Hucknall Town record three wins in a week to boost play-off hopes

Hucknall Town's charge to the Uhlsport United Counties League Division One play-offs continued on Saturday (26 March) as they made it three wins within the space of a week by beating Clifton All Whites 3-0.

Hucknall made the short trip to the Norman Archer Memorial Ground for the second time this season. It had been the scene of a first round cup victory last October that was marred by an incident which left a Town fan needing hospital treatment for a serious eye injury.

Thankfully, there were no repeats of that fracas and the Yellows cruised to a dominant victory.

Joe Ashurst opened the scoring in the sixth minute with a well struck shot from around 30 yards out, that just snuck inside the post. Craig Westcarr produced a second half brace to put the game beyond the hosts and ensure Hucknall are still occupying fifth place in the table, the final play-off place.

Speaking to the club's website, manager Andy Graves, said: "I thought we managed the game well throughout to be honest, and it's pleasing to have kept another clean sheet."

Three days earlier at Watnall Road, Graves' men had beaten West Bridgford by the same scoreline. Ashurst and Westcarr were again on the scoresheet, as was substitute Grant Ryan who came off the bench to nod in Hucknall's third goal of the game.

This made it consecutive home victories, after Hucknall had hammered struggling Blackstones 4-1, the previous Saturday (19 March).

There are just six matches of the league season remaining, with Hucknall's next game a crucial trip to Leicester on Saturday (2 April) to face Aylestone Park who are sixth in the table and also eyeing the final play-off place.

Previewing the game on the club's website following their latest victory, Graves added: "It's a big game next week, and it's maybe a bit old school to say, but let them [Aylestone] worry about us.

"I'm not too worried about the opposition because I know that if we're on our game, like we were today, then we've got a great chance.

"Most of our defeats this year have been self-inflicted, which has been disappointing, but at the moment we're on a good run and we want to try and keep it going."