Hinckley AFC welcome Lincoln United to Kirkby Road on Saturday hoping for the 11th consecutive home win that will see them into a third straight League Cup semi-final.
Monday’s 4-1 victory over Coventry United extended Hinckley’s outstanding home form this season, taking them into double figures for consecutive wins at home.
And, after winning the competition and then reaching the semi-final in their last two seasons in the Midland League Cup, Joe Conneely knows another win this weekend will take his side into the last four once again.
But that winning streak will face arguably its toughest test yet against a Lincoln United side still in a title race.
The opposition
The Whites are eight points behind UCL Premier North leaders Eastwood, but with a game in hand on the Nottinghamshire side and still having to play them in April, they’ll feel they’re still in with a shout of automatic promotion.
This is their second season at step five after relegation, and they went close to an immediate return last year but were beaten in the play-offs.
Unbeaten since December in all competitions and November in the league, they are on an excellent run of form and beat Sleaford Town 6-0 last weekend – their biggest win of the season.
Like Hinckley, they are among the top scorers in their league (only Eastwood have scored more) and also like Hinckley, their attacking threat hasn’t been reliant on one person. Jack McMenemy and Owen Vincent are their top scorers this season with 12 apiece, Elliot Dye has seven.
From the dressing room
League Cups have served us well over the last couple of years. It’s a competition we try and target at the start of the season and is one we can do well in. We’ve beaten Rainworth and then Lutterworth away, which isn’t easy to do, and you’ve got to be in it to try and make the final, Everyone loves a final day out, they’re special. We felt that at the Bescot a couple of years ago, and that win helped us keep the group together which won the league last year.
“We’ve got some footage of Lincoln United, so we’ve watched that this week. It’ll be tough, they’re a good side who are going well and trying to get promoted out of their league. It’ll be a difficult game, they’re a big, strong, physical team. But we’ll always fancy winning at home – we have to, given the form we’re in here.”
Joe Conneely
Key information
Kirkby Road has a large, free on-site car park with cash and card accepted at the turnstiles. With this being a Cup match, season tickets and membership discounts are not valid for this fixture.
Adults: £8
Concessions: £6
Under 16s: £2
