Long Eaton Utd 1 Hucknall Sports U9's Sunday 2

Sunday 12th March 2006

This was not the U9's at their sublime best. Snow flurries and an icy cold wind gusting around the pitch, meant that conditions were less than ideal.

In the first half Sports enjoyed good periods of possession, both Thomas Howarth and Asa Shelton were showing confidence on the ball as they comfortably dealt with the few Long Eaton excursions into Sports territory. Jack-Henry Williams was carving out chances almost at will from his midfield stronghold. It was as the ball reached the final third that Sports seemed to be devoid of attacking ideas though. Long Eaton were unbeaten in 2006 and they were working extremely hard to keep it that way.

It was a full four minutes into the second half, before Sports eventually took the lead. Kieran Sheppard and Jack-Henry Williams both tracked back well to win the ball between them and pick out the unmarked Josh Pickering. His first touch sent him clean through his second flashed past the keeper into the back of the net. Not for the first time this season though, a lapse in concentration just after taking the lead allowed the opposition to level immediately. This time Long Eaton were allowed to push forward unchallenged resulting in a good low shot past the despairing dive of Carter Newton in the Sports goal. It took a cool finish from the penalty spot from Captain Kieran Sheppard after the referee had spotted some pushing in the area, to give Sports a winning margin of 2-1. Sports wrapped up the game with a flurry of shots on goal mainly from substitute McCauley Walker, but their luck had deserted them again. The final whistle was gratefully welcomed, as Sports now need one more victory in their last game of the season to make it 18 wins from 18.