A trip to Premier Division promotion-chasers Highgate United stands between Hinckley AFC and a second consecutive Midland League Cup final.
After winning the competition last season, Hinckley have defied their lower-league status to reach the last four again this campaign.
The semi-finalists are made up of the Premier Division’s top two, a fellow high-flyer in Highgate and Hinckley, who are the last step six team left in the competition for a second straight campaign.
The opposition
Highgate sit sixth in the Premier Division, though they could go third if they win their games in hand.
And while they have lost six of their last seven away games, their home form is formidable and every bit that of a title-chaser. They drew with Stone Old Alleynians on Saturday, which was the first time in 10 matches at The Coppice that they have failed to win. Highgate haven’t lost at home since their opening league game of the season there.
Ex-Hinckley forward Ryan Harkin is their leading scorer this season, while Ben Vallance and Liam Cairns also play there now.
Like Hinckley, they have also beaten two Division One sides and a Premier Division outfit to reach the semi-finals. Highgate beat Cradley Town, Droitwich Spa and Tividale to get to the last four.
Previous meetings
It’s nine years since the sides last met – Highgate won Division One in Hinckley’s first ever season back in 2014/15. The last meeting came in April 2015, a 2-2 draw in which Hinckley came from behind to lead through Marco Adaggio and Matt Gardner, but had to settle for a point away to the eventual league winners.
From the dressing room
“They’ve got two lads who have been in plenty of our fans’ Ten-Year Teams, in Ben Vallance and Ryan Harkin. Liam Cairns is there too and I know Terry (Anderson, Highgate manager) really well. He was with my Dad at Kenilworth 11 years ago when they won the league together, and he’s a good friend of mine. He took over there when they were struggling and they’re now going for promotion. He’s done a fantastic job and it’s a difficult place to go.
“We’re the underdogs but we’ll go there with no fear and try to reach another final. That would be an unbelievable achievement. For the club to win it last year and get to the final again would be outstanding, but we’ve got so much work to do to get there. We’re crashing the party, the expectation would be four Premier Division teams in the semi-finals, but we proved last year that we can go a long way.”
Joe Conneely
Key information
The other semi-final also takes place on the same night, as the Premier Division’s top two go head-to-head. Congleton Town welcome Lichfield City to Cheshire for the right to face Highgate or Hinckley in the final.
Highgate play at The Coppice, Tythe Barn Lane, Shirley, Solihull, B90 1PH.
