Frustration as dominant Skegness Town are pipped in opener at Hucknall Town
Skegness Town manager Gary King was left frustrated as his side were pipped 3-2 at Hucknall Town in an opening game of the UCL Premier North season they had dominated for large spells on Saturday.
“We were disappointed not to get even a point,” he said. “We had managed to not concede many goals at the back end of pre-season and went into this game with lots of optimism.
“But we came away with nothing from a game in which, on the balance of play for 70 minutes, we were the superior side. We now just have to dust ourselves down.”
Luke Rayner-Mistry asked early questions of Hucknall as he had a penalty appeal turned down and forced a save from the keeper while Lucas Dakin hit a post and Johnson grazed the bar as Skegness controlled matters.
But Trevell Lindo put Hucknall ahead from a set play just before the break.
Dakin levelled matters in the opening minute of the second half.
But as the game became stretched, with 16 minutes left Gabriel Ebede restored Hucknall's lead and netted again seven minutes later.
Kyle Radford gave late hope to the Lilywhites when he netted a free kick on 89 minutes but, despite pushing hard, Hucknall held firm.
King said: “First games of the season are always tricky.
“But first half we controlled it, playing into the wind. We hit the bar and post and had plenty of chance to go ahead.
“But we then conceded a silly set play goal just before half-time, which was annoying.
“We came out of the blocks second half and scored within a minute. That was pleasing as we got the reaction we wanted.
“If I am honest, having the wind with us, we stopped playing football and tried to go long, looking for the win.
“ As soon as we did that, balls were running out of play here, there and everywhere and the game became really stretched.
“Hucknall then scored with two great finishes out of nothing and we were up against it.
“We did pull one back from a free kick and huffed and puffed to try to level.”
Tomorrow night (Wednesday) Skegness welcome Deeping Rangers (7.45pm) under their new LED floodlights before hosting Hinckley on Saturday.