A late winner gave NKF the edge in this first meeting between the two sides, that saw all the action
take place in the second half after Burbage were reduced to 10 men.
The first game under the managerial control of John Ramshaw saw new signings Dave Jones and Ryan Murphy
on the bench and Keenan Palmer making his first start. The first half was pretty much non
eventful with some passing football from both teams but neither creating many clear cut chances.
For AFC Louis Hamilton had two efforts drift just wide of the post, and George Warren had to be
alert as NKF's Tom Smith made him save twice.
A short burst of heavy rain just after the break made the pitch very heavy, but the game burst
into life with a red card, as Oli Bradshaw was dismissed for a tackle on Chris Hollist. AFC
took the lead shortly after when Hamilton took a corner on the left, flicked on at the near post
by Jordan Wilson, for substitute Dave Jones to score his first goal for Hinckley minutes after
coming on to the pitch. Burbage didn't crumble though, in fact the opposite as the 10 men
became more determined, and they equalised 5 minutes later as a free kick was played in from the
right and Smith struck a delightful half volley from 20 yards giving Warren no chance. Then
on 70 minutes Burbage shocked Hinckley by taking the lead when Smith raced down the right
took the ball to the byline and crossed central for Josh Kind to blast home from inside the
goal area. Amazingly Hamilton didn't equalise almost straight away as he picked the ball up
outside the Burbage area, dribbled around 4 challenges then curled the ball around Alec Hill
only to see it hit the post and roll across the face of the goal and away to safety. AFC were
level with 10 minutes remaining, a free kick from Jason Lee fell nicely for Hollist to slot
home scoring his first goal for the club. Lee then had a chance to make it 3 but Hill did well
smothering the ball at the defenders feet. Then the NKF goalkeeper turned assist as he gave
the ball a big hoof down field, and Smith raced onto it as the AFC defence were caught cold,
leaving Warren in no mans land as Smith had time and space to shoot past him.
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NKF Burbage details
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