FEBRUARY 2002
I presume everybody knows the Bob Marley song 'Exodus'. All together now...
 
Is it just me or do Hinckley United seem to be doing the same thing as Leicester City are doing with their playing staff. That is offloading players now in preparation for next season in a lower league. I know we won't get relegated (you've got to believe) but isn't the current exodus (c'mon Bob, one more time, let me hear ya sing�) a little unnerving. Jermaine Gordon, Lynden Rowland and Scott Huckerby (OK he was only on loan, and now we've signed him permanently, but that won't stop me) are all strikers. We've gone from having double the amount needed, to barely having enough for one game. Karl Brennan is on the transfer list (and only seems to get a game if DT is desperate) and now Steve Coates has gone back to Grizzly Rovers. Does somebody know something and isn't telling. We've struggled all season to replace Rich Lavery, and then the only player that has come close (in my opinion, before you start) is lobbed out in our time of need. Now all this leads me to my relegation fight conspiracy theory. It is now obviously clear what DT intends to do to avoid relegation. If we don't concede any more goals, then we will at the least draw our remaining games and thus pick up at least 11 points needed to avoid the drop. With the playing staff left at the club it would seem the intended formation for the rest of the season will be an 8 - 1 - 1 line up. Four Center Backs, a Left Back, a Right Back, a Left Wingback and a Right Wingback, a Defensive Midfielder acting as a sweeper in font of the back four and a lone Striker, obviously coming from deep.
I'm not sure if this is strictly true but there has been a white van outside my house for a week and I've never heard of a company called Flowers By Irene. (Think!)
 
Yet again the start of the month is disrupted by the weather...
... this time both the first and second games were called off due to there being warthogs on the pitch. Actually it's a shame that all our games this month haven't been called off! However, that meant our opening game would be at home to Newport County.
Hinckley started brightly and Paul Hunter grazed the post in only the second minute. That was the last time we were in the game. Newport had the wind with them and with every attack the confidence just drained from the Hinckley side. When Newport took the lead the only surprise was that it wasn't sooner. Having had a goal line clearance already, Newport had a corner well parried by Chris Taylor but only for Scott Walker to bundle it home. Scott Walker? Yeah, the sun ain't gonna shine anymore. The luck always goes against when you're down the bottom they say and it sure did when Hunter was viciously mugged with a sledgehammer in the penalty area as the half finished. Had we been in 10th place it would've been a clear penalty, but as we're down the bottom it was obviously a dive. Or so the Ref must've thought. It wasn't until the latter stages that Hinckley began to come into the game, then get caught with a sucker punch. In the final minute Hinckley were caught on the break and Newport scored their second, to record a 0 - 2 away win and avenge the score earlier in the season.
Next Hinckley travelled to Cambridge City, who were a place below us at the time. Apparently the Hinckley players were suffering from temporary deafness, because not one of them could've heard the referee blow the whistle for the start of the game. They were still warming up for the first 75 minutes, while Cambridge helped themselves to a 3 - 0 lead, but for the post it would've been 4! Suddenly somebody told the players the game had kicked off. Hinckley got a lifeline in the 84th minute, Scott Huckerby sprung the offside trap and ran on to get a goal back. Then Hinckley were awarded a penalty which Jamie Lenton put away. In injury time it was almost a comeback special, but Huckerby just failed to get his head onto a Cartwright cross, and that was that. A 3 - 2 defeat to the team below us and we were well and truly dragged into the relegation fight.
That made the next game even more important to win. Salisbury City, who themselves were fighting for their lives, were on a recent turn of form and though still had won only 3 games all season were on a run of draws. So obviously Hinckley start by going a goal down in the 3rd minute. Joy! After this goal Hinckley virtually laid siege to the Salisbury goal. Lucas 2 chances, Penny 2 chances, Hunter and Wilkes all could've got goals in the first half. It was the same in the second half and as the game wore on Hinckley got more and more desperate. It wasn't until the 79th minute that Hinckley got ant reward. Storer crossed the ball into the box and Hunter superbly volleyed into the corner of the net. So despite the good football and plenty of chances, Hinckley came away from the bottom club with only a 1 - 1 draw.
So on to the start of a run of games versus top 10 clubs. The first would be a home game against Worcester City. On a Saturday of contrasting weather conditions, ebbing and flowing between snow blizzard and bright sunshine, so was the play of this match. With neither side getting to grips with the wind, it was no surprise that the game ended 0 - 0. In both halves the pattern of play favoured the direction of the wind, and there were no real goal chances, just long range shots aided by the wind. It could have been different though if McDonnell in the Worcester goal hadn't pulled out a superb one handed save from Hunter late on. Not the best of games for Titterton to make his 200th appearance for Hinckley, but a valuable point none the less.
The return of Scott Huckerby would be away at Moor Green. Despite lots of possession and numerous corners the half time score was 0 - 0. The way we've scored goals this season that's no surprise. It was also no surprise that Hinckley scored almost from the restart. How many times have we said second half team so far this season? Chris Taylor hoofed the ball and Scott Huckerby found himself clear on goal, and proceeded to bend it round the keeper into the net. As has been the norm' this season too, we failed to hold on to the lead for very long. Moor Green got around our wide men and crossed. Softley smashed the ball home from the edge of the area. That spurred Moor Green to life and Hinckley survived a barrage of attacks. Hinckley had chances late on, but had to settle for another draw, 1 - 1.
Well 3 draws on the trot isn't the best unbeaten run, but we've got to turn the corner before we can pick up the pace, or some other football cliche. 3 games unbeaten is 3 games unbeaten. Though 7 games since a win sounds alot worse. Still, keep encouraging and the players will respond.
 
