HINCKLEY UNITED 5-1 REDDITCH UNITED

Attendance: 431

By ANDY GIBBS at THE GREENE KING STADIUM

 A MARVELLOUS performance from United saw them romp to their first home win of the season though the afternoon was marred by a serious injury to Chris MacKenzie.

Hinckley were leading 3-1 on the stroke of half-time when the keeper came out to punch a cross clear but landed awkwardly on his neck. Paramedics were called and an ambulance took him to hospital (fortunately, he was later released with whiplash) and the game re-commenced after a 45 minutes delay.

Striker Adam Webster went in goal but United made light of the disruption as they added to their half-time advantage to complete a comfortable win over a Redditch side that came into the game on the back of two successive wins.

With a point to prove after their controversial defeat at Eastwood on Saturday, The Knitters went on the offensive from the start and after Richard Lavery and Neil Cartwright directed headers off target, they went in front after five minutes, the home defence backed off WEBSTER 25 yards from goal inviting him to shoot – he didn’t disappoint and drilled a low shot into the bottom corner of the net.

From that promising start, The Knitters again surrendered a lead as they conceded a free kick on the every edge of their own penalty area and James Cooper’s shot was deflected home by Asa CHARLTON.

To their credit, Hinckley got themselves back on top and began to get the ball wide where they always looked dangerous, and they regained the lead from one such move. Andy Hall switched flanks to feed Alex Taylor on the left and the substitute with his first touch after replacing James Mace, whipped in a cross that Matt WEST headed home.

To complete a good period for Hinckley, they extended their lead seven minutes before the break, Connor Franklin, who enjoyed an outstanding game, delivered a ball into the box, it was helped on by West and skipper Richard LAVERY stabbed the ball home from close range.

After the delay and concern over MacKenzie’s injury during an extended half-time break, Hinckley re-emerged with Webster in goal and though he did everything he had to very competently, he was surprisingly not really tested by a Redditch side who threatened very little.

Despite having to re-organise, The Knitters always looked the better side and went further in front after 53 minutes, Gooding and Hall combined on the right with the latter driving in a low cross that was converted by LAVERY.

Hinckley completed the scoring midway through the second half when Cartwright drilled a free kick into the box, more poor defending left Lavery and West unmarked on the edge of the six yard box and WEST scored his second of the afternoon.

HINCKLEY UNITED: MacKenzie, Mace, Giddings, Lavery, Collins, Franklin, Hall, Gooding (Dillon, 87), Webster, Eribenne (West, 87), Cartwright. Subs not used: Storer, Taylor, Lister.

Man of the match: Andy Hall.

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