Hinckley AFC could guarantee their spot on top of the United Counties Division One tree for Christmas if they beat St Andrews at Kirkby Road on Friday night.
With just one round of matches before Christmas, Courtney Belford’s table toppers know they’ll spend the festive period leading the way if they overcome their county rivals.
To do it, they’ll have to take all three points against a St Andrews side who won six of their first eight games this season.
Hinckley’s win at Canal Street back in September came when they sat top of the league – and assistant manager Joe Conneely looks at that as another turning point in his side’s season.
He said: “It was played at a frantic pace and they were a big, strong and aggressive side.
“Having conceded a couple of two goal leads in previous weeks, to then hold out for a 2-1 win there was a big result for us.
“Hucknall is still the one we look at most, but St Andrews was big because we couldn’t afford to concede any more points to the sides at the top at that stage.”
That result came when Andrews went winless in eight as they had an up and down first few months. Since then, they have steadied the ship – winning three and drawing one of their last seven.
Mason Lopez scored that evening, and he’s one of two of their players to have scored seven goals this term. Aaron Preston leads the way with eight.
Hinckley have won seven straight home matches, including every game back at Kirkby Road – scoring 29 goals in that time and conceding just two.
Extend that run against St Andrews, and they’ll enjoy turkey and trimmings next week on top of the pile.
Adults: £6
Concessions: £4
Under 16s: £2 (FREE with HAFC Junior membership card)
