Hinton 3-1 Pegasus Reserves 31/8/13 League

Hinton took their good preseason form into the opening game of the league season to pick up a good 3 points. Pegasus, with a strong looking squad, started the brighter and had more of the game for the first 15 minutes. This lead to the opening goal of the game when a cross from the left was deflected away from Kai Bond in the Hinton goal and converted well by a Peggy striker. Hinton responded brightly when a good passing move allowed Jonny Williams to cross from the right and the ball was volleyed home by Haslam.

From then on Hinton looked the far better side. The away side reverted to playing a long ball game whilst Hinton continued to pass the ball. Some good link play between Shane Cuss, Brad Matthews and Rod Haslam gave Luke Semple some space to deliver an inch perfect lofted cross to which Shaun Glover controlled and lifted the ball over the oncoming keeper. Glover claimed his second goal when some more good work down the right again presented an opportunity for Williams to cross which he found Glover at the back post for a header.

Hinton were missing a number of players and will welcome the competition for places throughout the coming season

Team: Kai Bond, Shane Cuss, Callum Ditchfield, Simon Thompson, Dave McCutcheon, Neil Walmsley, Jonny Williams, Luke Semple, Shaun Glover, Jake Cooper, Rod Haslam. Sub Brad Matthews.  MOM Shaun Glover

Lads Club 2-3 Hinton 13/8/13 Friendly

Hinton picked up an impressive win against a young looking Lads Club side. Hinton open the scoring in unusual fashion when a Lads Club defender sliced the ball past his own keeper when under no pressure. Lads Club then equalised 10 minutes later when a miss hit cross went straight in at the far post. Hinton continued to try to play football on a very poor County Ground pitch and opened up the home defence after a good passing move found Mike Marsden on the edge of the area which, after receiving the ball with his back to goal, he swivel and placed the ball in the far top corner with the ball coming off the underside of the bar and into the back of the net.

Hinton started the second half brightly as well and increased the gap when Luke Semple intelligently intercepted a pass and lobbed the home keeper from 35 yards. After that Lads Club started to put the away side under pressure. The fitness levels and number of subs the home side were able to make made the difference and Hinton found themselves holding on for the remaining 20 minutes. However Hinton stood fast until 5 minutes from time when a decent passing move opened up an opportunity which was duly buried. Hinton continued to be defiant until the final whistle and showed good character to gain the victory

Team Andy Taylor, Darren Birch, Simon Thompson, Chris Fox, Steve Cuss, Mike Marsden, Rod Haslam, Luke Semple, Neil Walmsley, Shaun Glover, Stuart Mills  Subs Shane Cuss, Brad Matthews, Dave McCutcheon

Hinton 3-2 Fownhope 10/8/13 Friendly

Hinton bounced back from the Leominster defeat with a decent win against Fownhope. Fownhope took the lead but Hinton hit back with goals from Brad Matthews, Neil Walmsley and Rod Haslam. Fownhope pulled one back from a deflected effort but it wasn't enough to level the game.

Leominster 4-2 Hinton  31/7/13  Friendly

Hinton produced a promising display despite only have 5 players in the starting 11 that had played as part of the team last season. The first half was a close encounter with both sides maintaining the ball well. Neither side created many chances and the half ended 0-0.

Hinton started the second half brighter and created a couple half chances early on but it was Leominster who opened the scoring when a defensive error allowed their winger to cross the ball in for a 3 yard tap in. Hinton then made 4 changes where all 4 subs were under 20 years old, to add to the keeper who was making his senior debut from Hinton under 17's. The lack of experience and difficulty to get upto speed with the game showed as Leominster scored twice more to take a 3-0 lead.

Hinton then got back on track and started to show some quality by constantly pulling the Leominster defense and midfield apart with slick passing movements. A good move down the right allowed Darren Birch to play a ball across the box to an unmarked Brad Matthews who pulled one back for the away team. The confidence was clearly growing at this point and another through ball from Birch found Luke Semple running in one on one with the keeper which he cooly slotted past him. Hinton continued to press and cause Leominster problems until the home side's right winger was given room to cross the ball, to which he did with deadly accuracy to find Sam Bowen at the back post who headed the ball home to settle the tie.

Team: James Knott, Elliot Body, Steve Cuss, Chris Fox, Dave McCutcheon, Darren Birch, Neil Walmsley, Luke Semple, Shaun Glover, Ben Arnold, Rod Haslam. Subs Brad Matthews, Callum Meale, Jake Cooper, Aaron Godfrey