Promotion Chasers Toppled At The Dovecote

On anther blustery day Ingles were able to select a strong squad with only Hardy unavailable due to being away. After the customary pre game pitch inspection was passed (credit to the Shepshed Dynamo Team) Vasey opted for a change of formation to 3-5-2. Thacker in goal was protected by Boulter, A Bowley and M Tuck as a back 3. The energetic J Bowley and Jarvis had the wingback jobs with McCourt,Godhania and Daly patrolling the engine room. Woodbine and Fowkes paired as a front 2 which left Pell, Schulz, Etherington, Welch and Lee as the subs.

The game started with Ingles defending the strong wind and as to be expected Hucknall, who have to be the biggest side in the league, looked to use their to their advantage with a series of crosses and long shots however none really troubled Thacker in goal or the back 3. Ingles began to grow into the game and started to get the ball down through the ultra composed Daly & McCourt and started to worry the Hucknall back line with a series of shots. Hucknall were always dangerous, particularly from set pieces where their delivery was more often than not bang on the money. Ingles weathered this pressure and got into the break at 0-0 and a job well done against the wind.

Ingles were forced into a change at half time with Jarvis unable to continue due to a sore Hamstring which gave Welch his first team debut. Hucknall should have taken the lead 5 minutes into the half when their number 9 fired wide when presented with a 1v1. Injury struck again with Daly not recovering from an earlier tackle and had to come off, Lee his replacement. On 60 minutes Ingles took the lead after slick interplay between Lee and McCourt on the edge of the Hucknall box allowed Lee to poke a shot at goal which was spilled by the keeper only to the lethal Fowkes who fired Ingles ahead with his 20th of the season. Further injury struck as the energetic Woodbine suffered the hamstring curse and had to be replaced by Etherington. With Hucknall starting to pen Ingles back a 4th injury occurred when Welch who from an earlier tackle felt his knee but with all of the subs used had to be deployed as a make shift striker and Etherington filling in at left wing back.

Effectively down to 10 men for the last 20 minutes Ingles put on a rearguard Big Sam would of been proud off. Every cross that came in was met by an Ingles head, in particular back 3 and Godhania. With time running out Hucknall had one chance when a head back across goal had Thacker beaten only for Adam Bowley to get back and head away.

The Hucknall crowd were getting restless with their sides lack of goals and Ingles dogged defending and despite 5 minutes of injury time the lads held on to chalk up 3 points.

A fantastic performance and work ethic from all involved where despite numerous set backs all rolled up their sleeves and got the job done.