Hucknall Town, who finished the regular season in fourth place, have been promoted to the United Counties League Premier North Division following a second successive penalty shoot-out win, on Saturday afternoon.
Having dismissed Bourne Town, away, 4-2 on penalties (following a 1-1 draw), the previous weekend, the Yellows proceeded to see off Birstall United, 5-3 on penalties (again following a 1-1 draw), with goalkeeper, Louis Kinnerley, again saving in the shoot-out, to achieve promotion.
Next season, in the UCL Premier, Nottinghamshire derby matches for the Yellows will see them face the likes of Sherwood Colliery, Newark & Sherwood United, and Kimberley Miners Welfare, who all finished in the top ten this season, as well as Eastwood CFC, and AFC Mansfield.
It was a fourth, successive, away game (three wins, two via penalties, one defeat) for co-managers, Andy Ingle, and Michael Bannister, and, as always, they didn’t disappoint.
The first half would see both sides have chances, but without troubling either ‘keeper, fully, the half finishing goalless; early in the second, Hucknall’s Kieran Knight would see his headed effort cleared off the line, before the same player opened the scoring a minute later.
A melee in the home box would see Knight pounce on a loose ball to tap home past Charlie Doherty; the lead though, it didn’t last long, a matter of minutes in-fact after Dan Tuck’s cross struck an arm in the box, and the referee pointed to the spot – Paul Pallett stepped up, and fired home the equaliser.
Both sides had chances to win the contest in normal time, a cross from Sam Sims is volleyed straight into the arms of Doherty, by Knight; Joe Ashurst headed a Knight cross over the bar; Pallett, the hosts’ captain, received the ball off Sam Moore, who’d nipped round Kinnerley, however he loses out under pressure, with ten remaining.
Ashurst then fired wide of the near post at the other end, before a Birstall free-kick is headed clear and Moore’s effort, from the edge of the box, goes over Kinnerley’s bar, the tie finishing level at the end of ninety, meaning one thing, penalties.
Hucknall, they’d be successful with all five of their spot-kicks as Ashusrt, Short, Westcarr, Brooks and Towle all fired past Doherty; in reply, Kinnerley would save the first, from Pallett of all people, and, although Sam Kee, Sam Moore and Dom Watts netted for United, the visitors would seal promotion.
Hucknall Town – Louis Kinnerley, Jamie Crawford, Billy Brooks, Aaron Short, Louis Tomlinson (Oliver Brown, 59), Sam Sims, Kai Wilson (Kieron Lane, 62), Joe Ashurst, Aaron Lamb (Trevell Lindo, 56), Kieran Knight (Niall Towle, 85), Craig Westcarr
Elsewhere in Nottinghamshire’s non-league scene, several of the county’s clubs were in action on the Central Midlands League, SJR Worksop going down 5-1 in the North, whilst in the South, there would be goals galore.
The local affair between Nottingham, and Linby Colliery Welfare, would finish in honours even, at fours apiece, Christopher Okoye with a hat-trick for the hosts, alongside one for Kyle Wade, whilst the visitors would net via three spot-kicks, all by different players, in Rory Smith, Tremere Lindon, and Mason Moore, Connor Gillan also netting.
Teversal were edged by the odd goal in seven, when away to Wirksworth Ivanhoe, the visitors goals coming from Ryan Hancock, Cameron Pinnick, and Christopher Heathcote, whilst Arnold Town lost 2-0 away to Holbrook St. Michaels.
As for the Nottinghamshire Senior League Premier Division, Keyworth United lead the way as the closing stages trundle on, they winning 5-0 at FC Sez, they currently holding an eight-point advantage on second place Stapleford Town, who have five games in hand.
Sandiacre Town, in third, saw off visitors Awsworth Villa 2-1, who have a sizeable advantage on Wollaton in fourth, and Woodthorpe Park Rangers, in fifth, neither of whom were in action.
Other results saw Dunkirk defeat Radcliffe Olympic 3-0, Cotgrave saw off Clifton FCB 2-0, and Ravenshead edged visiting Borrowash Victoria 2-1; Ruddington Village hold an eight point advantage on second place Southwell City Reserves in Division One, and West Bridford Colts IIIs have a thirteen point lead on Shirebrook Soldiers in Division Two.
It’s tighter in Division Three, the top two of Southwell City Development, and AFC Colsterworth S&S, split by one, whilst third place The Rossoneri, although five further back, have a couple of games in hand, which could see them move level at the top.
*Article provided by Peter Mann (Senior Correspondent).
*Main image @HucknallTownFC the team celebrate their UCL playoff success
