Aldershot are York’s next visitors to the LNER Community Stadium (3pm), with the Shots eight points adrift of the play-off places, and ten points clear of the relegation zone.
It has seen a lot of Aldershot supporters turn their focus towards their upcoming Isuzu FA Trophy final against Spennymoor Town, with a trip to Wembley Stadium on the agenda for Tommy Widdrington’s side.
Hinshelwood is therefore expecting a spirited performance from Aldershot, believing that the visitors will be eager to impress their manager and nail down a starting place for that FA Trophy final.
To combat that, Hinshelwood wants his City squad to continue playing with their newfound freedom, a method that was adopted after an underwhelming 2-1 defeat away to Braintree Town.
“They’ve got a final to look forward to, so all of their players will be doing all that they can to impress the manager,” Hinshelwood predicted.
“Everyone will want to play in that game, so although their league position may say that they don’t have much to play for, I’m sure their players and staff will be pushing that message that there is still loads to play for and there is still shirts up for grabs for a Wembley final.
“Since our defeat at Braintree, I wanted them to play with that freedom.
“They’ve shown what they can do if they’re confident and a bit free-flowing.
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“The message would be to still finish with as many points on the board as we can, the last thing that any professional that has got pride wants to do, is to just peter out a season.
“Still give your all, finish with as many points as we can. There’s still 15 points up for grabs.”
Aldershot’s trip to York last season was in much bleaker surroundings, with City winless under Hinshelwood and staring relegation in the face.
However, having collapsed to a 6-1 defeat at Altrincham in the days prior, the Minstermen produced a battling display with Lenell John-Lewis scoring a late winner – and giving Hinshelwood his first win as City boss.
It’s a moment which Hinshelwood looks back upon proudly, even revealing that the club had hung up a photograph of their post-match celebrations at the club’s training ground.
Hinshelwood told the Press: “That was obviously a massive moment in my personal York City career, to get our first three points.
“Especially after such a heavy defeat, it did galvanise everybody and give everyone belief.
“The togetherness grew after that, we’ve got a picture of all of the lads celebrating after that game, which is up at the training ground, so they see it every day.
Lenell John-Lewis celebrates scoring the late winner for York City in Adam Hinshelwood’s first three points as manager, against Aldershot Town last season. (Image: Tom Poole) “It was a really pivotal moment in our personal York City careers.
“There will be reminders of it, but nothing more than that tomorrow, it’s a different challenge, a different team, a new squad and new players for both sides.
“There’s obviously a large core that were here for us last year, so we still look back on it.
“We want to make even more memories.”
Aldershot is also a football club affiliated with Hinshelwood, with the York manager previously captaining the Shots as a player.
He made 15 appearances in Sky Bet League Two with Aldershot in the 2009/10 season, but departed after former manager Garry Waddock left his post in the Town dugout.
Hinshelwood admitted that it was a slightly ‘weird’ experience going up against a team he once represented, but refused to let it cloud his judgement towards Saturday’s encounter.
“It is a little bit weird, I do have affiliation for the clubs I’ve played for and the last two clubs I was captain at, at Aldershot and Wycombe.
“I was probably one there for a short spell each time, six months, so it doesn’t get as much of an affiliation as other clubs I was at for a bit longer.
“It is a bit of a weird feeling, they are still clubs you look out for, you look out for their results on a Saturday afternoon when your game is finished.
“It’s all about the here and now and we’re very much focused about getting points on the board for York City.”
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