After their midweek semi-final loss on penalties Hucknall Town Reserves dusted themselves down for a return to league action with a game against Bestwood Colliery FC. The two teams had met very early in the season in boiling conditions and Hucknall had snatched a victory in the closing minutes of the game 4-3.
Hucknall were forced into a number of changes with Ally Staley, Kade Woodward and Reece Gatland returning to the match day squad.

Understandably, Yellows looked a little wary after playing their third game in 7 days. When they did have the ball, it went long all too often which was easy for Bestwood to defend. The opposition scored the first goal of the game on around 15mins but Hucknall hit back when a mix-up in the Bestwood defence presented Callum Orange with an open goal, albeit from a wide angle, which he tucked away nicely. In truth Hucknall never really found their stride and at half time the scores were level.
Half time: Hucknall Town Reserves 1-1 Bestwood Colliery FC

Hucknall were a little better in the second half, but again fell behind when failing to deal with a cross into the box that was headed home at the far post. Once more it was Callum Orange to the rescue when he scored his second of the game after pouncing on a loose ball from a corner. Hucknall were on top now and Orange grabbed his hat-trick on 70 mins to move Hucknall into the lead for the first time in the game after the move of the match saw Jack Harrison overlap his wing partner and deliver a perfect cross. Yellows smashed the crossbar and post, Bestwood's young keeper made a terrific save and David Briggs hit the post again for Yellows in a frenetic 5 minutes. But the game twisted back to Bestwood once more when they scored from a bullet-free kick after young defender Kuba Adamcyzk was sent off for deliberate hand ball when a shot fired in at him hit his foot and ricochet onto his hand. Yellows looked leggy at the back but left 3 men up front as they searched for a winner even when playing with 10 men. In the final 10 minutes Bestwood hit the post with a chance to take the lead. But it was that man Callum Orange who wrapped the game up for Hucknall after good work between him, his brother Kieran and Briggs saw him score a fourth. Still time for Reece Gatland to make a storming run through midfield for Hucknall, but with only the keeper to beat his fine shot bobbled just wide.

Great game for the neutral and a terrific will-to-win attitude from Hucknall. But Yellows will know that they didn't play well today and need to improve in the final games of the season. We go again on Wednesday evening with a game at home to much improved Bilborough Town.