By Derek Harlow

Hucknall Team: 1 Adam Jablonski 2 Cayne Maxwell 3 Lenford Jenkins 4 David Leak (captain) 5 Jordan Phillips 6 Sam Simms 7 Jack Smith 8 Michael Banister 9 Matt Brian 10 Kajally Danso 11 Joe Ashurst

Subs: Adam Nelson Ollie Brown Shane Newton

Hucknall went top of the CMLS with a hard fought victory over local rivals Linby at Church Lane.
Andy Graves started with Cayne Maxwell in for the injured Ethan Greenidge and gave Lenford Jenkins a start ahead of Ollie Brown. Jamie Crawford was unavailable so Jack Smith played down the right hand side. Graves stuck by the pairing of Brian and Danso up front after their impressive display against Pinxton.

The first half saw Linby sit back in their own half and let Hucknall have possession. They were very quick at closing down and although Hucknall had half chances they were limited to shots from outside the area and a couple of deflections off defenders which went just wide. Linby were content to break quickly but Hucknall’s centre backs dealt with everything.

Just as Half Time approached Hucknall took the lead with a moment of quality. Awarded a free kick about 20 yards out on the edge of the D Sam Simms slotted the ball home despite the home keeper getting a touch on the ball. It was Hucknall’s first real attempt on target.
The second half was pretty much along the same lines but Linby should have done better right at the start of the half when through on goal.
Hucknall made a change with Shane Newton replacing Danso.

Hucknall again had the lions share of possession and were awarded another free kick on the edge of the box. The offending defender was also shown a yellow card but it was in all fairness a very soft free kick.

In a carbon copy of the first goal Sam Simms again found the net with an even better free kick. The keeper got no-where near this effort.
The goal deflated Linby and took the tension out of Hucknall’s game. Hucknall made further changes with Adam Nelson replacing Matt Brian and Ollie Brown replacing Joe Ashurst.

Hucknall kept pressing and as Linby’s defence, who had stuck to their task, tired scored further goals through a trademark Jordan Phillips header from a corner and a Michael Banister shot from 12 yards deep into added on time.
My man of the match was Sam Simms for providing two quality moments when we needed them but again it was a good team effort with both central defenders outstanding again and Lenford Jenkins having a good game as well.