Elliot Pratt’s hat-trick headlined a fine start to pre-season as Hinckley AFC started preparations for the United Counties Premier South season with a 6-1 win at Lichfield City.
The visit to Lichfield, last season’s beaten play-off finalists in the Midland League Premier Division, was set to be an early test for Joe Conneely and Courtney Hunter-Belford’s squad ahead of the new campaign.
But it was one they passed with flying colours as the young group soared to an excellent victory.
Pratt, who made his senior competitive debut in the final league game of last season having impressed for the Under 18s, scored twice before half-time to put Hinckley 2-1 up at the break. His pair of strikes sandwiched a Lichfield equaliser midway through a keenly-contested half.
But Hinckley pulled away in the second period with new signing Bryan Kohyrelon netting twice in three minutes shortly before the hour mark.
Isa Abraham added a fifth, before Pratt rounded off the victory late on with a sixth to wrap up his hat-trick and get Hinckley off and running in pre-season with a win.
Attention now turns to Monday night, and a trip to last season’s league rivals Chelmsley Town at Pack Meadow.
