Cadbury Athletic 0-1 Hinckley AFC
Marco Adaggio’s goal in first half stoppage time was enough to separate Cadbury Athletic and Hinckley AFC on the opening day of the Midland League season.
It was a cagey first game of the season at a sunny Triplex Sports Association ground, with Adaggio’s header being the only difference between the sides, but The Chocolatemen will count themselves unlucky not to have found the net with Jack Hartopp impressing in the Hinckley goal.
Hinckley named five debutants in their side, with Jamie Newton, Liam Smith, Jean Kalenda, Neil MacKenzie and Javia Roberts all pulling the shirt on for the first time in competitive matches.
A healthy Hinckley contingent travelled to Kings Norton for the first match of the club’s second season, and their side were on the front foot early on thanks to Adaggio’s pressure.
But there were few notable chances on a warm summers’ day, and it took until 38 minutes for either side to come close, when Nathan Walker’s sublime chip struck the bar.
After that, Hinckley started to apply prolonged pressure on the Cadbury goal, and new club captain Luke Richards saw his snapshot fly narrowly wide of the far post.
Then, Walker’s effort was deflected wide for a corner, from which Hinckley took the lead. Richards’ strength gave him the space to fire off a shot which was parried, and Adaggio nodded home his 25th goal for the club from the close range rebound to give AFC the ascendancy at the break.
Richards remained a threat through the early stages of the second half, with a cross-shot evading Javia Roberts at the far post before firing a shot wide after a powerful run.
As the half wore on, Cadbury gained the ascendancy, and after Hartopp clawed away a corner, the AFC ‘keeper denied Ryan Spink from point blank range as the Hinckley defence were caught out by a left wing cross.
Hartopp’s fine save ensured his side returned to Leicestershire with all three points, and they are now 27 league matches unbeaten in a run that stretches back to October.
Cadbury: Shaun Hayes, Stuart Cooke, Brett Lloyd, Jake Willcox, Ben Judd, Joseph Brookes, Ryan Spink, Andrew Cooper, Stuart Butcher, Dean Lea, Josh Harris-James. Substitutes: Nathan Roberts, Jak Walton, Adrian Parkes, Josh Westwood, Colin Matthews.
Hinckley: Jack Hartopp, Jamie Newton, Liam Smith, Jean Kalenda, Alex Morris, Neil MacKenzie (Mitchell Tomlinson 75), Javia Roberts, Nathan Walker, Simon Johnson (Sean Williams 75), Marco Adaggio, Luke Richards. Subs not used: Oli Basham, Ryan Taylor, Justin Nisbett.
Goal: Marco Adaggio (45)
