Weather-permitting, Hinckley AFC play for the first time since 8th February this evening with a trip to a Stapenhill side just three points below them.
And manager Courtney Belford wants his side to find their consistency ahead of a big month for his side in which they play three of the four sides directly below them in their next three games.
AFC, in seventh, face 10th-placed Stapenhill, Kirby Muxloe in eighth and GNP Sports (11th) in their next three games with all three hoping to leapfrog AFC and become the closest challengers to the top six.
But Belford says his side are still motivated to push for as high a finish as they can and are raring to go after a frustrating weather-enforced break.
He said: “It’s the start of a big month for us. Our next four games are against sides just in behind us (including Ashby Ivanhoe) and if we could get four wins that would set us up brilliantly for Brocton and Uttoxeter at the end of the month.
“We want to stay pushing to finish as high as we can. Finishing in the top four is unlikely but until it’s mathematically possible not to go up we’ll keep working for it.”
Stapenhill will fancy their chances of overtaking Hinckley in the table with a win – having won 3-1 in the reverse fixture at the Welfare Ground in August.
Belford learned a lot from that day and says his side are well-prepared for the trip. “Stapenhill are a good young side who are all from the Burton area and have been together a while.
“They’re hungry and move the ball well, and they played well at our place in August.
“Callum Riddell and Ryan King have done well for them up front and scored a lot of goals. They’re making noises and people are looking at them from higher levels.
“But there’s more to their game than just those two and we’re looking forward to the game.”
Like Hinckley, Stapenhill have had a weather-enforced break and haven’t played since 8th February when they put six past Stafford Town.
They’re unbeaten in three, but form will likely count for nothing given that both sides have had close to a month away from the pitch.
