Newport Pagnell Town 2-1 Hinckley AFC

Two late goals condemned Hinckley AFC to defeat as they were beaten 2-1 by in-form Newport Pagnell Town. 

It was just a second defeat in their last 11 for Hinckley, and Joe Conneely’s side can feel hard done by that they didn’t take something from a tightly-contested game.

Lady luck wasn’t on their side – they lost both centre-backs named on the original teamsheet by the 20-minute mark, hit the post twice, had two cleared off the line and were aggrieved by a number of key decisions by referee Jakub Gierczyk that they feel didn’t go their way.

Initially, Conneely made just one change to his side that beat Yaxley last week, as Lucinee Donzo replaced the injured Harry Walker-Donovan, but that quickly became two when Ky Green felt a hamstring in the warm-up. He had to pull out and be replaced by Oli Szymanski.

Donzo came close to an immediate impact – just two minutes in, his header was saved at full stretch by Marcus Bald, and Chandler Pegg’s follow-up from a narrow angle could only clip the outside of the post.

Bald then saved from Leo Farruch before play switched to the other end, and Pagnell’s first chance saw Hinckley ‘keeper Keelan Fallows push a threatening corner away from under his bar.

Then came further misfortune for Hinckley – another centre back was forced off as Joe Obi was caught by Jake Watkinson’s flailing arm, leaving him with a black and swollen eye. Referee Gierczyk initially waved play on before his assistant alerted him to the foul, but despite a conversation with the assistant, Watkinson escaped without even a talking to.

That meant 17-year-old Szymanski was partnered by regular left-back Adam Barber in the centre of defence, and winger Luke Jones was thrust into unfamiliar territory at left-back for the remainder of the game.

But that makeshift backline stood up well to the physical test thrown at it, and though the home side had more of the play, Hinckley had the better of the chances for the remainder of the half. Jared Bradshaw almost scored direct from a corner but that was headed off the line, and Zaki Evans’ rebound was also hacked away from the goalline as Pagnell clung on.

Then, Szymanski stretched to meet Jones’ free kick but again could only divert the ball onto the post as Hinckley wondered if it might be one of those days.

But they also had a let-off on the stroke of half time, when Watkinson stabbed Charlie Killie’s cross wide from six yards.

Early in the second half Pagnell protested that they should have had a penalty, but the referee gave a free kick on the edge from which Luke Abraham’s shot was deflected wide.

And then Keelan Fallows made his first save on the hour, a crucial one as he raced from his line to smartly deny Harrison Lynham one-on-one, before holding Watkinson’s snapshot soon after.

That second save came with Hinckley down to ten, Farruch in the ten-minute sinbin for voicing his complaints to referee Gierczyk.

But that frustration was amplified just a couple of minutes later – Pegg twisted his way past Adam Pryke and would have had a clear shot at goal were he not tripped by the defender eight yards out. But Gierczyk waved away the penalty shouts, and captain Zaki Evans was also sent to the sinbin for asking why.

Now with nine men for a period, it was backs against the wall but Hinckley continued to defend manfully and Fallows claimed a couple of crosses to restrict chances.

Isa Abraham, on his 100th appearance, was forced off with 13 minutes to go after bringing the ball out of defence and being caught on the shin by Ben Ford’s flying lunge, referee Gierczyk, though, only saw fit to brandish a yellow card much to Hinckley’s continued frustration.

But just five minutes away from what would have been a battling and hard-earned point, Hinckley fell behind. Joel Nketia cut inside and saw a well-struck effort pushed away by Fallows, but Simon Orpahnides was quickest to follow up and slotted his side ahead.

And the home side grabbed a second in as many minutes through the game’s best moment of individual quality – substitute Bruce Tsinonis collected a deep cross on the left-hand edge of the area, and took a couple of touches before unleashing a superb strike into the far corner.

Still Hinckley pushed, and halved that deficit in stoppage time when Bryan Kohyrelon deftly flicked home Farruch’s low cross to give some hope.

But they couldn’t fashion another chance in the time that remained, and Pagnell held on for the win that sees them cut the gap on Hinckley to three points and sees the race for the play-offs get even tigher.

Pagnell: Marcus Bald, Adam Pryke, Simon Orphanides, Christian Smail, Luke Abraham, Levon Stewart Corvell Pickering 50), Joel Nketia, Jake Watkinson (Charlie Milton 93) Charlie Killie, Harrison Lynham (Joel Halsall 94), Ben Ford (Bruce Tsinonis 77). Subs not used: Lewis Marley

Goals: Simon Orphanides (85), Bruce Tsinonis (88)

Hinckley: Keelan Fallows, Jay D’Lionga, Adam Barber, Lucinee Donzo, Oli Szymanski, Joe Obi (Luke Jones 18), Isa Abraham (Lewis Rankin 77), Zaki Evans, Chandler Pegg, Jared Bradshaw (Bryan Kohyrelon 88), Leo Farruch. Subs not used: Ky Green, Sam Belcher

Goal: Bryan Kohyrelon (93)

Attendance: 200

Picture: Andy Gardner

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