Grays Athletic v Hucknall Town
The FA Trophy Final
Aston Villa FC, Villa Park
12.30pm, 22 May 2005


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Grays Athletic's Route to The Final

First Round
Hucknall Town 4- 0 Bracknell Town
Hucknall eased past their Southern League Western Division opponents, although Bracknell were the first to show with two spurned chances inside 15 minutes.

Town took the lead after 24 minutes when Danny Bacon received the ball in the area, with his back to goal, and squared it to the edge of the area, where Player / Manager Dean Barrick hit a low fierce drive, which got a deflection on its way into the net. Town increased their lead seven minutes into the second half when a cross field pass by Dean Barrick was touched on by Danny Bacon to Mark Smith, he controlled the ball well and raced away down the middle of the park with defenders trailing in his wake, he steadied himself inside the area and coolly slipped the ball past Poyser in the Bracknell goal.

It was all over on the hour mark when Nathan Winder headed down a corner for Danny Bacon to prodded the ball home from 6 yards. Gary Ricketts then had a goal disallowed for offside but finally got on the scoresheet with minutes remaining, heading home an Andy Todd cross. Hucknall gained just reward against a Bracknell side who showed limited ambition once they went a goal down.

Second Round
Hucknall Town 2 -1 Radcliffe Borough
Hucknall shaded a very physical tie against a spirited Unibond Premier Division team.

Hucknall took an early second minute lead when Alistair Asher fired in a free kick to the far post, Gary Ricketts headed down to Danny Bacon, who controlled and turned past a defender before shooting back across goal and into the corner of the net. Radcliffe then had to come out of their shell and although they enjoyed plenty of possession the Hucknall back line held firm apart from when Matt Taylor produced a great save to deny Phil Denney mid-way through the first half.

On the half hour Radcliffe drew level after Nathan Winder had partially foiled Richard Battersby, but the ball fell lose to Denney who made no mistake from 14 yards out. Hucknall were dealt a blow early in the second half when a particularly robust challenge left Winder nursing a suspected broken leg (which turned out to keep him out the side for 6 weeks).

Dean Barrick brought himself on to grab the game by the scruff of its neck and Town duly regained the lead on 69 minutes when a cross from the left was half cleared to the edge of the area, where Mark Smith controlled the ball well before hitting a powerful low shot from 20 yards out, which was deflected past the keeper by Danny Bacon.

Third Round
Southport 2 -2 Hucknall Town
Hucknall started in confident style against the new Nationwide North Champions on their home turf, with new signing Greg Smith making his debut in goal. 

They took the lead in the 19th minute when Mark Smith raced past the Southport left back and swung in a delightful cross to the penalty spot, where Gary Ricketts was on hand to fire home with an excellent overhead shot. Four minutes later and Town were two up, good work by Steve Palmer and then Roy Hunter saw the ball end up with Danny Bacon, he turned inside his defender and hit a low shot into the net off the inside of the post. On the half hour it should have been three when the livewire Mark Smith cut inside and smashed a shot against the crossbar.

The expected happened in the second-half and Southport camped out in the Town half for most of the period. With Town’s defence holding firm it took a triple substitution by the Sandgrounders on the hour mark to get a goal back, with Terry Fearns racing clear of the defence to coolly slot the ball under Smith.

Town were reduced to ten men with 14 minutes remaining when Winder was sent off for a rash challenge. Southport finally managed to equalise in the third minute of injury time when Steve Daly headed home.

Third Round Replay
Hucknall Town 1 – 0 Southport
Both managers named unchanged teams and both sides started where they left off the Saturday previous. Within the first four minutes Danny Bacon and hit the post for Town and Farrell Kilbane had for Southport. Both sides spurned more chances in a highly entertaining first half but Town scored the decisive goal with only four minutes of the half remaining – albeit against the run of play.

A corner from the right by Roy Hunter, dropped to Chris Timons, his first time effort was blocked, but fell to Danny Bacon, who fired through a group of players to give the home side the lead. The second half was again a siege on Hucknall’s defence, who this time managed to stand firm and restrict Southport to half chances and long range efforts.

Town nearly increased their lead with minutes remaining when Bacon saw his shot well saved by the opposing custodian.

