The Notts Senior Cup first round tie against two old foes of past played up a real treat last night as Watnall Road saw six goals a hat-trick, a stunning come back and nineteen penalties in a classic between two previous winners.
These days Eastwood CFC play homage to the old ‘Town’ team that has won the cup sixteen times, nicknamed the red badgers, the previous Coronation Park based club often played in black and white stripes, new era Eastwood formed in 2014 donning Manchester United like red white and black against the locally famous yellow and black of Hucknall under the lights of this derby match.
Six time winners Hucknall are these days a division below Eastwood in the United Counties League First Division, and that gap looked to be evident as Jack Thacker gave the away side the lead late on in the first half.
Thacker made it two shortly before the hour prior to securing his hat-trick on 67 from the penalty spot, but Hucknall came back in the last quarter of the match with a terrific comeback that would take the tie to a shoot out.
Connor Whiles on 73 curling home a terrific free kick before Aaron Lamb reduced the deficit to one with fourteen to play. Ten minutes later yellows captain Aaron Short headed home from a corner to level, taking the game to penalty kicks.
With two scored, Whiles missed Hucknall’s second as all others were netted with Plummer kicking to win with Eastwood’s fifth, his shot saved by Kinnerley ensured the kicks would go into sudden death. After both sides scored their sixth, Maxwell then had his shot saved before Wallis hit over a second chance for Eastwood’s winner. In the end, Goalkeeper Kinnerley scoring his to make it 7-6 with Eastwood missing their last, Hucknall going through to round two.
Elsewhere in the UCL Premier Division North last night, Newark & Sherwood won at Skegness Town thanks to two stoppage time goals. Gary King giving the hosts the lead in the first half before an 89th minute leveller by Ben Richards, in the 92nd minute N&S completed their comeback as Ainsley Finney scored a remarkable winner to swing the points back down the road to Nottinghamshire.
Meanwhile Selston were beaten at home 2-0 by Loughborough Students who head the division after seven wins and a draw from their eight games played. Selston stay bottom with just one point from nine matches.
*Main image @Grassroot_TV thrilling action between Hucknall & Eastwood in the County Cup.
