Hinckley LRFC (H) - Saturday 5th October 2024

The Opposition - History
When Hinckley United folded in October 2013, two clubs were formed to replace them; Hinckley AFC and Leicester Road. Leicester Road were accepted into Division Two of the newly formed Midland League for the 2014–15 season. They were runners-up in their first season, earning promotion to Division One, where they would play Hinckley AFC for the first time.

In 2016–17 Leicester Road club won the Leicestershire and Rutland Senior Cup, beating Holwell Sports 2–1 in the final. In 2021 the club were promoted and transferred to the Premier Division South of the United Counties League based on their results in the abandoned 2019–20 and 2020–21 seasons. In September 2021 the club were renamed Hinckley LRFC. The 2021–22 season saw them finish second in the Premier Division South, earning promotion to Division One Midlands of the Northern Premier League.
(Source - Wikipedia)

The Opposition - This Season
The Knitters are having a challenging season so far; they are without a win yet in the NPL Midlands and sit bottom of the table after nine games.
They exited the FA Cup at the first hurdle following defeat to Heanor Town and had to wait until 31st August for their first league point, drawing 4-4 with Lye Town.
Since then their only other points have come at Sporting Khalsa (1-1) and a midweek draw at home to Coleshill Town (0-0).
Their sole victory in ninety minutes came courtesy of an impressive 4-1 win at Worcester City in the First Qualifying Round of the FA Trophy and a penalty shootout win over Loughborough Students got them through the next round.

So far this season Michael Armstrong and Liam Read lead the way with five goals each.

Manager Neil Lyne has completed an impressive decade in the job.

A journey of around 50 miles awaits them today.

The Nailers
Belper come into the match in impressive form, having won four of their last five and scoring twice in each of those victories.
Saturday saw a late win grabbed at Ossett and before that the Nailers had impressed at Kidsgrove in the previous round of this competition.
Previously a home defeat to Cleethorpes ended a good mini-run which had seen victories over Boldmere St. Michaels and North Ferriby.
So far this season Harry Draper sits top of the scoring charts with seven while Nat Crofts has four and Jacob Gratton picked up three before his move to Worksop. A further eight players have a single goal each.

Head to Head
This will be a first meeting between the sides.

Form Guide (all comps)
Belper Town: LWWLWW
Hinckley LRFC: DWDDLD

Team News
There are no major injury concerns or suspensions.

Permutations
The winners of the tie - which will go straight to penalties if the scores are level after 90 minutes - will progress to the First Round of the FA Trophy, somewhere Belper have only been once in the last twenty years.
In addition the winners will collect £2,450 in prize money while the losers will pick up £625.
A further £3,000 (£775) is available in the next round.

Match details
Belper Town vs. Hinckley LRFC
FA Trophy Third Qualifying Round
Saturday, 5th October 2024 - 3:00pm kick off
Raygar Stadium
Bridge Street
Belper
Derbyshire
DE56 1BA
Tickets: Adults £11, Concessions £7, Under 11 (accompanied by paying adult) £0
*All-pay fixture (season tickets not valid)*

Follow the match
Live commentary is available with Chris on Radio Belper Town - https://radiobelpertown.mixlr.com
Full coverage on X (Twitter). Team news, HT & FT scores on Facebook.
Match reports to follow on the website and in the Non-League Paper.

FA Trophy Third Qualifying Round fixtures (NPL East teams)
AFC Telford United vs. Cleethorpes Town
Belper Town vs. Hinckley LR
Ossett United vs. Prescot Cables
Stocksbridge Park Steels vs. Warrington Rylands
Whitby Town vs. Newton Aycliffe

NPL East fixtures
Carlton Town vs. Liversedge
Consett vs. Ashington
Dunston vs. Sheffield
Emley vs. North Ferriby
Garforth Town vs. Bradford (Park Avenue)
Heaton Stannington vs. Brighouse Town
Sherwood Colliery vs. Bishop Auckland