Before I go into the match details, I think the Hucknall Town groundsman Steve West deserves a mention for ensuring this game went ahead. Mid-week there was a 3" covering of snow on the Watnall Road pitch, and although this thawed after the temperature rose a couple of degrees, the melt-water along with the heavy rain, overnight and all through the morning, could have meant this game was called off - but on arrival at the ground, the pitch looked superb. Great effort by Steve and his team.
Met up with Steve Reading inside the ground, he was kind enough to let me have his team sheet, and we noticed immediately that Hucknall had two players on debut, Lee Stevenson at right back and Daniel O'Donnell on the left wing. Lee was at the Eastwood Academy before making his way to Heanor Town, while Daniel was with Yellows' Assistant Manager Danny Bryant at Sutton Town AFC. We also noticed that Dave Boafo was on the home bench. The last time we saw Dave he was playing for Greenwood Meadows against Radford in December.
Teams: Town; Haysted, Stevenson, Smedley, Meikle, Shiels, Hawes, Walters ( Boafo), Wilson L (C), Nightingale, Bonnick (Morley R), O'Donnell ( Wiggins-Thomas). Subs not used - Kelly, McCormick.
Burscough; Clancy, Taylor, Standley, Field, Bayliss, Grisdale, Parry, Roberts (C), Byers, Black, Brookfield. Subs - Wilson D, McEvatt, Asgari, Bathurst, Morley D.
Took up our position between the dugouts - gave us a chance to say hello to the home management team, Danny Bryant, Pablo Grossett and Bryan Chambers.
Burscough are struggling a little this season, and after just 15 seconds they looked like they may struggle in this game, going a goal down after TJ NIGHTINGALE collected the ball from Smedley before running into the box and slotting across keeper Kyle Clancy, the ball going in off the upright.
Town looked comfortable on the ball throughout the half, even though the visitors showed a very physical side to their game on occasion. The home domination meant nothing though on 43, when a defensive lapse allowed LEWIS FIELD to latch onto the ball and fire home from about 12 yards out. H-T 1-1
One problem Steve and Kev noticed was the Town strikers lack of work rate - we all know defending starts from the front, but Nightingale and Bonnick seemed content to let Burscough play through them instantly placing pressure on the midfield. Bonnick had a poor first half, but what a difference a cup of tea makes! He came out after the break looking a different player, his work rate now a feature of the game.
The home team regained the lead just 100 seconds into the second period. Walters was clattered into and from the resultant Laurie Wilson free-kick, defender ADRIAN HAWES rose like a salmon to head powerfully home.
The lead didn't last long though, Burscough striker DARREN BYERS allowed to run through the entire home defence before prodding home on 51. Poor defending it may have been, but it was a great controlled run and finish from the visiting no. 9.
6 minutes later, the home team took the lead again, this time an error from Clancy allowing the ball to run loose to ANTWON BONNICK who fired home from close range. This seemed to take any desire to win out of the Burscough team, they resorted to hacking the Hucknall players down rather than try to grab another equaliser.
The revitalised Bonnick set up Town's fourth. He made a speedy run down the right, fired a low driven ball across the goal to the far post where REUBEN WIGGINS-THOMAS was on hand to tap in. TJ HIGHTINGALE added the Hucknall fifth in the third minute of stoppage time - contolling well at the edge of the box before curling the ball past Clancy. Boafo almost added a sixth straight after, but his terrific volley crashed against the post with Clancy well beaten. F-T 5-2
Great game, although some of Burscough's challenges left a lot to be desired. Plus we had a very nit-picking lino near us.....no idea whether he was Mr. Davies or Mr. Styles - but Steve renamed him Mr. P. Dantic - and was he ever!!
Admission - Complimentary ( thanks Danny)
Attendance 171
Programme - had a look at Steve's. Not the best I have seen at this level, but adequate.
Tuesday - depends on what survives, but could well be Long Eaton v New Mills in the Derbys senior Cup.....
Reporter Malc back after a forced lay-off - well done on the write up pal. Really enjoyed the game today and a huge thanks to Danny - much appreciated.
ReplyDeleteJust needed to say that we were well impressed with the potential of the squad that is assembling at Hucknall. We did ask Pablo if the average age exceeded 16 or 17 but credit to all involved - they performed very well indeed.
This of course bodes well for the future which is what we were talking about going home..... and that's got to be a good sign.
Finally, got to mention a lad who has been a favourite of ours for the last couple of seasons.
Picked him as man-of-the-match today - he was superb - well played Luke Shiels for an excellent display from such a young man.