Hinckley AFC’s second consecutive home game will see them look to extend their impressive recent home form when fourth-placed March Town United visit Kirkby Road on Saturday.
Hinckley made it four straight home wins and seven unbeaten at Kirkby Road by beating Bugbrooke St Michaels 4-1 last week, with the damage done by three goals in 10 minutes either side of half time.
Now, they will face a stern test as play-off chasing March make the long journey over from Cambridgeshire, having competed well in the away game in August which ultimately ended in defeat.
Hinckley will be without Alex Vineall, whose concussion picked up last week will rule him out, while club captain Jack Edwards will be out for up to eight weeks after a scan on his ankle problem.
The opposition
March’s 2-0 defeat at Coventry United last weekend was their first away from home all season, although five of their previous eight away league games ended in draws.
They sit fourth, and although they lost ground on the title-chasers with that loss, they still have a four-point cushion on the play-off spots with 30 from their 17 games so far.
While they aren’t prolific goalscorers – no side in the top 12 has scored fewer goals this season than March – their defensive record is the third-best in the division, only behind Aylestone Park and Rugby Borough.
That said, their last four games have gone against that season record – they have conceded twice in each of those four games but have won three of them, all by a 3-2 margin and two of them by coming from 2-0 down.
Craig Gillies and Dan Cotton are both into double figures for goals this season already.
From the dressing room
“The next step for us is to try and take some points off the sides towards the top of the table. If we have any aspirations to climb the league, then we have to start doing that in the next few weeks when we play March, ON Chenecks and Rugby Borough. March play a shape that tries to catch you out and create overloads, which we dealt with well on the whole back in August but didn’t defend well enough take anything from the game.
“That was a good game between two good sides. We moved the ball well, but they were good too and took their chances. The game was won in boxes – we didn’t taken our chances and didn’t defend well enough, they did. March will also be comfortable on the 4G surface here and have good players who will do things properly.”
Joe Conneely
Key information
Kirkby Road has a large, free on-site car park, and we have both cash and card turnstiles available.
Adults: £7 members, £8 non-members
Concessions: £5 members, £6 non-members
Under 16s: Members go free, £2 non-members
