TEN MEN HUCKNALL IN CLASSIC VASE COMEBACK

HUCKNALL TOWN 3 BLACK COUNTRY RANGERS 2
FA VASE ROUND 1 @ WATNALL ROAD
13 OCTOBER 2018 --- 3PM
A football supporters ultimate game red card, a collection of yellows two penalties including the winner for ten men Hucknall in the second minute of stoppage time from the spot for Joe Ashurst which saw the home side come from 2-1 adrift to claim a place in round two plus a cheque for £825.

25 YARDER FROM SHANE NEWTON MAKES IT 2-2 AND GAME ON

At half time the headline was written with the higher step visitors Black Country Rangers [BCR] leading 2-1 the comments of Hucknall manager, Andy Graves pre-match, were looking to be coming true when he was quoted in the local press as saying "if they beat us they will be a good side to be honest the way we are playing". 
However the other quote in the article was looking good at one stage, when home keeper Adam Jablonski was dismissed just five minutes into the second half, Glaves had commented pre match that he hoped there was no controversy.  How this incident galvanised Hucknall as they stormed back to secure this exciting victory.

JABLONSKI OFF AND HUCKNALL DOWN TO TEN

Today would be a journey to and from Watnall Rd via car and avoid the stories of yore re public transport, thankfully I hear you say. 
So upon arrival at Watnall Rd a parking spot was found teas were purchased after admission was paid and programmes gained, unfortunately for £2 this is a poor effort and lacks much reading for its price it is heavily laden with adverts.

WATNALL ROAD IN ITS GLORY

During the week the good old days of ITV's World of Sport had been relived with Dickie Davies and that fantastic theme tune with by-plane pulling the banners advertising the programme, how good was that programme?  Well to compliment this a trip to the superb nostalgia of Watnall Rd is a must the grounds gradually falling into a 'ground of character' category as the club await their delayed and long awaited move over the road to new facilities.  It will be sad to see them leave their base as its certainly a superb ground that's witnessed Conference North football alongside that FA Vase run in 2005 that ultimately ended as runners up in the final at Villa Park.

CELEBRATIONS AS NEWTON OPENS THE SCORING

A ground descriptor can be found on my last visit here in April 2017 blog but needless to say there's an excellent function room, club shop, snack bar and toilet facilities and when you get pitch side a wide selection of excellent viewing places either standing and seated under cover or out in the open.
Todays visitors BCR from the West Midlands Regional Football League, a step higher than the hosts, like Hucknall, are unbeaten this season and have previously made round 2 of the Vase in 12/13 season.  A Dudley based club playing out of Gornall Athletics ground their previous homes have been at Castle View, Tividale and The Grove home of Halesowen.

PENALTY BUT MOMENTS AWAY AS BOOTS CLASH

The action got off to a flyer when Hucknall took a lead after just two minutes with a lovely cross goal shot from Shane Newton whose effort went in via the inside of the far post. 
BCR came back with a pace and equalised after Jablonski had saved from Liam Hughes the ninth minute saw the scores level when David Leake was adjudged to have fouled Shaun Smith as boots clashed mid air after the ball had gone away it wasn't a popular decision with the yellows.  Kieran Clarke converted well to announce game on.

CLARKE EQUALISES FOR BCR TO MAKE IT 1-1

The blustery wind was having a disruptive effect on the game which was a shame as both sides put in great endeavour to gain the next goal and it was five minutes before half time when Hucknall failed to clear a right wing corner and with the ball bobbling about in the box Smith drove home.

REF SAYS FOUL HUCKNALL SUPPORTERS CLEAR ITS ANOTHER DIVE

A steady first half little were we to know the delicacy of the second half we were about to witness.  The controversy that home manager Glaves hoped wouldn't happen had probably started with the BCR penalty but within five minutes of the re-start he would definitely be adding to the tally.
  Home keeper Jablonski was trying to retrieve the out of play ball 35 yards on his left touchline denied by the BCR player he had a little flick out with his leg to which the visiting player Clarke was spotted by the local sniper and collapsed in a heap.  Result red for the Hucknall keeper and yellow for the visiting player but the resultant reduction of players and also importantly goalkeeper many thought signalled the end of the home sides Vase challenge for this season, how wrong we were.

A QUIETER MOMENT

The game became fractious and everybody was excitable now non more so then when Alex Hammond was only cautioned for a deliberate pull back on a Hucknall player as he was racing through on goal 25 yards out.  A collection of yellows followed as they were beginning to feel aggrieved by some decision non more so than when the BCR policy seemed to adopt the 'professional' attitude of rolling about under any challenge and going down injured to delay time. 
Tactics that so often work but today seemed to backfire in a game they were looking fairly comfortable in Hucknall were now getting a collective head of steam up and when Newton got his second and the goal of the game a superb curling and dipping 25 yard effort to level the scores on 81 minutes it was game on.

JOE ASHURST CONVERTS IN STOPAGE TIME TO SECURE VICTORY FOR HUCKNALL

On the break BCR looked dangerous would we be going to extra time?  Who would be the fittest?  The board went up with five minutes of stoppage time and as we entered the second minute of them Brodie Williams brought down Sam Sims on the left hand side of the box and with nerves jangling all around Watnall Road the coolest man on the park with nerves of steel was Hucknall's Joe Ashurst who drove the penalty past Rich Kennedy in the visitors goal.  To scenes of wild joy in this partisan crowd of 181 Hucknall had produced one of the comebacks you will talk about for many a while ten men, 2-1 down, stoppage time penalty to win it and breathe!

MANAGERS CELEBRATORY DANCE PRACTICE PAYS OFF AS THREE OUT OF FOUR TIME IT JUST RIGHT

Grown Hucknall men were in bits at the end admitting how nervous they were before the penalty and in the remaining three minutes and its only the first round!  Good luck to them the crowd here were they additional player that helped the side over the line and how the players recognised this as they acknowledged the supporters when they came off.
On non-league day who needs Premiership and Football League games when you can pack all this in for a fiver.