Fourth Round
Northwich Victoria 0 – 1 Hucknall Town
Hucknall met Conference National side Northwich and met them for commitment and skill for the majority of the match. Town were first to show with good possession in the early stages with Gary Ricketts seeing a shot go over and then having an effort ruled out for offside on the half hour mark.

Greg Smith in the Hucknall goal was having a quiet day. With the second half going the same way as the first and Town made the breakthrough halfway through when Mark Smith hurried Carr into a poor back pass to Connett, a divot and poor control let him down and Smith got to the loose ball first to head it goal-wards, and then follow up with another touch to make sure the ball was in the back of the net.

Hucknall expected a Northwich onslaught but it never cam e and Town felt themselves unlucky not to go two up when after good work by Roy Hunter, Andy Todd’s shot hit the foot of the post. Dean Barrick was not surprisingly delighted with his team’s efforts: "we had to work hard and keep our concentration, which we did superbly, and we got the reward we deserved," he said afterwards.

Fifth Round
Cambridge City 1-0 Hucknall Town
Yet another away tie saw Town against the team that finished second in the Nationwide South. And they fought their way through on a difficult pitch in driving rain. Both sides found it difficult to impose themselves in the first half and chances went begging at both ends with Bacon and Todd both going close for Town and Matt Robinson seeing a shot easier saved by Greg Smith in the Hucknall goal.

A forced change at half time by Town with Nathan Winder replacing the injured Steve Palmer saw then take the lead after just five minutes. A strong run by Todd was cleared for a corner, the ball was played in to the near post, Gary Ricketts headed down, and Nathan Winder got to the ball first to crack home a volley from 12 yards out, much to the delight of the travelling Hucknall fans.

Cambridge looked to hit back straight away, but found came up a solid Hucknall back four who gave little away, and reduced them to mostly long range efforts, which were easy stuff for Greg Smith to deal with. With 15 minutes left Town almost doubled the lead when Ricketts got his head to a Hunter corner only to see it cleared off the line.

Despite the addition of three minutes added time, Cambridge were unable to find a way back into the game, and it was the Hucknall fans who celebrated at the final whistle. Dean Barrick's side had to defend for much of the second half, and they did so in excellent manner.

Sixth Round
Hereford United 2-2 Hucknall Town
Hucknall had to fight back after conceding an early goal, but in the end were worthy of the replay at Watnall Road. Hereford opened the game strongly, passing the ball well all over the pitch, and they took the lead in the 3rd minute. A ball was played across the Hucknall area, and Craig Stanley was first to it, and hit a sweet low strike into the corner of the net Hucknall were struggling to contain a lively Hereford side, and were happy to see Stanley clip another effort over the bar from 18 yards in the 13th minute.

Hucknall continued to battle and got themselves back into the game on 21 minutes, Andy Todd controlled an Alistair Asher clearance, and fired the ball wide to Mark Smith, he cut inside his defender and struck a low shot past Craig Mawson to bring the visitors level. Hereford continued to push forward, and Hucknall were happy to keep them at bay, the only release coming on the half hour, when Danny Bacon nodded down to Roy Hunter, but his low shot was wide of the target from 20 yards.

Gary Ricketts had another half chance, but fired into the side netting, and the home side made him pay when they regained the lead a minute before half time. A Hereford corner was only half cleared, and when the ball was played back in, a defensive header fell at the feet of Mark Robinson, his half volley rising into the roof of the net with Greg Smith well beaten.

With the home side dominating the first half, things did not look too good for Hucknall, but they stuck to their task, and denied Hereford any clear openings during the early stages of the second half. And with and hour showing on the clock it was Hucknall who scored again to bring the scores level.

Dean Barrick hit the ball to Gary Ricketts, he nodded down to Danny Bacon, who fed the ball on to Andy Todd, he took a couple of paces before passing to Mark Smith, who took one touch before firing low into the corner of the net past Mawson. Hucknall came under almost constant pressure from the home side as they went in search of a winner, but once again the Hucknall defence was more than a match for anything thrown at them, and the home side always had to be aware of Bacon, Ricketts and Todd when Hucknall did manage to break out. Chances in the remainder of the half were hard to come by, as Hucknall soaked up the home sides attacks, and caused problems of their own when they got into the Hereford half. 

