With our enthusiasm sadly waning, we went to Watnall Road more in hope than in expectation that the Yellows could put in a good performance and maybe grab a point at least from a Sheffield FC team that has been struggling of late.
Not to be unfortunately, Sheffield weren't a class team but they still had too much nous for a Hucknall team whose players are trying to come to terms with playing at this level.
Goalkeeper James Beddingham has just signed from Hucknall Town AFC and although he had a decent debut, he still ended up picking the ball out of the net on five occasions.
Beddingham was called into action four minutes from the off, punching away a corner. The keeper had to be alert on 11, when Steve Wooley picked out Jon Muldoon - the striker struck his effort at goal well enough, but Beddingham did well to dive and save.
Wathaq Al-Haken put in a decent cross in the 23rd minute which Scott Thorpe did well to head away. Four minutes later Remi Davis lost the ball in midfield to Bjorn Taylor, and the midfield general picked out STEVE WOOLEY who saw his first effort blocked, but converted well at the second attempt to give the visitors the lead. H-T 0-1
Wooley scores the opener
Sheffield doubled their lead in the first minute of the second period when ANDY GASCOIGNE received a return pass from Wooley and somehow curled a shot into the goal off the post. The effort was really a poor mis-hit, but when your luck's out that's how it goes.
Jack Hawkins replaced Davis at the break - we thought he was a mascot when we first saw him! Anyway the diminutive midfielder had a terrific 20 yard shot tipped over by visiting keeper Liam Flynn on 49, and gave us some hope that the Yellows could get back into the game.
Sheffield had other ideas though and when WOOLEY grabbed his second in the 58th minute, the game was effectively over. It was a neat finish, a bullet shot from the corner of the box that flew past Beddingham before he could react.
David and Goliath, Little and Large? No - Colley and Hawkins!!
Sheffield had other ideas though and when WOOLEY grabbed his second in the 58th minute, the game was effectively over. It was a neat finish, a bullet shot from the corner of the box that flew past Beddingham before he could react.
Wooley then tried to sneak a free-kick past Bedingham at his near post, but the keeper was able to dive and palm away the effort for a corner. Wooley's corner was well met by the head of giant centre-back Karl Colley, forcing the keeper into another great save.
Hucknall had an effort from Jason Dawson well blocked by Flynn on 71 after a storming run foward and pin-point pass from Jason Gregory picked out the substitute.
Ben Birch at the back had really caught the eye, but the Hucknall no.4 blotted his copy book after 77 minutes had been played, tripping Muldoon in the area. WOOLEY stepped up and lashed the ball home to complete his personal triple.
Woolley converts from the spot to complete his hat-trick
Gregory did well to block Wooley on the line after Al-Hakam had fired the ball in from the left. It was AL-HAKAM though who rounded of the scoring for the travellers on 44, a clinical hit from 10 yards after the ball was played across the Hucknall goalmouth. F-T 0-5
Referee Joe Clark had a quiet game, just the two bookings late on for Simpson and O'Donnell.
Admission : season ticket
Programme: £1.50
Team sheet : thanks go to Tony Knowles!
Attendance: 134
Overall :- encouraging from Town, better performance than last week, although they conceded more! It was strange to see Warren Hatfield up top on his own for the first half - although we know "Wiz" as a striker from days gone by, recently he has been a solid midfield player - just what the Yellows needed in this game basically!
