AFC’s FA Vase dream is over for another year

HINCKLEY AFC’s Buildbase FA Vase journey is over for another season as four first half goals eased Coventry United into the fourth round, writes Liam Gibbs.

AFC went into the game as one of only four sides who could have made the fourth round for three straight years, but any hopes they had of making that rare feat were quickly dashed.

United blew them away during a 27 minute first half spell, in which they netted four goals to condemn managerless Hinckley to defeat.

Hit by the resignations of James Jepson and John Ramshaw 24 hours before the game, Hinckley never got going against their higher level opponents.

After a couple of early chances saved by George Warren, Coventry took the lead after 15 minutes. Centre back Clarke was part of the Hinckley side that reached the fifth round two seasons ago, but he put pay to any repeat by opening the scoring with a cool finish.

Three minutes later, it was 2-0. Warren left grasping at thin air as Soleman met Carey’s cross with a looping header.

United continued to hold the upper hand and controlled much of the game, but while the game remained at 2-0 Hinckley weren’t out of it.

And when Ellis mis-kicked a golden chance on the half hour to spurn the opportunity for a third goal, they wondered if their luck might be changing.

But that only spurred the hosts on even more and the put the game out of sight by half time, Holt adding a third when he drove a loose ball home from the edge of the box for a third.

Warren then made two more smart saves, before Hinckley nearly reduced their deficit when Jordan Wilson has their best chance of the game - denied by Brendan Bunn’s legs.

From that, the hosts broke forward at pace and Carey rounded Warren to slot home and round off a half for Hinckley to forget.

While the home side were impressive for their movement of the ball in the first half, they were equally impressive for different reasons in the second - managing the game professionally and rarely allowing Hinckley the opportunities to dream of the most remarkable comeback.

They’d taken their foot off the gas after their rampant first half, and notable action was few and far between.

But the best performers of the half were those supporters who had travelled from Hinckley - loud and proud despite trailing 4-0 and the adversity of the 24 hours before.

And the chants were still flowing from the fans as the final whistle went and the curtain came down on AFC’s journey in the FA Vase for this campaign, as the hosts eased into the competition’s last 32.