Abbo on Alvis Win
Hinckley AFC manager Carl Abbott said his side have ‘got to be pleased’ with yesterday’s 2-0 win at Alvis Sporting.
A strong breeze meant that both sides found football difficult to play, and given the circumstances, Abbott was that his side ‘got the job done’. He said: ‘Yeah, definitely, I think so (it was a case of getting the job done). I think we underestimated how much of a part that (the wind) would play.
‘The first five minutes of the first half dictated how it would be a non-spectacle, a difficult game. We did say that if we won the toss we would play against the wind in the first half, I’m glad we did, although we did have a few chances to put them to the sword in the first half.
‘It was difficult, it made for a non-spectacle really, and limited opportunities to play football and carve out good openings.
‘We managed as best as we could in the circumstances. There were some outstanding performances, and I think we’ve been robbed of an opportunity to score a few goals today and have a comfortable victory, but all in all we’ve got to be pleased and we keep rolling on.’
Abbott rotated his side a little yesterday, making six changes and giving Michael Healy a start up front against his former club, and Abbott is keen to ensure that his players are all fresh ahead of a big two weeks.
‘I think that’s important, because we have three massive games coming up next week in the space of seven days, starting with Warwick on Saturday.
‘It’s important that any lads who haven’t had as many minutes as others are sharp enough to come in, in this vital run now, and also that key players like Nathan (Walker), JJ (Melligan) an Robbie (Millington) for instance are fresh.
‘It’s a balancing act ensuring everybody’s fit and available, and we have a seven game season now to just keep plugging away and see where we can take ourselves.’
With all sides at the top still having to play each other (with the exception of Highgate and Bromsgrove, who played yesterday), plenty of points will be dropped before the end of the season. Abbott says all his side can do is keep their wins flowing.
‘All we can do now is keep our end of the bargain. It’s by no means a given that we will win every game. We go out to win every game but the law of averages says that sooner or later this run will come to an end.
‘But we’re going to try our very best to take it down to the wire, and hope results elsewhere continue to aid our cause.
‘Bromsgrove have beaten Highgate today, and I couldn’t make my mind up whether a draw or a Bromsgrove win was the best result. We can certainly find positives in a Bromsgrove win and we’ll just keep going.
‘We’ll go until it’s not possible, and even then we’ll take everything we can out of our season.’
With the title race still on, the former Wolves Casuals boss is keen to keep his side strong ahead of the final run in, and hopes to make a couple of new additions soon.
‘The transfer deadline is in two weeks time, and we’re not going to leave anything to chance. We’ve put seven days in to Boldmere St Michaels for their centre forward Kieran Clarke. He’s got eighteen league goals at Boldmere in the league above this season.
‘I’m not sure what’s happening with that, it’s up to him really. The ball’s in his court. He can play anywhere: up top, wide on either side or off the front so that gives us a good option.
‘There’s also a centre half we’d like to add, and we’re hopeful of doing something with Richard Munday. He’s an ex-Hinckley United player, so it would be nice to bring an old United player to the club.
‘He’s also a lad with a great pedigree, having been at Romulus and Worcester City. Again, the ball is in Richard’s court and it’s something that I would like to do. We’ll see!’
