Match Preview: Studley (a)

Hinckley AFC will play their first match in almost three weeks away at Studley tomorrow as they make their final push for fourth place in the Midland League First Division and FA Cup football next season.

Carl Abbott’s men are four points ahead of fifth placed Uttoxeter Town heading into the final week of the season, but the Staffordshire side have a game in hand in the race for fourth place.

Hinckley are four goals away from scoring 100 league goals this season, and should they manage it tomorrow they will become the fourth side in the league, after Bromsgrove Sporting, Bolehall Swifts and Highgate United, to reach a century of goals.

Studley have won the only previous meeting between the two sides; emerging 1-0 victors at St John’s Park in September when former AFC striker Matt Bailey scored the only goal in a first half that saw three red cards.

But The Bees have won just one of their last fourteen games to drop to ninth in the table, after threatening towards the top for the first half of the campaign. They suffered a heavy 7-1 defeat to Highgate on Tuesday and are sure to be desperate to bounce back tomorrow.

If you’re struggling to get to the game tomorrow, there are still two seats remaining on the supporters coach for this the final away game of the season. It will leave Gadsby’s at 12-30, please contact Simon Blyth to book your place.

Studley play at The Beehive, Abbeyfields Drive, Studley, B80 7BF, and the ground is approximately five miles south of Junction 3 of the M42, about half a mile past ‘The Boot’ public house.