Hinckley AFC moved into the quarter-finals of the United Counties League Cup with a hard-fought 3-2 victory over Lutterworth Town at a gloomy Dunley Way.
Goals from Joe Obi, Jared Bradshaw and Zaki Evans meant Hinckley were in front for long spells of the game, though strikes from Louis Samuels and Matt Langham kept the home side in touch.
But AFC defended well when they had to in the closing stages to make progress into the last eight.
Both sides had early chances, Keelan Fallows made a superb save at full stretch to keep out Samuels’ long range effort before Brady Middleton headed Bradshaw’s corner against a post.
Hinckley took the lead ten minutes before the break, Bradshaw delivered another corner from the left that was spilled by home keeper Warren Butlin and Obi showed he still possesses a goalscorer’s instinct as he pounced to convert the loose ball.
The second half began in dramatic style as Lutterworth levelled soon after the re-start when Langham drove in a low cross from the right that Samuels finished on the far post.
Moments later, Hinckley restored their lead, the influential Bradshaw again in the thick of the action as he was felled in the box before getting up to convert the penalty.
Lutterworth fought to regain parity, Langham spurning a couple of decent chances, heading a free kick straight at Fallows before he got the wrong side of his defender, but Fallows raced from his line to block well.
With ten minutes remaining, Hinckley increased their lead with a lightning counter attack. They successfully defended a Lutterworth corner and quickly launched an offensive of their own, and when Bradshaw’s shot was parried by Butlin, Evans converted the rebound.
Almost straight from the re-start, The Swifts reduced the deficit again through Langham but despite over ten minutes of time being added on, the home side couldn’t see sight of goal and Hinckley prevailed.
Lutterworth: Warren Butlin, Shaun Leslie (Brian Ndlovu 85), James Sanderson, Ethan Baynham, Brandon Williams, Shaq Brooks, Louis Samuels, Pier Gyamfi, Matt Langham, Elliott Butler (Brad Coleman 75), Benji Adamako. Subs not used: Kade Lewis, Ash Butler, Frank Elmes.
Goals: Louis Samuels (50), Matt Langham (83)
Hinckley: Keelan Fallows, Jay D’Lionga (Jacob Shilton 80), Callum Martin, Harry Walker-Donovan, Oli Szymanski, Joe Obi, Adam Barber, Lucinee Donzo (Zaki Evans 63), Bryan Kohyrelon (Christian Ngueusseu 71), Jared Bradshaw (Keaton Blackbird 90+4), Brady Middleton. Sub not used: Luca Bien.
Goals: Joe Obi (35), Jared Bradshaw (52 pen), Zaki Evans (81)
Attendance: 85
