HUCKNALL SURVIVE YAXLEY FIGHT BACK TO PROGRESS IN THE FA CUP

 HUCKNALL TOWN 3 YAXLEY 2

FA CUP EXTRA PRELIMINARY ROUND

SATURDAY 2ND AUGUST 2025 15.00 KICK OFF

MATCH REPORT

TEAMS: HUCKNALL TOWN:

YAXLEY: 

Kyle Andrews, George Carder, Nicolas Diaz Da Costa, Jezz Goldson-Williams, Makere Kazomblaze, Linus Kusi, Freddie Marshall, Fayed Nazir Rhaman, Max Rigby, Frankie Webster, Luke Gilbert.

SUBS: Adam Mabrok, Ethan Scott-Plummer, Ben Roberts, Benjamin Skillett, Kobie Smith.

ATTENDANCE: 235

Hucknall survived a very late scare when they looked to be coasting into the next round. In the end the post came to Hucknall's rescue as a 3 nil lead with 22 minutes left nearly became a mid week replay in Cambridgeshire.

Hucknall once again started brightly on the front foot and as with Tuesday were rewarded with an early goal. In the 6th minute Joey Ashurst's shot was handled in the area and penalty specialist Niall Towle scored from the spot despite the keeper getting a touch with his legs.

Mahzi Simmons was seeing a lot of the ball down the right wing and from one of his crosses Ashurst put the ball just wide of the far post. 

On 18 mins Reece Sugars received lengthy treatment for a shoulder injury but was able to carry on.

Hucknall were looking for a second but were nearly caught out when Yaxley's No 10 hit the bar with a nice effort. 

on 28 mins Sugars was no longer able to carry on and was replaced by Lathall. Sims dropping to centre back alongside Short.

Hucknall's constant pressure finally paid off on 40 mins. Lewis Belgrave providing a tidy finish from 12 yards, a low left foot shot.

Half Time: Hucknall 2 Yaxley 0

On 50 mins Hucknall looked to have wrapped up the game when they were awarded a second penalty for handball. Towle was in possession in the box and looking to get a shot away. The Yaxley player fell on the ball and the referee adjudged him to have controlled the ball with his hand on the floor. No where near as clear cut as the first penalty  but the outcome was the same as Towle again found the net from the spot. 

Hucknall at this point looked in total control and a host of substitutions took place with Sims being replaced by Rawson, and Dunkley, Wells and Hulley coming on for Belgrave, Parkes and Tefera.

Whether the substitutions affected Hucknall or Yaxley decided to throw the kitchen sink in is open to debate but I don't think anyone could have foreseen the last 22 minutes coming. 

Yaxley pulled one back on 68 mins after a period of pressure, a nice volley from Goldson-Williams. Surely just a consolation. But no, on 77 mins Yaxley were awarded a penalty of their own even though the ball had ended up in the Hucknall net anyway. Goldson-Williams netting his second from the spot and it really was game on. 

Towle could have eased the nerves on 80 minutes when through on goal but the visiting keeper tipped the ball around the post.

Yaxley certainly had Hucknall rattled and were unlucky when a good effort came back off the upright.

The full time whistle blew much to the relief of Hucknall's players and supporters and a Preliminary Round tie at Basford United awaits the Yellows.

Fair play to our visitors for making an unlikely game of it and good luck for the rest of the season.