Hinckley AFC’s recent struggles continued as they were beaten by a solitary first-half goal against Kimberley Miners Welfare.
After the promise of Monday’s performance despite defeat at Gresley, this was a tougher afternoon for the Hinckley fans as they rarely got going in a game with little to shout about for either side.
In the end it was the game’s best footballing move that brought its only goal, Ben Henderson’s early strike settling it Kimberley’s way to leave Hinckley with plenty of food for thought about how to get out of this rut.
The visitors started the brighter – Henderson’s far post header drew a point blank save from Ollie Bosworth when he probably should have scored, but the same player made up for it on the quarter-hour mark. It was a superb team goal from the visitors with a passing move which started with goalkeeper Tom Smith and worked through midfield, ending when Dan Tuck found Henderson and he drilled a fine finish on the angle inside the far post.
Hinckley’s best spell of the half came midway through – they went close a few times from distance when Zach Tellyn and Drew Kear both fired over from the edge of the box, the latter after Smith had to be alert to push away from Fin Barker.
In truth, though, neither side really got going and both sets of players were frustrated at their own displays as well as that of the referee Jakub Gierczyk, whose series of bizarre decisions became as much of a focal point as the game itself.
Set pieces became the biggest threat at both ends – Nathan Banton’s wide free kick only needed a touch at the near post but ran through to Bosworth, before, on the stroke of half time, Gabe Webster met Tellyn’s corner but powered his header over.
After the break, Barker’s wicked corners twice brought opportunities but Chandler Pegg couldn’t convert either, firstly glancing wide at full stretch before meeting the second with a free header six yards out but planting it off-target.
Hinckley were the better side in the second half but that those chances were as close as they came was evidence of their missing creative spark. Tellyn showed endeavour down the right but Smith pushed his cross/shot over from just under his bar, before denying the winger again late on when he ran through in the right channel.
But they still had a pair of strong penalty appeals turned down – firstly when Jake Tullin was clattered into when challenging for a set piece, and then when a bouncing ball appeared to strike a hand.
Danny Fraser was sinbinned for showing his frustration at the latter, one player too many voicing his discontent at Gierczyk’s display, as Hinckley played the bulk of the time remaining with 10 men.
Kimberley nearly took advantage when substitute Lamin Touray was denied by Bosworth after a weaving run took him past two defenders, but the visitors didn’t need a second goal and held out to become the first team this season to prevent Hinckley from scoring.
Hinckley: Ollie Bosworth, Drew Kear, Danny Fraser, Jake Tullin, Jacob Shilton, Shaun Watkins (Najeem Oriola 66), Luke Jones (Dan Edmonds 75), Gabe Webster, Chandler Pegg, Zach Tellyn, Fin Barker (Sonny Sheasby 66). Subs not used: Ryan Tait, Chris Tullin.
Kimberley: Tom Smith, Josh Williams, Nathan Banton, Michael Pearson (Lamin Touray 79), Hanif Alassani, Ryan Wheatley, Jordan Wheatley, Dan Tuck, Kene Ukatu (Harry Goddard 77), Ben Henderson (Tom Hodgkinson 64), Alex Beno (Robert De La Silva 77). Subs not used: Alex Konteh.
Goal: Ben Henderson (15)
Attendance: 165
