Saturday 24th November 2012 - Evo-Stik League Div One South - ko: 3:04pm
Hucknall welcomed Gresley FC to Watnall Road on a cold and
very damp afternoon. The visitors lie 4th in the table and on paper at least, should have buried bottom club Town with ease.
Gresley played a neat 4-3-3 formation, with Jordan Nadat,
Phil Massingham and Rob Spencer the spearhead, while Hucknall lined up 4-4-2
with Alex Ford and Julian Topliss up top.
Ford and Lee McAnulty picked up injuries during the game – a
worry for boss Gary Sucharewycz who could only select four subs fro this game, himself included.
Gresley had an early scare when keeper George Woodward
slipped as he went to clear, but his defenders were quick to the ball and any
danger was immediately snuffed out.
Nadat was unlucky on 3 when his shot was palmed onto the
post by James Martin. The no. 9 was having a bad time with the Ref’s assistant
– and in all fairness his complaints were on the most part, justified. All three officials had off days, but in the
end they can be said to have got the crucial decisions correct.
Close !!!
Matt Glass headed just wide from a James Leggitt cross in
the 5th minute as the home team took the game to their high-flying
visitors.
Nadat had a chance to put Gresley ahead after 11 minutes
after he was superbly played in by Massingham – unfortunately for Nadat, Martin
was quick off his line and managed to block the strikers effort.
A moment of madness on 19 by Woodward saw Hucknall awarded a
penalty. The keeper’s rash challenge giving the Referee no option other than to
give the spot-kick, that JULIAN TOPLISS fired home giving Woodward no chance.
The lead lasted a mere 5 minutes though, and it was former
Gresley defender Matt Millns who appeared to give away a free-kick on the edge
of the box that JAMES JEPSON fired arrow straight into the top corner – superb
strike from the former Yellow. H-T 1-1
Mat Millns in action
Hucknall had the first real chance of the second half – with
just 3 minutes played Matt Glass was played through on Woodward, but the
winger’s shot was tame and the keeper collected the ball comfortably enough.
JORDAN NADAT made no mistake for Gresley seconds later,
hammering home through a crowd of players after the home defence failed to
clear their box.
Topliss went close on 52 for the home team, but Woodward
made a cracking save, deflecting the ball across the goal and out for a corner.
Gresley should have gone further ahead on 56, but Spencer
fired well over the bar form 4 yards after his first shot was blocked.
Massingham had two one-on-one chances on 66 and 68, but fluffed them both, and
was withdrawn shortly afterwards.
The visitors wrapped up the points with 10 minutes left,
MARC GOODFELLOW blasting the ball past Martin, after the sub had seen his first
effort blocked. F-T 1-3
Admission : season ticket
Attendance : 166
A vastly improved performance from Town, and although the
gap at the foot of the table is now 8 points, the signs were there that the
Yellows can close that gap and survive the dreaded drop into the Counties.
