Reserves Victorious in Local Derby

In one of the few games to go ahead in NSL 1 just two days before Christmas, Hucknall Town Reserves hosted Kimberley Miners Welfare Reserves at a windswept RM Stadium.
Storm damage to the dugouts meant that both sets of management setup camp in the main stand on a blustery day for football.
This time of year is a nightmare trying to get a squad together and with this game so close to Christmas the problem was heightened for both sides. Hucknall pulled in Ben Jones and David Briggs for their first starts of the season, whilst Reece Gatland and Kuba Adamcyzk returned after last playing in August.
Hucknall played with the wind at their backs in the first half but just couldn't find any rhythm. All too often the temptation to play a long hopeful ball got the better of them and the strikers were living on scraps. Kimberley on the other hand stroked the ball around nicely and produced some good passages of play, albeit without really threatening Alfie Clayton in the Hucknall goal.
Half time: Hucknall Town Reserves 0-0 Kimberley MW Reserves

Yellows changed things up in the second half and resorted more to a classic front two of Kieran Orange and Olly Peate with Gatland dropping into the hole. Hucknall looked much better playing into the wind and scored what turned out to be the winning goal from the move of the match. Ally Staley combined really nicely with Kai Byron on the right-hand side with a training ground one-two. Staley's cross picked out Gatland at the far post to side foot home. Kimberley won a series of corners, but Hucknall's defence stood firm with Jones and skipper-for-the-day Josh Pearson doing really well to command their penalty area. Orange broke free from his marker in the final third and as he played the ball around the keeper was taken out, only for the official to award the foul to Kimberley.
David Briggs and Brad Keembe entered the game in the final 30mins and saw the team over the line with some really well controlled football. Both players will be pushing for a start in the final fixture of the season when Hucknall travel to Carlton Town's ground to play PMG.