Joint boss Joe Conneely praised his Hinckley AFC side for their second-half performances over the Easter weekend but wants to start matches quicker for the remainder of the season.
In the last 10 days. Hinckley have won four matches out of four but haven’t been leading at half-time in any of them. AFC were level at the break against Sutton United on Easter Monday while they had to come from behind at some stage against Droitwich, Wolves Sporting and Nuneaton Griff.
It’s a run that has extended Hinckley’s lead at the top of the table heading into the final month of the season.
Three goals in the second half in the spring sunshine at Sutton extended that winning streak, to wrap up what Conneely called a “really good” last 10 days.
He said: “To have not been leading going into the second half of any of our last four games and won all four is really pleasing. We were sluggish in the first half, we made hard work of it and they deserved to get back in the game on the basis of us being lazy.
“We gave them a kick at half time to try and inject something and it seemed to work. But we’ve got to stop coming in at half time needing to change things. It’s happened too often and in time you will come unstuck when you do that.
“We changed shape at half time, and it worked. We started the second half well, scored two early goals and stayed on top.
“So it’s been a really good weekend. To come through it with six points is always tough because it’s such a quick turnaround, so we’re really pleased.”
With the game level at 1-1 at half time, Conneely and Courtney Hunter-Belford made a double change as they introduced Lewis Rankin and debutant Josh Beeson.
AFC scored twice inside the opening eight minutes of the second half, giving the managers exactly the impact they were after.
“We needed it to give us a bit of a spark and some energy. Josh came on and looked lively from the outset. We took Ranks out of the team because he’s played a lot of football since the start of the year. We wanted to give him a rest so we took him out and changed shape.
“But then we went back to what we know best, and got them on the pitch. Jack (Edwards) pressed up the pitch, Dav (Riley Davoile) and Preston looked after us really well in midfield.”
Beeson came within inches of a debut goal, rattling the bar with a superb effort from the corner of the penalty box.
That gave Hinckley fans a glimpse into what he’s capable of, and Conneely says he’s a player who will excite the fans.
“I wish that strike went in for him, it was an absolute rocket!
“Courtney has worked with him before at Atherstone and he knows a couple of the lads already, who have sung his praises. He’s quick, direct and still has a lot to learn but he’s hopefully in the right hands here to do that.
“He took a knock towards the end so we’ll see how he is but we were pleased with how he played.”
