Hucknall 3 Chesterfield 1
Unibond side Hucknall Town proved to be too strong for Chesterfield's young guns as the Yellow's came from a goal behind to win their fourth pre season friendly. Despite the Spireites taking the lead after just five minutes of play, it was the home side who came into their own and muscled Dave Bentley's side out of the game with two first half goals and a second half clincher.
Without giving Hucknall a chance to settle, the Spireites pushed the ball up field and found themselves a goal up after five minutes, through an exemplary performance of counter attacking. Sam Smith (pictured top right) was on the end of a splendid counter attacking move that started with Darikwa. The visionary midfielder picked out Smith, whose run had split the defence in two, and found himself with ample time, and space, to slot the ball past the helpless Daniel Haystead.
Tendayi Darikwa in action at Hucknall
As the Spireites continued their promising start, they found themselves in the position to double their lead, when Smith, this time turning provider, played a sweeping ball across the box. But to
When Hucknall finally broke into the Spireites half, they were instantly possessed by gutsy midfielder Clay, as he played the ball immediately back up field, catching the Yellow's on the back foot. As Wright collected the ball, he selfishly played fellow strike partner Burrow in for a perfect opportunity, unfortunately the ball bobbled just before the number 11 could execute his shot.
It took the home side 14 minutes to produce an effort on goal, although right back Fabian Smith's adventurous long range stab didn't trouble
Just moments after creating their first piece of attacking football, the Yellow's had a glorious effort to level the score, when Smith's ball singled out Nathan Kelly in the Spireite box for a free header. Kelly out jumped centre half Sandy Moller and with Webb glued to the spot, he couldn't quite direct his effort on target.
Sandy Moller in action at Hucknall
With the match now taking a drastic change,
Hucknall started to produce more attacking play and were unlucky not to take the lead when ex
After a fatal error on the right side of the pitch, Wilson was presented with acres of space to pick out Nightingale, who this time beat Moller to the ball and neatly slotted the ball under Webb to put Hucknall a head after just 31 minutes.
Immediately after the goal,
Terry Hawkridge had a few half chances before the break to extend Hucknall's lead, but the Spireites went in at the interval just one goal down.
As the second half whistle blew, Hucknall had made nine changes to the starting eleven, introducing ex Spireite Reuben Wiggins Thomas into the action, and it was Thomas that was involved in the Yellow's third goal.
Thomas's well worked corner picked out Kevin Spriggs, for yet again, a free header on goal. It was proving to be too easy for the home side as
With the match loosing pace, both sides struggled to produce any real spark until substitute Zeek Ricketts's short free kick picked out Thomas, whose powerful rising shot produced a fine reaction save from young Webb.
Moments later, Darikwa produced a similar effort as he hit the ball with venom and as it looked set to squeeze just inside the post, Haystead flung himself at full stretch to deny the Spireite number nine.
With Hucknall's 'second team' running out of gas, Tingay made full advantage and carried the ball from his own area to the opposition's box and was unlucky not to be rewarded with a goal, when his audacious solo effort curled just wide of the post
Right at the death, both Burrow's and Antwon Bonnick had chances to add to the score. In the end, although it wasn't through lack of effort, Hucknall came away with the win as the Non league's side muscle and potency eventually prevailed.
Subs Not Used:
Goals: Smith 5
Goals: Own Goal 18, Nightingale 31, Spriggs 12
Played at Hucknall on Thursday 23 July 2009
Report by Adam Hulme, the Spireites youth team reporter
