Up Close: Hucknall Town striker Craig Westcarr

Hucknall Town striker Craig Westcarr scored five goals in the same game on Saturday (8 January) as The Yellows hammered basement club Borrowash Victoria 10-2 at Watnall Road.

The win moved Hucknall to within five points of leaders Hinckley AFC in the Uhlsport United Counties League Division One table.

Discussing his five goal haul exclusively with Hucknall Nub News, Westcarr said: "Obviously to get the win first was a good feeling; another three points but to get five goals was nice, it was a nice achievement for me and brilliant, I enjoyed it.

Hucknall are unbeaten in their last six matches, amassing five victories in that time.

Asked what the key to this recent good run of form was, Westcarr said: "Just consistency really, obviously having the same team, the same boys playing every week, week in week out."

He also heaped praise on the fans of the club who turn up in their hundreds to support the team home and away and mean that Watnall Road enjoys some of the best attendance figures in the league.

"It does help, you need that especially at times like this when it's cold and it's wet, and you need that extra man just to pull you through the games. They've been a massive help the fans, they've been brilliant all season, having pushed us through to get victories."

Westcarr has proven to be a valuable signing for Hucknall this season having notched 28 goals so far this campaign.

On his decision to join the club last summer, he said: "I just spoke to the manager (Andy Graves) and he set out plans of what he wants to do going forward and what he wants me to do, experience wise and to help the young lads and stuff like that and why not, it's good, it's a solid club, I enjoy it and the gaffer's been brilliant to be fair."

Comparing life at Watnall Road to when he played in the higher echelons of the game, Westcarr said: "Yeah you enjoy it more but it's still the same pressure. I've still got the same mentality, eat the right food, set out targets for the season, not just use this as a last hurrah.

"I'm in the mindset of trying to win every week and try to do the best that I can really. I'm not here just to be happy every week. Same mindset as when I was a pro."

Westcarr was a product of Nottingham Forest's highly successful academy, becoming the youngest player to make an appearance for the club when he made his debut at the age of 16 in 2001, a record that still stands.

Although he left the City ground in 2005, he still keeps a close eye on Forest's progress and was pleased with their FA Cup giant killing at the weekend as Lewis Grabban's 83rd minute goal saw them knock Premier League side Arsenal out in the Third Round of the competition on Sunday (9 January).

Westcarr said: "It was a really good game. Forest deserved it in the end, it was a strong performance.

"I've been calling for Forest to start playing the young lads and stuff like that and getting rid of some of the deadwood and the manager's come in and he's given it a feel good factor around the city, it was a nice buzz and it was a good victory on Sunday.

"It was well deserved and it was in front of a lot of people so hopefully that kicks them on to hopefully get in the play-offs at worst this season.

He was full of praise for manager Steve Cooper who inherited the side when they were bottom of the Championship in September but now has them in the top ten.

"They've got the perfect manager which hasn't been the case for the last 10/15 years. He's given it a feel good factor.

"He's in the transfer market as well, he's brought a centre forward in and he's bought an experienced centre half in, which is really good, from Bournemouth, so good signings and I think he might have a couple more. He knows how to win games and he knows what he wants."

After spells at Cambridge United and Kettering Town, Westcarr returned to his hometown of Nottingham, this time on the other side of the Trent, as he signed for Notts County in 2009.

This yielded one of the most successful spells of his career as he played a key part in the team's title winning season of 2009/10, scoring 11 goals in all competitions.

"Winning the league with Notts is obviously a thing that I'd dreamt of, winning a league title and we did that with Notts County a local team, it was just amazing."

During his time at Meadow Lane, Westcarr interacted with legendary BBC Radio Nottingham commentator Colin Slater, who passed away on Monday (10 January) at the age of 87.

Paying tribute to him, Westcarr said: "Great man, I did a few interviews with Colin. Mr Notts County. He always gave good advice how he'd seen the football through the years. He was a gentleman and quite a warm guy. It's sad obviously, his passing.

"A legend in all rights. Just an amazing guy, great commentator and a warm guy to speak to."

Westcarr left Meadow Lane in 2011 after being signed by Chesterfield for an undisclosed transfer fee. He won more silverware there, coming off the bench to score in a 2-0 victory over Swindon Town in the final of the Football League Trophy at Wembley Stadium.

"Wembley was amazing in the one-off game, the buzz, it was just amazing. It was nice to get that experience and to get the win as well at Wembley was a massive win."

He went on to play for Walsall, Portsmouth and Mansfield Town in the English Football League.

His focus now is on helping Hucknall in their quest for promotion but he is very much focused on taking this season one game at a time.

"Like I said, see where it takes us, the victories, and hopefully just keep concentrating on the next game.

"The key to us at the minute is having a consistent squad and a strong squad at the minute that are coming out every week, so we've definitely got a chance of doing something but take each game as it comes. Let's not get excited because we won 10-2.

"I think we're halfway through now so there's still a long way to go we've got three or four months left; we're definitely not getting carried away as a team at the minute."

Hucknall Town's next game is at home to Barrow Town on Saturday (15 January).