Hinckley AFC made it back-to-back wins as a solitary first-half goal from Zach Tellyn was enough to see off Northampton ON Chenecks.
Tellyn fired home his 11th of the season just before the half-time whistle and that, alongside a streetwise and mature defensive display, earned a second consecutive win.
Conditions meant there was never likely to be much football for the purists – a bobbly pitch made it tough to play on the floor and the blustery wind blowing from corner to corner ensured it was a game where the battling qualities had to come through.
And Hinckley’s did – they competed well playing against the wind in the first half. Chenecks had more possession and territory with the breeze at their backs. Jamil Yusuf blazed over after being picked out by a wind-assisted long ball but real chances were few and far between.
Ijah Augustine came closest for them with a sweetly-struck 25-yarder which Divin Emmanuel pushed wide, while Tyrun Primus later found space in the left channel but saw his effort blocked.
Hinckley would probably have taken going into the break goalless, but they came on strong as the half neared its conclusion. Tellyn shot inches wide after goalkeeper Dean Love’s misplaced throw, and Brady Middleton got in behind for the first time but a heavy touch denied him a shot at goal.
But those two combined for the goal in stoppage time – Middleton won a superb flick-on to find Tellyn, who fired home with a swerving right-footer to put his side in front.
With the wind at their backs after the break, Hinckley started strongly in their search for a second. Jacob Shilton headed a free-kick into a dangerous area where the stretching Middleton could only divert it over the bar, and then the striker forced Love to scramble across his goal to save after being picked out by Devonn O’Sullivan.
But after that, the wind died down and that helped Chenecks get a foothold back into the game. They were awarded plenty of free kicks but Hinckley, marshalled by Shilton and Chandler Pegg at the heart of the defence, coped well and Emmanuel’s only saves were comfortable ones from from Shad Reza and Axel Owusu’s set pieces.
And though the AFC lead was slender, it rarely looked like being broken and Ryan Coxhill diverted the home side’s only other opportunity wide at the far post as Hinckley saw the game out well for their second straight win.
Chenecks: Dean Love, Seb Inniss, Kieron Mobbs (Ryan Hughes 62), Luca Purse, Ashley Ogden, George Herbert, Shad Reza (Sean McBride 62), Ijah Augustine, Axel Owusu (Jack Payne 82), Jamil Yusif (Ryan Coxhill 62), Tyrun Primus (Luke Davis 82).
Hinckley: Divin Emmanuel, Drew Kear, Gabe Webster, Charlie Williams, Jacob Shilton, Chandler Pegg, Zach Tellyn (Jake Tullin 72), Raj Palit, Brady Middleton, Devonn O’Sullivan, Harrison Myring (Afonso Mvula 41). Subs not used: James Spruce, Prince Ogbe, Caleb Yeboah.
Goal: Zach Tellyn (45+2)
Attendance: 114
