Murdock's dramatic winner

The match looked sure to be heading for a draw but egged on by a rapturous crowd, Sports struck gold when Murdock embarked on a gutsy run from midfield and fired in a long-range power shot that beat the ‘keeper’s fingertips.

Murdock had also been on target earlier when Sports surged into a 3-0 lead, despite the absence of defender Jack Townsend and leading scorer Jake Leach. Their other goals were scored by Ryan Wood and Alex Colcannon.

However Wollaton always looked dangerous on the break and deservedly pulled a goal back before catching the Sports defence asleep in a strong and confident start to the second half and adding two more.

n A GAME played in the true spirit of the festive season and enough to warm anyone’s chestnuts saw HUCKNALL CENTRAL TIGERS UNDER-12S draw 1-1 with West Bridgford Wolves in the Saturday First Division of the Young Elizabethan League.

In a tight game, Tigers started well and should have scored when striker Ryan Williams somehow contrived to head over from under the bar after a peach of a cross from Mathew James.

But Bridgford threw three up front in the second half and although defenders Lea Anderson, Connor Walford, Adam Treece and the outstanding Joseph Dance coped well, the visitors went ahead with a shot that crept home via ‘keeper Stephen Devine’s fingers.

Tigers responded well and snatched a point when James buried the ball past the onrushing ‘keeper after good work by Ashley Foster and Gareth Williams.

n SHOWING their best form, HUCKNALL WARRIORS UNDER-12S RED crushed Pegasus Youth White 5-0 to maintain second position in the Saturday Third Division of the Young Elizabethan League.

Warriors had all the early possession and made it count when Liam Burley thundered home after a mistake by the ‘keeper.

Jake Haywood made it two with a fine shot that squeezed between ‘keeper and post before Jack Hutchby converted a penalty after busy midfielder Regan Scott had been brought down.

A second spot-kick, after a foul on Hutchby, resulted in Burley netting his second goal of the game. And although Pegasus came back into it in the second half, man-of-the-match Tyler Stafford helped keep a clean sheet alongside fellow defenders Andreas Kokkinou, Lucas Elliott and Lewis Nixon.

At the other end, the ‘keeper made a string of saves before he failed to deal with a powerful shot from Hutchby that wrapped up the scoring.

n DESPITE missing a penalty, HUCKNALL SPORTS UNDER-11S won 2-0 at Moorgreen Colts to stay top of the Saturday First Division of the Young Elizabethan League.

In a sparkling match, full of positive football, Joe Harrison squandered the spot-kick early in the second half, seeing his shot saved after Mark Shelton had been brought down.

But Sports were already one goal up after Reegan Morris controlled a cross from Harrison, looked up and picked his spot to the right of the ’keeper. And they sealed the points in the last five minutes when Harrison made amends for his earlier bloomer, beating the oncoming ’keeper with a first-time effort after a shot from Rian Charles had struck a defender.

The man-of-the-match award went to Ben Oscroft, who worked hard in midfield and won many challenges.

n SLOPPY defending cost HUCKNALL HARRIER UNDER-11S the points when they travelled to Priory Celtic in Saturday Division Two of the Young Elizabethan League.

For just when the match appeared to be heading for a draw, Harrier failed to clear their lines, enabling a Priory striker to slam home and seal a 4-3 defeat.

Earlier the locals had Priory pinned in their own half for much of the opening period but failed to convert a string of chances, the best of which fell to striker Keiran Wynn, who drew two good, point-blank saves from the ‘keeper.

Harrier paid the price when the home team snatched two goals on the break before half-time. And although Jordan Grainger pulled one back, rifling a shot into the roof of the net from a quick free-kick by Keiran Davies, they fell 3-1 down early in the second half.

To their credit, the Hucknall side fought back and after Jo Winsor had turned the ball past the ‘keeper in a goalmouth scramble, Tyla Perkins equalised from a corner, spinning to slot home from close range.

n A POOR performance by HUCKNALL SPORTS UNDER-10S WHITE was clinically punished by a good Keyworth United Green side, who eased to a 3-0 victory in the Saturday First Division of the Young Elizabethan League.

On a bitterly cold day, Keyworth showed the kind of heart and fighting spirit that the locals should be aspiring to.

They got off to the best possible start when the unlucky Jacob Clarke could only parry a second-minute shot and the rebound was pounced upon and forced home. And in response, struggling Sports could only come up with one clearcut chance - a free-kick from Jake Towers that was brilliantly saved just before half-time.

They then gifted the home side their second goal two minutes into the second period when a deliberate handball led to a free-kick that was headed home. And their fate was sealed by a third goal in the 31st minute.