NO FLOWERS FOR HUCKNALL AS THEY BOW OUT OF THE VASE

 FA VASE FIRST QUALIFYING ROUND

HUCKNALL TOWN 1 GEDLING MWFC 3

SATURDAY 11TH SEPTEMBER 2021 15.00 KO

MATCH REPORT

TEAMS

HUCKNALL TOWN:  1 Jake Pearson 2 Courtney Bartley 3 Lenny Jenkins 4 Sam Sims 5 Aaron Short (Capt) 6 Jordan Phillips 7 Cayne Maxwell 8 Michael Banister 9 Craig Westcarr 10 Eugene Francis 11 Jamie Crawford

Subs: Adam Nelson, Joe Ashurst. Tom Hubbard, Louis Kinnerley and Keaton Sharpe (GK)

Gedling MWFC  Matt Simpson. Lloyd Patterson, Ross McCaughey, Kieron Lane, Liam Corrigan, Josh Thornton, Niall Hylton, Kyme Mason, Ruben Wiggins-Thomas, Courtney Hastings, Paolo Piliero

Subs: Ollie Papworth, Zee Zibanda

ATT: 192

Hucknall bowed out of the Vase at the first hurdle after losing out to a more determined Gedling side who once again as with the recent league game stormed into an early lead but this time held on to go through to the next round. 

Boss Andy Graves made the decision to bring back Jake Pearson in goal despite stand in Keaton Sharpe having kept 2 successive clean sheets. Captain Aaron Short also returned with Lenny Jenkins moving over to left back in the absence of Oli Brown. 

Hucknall failed to make their usual good start and it was the visitors who dominated the early possession. Josh Thornton had the first opportunity of the game when putting a shot off target from a Mason corner.

Before the hosts could find any foot hold in the game they found themselves two down. First Courtney Hastings mishit shot found Liam Corrigan who tucked it into the corner of the net and then Hastings, who didn't play in the league game supplied a nice finish himself to a nice passage of play from the visitors.

Hucknall responded with Jordan Phillip's Header easily saved and then the post saving the visitors with Simpson well beaten.

There was a lot of huffing and puffing from the home team but the Gedling defence held firm. Indeed the impressive Hylton brought a good save out of Pearson but should have buried the chance.

Simpson then produced a decent save with his legs in the visitors goal but the tie reached half time with Gedling looking comfortable.

Mason had the first shot of the second half for the visitors but it was easily saved.

The home fans were by this point looking for Graves to make changes and the first one was inspired. Joe Ashurst came on for Cayne Maxwell and had only been on the pitch for a couple of minutes when his header from a Westcarr cross gave Hucknall some hope.

The hope was short lived though as Sam Sims believed he had won the ball cleanly on the edge of the visitors box and was himself fouled but the official decided otherwise and gave the free kick to Gedling. Sims was then sent to the sin bin for his reaction leaving Hucknall with a man less.

Gedling capitalised on this by scoring the killer third goal. The Impressive Hylton running into the space where Sims would have been unleashing a curling effort from distance into the top corner giving Pearson no chance. This sparked delirious celebrations in the visitors dugout who must have thought they had actually won the Vase itself.

Although there was over twenty minutes left the goal seemed to have knocked any hopes of a fightback out of the hosts. Hubbard and Nelson came on but Gedling defended well and ran the clock down leaving the home fans frustrated.

At the full time whistle Gedling fully deserved their place in the next round whilst Hucknall were left to lick their wounds and prepare for a tough looking league game away at Kirby Muxloe this Saturday.

Good luck to Gedling in the next round.