Gardner Thrilled with Recent Run
Four goal striker Matt Gardner was thrilled to continue both his and the teams’s fine recent runs in Hinckley AFC’s 8-2 win over Stafford Town yesterday.
The former Coalville Town and Bedworth United forward scored two goals in each half to cement the strong position given by early goals from Marco Adaggio and Justin Nisbett.
‘I’m delighted. We’ve carried on winning and four more goals for myself, I can’t ask for anything more really.’
Gardner’s spectacular second half strikes – an overhead kick and a diving header – put the game to bed, but he said his favourite came before the interval.
‘They (the two in the second half) were good finishes, but I personally preferred the second one when the keeper was coming out and I dinked him. That was my favourite.
‘Everyone was saying to me in the changing room about the overhead kick, but I liked the dink because it was a good striker’s finish. But I’m happy with all my goals, however they come.’
Gardner also paid compliment to his strike partner Marco Adaggio. Between them, they have scored 27 goals for AFC this season, and Gardner is loving playing alongside the ex-Worcester City man.
‘I said this to Abbo a couple of weeks ago when I was out of the side: he’s a very good player and is too good for this level, in my opinion.
‘He’s versatile as well, he can play in that deeper role off me, whereas I don’t think I could. He’s a fantastic player, a pleasure to play with and he set my second goal up by putting it on a plate for me. I love playing with him.’
Gardner has no qualms with talking about his goal targets – he says thirty a season is his regular aim.
‘I’m not bothered by talking about my goal targets: I always think I’ll get thirty in a season. I’ve got seventeen for Hinckley now, with 26 altogether, so I’m probably aiming for between thirty and forty.
‘I try and set myself that thirty goal target every year, so we’ll see how it goes ans hopefully I can carry it on.’
Since Gardner and Robbie Millington arrived at the club in October, AFC have only lost to one team, but Gardner says the quality of the team was evident before his arrival.
‘Robbie’s a cracking player as well, but it’s not just me and Robbie. Marco’s come back into the team since then, and we’ve made one or two other additions. When I got here, we were so close to being a really good side and it seems to have clicked now.
‘It’s onwards and upwards from here, because I can’t see anyone stopping us in this league.’
The thirty year old striker also reserved praise for the club’s fans, who he says are extremely ‘encouraging’.
‘The fans are fantastic. They’re here every week supporting the team. I gave a couple of them a high five when I scored my third, and they’re so encouraging.
‘They never get at you, I always hear them saying that everything should go for us. If you miss a chance, they don’t get on your back – they’re top supporters.’
