An eight minute hat-trick from Sam Agar helped Hinckley AFC on their way to a fifth straight win with a 6-2 success over Uttoxeter Town at St John’s Park.
AFC took half an hour to break down their visitors through Agar’s fine solo effort, but after eight further minutes Agar’s treble had put them in cruise control.
Sean Williams added a fourth before half time, before Mark Williams and Ryan Seal secured all three points after the break despite Jake Lovatt’s brace of penalties for Uttoxeter.
Carl Abbott made three changes to his Hinckley side that comprehensively beat Racing Club Warwick on Tuesday, with all three additions coming into the back four. Chad Degville-Cross made his first start at left back, Jordan Perks came in on the right and Ryan Paddock played in the centre.
In what were difficult conditions throughout, with a stiff breeze and a pitch that cut up as the game wore on, Hinckley had plenty of possession early on but lacked the final killer ball to create too many chances.
Visiting ‘keeper Mick Allen was first called into action to deal with Lee Butler’s 25 yard free kick before, at the other end, Haydn Whitcombe couldn’t hold Lovatt’s shot but Jamal Clarke’s fine last ditch challenge prevented Martin Gadsby giving Uttoxeter the lead.
Then, Whitcombe’s flying save pushed Tom Morgan’s 20 yard effort around the post, and Degville-Cross curled wide as both sides were restricted to long range efforts early on.
But on the half hour mark, AFC broke the deadlock through Agar’s moment of brilliance. Receiving the ball from Degville-Cross on the left touchline, the striker cut inside and beat two challenges before bending one from the edge of the box into the bottom corner.
It was the spark Hinckley needed to open the game up, and what followed in the next quarter of an hour put the hosts in control.
Just five more minutes were needed for Hinckley to double their lead. Agar was the scorer again, capitalising as Dominic Ward’s header fell straight into Sean Williams’ path. The two forwards’ fine link up play from recent weeks continued as Williams squared for Agar to slide home from close range.
Not content with that, Agar soon completed his quickfire treble, taking one touch to control before finding the far corner to put Hinckley in a position of dominance.
Looking to go in at half time 3-0 up, Hinckley would then have been frustrated to concede shortly before the interval. Lovatt raced in behind and was adjudged to have been brought down by Whitcombe on his entry into the box. Far from happy at the decision, Whitcombe would then have been even more frustrated when Lovatt’s penalty found the back of the net via the inside of the post.
But Hinckley soon restored their three goal lead, when Williams converted Perks’ right wing cross.
And that glut of goals continued five minutes into the second half. Butler marked his 50th appearance for the club with a trademark fine set piece delivery which Mark Williams glanced home.
With Hinckley four goals to the good and playing against the wind in the second half, the rest of the game saw little goalmouth action of note, though substitute Luke Richards blazed over when sent through on goal.
For Uttoxeter, Lovatt continued to offer their biggest goal threat and Mark Williams had to be alert to mop up after the forward lofted goalbound.
And with 16 minutes to go, Lovatt bagged his second of the game. It came from another hotly disputed penalty where Whitcombe was penalised again, and despite guessing correctly the ‘keeper couldn’t keep Lovatt’s spot kick out.
But it was Hinckley who had the last laugh, completing the scoring with three minutes to go when Seal beat his man to run through on goal and beat the advancing Allen.
That rounded off a convincing win for Hinckley as they move up to second in the table ahead of the League Cup quarter final on Tuesday.
Hinckley: Haydn Whitcombe, Jordan Perks (James Williams 65), Chad Degville-Cross, Ryan Paddock, Jamal Clarke, Mark Williams, Lee Butler, Ryan Seal, Sam Agar (Luke Richards 54), Sean Williams (Andy Westwood 54), Darious Darkin. Subs not used: JJ Melligan, Lee Thomas
Goals: Sam Agar (29, 34, 37), Sean Williams (43), Mark Williams (50), Ryan Seal (87)
Uttoxeter: Mick Allen, Harry Price, Ollie Ritchie, Doug Price, Callum Lovatt, Dominic Ward (Louis Sherwin 58), Martin Gadsby, Liam Sowter (Craig Swinfield 79), Jake Lovatt, Jason Cockshutt (Luke Lewis 58), Tom Morgan. Subs not used: Jono Atherton, Joe Lewis
Goals: Jake Lovatt (41 pen, 74 pen)
Attendance: 220
