HINCKLEY UNITED 7 AFC FYLDE 3

Attendance: 194

By ANDY GIBBS at the GREENE KING STADIUM

AN ENTHRALLING game full of attacking football left the small crowd richly entertained as United moved into the First Round Proper of the FA Trophy and a home tie with York City.

The game will live long in the memory as both sides attacked with gusto whilst the respective managers were left to ponder some pretty average defending and it made for a great spectacle as Adam Webster’s incredible goalscoring record in cup competitions continued – four goals in this game makes it nine in five FA Cup and Trophy games this season.

The scoreline was a little harsh on a Fylde side who played their attractive brand of football throughout and in Michael Barnes on the left flank, they possess a player who could quite easily make the transition to a higher grade of football. Their defending was less impressive though, and they were punished by some clinical United finishing.

As on Saturday, Hinckley and WEBSTER scored an early goal. Eight minutes had gone when a ball broke kindly for the striker just inside the area and he lashed his left foot shot home. After Chris MacKenzie made a brave block at the feet of Scott Harris, the Hinckley keeper helped create his side’s second goal midway through the half, his huge clearance found Webster and though he was forced wide, he pulled the ball back for Alex TAYLOR to finish.

A couple of minutes later, WEBSTER grabbed his second, converting Andy Hall’s cross from ten yards before Fylde pulled one back, a well worked goal as Barnes made good ground on the left before delivering a perfect cross for Matt MAHONEY to power home his header. The Knitters soon restored their three goal advantage as WEBSTER completed his hat-trick eight minutes from half-time, when he tucked away Chukki Eribenne’s low cross from the right.

With nothing to lose in the second half, the visitors gave it a real go and got themselves back into the game with two goals in five minutes from Matt WALWYN. He scored the goal of the game five minutes into the second half, cutting on from the right flank before unleashing an unstoppable shot beyond MacKenzie from the edge of the box. 4-2 became 4-3 moments later when WALWYN reacted quickest to force home a loose ball after Lee Dodgson’s shot came back off a post.

Any nerves the appeared amongst the home supporters were soon settled as skipper Richard LAVERY gave his side their two goal cushion once again, forcing home the ball after keeper Lewis Edge couldn’t hold onto an Andy Hall corner. The keeper redeemed himself with good saves from Eribenne and Matt West as the visitors tired and Hinckley wrapped it up with another couple in the closing ten minutes. The inspirational Webster sent WEST through with a clever through ball and the young striker made no mistake with a clinical finish from the edge of the box before, fittingly, WEBSTER had the final word, scoring his fourth by bundling home Lavery’s cross from just a couple of yards out.

HINCKLEY UNITED: MacKenzie, Taylor, Dudley, Lavery, Lister, Franklin, Hall, Gooding, Webster, Eribenne, Cartwright SUBS West (Eribenne, 68), Dillon (Gooding, 82), Collins, Mace, Hamilton (Hall, 85)