THE BUILDBASE FA VASE, ST MARTINS v HINCKLEY AFC: THE MOWDOG'S PREVIEW...

 THE BUILDBASE FA VASE 1ST ROUND QUALIFIER, 

ST MARTINS v HINCKLEY AFC: THE MOWDOG’S PREVIEW…

This tie pits the North West Counties League against the United Counties League, although Hinckley of course have previously performed in the Midland Football League.

The match will take place at Welsh club TNS’s ground, Park Hall in Oswestry and for Hinckley it means a fair bit of travelling. And also for me…

Sadly for St Martins, they have suffered a dreadful start to the season and at present lie at the foot of the NWCL Division 1 South standings with just 2 points from a pair of draws and 8 defeats from their 10 league games. 

A 2-2 home draw v Abbey Hulton United, which featured two St Martins goals in the final 9 minutes by Scott Ravenscroft and Rob Weir, saw Adedayo Adekoya receive the MVP award for the hosts. However, a 6-0 loss at Sandbach United followed, with Adrian Barnett being voted MVP. Two of the goals came in the final 7 minutes.

A 1-2 defeat at home against Stafford Town in front of 48 attendees saw Sam Roberts nab a goal on the stroke of half-time to reduce the arrears but there was no further scoring. Roberts was also voted MVP…

Cheadle Town then visited The Venue and ran up a 1-5 victory in front of 40 spectators, with the guests scoring twice in the final minute. Roberts again netted for the Saints but the score was actually 1-1 at the break. Jordan Harper was acclaimed as Saints’ MVP.

Although Rahuf Mak scored after 2 minutes on the road at Cammell Laird 1907, Saints were beaten 4-1, after reaching the interval at 1-1. Barnett won another MVP award on that day.

A 2-2 draw against Alsager Town at home came next, courtesy of a strike by Harper and a 90th minute own-goal. Mark German received the MVP credit after this game.

A 4-0 defeat at New Mills followed although three of the goals were scored between the 74th and 79th minutes. Jack Jones received the MVP award, having taken over in goals from Riccardo Longato.

On August Bank Holiday Monday, the visiting Ellesmere Rangers smacked 8 goals past Jones without reply. Stelvio da Silva received the MVP award for St Martins, whilst Rangers’ substitute Dave Howarth scored a hat-trick in 22 minutes after the recess. 

On Friday 3rd September again in front of 48 spectators, Saints conceded another 8 at home, this time to Wythenshawe Amateurs, for whom Saul Henderson netted 4 times and Ed Brown grabbed a hat-trick. Saints kindly scored the other goal for their guests but at least the hosts scored the final goal of the afternoon, a strike by Harry Murray. Brave Saints ‘keeper Jones was again voted MVP for his team, despite being beaten 8 times…

Last time out on Tuesday evening the Saints entertained Eccleshall but despite leading early on with a goal by Ash Leather (also voted the team’s MVP), Saints were beaten 1-3, with two of the visitors’ goals being scored in the final 15 minutes. 

Late goals being conceded seems to have been a recurring problem for the Saints…

So, 10 league games, 8 defeats, a goal difference of -35, only 9 goals scored and in truth an awful lot to do…

Maybe the FA Vase tie will be a welcome mental break from those earlier heavy defeats…

Hinckley have experienced a mixed bag of results in truth, although recently they have suffered two consecutive defeats, their first of the season. 

They began the campaign with a 1-1 draw at Saffron Dynamo and although Tom Weale scored the goal, they had two players dismissed: Nick Brandish and Tyson Knight.

TOM WEALE...

Next up was Gedling Miners’ Welfare at AFC’s temporary home in Heather, a match they won 6-0 with goals from Ryan Murphy, Jack Edwards, Lewis Rankin (2), Lewis Padmore and Weale.

JACK EDWARDS...

Ben Kendrick was sent-off in a 0-0 draw at Lutterworth Athletic, which was followed by a 1-4 victory at Bourne Town, where another brace from Lewis Rankin added to strikes from Knight and Kai Gibbs.

LEWIS RANKIN...

A 0-4 success at Dunkirk in Nottingham was achieved through a brace by Weale, a single goal by Rankin and Jeremie Agholor’s first for the club.

JEREMIE AGHOLOR IN THE COVENTRIANS KIT...

Then came the Bank Holiday Monday and 4th of September debacles, which first saw AFC lose 3-2 at Birstall United Social, despite fighting back from 3-0 down with goals by Dan Hoskins and Ryan Slinn. 

MATT HILL, THE HINCKLEY AFC 'KEEPER...

AFC actually led Belper United 2-0 on the following Saturday and then 3-1 but still lost the encounter 3-4. Goals by Agholor, Hoskins and Murphy were scored in vain…

RYAN MURPHY...

When Barwell’s stadium has had its upgrade completed, Hinckley will return there and I guess that the feeling of travelling away even to play at home might then settle the team, which at present lies 14th in the UCL Division 1. Their goal difference is +11 and they have 11 points, from 3 wins, 2 draws and those 2 recent defeats.

Video highlights with commentary, plus screenshots, images and a full match report will begin to appear from Saturday evening at themowdog.blogspot.com  

The Mowdog…