The United Counties League Division One’s top two meet at Kirkby Road on Saturday as Hinckley AFC take on Kimberley Miners Welfare.
The meeting of the league’s second best attack and its best defence will see Hinckley look to close the gap on leaders Kimberley, who haven’t lost since the reverse fixture in November.
But it was Courtney Belford’s side who inflicted that defeat at The Stag Ground. Drew Kear netted a late winner on that day despite Hinckley playing the entire second half with ten men.
Since then Kimberley have gone on a 19-match unbeaten league run, winning 17 of them. They’ve let in just 13 goals in that time.
Belford says that run means they deserve their leading spot heading into the final run-in. He said: “Full credit to them, they’ve been on a fantastic run.
“We went on that run where you’ve won 13 games on the bounce, and then the first game you lose you’re chasing it. It shows how competitive it’s been up there.
“We’ve watched them a few times. They’re a fantastic young side with lots of energy, lots of desire and that was the same at their place (in November).
“That game really sticks out for a lot of the fans this year as a shining moment. Hopefully we can do that again and make it a little bit tasty going into the last four games.
“Then the pressure is fully on them and we’ll see what everyone’s made of.”
It mirrored a run that Hinckley had over the winter too. Belford’s side won 13 in a row until defeats to Belper United and Radford last month.
And they meant that the neck-and-neck race at the top fell Kimberley’s way. They have a six-point lead at the top with five games to play.
The 37-goal forward Luis Rose is their leading scorer after a blistering start to the season, but he has been well supported in recent weeks. Aarron Coyle and Sacha Markelic have also found form in front of goal to take them to 16 and 13 respectively.
Kick off at Kirkby Road is 3pm.
Adults: £6
Concessions: £4
Under 16s: £2 (FREE with HAFC Junior membership card)
