More award winning moments as Hinshelwood and Balanta mark a brilliant few weeks

Adam Hinshelwood and Angelo Balanta have both had the feel of silverware in their palms in recent weeks, and now they’ve got their hands on another prize

Worthing’s manager and the Hornchurch player are your April award winners as the celebrations continue for both clubs.

The Rebels are Enterprise National League South champions, and the historic moment was made possible by a fantastic final month of the season.

It was a campaign that started in heartache but ended in glory for 42-year-old Hinshelwood, who returned to the club after his sudden exit from York City weeks into the new campaign.

Final day victory over Ebbsfleet United took the championship - Worthing recovering from a set-back at Maidstone United on the penultimate day to secure their place in the 2026/27 National League line-up.

The hard work was done in the weeks before, a stunning 7-2 steamrollering of Dagenham & Redbridge installed the south coast side as firm title favourites.

That’s because days before they had won the mega match at leaders Dorking Wanderers, where they took control of the division for the first time. That came after doing enough to beat Eastbourne Borough to kick the month off with a win.

Hinshelwood saw off competition from Scott Rendell (AFC Totton), Jimmy Ball (Torquay United) and George Elokobi (Maidstone United) after our panel decided to add to the manager’s list of honours.

Hornchurch were in the position of being able to still win the title on the final day, which was in no small part down to the impact of Balanta in April.

Six goals and three assists in their six games meant he could not be ignored, even if they were to fall just short on the last weekend. Their big moment wasn't to be far away.

He says he can’t wait to get back to playing National League football again next season, and defences had better be on the guard!

Balanta was the pick of the panel, Aaron Mclean (DAZN), Matt Badcock (Non-League Paper) and Tom Scott (National League).

He was selected ahead of Worthing defender Joe Cook, AFC Totton’s Christie Ward and Deon Moore - the Torquay United striker so unlucky to be on the losing side in the Promotion Final two weeks ago.