Hinckley produced a superb late, late show as two goals in the closing minutes saw them snatch victory from the jaws of defeat against Newport Pagnell Town.
The visitors led for most of the game thanks to Joel Nketia’s 12th-minute goal, but AFC stepped up the pressure in the latter stages.
Lewis Rankin drew them level before Bryan Kohyrelon’s purple patch continued as he stabbed home the winner deep into time added on to spark jubilant scenes.
It was a closely contested encounter throughout, but Pagnell settled into the game the quicker. They took an early lead when Nathan Olukanmi got to the right hand byline and delivered a cross that was neatly turned home first time by Nketia.
Hinckley improved as the half developed, Kohyrelon’s industry in the box was blocked by a couple of defenders before their best chance of the half came when Rankin’s free kick found its way to Ky Green who blazed over from six yards.
Newport almost doubled their lead at the start of the second half when Alfie Powell headed Luke Abraham’s corner narrowly wide but whilst Hinckley had plenty of play, they were struggling to break down a solid visiting backline.
With Joe Conneely absent, Sam Belcher was in charge and he sent on Brady Middleton to give his side an extra attacking dimension and that move paid dividends with ten minutes remaining. Middleton broke clear of the defence and when his shot was saved by Marcus Bald, Rankin kept his composure to guide the loose ball home.
With six minutes of time being added on, both sides fancied their chances to win it. Keelan Fallows made a vital save to keep the scores level when he pounced on the ball almost on his own line as Nketia lurked, before AFC won it four minutes into added time.
Again Middleton broke clear, he found Rankin whose effort was rolling agonisingly along the goal line as time seemed to stand still before Kohyrelon came steaming in like a train to stab the ball over the line to complete a fabulous comeback.
Hinckley: Keelan Fallows, Jay D’Lionga, Adam Barber, Oliwier Szymanski, Ky Green (Jacob Shilton 83), Joe Obi, Lewis Rankin, Luke Jones (Brady Middleton 60), Bryan Kohyrelon, Jared Bradshaw, Harry Walker-Donovan. Subs not used: Luca Bien, Sam Belcher, Keaton Blackbird.
Goals: Lewis Rankin (82), Bryan Kohyrelon (94)
Newport Pagnell: Marcus Bald, Nabil Shariff, Aiden Print, Christian Smail, Alfie Powell, Luke Abraham, Nathan Olukanmi (Rio Henson 43), Joel Nketia, Harrison Lynham (Adam Pryke 79), Bruce Tsinonis (Ruairi Mills 85), Charlie Kille (Simon Orphanides 69).
Goal: Joel Nketia (12)
Attendance: 211
