PREVIEW: Hinckley LR (A)
Where:
Leicester Road Stadium, Leicester Road, Hinckley, LE10 3DR
When:
Saturday 15th of March 2024 (3pm KO)
After an 11 day break, the Reds return to action with a short trip to Hinckley.
Quorn’s Form:
Since starting 2025 with their only loss in the league this season, Quorn have rebounded to go unbeaten in seven, winning six and drawing at Grantham Town. Overall, away from home, the Reds have won 14 and drawn two, scoring 42 and conceding just eight. In sixteen league games on their travels, Quorn have managed an impressive 10 clean sheets.
Hinckley LR’s Form:
After finishing fourth last season and pushing Harborough Town all the way in the playoff semi-final, you’d be forgiven for thinking that Hinckley LR would be amongst the promotion chasers once again this season. It hasn’t turned out that way though, as they currently sit 13th in the table having struggled to find the same consistency this season. At Leciester Road Stadium, they have won five, drawn four and lost seven, scoring 20 and conceding 19. A run of four unbeaten matches was snapped at home to Shepshed Dynamo this past weekend, despite taking the lead, Hinckley fell 2-1 to Dynamo.
One to Watch:
Centre forward Liam Read has been the dangerman for Hinckley LR this season, scoring 14 goals in 35 appearances. Last season the striker made 41 appearances in the red and blue stripes, scoring just six times, some way off his pace this season, a vast improvement that will be sure to keep the Reds defenders on their toes.
Last Time: Quorn 1-0 Hinckley LR (09/11/2024)
Cain Noble scored the only goal of the game with a close-range finish in the 30th minute as Silvio Bello surged down the right and played a beautiful cross for the midfielder to run on to.
Noble had the first chance of the game as he burst through from midfield, only to see his shot blocked by Simon Alcott. Zak Goodson had a curling effort a few moments later that curled around the outside of the lefthand upright. Michael Armstrong tried his luck from the edge of the box and Tom Allsopp had to be at his best, driving full-stretch to his right to keep the effort out.
Allsopp was again called upon to keep the game scoreless, getting down low to deny Jordan Burrows. The Reds thought they had opened the scoring in the 27th minute when Reece Fyfe drove forward and slipped a ball down the right to Noble, who laid on an inch-perfect cross for Courey Grantham, who buried the ball in the Hinckley net, only to see the assistant’s flag raised for offside.
The goal came just three minutes later, from a similar passage, but Bello’s ball turned in by Noble, whose shot took a deflection off a defender but it wasn’t enough to divert the effort off target. Noble’s strike was his first goal since the opening game of the season, though he did score twice in the abandoned fixture with Coventry Sphinx.
Grantham had a chance from a set-piece as Ryan Beswick headed the ball across goal, but the powerful forward couldn’t keep his header down. The second half started slowly and it took until the 65th minute before either side had a shot at goal. Quorn almost scored when a corner lead to a goalmouth scramble, but ultimately the ball rolled narrowly wide.
Liam Read forced another good save from Allsopp as the game sprang back into life with 20 minutes to play. Despite the renewed vigour from the visitors they couldn’t find an equaliser, as Allsopp and Mason Frizelle pulled off some heroic blocks at the death amid mounting pressure from Hinckley. Quorn Had one last chance to double their lead but Noble’s effort from the edge of the box was held by Jake Laban.
Tickets:
Adults: £10.00, Concessions: £7.00, Under 18s: £3.50, U12s: £2.00 (with a paying adult)
Travel:
Take the A6 south to the A46. Join the M1 south, exiting at junction 21 just after Leicester Forest East Services. At the island turn right onto the M69. Exit the M69 at junction 1, taking the A5 north towards Tamworth & Nuneaton. At the third roundabout, Dodwells, take the second exit onto the A47 towards Earl Shilton. Go straight over three roundabouts and straight over traffic lights. At the next roundabout take the third exit, the B4668 towards Hinckley. The ground entrance is approximately 200yds on the right.