Hinckley AFC picked up a first win under their new management team as they held off a strong second half from Northampton ON Chenecks to make it three unbeaten in the United Counties Premier South.
Despite taking a 2-0 lead through Chandler Pegg and Jared Bradshaw, Chenecks quickly pulled one back and left Hinckley fans biting their nails as the visitors applied plenty of pressure.
But Hinckley’s makeshift backline stood up manfully and Keelan Fallows made a couple of outstanding saves to keep his side ahead, allowing Henley Hadley, on his league debut, to bend home a beauty late on that secured the win.
It’s been quite the Bank Holiday weekend for Hadley. He made his senior debut on Saturday but missed the crucial penalty in a shoot-out defeat, and quickly put that behind him with what will likely go down as one of Hinckley’s Goal of the Season contenders.
New additions Jordan Clement, on dual registration from Lichfield, and former Nuneaton front man Louis Baker were handed starts while Matt Dawson returned at right-back – and the latter nearly put his side ahead on eight minutes with a drilled cross-shot that cannoned back off the bar via a fingertip from goalkeeper Mitch Wilkinson.
But just a minute later, Hinckley did take the lead. Luke Jones’ pass inside the full-back picked out Bradshaw, his shot came back off the post but Pegg was there to turn home the loose ball from close range.
Bradshaw and Pegg combined again nine minutes later. A move that started with Lucinee Donzo’s superb defending allowed Dawson to pick out Pegg, who was brought down as he tried to round Wilkinson. Bradshaw stepped up and scored the penalty to make it 2-0.
But Chenecks were still in the game, and they created a few small openings that didn’t lead to real chances, until the half hour mark. Hinckley looked to have crowded out danger from a long throw, but Marley Falcon-Manser wriggled a shot away, which was deflected across the six yard line and Luca Iaciofano stormed in to close the gap to one goal.
Last season, Hinckley came from 2-0 down to draw at home to Chenecks, and the visitors had high hopes of returning the favour this time.
After the break, they were within inches of doing just that but Luca Purse’s header was cleared off the line by Dawson, before Lewis Irwin’s bounding run down the right channel drew a save from Fallows.
Hinckley still held a threat too – Reece Massey drilled a shot narrowly over before they thought they’d added a third when Pegg slid home Jones’ cross, only to be denied by the offside flag.
But those chances came on the counter attack, and Chenecks controlled most of the possession and territory with lots of direct balls into the tall Irwin, and long throws from Jon Muddiman.
Hinckley stood up to the physical test for the most part, but when Chenecks did get chances, AFC were grateful to their goalkeeper for being at his best.
His first terrific stop came when Irwin crossed for Sean McBride, Fallows racing across his line and pushing a header wide from close range, and he pulled off another excellent save from the resulting corner.
But his best of the lot came five minutes later, tipping Irwin’s 25-yard free-kick onto the post as Chenecks sensed it wouldn’t be their day.
And that was confirmed with a minute to play, when Hinckley broke forward. Dawson’s pass picked out Hadley, who still had plenty to do when he collected the ball on the left-hand edge of the box, but he shifted onto his right foot and curled a beauty into the far top corner to give Hinckley the breathing room they craved.
It could have got even better – Pegg was denied by Wilkinson one-on-one in stoppage time but that didn’t matter as Hinckley saw out the first win of their new era to the delight of the 236-strong Bank Holiday crowd.
Hinckley: Keelan Fallows, Matt Dawson, Nathan Nyamsi, Jordan Clement (Caleb Yeboah 59), Lucinee Donzo, Zaki Evans, Jared Bradshaw (Jake Tullin 94), Reece Massey, Chandler Pegg, Louis Baker (Henley Hadley 78), Luke Jones. Subs not used: Oscar Marshall, Ahrian Chaddah.
Goals: Chandler Pegg (9), Jared Bradshaw (18 pen), Henley Hadley (89)
Chenecks: Mitch Wilkinson, Luke Davis, Kieron Mobbs (Dan Camacho 79), Seb Inniss (Jon Muddiman 19), Luca Purse, Harry Chipchase, Jamie Mitchell (Sean McBride 59), Jacob Cox, Lewis Irwin, Marley Falcon-Manser, Luca Iaciofano (Tyrun Primus 71). Subs not used: Ryan Coxhill.
Goal: Luca Iaciofano (30)
Attendance: 236
