Sean Williams will become Hinckley AFC’s leading appearance maker should he play in this afternoon’s Emirates FA Cup preliminary round tie against Aylestone Park at St John’s Park, kick off 3pm.
The versatile winger will overtake former club captain Ryan Seal and play his 90th club game if he takes to the pitch in today’s Leicestershire derby.
And though ‘Willo’ has only scored 20 goals during that time, many of them have been crucial, none more so than the fine strike which gave AFC the lead at Worksop Town in the previous round.
Hinckley and Aylestone Park have made a similar progression to this stage. Both are step six sides who recorded fine away wins at higher level opposition in the last round – Hinckley at Worksop Town and Aylestone Park at Heanor Town, who comprehensively beat Hinckley at the same stage last season.
Of their league games thus far, Hinckey have won one and lost one while Aylestone Park’s only league game to date resulted in a 5-3 win.
Despite the sides only lying ten miles or so apart, they have only met once before – back in 2014. The game saw first Hinckley starts for Jack Hartopp and Michael Healy, in which AFC recorded a 4-2 win in the Jelson Homes Senior up quarter finals with goals from Luke Richards, Healy, Marco Adaggio and Matt Gardner.
Should the tie end in a draw, the replay will take place this coming Tuesday, 22nd August, at Aylestone Park’s Mary Linwood Ground on Saffron Lane in Leicester.
The winners of the tie will progress to the first qualiying round, the draw for which is made on Monday. Hinckley reached that stage in their inaugural cup run two years ago, while this is only Aylestone Park’s second appearance in the FA Cup and they’re looking to extend their best run thus far (stats courtesy of FA Cup Factfile on Twitter). The winners will also pick up £1,925 from the FA’s prize fund.
Adults: £6
Concessions: £4
Under 16s: £2
