Racing Club Warwick 1-3 Hinckley AFC
Hinckley AFC have now won nine consecutive matches after a 3-1 victory over Racing Club Warwick at Townsend Meadow.
The new club record was set despite Carl Abbott’s side playing the majority of the second half with ten men after goalkeeper Jack Hartopp was sent off with the score at 2-0.
The Racers scored the resulting penalty, but Hinckley need not have worried as club captain Luke Richards donned the gloves and pulled of a series of fine saves to preserve the lead that was added to by Jordan Nadat late on.
Hinckley made three changes to the side that triumphed over Coventry United in the League Cup on Tuesday, with Dom Smith, Rico Taylor and Sean Williams taking their places in the starting eleven.
And just three minutes had passed when AFC took the lead. Williams was fouled in the right hand channel, but dusted himself down to head home Richards’ resulting free kick.
Hinckley continued to have the better of the chances in the opening stages, and midway through the half Javia Roberts’ shot was saved by Lustin Cerga after Jean Kalenda’s lay off.
But as the half wore on, the home side started to have chances of their own, and shortly after Callum Ingram’s volley struck the bar, Hartopp saved well from Elroy Junior Bennett.
Just as Warwick started to get on top in the game, they were hit with a sucker punch as Hinckley doubled their advantage. Kristian Ramsey-Dickson’s right wing cross was converted by Roberts, who finished well from just inside the area.
Two minutes later, Dom Smith made a vital last-ditch challenge to maintain his side’s advantage.
Hinckley would have felt comfortable at the break, but four minutes after it they were pegged back. Warwick had the opportunity to get back in the game after Hartopp committed a foul in the box, and was dismissed for denying an obvious goalscoring opportunity.
Richards donned the gloves for the remainder of the match, but was powerless to deny Jamie Smith converting the spot kick to halve the hosts’ deficit.
Then, Richards was tested by Wade Malley’s header as Warwick grew in belief.
The crucial moment of the game came on 73 minutes, as Richards swapped scoring goals for stopping them and made a triple save to keep The Racers at bay. After Jamie Smith won back possession, Richards saved his shot before twice denying Terence Morton.
And Hinckley capitalised on their captain’s performance, restoring their two goal advantage when Nadat converted the rebound after fellow substitute Elikem Amenku’s shot was parried.
In the final ten minutes, Jamie Smith, Anton Astley and Malley all had chances, but Hinckley held on to ensure they have the opportunity to record ten wins on the bounce at high flying Nuneaton Griff on Wednesday evening.
Warwick: Lustin Cerga, Cameron Knight, Connor Nowaczyk, Chris Hayden (Adam Laight 46), Tom Reynolds, Ashley Buswell, Terence Morton, Callum Ingram, Elroy Junior Bennett (Anton Astley 63), Wade Malley, Jamie Smith. Subs not used: Chris Dusabe, Jake Brown, Jordan McKenzie.
Goal: Jamie Smith (50 pen).
Hinckley: Jack Hartopp, Kristian Ramsey-Dickson, Rico Taylor (Mitchell Tomlinson 83), Dom Smith, Alex Morris, Jean Kalenda, Javia Roberts (Elikem Amenku 63), Nathan Walker, Sean Williams (Jordan Nadat 67), Marco Adaggio, Luke Richards. Subs not used: Jamie Newton, Oli Basham.
Goals: Sean Williams (3), Javia Roberts (34), Jordan Nadat (77).
Attendance: 131
