The first half was an end-to end affair. Lancaster made the better chances of their possession after a bright start by Hucknall. Brian Welch put lancaster in the lead having left the Hucknall no 5. (a nasty piece of work if ever I saw one) for dead. City were then awarded a non-penalty by the referee, the keeper came out and caught the ball, Welch simply went over the top as he challenged for the ball. The ref was probably the only person in the ground who thought it was a pen. Whittaker stepped up but blazed it over the bar. Minutes later, another penalty at the other end was converted by the lively Clint Marcelle.

The second half was a scrappy affair with Hucknall seizing the initiative and taking the lead midway through the second half. It could have been more, but Marcelle failed to finish having been put through on goal.

Overall Hucknall deserved the 3pts and I was very impressed with the way the manager kept the team in shape from start to finish.

That no. 5 though, wouldn't want to meet him in a dark alley.

Nice to see a 'Neutral's' point of view

No.5 is Stuart Hicks, really nice chap. You get to see him 3 more times if you go to all our games...!

I'm presuming you didnt go then Andy. Good call. It wasnt exactly the stuff to send the pulses racing.

After about 5 mins there was a throw in which your no5 stood up to the lancaster player he was staring at him like a nutter shouting 'I'll fkin kill you, ill snap you in half'. It was only a throw in!!

One thing I forgot was Huckanll's no2, who was turned inside and out in the 1st half was very lucky to get away with a little kick at a Lancaster player. Somehow the linesman got away with it.

Is that Starbuck still the manager then? He did more running than most of the players! And the assistant looks like the bloke that flogs nicked car radios in the pub!!

As for the Chairman's Cup, I don't know how that will go. Hucknall were certainly a decent side, we'll have to do well to win away.

Blyth need a good run of results. Its relegation-fighting time again unfortunately. The financial problems are mounting up and we don't have any major financial backers so survival really is the name of the game. That said, a cup in the cabinet would give everyone a massive lift. We won the President's Cup 5 years back and even though its a bit Mickey Mouse it really does mean a lot to everyone.