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| December 2012 | |
| Saturday 29th | |
| Hinckley end year feeling the Blues | |
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Hinckley United travelled to runaway league leaders Chester for their final game of a dismal
2012, with many predicting a big win for the Welsh club. A credible rearguard performance
saw Hinckley young guns come away with a 3-0 defeat, but their heads held high. Hinckley lined up with a defencive formation, dictated by the fact that our only striker, Aron Wint, had not travelled because of illness, leaving midfielder Matt Marshall very lonely on his own up front. Obviously it would be Chester that would dictate the game, but Hinckley frustrated them defending resolutely from the kick off. As you'd expect keeper Rob Peet was kept busy and he was first into action early on saving Wes Baynes long rage effort. Hinckley responded with Aaron Cole seeing his long range shot go well wide. Peet got down low to stop from Dave Hankin with his legs, and then reacted quickley to a poor back pass which he cleared the top of the stand before Nathan Jarman could capitalise. For all the defending, it was Hinckley that should've taken the lead on the half hour as Theo Brown was sent through the middle, took the ball past John Danby, but as he went wider of goal could not turn the ball in from a tight angle. Chester then forced a series of corners, with Jarman firing well over from the edge of the area before Antoni Sarcevic scored their first goal with a superb strike. Danny Williams cross was headed down into the path of Sarcevic by Hankin, and the former Crewe player hit the ball on the half volley from outside the area past the reach of the diving Peet. As Chester increased the pressure, George Horan headed over with 5 minutes to half time and Marc Williams saw his effort well held by Peet. Hinckley had one last chance before half time with a Max Harrop 30 yard free kick fired safely into the arms of Danby. Danby would again be required just after half time when a solo run from Theo Brown ended with the referee awarding a penalty. Even though Horan appeared to time his tackle to perfection the ref appeared to signal it was for a 'tackle from behind'. The Chester fans would feel it was 'justice done' when Danby chose the right way to dive saving the spot kick from Harrop. The miss was compounded for Hinckley when Ian Howard doubled Chester's lead 5 minutes later, when Marc Williams was through on goal and Peet dropped to gather the ball, with the Chester winger tapping the ball to Howard, seemingly in an offside position, to tap the ball into the empty net. Danby was again the hero as he pulled off another superb save, tipping around a 20 yard shot from Theo Brown, then punched away the resulting corner, setting up Chester's next attack for third goal. In a great move, Marc Williams ran down the wing, he played the ball central to Jarman who dummied and let the ball through to Danny Williams, who in turn played the ball behind the Hinckley defence back to Marc Williams who had continued his run, and slotted the ball past the advancing Peet, into the goal. Hinckley never gave up and another Harrop free kick was fired into the side netting then a solo run forward from the back from Charlie Raglan ended with the ball cleared for a corner. Martin Conway, Hinckley's reserve keeper again was substituted on as an outfield player in the closing stages and there was just time for Peet to grasp hold of Howard's header before the final whistle. Ultimately a gritty win for Chester, but Hinckley's young players fully deserved their applause from the Chester Main Stand and travelling support as they left the pitch. click here for: Chester match details |
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| Wednesday 26th | |
| No Christmas present for Hinckley | |
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There was definitely no christmas cheer for Hinckley United as they lost their 17th consecutive
match 1-0, away at Solihull Moors. However the 'Motormen' were given a big hand by a
contentious decison from the referee, when he showed Ben Richards-Everton a straight red
card for a sliding tackle in the 15th minute. Hinckley were already starting with 'walking wounded' as a number of players were carrying knocks, and with one substitute on the bench were limited to their options when down to 10 men. Up until that point Hinckley had been the better side for the first quarter of an hour having two good chances from Aron Wint and Matt Stenson. After the sending off it was pretty much one way traffic for Solihull, though everything they fired goalward was stopped by Rob Peet. It was only a matter of time before 'Motors' breeched the defence though, and that happened 10 minutes into the second half when Dior Angus was played through the middle of the defence and he slotted the ball past the advancing Peet. Solihull would be disappointed not to have finished the match with more goals, but Junior English and Omar Bogle were guilty of missing some clear cut chances in the closing stages. Ultimately it was another match of great effort and determination from Hinckley's young side without any reward. click here for: Solihull match details |
