HINCKLEY AFC 2-0 NUNEATON GRIFF: THE MATCH REPORT + IMAGES...

 Knitters Get What They Deserve, Despite Griff’s Resolve…

Hinckley AFC 2-0 Nuneaton Griff

At socially distanced Kirkby Road, Barwell, which boasted an attendance of 264 on a chilly Tuesday evening, Hinckley were worthy winners although Nuneaton’s players stuck to their tasks, albeit mostly in a shift of stopping their hosts. Goalkeeper Joe Salisbury was the prime suspect, for he made four fine saves during the contest although he could do nothing to prevent close range second period finishes by Luke Edwards and replacement Tom Weale. In truth, the visitors created little on offense despite the fact that central striker Lewis Collins worked tremendously hard with little real service. Certainly Hinckley’s cause was eased somewhat with the introduction of both Ben Ashby and Weale who galvanised their colleagues and were instrumental in the second period dominance of the Knitters.

EDWARDS WOULD BE CAUTIONED AFTER THIS ...

The AFC forwards suffered mixed fortunes all evening, with Chris Lloyd having some influence but he was also caught offside a few times, whilst left-flanker Isa Abraham just experienced ‘one of those nights’… He was quick, he looked bright and then he had to deliver but that’s where his flurries seemed to end too often, partly due to the fine and speedy defending by Griff’s Ben Martin, it has to be said. However, when Abraham did cut inside, he was often pressed by three Nuneaton defenders and lost possession. With no aerial threat the hosts were at least given more scope when Weale’s presence partially addressed the problem. 

COMPLAINTS THAT MCEWAN, HURT, HAD CRAWLED BACK ONTO THE PITCH TO STOP THE GAME FOR TREATMENT.
HE RECEIVED NONE...

The home midfielders Reece Giles and Dan Hoskins impressed often with their willingness and ability but some ‘supporters’ were perhaps short-sighted on occasions when the occasional stroked Hoskins pass drifted into no man’s land although his intention had been for runners to read his deliveries, yet they hadn’t done so… Subsequently, Nuneaton found the second-half a tough 45 and really the hosts ought to have won more convincingly, but that would have been harsh on Salisbury…

THACKERAY REALISES THAT IT WAS ME HE SPOKE TO IN THE CAR-PARK BEFORE THE MATCH...
(OR NOT...)

The guests were able to test home glovemen Matt Hill only once really and that was a drive from distance by Reece Williams which the ‘keeper palmed out for a corner. The resulting flag-kick dropped at the near post and Hill managed to smother it. Otherwise, Conor McEwan shoved an angled effort across the goalmouth and later when clear on the right and with Ben Martin and Collins inside him in good positions, the forward passed the ball far too near the home defenders. A left-boot effort by Ben Martin drifted not too far over the target but really, despite some promptings by Fortune Sibanda, Toby Phillips and Ryan Ball, it was Hinckley who were more dominant. 

ASHBY SETS UP A FREE-KICK...

An early free-kick from an angle on the right by Rankin was struck dangerously goalwards but Salisbury punched it clear, Rankin then shot disappointingly high from 19 yards but his evening ended shortly afterwards through injury. Ashby’s presence as a replacement though was actually a wise intervention. Hoskins clipped a free-kick to Salisbury’s arms, the impressive Hinckley left-back Callum Martin smacked a 28 yarder from downtown which Salisbury punched away and before he left the field, Rankin crossed low from the left for the lurking Lloyd to turn goalwards from a couple of yards but somehow, Salisbury saved well. A strong shot from 30 yards or so by Nick Brandish flew way too high and the recess arrived with the teams level at 0-0.

WEALE & BELL...
(GOOD NAME FOR A PUB...)

The players exited for cartons of warm milk and Digestive biscuits (is this right?) and a couple of elderly chaps fetched drinks for themselves and were jokingly told off for climbing up the ‘down-steps’ in the grandstand… If the one guy’s raffle ticket had been successful, he sure didn’t deserve the prize… (Only jesting, my good man…) 

REF: "OK, I'LL DEAL WITH IT WHEN I'VE FINISHED A QUICK BOOGIE...)

