Watnall Road, home of Hucknall Town based in Nottinghamshire and play their trade in Step 6 of the non league pyramid in the United Counties League Division One. I never saw this team in my Shirebrook Town days as this club was quite high up the pyramid! As high as Step 2 in what we now know as the National League North!! Not only that, this little club won it!!!! But sadly, the Conference didn’t allow them in due to the fanbase not being big enough and the ground not being good enough… Such a shame!! A similar story to Glapwell as the club declined ever since and are now in Step 6.
The club have had plans to leave Watnall Road for a while now and it looks like that move is gathering momentum! My original plan for tonight was to visit Basford United to watch them against Mansfield Town but I want to get this ground ticked off whilst I can! So hopefully tonight’s visit of Sandiacre Town will provide the most entertainment! Fingers crossed!!!
The train from Shirebrook to Hucknall and then the 1 mile walk to the ground. £3 to get in here! Don’t let me down! Pin badge acquired! £3.50!
Kick Off! 2 minutes in and Hucknall have a corner, in it comes… Number 5 is there… It’s over! Big chance there! 6 minutes gone and Hucknall have the ball in midfield, a long ball is played forward in towards number 10, he gets it and the keeper comes out… Number 10 lobs him and gets past him… And finishes!! 1-0! Brilliant work there! “Yellows” from the Hucknall fans now.
8th minute now and Hucknall come forward again, the ball is played to number 10 around 20 yards out, he goes for goal… OH BRILLIANT!!!! He curls it right into the top corner! Great finish!! And it’s 2 for him and 2 for Hucknall!!
10 minutes in and Hucknall win a free kick midway into the Sandiacre half, it’s crossed in, here is number 5 with the header… Keeper saves but only to number 10… HE’S DONE IT AGAIN!!!! IT’S THREE!! A hat-trick in 10 minutes for number 10 and how many are Hucknall going to score tonight here?
11 minutes on the watch and Hucknall have the ball in defence, number 5 plays it back to the keeper… It’s a bad pass and here’s number 9 for Sandiacre and he’s around the keeper and can walk it in… And has!! 3-1! Sandiacre aren’t dead yet are they?
21 minutes on the clock and Hucknall have a corner, in it comes… Number 6 with the header… It’s over. 22nd minute and Sandiacre come forward, a through ball finds number 11 and he’s in… He’s brought down… “Penalty!” Says the Referee! Definitely a foul in my opinion. It’s number 10 to take for Sandiacre and… He scores!!! 3-2!! Game on!!
It’s become a tense game now! End to end but the next goal is very important!! Great to meet fans of Sandiacre tonight! I know I’m a neutral but I would love Sandiacre to fight back! Not just because of them… 34 minutes gone and Sandiacre come forward, the ball is played to number 9 in the box… He’s dispossessed, but it comes to number 2… He’s put it wide!! Big chance there! 1 minute later and Hucknall give the ball away in their own half, number 7 gets it for Sandiacre and he drives into the box, he shoots… It’s blocked by Hucknall and they clear!
40th minute and Hucknall are on the attack, Sandiacre intercept and stop them, the ball is cleared as far as number 3 who’s about 35 yards out, he goes for goal… What a save by the Sandiacre keeper!! It’s a corner for Hucknall, in it comes… Sandiacre clear.
Right on half time and Hucknall have another corner, in it comes… Sandiacre clear and break forward, the ball is played to number 9, he drives forward and he gets into the box, he goes for goal!! HE FINDS IT!!! IT’S 3-3!!!!! Would you believe it!!? It’s the last action of the half and that’s how the score remained at half time!! What a half! Let’s hope the second half is the same!!
Second half, it’s a tense game with both teams creating chances one after the other! There is another goal in this I think!! I would love to see a Sandiacre goal for the fans I have met tonight! 60th minute and Sandiacre have a corner, in it comes… Hucknall clear. Hucknall break forward, the ball is played to number 10, he drives into the box on the right, he squares it to number 12!!! He’s put it wide… Big chance there!
72 minutes on the clock, Sandiacre come forward down the right with number 12, he crosses in, Hucknall’s number 5 with the header… OFF HIS OWN POST… The keeper claws it out… Sandiacre come for the rebound, they clear off a Sandiacre man and win a goal kick… So close for Sandiacre there!!
76th minute and Sandiacre win a free kick around 25 yards out, number 14 steps up… Good save by the keeper who gets down and tips it out for a corner, in it comes… It comes to number 18 on the half volley… Over.
It’s becoming a nervy affair now! Both teams having chances but who would get that all important 7th goal? 85th minute and Hucknall come forward, Sandiacre won’t let them past and Hucknall play out left to number 4, he crosses in, it’s number 2 at the back post!! OH WHAT A SAVE!!! Hucknall get it back and play it to the edge of the box to number 10 who shoots… Straight at the keeper!
Into stoppage time and Sandiacre have a free kick in the Hucknall half, the ball is lofted into the box… The keeper claims and he throws it out… The Referee blows for full time!! There would be no 7th goal… But what a game that was!!
FT: Hucknall Town 3-3 Sandiacre Town
Ratings
- Atmosphere: 3/10 – The Hucknall fans behind the goal gave it a good go! Chants of “Yellows!” after each goal was good!!
- The Ground: 9/10 – I really like this ground!! Very unlucky with the Conference but it is definitely good for the level they are at now!! It is a bit run down but it has a lot of character and I’m glad I did it before the club left!
- Expense: 10/10 – £3 is a good price!! And for a game like that, it was never in doubt!
- Overall Experience: 9/10 – Great to watch most of the game with the Sandiacre fans who were really friendly! Nothing better than turning up as a neutral and getting emotionally involved with the game!! Did I pick the right game tonight? YOU BETTER BELIEVE I DID!!!
31/40