Town batch up the bragging rights to sink Hinckley - Match report: Nuneaton Town 3 Hinckley 1

By Matt Jones

Nuneaton Town 3 Hinckley 1

(Donzo og 21, Johnson 40, Carsley 85 : Rankin 89)

Att: 802

An own goal, and curling efforts from Danico Johnson and Callum Carsley sealed the points for Nuneaton Town against local rivals Hinckley, despite a late consolation for Lewis Rankin, and consigned Hinckley to a third straight defeat whilst extending Nuneaton's lead at the top of the table.

Nuneaton Town and Hinckley met for the first time competitively since 2012 on a mild Tuesday night at The Oval, with both sides looking to gain the bragging rights.

Two changes were made to the side that nicked a last minute draw with Godmanchester on Saturday, as Eesa Sawyers and cover signing Alex Graham replaced injured duo Corey Currithers and Brandon Bache, who missed out on facing his former club. Kyle Jardine and Aaron Brown returned to the squad after missing Saturday.

Nuneaton were looking to put some difficult performances behind them against their local rivals, and with a season high home crowd backing them, they had a couple of blocked chances in the opening minutes before Danico Johnson scuffed an effort wide. Johnson turned provider as he put through Alex Lock, the former Hinckley man bringing a good low save from Keelan Fallows in goal.

After 12 minutes both sides had a flurry of chances, Louis Baker, one of many ex Nuneaton in the Hinckley side, found Zach Tellyn with a cross field ball, Tellyn however could only curl his effort wide. At the other end another former Hinckley man Declan Somel beat his defender on the right and chipped to the back post, the header away fell straight to Callum Carsley who's fired it goalwards only to see it palmed away by Fallows. Another chance saw Nuneaton win a free kick, and smart thinking set Sawyers through one on one, but he slotted the effort agonisingly wide.

Nuneaton caught their opponents napping again on 17 minutes as a corner played short was crossed in but Loyiso Recci headed just over the bar.

Four minutes later though it was Somel who crossed from the right this time and Hinckley defender Lucinee Donzo got his clearance all wrong and sliced it straight into his own net for the opening goal (1-0).

Nuneaton continued to pile on the chances, as on 27 minutes Johnson headed over yet another peach of a cross from Carsley, whilst James Harrison had a brace of chances on 33 and 36 minutes as he had a low effort saved well, and blazed over with the second effort under pressure.

The home side's dominance paid off with another goal before half time though, as Johnson managed to wriggle into some space on the edge of the box and curled an effort beautifully into the corner with the keeper beaten (2-0).

There was just time for Tellyn to grab the game's first booking before the half time whistle blew, chopping down Charlie Jones on the sideline.

Half time: Nuneaton Town 2-0 Hinckley

The home side may have been much the better side in the first half, but the second was devoid of clear cut chances as, with important games upcoming, and Nuneaton already suffering with injuries, points were prioritised over goals.

Nuneaton did have an early chance seconds after the restart as Somel blazed over at the back post from a cross, but that would be the last chance for a while as they kept Hinckley off the ball well. Kyle Jardine was given the last 25 minutes replacing Johnson, but saw little of the ball. With 15 minutes left Charlie Jones had the games first effort on target for half an hour as he had a shot on the turn saved.

Seconds after Dante Hesson replaced James Harrison on 84 minutes, Nuneaton won a corner and Hesson was involved, as Carsley played a 1-2 with him, before whipping the ball into the box. Amazingly it flew straight into the far corner without a touch, and the points were sealed (3-0).

Hinckley did manage to grab a late consolation as Recci came out to head a ball forward from the Hinckley defence, but it skimmed off his head and left Lewis Rankin through one on one, and with the ball bouncing, smartly flicked the ball over the advancing Graham into the net (3-1).

The goal did cause some panic as Hinckley tried in vain to get back into the game, but Nuneaton held out to take the first lot of points south of the Warwickshire-Leicestershire border ahead of the return fixture later in the season in what was a dominant performance.

Full time: Nuneaton Town 3-1 Hinckley

Next up: Sat 18th Oct 3pm, Stafford Town (a) FA Vase 1st Round

Team: Graham, Thomas, Recci, McGrath, Carsley, Somel, C Jones, Lock, Sawyers, Harrison (Hesson 84), Johnson (Jardine 65)

Subs: Hendrie, Jardine, Hesson, Brown, Edwards