AFC let slip a two-goal lead

Uttoxeter Town 3 Hinckley AFC 2

HINCKLEY AFC surrendered a two-goal first half lead as Uttoxeter Town came from behind to take a 3-2 win at Oldfields, writes Liam Gibbs.

AFC were in control after a quarter of an hour as Danny Harris’ penalty and Lewis Commins put them two goals to the good.

But Jake Avery’s brace levelled it by half time and Alex Britton won it for the home side with the only shot on target of the second half.

To their credit, both sides tried to play but in truth it was a game high on endeavour but low on quality, hindered by the strong wind and bobbly, heavy pitch.

Courtney Belford made two changes to his Hinckley side that drew with Rocester last week, as Harris came in and Scott Smith made his first start after returning from injury.

And after a lively start Commins crowded out in the box and Avery dragging wide both in the first 60 seconds - the opening quarter of an hour couldn’t have gone much better for Hinckley.

They led after just eight minutes, Commins clumsily upended by Craig Swinfield in the box and Harris did the rest from 12 yards for his first AFC goal.

Commins and Harris then combined again seven minutes later, the latter’s corner nodded down by Ky Green for Commins to hook home from five yards and double the lead.

But then Uttoxeter gained a foothold, and after Britton flashed wide, they halved the deficit when Avery ghosted in at the far post and slid a deep cross under Elliott Taylor from a tight angle.

Uttoxeter had the better of the chances thereafter but Hinckley felt they should have had a further penalty when Harris’ ball into the box struck a hand, or when Smith was hauled to the ground from a corner.

At the other end, the pitch put paid to Avery or Britton testing Taylor from good positions, while Ollie Ritchie also fired off target.

And Uttoxeter got the goal they were after with the final kick of the half, a neat move down their left ending with Avery getting in behind and firing into the corner.

The second half followed suit, still neither goalkeeper made a save but the decisive moment came nine minutes into the half when Britton latched onto a flick-on and ran through to turn the game on its head.

The hosts managed the game well thereafter, Hinckley not making the same use of the wind that Uttoxeter had in the first half. Substitute Owen Wassall went closest when he fired narrowly over after getting half a yard down the left.

But Hinckley didn’t threaten Jack Tolley’s goal late on and the home side held on for all three points.

Manager Courtney Belford admitted he was proud of elements of the way his Hinckley AFC side played at Uttoxeter Town, but frustrated with the way they conceded goals to lose 3-2.

And after one point from the last three games, Belford admitted that his aim for the season is starting to slip away.

He said: “We were looking at the top four, even though we knew it would be a tall order. But while it’s on offer you’ve got to try and go for it even though we know this is a long-term project here.

“To concede three goals from three shots on target is very frustrating. It was a real kick in the teeth.

“We shouldn’t have to keep scoring three, four or five goals to win a game of football.”

Of the goalkeeper, defenders and central midfielders, Ryan Ball was the second oldest at 23. Belford says while that’s exciting, he’d like to add an experienced head to help the younger players develop.

“Defensively we’ve been poor for the last couple of weeks and perhaps that’s naivety in going with such a young back five, with Elliott and the four in front of him.

“You want to keep faith with lads who did well in January but we might need to look at bringing an experienced body or two in to complement and develop the younger lads.

“But I took pride in the fact that we took a very young side to Uttoxeter and came really close to taking something from the game.

“We’ve got some very good young players like Reece Giles, who’s come into the team and not been phased by anything. I love working with him and if we can help bring those sorts of players on then the future is bright.”