Back to the drawing board for beaten Town

Source: Hucknall Today

Published Date: 16 November 2009

HUCKNALL Town can expect a couple of stringent training sessions this week after failing to build on their superb victory at high-flying Retford United.
Town thought they had put their dismal run of form behind them last midweek when winning 2-1 at Retford, who are now the Unibond League, Premier Division leaders.

But instead they took another step backwards when suffering a 3-2 defeat at home to lowly FC United Of Manchester at Watnall Road on Saturday (November 14) – and also missing a penalty.

The outcome was effectively sealed in the first half when United, who began the game in the relegation zone, surged into a 3-0 lead.

Phil Marsh picked up a loose ball to slot home from 12 yards in the eighth minute. Jake Cottrell doubled the lead on 27 when Town failed to clear a cross from the left. And man-of-the-match Marsh netted again, from close range, in first half injury-time.

The Yellows rallied after the break in front of their biggest crowd of the season of 573, which was swelled by more than 300 travelling fans supporting the visitors.

Recalled striker Antwon Bonnick cut the deficit on 67 when firing home from 15 yards. And they should have scored again eight minutes later when Laurie Wilson's spot-kick was brilliantly tipped round a post by United 'keeper Sam Ashton.

Town did finally pull another back three minutes from time, through top scorer Tyeisse 'TJ' Nightingale. But it came too late to salvage a point.

The Yellows now face a difficult trip to third-placed Ashton United in their next Unibond match this coming Saturday (November 21).

TOWN LINE-UP (4-4-2) – Haystead/ Walters C., Shiels, Hawes, Meikle/ Wiggins-Thomas, Ward, Wilson, Hawkridge/ Nightingale Bonnick. Subs: McCormick, Smedley, Kelly, Pembleton, Ibrahim.