Can Central Repeat 2021/22's 6-0 Feat at Hindley Juniors?

Images From: Manchester Central Flikr, Credits: Rebecca Photography.

Saturday sees Central take the familiar trip to the Harrison Playing Fields, where they emerged victorious via a 6-0 scoreline in 2021/22, to face 12th-placed Hindley Juniors. Despite having won their first point in 42 days against Tintwistle Athletic, Tomkinson's side still seek their first league win since their 5-0 victory over Wilmslow Albion in mid-September.

Central were on course for their first win in six weeks against Bolton United on the weekend, cruising to a 3-0 lead at St John's Park as Dolling, Lawal and Noupoue filled the goal-shaped void left by Fuad Kasali. However, the game's abrupt abandonment shortly after half-time left Central travelling home empty-handed.

Nevertheless, Central's hunger for a win has only increased, with the trip to Hindley Juniors posing the team's latest opportunity.

Despite sitting in 12th place, just three points ahead of bottom-of-the-table Wilmslow Albion, the Wigan-based side will be no pushover. This week's opposition may have only earnt four points on their own turf so far this season, but they have still found the net on 11 occasions in front of their home crowd.

Images From: Manchester Central Flikr, Credits: Rebecca Photography.

Thus, for Central to earn only their second away win of 2022/23, Tomkinson will have to shore up the defence that has conceded 15 goals in 4 games on the road. As Whiting's defence look for their first clean sheet since since the 5-0 drubbing of Wilmslow Albion in September, they'll have their eyes on three Hindley players.

Tom Jackson has scored an impressive 7 goals in as many appearances for Juniors, whilst Brandon Blades has notched 6 goals in 9 games - including one strike from the penalty spot. Of the other seven Hindley players who have written their name on the scoresheet this year, Dillan Rowland is the most notable, having netted 4 times in 5 starts.

Failing a clean sheet, Saturday may see a slogging match between the two sides, as Hindley have conceded 25 goals to central's tally of 23 against - and with both teams sharing the startling record that all but one of each side's fixtures have seen three or more goals.

Images From: Manchester Central Flikr, Credits: Rebecca Photography.

Despite the departure of Fuad Kasali, Central too pose a formidable attacking threat to their opposition, with thirteen individuals having scored for the Whites in 10 games. This includes Ruben Abreu's 4 goals in 7 games as well as the matching tallies of Nell Noupoue and Gabriel Wiwoloku with 3 goals.

This weekend's opposition is no stranger to Tomkinson's men, as the two sides were promoted from Division Two alongside one another last season. Hindley Juniors finished in 7th place, just 5 points behind Central in 2021/22.

If last season's scorelines are anything to go by, you can expect both goalkeepers to have a very busy afternoon. Manchester Central battered Hindley Juniors to the tune of 6-0 in September of 2021, whilst Hindley saw revenge by leaving Wright Robinson with a 5-2 victory in November 2021. Tomkinson will be hoping that it is his side which comes out on top on this occasion.