Edwards & Abrahamu Power Hinckley To Victory Over Gritty Griff…
Hinckley AFC 4-2 Nuneaton Griff
The Mowdog’s thoughts…
This was an enjoyable match to watch, for Nuneaton showed no respect for the league leaders at all from the start and netted twice early on to leave AFC reeling. However, the hosts forced themselves back into the contest with a headed goal, then equalised before the break with a goal by influential midfielder Jack Edwards.
The pressure off somewhat, Hinckley dominated the second period and eventually managed to score twice and deservedly take the victory in front of a bumper crowd of 352. Left-flank attacker Isa Abrahamu was in lusty form and in truth credit must go to Griff’s right-back Ally Hassan for his noble efforts in attempting to defend the rapid AFC winger whose moves inside were constantly dangerous. He was denied a goal for himself by the heroics of Nuneaton goalminder Dale O’Donnell who also foiled Hinckley's Riley Davoile, Zaki Evans and Edwards. The gloveman also got in the way of a dropping Tom Weale free-kick from the left-flank during the second 45.
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| O'DONNELL SAVES FROM ABRAHAMU... |
...& EVANS...
Edwards and right-back Matt Dawson eventually scored the goals which defeated Griff but the visitors battled on until the end, albeit in vain.
The slick Griff start…
In the opening moments Griff forced a right-wing corner, which was delivered as an out-swinger towards the far stick by nifty midfielder Jared Bradshaw. Central defender Reece Williams leapt well and beat Joe Obi aerially to loop a header towards the right post where home skipper Danny Fraser dived in a attempt to head the ball clear but the Williams effort had crossed the goal-line to put the guests a goal ahead.
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| WILLIAMS' HEADER... |
...IS ADJUDGED TO HAVE CROSSED THE GOAL-LINE...
Before AFC could recover their composure, they actually broke forward once but there was a misunderstanding as Edwards attempted to pass sideways for Davoile who had moved a few yards forward and thus Griff took possession. Busy midfielder Leodrin Kuliqi moved on towards half-way and placed a fine pass through the home defence, left of centre where forward Jacob Dumbleton had run to. He drove on and as home custodian Matt Hill advanced to meet him, he tucked a low shot from inside-left into the Hinckley net.
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| DUMBLETON SHOOTS... |
...& IT'S 0-2 TO GRIFF...
Another low drive by Dumbleton flew wide of the left upright but from that point on, Griff’s only real offense was produced in the final moments of the match, as they fought to save themselves from defeat.
The Hinckley response before half-time…
Edwards nodded a cross from Fraser onto the roof of the Griff net before the hosts won a left-side corner which was taken by Davoile and central defender Ky Green rose, beating Nuneaton’s Steven Pywell to glance a header towards the right post where the ball bounced gently into the net. O’Donnell was likely unsighted in the crowded goalmouth…
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| GREEN'S GLANCING HEADER... |
...& IT'S 1-2...
Weale drove a mean free-kick into Griff’s defensive wall and also nodded wide of the right post, whilst Abrahamu cut inside from the left and drove a low effort just wide of the far stick. Abrahamu then rose unchallenged for Fraser’s fine centre but he was unable to get above the ball and headed it too high.
As the recess approached, AFC nabbed the equalising goal they had toiled for with patience and regular short and slick passing. Lewis Rankin slipped a pass from the right corner of the 18 yard box back for the poorly marked Edwards to strike first-time with a curling shot from 27 yards which beat O’Donnell to the goaltender’s left.
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| RANKIN'S PASS... |
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| ...EDWARDS' SHOT... |
...& IT'S 2-2...
The second period dominance by Hinckley…
Before the closing minutes when Nuneaton managed a Williams header which the falling Hill caught and a low shot in a goalmouth melee by replacement Kyle Whitley which Fraser blocked easily, AFC were in control for much of the time.
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| HILL SAVES FROM WILLIAMS... |
Weale won offensive headers, Edwards marauded around the deeper attacking areas, replacements Middleton and Evans both looked eager to impress and of course, the Hassan-Abrahamu contest continued.
The winger cut inside from the left-wing on several occasions and was four times prevented from scoring, once when a shot flew close to the near post, twice when O’Donnell saved with a glove then a leg and once when Hassan got in the way later in the encounter. The defender hurt himself in that incident and he would subsequently be substituted.
O’Donnell did well to tip aside Edwards’ low shot, Green’s near post header from Weale’s left-side corner clipped the side-netting, before Abrahamu’s next deviation from left to centre ended not with a shot but a neat pass for Edwards who managed to claim possession 6 yards out under pressure and he turned to get in a tough shot which O’Donnell nearly saved but the ball rolled into the net.
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| ABRAHAMU'S PASS... |
...EDWARDS' TURN & SHOT... 
...& IT'S 3-2...
A Weale free-kick from the left nearly sneaked into goal at the near post but O’Donnell (I think) managed to block the awkward delivery, then Weale’s next free-kick from downtown flew over the right angle of crossbeam and vertical. Middleton deflected a right-flank cross onto the outside of the near post and O’Donnell did awfully well to turn aside a vicious drive from distance by the increasingly effective Evans.
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| O'DONNELL SAVES WELL FROM EDWARDS... |
Despite being just 3-2 ahead, AFC were well in control, although spectators seemed unsure, knowing that one error could mean parity but Dawson’s intervention settled the nerves and his goal was typical of what he, from deep, could produce. He collected the ball deep on the right but simply ran towards the penalty-box, shrugging off attempts to tackle him by Whitley and another replacement, Nkosi Mzungwana. When free, from an inside-right position 12 yards out, the defender lashed a rising shot past the helpless O’Donnell to settle the outcome.
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| DAWSON'S RUN... |
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| ...THE SHOT... |
...& 4-2...
A fine goal…
The final words…
Chandler Pegg was given his first outing since 19th August as a late replacement for Hinckley but in all honesty, the hosts’ squad looked a strong troop and they must surely clinch the league title soon. The full-backs were solid, the central defenders weren’t really troubled, Edwards, then later Evans controlled midfield where Walker-Donovan worked tirelessly too but with the likes of Weale, Davoile, Middleton, Abrahamu, Rankin, Edwards (later in the game) and of course Pegg too, AFC now have quite a choice of forward players to select from…
The guests often passed the ball smartly and credit must be given to Bradshaw, the keen Dumbleton, the busy midfielder Matt Chaddaway in midfield, plus full-backs Hassan and the seemingly unflappable Reiss Martin.
Central defenders Williams and skipper Tom Hall did all they could and goalie O’Donnell excelled himself but in the end, it simply wasn’t enough for the Pinglesmen…
FINE CATCH BY O'DONNELL...
