Hinckley AFC’s league struggles continued as they fell to defeat despite twice taking the lead against Heanor Town.
If there was a game to sum up Hinckley’s season so far, this was it. They played well between both boxes for long spells but couldn’t finish a multitude of chances and were punished at the other end by conceding some soft goals to fall to another loss.
They started brightly, and took the lead just five minutes in. The opener came courtesy of a big helping hand from the Heanor defence – Millen Sheena made a hash of a clearance that would have been a routine claim for his goalkeeper, and he spooned it straight to Prince Ogbe who gleefully nodded home his second in two games.
And that early dominance continued – Ogbe teed up Luke Jones who scuffed his shot when well-placed, Gabe Webster fired over on the turn from Danny Fraser’s free kick and then Zach Tellyn struck narrowly wide after Ogbe won a superb flick-on.
But after a rough opening 20, Heanor gained a foothold and they then got on top in their search for a leveller. Jake Tullin raced across to block from Jamie Sleigh and Fraser cleared Sam Brown’s header off the line from the resulting corner.
By this point, the game was being played at a frantic pace the sides traded attacks like playing cards. Tellyn and Ogbe combined again to set up Jones, who didn’t strike it cleanly again from 15 yards, Heanor broke and Ollie Bosworth raced out quickly to deny Sacha Markelic.
All that happened by the 25th minute mark, when Heanor equalised – Josh Timson made ground down the right and crossed low for the unmarked John King to tap home at the far post.
Hinckley responded well to that setback though, and quickly sought to restore their lead. Jones headed Tellyn’s cross wide at the far post but he finally got his reward eight minutes before the break, finishing off a neat passing move with a rasping finish to put Hinckley ahead once more.
He could have had another before the break but Sheena denied him with a flying block, and play immediately switched to the other end where Bosworth made a smart diving stop from Mason Tudgay.
It was a thrilling first 45 to watch, and the second started in similar fashion. Ogbe’s flick-on came a bit too quickly for Chandler Pegg who couldn’t adjust his feet in time on the penalty spot, and then Tellyn controlled Bosworth’s goal kick with an incredible touch to take him through on goal, but he dragged wide of the near post with just goalkeeper Jordan Pierrepoint to beat.
And they were made to pay for those missed chances when their set piece frailties hurt them again, failing to deal with a long throw as an effort bounced off the post and Markelic forced the rebound home on the line.
And Heanor turned the game on its head when they took the lead with 20 minutes left, a neat move ended with Markelic’s through ball for Sleigh to find the far corner.
That put Hinckley behind for the first time in the game, and it was a hill they couldn’t climb. Pierrepoint made a terrific stop from Chandler Pegg’s header, and Pegg then struck inches wide from a free kick.
And with time running out, Ogbe gained half a yard in the box and was ready to shoot when he went down under a challenge – referee Paul Mihailache blew his whistle and Hinckley were ready to celebrate getting a penalty until the official pointed the other way and booked Ogbe for diving.
That summed up Hinckley’s frustrations on another tough afternoon, with work to do for Chris Tullin during the next fortnight before the next game at Clay Cross Town.
Hinckley: Ollie Bosworth, Drew Kear, Danny Fraser, Jake Tullin, Lewis Warnaby, Shaun Watkins (Dan Edmonds 85), Luke Jones (Fin Barker 78), Gabe Webster, Chandler Pegg, Zach Tellyn, Prince Ogbe. Subs not used: Najeem Oriola, Jordan Gray, Chris Tullin.
Goals: Prince Ogbe (5), Luke Jones (37)
Heanor: Jordan Pierrepoint, Mason Tudgay, John King, Millen Sheena (Charlie Cheetham 46), Sam Brown, Josh Newnham, Josh Bowley, Max Thornberry, Jamie Sleigh (Kai Wilson 92), Josh Timson (Jack Thatcher 92), Sacha Markelic. Subs not used: Danny Gordon, Luke Thompson.
Goals: John King (25), Sacha Markelic (55), Jamie Sleigh (71)
Attendance: 205
