Hinckley AFC’s final game before Christmas is a return home to take on Wolves Sporting at Kirkby Road.
Hinckley recorded one of the season’s best results so far last week, with a 2-0 away win at play-off chasing OJM Black Country.
Now they return to Kirkby Road for a festive clash against Wolves Sporting – with Matt Dawson available with his suspension meaning he’ll miss the match at Ingles, while Brandon Bache is fit again and set to return in goal following the end of Matt Hill’s loan.
The opposition
Sporting are without a league win since 7th October in a run that has seen them drop to 17th and just two points outside the relegation zone.
But only once in the league this season have they been beaten by more than two goals – so they are rarely out of games and they have also takes points from four of the top six (beating Allscott Heath and OJM Black Country while drawing with Ingles and Cradley Town).
Their defensive record is good – they have conceded just one goal more than fourth-placed Allscott Heath and only Chelmsley Town have conceded fewer of any side outside the top eight.
Scoring goals has been more of an issue, with only two sides scoring fewer, but they have addressed that issue with the signing of Jack Arnold. He has nine goals in nine starts for them since joining from Cradley Town and 13 for the season while Leslie Omorodion has six.
Previous meetings
Hinckley were leading the reverse fixture 2-0, courtesy of goals from Ky Green and Zaki Evans, when it was abandoned at half-time due to a waterlogged pitch at Pride Park. It will now be replayed in full on Saturday 20th January.
Hinckley won both meetings last season with differing levels of comfort – coming from 2-0 down for a 3-2 victory late on in the away game before winning 8-1 at home.
From the dressing room
“The conditions were so poor but we moved the ball well on that pitch and it gives us an insight into how they do things. We can be a bit more free-flowing at home and shift the tempo a bit. It’s a chance to change the team a bit to make sure we’re fresh for this, and for the Ingles game on Boxing Day.
We’ve done unbelievably well to come through a tough period for the last couple of months with 12 or 13 fit players. The shift they put in and the determination to not get beat has been superb and we’ve got to have that same desire now”
Courtney Hunter-Belford
Key information
You can head to the club shop in the portacabin behind the goal for a complimentary mince pie and mulled wine at our festive home game. A bumper Christmas raffle, with a host of great prizes, is also taking place costing £5 per ticket with first prize a Christmas hamper worth up to £60.
Adults: £6
Concessions: £4
