Joint boss Courtney Hunter-Belford praised his Hinckley AFC side’s hard work and will to win after Non-League Day’s 3-2 win at fellow high flyers Droitwich Spa.
In the battle between the league’s best home record and it’s best away form, it was the visitors who came out on top as late goals from Harry Walker-Donovan and Dec Somel proved the difference.
It was a scrappy game for large spells, but Hinckley created the better of the limited chances and battled their way to what Hunter-Belford described as a “big” three points.
He said: “It was a poor game really, with five of the scrappiest goals you’ll ever see. We scored three of the worst goals you’ll ever see, but they could be three of the most important.
“It wasn’t a great advert for the two sides but they were two sides who gave everything they possibly could to win. Conditions weren’t great, the pitch was soft and the win picked up at times.
“When you’ve got two sides who are right up there, it’s never going to be free-flowing. You will sometimes cancel each other out, it’s just about making sure you make fewer mistakes than them and we did that. That’s the difference sometimes, especially in tight games.
“This is why we play football. The reason you’re involved is for these types of games. You see how you are as a player, you see if you’re a good manager with the changes you make coming up against good people.”
“We changed shape, had a go and as soon as we smelt blood we went for it. That’s testament to that group because when you work as hard as that, you earn that bit of luck. Everybody has grafted to get a win for us.
“There are loads more points to play for so we won’t get above our station. It’s a big day because of who the two sides were but it’s just three points.”
Hinckley were forced into a defensive re-shuffle this week, with Calum Flanagan recalled by Redditch and Joe Obi unavailable. It meant Ky Green was thrust straight back into the starting line-up after four weeks out, despite not being fully fit. He played alongside James Bryson, who signed from Coventry Sphinx the day before the game.
He also praised Isa Abraham for his efforts, getting through an hour on a heavy pitch despite not eating since sunrise while he is fasting during Ramadan.
Hunter-Belford said he couldn’t ask for any more from his players after they stuck to his and Joe Conneely’s half-time message – “stay in the game.”
“We didn’t need to come here and win, a draw meant we were still where we needed to be. We said if we can nick a point. We said to not go to 3-1, and stay in the game until the last five minutes. I always fancied us to create that chance, it was just whether we could take that chance and be ruthless.
“As the game developed, they sat in with the sun and wind in their faces. We had that in the first half and it’s tougher than you think. So we knew we could pin it on them, we changed shape.
“Their substitutions made a big impact, they lost two of their front three who are very good players. So as soon as that happened, that was the impetus on us do go ‘do you know what, I think we can come here and win.’
“As soon as we got the second, I fancied us to get a third. Then we defended for our lives towards the end. Balls came into the box but we defended properly.”
Hinckley’s rapid start saw them hit the bar and then score the opening goal inside the first four minutes. The management team have been calling for quicker starts to games and got that at Droitwich – even though Hunter-Belford felt the goal unsettled his side.
But their late show keeps up their impressive away form that has seen them draw two and lose just once on the road this season.
“It’s a special group, but nothing has been achieved yet. Their desire to win games of football, especially away from home.
“To drop seven points in this sort of league away from home so far has got us where we are. We’ve got to keep doing what we’re doing but we’ll go into the next game confident.”
He said the win means “everything” for the playing group and fans, who he thanked for travelling in numbers for one of the longer away trips of the season.
“They made noise all day for us. That’s just rewards for them, they’ve been fantastic in the five years I’ve been here and I can’t thank them enough for backing us.
“The lads feel that, they feel they’re there and they want to play for them. For people that put their time in to try and make a success of this club, and we’re doing everything we can to do that.”
