Hinckley AFC continued their unbeaten start to life under the new management team as Lewis Rankin’s equaliser earned a 1-1 draw against Northampton Sileby Rangers.
In what was a low-key affair for much of the first half, Kobi Bivens’ excellent strike put the visitors ahead in the only real moment of quality in the opening 45 minutes.
Hinckley improved after the break, and found an equaliser through Lewis Rankin, before the substitute then had to be substituted after another injury issue.
And AFC will be wondering what they did to deserve the luck they had – with a host of injuries throughout the afternoon which started even before a ball was kicked.
Ky Green was set to return to the starting line-up after a month out, but picked up another issue during the warm-up and had to be replaced, with midfield duo Zaki Evans and Lucinee Donzo settling into central defence alongside new addition James Sanderson.
Donzo, though, also didn’t make it to half-time after taking a blow to the face as Hinckley’s centre-back crisis continues – one of three lengthy injury stoppages on a stop-start, bitty afternoon.
AFC were uncharacteristically flat for the first 45 minutes, they were too static and second to too many balls – and after Carl O’Neill, deputising for Keelan Fallows’ holiday, denied Bivens, the visitors took the lead on 17 minutes. It was a super individual goal from their leading scorer, as a loose ball fell Bivens’ way on the edge of the box and he curled a first-time finish beyond O’Neill’s reach.
That was about as much as either side had to shout about before the break – Hinckley coming closest when Matt Dawson’s cross forced Ewan Evans to backpedal and tip over.
But AFC were immediately brighter after the interval, and should have levelled on the hour when the impressive Caleb Yeboah, Green’s late replacement in the starting line-up, glanced Jordan Clement’s corner wide from close range.
After a fortnight out, Rankin was introduced midway through the half and took just five minutes to make an impact. It was a trademark goal from Hinckley’s leading appearance maker, who received the ball on the edge of the box, shifted onto his favoured left foot and picked his spot in the bottom corner.
Just three minutes later, the game was nearly turned on its head – Rankin picked out Jared Bradshaw, whose effort from eight yards was blocked.
Sileby’s attacking moments were few and far between at this stage – though their best chance of a winner came when Rico Alexander air-kicked after a free-kick was headed back across goal.
And it was Hinckley who looked the more likely winners. Clement’s clean strike was deflected narrowly over, before the same player was within inches when his 25-yard effort rattled the bar.
And AFC had one final chance deep into stoppage time, but Evans, who Hinckley will feel they should have tested more, pushed over Bradshaw’s effort at his near post.
But the winner was elusive, and the sides had to settle for a point apiece as Hinckley’s unbeaten run under Ross Innes, Adam Davies and Chris Tullin extends to three games.
Hinckley: Carl O’Neill, Matt Dawson, James Sanderson, Reece Massey (Blake Kindred 58), Lucinee Donzo (Jake Tullin 44), Jared Bradshaw, Zaki Evans, Louis Baker, Jordan Clement, Henley Hadley (Lewis Rankin 68 (Oscar Marshall 80).
Goal: Lewis Rankin (74)
Sileby Rangers: Ewan Evans, Kelvin Moyo, Jack Daldy (Kieran Spencer 80), Dan Lyons, Leroy Dube, Kobi Bivens, Kye Little (Emerson Lloyd 80), Josh Drain, Archie May, Alfie Evans (Urijah Gordon-Douglas 47), Rico Alexander. Subs not used: Dylan Surace, Aaron Dickens.
Goal: Kobi Bivens (17)
Attendance: 204
