Two first half goals were enough for Atherstone Town to overcome Hinckley AFC in the first match with supporters back in attendance.
On a May afternoon that felt more like October for the most part, an excellent crowd got together to watch a Hinckley match for the first time in more than six months.
But it was the Adders fans cheering after two minutes and they never looked back after Alex Naughton gave them an early lead.
Less than two minutes had passed when a deep cross from the right fell to the unmarked Naughton, and he drove inside the far post.
Hinckley should have hit back almost immediately, but Lewis Rankin saw his penalty saved by Carl O’Neill after the same player was fouled by Callum Carsley in the box.
But chances were then few and far between after the frantic start. After half an hour, the hosts doubled their lead when they broke down the left in a move finished off by Lewis Collins.
It was a lead the Adders enjoyed for the rest of the game, with Hinckley making a host of changes at half time. After the break, Lewis Commins rounded Matt Hill but his touch was too heavy, while Mitchell Thomson’s speculative-looking effort crashed off the bar.
At the other end, Hinckley went close when Sam Lockley forced O’Neill to save a snapshot, before Rankin’s deep corner struck the post late on.
But the Adders were worth their win in the first A5 derby for over two years in an afternoon that served its purpose of allowing fans to watch their team again.
