Hinckley began their defence of the League Cup 6-0 in emphatic fashion as they eased past a Sutton United side who’d proved such stubborn opponents in the league game nine days earlier.
It marked a welcome return to form for AFC as six different scorers found the net in a game they dominated from start to finish.
Hinckley’s tempo was good from the off as they quickly got on top of the game. They went in front inside ten minutes through a trademark finish from Matt Dawson who drove home a precise low shot from the right hand edge of the area.
AFC mounted a series of attacks but visiting ‘keeper Reiss Wagstaff made some smart saves to keep them at bay before the inevitable second arrived on the half hour, a typically classy goal from Lewis Rankin after good approach work from Zaki Evans and Tom Weale.
Sutton made a trio of substitutions at half time to try and change the game, but Hinckley went further in front early in the second half as Danny Fraser showed a goalscorer’s instinct to convert Brady Middleton’s low cross from the right.
Evans and Middleton enjoyed their best games in a Hinckley shirt thus far and they combined for the next goal, Evans with a surging run from midfield to play in Middleton who finished.
AFC weren’t done yet, Weale converted a penalty after he was fouled before substitute Alex Sutton made it six ten minutes from time, netting on his debut after Adam Barber unselfishly squared the ball to him to round off an excellent evening’s work.
Hinckley: Ryan Young, Matt Dawson, Danny Fraser, Zaki Evans (James Franklin 80), Ky Green, Jack Beasley, Lewis Rankin (Taylor Jones 67), Tom Weale, Brady Middleton (Alex Sutton 67), Dec Somel, Adam Barber. Subs not used: Sam Walton, Jamie Hood.
Goals: Matt Dawson (8), Lewis Rankin (32), Danny Fraser (48), Brady Middleton (66), Tom Weale (70 pen), Alex Sutton (79)
Sutton: Reiss Wagstaff, Jonny Grigg (Lewan Tobin 56), Matty Lewis (Ethan Hanks 46), Lewis James, Matt Bishop, Kye Billingham-Belle, Sam Price (Mark Moore 46), Tom Massey, Shane Smith (Kieron McConville 46), Joe Gildea, Sef Semlali (James Stretton 66).
Attendance: 151
