Hucknall Town cruelly knocked out of Notts Senior Cup on penalties by Notts County Under-19s

Hucknall Town were knocked out of the Notts Senior Cup by Notts County's Under-19 side 4-2 on penalties last night (Wednesday 17 November).

The two sides played out a competitive game in front of over 650 spectators at Watnall Road, comfortably the club's best gate of the season.

Hucknall took the lead just before the half hour mark with Craig Westcarr firing home a strike from the edge of the penalty area following good work from Joe Ashurst.

Five minutes later, Ashurst himself nearly got in on the act of scoring as he saw his deflected effort loop over the County goalkeeper, only for him to recover well and manage to scramble back to just prevent the ball from crossing the line.

It was so close that many Hucknall fans celebrated before realising that it wasn't a goal.

With half time nearing, Notts found an equaliser completely against the run of play. A good delivery from a corner picked out Ashaiah Fearon unmarked just outside the six yard box. The captain controlled the ball well and produced a composed finish past Jake Pearson in the Hucknall goal.

The second half followed the pattern of the first with Hucknall dominating possession and creating the best chances but Notts providing a very real threat on the counter attack.

However, neither side could find a breakthrough and the game went to a penalty shoot out to decide the winner.

Ashurst saw his spot kick well saved by the Notts goalkeeper and Eugene Francis lashed his wide of the target whilst Notts took four composed, clinical penalties that gave Pearson little chance.

As Francis' penalty sailed the wrong side of the post, there were jubilant scenes from the Notts players and staff as they raced across the pitch to celebrate together what was surely their biggest win of the season.

Hucknall weren't helped by the absence of manager Andy Graves who has Covid-19. Rumours suggested that he was furious to learn that the penalty takers did not go in the order he had given the team before the game.