PSF at Watnall Road, Hucknall
Had a chat with Andy Saunders, Brian Franks and Tony Squires on my way to join Kev and Mr. Mac near the halfway line. Andy and Tony came to sit with us at half-time, as did Town stalwart Michael Banister - after he had finished firing a few balls over the Watnall Road stand during the break!
I have so say I was
a little disappointed when the Hucknall team emerged from their
changing room. The squad was made up of reserves and a trialist or
two – no first team players on show at all. Many of the first team
were on the pitch at half-time having a bit of a kick about, but we
will have to wait until Thursday to see them in proper action.
The oppostition had
some local “names” in their squad – and it looked as is Real Utd had been re-incarnated as Bridgford Utd. They are down to
play in the NSL Div 2 in the coming season, but if they can keep this
squad together, they won’t be in Div 2 for long! A few names that
most people reading this will know – Nathan Francis, David Baofo,
Jourdan Blair, Jarrod Westcarr, Tyrell Shannon-Lewis and Eugene Francis.
It appeared that the
visitors were short on kit – and had Nathan Francis looking
resplendent in a Manchester Utd no. 9 shirt. It was Francis who
opened the scoring on 18, racing past a Town defender to get to the
ball and slot home. The half was really nothing really to write home
about, with Town offering little or nothing in any department, and
United seemingly heading towards a comfortable victory. Francis
added his and United’s second on 37, drilling home from close range
after the ball had crashed off the foot of the post and landed
conveniently at the strikers feet. Still nothing from the home team
in reply as we reached half-time – leaving us wondering if we
should even bother staying for the second half! H-T 0-2
As it transpired,
the decision to stay was a good one, as Hucknall turned the game on
it’s head in the second 45. Whether the United players had given
too much in the first half, or whether the Town lads got a right
bollocking during the break I can’t say, but what a transformation
we were witness to as the second half progressed.
Hucknall reduced
their deficit on 60, Morgan Jubb doing well to nod home at the far
stick. On 68 the scores were level thanks to a belting 18 yarder from
Tom Hubbard (pictured below), a shot that flew arrow straight, unerringly into the
back of the net. The shot was hit so well, the visiting keeper had no
chance to react before it flew past him.
The scores stayed
level until the final minute. United conceded a free-kick
centrally on the edge of the box, and after the wall was positioned,
Aaron Evans stepped up and curled the ball over the wall and into the top corner. What
a strike it was – and despite the player looking slightly silly
after turning around with arms raised like he’d just scored the
goal of the century, it was certainly a class hit and as the ref blew
for full time soon after, turned out to be a cracking match winner. F-T 3-2
The following images are images used with permission
1-0
2-0
2-1
2-2
3-2
