Hinckley AFC have the chance to close the gap on the sides above them when fellow high flyers Ilkeston Town visit St John’s Park tomorrow.
Four of the top five in the Midland League Division One play each other this weekend with AFC, in fifth, hosting third placed Ilkeston while second placed Atherstone Town meet Leicester Road, who are fourth.
And with nobody in the top six playing fewer games than Richard Lavery’s side, a win over the Robins would help Hinckley strengthen their credentials for a top four finish.
Should AFC win all of their games in hand, they would move three points clear of Leicester Road, level with Ilkeston and one behind the Adders as the race for the top four hots up.
But Lavery’s charges face a tricky task if they’re to return to winning ways, after last week’s stalemate with Studley, against an Ilkeston side who have been going well of late.
After a slow start, Steve Chettle’s men have lost just once in their last 15 league games in their ascent of the league table, including a run of ten straight wins.
They won 1-0 at Leicester Road on Tuesday to gain a three point advantage over their opponents on the night, and have a defensive record bettered only by table toppers Walsall Wood in terms of goals conceded per game.
In Alex Marshall (18 goals) and Montel Gibson (13), they have two strikers who know how to find the net while Jamie Walker has also chipped in with double figures.
The Robins won the reverse fixture at the New Manor Ground in September, when Marshall and Gibson braces ensured a comfortable home win despite Lee Butler’s free kick in reply.
With both sides searching three points to continue their good start to 2018, it promises to be a cracker at SJP.
Adults: £6
Concessions: £4
Under 16s: £2 (FREE with HAFC Junior membership card)
