Award winning Hucknall Town beat Clifton to tighten grip on playoff place

Hucknall Town recorded a convincing win over Clifton All Whites on Saturday (1 April) in their final home game of the regular Uhlsport United Counties Division One season.

In front of an impressive crowd of 247 at The RM Stadium, The Yellows raced into a three-goal lead before half-time.

Craig Westcarr opened the scoring in the fifth minute, cooly turning home Louis Tomlinson's cross.

Hucknall were then awarded a penalty and the visitors reduced to ten men after Jacob Brandon handled Westcarr's shot. HuckHNiall Towle stepped up to take the penalty and despite seeing his spot kick saved, kept his composure to drill home the rebound and double Hucknall's advantage.

Tomlinson added a third with half an hour gone, producing an instinctive finish after good pressure from Hucknall.

Calrick Dunkley pulled one back for Clifton ten minutes into the second half before Westcarr headed in a fourth for Hucknall.

David Kolapo came off the bench to grab a second goal for the visitors with ten minutes remaining and add a little bit more respectability to the scoreline but in reality, it was a very comfortable afternoon for the hosts.

As well as the celebrations after the game, there was cause for positivity pre-match too as the club were presented with the "Team of the Month" award for the month of March by the United Counties League Chairman, Alan Poulain.

Hucknall are still third in the league table, eight points inside the playoff places but all three teams immediately behind them have two games in hand so it promises to be a nail-biting end to the season.

The Yellows return to action on Saturday (8 April) when they visit Dunkirk in their penultimate league game of the season.