Hinckley AFC played 45 minutes with defender Joe Obi in goal but still gained a point in a 1-1 draw with Easington Sports.
With no goalkeeper on the bench, Obi came on at half time to replace Divin Emmanuel who dislocated a finger late in the first half.
Hinckley led 1-0 at that stage through Oli Szymanski’s first senior goal, and though Leam Howards equalised for the visitors, the sixes shared a point each.
In truth, it was a game neither side did enough to win. Both sides showed plenty of endeavour but Hinckley were far from their fluent best on a warm afternoon while Easington only forced Obi into making one save.
Hinckley started the brighter of the two sides, and threatened particularly from set pieces. Brady Middleton, making his first start of the season, headed over Zach Tellyn’s delivery from close range as Easington gained an early let off.
But parity didn’t last much longer – from Hinckley’s next set play, Riley Davoile’s excellent knock was converted at the far post by Szymanski for the youngster’s first senior goal.
Easington gained more of a foothold after that, and their best chance came when Hinckley gave the ball away but Howards, in space eight yards out, made poor contact and Emmanuel saved.
The ‘keeper was also comfortable in denying Ellis Champkins but had to be at full stretch to tip away Callum Convey’s free kick on the stroke of half time.
That was, though, the keeper’s last action. He dislocated a finger making that save, and despite seeing through the remaining minute of the first half, had to be replaced at the break.
And it took Easington just six minutes to get back to parity, as a long ball bounced between defender and goalkeeper, Obi’s clearance struck Howards and the ball bounced kindly for the striker to tap into an empty net.
Obi then got down well to superbly hold Convey’s deflected shot, but the onslaught on his goal never came from the visitors despite them having more of the play.
Hinckley shaded the better chances as Max Treml held Tellyn’s clean strike and then Elliot Edwards lobbed over after uncertainty in the visiting defence.
But their best chance of a winner came when Lewis Rankin combined with fellow substitute Luke Jones, who worked himself an opening 10 yards out but then tried to take it around another defender and couldn’t get a shot away.
That said, Easington came closest to a winner four minutes from time as they nearly punished Hinckley for a poor clearance, Luke Swann cutting in from the right and seeing a shot crash against the base of the post.
But AFC protected Obi well to ensure that they get another point on the board with a win, a draw and a defeat from the opening three games.
Hinckley: Divin Emmanuel (Joe Obi 46), Jay D’Lionga, Adam Barber, Harry Walker-Donovan, Fionn O’Brien, Oli Szymanski, Josh Beeson (Elliot Edwards 70), Riley Davoile (Luke Jones 72), Bryan Kohyrelon (Lewis Rankin 61), Zach Tellyn, Brady Middleton. Sub not used: Alex Vineall.
Goal: Oli Szymanski (11)
Easington: Max Treml, Luke Swann, Joe Eyre, Jake Humphreys, Elliot Barton, Dan Watkin, Ellis Champkins, Callum Convey (Tom Smith 78), Ethan Champkins, Ollie Rose (James Williams 67), Leam Howards (Josh Reilly 70). Subs not used: Tommy Kinch, Adam Doyle.
Attendance: 161
