Wolves Sporting 0-5 Hinckley AFC
Hinckley AFC progressed to the next round of the FA Vase after a convincing second half showing saw them overcome Wolves Sporting.
Despite holding a 1-0 lead at the interval through Javia Roberts, Hinckley weren’t at their fluent best in the first half and the West Midlands Regional League side had chances of their own.
But the second half saw a ruthless AFC take to the pitch, and two goals from new signing Jordan Nadat, sandwiched by goals from Darious Darkin and Sean Williams, helped Carl Abbott’s side through to the Second Qualifying Round.
Hinckley made four changes to the side that overcame landlords Heather St John’s on Monday as Sam Arnold, Jean Kalenda, Neil MacKenzie and Roberts all returned to the starting line up.
Hinckley took a while to get going, and were thwarted by the home side’s packed midfield. Although the majority of Sporting’s efforts were from long range, Arnold had to be alert to deny the hosts from close range.
That save was to prove crucial, as six minutes before half time the deadlock was broken. Richards’ fizzing cross from the left wing was met by the diminutive Roberts, who leapt high and powerfully headed home his third goal for the club.
After the interval, Hinckley came out of the traps well and quickly started to dominate their hosts, doubling their lead when Darkin’s twenty yard strike found the top corner.
That was Darkin’s first goal for the club, and another player opened their account shortly afterwards. Nadat, having joined Hinckley for a second time from Sutton Coldfield Town on Friday, added a third with a far post header.
And Nadat made it a dream return to Hinckley colours when he received the ball in the left channel, turned and slotted the ball into the far corner to make it 4-0.
With progression to the Second Qualifying Round assured, Williams added gloss to the scoreline late on with a remarkable strike. From close to the byline, he unleashed a swerving effort that powered into the far corner and ripped the net from its post.
The confident second half performance assured progression for AFC, and they will now face Bromyard Town in the next round on Saturday 3rd October at St John’s Park.
Wolves Sporting: Luke Stevens, Shaquille Reid, Jamal Fuller, Liam Cain, Nathan Cain, Scott Cooper, Arnold Chaponda, Alex Moore, Jon Letford, Jake Healy, Ray Facey. Substitutes: Alister Brauns, Jake Morgan, Kelvin Mathe, Stefan Cameron, James Quarry.
Hinckley: Sam Arnold, Mitchell Tomlinson, Rico Taylor, Dom Smith, Alex Morris, Neil MacKenzie, Javia Roberts (Ryan Taylor 76), Jean Kalenda, Darious Darkin (Sean Williams 65), Marco Adaggio, Luke Richards (Jordan Nadat 65). Subs not used: Jamie Newton, Jack Jepson
Goals: Javia Roberts (39), Darious Darkin (51), Jordan Nadat (69, 80), Sean Williams (89).