Sixth Round Replay
Hucknall Town 1-0 Hereford United
The biggest game in Hucknall Towns history turned into the biggest celebration as the home side saw off the BBC's most favourite giant killers

Nearly 1600 fans packed into Watnall Road and they had to endure a tension filled night. The first 15 minutes saw both sides battle for supremacy, but they were cancelling each other out. A long range effort from Lee Mills went wide on 15 minutes before Smith in the Hucknall goal had to do well to turn away an effort from Hyde.

The home side opened the scoring in the 31st minute. Dean Barrick passed wide to Andy Todd, he clipped the ball back to Barrick as he ran into the area, Barrick slipped the ball past the advancing Mawson, and at the second attempt, Danny Bacon slotted the ball into the back of the net from a yard out. Hereford continued to press forward, but they were unable to find a way, over, round or under the Hucknall defence, and the only scare came from a free kick 20 yards out, but Danny Williams effort was easily saved by Greg Smith in the home goal. Hereford started the second half strongly, but they were dealt a blow on 54 minutes when defender Tony James appeared to twist his ankle as he tried to clear, and was taken off the pitch on a stretcher. to be replaced by Andy Tretton.

Just before the hour mark, Hereford almost levelled the scores, a cross from the right evading everyone before just missing the far post. Hereford continued to search for an equaliser, and just after the hour mark, Hucknall could only clear a corner to the edge of the area, and Jamie Pitman hit a superb volley goalwards, only to see Greg Smith turn the shot away for a corner with an excellent save.

Hereford forced four corners, but they were unable to make them pay as the Hucknall defence worked hard to keep them at bay. As the second half progressed the home fans became more nervous as Hereford put the home side under pressure, but with man of the match Player/Manager Dean Barrick marshalling his defence superbly, Hucknall were able to see off the challenge of their more senior rivals.

Semi Final – First Leg
Bishops Stortford 1-2 Hucknall Town
Hucknall went into the 2nd leg a goal to the good, but will have to play just as well again to ensure they maintain the lead against a Bishop's Stortford side who will no doubt be well motivated. Dean Barrick returned to the starting line up that has done so well this season, James Lindley making a welcome return to the bench as Goalkeeper cover.

With a large contingent from Hucknall making plenty of noise, the visitors made the best possible start, when they took the lead in the 3rd minute. Roy Hunter launched a long throw from the right hand side, which was headed down by Gary Ricketts, the ball fell to Andy Todd who drilled the ball into the net through a crowd of players. Two minutes later they could of extended their lead, with the same set up this time falling to Steve Palmer, who kept his shot down, but saw it drift wide of the target. Bishop's came back into the game, and forced two free kicks, but neither of these could trouble keeper Greg Smith, but with just 14 minutes on the clock, the home side got themselves level.

A corner from the left was swung in to the near post; it was flicked on by Ben Lewis to the back post, where Tim Langer was unmarked to head the ball into the net off the underside of the crossbar. Shortly after, the home side put another dangerous free kick to the back post, but this time Howell could not direct his shot, and it went out for a goal kick, near the corner flag. Danny Bacon latched on to a loose ball on 19 minutes, but his low drive from 20 yards was straight at homekeeper Andrew Young, but Hucknall should have regained the lead on 23 minutes. A free kick was hit to the back post by Roy Hunter, and Andy Todd just failed to make contact when unmarked.

A minute later, Town were back on the attack, this time Gary Ricketts worked himself some space, but his shot was deflected for a corner, which was cleared. Hucknall were pushing forward, and Mark Smith had the next chance, but he shot wide after Danny Bacon had put him through, and just after the half hour mark, Smith broke down the left wing and centred for Bacon, but his bobbled shot went just wide of the upright with Young beaten. Hucknall did however regain the lead in the 34th minute. Steve Palmer played the ball to Ricketts, who swapped passes with Bacon before driving a low shot past the despairing dive of Young In 1st half stoppage time.

Hucknall started the second half well, and had an early opportunity to score, Alistair Asher sending a free kick to the back post, Andy Todd got in a header, but it flew wide as he put the ball back across the goal. Bishop's then enjoyed a lengthy period of Possession that very nearly bought them an equaliser. A long throw from the right was only half cleared and Smith had to get down well to smother a shot from Jackman, and on 57 minutes, Jackman was again clear on goal after Russell Cooke slipped, but his shot was superbly fisted away for a corner by Smith.

