding a goal. Sports though looked comfortable on the ball and the accuracy of their passing allowed them to create chances with a minimum of effort throughout the first half. Josh Pickering cleverly enticed the covering defender towards him before flicking the ball wide for Kieran Sheppard to let rip with his magic wand of a left foot into the back of the net. Pelican responded well with an instant equaliser, when yet again a lone runner was left unchallenged just long enough for his speculative effort to cross the line. This was the catalyst that coupled Sport's silky football with a steely determination. Conner Gilbey forced the save of the game from the Pelican keeper when his long looping effort was amazingly tipped over the bar. Jack-Henry Williams was dominant as ever in midfield and it was his text book tackle that allowed Kieran to terrorise his marker before crossing the ball for Josh Pickering to restore the lead with an instinctive turn and shot that only a natural born striker could conjure up.

Sports opened the second period with a dazzling five man passing move that resulted in a shot going just wide from the skipper. With Josh Pickering injured, super sub Aaron Bond took to the field hoping to score for the third week running. With his very first touch he set up a shooting opportunity for Kieran Sheppard and with his second touch he dinked the ball over the spread-eagled keeper to the delight of all his team-mates. Carter Newton a hero the previous week was now a virtual spectator in the Sports goal, as they pinned the opposition back with a masterclass in passing and moving. Sports sealed the victory with a fourth goal when Jack-Henry Williams flighted the ball beautifully over the keepers head from 15 yards out. With all nine players in the running, the man of the match award as voted for by "Dangerous Brian" went to the whole team.