Hinckley AFC assistant manager Paul Tomlinson said his side were told to up their game by ten per cent at half time in their 2-0 win over Leicester Road.
The top of the table clash was goalless at the interval, before second half goals from Andy Westwood and Luke Richards gave Hinckley all three points.
Tomlinson said the players gave them exactly what he and manager Carl Abbott asked for at half time. He said: “They had a couple of chances chances and hit the post with a header but that’s all they’ve done all game, and it came from another one of our sloppy passages of play.
“They didn’t create the two or three chances that they had – we gave possession away, which put them on the attack and that’s upsetting.
“I thought we were comfortable first half, it was two decent sides feeling each other out, but we said to the lads at half time that if they could step it up another ten per cent then we’d win the game and we’d win it comfortably. That’s exactly what we did.”
Tomlinson felt the game was won in the midfield area, where Hinckley have a number of players capable of making a difference.
“We’ve got some fantastic midfield players. One of the best we haven’t seen this season and that’s JJ (Melligan), he had to come on at right back!
“We have an abundance of top quality midfielders and that’s where we really won the game second half. Pete played really well but when you’ve got players of Darious Darkin’s ilk coming on there’s no weakness in that area at all.”
Abbott’s assistant wants his side to carry their recent form into the new year after the result against a Leicester Road side who went into the day top of the league.
“From our point of view, we’re really satisfied with the three points and hopefully it sends out a little marker to teams that we’re serious contenders for this league now.
“I’m not one to blow the trumpet for the guys but in the first half we were very professional and in the second we upped the ante a little bit and they couldn’t really handle it.
“They’ve got a lot of young lads out there who are good players but they didn’t really know how to break us down in the second half and I think we won it comfortably.”
“But that means nothing if we can’t back this up next weekend. We’ve got Heather on Saturday then Heath Hayes on Monday, and then a big January when we play Bromsgrove and we’ve got the last 32 of the FA Vase.
“It’s great for this football club to be involved in games like this as an ex-player and now a coach, you thrive on this. We’re being competitive in the league and we’ve got cup runs to look forward to.
“As I said, this squad is moving onwards and upwards. We’ve got to maintain that now, keep our feet on the ground – the supporters as well – because it is just a game at a time.
“But after today’s performance, hopefully we’ve given everyone a good Christmas present and we can go and enjoy it now over the next couple of days.”
In his full video interview, Tomlinson also discusses clean sheets, squad depth and how that win is one for the supporters…
