Paul Sullivan and Ryan Seal both scored hat-tricks as Hinckley AFC recorded an emphatic win with a 7-3 victory at Bolehall Swifts.
Superb in possession throughout, AFC had the game by the scruff of the neck by half time as Sullivan and Seal ensured they went into the break two goals to the good.
And a second half goalfest saw the net bulge eight times after the break, with Sullivan, Seal and Bolehall’s Perry Cotton all netting two goals each in a frenetic, end-to-end finish.
For the second week running, Carl Abbott made just one change to his Hinckley side – Sean Williams replacing Andy Westwood in midfield.
But it was Bolehall who had the best chance of the opening quarter hour, and should have gone a goal up just two minutes in. Jordan Francis’ good work saw him cross to the far post where Ryan Ball had space but scuffed his volley harmlessly wide.
But after the first fifteen minutes Hinckley found their feet and Jamal Clarke headed over with their first chance after rising highest to meet Seal’s delivery.
And on 21 minutes, Hinckley broke the deadlock. Lee Butler played a high ball into the box, where Javia Roberts controlled and Sullivan guided expertly out of Matthew Hill’s reach from fifteen yards.
From then on, Hinckley dominated the half and were finding space on the right with regularity. Shortly after the goal, Sullivan’s low delivery was met by a sliding Peter Williams, who struck the bar from close range.
Were it not for Hill, the scoreline could easily have been even more emphatic and after Seal squandered a chance when one on one, Hill made a superb point blank save to deny Sullivan at the far post.
From the resulting corner, Hill more comfortably dealt with Clarke’s effort, and Roberts headed over as Hinckley sought the second goal which came eight minutes before half time. Sullivan was involved again, playing a through ball onto which Seal latched and coolly slotted home.
Bolehall brought striker Dave Yonwin on at the break as one of two changes, and the home side’s attacking substitutions made for a frantic second half. At the start of it, Haydn Whitcombe was called into action for the first time by making a fine reaction save to deny Joe Obi, before Hinckley resumed their dominance.
Sullivan spun his man on the edge of the box and forced Hill into routine work, and Roberts was caught in two minds six yards out from Seal’s right wing delivery, the ball ultimately hitting him in the midriff.
Peter Williams also saw a shot saved before Hinckley added a third on 54 minutes through Jamal Clarke’s wonderful solo goal. After chesting the ball down inside his own half, the centre back skipped past several Bolehall challenges before lifting the ball over the last defender and calmly slotting the ball past the onrushing Hill.
That sparked a spell of eight goals in the last 36 minutes, and after Roberts was denied by another fine save, the home side pulled a goal back. Whitcombe pulled off another good stop from Obi, but Sean Williams’ resulting clearance hit Liam Rowley and rebounded in.
But just moments later, Hinckley restored their three goal advantage when Sullivan showed good strength to chest down in the box, and turned to fire into the bottom corner.
Hill then denied Sullivan for a third time on 72 minutes, before Hinckley added a fifth three minutes later. Sullivan was involved again as his fine ball set Butler free – the midfielder squaring for Seal to convert his second of the game and 30th of the season.
Sean Williams was the next to call Hill into action as the ‘keeper tipped his 25 yard effort over, before a sixth goal followed with six minutes to play – Sullivan dancing past a couple of challenges before feeding Seal for his hat-trick.
But the emphasis was taken off the scoreline slightly as the home side scored two late goals – both through Cotton, who grabbed Bolehall’s second by drilling a fine low effort beyond Whitcombe’s reach and into the far corner.
Then not long after, Lee Thomas headed an effort off the line but Cotton slammed home the rebound to further reduce the deficit.
And as the game entered stoppage time Butler and debutant Jacob Sturgess both had chances for a seventh but, somewhat fittingly, in the end it was Sullivan who scored the last goal by sending Hill the wrong way from the penalty spot.
That was the final act of what was a crazy 45 minutes, and it means that Hinckley have now scored 34 goals in heir last five league games. Abbott’s side take a break from league action next week when Quorn are the visitors to St John’s Park in the Buildbase FA Vase.
Bolehall: Matthew Hill, Perry Cotton, Michael Bloore, Kyle Bache, Harrison White, Tom Howard (Tom Starkey 46), Ryan Ball (Stefan Hollingsworth 73), Liam Rowley, Joe Obi, Jordan Francis, George Brindley (Dave Yonwin 46). Subs not used: Conor McCarthy, Chris Sockett
Goals: Liam Rowley (64), Perry Cotton (86, 90)
Hinckley: Haydn Whitcombe, James Williams (Tom Millington 84), Lee Thomas, Jack Farmer, Jamal Clarke, Peter Williams (Jacob Sturgess 75), Lee Butler, Ryan Seal (Leadun Dunlevy 84), Javia Roberts, Paul Sullivan, Sean Williams.
Goals: Paul Sullivan (21, 68, 92 pen) Ryan Seal (37, 75, 84), Jamal Clarke (54)
Attendance: 115
