Hinckley AFC Under 18s lost top spot in the Midland Floodlit Youth League Eastern Division as they lost 5-4 in a thriller to Inkberrow.
It was a dramatic night at Ratby Lane where four goals wasn’t enough for Hinckley despite equalising late on, as Inkberrow snatched the win, writes Lee Measom.
Inkberrow dominated the early stages and it showed when they took the lead inside ten minutes, a mistake at the back from Hinckley’s youngster left a tap in for the visitors.
Hinckley responded well and were challenging the Inkberrow ‘keeper many times before they found a way through, Reuben Wade hit a stunner from the left-hand side into the top corner.
And a brilliant bit of play by Hinckley saw them take the lead on the half hour mark, Whitley held the ball up well and then found Hoult who neatly beat the keeper.
But Inkberrow soon drew level, a corner was whipped in for a free header which ended in the back of the net despite Pearce’s best efforts.
It didn’t take long into the second half for Inkberrow to re-take the lead. A good pass from midfield found their winger on the right, who played it across goal leaving an easy tap in for the striker.
But the game continued to flow and an equaliser soon followed, Gamble heading Friday’s corner back across goal for Moise Bitemo to tap home.
It was a real end-to-end game and saw Inkberrow lead again to go 4-3 up. A ball from their defence found their striker who ran through Hinckley’s defence. That led Pearce astray and the striker beat Hinckley’s keeper from a tight angle.
Hinckley hadn’t given up their though, a good ball from Foley on the right hand side found Marange who squeezed it pass the visiting keeper to level.
It looked like earning AFC a share of the spoils but in the last couple minutes, Inkberrow found the winner. Another set piece wasn’t dealt with by Hinckley and the resulting shot beat Pearce to see the visitors leapfrog Hinckley at the top.
