Abbott Takes Positives Despite Result

Hinckley AFC manager Carl Abbott was pleased with his side’s performance despite the 3-0 loss to Highgate United yesterday.

The sides went into the interval on level terms, but three second half goals from the visitors meant that Highgate took all three points.

Abbott was disappointed by last week’s performance at Tipton, but felt that the players responded well against Highgate despite the result. He said ‘It was a relatively good performance today, which is what we asked for after last Saturday’s performance at Tipton, which was well below par.

‘Before that game, the results haven’t been there but the performances have been very good, but the scores and the results haven’t told the full story.

‘We were in that territory again today, but I don’t want to bemoan bad luck. I want to try and put a positive spin on things.’

Abbott said that one of the positives was the performance of the new players. Nathan Jackson, John Cordy and Jordan Nadat all started the game, with Asa Wright an unused substitute.

‘We’ve brought in four new players, who have started today, and we had another one on the bench as well. I thought the new acquisitions were fantastic.

‘We’ve done that hard work in bringing players in, but then half an hour before kick off we’re left with no fit central defenders. John Clapp broke down before kick off, and Dominic Smith is still unwell.

‘I can’t speak highly enough of Avun Jephcott and John Cordy. They are both central midfielders, but dropped into the back four today and they did very well.

‘We haven’t taken our chances, and that’s probably come back to bite us a little bit, but it was a good performance and I remain convinced that we will come out of this spell.

‘Nathan is a real unit. He’s a massive presence in the middle of the park, with good ability, especially when he keeps his game simple. His surging runs through the middle of the park are a real asset.

‘Up front, Jordan Nadat gives us something that we haven’t had yet, with his pace, power and his ability to turn defenders.

I’m hoping that Marco Adaggio will be available next week. He’s a similar player to Jordan, and there is so much ability still to come back into the side with him and JJ Melligan still out.’

Another healthy crowd of 147 saw the match at St John’s Park, and Abbott was full of praise for the way that the supporters continue to turn up in numbers, even in a difficult run of results.

‘I just wish that we could give the supporters a little bit more on the results front at the moment. We’ve got very knowledgeable fans at this football club. They know their football, and they can see the promise and that the lads are busting a gut.

‘We’ll keep plugging away, to try and do our very best for them.’

Club captain JJ Melligan was still not fit to play in the match after the injury he picked up at Littleton. Abbott also gave an update on Melligan’s fitness.

‘We’ll have to play it day by day with JJ. It’s a dead leg, the brusing has come out now, but it’s gone down his medial ligament in his knee, so striking a ball is quite painful for him.

‘He’s walking more comfortably now, and we’ll try and get him jogging again during the week.’