Almost a year ago Hucknall were crowned champions of the Central Midlands South division. Matlock Reserves home defeat by Mickleover RBL on Thursday 18th April was enough to secure the title for the Yellows.
Matlock had lead the table for most of the season but a fine display by the Yellows 9 days earlier meant the teams swapped places at the top. Matlock then decided not to have a reserves team and I will always wonder wether that decision was influenced by not gaining promotion.
As it was Hucknall started the season in the East Midlands Counties League in what was supposed to be the last season for the league before a revamp in the local leagues. Hence there were rumours that the top four clubs could get promoted and so the season began in earnest.
Hucknall's campaign started at Teversal. The CML campaign had seen us up against the clubs reserves so it playing against the first team would be a good marker. As it was the game ended in a draw and the step up in standard was apparent. It was probably a game Hucknall should have won and the first of 9 league games that ended level.
Hucknall were away again the following Saturday returning home from Borrowash Victoria with a 4 1 victory. Borrowash were to have a poor season but picked up a bit towards the end.
Hucknall's first home game saw them score a goal more in a 5 1 defeat of Graham Street Prims. Joe Ashurst scoring his first hat trick of the season.
A very tense affair at Barrow followed with Hucknall coming out victorious with the only goal of the game.
This led to a Bank Holiday encounter with our local rivals Eastwood. Whilst Hucknall were unbeaten Eastwood who were well fancied for the title had had a mixed start to the season having lost to other fancied teams Dunkirk and Sherwood. Another Joe Ashurst hat trick had seemingly sown the game up for the Yellows who led 3 1 with 15 minutes left. But a poorly defended free kick and a last gasp goal gained Eastwood a share of the spoils. A draw which felt like a defeat but still kept up the unbeaten start.
August ended with a FA Vase tie at home against Holbrook Sports. A team we had played the season before looked to be heading for a shock win until Matt Brian equalised at the end of the 90 forcing extra time. In an incredible period of extra time Holbrook looked to have won it being 3 2 up with just seconds remaining but again Hucknall equalised at the death. With the Holbrook players completely exhausted Hucknall amazingly produced a winner and progressed to a tie away to Bourne Town.
September began with a goalless draw away to Rainworth in a game that could have gone either way. Joe Ashurst was shown a very harsh red card and it undoubtedly had an influence on the game.
It was the Bourne Town FA Vase game the week after and although Bourne had yet to register a league win they gave Hucknall a stern test before succumbing to a 2 1 defeat. Hucknall were drawn away to fellow EMCL team Dunkirk.
The third Saturday in September saw Hucknall suffer their first league defeat for over a year when visitors Heanor claimed victory by a single goal just before half time. Heanor themselves were unbeaten and were the early season pacesetters though they were hampered by their home pitch having drainage problems.
A 2 nil home win against Ingles in midweek was Hucknall's response to the loss.Which was followed up with the same scoreline against West Bridgford also at home to end our September games.
The league was beginning to take shape with the top seven sides breaking away and it was to Hucknall's credit that they were in this group.
Hucknall didn't play again until the 12th of October and wether this affected their performance no one will ever know. Their FA Vase run was brought to an end in disappointing fashion in a 2 1 defeat at Dunkirk. in a very tight encounter a Shannon-Lewis penalty proved decisive.
Hucknall were then knocked out of the league cup as Ingles who gained revenge for their league defeat by winning a penalty shoot out after a 2 2 scoreline.
The disappointing October continued with a 1 1 draw at Gedling where the yellows dominated possession but only scored the 1 goal. Ex yellow Felix Hogg equalised on 80 minutes and Gedling could have won it in the final few minutes.
Hucknall ended the month with an away victory at Belper United on a very cold Wednesday night by the odd goal in three.The month ended with Hucknall still very much in the mix.
Another midweek game started November off. Hucknall's visit to lowly Kimberley ended in an amazing 4 4 draw with Kimberley leading 3 1 and 4 3. A last gasp Adam Nelson strike gaining Hucknall a point in what proved to be a clash of the draw specialists.
Hucknall's next game began a run of great performances and fine football. Clipstone were put to the sword 7 1 on their home patch and it should have been more.
This was followed by in my opinion Hucknall's best performance of the season in a 3 1 defeat of old rivals Sherwood Colliery at Watnall Road.
Hucknall then hit ten at Shirebrook who replied with two of their own as Hucknall completed their November program.
The first match in December ended the winning streak. A bruising and controversial encounter at Clifton ended in a 3 3 draw with another last gasp equaliser for Town but defeat would have been a travesty. Jamie Crawfords red card as the players walked off pretty much summed up the day.
A 3 nil defeat of Borrowash followed where the visitors still looking for their first league win belied their lowly position and only two late goals from Hucknall made the scoreline better.
Hucknall then put 5 past Barrow to actually go top of the league albeit having played more games than most of our rivals but gave everyone a good feeling.
That game ended the memorable year for Hucknall having only tasted defeat once in their league games and unbeaten away all year which was a magnificent effort.
Of course all records must end sometime and the first game in January saw that unbeaten record end in a 4 nil defeat at still unbeaten Heanor.who also missed a penalty.
This was followed by a home defeat at the expense of Radford. Despite the extremely windy conditions it was easily our worst performance of the season. Elsewhere Heanor suffered their first defeat at the hands of Sherwood who since we had beaten them were making steady progress towards the top.
Hucknall returned to winning ways with a spirited performance against Rainworth, The first half display by the Yellows was a joy to watch.
Hucknall followed this up with a 5 2 home victory against Teversal before ending the month with another penalty shootout defeat in the Notts Senior Cup against Gedling in a game we really should have won.
By this time the league was beginning to take shape with Eastwood, Sherwood. Heanor and Dunkirk breaking away. We sat in a very respectable 5th position with a big gap to 6th placed Gedling.
February began with another 3 3 draw with Clifton at Watnall Road in another incredible game. Clifton seemed to be out of sight at half time as they scored 3 goals but Hucknall produced 3 goals of their own and very nearly won it at the death.
Hucknall then scored 4 against Kimberley this time with no reply and this time the visitors had a very harsh red card given against them. Joe Butler scored his first hat trick in yellow including 2 penalties.
A single goal defeat followed at Ingles as to many chances were missed and the home side carried out a master plan in time wasting unpunished by a weak local referee but despite that we failed to take our chances.
March saw us gain two away draws at Sherwood and West Bridgford before it all came to an abrupt halt never to resume again.
The final table had Sherwood at the top followed by Heanor Eastwood and Dunkirk. We would most probably finished fifth with massive gaps both above and below us but it will count for nothing as the season was officially scrapped by the governing bodies.
So the EMCL looks to be having another final season before the delayed revamp.
I would just like to thank the players and management for their efforts this season. We have seen some spectacular goals and some good football over the season'
Also big thanks to you behind the scenes who work tirelessly week after week.
To the supporters who have been fantastic this season we go again ASAP.
Keep safe everyone.
