The Mikes 0-2 Hinckley LRFC

Joe Hull was out injured following the Bedworth game, Lewis Allison had not recovered from a knock whilst Ricardo Dudley failed to train during the week and was not included. Young Pierre Phillips was in for his second game alongside Harry Craven with Callum Ballinger preferred at right back with Joe Daley returning to midfield after a lengthy absence. Kai Knight returned to duty but was on the bench and Jack Byrne was serving the second of his three-match suspension.

In an even opening it was the Mikes who came closest to scoring when a Callum Gittings header was cleared off the line and a close-range Harry Sweeney effort rebounded from the upright; however, the best chance fell to the visitors. Gittings lost the ball a few yards outside the box and slick passing set up a gilt-edged chance for Andre Williams but the winger scooped over the bar from six yards out. On the half hour Owen Parry limped off to be replaced by Andre Brown. a couple of headers by Usher-Shipway and Gittings failed to find the target before lively winger Aaron Nuttall produced a good save by Mikes keeper Charlie Emery. As half time approached Hinckley took the lead the second of two left wing corners being headed home by Ben Humphreys who outjumped Daley at the far post. Boldmere responded quickly with Gittings firing a shot from range that Will Highland tipped over.

In the second half Boldmere took the game to Hinckley and dominated proceedings for twenty minutes or more. A Gittings header beat Highland and despite Harry Sweeney looking to finish at the far post he ended up in the back of the net whilst ball struck the post and rebounded to safety. Daley shot wide whilst Brown brought a good save from Highland at the expense of a corner. O’Shane Stewart then struck a fierce twenty-five yarder against the bar but the rebound eluded the other Mikes attackers. After all this pressure Hinckley were handed the opportunity to extend their lead; Harry Craven was harshly penalised for handball but the resultant penalty was slammed against the crossbar by Nuttall and cleared away. However, the diminutive winger made up for this lapse scoring a brilliant solo goal gliding past several defenders before beating Charlie Emery in the Mikes goal. At 0-2 down the pattern changed and the visitors dominating the closing stages. Nuttall fired another effort against the upright, Dom Brennan forced a good save by Emery and substitute Yaegan Gore had a close-range effort disallowed for offside.

An evenly contested game was decided by two pieces of clinical finishing in favour of the visitors. Despite the scoreline the Mikes could consider themselves unlucky not to get a share of the spoils given they had periods of domination in both halves but lacked a cutting edge in the face of some dogged defending by the Leicestershire team. In a competitive match lady luck failed the Mikes at critical times whilst Hinckley completed their fourth win on the bounce.

Boldmere St Michaels: Charlie Emery, Callum Ballinger, Harry Sweeney, Pierre Phillips, Harry Craven (Kai Knight 78), O’Shane Stewart, Ross Evans, Joe Daley, Owen Parry (Andre Brown 30), Callum Gittings (Callum North 85), Ben Usher-Shipway.
Subs not used: Tommy Jackson, Tazivaishe Chibaya
Hinckley LRFC: Will Highland, Jordan Burrows, Louie Gill, Joseph Lyne. Spencer Edwards, Andre Williams (Yaegan Gore 59), Ben Humphreys, Liam Read, Dom Brennan, Aaron Nuttall (Nathan Astill 90).
Sub not used: Jude Kutshienza