Solid start in the league for Hucknall Town after four matches

Hucknall Town have made a solid start to life in the Uhlsport United Counties League Division One with two wins, one draw and one defeat from their opening four matches.

They are unbeaten at Watnall Road so far and will be hoping that it remains a fortress for them throughout the campaign.

The Yellows made a positive start, on the pitch at least, as crowd trouble marred their 2-1 win over Lutterworth Town on Saturday 7 August.

New signing Craig Westcarr scored both goals in an impressive debut. The deal to bring the former Nottingham Forest, Notts County and Mansfield Town striker to the club looks a very astute piece of business. Despite the win, Hucknall, by their own admission, weren't at their brilliant best but did enough to get the job done.

Speaking to the club's website after the game, manager Andy Graves said: "On the whole we're pleased to have started off with a win in front of the fans, there's not a lot more you can ask for on the opening day of the season. It wasn't a brilliant performance but we know what we need to work on to improve on it.

"It's often said that if you don't play your best but still get a result then it's the sign of a good side, but I'd still much prefer us to win more convincingly!"

Hucknall then travelled to West Bridgford for a Friday night game and a chance to go top of the table with a win. Instead, they were beaten 3-1, with Sam Sims' well struck free kick the only positive to take away from the defeat.

After the game Graves bemoaned costly individual errors made by his players. Speaking to the club's website, he said: "I feel like we've just let a game go that we should've won. It should've been comfortable but two individual errors cost us, and we're disappointed about the third goal we conceded too."

The Yellows didn't have long to feel sorry for themselves with a home game against Radford just five days later. They responded well with a hard earned victory, though at half time It looked like it might be back to back defeats as they trailed 1-0 thanks to a Jevin Seaton goal.

However, Hucknall dug deep and turned the game around in the second half with goals from Sims and Liam Hearn. Hearn has returned to the club, having first played for them in the 2003-04 season when he was just a teenager. Spells at clubs such as Alfreton Town, Mansfield Town, Grimsby Town, and Lincoln City followed but the 35 year-old showed he still has an eye for a goal with the winner against Radford.

Speaking to the club's website, Graves concluded: "I think it's fair to say that he's in the twilight of his career but he's still got a lot to offer and I thought he definitely showed that tonight.

"It was Liam's first competitive game for us so he obviously needs to get up to speed and get to know the players around him, but that should happen fairly quickly."

On Saturday (21 August) Hucknall welcomed an Aylestone Park side flying high at the top of the table having won three and drawn one of their opening four matches. However, goals from Sims and Hearn were enough to earn Hucknall a draw which saw Aylestone slip from the top of the table.

Hucknall currently sit 11th but are just six points from the top of the table with a game in hand.

They travel to Barrow Town in Leicestershire on Saturday before a home game against Gedling Miners Welfare on Wednesday evening, knowing two wins would firmly put them in the battle for promotion at this early stage.