Hinckley AFC start the journey in this season’s Leicestershire Challenge Cup with the short trip to face Lutterworth Town on Tuesday night.
The County Cup gives Hinckley a first midweek game since the end of August, with a quick journey down the A5 to face a fellow step five outfit in Lutterworth.
Chris Tullin will remain without Drew Kear and Ky Green, while Najeem Oriola serves the final game of his three-match ban and Prince Ogbe the second game of his.
The opposition
Lutterworth finished just outside the play-offs last season and have started this campaign in a similar fashion. They’re fifth, albeit having played more games than sides around them, with 26 points from their 15 games.
They needed a late Louis Samuels equaliser – the winger rejoined the Swifts from Rugby Town earlier this season – to snatch a point at home to Godmanchester Rovers on Saturday – and it’s now three draws in a row for Callum Earls and Matt Langham’s side, who previously ended 4-4 at Sileby Rangers and 2-2 against Rugby. They haven’t lose in the league since a 2-0 reverse at Knowle at the end of August.
Tendai Daire is their leading scorer with 12 while Dom Brennan and Samuels have six apiece.
Last season, when the sides were league rivals, they traded a win apiece – Lutterworth won 2-1 at Kirkby Road in October before Hinckley returned the favour with a 3-1 victory at Dunley Way shortly before Christmas with Lucinee Donzo scoring twice.
Key information
The winners will join fellow first round victors Ashby Ivanhoe and Loughborough Students in the quarter-finals, alongside five clubs who were given a bye to this stage – Anstey Nomads, Barwell, Harborough Town, Quorn and Shepshed Dynamo.
Lutterworth play at Dunley Way, Lutterworth, LE17 4NP. There is very limited car parking at the ground so fans will need to seek alternative parking – please park respectfully if on neighbouring streets.
Adults: £8
Concessions: £5
Under 16s: Free
