Hinckley Leicester Road 2 – Boldmere St Michaels 0
Northern Premier League Midland Divisio
Saturday 29 March 2025
Goals five minutes either side of half time saw the Mikes continue their recent threadbare form. Both teams seemingly safe from relegation, they took the opportunity to try things out. Consequently, Boldmere’s initial lineup had something of an experimental look about it, Demico Burton and Ben George occupying the wing berths. Hinckley, looking the more connected, started the better; but the first close shave came thirteen minutes in, when the hosts Simon Alcott cleared acrobatically off the line from an ‘impossible to miss’ effort from Keiron Berry. Minutes later Kevin Ngombi fired just wide, and then hit the post with a great effort from a tight angle. The half hour just gone; Jonathan Brown tipped a home free kick over the bar. It took thirty-six minutes, though, before we had one of his trademark long balls down the park, as the Mikes embroidered elaborately.
Five minutes from the interval, pure smash and grab gave the hosts the lead. Straight from some Boldmere pressure, a ball upfield followed by a Lewis Allison header left George Cleet in two minds, Dom Brennan looked to capitalize with the desperate Mikes defender in pursuit. Brown came out to make things difficult for him; but Brennan slotted home into an unguarded net. Even so, the Mikes must have felt optimistic as the half time whistle blew: they’d conceded a goal, but nearly scored three at the other end.
The second period began with a moment of pure comedy. “HINCKLEY LRFC”, read smart lettering on the terrace lintel; until the half’s first clearance dislodged the “L”, leaving “HINCK EY LRFC” in its wake. Soon, Andrew Wooldridge crossed from the left. Brown kept the resulting shot out with his knee; but newly arrived Joseph Lyne gobbled up the rebound to double the Road’s lead.
From now on, all the hosts had to do was concentrate, win the one-on-ones, and have a go at goal when chances presented themselves. A referee who seemed unacquainted with the notion of pushing in the back didn’t help the Boldmere cause; while Hinckley centre half Jake Wormleighton was proving to be the Rock of Gibraltar, and custodian Jake Laban cut out the crosses with cool competence. The initial blue skies had turned grey by now, and a chilly breeze reflected the visitors’ disappearing chances of gaining anything from this joust. Truth to tell, this wasn’t a memorable encounter, played as it was in Hinckley’s empty, echoing home. Brown kept out a late Lyne effort, and that was that. Hopefully, Mikes have enough points in the bag to concentrate on rebuilding for next term.
Hinckley LRFC: Jake Laban; Andrew Wooldridge; Louie Gill; Michael Armstrong (Ben Gough,88); Jake Wormleighton; Ben Humphreys; Jordan Burrows; Simon Alcott; Chris Jones (Joseph Lyne 45); Dom Brennan; Aaron Nuttall (Liam Read 45). Subs. not used: Thomas Brodie; Raurie O’Boyle.
Boldmere St Michaels: Jonathan Brown; Lewis Allison; Jake Allen; George Cleet; Demico Burton (Zachary Binns 68); Ben George; Nathan Oyemade (John McHugh 75); Danny Wood (Stephen Palmer 61); Kevin Ngombi; Kieron Berry; Kye Bilton (Frankie Ealing 61). Sub. not used: Pierre Phillips.