Hinckley AFC maintained their 100% winning record at home in the league with a hard fought 3-2 victory against a spirited Haughmond side who belied their lowly league position.
It was a game that swung this way and that before Chandler Pegg’s goal fifteen minutes from time won it for AFC.
It was the home side who began brightly, Lewis Rankin struck the top of the bar before they went in front with a well worked goal on seven minutes. It was a move that began with Brandon Bache and swept upfield with Rankin’s vision releasing Pegg. When he was forced wide by keeper Dan Pilkington, he pulled the ball across the face of goal and Harry Walker-Donovan tapped home from close range.
The visitors quickly responded with a well crafted goal of their own to level, another sweet passing move released Charlie Webster on the left flank and he pulled a ball back for Scott Ryan who drilled home a powerful finish from the edge of the box.
Midway through the half, Haughmond went in front, a wonderful, inviting cross from Sam Rawlings on the right was headed home by Ryan.
And the striker soon had a chance to complete a hat trick as he was through on goal but Bache stood up well to block.
AFC ended the half well and Pilkington made good saves from a Pegg free kick and then from Lewis Collins as he bore down on goal.
Hinckley continued that momentum after the break, a delightful touch from Pegg set up Rankin who was desperately unlucky to see his shot come back off the inside of a post before the equaliser came seven minutes into the second half. Joe Byrne handled inside the area and Collins went straight down the middle with his penalty.
The decisive goal came on 75 minutes, Jack Edwards won possession with a typically strong challenge that fell to Joe Cairns who produced a trick to get by his man on the right flank before sliding a ball across the six yard box that Pegg converted.
Haughmond rallied again in the closing stages as they sought to salvage something from the game and they came close deep in time added on when Byrne’s effort from just inside the area was destined for the top corner before Bache tipped it over the bar to secure the points for his side.
Hinckley: Brandon Bache, Matt Dawson, Adam Barber (Ryan Murphy 58), Harry Walker-Donovan, Luke Wilson, Joe McNulty, Ben Newport, Lewis Collins (Joe Cairns 58), Chandler Pegg (Reece Jacobs 79), Lewis Rankin (Fortune Sibanda 79), Jack Edwards. Sub not used: Chris Camwell.
Goals: Harry Walker-Donovan (7), Lewis Collins (52), Chandler Pegg (75)
Haughmond: Dan Pilkington, Lewis Speake, Jack Griffiths, Jamie Whelan, Louis Irvine, Joe Byrne, Sam Rawlings, Steve Nicholson, Scott Ryan, Joe Pratt, Charlie Webster. Sub not used: Dan Churm
Goals: Scott Ryan (10, 23)
Attendance: 160
