Hucknall Town clinch play-off place with convincing win over Kirby Muxloe

Hucknall Town secured a play-off place with victory over Kirby Muxloe on Saturday (25 April).

The Yellows ran out 3-0 winners on the final day of the season to confirm fifth position in the Uhlsport United Counties Division One table.

They will now face Hinckley in the semi-finals this Saturday (30 April).

Roared on by almost 300 fans at a bustling Watnall Road, Hucknall dominated the first half but were frustrated to still be level with just seconds of it remaining.

However, just as it looked as though the sides would trudge off all square at the interval, the club's captain chipped in with a vital contribution to break the deadlock.

Aaron Short was the quickest to react to the loose ball, after the visitors' goalkeeper had made a good stop to turn away Joe Butler's header, and prodded the ball into the net to send the crowd into raptures.

Hucknall began the second half as they ended the first with cutting edge and clinical finishing as Michael Banister, playing in his final match at Watnall Road before he retires, played in Jamie Crawford who clipped the ball over the 'keeper to double the hosts' advantage.

With just over 20 minutes remaining Butler added a third with a delightful run and finish that firmly put the game beyond the visitors.

Speaking to the club's website, manager Andy Graves said: "We're all really pleased after that, for obvious reasons. Hopefully there's still two games left for us to play before the summer break.

"I think we deserve to be there [in the play-offs] to be perfectly honest, because we've been pretty consistent across the season.

"I thought we were a little bit nervous to start with today, which anyone could forgive the players for given what was at stake, but getting the first goal was important, and then the second half was really positive."

Hucknall will now travel to Kirkby Road in a one legged match to decide who will make the play-off final and have a shot at claiming promotion.