Three quickfire goals in 13 second-half minutes condemned Hinckley AFC to defeat away at in-form title-chasing St Neots Town.
Despite missing five players, Joe Obi the latest addition to the injury list with concussion, Hinckley took the game to their confident opponents and twice took the lead through well-worked Jared Bradshaw and Brady Middleton goals.
But both times, the home side hit back and after they levelled a second time through Connor Furlong, two further goals by the midway point of the second period earned St Neots the points.
On a grey afternoon, the game was excellent entertainment throughout for the 339-strong crowd which included a large and vocal travelling contingent.
Both sides put together free-flowing moves in what was a superb advert for step five football, the quality evident early on when Furlong cut inside and curled one towards the top corner from 25 yards, but Keelan Fallows was equal to it with a fingertip save.
The resulting corner was headed across goal by Charlie Bowen and cleared off the line as the home side pushed for the opener, but instead it came at the other end. 20 minutes in, Oli Szymanski picked out Middleton, who got around Bowen and squared across goal for Bradshaw to convert from close range.
The lead lasted only nine minutes – Furlong crossing for Rhys Thorpe to steal ahead of his man and glance a header past Fallows.
The excellent Thorpe was a threat throughout, and nearly gave his side the lead after more clever movement latched onto a through ball, and his shot bounced off the base of the post.
It meant the sides went in level at the break, but once again Hinckley hit the front with the first goal of the second half. Another excellent move saw Leo Farruch get some space down the left, and his low cross was deftly flicked inside the far post by a fine Middleton finish.
And once again, the home side hit back. Inside five minutes of Hinckley’s lead, Thorpe and Furlong combined again as the former’s low cross ran across the face and the latter side-footed home to level.
Then the home side really turned the screw. Inside 13 minutes, they had completely turned the game around as first Bowen’s header from a recycled free-kick, and then Sam Willis’ volley from a flicked-on corner put St Neots in control.
Despite plenty of endeavour, St Neots dealt well with what Hinckley threw at them in the closing stages. Home ‘keeper James Goff’s solitary save late on came from a low Middleton cross-shot, and the hosts kept up their title charge to go 10 unbeaten while Hinckley will reflect on an encouraging display but ultimately defeat.
St Neots: James Goff, Sam Willis, Murphy Culkin, Christian Tavernier, Charlie Bowen, Connor Furlong, Michael Amaeshike, Rhys Thorpe (James Hatch 90+2), Kieran Barnes (Scott Joseph 90+4), Harvey Williams (Danny Baulk 80), Charlie Bowen. Subs not used: Dammy Nickels, Lamin Jammeh.
Goals: Rhys Thorpe (29), Connor Furlong (55), Charlie Bowen (63), Sam Willis (68)
Hinckley: Keelan Fallows, Jay D’Lionga (Bryan Kohyrelon 68), Callum Martin, Lucinee Donzo, Alex Vineall, Oli Szymanski, Adam Barber, Zaki Evans (Harry Walker-Donovan 78), Brady Middleton (Christian Nguesseu 84), Jared Bradshaw (Luke Jones 78), Leo Farruch. Sub not used: Jacob Shilton.
Goals: Jared Bradshaw (20), Brady Middleton (50)
Attendance: 339
