Hinckley AFC fell to a second straight 2-1 home defeat as a late Phil Watt double earned Sherwood Colliery a come-from-behind win at Kirkby Road.
It was another frustrating end to the afternoon for Hinckley whose performance drew parallels with the FA Cup exit against Whitchurch Alport eight days ago – they took the lead, missed good chances to extend that advantage and faded in the second half as the visitors snatched it late on.
And once again it was high balls into the box that were Hinckley’s undoing as Watt, a centre-back thrust up front with the score at 1-0, headed home two crosses to turn the game on its head.
Hinckley welcomed back Ky Green for his first appearance in over a year following injury and the returning Danny Fraser joined him in the starting line-up for his first game of the season.
And AFC’s gameplan worked well for the first 45 minutes. Sherwood, as you’d expect for a side who took last season’s title race to the final day, had more of the ball but Hinckley defended well and posed a real threat when they came forward.
Colliery’s Ronnie Kokkinos had the game’s first sight of goal when Ollie Bosworth denied him at the near post, but the game swung Hinckley’s way after 10 minutes – when Zach Tellyn picked up a loose ball 25 yards from goal and unleashed a swerving strike which Jonathan Hedge couldn’t get a hand on.
Moments later, Hedge could only get a fingertip on Fraser’s cross but the touch was crucial, denying Chandler Pegg a tap-in at the far post, and the game continued to provide chances at both ends as Nicholas Hood stole away from his marker from a free-kick but could only power his free header straight at Bosworth.
But Hinckley had the half’s two best opportunities – both coming in similar circumstances as Hedge denied Sonny Sheasby and then Pegg, both from eight yards or so after they had got between defender and goalkeeper from a cross.
They also continued to defend well as Green and Zaki Evans both made important blocks, and Nathaniel Crofts dragged one across the face of goal just before the whistle as Hinckley took their lead into the break.
Tellyn’s strike over the bar just after the interval came close to extending it again but in truth Hinckley’s moments were few and far between in the second half – they didn’t keep the ball well enough and that invited pressure which eventually told.
Green headed off the line from Kokkinos but he had to be withdrawn after an hour, having led the backline superbly up until that point, and Fraser came off soon after as he also works his way back to fitness.
And their two most experienced defensive heads departing meant they kept dropping deeper – as Sherwood sensed their moment and pushed centre-back Watt up front in a throw of the dice.
And that paid dividends with 11 minutes left when he glanced home Crofts’ cross to level things up.
Hinckley came close to re-taking the lead, Kear couldn’t get enough elevation on his attempted lob as Hedge held on, and then Dan Edmonds’ whistling strike was just inches from the angle of post and bar.
But the momentum was with the visitors and they took the lead with five minutes left. Again it came from Hinckley not keeping the ball as a pass into open space allowed Sherwood to come forward down their left, Watt again rising highest to glance a header off the underside of the bar and he made sure by slamming in the rebound for good measure.
Not that the game was done there – in stoppage time, Hedge fumbled a long throw into his own net but was relieved to hear the referee’s whistle to disallow Hinckley’s equalising goal – and that ensured the visitors took all three points back to Nottinghamshire as Hinckley dust themselves off for a quick turnaround against Blackstones on Monday.
Hinckley: Ollie Bosworth, Drew Kear, Danny Fraser (Luke Jones 74), Lewis Warnaby, Jacob Shilton, Ky Green (Jake Tullin 60), Charlie Williams, Zaki Evans, Chandler Pegg, Zach Tellyn (Matt Brown 84), Sonny Sheasby (Dan Edmonds 55). Sub not used: Fin Barker.
Goal: Zach Tellyn (10)
Sherwood: Jonathan Hedge, Jacob Barrass (Ferdinand Bartley 76), Oliver Lobley, Robson Doolan, Phil Watt, Nicholas Hood, Jamie York, Ronnie Kokkinos (Harry Bircumshaw 76), Jordan Preston, Mohssen Mohamed (Destiny Wognin 60), Nathaniel Crofts (Harvey Scott 89). Sub not used: Kyle Coke.
Goals: Phil Watt (79, 86)
Attendance: 237
