Hucknall Town 4-0 Rainworth Miners Welfare (East Midlands Counties League) 18.01.20
Rainworth Miners Welfare were convincingly beaten 4-0 away to Hucknall in the East Midlands Counties League.
First half goals from Jordan Phillips, Aaron Short and Matthew Brian were enough to end the contest at half time and send the Wrens into the break three goals down. A late goal by Samuel Sims with two minutes to spare ended a tough afternoon for the visitors. The defeat was Rainworth’s fourth in just five matches.
Hucknall started the brightest and found their opener in the 22nd minute through Jordan Phillips. A freekick from far out was delivered by Sam Sims and found Phillips in the box. Phillips took the ball down well before volleying low and hard into the bottom left corner to put the home side ahead.
Soon after, Hucknall doubled their lead through an Aaron Short goal in the 26th minute. The move again originated from a freekick delivery taken from an almost identical spot on the right side. Rainworth Keeper Josh Hollis reacted quickly to deal with the near post delivery, however Hollis completely missed the ball allowing Short to volley home into an empty net.
The visitors struggled to react to conceding twice in four minutes and looked susceptible to yet another Hucknall goal. Finally, that third goal came in the 41st minute as Matthew Brian converted for the yellows. Joe Ashurst played Brian through who shook off his defender well before firing low into the bottom right corner with his left foot to send his side 3-0 up at half time.
The second half began with a double Rainworth substitution as the wrens saw an improved performance in the second period of the game. Despite this however, the home side found their fourth goal of the game with just two minutes remaining. Hucknall’s Sam Sims found space and time in the box before coolly slotting home to end a disappointing afternoon for the away side.
Rainworth manager Lewis Saxby was gracious in defeat saying, “Hucknall are probably the best side we’ve played all year. Today we were just beaten by the better side.” Despite a convincing defeat, Saxby was pleased to see his sides improvement in the second half, “First half we were poor and we just didn’t do the basics right. I asked the lads at half time for a reaction and I felt I got that from them.”
Next up for Rainworth they face a trip to Ingles next Saturday in the East Midlands Counties League. Whilst Hucknall next go up against Gedling Miners Welfare in the Notts Senior Cup.
Hucknall Town: Jablonski, Jenkins, Brown, Phillips, Short, Sims, Crawford, Banister, Brian, Ashurst, Butler. Subs: Nelson, Maxwell, Husband.
Rainworth Miners Welfare: Hollis, Dawson, Coupe, Davidson, Timons, Wright, Pursiglove, Cornell, Brewin, Harris, Weaver. Subs: Toon, Sennett, Spencer, Comery, Smith.
Venue: Watnall Road (184)
*Article provided by Max Barton (Rainworth Miners Welfare Correspondent).
*Main image @maxbartonn Hucknall & Rainworth in action at Watnall Road.
