Poor Start and Red Card Stun Yellows

 BOSTON TOWN 3 HUCKNALL TOWN 1

UCL PREM NORTH SAT 12TH AUGUST 2023 3 PM KO

MATCH REPORT

TEAMS: 

BOSTON: 1 Travis Portas 2 Dan Worthington 3 Balint Bogdan 4 Layton Maddison 5 Richard Ford 6 Luke Wilson 7  Lee Beeson 8Jordan Tate 9 Jordan Nuttell 10 Harry Limb 11 Fraser Bayliss

Used Subs: Liam Adams, Marshall Young, Zane Millar

HUCKNALL: 1 Kristian Ogonowski 2 Raife Poplar 3 Dillon Rawson 4 Joe Ashurst 5 Aaron Short (capt) 6 Michael Banister 7 Jamie Crawford 8 Kai Wilson 9 Niall Towle 10 Brad Lathall 11 Louis Czerwak

Used Subs: Kieron Lane

Officials: Referee Ellis Mills assisted by Mark Bruntlett and Jak Kirkman

ATT: 120

Hucknall found themselves 2 goals behind after just 7 minutes but played much better than recent performances and got back in the game through a wonder strike by Jamie Crawford only to be thwarted by a harsh red card for Brad Lathall which allowed the home side to get the killer third goal which put the game to bed.

Hucknall started with debutants Ogonowski in goal and Poplar at right back. Mitchell Leivers having picked up a broken finger bone and will be out for a few weeks. 

Player coach Michael Banister playing at centre half for the absent Billy Brooks.

The Yellows gave themselves a mountain to climb as a poor clearance from the new keeper went straight to a Boston player and despite several blocks the ball was eventually put in the net by Layton Maddison on 3 minutes.

Worse was to follow as Fraser Bayliss doubled the advantage on 7 minutes.

Yellows fans could be forgiven at this point for thinking it was going the same way as the Belper game but credit to the lads who began to get a foothold in the game. Czerwak had a shot from distance and then Crawford produced a save from the keeper from Rawsons cross. 

Boston were content to soak up the pressure and hit Hucknall on the break and both sides had half chances as the half progressed. 

Hucknall had a golden chance to reduce the arrears just before half time when Czerwaks ball across the 6 yard box was met by Crawford who put the ball wide of a near open goal.

Hucknall started the second half brightly but on a quick break towle received a yellow for stopping the attack. 

Crawford then made up for his earlier miss with a wonder strike from just inside the Boston half. Spotting the home keeper way off his line he launched the ball over him and into the net for an early goal of the season contender. 

Hucknall were giving it a good go and Towle headed just wide and then Crawford had another effort over the bar. Wilson then received a caution before Short fired an effort just wide. Hucknall then had a series of corners but nothing came of them. 

Hucknall's determined effort received a mortal blow when Brad Lathall was given a straight red by referee Mills for dangerous play. The ball was played into Lathall who spun to play the ball on. The Boston player was stooping to head the ball but Lathall caught him with a boot which referee Mills deemed to be intentional.

It certainly knocked the wind out of Hucknall's sails and it wasn't a surprise when Boston got the killer goal to wrap up the points. Substitute Adams scoring the goal. 

There was still time for a Boston striker to completely wipe out Hucknall's goalkeeper who was replaced in the goal by Niall Towle with lane replacing the shaken keeper.

The final whistle went but unlike the other games this season there was a genuine belief that Hucknall deserved something from the game and may well have done but for the red card.

Next up is a tough looking encounter at home to Sherwood Colliery who sit top of the table with two other teams with unblemished records. It also sees the return to the RM of four of last seasons play off heroes who have undoubtedly been missed but the new boys need to stand up and be counted.