YELLOWS LOOKING TO MAINTAIN TOP FIVE PUSH

 HUCKNALL TOWN V CLIFTON AWFC

UCL DIVISION 1 WEDS 22ND SEPT 21 KO 19.45

MATCH PREVIEW

Hucknall entertain old EMCL rivals Clifton tonight at Watnall Road in a fixture that like Gedling MWFC has always proved difficult to get a victory. 

Our visitors have not had the best of starts to the season and still await their first victory. Having played 8 lost 7 and drawn 1. Also a goal difference of minus 23 suggest where the problem lies. 

Home defeats have come against St Andrews, Belper United, Holwell Sports and Birstall United conceding 16 goals in the process though it must be said 3 of those teams are in the top 5.

Away defeats have come at Radford, Dunkirk, and Barrow conceding 15 goals. Another 4 goals were conceded at Hucknall's last opponents Kirby Muxloe but Clifton recovered from 4 2 down with ten minutes left to get a credible draw out of the game.

Hucknall then will surely fancy their chances but recent History suggests otherwise. The sides have enjoyed some close battles with two 3 3 draws. Hucknall finding themselves 3 nil down at half time in a home encounter before battling back to earn a draw. In the away encounter that season a late equaliser from the Yellows captain Aaron Short resulted in the same score. 

Adam Nelson's spectacular strike in added time earned the Yellows an away victory last time the teams met in the EMCL 11 months ago.

Hucknall were boosted by the return of Grant Ryan in last Saturdays draw at Kirby Muxloe when the Yellows had 26 efforts on goal (Kirby's figures, not mine). Meanwhile Joe Butler was scoring a hat trick for the reserves. Coupled with Joe Ashurst gaining match fitness at Kirby manager Andy Graves will have selection options though a couple of players will be missing due to work commitments.

Hucknall will go 5th with a win with Belper not having a mid week game and could possibly go 4th but Aylestone have a very winnable game at Blackstones tonight though the hosts did pick up their first victory of the season at Borrowash last Saturday.

Safe travels all and enjoy the game.