In Out, Shake it all about.
Scott Huckerby ended his 2 month loan spell this month, when he returned to Conference side Woking. Quite a few people criticised his work rate and teamwork, but he played 10 games and scored 5 goals. That's a strike rate of 50%, 1 goal every 2 games. You can't argue with that. He scored over 25% of all the goals scored in that 2 month period. Had he played a full season that would equate to around 25-30 goals. OK that's applying twisted logic to statistics but his goals were definitely a thin lifeline. I think his only problem as far as the fans were concerned was that he wasn't Paul Hunter! Then at the end of the month Scott Huckerby returned from Woking and increased his goal tally. Huckerby had negotiated his way out of his Woking contract and come to join us permanently.
Soon to be adding to the exodus would be Lynden Rowland. He was placed on the transfer list and a deal was soon done with Leicester Senior League side Thurnby Rangers. In a twist of fate (or somebody's arm?) the reason for Rowland leaving was reported as the opportunity to free up a wage to enable Hinckley to bring Scott Huckerby here permanently. Also leaving this month, Jermaine Gordon signed for Rugby United and even scored a goal on his debut for them. Lastly Steve Coates departed this month, when he returned to Gresley Rovers. I think we'll miss Coates the most, as in my opinion he has been our best midfielder this season. In the absence of Rich Lavery, Coates has taken on the defensive midfield role and has done it well. He could be sorely missed.
Apart from Huckerby, the only signing after this 'watershed' was Leon Blake from Stourbridge. The defender was signed as cover for Neil Cartwright. So is Neil Cartwright going somewhere? More from the 'rumour mill' next month.
 
World of Football Stuff
February, always a short month
 
Window cleaner Keith Adams has been told to take his sponge to every Norwich City home game, so that they keep winning. Keith has cleaned the windows before 12 games at Carrow Road this season and Norwich have won them all. Keith has only missed 5 matches, which the Canaries lost 4 and drew 1. Keith said: "I know chimney sweeps are supposed to bring good luck, but I'm the only window cleaner who is regarded as a talisman." Then Keith went on to clean the windows for the 13th match. Norwich won 3 - 0!
 
Rory Smith lost 9 stone in weight after Manchester United fans politely asked to the whereabouts of certain pies. Literally thousands of Man Utd fans chanted 'who ate all the pies?' as the 22 stone Coventry City fan returned to his Old Trafford seat loaded with an armful of the meat snacks. He was so embarrassed he joined a slimming club. The incident happened at an away game last year and since then he has slimmed down to 13 stone. Rory said: "I'd nipped off just before half time and the chanting started when I returned. There were thousands of voices shouting 'Billy Bunter' and 'You fat b*st*rd'. If anyone with a weight problem needs an incentive then go to a football match."
Who says footie fans are insensitive?
 
Coming next Month: The killer game away to Newport IoW. Arch rivals Tiverton play host and Championship chasers Kettering come to the Lane.
 
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