Matlock Town Reserves 0 Hucknall Town 4

Match Report by Derek Harlow

Hucknall Town Team: 1 Mike Randall 2 Cayne Maxwell 3 Aaron Short 4 David Leak (Capt) 5 Jordan Phillips 6 Sam Sims 7 Jamie Crawford 8 Michael Banister 9 Matt Brian 10 Shane Newton 11 Joe Ashurst

Subs: Adam Nelson, Lenford Jenkins, Montell Gatland, Ollie Brown, Jack Smith

Hucknall produced a rock solid performance in the battle of the top two and in doing so replaced Matlock at the top and now only need 4 points from their last 4 games to be crowned champions.

Hucknall started off with a good tempo closing down the Matlock midfield very quickly. Matt Brian was winning everything in the air as Hucknall pressed twice going close with headers. Indeed it was Brian who opened the scoring on 12 minutes getting in behind the Matlock defence and finding the net.

Matlock were stung by the goal and began to get the ball out wide but Hucknall defended well and didn’t dive into challenges in the box. Matlock had claims for a penalty but these were waved away by the official. As half time approached Jordan Phillips doubled Hucknall’s lead with a trademark header from a corner.

Matlock came out second half all guns blazing as expected playing with a quicker tempo. Again Hucknall’s defence soaked it all up. Randall was beaten by a long range effort that clipped the post. Hucknall were still very threatening at the other end with Jamie Crawford battling for everything.

On the hour mark Hucknall got the killer third goal and again it was Matt Brian who had been a constant thorn in Matlocks side who scored the goal, blasting home from 8 yards and then celebrating with the jubilant away support behind the goal. Matlock to their credit continued to play their brand of football and Randall made a good save. Jordan Phillips supplied the icing on the cake with a replica of his first goal to make it four and round off a superb display from the Yellows who now travel to Hilton on Saturday looking for another three points.

Hucknall Subs were Jenkins For Short, Brown for Brian and Smith for Newton