The referee was taking some abuse from the home fans and that was further exacerbated when Lloyd’s second period centre from the right byeline certainly struck a Griff arm but in the ensuing hassle, Hoskins so nearly jabbed the ball into the net, only to be denied by Salisbury’s plunge almost on the goal-line. A left-flank free-kick by Ashby would prove to be the damaging moment for Griff, for Edwards flicked at the delivery as it dropped at the near stick, getting there before Nuneaton’s stalwart central defender Ben Thackeray, who had seemed like a magnet for the ball during the first-half. The ball shot off Edwards’ poke and beat Salisbury to give the Knitters the lead they warranted. Edwards won a number of headers in duels with Collins on the night and he was well supported at the back for AFC by Ben Kendrick. 

JUST BEFORE SALISBURY PUNCHES OUT RANKIN'S FREE-KICK...

A Lloyd effort from the right byeline cannoned off Thackeray for a flag-kick, then Weale made an instant impression, controlling the ball at the near post from Ashby’s right-side corner and shooting at a stretch; an effort which was saved comfortably by Salisbury. Soon though, the ever willing Callum Martin broke up a Griff move, swung a pass left for substitute Luke Richards to latch onto, then nod on and scurry towards the left byeline, from whence his low centre past four defenders and Salisbury was rapped into the net from a couple of yards by the charging Weale… Nuneaton appealed for offside and also for a foul in the build-up, when Abraham left Sibanda writhing on the touchline. Nothing was given to the visitors by the officials however… 

"REMEMBER, TWO OF YOUR SHIRTS = ONE OF THEIR SHIRTS..."
(2X YELLOW = 1 RED...)

With Nuneaton managing no more than a couple of efforts by Collins, the first a curled effort after a decent McEwan pass which drifted off target and the second a low drive from 19 yards which rolled wide of the left upright, it was clear that AFC were dominant and indeed, ought to have increased their lead. Weale’s pass allowed Ashby a shot from inside-right but his effort lacked some power and Salisbury gathered it falling right and at the second attempt, before Giles sliced a 15 yarder too high. Really Richards, kindly assisted by the influential Weale, maybe ought to have done better than drag a low shot past the right stick from 12 yards, left of centre. 

SNIPER WILLIAMS (2ND FROM LEFT) GUARDS HIS DEFENDERS...

All in all, a pleasing evening for the hosts but one which had started resolutely and then fallen away after the restart for their guests. The midfield contributions of the creative Giles, the often thoughtful Hoskins and certainly the Bearded Controller Ashby, who along with Weale, as aforementioned, turned the game from a possible draw to certain victory. Callum Martin was very decent, as was skipper Mark Williams, guarding his defenders like a sniper at the Somme, yet Nuneaton had a Martin and a Williams too and both did well enough, namely Ben and Reece. Thackeray fought to the end and moved forward near the end to try to get more offense going but in truth that failed and he was one of four players I believe who were cautioned. The others were Ball of Griff, plus Knitters Abraham and Mr Innocent, Edwards… 

5 DEFENDERS, 2 ATTACKERS...

Anyway, I reckon that Griff should try to sign a Ryan Bull and a Ryan Bill, to go with Ryan Ball and Ryan Bell, which would be brilliantly confusing for everyone concerned…

TEAMS:

HINCKLEY AFC:

MATT HILL, NICK BRANDISH, CALLUM MARTIN, MARK WILLIAMS (CAPT), BEN KENDRICK, LUKE EDWARDS, LEWIS RANKIN, DAN HOSKINS, CHRIS LLOYD, REECE GILES, ISA ABRAHAM.

SUBS:

TOM WEALE, KY GREEN, LUKE RICHARDS, BEN ASHBY, JACK EDWARDS.

NUNEATON GRIFF:

JOE SALISBURY, BEN MARTIN, REECE WILLIAMS, RYAN ASTON, BEN THACKERAY, RYAN BELL, RYAN BALL, FORTUNE SIBANDA, LEWIS COLLINS, CONOR MCEWAN, TOBY PHILLIPS.

SUBS:

RYAN SLINN, JACOB DODDS, JAKE PERRY, LUKE THOMPSON.