The last home game of the season saw Hinckley pitted against one of the better teams in the Division, Fleckney, on a glorious sunny day at Leicester Road. This time, unlike the last home game, would be affected by a strong and at time really gusty westward wind blowing across the pitch. The surface looking excellent though, the game was set against the backdrop of not one, but two teams dropping out of the league within 6 days of each other. This having a big impact on the Division table and Hinckley unfortunately one of the more affected teams with points removed due to their results against these two teams. The dynamics of the table, the last games to play, means Hinckley have to win their 3 remaining games and hope Dunton don't win their last 6. If this happens, Dunton are then Division Champions.

Dunton won 2-0 today against Ibstock.

Should this happen it would prove to be terrible luck on Hinckley who before these teams dropped out, were well on course for a secure Division title win.

One game at a time and today needed Hinckley to get the 3 points and indeed they did with what would turn out to be their best performance of the season. Hinckley sticking with their 4141 formation kicking off down the slight slope were on the front foot. Both teams clearly struggling with the windy conditions trying to get a foot on the ball, but it was obvious from the early exchanges Hinckley had more quality across the pitch. With pretty much the first meaningful attack Dickens played in with a really nice through ball on the right wing managed to beat his man, found a few yards of space and played the ball in for Nicholson (c) to finish to make it 1-0 Hinckley.

Hinckley continued to play the better football in these tricky conditions but equally Fleckney looked a threat going forward. So it proved on 17 minutes, Bennett, who would go on to have a mixed performance was forced into a save. The game ebbed and flowed and on 26 minutes Hinckley’s second corner, Nicholson © found Wilkinson for his header to go just wide of the post. Hinckley kept up the pressure and Wilkinson, already having his best game of the season, found Dickens with an excellent through ball for him to finish really well to make it 2-0 Hinckley. Such an entertaining game was far from a one sided though and a mistake by right back Craig led to a foul for Fleckney just outside the box. The free kick was cleared, but it was a another reminder that Fleckney could threaten at any time with any attack. The wind causing all sorting of issues, Hinckley defense were solid again with all that came their way.

As the half was nearing an end, Hinckley sprung a counter attack and Nicholson (c) managed to find Dickens out wide on the right for him to powerfully get past the defender to slot the ball nicely past the advancing keeper for 3-0 Hinckley. What should have been a dominant first half performance ended in a bit of a farce though. On 43 minutes the ever reliable Bennett in goal made a bad mistake dealing with a through ball, it spilled to a Fleckney attacker and somehow the ball didn’t go in hitting the post, came back out, cleared by Hinckley, but it was a Fleckney corner. In it came, partially cleared, Bennett went for the ball his fellow defender Ward was trying to head clear, miss-controlled his punch, the ball fell to a Fleckney player who instinctively chipped the ball towards goal. Vincent and Rollins still both defending on the line should have mopped it up but unfortunately Vincent looking like he could head it away was hit by Rollins boot and it went in off Rollins for an OG to make it 3-1 Hinckley. 120 seconds of calamitous play which completely deflated a dominant performance at the whistle.

Halftime 3-1

The last two games Hinckley have started much the better team second half, yet today was literally the opposite. Possibly rocked by such a poor few minutes play conceding before the first half finished, literally 1 minute into the second half Fleckney made it 2-3 completely changing the balance of the game. Fleckney got the ball out wide, the right winger looking like he was being pressed out of taking a shot, still got one in, but Bennett couldn’t stop the ball going in past low down to his goal post. A disappointing goal in every sense and flipped the game on its head.

The spirit and ability of this Hinckley team is never to be doubted though and it was then Hinckley who really started to control the game. Over the shock of a few minutes of poor play they got back into it and on 49 minutes Mayes playing today on the left wing whipped a ball in for Wilkinson who’s shot hit the crossbar going out of play. A few minutes later Wilkinson again involved so impressively up top today, got his shot in for the keeper to save palming the ball away for the advancing Mayes to shoot but again the keeper somehow kept it out.

It was all Hinckley now and again Wilkinson held the ball up, twisted and turned played a delightful deft through ball for the advancing Szulz who absolutely smashed the ball from 18 yards out into the top right hand corner of the net. Unstoppable shot, a cracker, almost taking the net with it to make it 4-2 Hinckley. A pivotal moment from Szulz, nothing more than Hinckley deserved and their quality was shining through. Just a few minutes later and Hinckley had a corner. Nicholson © whipped one in but as the ball dipped into the 6 yard box, there he was again, Szulz, skillfully leant low into the header to place it nicely into the bottom right hand corner. What an impact sub, two completely different finishes for his goals. 5-2 Hinckley and now the score-line reflected Hinckley’s much better quality in open play. Indeed Hinckley had several other chances with neat, good play and looked the real threat. Then on 79 Minutes Nicholson © received the ball 25 yards out and finally he got his just rewards for an excellent performance placing his shot brilliantly into the top righthand corner. Another fantastic finish and nothing more than he deserved. Beset with terrible luck this season, hitting the cross-bar so many times, finally this one was superbly buried past the keeper and it was game over 6-2 Hinckley.

Fleckney, plucky opponents, certainly the more threatening going forward than other teams Hinckley have faced this season, did force Bennett into making a couple of decent, but comfortable saves as the game entered its last minutes. In truth Hinckley were much the better team throughout today and the whole team, including the subs all contributed to Hinckley’s best performance of the season. So many impressive contributions across the pitch it was difficult to differentiate but ultimately it was Wilkinson having his best game of the season and Nicholson © proving energy and quality passes pipped the rest for a joint MOM performance.

Hinckley, rocked by impacted changes in the league table have two away games to finish the season and hopefully win. Such a shame its all changed so much in just a week, but this Hinckley team, great spirit and desire will head into these games, give their all and see what happens in the weeks ahead.