Hucknall Town 1- 0 Rainworth Mw

So that`s how they do it!!!

It`s a double header today, Hucknall Town v Rainworth Mw followed by a trip to the "Meatball Mecca" of Nottingham..... IKEA!! ("You can`t have it all your own way Chaps").

Dudsey`s only hope for today's game is that it`s as entertaining as Saturday`s trip to watch SheffieldFc v Carlton Town turned out to be. ("Sheffield proper mugged Carlton")

For those of you yet to visit Watnall Road it`s a pretty decent set up, good link roads from the M1and ample parking, there`s a good Clubhouse and a selection of refreshments can be purchased from a burger wagon in the top corner of the ground, there`s also plenty of cover should the heaven`s open.

Today should see a decent encounter, after all Hucknall`s problems off the pitch full credit goes to Tommy Brookbanks and the lads for sticking with the club through such troubled times when most would have chosen to walk away.

In the line-up today are two of our old Rainworth favourites, Matt Baxter and James Jepson, no disrespect but we hope they have had a good night out and aren`t on top form today!!


Hales has blobbed, a night out with the Shirebrook Massive has rendered him "out of action".

Looks like Captain Jepson steered well clear of the Amber Nectar last night, Hucknall have a shot on goal within the first minute, luckily Jared Holmes blasts it straight at Gavin Saxby.

Hucknall have a go at Rainworth`s defence

It took another twenty five minutes before the home-side would make another credible attack on Rainworth`s goal, in the meantime Rainworth are on a roll, Kyle Gee-Pemberton who is in for the injured George Zuerner is causing loads of problems for a very disjointed midfield.

I`m beginning to sound like a parrot, but once again the inability to find someone who knows where the goal is still remains the root cause of Rainworth`s tumble from the top of the table to fifteenth in nine days.

It`s in the box again but that`s about it today!!

Possession wise, you couldn`t ask for anything more from the lads in white, Kyle Gee-Pemberton, Ian Clarke and Ricky Hanson are doing what they should be doing, the defence as usual are as solid as a rock but it`s all in vane without a finisher.

In all fairness though the Ref was either having a bad spell or had had a fiver on Hucknall, he`s spoiling the flow of the game. Romaine Graham looked to have hand-balled in the box but he`s having non of it.

Hucknall do eventually start to have some of the ball but the game decends into a middle of the park affair until half-time. 0-0

Midfield mayhem

Forget what I said about the tea at Sheffield on Saturday, it`s looking good Douwe Egberts cups!! Mrs H passes me mine, Hold on... I wanted tea not Chicken soup!! Whoa it`s supposed to be tea. Yikes!! 1 out of 10 for this effort.

The second half gets underway and James Lindley is once again put to the test but has no trouble in collecting the ball from Wilson.

Jimmy Lindley safely collects Wilson`s shot

Hucknall are entering their best spell of the game, a series of corners and free kicks ensue, non more-so than James Jepson`s rocket which looks to have pole-axed Craig Mitchell, he eventually stirs and shakes off the full force of the set-piece from the Hucknall skipper.

Hucknall also have cause to shout for a penalty as Fearon takes out Aidan Brady in the box but the Ref deems it was clean and contact was made with the ball.

Jepson (No 3) prepares a rocket destined for Mitch.

It`s all one way at the mo, despite this Rainworth are managing to keep a clean sheet, Grant Ryan is featuring heavily and Brady is also in the mix, the home fans behind the goal are baying for blood but the defence are remaining resolute, Clarkey is having a very good shift and Lee Briggs is pulling his weight along side Chris Timons who has won everything in the air.

The second half is all about defending for the Wrens

Just has Dudsey`s coming to terms with the possibility of a goal-less day, Jared Holmes goes and throws a spanner in the works, Clarkey is deep in the box helping out and uncharacteristically gifts the ball to the Hucknall mid-fielder just outside the box, without adieu he blasts the ball deep into the bottom right-hand corner. 1-0 with about fifteen minutes to go.

Holmes (centre) enjoys his moment, Watson is far right.

Hucknall haven`t finished yet, both sides have made a few changes, Kieron Watson who Dudsey has been watching at Shirebrook in recent mid-week matches once again displays his blistering pace and tricky feet for the home side, I really rate this lad, why on earth he didn`t start beats me!!

A last minute dash by the pacey young striker looked as though he was about to double the tally as he broke and faced Saxby one-on-one, fortunately Gavin is up to the test and makes a decent stop.

For the second time in two games a moment of madness spoils the game in the dying minutes.

A foul on the left flank near the corner flag sparked a punch up between Fearon and Ghislanzoni leaving the Ref no option than to send both of them for a shower.

The final whistle blows, Dudsey makes his way out of the ground feeling rather deflated, this one ticked none of the boxes today. No doubt the Hucknall faithful will be well chuffed having racked up six points over the Bank Holiday weekend.

Good Luck to Jeppo and his team for the rest of the season.

My Men of the Match - Hucknall Grant Ryan, Rainworth - Close call between Chris Timons and Steve Kennedy.

Attendance - 171

Admission -£7 

Ok, I was wrong and you were right...... All along Belper v Ilkeston was Mrs H`s choice for Bank Holiday Monday, but no I knew best!!  If  I`d have known ten meatballs, a handful of chips and a scoop of fancy frigging jam would be the highlight of my day I`d have stopped in bed........ "Ah well you live and learn"