The fans could have asked for no more than six wins, with 20 goals scored in the process.

And those supporters are certainly responding to the club's title charge – the New Year's Day visit of Southport is the only league match to have attracted a bigger crowd to Highbury than Saturday's 1,442.

Manager Micky Mellon made three changes to the team which had beaten Blyth Spartans 4-2 a week earlier.

Club captain Jamie Milligan dropped to the bench to allow Anthony Barry a debut in midfield following his roundabout transfer from Chester via (very briefly) Wrexham.

Alan Wright returned at left-back after injury and Craig Dootson was recalled in goal at the expense of Danny Hurst, who had conceded his first league goals of the year against Blyth.

Town had yet to face third-placed Hinckley – known as the Knitters – this season but were certainly not going to underestimate a side which had amassed a respectable 20 points against teams from the top half of the table and had drawn at Southport.

But Fleetwood got off to the best possible start, Adam Warlow positioning himself on the near post to turn Sean Clancy's cross past keeper Christopher McKenzie for his 18th goal of the season before the first minute had elapsed.

Hinckley responded well, forcing four consecutive corners in the early stages.

They looked well organised and threatening throughout the first half, indicating that Town could't afford to lose concentration for a moment.

And their efforts were rewarded in the 32nd minute, when a free-kick was gleefully slotted home by defender James Mace to pull Hinckley level.

Town didn't panic, with irrepressible winger Jamie Mullan prominent and Barry settling well in midfield.

Free-scoring striker duo Nick Rogan and Warlow both performed tirelessly for Town but were frustratingly caught out by the offside flag on numerous occasions.

Town finished the half strongly, Rogan setting up a fine chance for Nathan Pond before Mullan restored their lead in the closing seconds of the half.

Fleetwood had expressed disappointment the previous day when a FA tribunal forced them to pay Northwich £5,000 for the mercurial Mullan, but he looked worth every penny as he broke down the middle, drew the keeper and fired home his first goal for the club.

Milligan replaced Wright at the start of the second half – Town's only substitution of the game – Clancy retreating into the left-back position.

As Barry became an increasingly influential figure, both in defence and creatively, Town dominated the second period.

Their latest recruit linked up well with Milligan, who threaded a pass through to in-form Rogan after 55 minutes.

The striker duly despatched his third goal in two games and seventh of the season, rewarding a typically hard-working and combative performance.

Hungry for more, man-of-the-match Mullan drove the home side forward as they piled on the pressure.

Hinckley were rarely able to mount a threat, and when they did on 70 minutes Dootson was equal to the task.

When the alert Andrew Hall dispossessed Clancy to go one-on-one with the big keeper, Dootson was out sharply to save the day and take a knock for his trouble.

Town's defence stood firm for the remaining 20 minutes to see out an eighth successive home league win for a side unbeaten in all 16 Blue Square North matches at Highbury this season.

The only disappointment for the Cod Army was news of Rob Daly's winner deep into injury time for Southport at Stafford Rangers.

It means the Haig Avenue club remain three points behind Town with two games in hand ... but any hopes Hinckley harboured of challenging for the only automatic promotion spot are surely now over.

Fleetwood: Dootson, Beeley, Wright (Milligan), Taylor (capt), McNulty, Pond, Clancy, Barry, Rogan, Warlow, Mullan; subs not used: Seddon, Cahill, Cowan, McGuire.

DAVID MITCHELL