Sport magazine: Staff writer

Sport, the ground-breaking free magazine, has a rare vacancy for a staff writer.

We cover all sports, so you’ll need excellent all-round knowledge. We’re weekly, so you’ll have to be able to work to tight deadlines. And, most importantly, we’re the second largest men’s magazine in the country, with a circulation of more than 300,000 – so you need to be very good.

This is a junior role, so we’re looking for someone who is young and hungry to succeed. It’s ideal for someone looking for a first or second job. You’ll be able to write crisp, clean, original copy, and be brimming with ideas.

We know that jobs like this are hard to come by, and we’ll be hit with a lot of applications, so you’ll need to stand out. Please send a covering letter, CV, three examples of work, and three feature ideas you’d like to see in Sport.

Sport is owned by UTV Media and based in the same offices as the talkSPORT radio station, near London’s South Bank. While you’ll primarily be employed on Sport you will also be needed, on occasion, to contribute to talksport.co.uk.

All applications should be made via email by January 21, to recruitment@sport-magazine.co.uk.

English College Football Association Cup - Craven College 5 v 1 Huddersfield New College 02.02.11

By Joseph Pearson

Craven were involved in a Yorkshire cup derby match against Huddersfield New College. After last week’s disappointing home defeat, Craven were looking for a performance so they could put that game behind them.

The opening exchanges of the game were fairly uneventful, as neither side could gain control of the match. The first sight of goal came when Clark Lydon headed the ball across goal from a free kick but nobody was there for Craven to score. The game’s first shot came after Sam Robinson was fouled on the edge of the box but Chris Williams’ direct free kick was directed over the bar. The first shot on target arrived shortly after, when Huddersfield’s left winger shot towards goal and Danny Knight fumbled but did well to smother the ball.

Craven took the lead when Jack Hartley’s cross field ball found Chris Williams. He controlled well with his right foot, stopped the ball dead before smashing it into the top corner with his left foot. It was a brilliant individual goal and the keeper had no chance of saving it.

That old saying which states, “You’re more likely to concede a goal just after scoring” almost came true for Craven. The ball fell to the feet of Huddersfield’s striker and with his back to goal; he attempted a lobbed volley over Danny Knight’s head. Fortunately for Craven, his effort hit the top of the bar.  Half time was approaching and Craven had to keep things tight at the back. Huddersfield played a long ball forward and Knight came out to clear. Unfortunately, he under hit his clearance and it went straight to Huddersfield player, who lobbed the stranded keeper to equalise right on the stroke of half time.

Craven won a corner in the opening seconds of the second half. The corner was floated in at the near post and Sam Robinson met it with a powerful header, which the man on the line couldn’t keep out. It was a perfect start for Craven and Robinson’s play in the game had deserved a goal. With the score at 2-1, Craven continued to attack and they completely dominated the start of the second half but they couldn’t find that final pass to create a scoring opportunity.

Huddersfield were growing in confidence and were beginning to get themselves back into the game. They were passing the ball around the pitch with good control but their first chance to equalise came after a goal mouth scramble. The ball was ricocheting off several players and eventually the ball fell to a Huddersfield man but his shot flicked the outside of the post. Craven blew another sigh of relief when Huddersfield had another great chance to score. A good passing move ended with Huddersfield’s right winger crossing to his striker but the ball bounced up in front of him and he couldn’t keep his shot down. It was agonisingly close to a goal and it was a huge wakeup call for Craven.

Despite Huddersfield’s dominance, Craven caught them out on the counter attack. Sam Robinson held the ball up well and passed to Shaun Hallas. He produced a terrific over the top through ball for Nathan Foster to chase down the line. Foster squared the ball to Robinson, who beat the centre back and shot powerfully towards goal but it was saved well by Huddersfield’s keeper. Eventually the ball came back into the box from the right and Derry Myers was there to emphatically finish at the far post.  Craven had doubled their advantage and Huddersfield were distraught.

Huddersfield’s anguish was increased when they had a huge shout for a penalty but it was turned down by the referee. Danny Knight had come off his line and it looked as though the Huddersfield player was fouled by Knight but play went on and they did almost score. When the shot came in, Knight was still off his line but Robbie Miller was there to clear. This was a huge moment in the match that went in Craven’s favour and left Huddersfield feeling aggrieved.

Tom Bastow, Jack Schindler and Robbie Miller had all been solid in defence for Craven, which was persistently aggravating Huddersfield’s attack. This aggravation was affecting the whole team and it wasn’t long before Craven sealed victory. Some great defensive work by Shaun Hallas was followed up with another great pass by Hallas to Nathan Foster. He was bearing down on goal and he kept his composure well under the pressure of Huddersfield’s defence, before cheekily chipping the keeper who was left helpless in saving Foster’s sublime effort.

 Craven made it 5-1 in the dying minutes when Foster became the provider for Sam Robinson, who scored his second goal to cap off a fine individual display. As the referee blew the final whistle, Craven had won the match comfortably because of their ruthlessness in front of goal.