Ernehale Colts 0 Hucknall Sports U9's Sunday 6

Sunday 15th January 2006

For the second week running the Under 9's dominated proceedings from start to finish to run out comfortable winners and also, for the second week running, prolific marksman Josh Pickering was in the thick of the action, scoring four more goals.

The home side deserve full credit though for a battling first half display that resembled a scene from the Alamo at times. Sports surged forward in numbers, laying siege to the Colts goal with corner after corner, shot after shot. Each time though a brave block, last ditch tackle or stunning save prevented Sports from taking the lead. With the half ticking on and still no breakthrough in sight, on came Super-Sub, Conner Gilbey. Moments later Thomas Howarth picked up a loose ball at right back and sent a long raking pass up to Kieran Sheppard on the left wing. He took the ball down without breaking stride and whipped over the perfect cross for Conner to finally hit the net with a low shot at the far post. The score remained 1-0 until half time, but the Sports players seemed to sense that goals would follow, now that the Colts defences had finally been breached.

 

Conner Gilbey went within a whisker of doubling his tally. Stretching every last sinew of calf muscle, as he lunged for a pass that looked to have been over-hit only for it to bounce back off the bar, when the keeper was well beaten. Then came the Josh Pickering Masterclass. His first of four was a confident finish after a quick break put him through un-marked. His second was a trademark cheeky little flick at the near post to squeeze home a Jack-Henry corner. His hat-trick goal was a stunning left footed drive past the outstretched fingers of the diving goalkeeper. Like all top strikers he remained alert and focused enough to react quickest to a fumble by the keeper to score his fourth and the teams fifth. The only player more focused and more alert on the entire pitch was the unflappable Asa Shelton. Not once did he shirk his duties, whilst man marking and outplaying an opponent a good foot taller than himself. It was probably his marauding runs forward that caught the eye the most though and eared him a well deserved man of the match award. Captain Marvel, Kieran Sheppard certainly saved his best until last, with another addition to his portfolio of stunning goals. Chipping the keeper from 15 yards out to round off another good away win in style.