Hucknall Town 2 Vauxhall Motors 0
MOTORS’ afternoon started badly and got progressively worse on Saturday as they became the first side to be beaten by Hucknall in the league all season.
There was a huge blow for the visitors before kick-off as star striker Paul Taylor aggravated an ankle injury during the warm-up and had to be withdrawn from the team.
Motors’ fortunes did not get any better once the match started as Hucknall – rock bottom of the table – began brightly and found themselves 2-0 up inside the first 25 minutes.
Early warning signs came from Nikille Howells, who headed over, and left-sided Stephen Akers, who ended a mazy run with a shot that went agonisingly wide of keeper Sean Lake’s left hand post.
The hosts went ahead on 13 minutes through a scrappy goal when Dan Fletcher’s cross fell to Howells, whose initial shot cannoned of two Vauxhall defenders.
The ball rebounded back to the tall striker, who followed up to bundle it over the line.
Motors attempted to hit back through Anthony Wright and Alan Griffiths, the latter forcing home keeper Greg Smith into a finger-tip save over his crossbar.
Hucknall doubled their advantage after 25 minutes when Joe McMahon was harshly adjudged to have brought down man-of-the-match Howells in the penalty area. The home player picked himself up to send Lake the wrong way.
The Motormen had plenty of possession after the break but failed to create a single clear-cut chance despite both Keith Smith and Mike Garrity (twice) having attempts from 25 yards
Vauxhall: Lake, Hotte, Holmes, Griffiths, McMahon (Moogan 46), Kelly, Garrity, Field (Hadzik 46), Wright, John son, Furlong (Smith 60). Subs: Hitchen, Longrigg.
Attendance: 214.
