Hinckley AFC’s new era began with an Isuzu FA Vase exit, but only after a penalty shoot-out following a 1-1 draw at Pershore Town.
Ross Innes, Adam Davies and Chris Tullin’s first game since being appointed as the new management team saw their side take an early lead through Chandler Pegg, only to be hauled level soon after.
On a dry and bobbly pitch, chances were at a premium so it was little surprise that the game went to spot kicks, and Pershore goalkeeper Joe Cunneen made himself the hero, first saving from Henley Hadley, before scoring the winning kick himself.
Young defender Hadley was one of two Hinckley debutants as Oscar Marshall also made his first appearance after recovering from injury.
And AFC started brightly on a warm afternoon in Worcestershire. Just five minutes had passed when Luke Jones fed Pegg, but he was forced wide as he tried to round Cunneen.
Pegg did get on the scoresheet inside 12 minutes though – volleying home Jared Bradshaw’s free kick to the delight of the supporters and the new management team.
It was a lead Hinckley merited on the balance of the early play, and Bradshaw and Pegg combined again soon after only for Cunneen to race out quickly.
But Pershore gained more of a foothold in the half as it wore on, and after Macauley King headed over, they equalised 10 minutes before half time when Cian Sheehan turned home a left-wing cross.
Jack Griffiths-Perry then lashed wide from a narrow angle, but the sides went in level at the break, and it would remain that way until full time.
That wasn’t for a lack of trying, but both sides struggled to control the ball on a pitch that bobbled and bounced and chances were few and far between.
Marshall was close to a debut goal when he dragged narrowly wide on the angle, but Pershore had the better of the half, albeit rarely testing Keelan Fallows. Callum Clayton headed their closest chance over from a corner, while Archie Thurston later found space in the box but couldn’t get the ball out of his feet.
That was a feature of the half – Pegg twice ran through on goal but tripped over the ball as it leapt up off divots.
And it was Hinckley who came closest to winning it late on. Cunneen twice made superb saves, one diving at full stretch from Zaki Evans’ header, and then from Bradshaw’s 25-yard rocket in the 94th minute which would have sent AFC through.
As it was, the game went to penalties. It was 6-6 after seven penalties each, but Cunneen dived right to save from Hadley and then stepped up to slam home the winning kick – the referee blowing for full time despite not having blown the whistle for the kick to be taken, which frustrated Fallows, who wasn’t ready to face the kick.
But it’s Pershore who progress to the next round, while Hinckley will quickly have to get over the disappointment ahead of a Bank Holiday Monday clash with Northampton ON Chenecks.
Pershore: Joe Cunneen, Jack Neal, Harvey White, Cian Sheehan, Macauley King (Elliott Sumnall 52), Callum Clayton, Yuri Quintas, Scott Wheeler, Archie Thurston, Jude Hill (Ewan Carter 61), Jack Griffiths-Perry (Raheem Spencer 72). Subs not used: George Hunt, Lucas Colley.
Goal: Cian Sheehan (35)
Hinckley: Keelan Fallows, Henley Hadley, Ahrian Chaddah, Zaki Evans, Lucinee Donzo, Nathan Nyamsi, Luke Jones, Reece Massey, Chandler Pegg, Jared Bradshaw, Oscar Marshall (Caleb Yeboah 52). Subs not used: Keaton Blackbird, Jake Tullin, Nathan Bowen, Kian Morrison.
Goal: Chandler Pegg (12)
