Hinckley AFC manager Carl Abbott labelled his side’s 4-3 semi-final first leg defeat to St Andrews in the League Cup as “fiercely competitive”.
The game swung back and forth like a pendulum as the Andrews took a two goal lead early on, only for Hinckley to turn the game on its head by half time.
The hosts scored twice again after the break, though, to take a slender advantage into the second leg.
But despite that one goal deficit, Abbott wasn’t too disheartened after the match. He said: “I thought it was a good game.
It was a bit spiky at times, and there was some decent stuff played by two good sides. We both went at it blood and thunder.
“2-0 down after five minutes was a disastrous start having actually started well in possession from the kick off and looked comfortable.
“But we got ourselves back to 2-2 and then went 3-2 up by half time, but despite that I’m relatively content with our goal deficit at half time in the tie.
“We caused each other a few problems and there’s everything to play for in the second leg. I was pleased with the lads tonight, they worked really hard and put a good shift in.”
The former Wolves Casuals boss did admit that his side will have to be better defensively in the second leg, and bemoaned the issues at the back that cost them at Canal Street.
“I’d like us to be better defensively. I didn’t think St Andrews were that bad defensively but I thought we caused them loads of problems, our problems were more of our own making.
“We’ve created chances and they’ve been given chances. That’s not good enough from our perspective.
“But overall it was a good performance and the lads did well against a top eight side from the Premier Division. They’ve got some very good players, I’ve got great respect for them.
“The records will show that we’ve lost the game but it’s only half time and we’re still in the tie and I believe we can win it.”
