Hinckley AFC will look for their third victory in eight days when they return to Kirkby Road to take on Shawbury United.
Joe Conneely and Courtney Hunter-Belford watched their side record two backs-to-the-wall away wins this week, with victories at Bilston Town and Nuneaton Griff both coming with the side down to ten men for a combined 90 minutes.
Now, sitting third in the early season league table, they welcome a new-look Shawbury side seeking their first win of the campaign.
Ky Green starts his three-match suspension following his red card at Bilston, but Preston Bitemo will be available with his ban starting for the FA Vase tie at Eccleshall next week.
The opposition
United appointed Richard Brown as their new manager in the summer and make the long journey to Leicestershire in search of their first win of the campaign.
They fell to Bilston Town in midweek despite taking an early lead, while their only point on the board so far came courtesy of a 3-3 draw against Shropshire rivals AFC Bridgnorth. They went 2-0 up in that game, only to fall 3-2 behind and salvage a draw with a late equaliser in a pulsating encounter.
Seth Ellis has scored two of their five goals so far while Reece Jacobs, who had a brief stint with Hinckley last season, now plays for Shawbury.
Previous meetings
The sides picked up a win apiece from the meetings last season – both ending as away victories. Shawbury won at Kirkby Road on a wet October Monday night courtesy of Cian Fenlon and Kev Buxton, while Joe Obi and Isa Abraham both scored twice when Hinckley won 6-2 at the Ludlow Stadium in March.
From the dressing room
They’ve had a tough start to the season but we’re only four games in and that can easily turn around. Shawbury played Griff last week so we spoke to Mitchell Thomson about them. We’ll plan properly, they’ll be a different squad from last season with a new manager so will be completely different to what we faced.
Hopefully we’ll start to welcome a couple of players back from injuries though. We’re hopeful Sam Walton will be back in and around it today for his first game of the season, and possibly Chandler Pegg too.
Joe Conneely
Key info
Adults: £6
Concessions: £4
Under 16s: £2 (FREE with HAFC Junior membership card)
Supporters please be aware of rolling road closures around Barwell for the carnival taking place on Saturday lunchtime. Organisers expect all roads to re-open by 2.30pm.
