Atletico's unbeaten run carried on to 9 games in an open free flowing game between the
leagues two form teams, with a JJ Melligan penalty just enough to give Hinckley the win.
In a match which was end to end both teams had spells of dominance and it was AFC that
started on the front foot. Marco Adaggio gave Hinckley the lead in the ninth minute with
a deft flick header at the near post following Nathan Walkers free kick. It was Walker again
in the 24th minute who split the Stafford defence for Luke Richards to run onto the ball
and slot it under Richard Stone giving Hinckley a 0-2 lead. Stafford responded by upping
their game and Zak Horrobin curled a long range effort over the bar before Graig Hulme
got a goal back for Town 10 minutes before half time. Stafford were claiming a penalty
when the ball struck an injured AFC player lying on the floor in the penalty area, however
the referee decided at that moment to stop the game so the player could receive treatment,
not endearing himself to the Stafford players or staff, but ensuring Hinckley went in
at half time with a 1-2 lead.
Adaggio extended Hinckley's lead to 2 goals again, shortly into the second half, after
another powerful run and shot from Richards, that Stone could only parry into the path of
Adaggio who tapped into the net scoring Hinckley's third of the game, and the 50th league
goal of the season. Richards then found himself in action at the other end fouling
Horrobin, and giving away a penalty. Michael Mezsaro stepped up to take the spot kick, but
Sam Arnold not only saved the penalty but saved the follow up effort too. Though Stafford
weren't finished and stunned Atletico with two excellent strikes in a four minute burst.
First Nathan Cooper's long range speculative effort dropped over Arnold's head and into
the back of the net, before Ashley Phillips finished off a nice passing move on the
left with 20 yard blast into the top of the net equalising the scores. As with the ebb
and flow of the game, no sooner had Stafford equalised then Tyrone Clarke-O’Connell was
brought down in the Stafford area with a penalty awarded to Hinckley. JJ Melligan blasted
the spot kick into the bottom left corner giving AFC a 3-4 lead. Stafford responded with
spells of possession but couldn't create any clear cut chances as Hinckley defended in
greater numbers for the final twenty minutes, holding on to win their 10th league match
of the season.
click here for:
Stafford Town match details
|