Hinckley AFC make the second of three trips this season to Lutterworth Town for Saturday’s United Counties League Cup tie, kick off 2pm.
Having already won there this season against GNG Oadby Town in August, and with a league match to come on Boxing Day against Lutterworth themselves, Hinckley head to Dunley Way once more to take on the Swifts in the second round.
It’s their reward for a 5-1 victory over Rainworth Miners Welfare last time out in the cup, as they face a local derby against divisional rivals in the round of 16.
The opposition
Lutterworth have edged past Division One pair Pinxton and West Bridgford to make it to this stage, while they also progressed in the Leicestershire Challenge Cup this week by beating Barwell on penalties.
They’ve had a good week, also beating Godmanchester Rovers 3-1 last weekend, to put right a stuttering run of three consecutive league defeats that followed just two losses in their first 10. The most surprising saw them lead Oadby 2-0 just before half time, only to go on to lose 7-2.
They sit eighth in the Premier South table, with 21 points from their 14 games – three points ahead of Hinckley.
Key to their good form so far has been Louis Samuels’ 17 goals, while Abdul Sunmonu chipped in with 11 before leaving for Aylestone Park.
Previous meetings
Despite now being in the same division, it’s eight years since the clubs’ last meeting. It came in the Leicestershire Senior Cup in 2016 when the Swifts, then still a Senior League club, claimed a cup scalp with a 2-1 win over then-higher-league Hinckley.
From the dressing room
“They were probably scratching their heads after the Oadby game, but these things can happen in football and it’s about how you react to them.
“It’s a break from the league for us, and we have a chance to keep going in the League Cup. We have to try, because it’s the last cup competition we’re in this season. It’s a difficult place to go, we know that, but we’ll give all we can to try and win the game.”
Joe Conneely
Key information
Lutterworth will be holding a minute’s silence before kick off, with this being their final home match before Remembrance Sunday.
Hinckley will be playing in our purple away kit for this fixture.
Lutterworth play at Dunley Way, Lutterworth, LE17 4NP.
