Pre-season friendly
Watnall Road
Tuesday, 3rd August 2004, 7.30pm
The record books will show a 5-1 defeat but in reality the score-line was very harsh on a much-improved Gresley performance.
Conference North Hucknall Town were favourite to win this pre-season friendly but were run close especially in the first half.
Gresley threatened the home goal during the first 15 minutes and a shot from Aaron O'Connor on 18 minutes was well held by Town's keeper Matt Turner.
Two minutes later Town hit back with a terrific free kick. Awarded the kick 25 yards out Dean Barrick fired in a thunderous shot that cannoned back off the bar with Dale Belford beaten.
On 28 minutes Liam Hebberd made a fine run down the right and after leaving a defender for dead but his shot went just wide.
Town took the lead on 32 minutes when Andy Todd turned Gresley defender John Branch before beating Belford at the near post.
They doubled their lead just four minutes later when Danny Bacon, looking suspiciously offside, collected the ball on the left and his mis-hit shot flew over the head of the visitor's keeper.
Gresley almost got a goal back just before the break but Jamie Barrett unfortunately put his shot wide of the mark.
They did get a goal back in the second half. Nathan Tate, after some good work, laid on a fine pass to Hebberd who slotted the ball home with the help of the inside of a post.
On 56 minutes Town re-gained their two-goal lead when a cross from Danny Mayman was met by a powerful header that beat substitute keeper, 15-year-old Cameron Belford, on in place of his injured father.
The young keeper was then called on to face a penalty shot when a clumsy tackle by Jamie Hood allowed Andy Todd to send Cameron the wrong way.
Town's fifth of the evening came on 62 minutes when Bacon beating the offside trap to collected Dean Barricks pass and slotted the ball past the advancing keeper.
