Hinckley AFC play their first match of 2024 as they kick off the new year with a visit to Stapenhill, subject to a morning pitch inspection.
AFC will be looking to begin the new year as they ended the last, having beaten Wednesfield 4-0 last weekend for a 10th successive league win.
Now they’ll hope to start 2024 in similar fashion with a visit to a Stapenhill side looking to rekindle their form from the opening stages of the season.
The opposition
Having started the season with six wins in eight, Stapenhill looked an early title contender but a run of just two league wins since 9th September has seen them slip out of the play-offs.
They are currently winless in five Division One games, but have drawn three of them to sit in 13th place with 28 points from their 20 games. They also have games in hand on many of the sides above them.
Their home form has been a key plus for them this season – unbeaten at Maple Grove since mid-September’s defeat to Droitwich Spa, a run salvaged with a late equaliser at home to Heather St John’s on Boxing Day.
Sam Birks, George Teeney and Ryan King are all in, or close to, double figures for goals this season while the eye-catching recent signing of Steve Hart, who hit 50 goals in one season for Hinckley six years ago, will also add to their goal threat. Hart has scored in both games since re-joining the Swans just before Christmas.
Previous meetings
This is the first meeting of the season – indeed the sides haven’t met in the league since October 2022. Hinckley won both meetings last season 3-2 – coming from 2-0 down on a swelteringly hot August day at Kirkby Road before winning by the same scoreline at Maple Grove. Zaki Evans was on the scoresheet for Stapenhill in the first of those matches, before joining Hinckley this summer.
The teams also met in the League Cup quarter-final, with Hinckley progressing 4-0 on their way to lifting the trophy at the Bescot Stadium.
AFC have won four of the previous six meetings with the Swans, with the first match ending in a 2-2 draw and Stapenhill winning in Ibstock back in 2019.
Key information
Stapenhill play at Edge Hill, Maple Grove, Stapenhill, Burton-on-Trent, DE15 9NN. After this week’s heavy rainfall, there will be a 10am pitch inspection at Maple Grove to determine whether the match can take place.
Adults: £6
Concessions: £4
