HINCKLEY UNITED 3 STAFFORD RANGERS 1

Attendance:

By ANDY GIBBS at THE GREENE KING STADIUM

United moved to within a point of the play-offs as a strong second half showing saw off the challenge off Stafford. It was finely balanced at half-time with the sides locked together a 1-1, but Hinckley got on top after the break to secure the points that lift them up to seventh in the table.

And yet, it was a second half that nearly didn’t take place. During the first half, referee Dave Plowright pulled a hamstring, he couldn’t continue at the interval and the prospect of an abandonment loomed. However local official Gary Hancox, at the game as a spectator saved the day by offering his services and the 51 year old, who’s next appointment was refereeing Barwell Under 15’s, was pressed into action to save the day. Fortunately, the second half passed without any incident.

United had already beaten Rangers this season, but this was a much improved Stafford side from that earlier meeting, Estonian striker Henrik Ojama was making his debut on loan from Derby County and his pace was a real handful for United’s defence during the first half. The striker used his speed to good effect early on, he got behind the defence and as Chris MacKenzie came from his goal, Ojama squared a pass to Levi Reid who fired badly over the gaping goal.

Hinckley took the lead midway through the first half, a patient build-up ended with a low cross for Alex TAYLOR who stepped inside his man before drilling a left foot shot home from 12 yards. The lead lasted barely five minutes, dangerman OJAMA raced onto a long ball over the top of Hinckley’s defence to beat Chris MacKenzie from the right hand edge of the area and it almost got worse for Hinckley when Ojama, looking suspiciously offside raced through with only MacKenzie to beat, but the experienced keeper came off his line to block bravely at the striker’s feet.

After Rangers keeper Lee Evans denied Adam Webster with a superb block at point blank range, the start of the second half was delayed for 20 minutes as assistant Philip Astle assumed control of the game with stand in Hancox running the line. United coped rather better with the delay than Rangers and after Taylor’s excellent run and cross caused a melee in the Rangers penalty area which ended with Webster firing over, they went in front on 67 minutes. Andy Hall and Andy Gooding worked a short corner routine between them, the latter delivered a cross that Connor FRANKLIN rose highest to head home.

Franklin then saved the day at the other end with a perfectly timed challenge on Ojama in his own area as the striker seemed poised to shoot and that was Rangers’ final opportunity to salvage something from the game as The Knitters ended the stronger. Chukki Eribenne’s delightful flick sent in Gooding who fired wide from close range, before WEBSTER had the last word, glancing home Mark Dudley’s inviting cross from the left. There was still time for Evans to deny Eribenne an elusive league goal with a fine late save

HINCKLEY UNITED: MacKenzie, Taylor, Dudley, Lavery, Lister, Franklin, Hall, Gooding, Webster, West (Eribenne 61), Cartwright. Subs not used: Dillon, Collins, Mace, Hamilton.