Graves left with mixed feelings

Andy Graves (left) oversaw a league win and a cup defeat for Hucknall this week.

Their 100 per cent record in the CML South was maintained with a convincing 4-0 win over fellow promotion hopefuls Pinxton on Saturday.

But a run in the Notts Senior Cup won’t now be possible as a much-changed Yellows side were beaten 2-0 by Gedling Miners Welfare on Saturday.

Despite having to make so many changes, Graves was still disappointed to have been knocked out of the Senior Cup.

He said: “The amount of changes obviously had an impact against Gedling and that was not our true showing.

“Even so we were poor and Gedling got the breaks from two individual errors but other than that didn’t really show they were a level above and were content to get bodies behind the ball.

“During the game we didn’t pass well enough, finish the numerous chances well enough or play well enough to win the tie and ended up getting mugged and we cannot have any complaints.”

Saturday’s win over Pinxton means Hucknall are still in second place, four points behind Selston but with three games in hand.

Two goals from Joe Ashurst and one apiece from Matt Brian and Adam Nelson did the damage as the visiting Hucknall side eased to victory.

Graves said: “It was very pleasing performance and apart from a ten minute spell in the first-half I thought we dominated the game.

“Our tempo and closing down was excellent and not many teams will come here and score four without reply.

“When we scored the first you could see how it deflated their players and management and they never really recovered, although Jay Cooper, who is a very good player, tried to get them back into it but our defence and Mike Randall, although struggling with an injury, were outstanding.”

Hucknall will return to league action on Saturday when they host Mickleover RBL at Watnall Road.

Mickleover currently sit in fifth place in the table, two points behind Hucknall having played three more games, but are another side Graves has identified as being a rival when it comes to promotion hopes at the end of the season.

Saturday’s match will be followed by more cup action next Wednesday night when Hucknall head to Southwell City in the Phoenix Trophies Floodlit Cup.

Selston will then be the hosts on October 15 for what will be deemed a crucial top-of-the-table battle as both aim to continue their good starts to the season.