Venue: Watnall Road Ground, Hucknall, Notts
The track marks are from when the covers were removed apparently
Competition: CML South Division
Referee: Sam Kane
Scorer: Leon Aikman (56)
Line-ups:
Town: Beddingham, Henry, Pitt, Davidson, Atkinson (c), Leak, Evans, Aikman, Nelson, Rigg, Wapplington. Subs: Maxwell, Dunlop, Moran, Brown.
Welfare: Rocco, Frizelle, Coupe, Winfield, Peberday, Henshaw (c), Mitchell R, Ryan, Murphy, Butler, Mitchell K. Subs: McDermott, Loydall, Fox, Mann, Marlow.
Still not able to travel far, so our first game of 2015 was at Hucknall Town's Watnall Road ground, the same venue as our last game of 2014. Still a couple of weeks recuperation needed, but seeing my consultant on Friday -hopefully he will give me the all clear to spread my wings a little farther afield.
This would be a good pic for a caption competition!!
These teams were very evenly matched in the first half, but there were enough chance created to please respective managers, Andy Graves and Dave Marlow.
After Aaron Ryan made a rash challenge 22 yards from goal in the 13th minute, Elliott Pitt hit the free-kick well enough, but saw it curl just past the outside of the post.
Matt Murphy tried his luck from a similar distance with a 20th minute Linby free-kick, but Town keeper James Beddingham collected easily at his near post.
Plenty of attention for Aaron Ryan
When Murphy picked out Ruban Mitchell on 39, the keeper was well positioned again to block the midfielders effort. Aaron Evans tried his luck from all of 25 yards with 5 minutes of the half remaining, but Luca Rocco pulled off a terrific diving save, palming the ball out for a corner. H-T 0-0
Leon Aikman fires wide in the first half
Ashley Winfield was injured on 53, his place taken by James Fox. This unsettled Linby for a couple of minutes, and they were punished for their lack of concentration when they allowed LEON AIKMAN too much time and space to turn inside and curl a spectacular effort into the far corner of the net from 20 yards.
It really was a great strike, and even though Rocca is on the small side for a keeper, the shot was so well placed that I reckon no keeper would have saved it.
Linby boss Dave Marlow not looking impressed
Linby saw a couple of chances go begging as the second half progressed, one hit the frame of the goal, whilst the other was saved well at the foot of the near post by Beddingham.
Hucknall had a great chance to double their advantage on 80 when a Linby attack broke down and the ball was fired wide left to Evans. His cross was met by Adam Newton but the striker fired just wide when he should have scored. F-T 1-0
Admission: £3.00
Programme: didn't see one
Attendance: h/c 165
Charity: £0.75 (sorry, maggie's, it will get better, honest!)
