An exciting 3rd v 4th clash awaits Hinckley AFC this Non-League Day as they make the trip to play-off rivals OJM Black Country.
The annual Non-League Day, aimed to make the most of added interest on an international break for the top tiers, pits Hinckley with an away clash against another side hoping to end the season in the top five.
The winners of the game will go third in the table – OJM currently sit there, a point ahead of Hinckley having played a game more. AFC will leapfrog their hosts with a win.
Black Country got back to winning ways in the league last week beating Ingles 3-1, ending a run of three home games without a win against other play-off rivals. They were beaten by Droitwich Spa and Bilston Town, either side of a 1-1 stalemate with Ashby Ivanhoe.
But up until that point, they had won 11 out of their 12 home games this season in a fine home record that included a win over leaders Dudley Town.
Only Hinckley and Dudley have scored more goals at home that OJM – with many of them coming from the boot of Zaqib Hussain. He has scored 26 goals in 23 starts this season, but has been out injured recently. Former Hinckley forward Reece Jacobs now plays for them too.
The reverse fixture was a thriller befitting the sides’ league positions – which Hinckley snatched 3-2 in stoppage time in a game that swung this way and that. Hinckley came from behind to lead before Hussain’s fine late leveller made it 2-2, only for Tom Weale’s penalty to settle it AFC’s way on a bitterly cold December afternoon.
Black Country groundshare with Lye Town at their Sports Ground home, Stourbridge Road, Lye, DY9 7DH.
