Manager Joe Conneely said his side’s 4-1 win over Cogenhoe United was Hinckley AFC’s best of the season “by a long way.”
AFC made it five straight wins and nine on the bounce at home with a fine win over higher level opposition at Kirkby Road.
Three first-half goals did the damage before Lewis Rankin added a fourth after the break to put Hinckley in the hat.
And Conneely said it was a game of two differing halves, but one Hinckley deserved to win.
“The first half was a bit frantic. Both teams were attacking and expansive, we knew that’s what they’d be about. They’re a good young side and caused us problems in the first half.
“But we made it pay, we were clinical at the right times. Chandler will admit his was a bit flukey but when your two strikers get a goal each again, they’re working really well. To a man we were fantastic.
“We kept Jack and Harry more narrow second half and didn’t give them much. They were favourites but deep down I was confident we’d win the game.
“We’ve got a fantastic record at home and it’s fantastic to be in the next round.”
The manager was delighted with how Hinckley controlled the second half – with Cogenhoe only calling Brandon Bache into to routine saves late on – especially given the end-to-end nature of the first.
“We needed to manage the game better and be more composed in both boxes. We did that second half. We kept the ball better but turned it in when we had to and scored a fantastic fourth goal.
“We did that well, Ben Birch (on debut) was shaky for 15 minutes but fantastic after that, he fitted in really well. He grew into it, he talks well and our defensive group were fantastic second half. It was nice that we managed to deliver on the message.”
The win puts Hinckley into the second round for the first time in four years. Sides who had successful runs last season, such as holders Newport Pagnell and Leicestershire rivals Anstey Nomads and Loughborough Students, enter at this stage.
And Conneely says it’s an exciting stage of the competition and one he’s relishing ahead of Monday’s draw.
“It’s an unrealistic dream for all of us but without dreaming, what’s the point? We’ll try and go as far as we can. The next round will be tough, the teams who did well come into it.
“Newport Pagnell are the holders, we could get them, Coventry Sphinx and Rugby did well last year too. But we’ll embrace the challenge whoever we get and we’ll try and go as far as we can.”
