Joint Manager Courtney Hunter-Belford reflected on a “great game of football” as his Hinckley AFC side progressed to the Leicestershire Senior Cup quarter-finals.
AFC came from 3-1 down at half time to beat Birstall United at Kirkby Road as they made it past a fellow step six side to reach the last eight.
Hunter-Belford was full of praise for Birstall, who he saw as one of the best sides in the competition, but said his own team were excellent in the way they came back into the game.
He said: “It was a great game of football between two honest sides having a go. They’re one of the best sides we’ve played this season so full credit to them.
“The sending off massively swung the game in our favour. They were ferocious in the first half and took their chances. Zak kept us in the game with a wonderful strike.
“I thought we’d concede again if I’m being honest, and we said we’d have to score three or four goals to win it or take it to penalties. We made silly errors in the first half, showing people inside instead of down the line, but it was two very honest teams having a proper go.
“It was one of the best games I’ve been involved in this season and full credit to both sides. The sending off helped us but we fully deserved it towards the end.”
Zaki Evans earned the Supporters’ Man of the Match award for a performance that saw two goals from midfield, including a 35-yard stunner for Hinckley’s opener.
He had initially scored his first goal for the club at Wolves Sporting which was subsequently chalked off by the abandonment of the match.
But Hunter-Belford says his brace on Monday was just reward for ever-improving performances in midfield.
“He’s been superb. We knew what we were getting with Zaki, he missed the whole of pre-season and is still catching up because of his calf injury.
“So for him it’s about getting better as the season goes on. As fans we’re starting to see what he’s about. He’s energetic, gets past people, runs with the ball.
“It was an unbelievable goal he scored. He’s a fantastic lad who travelled home and away when he was injured, never missed a training session. He’s getting his just rewards. We’ve tried to get him for a while and we’re glad he’s in the building now.”
After winning the Midland League Cup last season, AFC are now into the quarter-finals of the Senior Cup alongside league rivals Ingles and Heather St John’s.
He says winning trophies is “infectious” and wants to build on last season’s success in another competition this time.
“We said at the start of the season that you want to win every competition you’re in. We know the Vase is a long shot but we approach every game to win.
“This is a cup we want to win. Hopefully the draw is kind too us, we’re now two games away from a final.”
