Two of the Midland League Division One’s top three meet at Kirkby Road on Saturday as Hinckley AFC welcome table toppers Dudley Town.
AFC kicked of 2023 with a 3-1 win at Paget Rangers on Monday and now welcome the league leaders looking to inflict a dent on Dudley’s title hopes.
The Robins will want to bounce back from losing their five-match winning run on Monday, when they needed a stoppage-time penalty to salvage a point against Heath Hayes.
That draw allowed Ashby Ivanhoe to move level on points with them at the top – Dudley remaining at the summit by their goal difference being one better.
Hinckley sit eight points behind the leading pair in third, hoping for a win that will keep them within reach of the top two.
Dudley’s start to the season has been impressive and they are unbeaten against everyone apart from OJM Black Country this season – Dudley’s only two league defeats coming against them.
Their leading scorer is Kyle Montague with 13, with the striker scoring both goals during Hinckley’s opening-day defeat at Dudley in August.
But their success has mostly come at the other end, with the best defence in the league and the only side to concede less than a goal per game.
They have only kept two clean sheets since September, but have only conceded more than one goal in a league game once since the same month.
But that record will be tested against a Hinckley side who go into the game as the league’s leading scorers, having hit 35 in their last eight. New signing from Redditch, Josh Clews, is in contention to make his debut.
It promises to be a mouthwatering start to the new year at Kirkby Road between two of Division One’s top three.
Adults: £6
Concessions: £4
Under 16s: £2 (FREE with HAFC Junior membership card)