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| Tuesday 18th | |
| Match DEFO OFF | |
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Tonights match against Bishop's Stortford in the Conference North has been cancelled by
Hinckley United, due to the inability to field a team, as there were just 9 players available
for the match. With injuries to Paul Lister, Phil Green, Jack Lane, James Hicks, Matt Stenson, Max Harrop, Aaron Cole and Imad Abassi plus Charlie Raglan being suspended, Declan Towers at Notts County and Harvey Headley currently working in America - that left just 8 registered players (two of which are goalkeepers), or 9 if you include Carl Heggs as a player manager. However the football club will face a charge of 'failing to fulfill an engagement' as the Football Conference requested medical evidence giving rise to an opportunity to make three emergency signings. Conference general manager Dennis Strudwick said: "Hinckley chose to call off the game as they said they only had eight players available. I offered them the 'olive branch' of registering three players but that did not happen." A Football Conference statement read: Hinckley United informed the Football Conference by email at 9.16pm on Monday, 17th December that it had only nine fit/available players for the following evening�s Blue Square Bet North match against Bishop`s Stortford. The Competition responded by seeking the club�s proposals to overcome the solution, adding the issue would be addressed immediately the Office opened the following morning. Further communication followed this morning but a request for medical evidence, which the club was advised would enable the Competition to consider three further registrations, was unfulfilled when the club informed the Conference Office it (Hinckley United FC) had postponed the fixture as it was unable to fulfil the engagement. Hinckley United FC also advised the Conference it had informed its opponents of its decision. Hinckley chairman Mike Sutton admitted the Conference offered the chance to sign players, but said it was not practical. He said: "The offer to sign players didn't come through until 1pm. I had already cancelled the game by then. We had to think of Bishop's Stortford travelling. The league said we needed to send medical evidence of injuries but how can we do that at such notice? There will be a doctor at training on Thursday who can provide medical certificates. |
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| Saturday 15th | |
| No FA Cup hangover for Harrogate | |
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Hinckley United moved a game closer to Lancaster City's record of 20 consecutive Conf North
defeats, by losing their 16th consecutive league game 5-0, away at Harrogate Town. Hinckley got off to a dreadful start and were two goals down before 5 minutes had passed. A penalty was conceded almost from kick off and former Hinckley player Chibuza Chilaka stepped up, only to see his spot kick superbly saved by Rob Peet, and the ball come back straight to his feet to simply tap into the net with Peet still on the floor. Shellshocked Hinckley then gifted Adam Nowakowski a free header, and he finshed off a left wing cross to double the lead only minutes later. Chilaka finished the game as a contest on 18 minutes when he scored his second, and Harrogate's third, a good individual goal running past Ben Richard-Everton, taking the ball around Peet and slotting into the goal. The goals continued to flow for Harrogate in the second half. Just before the hour Paul Bolland bundled the ball across the line in a goalmouth melee and then just after the hour Tom Platt finished off a move that saw Chilaka get to the byline and pull back for the on loan player to blast into goal off the underside of the bar. Hinckley managed to last the remainder of the match without conceding, thanks mainly to some excellent saves from Peet as Harrogate forced a series of corners. click here for: Harrogate match details |
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| Thursday 13th | |
| Nil Point | |
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Hinckley United were handed a 3 point penalty deduction by the Football Conference today,
due to there still being football creditors owed outstanding monies. Having won only the once
in the league, this now leaves Hinckley on zero points, though ultimately looke like having
very little effect on the relegation fate of our club. A football Conference statement reads: The Football Conference received claims relating to outstanding wages from five players. After much correspondence from the Competition to the Club the claims have neither been refuted nor settled. On 27 November the Competition instructed the Club to settle the outstanding sums within seven days, or be subject to the above sanction. None of the balances have been settled, and now the Appeal procedure has been exhausted, the penalty of the deduction of three points is effective forthwith. Ironically, the fans fundraising efforts to raise the amount outstanding were completed this week and hope to have the money cleared to the football club within a week. |
