Eastwood CFC derby day clash at Hucknall Town is abandoned after heavy rain
Eastwood CFC and Hucknall Town willl have to try again after their big UCL Premier North derby at the RM Stadium was abandoned in the 66th minute on Saturday due to worsening weather conditions and significant standing water on the pitch.
The fixture will now be replayed on Wednesday, 18th February.
Although both sides were keen to continue, player safety rightly took priority.
Boss Willis Francis made four changes from the side that suffered defeat against Wisbech.
Jermain Hollis and Tony Gbopo were named on the bench, Tyler Blake missed out due to being on holiday, while Terry Hawkridge’s remarkable run of appearing in every match since joining the club came to an end as the midfielder was sidelined with a back injury.
Alfie Flynn and Joel Stevens returned to the starting XI, Neo Saunders made his first start since September, and new signing Callum Cocks was handed his debut from the outset.
Fellow new arrival Kieran Hayes had to be patient, starting on the bench. With Aaron O’Connor absent, Jake Wright captained the side.
Hucknall began the contest brightly, with neat early play from Lewis Belgrave and former Red Badger Marcus Marshall causing Eastwood problems.
Marshall was presented with an early opportunity, but his effort was comfortably saved by Sam Wilson.
Eastwood’s first real chance arrived when Theo Flanagan picked out Joel Stevens on the edge of the box.
Stevens turned well but saw his shot easily claimed by Hucknall goalkeeper Alfie Smith-Eccles. Stevens continued to threaten, driving past Ferdinand Bartley before being halted by an excellent last-ditch tackle from Reece Sugars.
Lewis Belgrave struck a free kick into the wall from a dangerous position before Eastwood came agonisingly close.
Declan Dunn’s free kick was misjudged by Smith-Eccles, allowing Phil Watt to head the ball over the stranded keeper. Jake Wright looked certain to score with the goal gaping, but Bartley produced a superb goal-saving tackle to deny the skipper.
Flanagan later tried his luck from distance, only to see Smith-Eccles equal to the effort.
Hucknall took the lead in the 41st minute when Luis Parkes delivered a perfect corner into a crowded penalty area, where Reece Sugars rose highest to head home.
Joe Ashurst almost doubled the visitors’ advantage shortly after, but his shot took a deflection and went out for a corner.
Despite the scoreline, there was little to separate the sides in a contest largely dictated by the difficult conditions and offering little for the neutral.
Eastwood made an instant impact after the restart, levelling the score within 60 seconds.
Joel Stevens chased down a hopeful ball, dispossessed Bartley, skipped past Sugars and delivered a dangerous cross.
Hucknall failed to clear their lines, allowing substitute Kieran Hayes — introduced at half-time — to bundle the ball over the line.
Stevens continued to be Eastwood’s main outlet, jinking into the box once more before seeing his shot blocked behind for a corner.
Louis Nicholson then came inches away from giving the hosts the lead, his effort dramatically cleared off the line.
As the rain intensified and the pitch became increasingly unplayable, the referee made the decision to abandon the match with 24 minutes still to play.
Neighbours Kimberley WM suffered anther setback in their bid for the play-offs when they lost 3-1 at home to Harrowby United.
Thomas Hill put the visitors ahead on 18 minutes and Kareem Abouraia added a second five minutes from the break.
Sacha Markelic raised home hopes when he pulled one back with nine minutes to go.
But with Max Thornberry sin-binned for the Miners near the end, Gabriel Ebede sealed it with a third in added time.
Eastwood host Skegness Town this Saturday while Kimberley are away at Newark & Sherwood United.