Fresh from League Cup progress, Hinckley AFC return to United Counties Premier South action with the trip to title-chasing St Neots Town on Saturday.
Having picked up a victory at Lutterworth last weekend to send them into the quarter-finals of the League Cup, and banish their recent struggles on the road, now Hinckley head east to Cambridgeshire once more to take on high-flying Saints.
And they will do so without several key players – seven of the squad are nursing injuries and so Joe Conneely is hopeful that Alex Vineall will be fit enough to return to the side after his ankle knock.
The opposition
Unbeaten in nine league games, with seven of those wins, and scoring 30 goals in that period, St Neots are the division’s form side.
That run, including an away win at leaders Aylestone Park, has taken them to within a point of Aylestone with a game in hand as they seek a return to step four after two years away. They have won 11 of their 15 games, with two draws and two defeats.
They have scored the most goals in the division, taking that record with an 8-2 thumping of Godmanchester Rovers last week in which they were 6-1 ahead by half-time.
Rhys Thorpe bagged a hat-trick in that one to take him to 15 for the season while Kieran Barnes, FA Vase winner with Newport Pagnell a few seasons ago, has 14 and Connor Furlong 10.
From the dressing room
“It’s as tricky as it gets, the run they’re on is brilliant. I spoke to Doddsy at Aylestone, who they played the other week, and he said St Neots deserved to beat them. They do everything thoroughly and properly, and it’s a difficult place to go.
“We bounced back well last Saturday and sometimes, when your backs are against the wall and you have so many players out, you can try and get something out of nothing when you’re not expected to. We trained on Monday around what we can exploit, Alfie Marsden has been a brilliant addition and put on a great session for us, and hopefully we can get a positive result but it’s a tricky place to go.”
Joe Conneely
Key information
St Neots play at the Premier Plus Stadium, Rowley Park, Kester Way, St Neots, Cambridgeshire, PE19 6SL.
For supporters driving, should the club car park be full, the club have permission to use the Roundhouse School car park. Turn right directly opposite the Tesco store into School Drive, the entrance to their car park is on your left.
Adults: £7
Concessions: £5
Under 18s: £1
