STAFFORD RANGERS 2-3 HINCKLEY UNITED

Attendance: 501 

By ANDY GIBBS at MARSTON ROAD

A RESURGENT second half performance from United saw them extend their unbeaten sequence to seven as they overturned a half-time deficit.

The win should have been a more comfortable one for The Knitters against a home side devoid of confidence having been dumped out of the FA Cup by Coventry Sphinx in midweek, but missed Hinckley chances meant Rangers were always in with a shout of taking something from the match.

It was a game that promised goals from the outset as both sides looked much more comfortable attacking than they did defending. United almost went in front after 10 minutes, a quick throw in caught the home defence napping and Alex Taylor’s goalbound effort was blocked with Andy Hall’s follow-up being cleared off the line by Bobby Wilson, Hall’s subsequent corner being headed onto a post by James Mace. Hinckley were missing Connor Franklin’s reliability at the back and they too looked vulnerable at the back, Nick Wellcomme was through in the box but Stuart Giddings forced him wide and Wellcomme’s weak shot was easily saved by Chris MacKenzie who then did well to push aside Ben Mills’ shot after he sprung United’s offside trap.

As the chances continued to come and go, Andy Gooding whipped a ball across the six yard box just in front of Taylor before the home side went in front midway through the half. United’s defensive fragility was again exposed as Lee Collins failed to deal with a situation on the bye-line, Mills took advantage and pulled a ball back for the unmarked WELLCOMME to pick his spot from ten yards.

If the first half was an even affair, the second was anything but as The Knitters responded to their manager’s team talk and pinned the home side back in their own territory immediately. Neil Cartwright skimmed the bar with a shot before the leveller came when Andy Hall’s long throw was helped on to CARTWRIGHT who bundled the ball home on the far post.

 It took a scrappy goal to level it, but the goal that put them in front on the hour was one of pure quality. Hall made it, some characteristic trickery from him saw him skip over a series of tackles in the centre circle before a perfectly weighted pass found Matt WEST who drilled a crisp shot across Will Lumley and inside the far post from the edge of the area.

United were well on top and Hall came within a whisker of grabbing the goal his performance deserved as he beat the last defender before driving his effort inches wide of the far post, and it was no surprise when they gave themselves a two goal cushion on 73 minutes. Hall played a short free kick to Cartwright whose 25 yard shot was deflected home by LAVERY from eight yards out.

With little seen of the home side as an attacking force after the break, this should have been the time for Hinckley to close the game out, but Rangers added a bit of intrigue to the closing moments when Eugene FRANCIS pulled one back five minutes from time after good work from Jake Moult, but Hinckley weren’t troubled in the moments that remained and move up to seventh in the table.

HINCKLEY UNITED: MacKenzie, Mace, Giddings, Lavery, Collins, Lister, Hall, Gooding, Taylor (Hamilton, 89), West, Cartwright. Subs not used: Dillon, Barker, Storer.