Abbo Reflects on Comprehensive Win

Hinckley AFC manager Carl Abbott was delighted with the clinical way his side put Stafford Town to the sword in an 8-2 win yesterday.

His side scored four goals in each half to record their tenth victory in eleven, and the AFC boss says their aim now is to win all four games this month.

‘It was a super result. Everyone’s happy, and we go into the Nuneaton game trying to make it a clean sweep for the month. We’re flying, and it’s a happy camp at the moment.

‘It’s indicative of the players we’ve got at the club that they’re very clinical and we’ve certainly taken our chances today.

‘It’s a hallmark of our side really, that we get given a sniff of goal now and we can put sides to the sword quite convincingly. It’s something we’re doing on a regular basis now.’

Matt Gardner and Marco Adaggio have scored 27 goals in 25 games between them this season, and the Hinckley boss is delighted with the partnership they are forging.

‘They’re both very, very good players. They’re both very clever players, they play to their strengths and playing Marco off Matty has used Marco’s mobility and got Matty off the shoulder.

‘There’s young Michael (Healy) as well as Robbie (Millington) who have come on today and are both deadly. We’re blessed here with the quality that we’ve got around the pitch.’

Healy came off the bench to score his first league goal for the club yesterday, and Abbott says the recet signing from Alvis Sporting has the potential to go far.

‘He looks a player, doesn’t he! He’s our baby faced assassin – I love how direct he is and his first thought is to get a strike at goal.

‘He’s got good feet, good technical ability and a good touch. He’s quick, and if we can work with him and refine him a little bit then there’s a player there.

‘We’re playing the long game with him. I’ve spoken to him again today, and his starts will come later in the season. He’s come from a situation where he was playing every week, and he was doing well and scoring goals.

‘He’s come now to a big club, a good side with lots of good players who can help him come on. We’ve got some good coaches, so he’s going to get some good information, and if he sticks with it, if he applies himself and if he listens to what he’s being told then I think we’ve got a really good prospect on our hands. I’ve got really high hopes for him.’

Hinckley’s recent run has seen them rise to fifth in the league table, and Abbott says that the climb needn’t end there.

‘We’re lucky, because we’ve got a fantastic side and we’re in good shape now.

‘We’ve set ourselves a challenge now to win all the games we can and put pressure on the sides above us. We can’t control what they do, but one thing is for sure: if they slip up we’re going to pick their pockets.

‘We’re taking this little charge very seriously. We’re looking to gatecrash the top three, and if they slip up we’re going to be about it and we’ll see where that takes us. We’re going into every game with some real intentions – to score lots of goals and to win the games.

‘As I said, I think we’re going to put a lot of pressure on the sides above us. Is it too much to ask? Who knows. We can’t control what they do, if they do it right and win their games we can’t catch them but they should know that we’ve got some real designs on gatecrashing that top three.’

And the future is bright for years to come at the club, according to Abbott.

‘We’ve got great spirit, great togetherness, a very talented group of players and the future is very bright beyond this season because if we can keep the core of this side together going into next season we won’t need to add a great deal. We want to keep the group together, and I think we’ve got the nucleus of something very special on our hands.’