Hinckley AFC will begin 2024 tomorrow as they ended 2023 – at home to a side harbouring play-off ambitions come the end of the season.
The final game of last calendar year saw AFC overcome in-form Wednesfield at Kirkby Road with Tom Weale’s first-half brace helping Joe Conneely and Courtney Hunter-Belford’s side to a 4-0 win.
After last week’s postponement of the trip to Stapenhill, it means Hinckley’s first game of the new year will be at Kirkby Road again – against an Allscott Heath side sitting just three points outside the top five.
The opposition
Allscott’s debut season at step six has seen them settle well into life at this level – and only the fact they’ve played fewer games than everyone else means they are outside the play-off spots.
They are three points behind fifth-placed Bilston Town but with four games in hand and have notched up 11 wins from their 19 games so far.
This will be their first game since Boxing Day’s goalless draw at AFC Bridgnorth, while they were beaten 2-0 by local rivals Shawbury United just before Christmas.
Among their wins this season have been victories over Ingles, OJM Black Country and Cradley Town – with Tom Fallon their leading scorer on 10 goals.
Previous meetings
Allscott Heath were also the last team to beat Hinckley in a league match, 3-2 at the end of September at their Shawbirch Road home.
That was the only previous meeting between the sides as Hinckley’s late rally through Lewis Rankin and Matt Dawson wasn’t enough to salvage a point.
From the dressing room
“They were very effective in the reverse fixture and it was a tough place to go. They were direct, put things on top of us and made us make mistakes. We’re in a different place now but they’ll pose a test and are around the play-offs for a reason. There’s no pressure on them in their first season at this level, it’s almost a free hit for them, so we’re aware of that and have prepared for what they’re good at.
They beat us that day in September and that means they’re probably one of two teams who we owe a game, the other being Heather St John’s. It was a tough day when we played there, Josh Clews got injured and will be out for the season so that made it tough. They’ll take confidence from that so we’ve got to be the best we can be.”
Courtney Hunter-Belford
Key information
Adults: £6
Concessions: £4
Under 16s: £2 (FREE with HAFC Junior membership card)
