After Tuesday’s dramatic late win, Hinckley AFC will look to extend their impressive form when they welcome Histon to Kirkby Road on Saturday afternoon.
Jordan Clement’s stoppage time winner at GNG Oadby Town earned third win on the bounce and a seventh game unbeaten under Ross Innes, Adam Davies and Chris Tullin – the longest unbeaten start any management team has had in the club’s history.
A similar result against Histon would make it eight and continue the remarkable upturn since the end of July – with Hinckley’s only defeat since then coming against higher-level Long Eaton United in the FA Cup.
Hinckley will, though, still be without Zaki Evans who is carrying a knock, while Ky Green is set for a long-term absence. Lewis Rankin is edging closer to fitness but won’t be ready in time for this weekend but Perry Cotton will return to the squad after missing Tuesday.
The opposition
Like Hinckley, Histon have also had a change in management early this season after the departure of Chris Nunn to St Neots Town, with Mark Critoph and Matt Payne his successors.
And they picked up a first win of their new era on Tuesday as a 2-1 win over Northampton Sileby Rangers ended a four-game losing streak. Danny Baulk, who was part of St Neots’ title-winning group last season, scored both goals.
It lifted them to 14th in the table, although their success in the FA Cup – they reached the first round qualifying – means they have games in hand on the majority of sides above them.
Baulk has four goals this season but their leading marksman is Connor Barnes, who has seven already and also scored at Kirkby Road last season.
That ended up as a consolation in a game Hinckley won 4-2 last September, but Histon had the last laugh in a thrilling reverse fixture in March, with a stoppage-time equaliser giving them a 3-3 draw after Hinckley had come from 2-0 down to lead.
From the dressing room
“We know how Histon set up and what their threats are, but we’ll put most of our focus on what we can do to hurt them.
“They’re a big old club for this level – I remember watching them play Nuneaton Borough and Hinckley United in league matches at a higher level than this – and it’s great to have these sorts of sides in our league.”
Adam Davies
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
