Ex Yellows come back to Sting Town

 HUCKNALL TOWN 1 SHERWOOD COLLIERY 4

UCL DIV 1 WEDS AUGUST 16TH 2023 19.45 KO

MATCH REPORT

TEAMS:

HUCKNALL: 1 Alfie Smith-Eccles 2 Raife Poplar 3 Dillon Rawson 4 Sam Sims 5 Aaron Short (capt) 6 Billy Brooks 7 Jamie Crawford 8 Joe Ashurst 9 Niall Towle 10 Brad Lathall 11 Louis Czerwak

 Subs: Emeraude Kabongo, Kieren Lane, Kai wilson, Nathan Kelly, Trevell Lindo

SHERWOOD: 1 Louis Kinnerley 2 Carter Widdowson 3 Louis Tomlinson 4 Jobe Shaw 5 Josh Waldram  6 Ewan Robson 7 Jamie York 8 Brad Wells 9 Craig Westcarr 10 Kieron Knight 11 Ethan Wiesztort

Subs: Louis Pennington, Ricky Starbuck, Jacob Pearce, James Matthews, Morley Grant

Officials: Nick Elliott, Lee Harrison, Alex Orchiston

ATT: 351

Sherwood Colliery rolled into the RM with a unblemished league record and left with that record intact and went back to the top of the league despite a gutsy performance from the Yellows in the end sheer class won the game.

All four summer signings from Hucknall's play off winning squad started the game for Sherwood but they were just four from a team full of quality players.

Hucknall had another debutant goalkeeper in Alfie Smith-Eccles who signed for the yellows in mid week. Michael Banister was away on holiday so Aaron Short And Billy Brooks were the centre backs. Poplar made his home debut after playing at Boston Town. 

The first 15 minutes were pretty even with Sims having the first shot of the game which was easily saved by Kinnerley who was getting a lot of stick off the yellows fans behind his goal.

Sherwood began to make inroads with a shot well off target then the linesman flagging for offside when through on the Hucknall goal. Smith-Eccles then made a good save to keep the score goalless. 

Hucknall weren't being bossed though and Poplar produced a good cross which evaded everyone.

Westcarr then had his first chance against his old club but it was cleared for a corner much to the home fans amusement. The resulting corner saw a shot for the visitors go wide.

Towle then had a header which went straight to Kinnerley.

Sherwood then had a period of possession with another shot from distance going wide and a couple of corners.

The visitors then opened the scoring just after the half hour mark when Jamie York was played through and he headed over the home keeper into the net.

Hucknall responded well and had a free kick which went narrowly over by Towle. 

The game had been played in a good spirit but Poplar was the first to see yellow on 36 mins for a rash tackle.

Sherwood were looking to add to the single goal and Short cleared well from the approaching Westcarr.

Two shots followed from the visitors, one too high and one well wide.

Just when it looked like the Yellows would go into the half time break trailing Captain Short was in the right place at the right time to equalise for the Yellows. Czerwak played the ball into the box with Kinnerley looking favourite to collect but he fumbled the ball and Short put the ball in the net. Kinnerley and the Sherwood bench feeling that the keeper had been fouled but the goal stood much to the amusement of the home fans who created a Kinnerley flapping dance.

The second half was where the visitors showed their class but it was Lathall who had the first chance of the half but his shot was straight at Kinnerley.

Yellows were made to rue this missed opportunity as Sherwood went up the other end and retook the lead. Brad Wells applying the final touch from close range after an initial save by Smith-Eccles.

Hucknall were still very much in the game and Towle went close with a header on 53 mins. It was his last contribution as he was replaced by Kelly much to the bemusement of the crowd. Aaro short was also replaced by Kieren Lane.

The substitutions didn't have an immediate effect as Sherwood wrapped up the points with a third goal and it was ex yellow Kieran Knight who made the game safe finishing well when played through.

The game was pretty much up for Town and despite further substitutions Kabongo replacing Crawford and Wilson replacing Lathall they were unable to get back into the game.

Indeed it was another ex yellow who scored a 4th for the visitors. Craig Westcarr applying the finish. His over exuberant celebration saying more than words ever could.

To be fair to the Yellow's players they gave it a good go for the last ten minutes but created no golden opportunities as Sherwood ran down the clock.

As the final whistle blew it was good to see our ex keeper shake hands with the fans and we wish all our ex players well for the season and also Sherwood Colliery who will surely be in the reckoning come the end of the season.

As for the Yellows they have a Saturday off at the weekend and I think that's a good thing. Time for a period of reflection before entering the battle again. 

I actually think we played well against Sherwood and in large parts against Boston away and this bodes well after disappointing displays against Belper (who are unbeaten and sit 2nd behind Sherwood) and Newark away. 

It's pretty obvious that this is going to be a hard season but it's the matches against the teams around us that will be the important ones. I'm very surprised to see Kimberley down there with us but Pinchbeck and AFC Mansfield not so much.

The 2 new full backs have impressed me and I do genuinely feel we are getting there but time will tell.

Next game for the Yellows is on Saturday 26th August when we travel to Sandiacre Town for a FA Vase game which will see us up against another ex Yellow the very popular Cayne Maxwell. Also a game in which we will be favourites to win for the first time this season but that won't be easy on their own patch.