Hucknall Town Match report

Nathan Jessop 2nd half goal wasn’t enough for Shirebrook as they fell to a 3-1 opening day defeat away at Hucknall Town
ATT 204
MOTM Jessop
After a 6 month break Shirebrook finally got back underway in the East Midlands counties with a trip to Hucknall Town and it was the visitors who started the brightest with Luke Manlove causing problems down the left hand side. Shirerbook looked dangerous in attack with Nathan Jessop also causing problems for the Hucknall defence but as the half wore on the home side began to gain control of the game and started to through the ball into the Shirebrook goal. However the Shirebrook defence managed to deal with everything that was thrown their way and the sides went in level at the break.

The second half started the same as the 1st half with Shirebrook looking the brighter of the 2 teams and this time they took advantage in the 54th minute when Nathan Jessop gave Shirebrook the lead when his 25 yard free kick found the bottom corner. Hucknall threw everything at Shirebrook looking to get back into the game and they levelled the scores in the 60th minute Rory Smith was the man to get the goal with his first touch after coming on as a sub and with the game back in the balance it could have gone either way with both sides having chances to take the lead. With 75 minutes on the clock it was the home side who struck next Aaron Short headed in from an Oliver Brown corner and in the 81st minute Hucknall completed the win with a very controversial goal after Shirebrook defender Joe Harris was down with a head injury and despite the referee looking at the player a and putting the whistle to his mouth he allowed play to continue and Grant Ryan didn’t need a second invite as he headed in from close range despite the Shirebrook protest the goal stood. The game was drawing to a close Shirebrook did go close to pulling a goal back from a corner but it wasn’t to be and Shirerbook had to settle for defeat on the opening day.
Shirebrook are back in action next Saturday when they visit Teversal in the FA Vase 3PM KO
Shirebrook starting XI Ball Harris K. Odridge Purcell Bates R. Odridge Ryan (Parsons) Allcock Jessop Dodds (Mitchell) Manlove Subs not used A. Odridge France Collins