Hinckley AFC have the opportunity to reach the last 32 of the Buildbase FA Vase when they face county rivals Quorn at St John’s Park tomorrow.
The Leicestershire derby will see Hinckley, from Division One of the Midland Football League, take on their Premier Division opponents with a place in the fourth round up for grabs.
And Carl Abbott’s side will be full of confidence heading into the game, having lost just one game in their last seventeen heading in a run stretching back to August.
Hinckley have scored fifteen goals in their last three games, all away from home, and have moved up to fourth in Division One in the process.
They are the top scorers in all four divisions of the Midland League with 59 in just fourteen league games, and having drawn a blank just once this season will be confident of causing problems for the visiting back line.
Tomorrow, they take on a Quorn side who have won eight and drawn eight of their nineteen league games thus far, meaning they sit tenth in their league.
They have won two of their last three, including a second round win over AFC Wulfrunians, and won 3-2 at Coventry Sphinx last week.
Nathan Dale scored all three of their goals in that game, and he has been their biggest threat in front of goal this term with eleven in 24 games.
While Hinckley have had to come through four ties to reach this stage, Quorn didn’t enter this season’s FA Vase until the second qualifying round so have played just three games in the competition.
They have been victorious over Anstey Nomads (2-0), Shifnal Town (4-1) and AFC Wulfrunians (3-1 AET) on their run to the third round, while Hinckley have beaten Holbrook Sports (2-0), Greenwood Meadows (6-3), Wolves Sporting (3-1 AET) and Paget Rangers (4-1).
And with a Leicestershire side guaranteed into the last 32, and four sides from the Midland League also guaranteed, Carl Abbott’s side will be desperate to ensure it is they who progress and continue the longest run they’ve ever had in the competition.
The winners of tomorrow’s tie will be in the hat for Monday’s fourth round draw, and will receive £975 from the FA’s prize fund. If the tie is level after 90 minutes, there will be half an hour of extra time and if the sides still can’t be separated after the additional 30 minutes, the replay will take place at Quorn’s Farley Way Stadium on Wednesday 7th December.
Adults: £6
Concessions: £4
Under 16s: £2