Hinckley AFC extended their unbeaten run to eight matches despite not being able to find a late winner in a 2-2 draw at Coventry Copsewood last night.
Hinckley showed their powers of recovery to twice come from behind against a hard working Copsewood side, who went in ahead at the break.
But Ryan Seal’s penalty with a quarter of an hour to play earned AFC a share of the spoils.
Carl Abbott made two changes to his Hinckley side that beat Bolehall Swifts 4-1 ten days ago. Sean Williams replaced Sam Agar up front, while new signing Andy Westwood made his debut in midfield.
It was defensive errors that were to cost Hinckley, though, and they went behind on sixteen minutes. Haydn Whitcombe connected with a punch, but the back line were slow pushing out and Lawrence Rawlings put the hosts ahead as he returned the ball goalbound.
Hinckley’s ten day break looked to have disrupted their attacking flow, but they still looked fluid at times and levelled not long after.
Continuing on the back of his hot run of form, Seal was heavily involved again as his pinpoint cross picked out James Williams at the far post, who converted a simple chance from close range.
There were still plenty of chances in the game, and Hinckley were punished for not taking theirs when Mike Harvey connected poorly with a cross and Jake Upton took full advantage by converting to give Copsewood the lead again.
Much of the second half was one way traffic and Hinckley had the hosts camped in their own half for sustained spells, but as the game wore on it looked ever more likely that Hinckley would leave Allard Way with nothing.
But with fifteen minutes to play, AFC levelled as Westwood made his impact on his first start for the club by being fouled in the box, and Seal beat Dale O’Donnell from twelve yards.
Hinckley’s best chance to win it came just moments later, when Mark Williams blazed over from eight yards having been set up by Paul Sullivan.
And Hinckley couldn’t find the elusive winning goal that would have earned them a seventh straight win, but they still retained their unbeaten run ahead of Pelsall Villa’s visit to St John’s Park on Saturday.
Copsewood: Dale O’Donnell, George Whitelaw (Taylor McGregor 77), Daniel Povey, Jake Upton, Jack Rooney, Tomasz Gawronski, Jack Downes, Tom Dyke, David Blenkinsopp (Joe Taylor 53), David Akinuli, Lawrence Rawlings. Sub not used: Tom Muldoon
Goals: Lawrence Rawlings (16), Jake Upton (29)
Hinckley: Haydn Whitcombe, James Williams, Isaac Cooper, Mike Harvey, Jamal Clarke, Mark Williams, Lee Butler (Lee Thomas 69), Ryan Seal, Sean Williams, Paul Sullivan, Andy Westwood. Subs not used: Kian Jackson, Connor Pugh
Goals: James Williams (21), Ryan Seal (75 pen)
Attendance: 95
