Greens Battle To Precious Victory

For the second week running, Hucknall very much belied their lowly league position and gave as good as they got in a gritty and unspectacular encounter at the RM Stadium as goals in each half from Akeel Francis and Charlie Ward saw the Greens record a second straight victory over their Nottinghamshire rivals, having defeated the Yellows 2-1 at The MKM Ground last weekend.

Player/Managers Tom Ward and Nathan Arnold made five changes from the side the crashed out of the Lincolnshire FA Senior Trophy to Lincoln United in midweek, the headline of which saw a welcome return for Liam Flitton in goal. The ineligible duo of Gregg Smith and Jake Henderson also returned to the starting eleven in Nottinghamshire, while Kyle Watkins returned from injury to start, alongside Ryan Flitton who was also absent in midweek due to injury. Dropping out of the side were duel-registered Finlay Armond and Tom Siddons, while Issa Gaye and Sebastian Robbemond dropped to the bench, with left-back Tristan Drummond absent from the side altogether. Hosts Hucknall Town meanwhile made three changes from last weekend’s 2-1 defeat to the Greens at the MKM Ground with Abdurrahman Saad, Mason Rowley and Brad Lathall dropping out the side and they were replaced by Mazhi Simmons, Ayleal Dill and Omreiki Myles.

The Greens were at their opponents early on at the RM Stadium and Akeel Francis worked space well to tee-up Lewis Daff who saw his effort well-blocked by a Yellows body. It was the hosts who created the first clear-cut opportunity, Ayleal Dill forcing his way through the Greens backline, lobbing the onrushing Liam Flitton, and seeing the effort ultimately drop wide of the post.

For the most part, the Yellows were resorting to efforts from distance, Omreiki Myles trying his luck before Sam Smith cut in from the left and fired just over Flitton’s crossbar. Despite that bright spell for the hosts though, it was the Greens who broke the deadlock on the half-hour when Akeel Francis first won and then sweetly dispatched a freekick beyond Alfie Smith-Eccles to put the Greens in the ascendancy at the RM. Back at the other end, and Niall Towle probably created the Yellow’s best opportunity, stabbing wide from Sam Smith’s corner just short of the break, while Smith-Eccles had to be alert himself to collect Ryan Lennon’s header on the stroke of half-time.

It was the hosts who came out fighting in the second half, and had Liam Flitton worried early on when Niall Towle smashed a freekick inches wide of the far post. Max Ward was then in the right place to produce a fantastic last-ditch tackle to deny Joe Ashurst who’d found space on the edge of the box before Callum Orange headed Ashurst’s freekick into the grateful grasp of Liam Flitton.

Next it was Tom Ward’s turn to produce a pair of fantastic blocks, first denying Sam Smith who’d worked himself into a shooting position on the edge of the box, before being well placed on the line to head Callum Orange’s cross over the bar with Hucknall players lurking.

With 10 minutes to go though, the Greens began to step on the gas, Gregg Smith heading wide from Ryan Flitton’s corner a sign of things to come. And it was with only two minutes remaining that the Greens wrapped up the points when Charlie Ward powered home Latrell Patterson’s long-throw to put the Greens out of sight. With 12 minutes of stoppage time to play though, both sides still exchanged chances, Ashurst dragging wide Hucknall’s best opportunity before Gregg Smith curled into the grasp of Alfie Smith-Eccles after he’d been set up by Kofi Gonsalves.

The Greens will now enjoy a free midweek schedule before returning to league action at The MKM Ground next weekend when Kimberley Miners Welfare are the visitors. Kick-off at Eslaforde Park is at 3PM.

Words: Oliver Atkin