Hinckley AFC 4-1 Kirby Muxloe

Hinckley AFC reached the 100-point landmark and confirmed a second-place finish in the United Counties Division One after a 4-1 win over Kirby Muxloe.

The victory was AFC’s second in 48 hours at a sun-drenched Kirkby Road as they followed up Saturday’s 5-0 win over Dunkirk.

Charlie Evans backed up his hat-trick from Saturday with another two to help AFC to six points and nine goals from their Easter weekend double header.

It took just 51 seconds for AFC to open the scoring. A neat move down the right ended with Drew Kear crossing into the box, where Isa Abraham flicked on and Evans converted on the far post.

And by the time five minutes were on the clock, it was two. Abraham turned scorer, nodding home on the line after Tyson Knight headed Lewis Rankin’s set piece back across goal.

Tyler Love struck wide after a neat visitors move but Hinckley controlled the early stages. Abraham then thought he had a second, only to be denied by the flag after he’d volleyed home Jeremie Agholor’s delightful chip. 

Abraham was then denied by Kirby stopper Rob Peet, but Hinckley weren’t to be held off for much longer. The resulting set piece was worked well, allowing Abraham to cross for Evans to slam home.

After that, Kirby got more of a control on the game and got their reward on the half hour when Adam Parry beat the offside trap and poked home on the angle.

Had half time substitute Lewis Noble found the net with the opening chance of the second half, instead of lashing narrowly wide, then it could have made for a nervy ending for the home fans.

But while Kirby had plenty of the ball after the break, that and a Jude Coates strike were the only time Matt Hill felt threatened in the Hinckley goal.

And Hinckley wrapped the game up late on when substitute Ryan Harkin was played onside, beat his man and buried low into the bottom corner.

Hinckley could have added more with Harkin twice denied by Peet, the keeper also saving from Knight and Rankin.

But three more points marked a solid weekend for Courtney Belford’s men with the runners-up spot and home advantage in the play-offs now confirmed.

Hinckley: Matt Hill, Drew Kear, Mikkel Hirst (Ben Vallance 74), Tyson Knight, Luke Wilson, Ben Whitehead, Jeremie Agholor (Harry Sawyer 66), Liam Cairns, Charlie Evans, Lewis Rankin, Isa Abraham (Ryan Harkin 66). Subs not used: Ben Newport, Dom Alleyne

Goals: Charlie Evans (1, 23), Isa Abraham (5), Ryan Harkin (80)

Kirby: Rob Peet, Ben White, Taylor Blatchford, Josh Gunn, Jack O’Brien, Dan Sheahan (Bashir Ahmed 83), Jack Gunn, Tyler Love, Jude Coates, Adam Parry, Joe Kerins (Lewis Noble 46). Sub not used: Liam Joyce

Goal: Adam Parry (28)

Attendance: 215

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