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| Saturday 8th | |
| Steelmen rivett Hinckley firmly in last place | |
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Hinckley United continued their losing streak, now stretched to 14 league games,losing at
Steelpark, Corby winning 5-3. As is customary now, Hinckley conceded early on, this match lasting for a whole 6 minutes before Tom McGowan put in Nat Wedderburn's low cross. The lead was extended to two on the half hour when Liam Hughes pulled back from the byline for Josh Moreman to head home. Hinckley got a lifeline back into the game just before half time when an Aaron Cole corner was headed back across goal by James Hartland for Harvey Headley to blast into the net. However Hinckley failed to last till half time and Corby opened their lead back to two goals on the stroke of half time as Ryan Semple crossed and Hughed heaed the ball past Rob Peet. Any hopes of Hinckley making a comeback in the second half were thwarted just before the hour with Semple beating Peet when one on one. This triggered a Hinckley resurgence, first by getting a goal back almost straight away as Theo Brown ran at the Corby defence, into the area and slotting the ball past Paul Walker, and then forcing a spell of pressure keeping Corby penned into their own half. Despite efforts from Hartland Aron Wint twice, and even reserve goalkeeper Martin Conway coming on as a sub at right wing and forcing Walker into a good save, Hinckley were unable to get back into the game. Corby were then gifted a fifth and killer goal by an unfortunate error from Peet, 'shanking' a goal kick straight to the feet of Hughes, who accepted the early christmas present and slotted past thehelpess Hinckley keeper. Even though Hinckley scored a third consolation goal in injury time, Headley getting his second of the match, the points were comfortable for Corby by that time. click here for: Corby match details |
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| Saturday 1st | |
| The kids are alright, but Lions still bite | |
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A very youthful Hinckley United side lost to top of the table Guiseley at De Montfort Park,
but were by no means disgraced and were applauded by their fans for their determination
and effort at the final whistle. With 5 suspensions having an effect, coupled with the transfer embargo, Carl Heggs named 5 teenagers in the starting line, including a debut for young keeper Martin Conway, plus the manager naming himself in the team, and having the luxury of just one substitute. James Hicks, James Hartland, Matt Stenson, Imad Abassi and especially Martin Conway all coped well with what the very experienced Guiseley had to offer them, but ultimately a team of their quality pushing for another play off place at the least, were always going to be too strong for this young Hinckley team. With a makeshift back line, things went wrong for the team as early as the first minute when Kevin Holsgrove got around the back of the defenceand crossed to Wayne Brooksby, who had run in unmarked at the back post, to simply tap the ball into the net from close range. The Lions doubled their lead on the quarter hour when a cross to the back post was headed down by Brooksby to the feet of Danny Boshell almost on the goal line, who blasted into the net. Hinckley should have pulled a goal back 5 minutes later when Andrew Pearson handled a Heggs header on it's way into goal, conceding the penalty, though for some reason only receiving a yellow card for the offence. That was compounded when Steve Drench dived the right way from Heggs spot kick saving the penalty well. Conway began to grow in confidence on his debut in goal and before half time made good saves from Gavin Rothery and Holdsgrove, keeping the score down to two. Conway was again the busier of the two keepers during the second half, and he got down low to take the ball at the feet of Brooksby and then denied Holsgrove. However he couldn't stop Guiseley's third goal on the hour when Holsgrove played in Josh Wilson and he curled the ball out the reach of Conway when one on one. Conway tipped a Rhys Meynell long range shot over the bar and blocked an effort from Jack Rea. Hinckley did have some chances and with the introduction of Abassi forced a series of corners, resulting in a good header from Stenson just going over and and then Theo Brown got on the end of a free kick but blasted against the bar only for the rebound to be headed wide by Stenson. With 15minutes left James Walshaw was played in one on one with Conway, but the young keeper stood up well and pushed the experienced forwards effort over the bar. Conway then rounded off his man of the match performance in the closing minutes, first by saving Boshell's shot and then making a superb block to deny Walshaw. Ultimately a game comfortably won by the Lions, but nothing more than expected considering the gulf between the two sides in terms of ability and experience. click here for: Guiseley match details |
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