Hucknall Town Development 1-0 Beeston (Notts Senior League Division One) 14.03.20

Beeston fell to a heart-breaking defeat as Hucknall Town Development grabbed a last-gasp winner to steal all three points in this NSL First Division match yesterday.

It was Hucknall who started the better of the two teams as the visitors got to grips with an unfamiliar system due to eight changes in their team from last weeks win at Kirton Brickworks. A wide free-kick was floated into the back-post and met with a free header but Beeston stopper Davey Gallagher, in for the unavailable Matt Hyde, ensured things stayed level in the early stages.

In what was becoming a cagey game with neither side able to break the other down, Beeston were beginning to find some joy through the pace of Nwokoro and Gabriel Agbonavberey, who was making his full debut. Skipper Roland Tomlinson, filling in for the absent Jack Wilkinson, threaded a splitting ball through to the lively Agbonavebery, but his effort was saved well by the onrushing Hucknall keeper.

With 5 minutes remaining of the first half, it was Hucknall who came closest to opening the scoring, delivering from the left flank the ball was only half-cleared by Beeston, sitting up nicely on the edge of the box but the Hucknall player’s sweet half-volley struck the outside of the post.

As the game opened up it was Beeston left wondering how they hadn’t opened the scoring soon after. Agbonavebery’s blocked shot led to pinball in the hosts 18-yard box, with the ball eventually falling to young Ward 12 yards out, but his shot on the stretch went over the bar. All square at the break.

The second-half continued in the same vein as the back end of the first, with the game continuing to open up for both sides. 7 minutes in and Hucknall struck the woodwork for the second time in the match. Once again Beeston struggled to clear a dangerous ball in from the left allowing a Hucknall player to unleash a fierce drive from the edge of the box that seemed destined to nestle in the net, only for Gallagher to make a fine save and tip it onto the bar.

Just a minute later and it was Beeston who almost opened the scoring. Nwokoro once again the creator found Stonely from the left, but his first-time volley across goal rolled agonisingly wide of the post.

With half-an-hour to go, Beeston had the ball in the net, only for it to be ruled out by a questionable offside call. Nwokoro’s one-two down the left with Joel Buxton released him in behind, and his low cross found the onrushing Ward who’s first time finish found the back of the net, but Nwokoro was adjudged to have been offside.

With the game entering the final 15 minutes, both sides continued to rue their missed chances. Lovely hold up play from Stonely released the increasingly dangerous Nwokoro in behind, but his one on one attempt was once again saved by the Hucknall keeper. Straight from Nwokoro’s chance, a long-ball over the top was latched onto by the Hucknall forward, but his effort went just wide of the post.

With both sides seemingly unable to put away their chances, the game seemed destined to end in a goalless draw but it was Hucknall who broke Beeston hearts to grab the win in the final minute. The ball was played in from the left, and after a scramble on the edge of the box fell nicely to the Hucknall player, who slotted home low to Gallagher’s right with help from an unlucky deflection off Scott Pickard. A disappointing end for Beeston who came so close to coming away with a well-earned point.

Beeston Manager Josh Streeter after the match stated “It had 0-0 written all over it, we weren’t at our best today, we missed quite a few chances, we had a goal ruled out for offside which, to be fair, didn’t look offside”.

“We played alright in spells, we were up against it for most of the game, but we definitely had our chances”.

“Credit to their keeper, he pulled off a couple of blinders to be honest. We’ve got to be more clinical, we’ve missed too many chances today”.

*Article supplied by Dylan Bhundia (Beeston FC Correspondent).

*Main image @BeestonFC1st Gabriel Agbonavberey who came on as sub last week made his first Beeston start yesterday.