Notts Senior Cup final between Newark & Sherwood and Hucknall will be remembered for years after 6-6 draw as Hucknall won 4-3 on penalties
Romaine Graham believes his Newark & Sherwood United side will be remembered despite being pipped in an extraordinary Notts Senior Cup final.
The Highwaymen lost 4-3 on penalties after a dramatic 6-6 draw against Hucknall at Mansfield Town’s Field Mill ground on Tuesday night.
They didn’t trail once over 120 minutes but it was Hucknall celebrating in front of a big crowd of 1,025 after winning the shoot-out.
Newark were seconds from victory at one stage, having taken a 5-4 lead with a stunning Luke White free-kick in the final minute of normal time, only to concede from the last kick as league rivals Town took the tie to extra-time.
“People never really remember the team that loses but I think in this instance they will,” said proud manager Graham.
“They’ll remember this game and Whitey’s free-kick and stuff like that. It was just a great advert for Step 5 football and, in terms of the club, it was a good occasion for us.
“We’d already won by getting to the final. The icing on the cake would have been to lift the trophy, which we did a couple of seasons ago, but I’m sure we’ll get our opportunity again.”
Kameron Campbell’s early goal was cancelled out by Luis Parkes but Kieran Cummings’ double, including a penalty, gave Newark a 3-1 lead at the break.
A disputed spot-kick, awarded for handball, was converted by Niall Towle, and Bradley Wells made it 3-3 from a corner.
Louie Jarvis restored Newark’s lead on his return to the side and while Towle scored another penalty soon after, man-of-the-match White appeared to have had the final say with his 25-yard wonder strike.
There was another twist to come, however, as Wells pounced at the death after a shot came back off the post.
Newark went 6-5 up in extra-time when White scored his second of the night following a long throw.
But Towle completed a hat-trick of penalties to take the final to a shoot-out.
Newark missed their second and fifth penalties as Hucknall clinched their first Notts Senior Cup triumph in 22 years.
The Highwaymen were missing Marley Fearon, Micah Jebbison and Javanne Smith and had to put substitute keeper Ollie Cash on as an outfield player with White out on his feet.
“I would have loved to have won but it just came down to bodies,” said Graham. “We were really lacking in numbers.
“If we’d had those three players to bring on, it’s a different game because you can freshen it up.
“As it was they just had fresher bodies. We had to bring on Ollie, our sub goalie, for Luke White, who’d given everything and in the end he couldn’t move.
“He played so well and scored an absolute worldie.
“He scored two, set up a couple - he was ridiculously good. He was behind everything good that we did.
“That free-kick was good enough to win any cup final.
“When you score in the 90th minute, you’d expect we’d go on and win but it’s just the story of our season.
“We do find new and creative ways to not get over the line. We did so well, we gave everything but we gave away three penos in that game.
“One was a shocking decision, the handball, but the other two were stonewall.
“From that aspect it was disappointing but the lads worked so hard. I had to drag them off the field.
“Credit to the players. To keep going and keep getting ourselves in front, they showed me something I’ve not seen from them. There’s plenty to work with.”
Newark & Sherwood hold their end-of-season do tomorrow (Friday) and are off to Barcelona for the bank holiday weekend.
“I intend to get them all drunk in Barcelona and get them to sign on for another season!” joked Graham.
“I’ve agreed to join many a club on a night out, because they’re getting me drinks, so I know how it works.
“It’s always difficult to plan but for now it’s about assessing the damage, seeing who wants to stay and who wants to move on.
“I’ve already been working on a few targets who will strengthen us.
“We’ve got a good core and it would be great if I could retain KC (top scorer Cummings) but he’s done his job, so if he moves on to bigger and better things, I’ll shake his hand.
“If he moves on and it doesn’t work out, he can always come home.”
