Hucknall Sports U14’s Red 3 vs. Vale of Belvoir 1
Wednesday 11th May 2011
YEL League Cup Final at Arnold Towns Ground
This seasons YEL cup final was played at Arnold Towns ground, between two teams who had finished 1st & 2nd in Division 1, and who had played each other four days earlier in an epic game, that resulted in Sports winning the league with the last kick of the game; and so another good battle was anticipated tonight. Before the start of the final both teams were lead out onto the pitch by the match officials, and after formalities had been completed the tension rose as kick-off drew closer.
The first half was officially started and both teams as anticipated came out with all guns blazing, the Vale of Belvoir had two early corners that were cleared by Sports. While at the other end Sports had a couple of good chances via Joe Harrison, one shot over the bar and another shot straight at the keeper. Sports though kept the early momentum going and were rewarded when a Sam Farn special throw fell to Macauley Walker who scored for 1-0 Sports. The Vale of Belvoir kicked off again and Sports were straight back in Belvoir’s half, and after another Sam Farn special throw the ball this time landed at Doyle Hutchinson’s feet, who scored for 2-0 to Sports. Hucknall Sports 2-0 up within the first ten minutes and seemingly cruising, with the Vale of Belvoir shell shocked. Sports were all over Belvoir for the rest of the first half and a landslide seemed a certainty, but chance after chance went begging for Sports. Mark Shelton had three or four free kicks, one that was flicked for a corner and two that hit the woodwork; and Lewis Oldershaw saw a great shot go just wide of the Belvoir post. Although Sports were all over the Vale of Belvoir it was unbelievably still 2-0 to Sports as the referee blew for halftime.
The second half kicked off with Sports still thinking of all their missed chances in the first half, and as the second half pushed on Sports seemed to take their foot off the pedal; allowing Belvoir to come back in the game and at times put Sports right under the cosh. Eventually their pressure paid off when a shot was saved by Kieran Sheppard in the Sports net, who could only parry the ball and it fell to a Belvoir player who scored for 2-1. The main thing that the Sports management were afraid of had happened, loads of chances to Sports to be out of sight had not been taken and Belvoir scoring and all hell breaking loose. With about twenty minutes left of this cup final the Vale of Belvoir sensed that they had a great chance to level the score and went for Sports’ footballing throat; their best chance making the Sports keeper Kieran Sheppard pull off a great double save. The pressure was relentless from Belvoir and Sports seemed towards the end to be hanging on and wishing for the final whistle, when they got a free kick with a minute to go on the halfway line. Up stepped Mark Shelton, who hit his free kick very hard and very high, the ball seemed destined to hit any low flying planes, when all of a sudden it dipped and the Belvoir keeper could only make a gestured save as it went in the net for 3-1 to Sports, from the halfway line. The final whistle soon followed and that signalled a Hucknall Sports 3-1 win and winners of the YEL Cup for a second successive season.
Both teams played their part in a good Cup Final, as was pointed out by the YEL representative in his speech to everyone before both sets of players went up to receive their trophies, and Mark Shelton the Hucknall Sports captain picked up the YEL Cup. A great result for Sports, the Double in winning the YEL Cup two seasons on the trot, but more significantly the result meant that Hucknall Sports had just done the TREBLE for the 2nd successive season; Champions of Division 1, FA Shield winners and YEL Cup winners.
Unfortunately for this Sports team, this could possibly have been the last time that they were playing together, as there are possibilities that some players are going to be venturing down different Avenues. But, no matter what happens in the future, they will all have great memories of the fantastic achievements that they have all contributed to as a team over the last three or four seasons, well done lads.