Hinckley AFC play the first of three games in seven days in the Midland League Division One tomorrow evening with the visit to Wolves Sporting.
AFC will be hoping it’s fourth time lucky for their away game at Pride Park, after one abandonment and two postponements for the previous three attempts at playing the match.
And after Saturday’s late victory at Droitwich Spa, Hinckley will head to Staffordshire hoping to make it back-to-back away league wins.
The opposition
Sporting have nine matches still to play and sit six points above the relegation zone with games in hand on all of the sides around them.
They ran promotion-chasing OJM Black Country close on Saturday, going down to a 1-0 defeat, and prior to that beat AFC Bridgnorth 3-1 to widen the gap between themselves and the bottom three.
Despite their league position, they have proven tough to beat for many sides this season. Three of their last four defeats have been 1-0, and they have the meanest defence outside the top nine. They have also conceded fewer goals than third-placed Allscott Heath.
At home, they have taken three points from Droitwich Spa, Allscott Heath and OJM Black Country at home this season, while they also drew with Cradley Town.
Jack Arnold, who started the season with Cradley, is their leading scorer and has 13 for the campaign while former Hinckley duo Mitchell Tomlinson and Fortune Sibanda now play for Sporting.
Previous meetings
The reverse fixture at Kirkby Road was another game in which Sporting proved tough to beat – only Riley Davoile’s stoppage time winner earned all three points for Hinckley. Earlier in the season, AFC led 2-0 at Pride Park at half-time before the game was abandoned due to the torrential rain.
From the dressing room
“Joe and I have learnt as managers to take it completely game by game. It’ll be a tough game. They’re a good side and we had to score in the 95th minute to beat them at home. We’ve got to make sure we settle ourselves down. There’s another three points up for grabs, so we’ll have to pick the right team because there will be some tiredness after Droitwich. We’ll use the squad as best as best as we can and prepare for another tough game. They’re scrapping for points as well. Nobody will give you anything, we have to earn everything.”
Courtney Hunter-Belford
Key information
Wolves Sporting play at Pride Park, Hazel Lane, Great Wyrley, Staffordshire, WS6 6AA.
Adults: £7
Concessions: £5
