HINCKLEY UNITED 4-1 FARSLEY CELTIC

Attendance: 403

By ANDY GIBBS at THE GREENE KING STADIUM

HINCKLEY United turned on the style in front of their own fans once again as they followed up their 5-1 over Redditch with a performance every bit as convincing. After a slow start, The Knitters sped through the gears and four goals inside 20 minutes saw them 4-0 up by half-time against a Farsley side whose heads dropped once they went behind.

Even more pleasing for Dean Thomas was that the spine of his team was missing, Lee Collins and Richard Lavery joining Adam Webster on the sidelines, though Webster was fit enough to start on the bench as competition for places hots up.

A big home win looked a distant prospect in the early stages as the visitors looked dangerous going forward. Dave Syers was a prominent figure, he stabbed wide from close range before being denied by Paul Lister’s superbly timed block and the midfielder then headed the resulting corner over.

That early Farsley promise quickly evaporated as midway through the half, United went in front. Visiting defender Ryan Serrant lost his footing in his own half leaving Matt WEST with a clear run at goal and he made no mistake, beating Josh Bell from the edge of the area.  

Shortly after, Hinckley extended their lead, West was again involved as he delivered a cross into the six yard box which was headed home by Andy HALL. As The Knitters continued to dominate, they went further in front with the goal of the game ten minutes before the break. Neil CARTWRIGHT goals are usually memorable and this was no exception as he received the ball on the left hand corner of the penalty area, worked the ball onto his right foot and curled a shot beyond Bell and inside the far post.

As the home fans got ready to acclaim their side’s first half performance, they were applauding another goal on the stroke of half-time, a fine individual goal from skipper Andy GOODING who jinked into the area, skipped over a couple of challenges before drawing the keeper and slotting the ball home.

Not surprisingly, the second half couldn’t match the first for drama and excitement as the home side coasted against a Farsley side who were desperate for the final whistle to put them out of their misery. Hinckley might have added to their lead, but a first goal for Chukki Eribenne remains elusive, a linesman’s flag cut short his celebrations when he found the net before he headed over a precise cross from Louis Hamilton.

The visitors grabbed a consolation five minutes from time, United failed to clear a corner into their area and Lee ELLINGTON bundled the ball home to spoil United’s hopes of keeping a clean sheet.

HINCKLEY UNITED: MacKenzie, Mace, Giddings, Dillon, Lister, Franklin, Hall (Hamilton, 62), Gooding, Eribenne (Webster, 80), West (Taylor, 69), Cartwright. Sub not used: Storer.