Match Report by Derek Harlow

Teams
Pinxton: Liam Power Dan Riley Joe Riley Perry Marriott Nicholas Hall John Fones Liam Green Adie Whitmore, Pete Stubley Jay Scott-Cooper Kieran Debrouwer

Subs Kieran Coupe James Whitfield

Hucknall Town: Mike Randall Cayne Maxwell Lenford Jenkins David Leak (capt) Jordan Phillips Sam Sims Jamie Crawford Michael Banister Adam Nelson Jack Smith Ollie Brown

Subs Matt Brian Shane Newton Tom Hubbard

Hucknall made changes from last Saturdays league game. Lenford Jenkins and Cayne Maxwell coming in as full backs, Ollie Brown playing down the left in place of Joe Ashurst, Adam Nelson starting alongside Jack Smith up front. Matt Brian dropping to the subs bench.
Just like Saturdays league game this was a well contested entertaining game with Pinxton coming out on top with an injury time spot kick.
Pinxton provided the first twist of the night when Pete Stubley headed home a corner in the 8th minute with the first real chance of the game.
Hucknall unlike Saturday had started slowly but the goal woke them up. After 15 minutes Hucknall had a corner of their own and equalized through Adam Nelson to maintain his current scoring streak.

The rest of the half ebbed and flowed but Pinxton should really have been in front at half time, hitting the crossbar with a lobbed effort from Debrouwer which had Randall beaten and forcing Randall into a smart save.
Hucknall came out in the second half with more purpose and better possession but it was Pinxton who regained the lead 5 minutes into the half when Hucknall’s defence had a calamity allowing Stubley to pounce from close range.
Hucknall responded well and equalised on 55 mins when Jamie Crawford outpaced the full back before crossing to Nelson who majestically stroked the ball home. Hucknall then took the lead on 65 mins when Ollie Browns angled shot somehow deceived the home keeper and found the net.

Pinxton though refused to lie down and again hit the post. Entering the last ten minutes Hucknall again pressed the self destruct button when a ball was going out of play for a Hucknall throw the defender had no need to close down and give away a needless free kick. Then Pinxton had a slice (literally) of luck when from the resulting free kick a shot was so badly miscued it ended up being a great pass. This led to the ball being fed to Dan Riley who placed an unstoppable shot into the top corner for the goal of the night.

Pinxton’s tails were up and another twist was yet to come. First the referee saw nothing wrong with a terrible tackle on Brown and then missed another foul on the halfway line as Pinxton broke. David Leak was adjudged to have brought down his man in the box and Pinxton were awarded with a last gasp penalty which Cooper smashed home. I’ve since found out that the penalty was earned by a dive which leaves a sour taste in the mouth after two keenly fought contests. On balance I think a win each was about right and we would sooner have had the three points. It’s possible that we might meet up again in the league cup final which again would be a fascinating encounter. Good luck to Pinxton in the final just a shame the way it was achieved.

Hucknall Substitutions were Brian on for Jack Smith and Shane Newton on for Adam Nelson