Hucknall Town boss Andy Ingle was in a positive mood after his side came from behind to draw 1-1 with Wisbech Town in their 2023/24 season opener on Saturday evening.

Playing in their first competitive game since winning promotion to Step Five back in April, the Yellows trailed for the best part of an hour but earned a point thanks to debutant Nathan Kelly’s 75th minute goal.

The match formed part of the United Counties League’s Ground Hop weekend and attracted an impressive crowd of 688, breaking the record for the highest attendance recorded at a UCL Hop fixture. And Ingle appeared to have been impressed by his team’s efforts on what was a significant day for the club.

He said: “We’re pleased, particularly with the second half, because we galvanised ourselves. For the first 20 minutes, leading up to the penalty, I thought we looked the better team.

“There was just a bit of confusion on who should be doing what for the penalty, but to be fair, I didn’t think it was the right decision. I thought Mitch (Leivers) got enough of the ball and the lad didn’t really go over until he’d taken another two steps.

“By and large, we’ve got to be pleased with it, because we were quite renowned for regularly getting back into games last year, so to do it again today is obviously pleasing.

“I think the energy levels were good today; we’ve got three games in a week, but we’re confident the players we’ve got can cope with it.”

Hucknall’s equaliser saw two new signings combine shortly after coming off the bench, with Kelly taking full advantage of Dillon Rawson’s excellent delivery from the left flank.

Discussing the impact his two substitutions made, Ingle said: “Dillon’s very aggressive, he’s a very strong lad. Louis (Czerwak) did everything we asked of him in the first-half, and he’s gonna be a mountain for us I think.

“I just needed somebody a little bit more aggressive and with that little bit more strength later on in the game. Louis was tiring a bit and with the games we’ve got coming up, we felt it was best to take him off.

“I just knew what Dillon would provide. He’s a very good crosser of the ball, and for NK (Kelly) to cushion it the way he did and get a really good finish was quality.

“The pass he made to set Dillon off on the run was unbelievable, I just don’t know how he saw it. He had three players around him, and he just pulled the ball back with one foot and flicked it out with the other, and he was gone.

“I couldn’t have asked for much more from those two guys in the spell that they had out there late on to be honest.”

By George Wilson