Match Preview: Sutton United (h)

Hinckley AFC are back on home turf for the first of three consecutive matches at Kirkby Road as Sutton United visit in Division One.

After back-to-back away trips yielded a point, AFC are back at home with newly-promoted and in-form Sutton.

AFC will welcome back Matt Dawson following suspension and are hopeful that Jack Edwards, Harry Walker-Donovan and Isa Abraham will join him back in the matchday squad, as well as new signing Jamie Hood.

The opposition

Sutton come into the game in good form, with just one defeat in their last six league games including a win away to second-placed Droitwich Spa. They also drew with in-form OJM Black Country in the league, losing to them in the cup in midweek, with that league defeat being a narrow one at the hands of Bilston Town.

Back-to-back local derby wins over Coton Green and Paget Rangers have boosted them to ninth in the table, with 18 points from their 13 games thus far. They also boast the league’s leading scorer with Joe Gildea hitting 11 in just 11 games.

Previous meetings

The sides have never met before with Sutton promoted from Division Two last season but they will become familiar over the next couple of weeks – the same fixture happens in the League Cup in just nine days’ time.

From the dressing room

“I watched Sutton play Coventry Copsewood recently – they work really hard for each other, are good honest team and, like us, they’re also used to a 3G pitch. If we have a strong squad we fancy beating anyone at home but they’re a good side. It’s nice to be back at home and hopefully a good crowd will come and watch it.

“After a good start to the season I think they lost a few players so it took them a bit of time to adjust. Since then they’ve beaten Droitwich, drawn with OJM and narrowly lost to Bilston. So they’re a good team, and all their games are close and competitive.”

Joe Conneely

Key info

Adults: £6

Concessions: £4

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