YELLOW'S FA CUP ADVENTURE BEGINS AT HOME TO YAXLEY

 HUCKNALL TOWN V YAXLEY

FA CUP EXTRA PRELIMINARY ROUND

SATURDAY AUGUST 2ND 2025 15.00 KO

MATCH PREVIEW

Hucknall Town's FA Cup adventure begins with a home tie against UCL premier South division side Yaxley. It is the first time the two teams have met in any competition (unless anyone knows different.)and as such are a bit of an unknown quantity.

Yaxley are based in Cambridgeshire just South of Peterborough just off the A1(M)so have quite a long journey tomorrow. Nick named the Cuckoos they play in blue at home and red away. Established in 1962 their home ground has an unusual name in being called Leading Drove and has a 4g pitch installed in 2011.

As recently as 2017/18 Yaxley won the UCL Premier division South and were promoted to Div 1 of the Southern League Central. being moved across to the Midlands Division of the Northern Premier League for the 2021/22 season. Yaxley have the distinction of appointed the youngest ever manager in English football when 20 year old Sammy Mould became manager in January 2023. He was only to hold on to that post for 3 months and Yaxley were relegated back to the UCL premier South at the end of that season. 

Last season saw them finish 17th of 19 teams( Coganoe united disbanded before the end of the season) with a record pf

played 36 winning 10 drawing 4 and losing 22 with a SD of minus 31

In their 2 league games this season they started with a 1 1 draw at home to Northampton O.N Chenecks FC (yes Honestly) and a 3 nil home defeat v Leicester Nirvana on Tuesday evening.

Hucknall will be looking to do better than last season when they went out at the first hurdle at home to a very good on the day Bottesford Town and will certainly be buoyed by a good performance on Tuesday in defeating Belper 4 1. 

The winners will pick up £1,125 and the losers £375. If the match is level at 90 minutes there will be a replay at Yaxley on a date to be confirmed but must be played on or before Thurs 7th August. There will be no extra time played on Saturday.

Safe travels to our visitors.

HUCKNALL BOUNCE BACK IN STYLE TO GET THE POINTS AT BELPER

BELPER UNIED 1 HUCKNALL TOWN 4

GCE HIRE FLEET UCL PREMIER NORTH

TUESDAY 29.07.25 20.00 KO

MATCH REPORT

TEAMS:

Belper United:                                                                  Hucknall Town:

Officials: Peter Brothwell, Rhys Watkinson, Al Parker.

Attendance: 142

Hucknall bounced back in style from Saturdays home defeat against Blackstones to post their first league victory of the season against Belper United at Eastwood's CFC's Coronation Park on Tuesday evening.

Everything that was wrong on Saturday was put right, accurate crosses, excellent finishing and an upbeat performance in which every player contributed.

Hucknall started brightly and were ahead after only 2 minutes when Joe Ashurst was played in and put the ball through the home keepers legs from a tight angle. 

The lead only lasted for 5 minutes though as Belper's Dunkley powered his way through the middle of the Hucknall defence lofting the ball over the advancing Smith-Eccles into the net. Dunkley was clattered after shooting and though after treatment he carried on but was replaced shortly afterwards by Harry Banks.

Hucknall carried on with their upbeat tempo and a fine header from Brad Wells following a great cross from Ashurst put Hucknall back in front on 13 minutes.

Hucknall were in no mood to let this lead slip and had a good period of possession which included a long range effort by Brad Lathall and a header by Wells from an Ashurst corner which went over. 

The home side went close on 39 minutes, Smith-Eccles well positioned to save a header from a corner.

Five minutes were added on due to a couple of injuries that needed treatment and these moments provided drama. First Belper were reduced to 10 men when a red card was shown to ex yellows player Daniel Odunaiya for an apparent elbow on Reece Sugars but the general opinion in the crowd thought Belper's captain Bryant had committed the offence.

Worse was to follow for Belper as right on the stroke of half time Niall Towle produced a fine header that looped into the Belper net. Brad Lathall with the assist providing a great cross to the Hucknall front man.

Half Time: Belper 1 Hucknall 3

Belper came out second half determined to achieve something but nothing much in the way of chances happened/

Hucknall made changes on 58 mins with Tefera being replaced by Dunkley and Rawson going off for Rowe.

Hucknall went very close to making it 4 when Captain Short's ferocious shot came back off the post with the keeper looking on helpless/

On 65 Joe Ashurst's great display was brought to an end with him going off for Luis Parkes. Lewis Belgrave was then replaced by Ethan Hulley.

The tide could have been turned when on 76 Mins Mazhi Simmons was shown a straight Red for a silly kick out on a Belper player to give Belper renewed hope.

However 3 mins later Hucknall put the game to bed when Lewis Parkes produced a cool finish when played through on goal.

Sam Sims came on for Brad Lathall to bolster the midfield but there was no further drama and Hucknall ran out time to claim a good victory.

Belper's second 4 1 defeat in 2 games having suffer the same result at Grantham and they really need to work on there defensive side of their play.

Elsewhere results meant that only 2 teams have 100% records after only 2 games. Newark town who have scored 9 goals in their 2 games and host Hucknall in our next league game and Deeping Rangers who seem to have put last seasons poor display behind them'

Yellows attention now turns to the FA Cup and an extra preliminary round game at home to Yaxley of the UCL premier south division, a team I don't think we have played before.