Hero Hinchliffe lets hands do the talking
PLAY-OFF hero Ben Hinchliffe has had experience of scoring winning penalties in previous shootouts over the years - but revealed that boss Dave Challinor instructed the County stopper to focus firmly on stopping the spot-kicks this time around!
Hinchliffe added another memorable chapter to his iconic County career on Saturday, by saving two Salford City penalties to send his side to Wembley in this weekend’s League Two play-off final with Carlisle United.
After The Hatters had sent an end-to-end tie to a shootout via a 2-1 win after extra time (2-2 on aggregate), Hinchliffe saved from Adrian Mariappa and Stevie Mallan to tee up a decisive spot-kick hammered home by Antoni Sarcevic for the hosts.
“It’s a no-lose position for me as a goalkeeper. You’re not expected to make the saves, so it was just about making my mind up early, and thankfully it paid off,” explained Hinchliffe.
Mallan himself had appeared set to send The Ammies into the final with just seven minutes of the extra time period remaining, when his long-range effort deflected in off Fraser Horsfall.
But just seconds later, Jack Stretton headed home from a melee inside the Salford area to send the tie to penalties and give Hinchliffe yet another chance to add to his Hatters heroics over the years.
“Salford really came at us. We expected that, we wanted to do the same to them to really get the game going,” he said. “Our lads were brilliant in doing just that in the second half and beyond, and they all just deserve so much credit as a group. Their goal was a tough moment but we definitely felt we were still right in the tie.
“The gaffer had drilled into us all week to look at the other play-off ties and see how teams have come back. We just had to keep going, keep believing in the team and get over the line.”
The 34 year-old actually scored the winning penalty to send former side AFC Fylde into the National League North nine years ago, with Fylde then managed by Challinor.
Hinchliffe also scored a scorching spot-kick for The Hatters in a shootout with Chesterfield back in 2020 - but admitted that Challinor had the County ‘keeper well down the list this time around!
“The gaffer had me as eleventh to take a penalty – I told him to put me in, but he said for me to just focus on saving them!”
When pressed on whether Hinchliffe had allowed himself a small celebration over the weekend, the former part-time lorry driver had a firm response.
“No, I was on the water all weekend and ready to go again at Wembley!”