Hucknall Town suffer first defeat of the season as Dunkirk triumph at Watnall Road

Hucknall Town suffered their first defeat of the season with a 3-2 loss at home to Dunkirk last night (Wednesday 10 August).

Despite mounting a late fightback, the hosts couldn't salvage a point in front of a busy, partisan Watnall Road crowd.

Like on Saturday, Hucknall again started in a slow, lethargic manner but unlike at the weekend, they were punished for this as the visitors took the lead in the third minute.

Max Taylor chested the ball down roughly 12 yards out before smashing the ball into the top corner to give Dunkirk the ideal start.

The rest of the half was a scrappy affair, with very few chances for either side.

Louis Kinnerley was forced to make a sharp save in the Hucknall goal and the Yellows flashed a shot wide of the target as both sides struggled in the final third.

It wasn't until the very end of the half that both sides went close to finding the back of the net.

Hucknall's captain Aaron Short headed a Craig Westcarr delivery across the goal but no one in yellow had made a run to the back post in anticipation of a tap in and the ball went behind for a goal kick.

Taylor then went agonisingly close to doubling the visitors' lead as his shot from distance smashed the crossbar and bounced away from danger.

At the start of the second half, Hucknall showed a bit more intent with Westcarr firing narrowly wide after being picked out by Joe Ashurst.

The game was then brought to a stop for a nasty injury to Hucknall's Kieran Lane who left the pitch on a stretcher after a clash of shins with a Dunkirk midfielder. He went to hospital and it has since been confirmed that he suffered a broken tibia.

Shortly after the injury setback, things got worse for Hucknall as they conceded for a second time.

With just under 20 minutes remaining, Lewis Wilcox dispossessed Westcarr about 35 yards out and hit a ferocious strike which beat Kinnerley and sailed into the roof of the net; easily a contender for goal of the season.

The hosts upped the tempo in response, with Cayne Maxwell, on for the injured Lane, heading an Ashurst freekick over the crossbar and Westcarr's shot from range straight at Alex Smith in the Dunkirk goal.

Hucknall then finally found a breakthrough as Callum Clarke on as a sub tapped in following a scramble in the six-yard box after Kieran Knight's initial shot had been spilled by Smith.

The momentum should have been with Hucknall as the game headed into injury time but Dunkirk cleverly won a freekick in their opponent's half, and, when it was clipped into the box, it was allowed to travel a long way to the back post where an unmarked Robinson headed home. This sparked jubilant celebrations from the away bench who sensed this had secured them the three points.

However, Hucknall went straight down the other end and scored to set up a nervy finish. A Westcarr cross wasn't properly cleared by the Dunkirk defenders and Maxwell lashed the loose ball into the bottom corner to give the home fans hope.

Despite late pressure, the Dunkirk defence held firm, and Hucknall ran out of time to snatch a result.

The Yellows are back in action on Saturday with a long trip to Lincolnshire to face Bourne Town.