The resulting corner was only half cleared, and when the ball was played back in, Lekeladio Thanda should have done better with a diving header. Having weathered the storm, Hucknall slowly got back in to the game, and dominated it for the final third, and could easily have scored again. Roy Hunter fired high over the bar when a Corner was played to him on the edge of the area, and on 73 minutes Mark Smith did good work down the right before squaring to Palmer, he tried a delicate chip over the keeper from 18 yards, but Young got up well to tip the ball over the bar.

Hunter saw another low drive from 20 yards out well saved by Young, and Gary Ricketts was unable to get a header on target from a Barrick corner, as Hucknall saw plenty of the ball. With both sides getting tired, Hucknall seemed content to run the clock down, which they did without further scare to secure an excellent win in the first half of this tie.

Semi Final – Second Leg
Hucknall Town 3 -2 Bishops Stortford
Hucknall Town win 5-3 on aggregate
Hucknall Town and Bishop's Stortford locked horns again, as both sides strived for a place in the cup final at Villa Park.

Bishop's started the stronger in the opening minutes, but came up against a resolute Hucknall defence, with just a Steve Morison effort going wide from 20 yards to show for their efforts. Hucknall pushed foward, and not for the first time, Gary Ricketts nodded the ball down to Danny Bacon, he pushed the ball past his defender and fired a vicious shot into the roof of the net to give the home side the lead, and a two goal advantage.

Bishop's Stortford pushed forward for a goal that would bring them back into the tie, but chances for both Howell and Jackman were both well high of the target, and with the half hour an hour gone it was the home side who increased their lead. Dean Barrick played a ball up to Danny Bacon, and as he went to control the ball he was clatttered into by a defender, the Referee pointing to the spot immediately.

Roy Hunter took centre stage, and sent the keeper the wrong way to put Hucknall two goals ahead. Bishop's were not knocked out of their stride however, and came straight back at the hosts, winning a corner on the left. A perfect delivery into the 6 yard box was me by the head of Magnus Okuonghae, who headed the ball firmly into the back of the net to bring the Visitors back into the game.

The second half opened with Hucknall winning two early corners, but they were unable to make anything of them, and Bishop's Stortford were soon putting on the pressure as they tried to get themselves back into the game. Two corners were forced by the visitors, but they too were unable to apply a finishing touch, and just before the hour mark it was Hucknall who had the next chance, Bacon releasing the ball wide to Mark Smith, but his shot was well over the bar as he was closed down.

On 62 minutes, Bishop's dragged themselves back into the tie. a long punt forward was chased back by Chris Timons, he appeared to be fouled by Duane Jackman, but the Referee waved play on, and the Bishop's forward strode on, and placed the ball neatly past the advancing Greg Smith for the equaliser. The tie was now back to being a one goal game, and the Hucknall defence was having to work hard to keep the visitors at bay. They earned some relief on 64 minutes, a long throw from Roy Hunter fell at the feet of Danny Bacon, but he was unable to get a shot in, and Andrew Young pounced on the ball and then cleared.

With 69 minutes gone, Bishop's almost leveled the tie, Jackman again got free down the right of the area, outpaced a defender, but could not keep his shot down from 16 yards, and could only watch in anguish as the ball went over the cross bar. With 15 minutes left on the clock, Hucknall were awarded a free kick when Ben Lewis handled the ball as he tried to clear under pressure from Danny Bacon, as the last man, the defender was lucky to get away with just a caution.

The free kick was fired over the bar by Dean Barrick. Mark Smith had a chance 2 minutes later, but he could not find the target, and at the other end, Okuonghae headed narrowly wide from a Bishop's free kick. A goalmouth scramble was cleared by the visitors defence as Gary Ricketts tried to shoot home a loose ball, and Steve Morison almost got on target at the other end, but could only steer his header wide as both sides pushed forward.

Hucknall got the killer goal with just six minutes left on the clock. a corner from the right was headed back by Gary Ricketts at the far post, and eventually fell at the feet of Chris Timons, his low drive appeared to have been stopped on the line, but the Linesman indicated it had crossed the whitewash, much to the delight of the home supporters. Hucknall were now able to relax, and could run the clock down as the crowd became increasingly excited, and when the final whistle blew the party could begin at Watnall Road.

Hucknall now face Grays Athletic in The Final, click here to read how they made it to Villa Park...