Hinckley AFC had to settle for a point as a stoppage-time penalty salvaged Aylestone Park’s unbeaten start to the league season in a thrilling encounter at Kirkby Road.
After three away trips, Hinckley’s first home league game of the season was well worth the wait for the bumper 340-strong crowd, who saw Joe Ball head Aylestone into an early lead.
But Hinckley roared back, the outstanding Bryan Kohyrelon and then Zaki Evans scoring to turn the game on its head – only for Louis Samuels to score Aylestone’s second penalty of the night, after Keelan Fallows had earlier saved from Marshal Keenan, to send the sides home with a point each.
Overall, it was a fair reflection on a game that both sides might feel they could have won, and was a superb advert for the United Counties Premier South throughout.
Less than three minutes had passed when Aylestone took the lead. It was a little too simple from a Hinckley perspective, as Leke Shodunke stood a cross into the box and Ball’s header took a deflection to wrong-foot Fallows.
But Hinckley were behind for just eight minutes, when a flowing move ended with Ahrian Chaddah blasting a shot goalbound which was blocked by Justin Peace, but the loose ball fell to Kohyrelon who adjusted his feet and converted his fifth goal in three games from close range.
Both sides were looking to get the ball down and play, and that led to an all-action, high-tempo game as Hinckley had more chances for the rest of the half, but Aylestone came closer with theirs.
Lewis Rankin was denied by another flying challenge, this time from Jake Wormleighton, Chaddah’s cross-shot skimmed the bar, Matt Dawson had a pair of efforts blocked by defenders and then Kohyrelon forced Liam Castle to save at his near post.
But it was the visitors who came within a whisker just before the break. After Fallows had grabbed Keenan’s 20-yarder at the second attempt, an excellent Park move saw Ball set up Charley Kilburn, who crashed a shot off the underside of the bar and out.
And Hinckley made the most of that just after the interval, when they turned the game on its head. Kohyrelon was a constant threat in a fascinating battle against Peace and Sam Preston, and three minutes into the second half, he held off Peace before pulling back to the edge of the box where Evans found the bottom corner.
Now Hinckley had to show qualities of a different kind, and they defended well with the majority of Aylestone’s chances thereafter coming from set pieces.
They were good chances, though – Peace headed Corey Armeni’s wide free kick over the bar from close range, before their best opportunity came midway through the half. Samuels got the wrong side of his man and was tripped in the box, Keenan took the penalty but it was a tame effort and Fallows dived the right way and held it to preserve Hinckley’s lead.
Keenan then fired not far wide from 25 yards and Samuels wasted a free-kick in a good position as Hinckley withstood Aylestone possession, but Hinckley nearly wrapped the game up as it entered stoppage time. The visitors were indebted to Castle, who pulled off an outstanding fingertip save to push Chaddah’s goalbound header wide.
And that proved crucial when Park were given a second penalty of the night two minutes later. Nathan Nyamsi stretched for a header but the ball struck his hand, Samuels took responsibility from the spot this time and stroked it down the middle to mean a game that was inches from being 3-1, was now 2-2.
But neither side could have too many complaints, both played their part in a thrilling encounter and a point apiece was a fair outcome to show for their efforts.
Hinckley: Keelan Fallows, Matt Dawson, Ahrian Chaddah, Sam Warburton, Joe Magunda, Nathan Nyamsi, Zaki Evans (Max Johnson 87), Reece Massey (Jared Bradshaw 75), Bryan Kohyrelon (Luke Jones 82), Chandler Pegg (Sam Lockley 67), Lewis Rankin (Lucinee Donzo 60).
Goals: Bryan Kohyrelon (11), Zaki Evans (48)
Aylestone: Liam Castle, Hayden Stephens (Andres Articolo 52), Charley Kilburn, Sam Preston, Justin Peace, Jake Wormleighton, Corey Armeni, Marshal Keenan, Joe Ball (Sam Hollis 71), Louis Samuels, Leke Shodunke (Tayo Tucker 55). Sub not used: Declan Towers
Goals: Joe Ball (3), Louis Samuels (93 pen)
Attendance: 340
