Hinckley AFC played out a first home goalless draw for more than five years as there was nothing to separate them from Hucknall Town at Kirkby Road.
Not since August 2021 have Hinckley fans seen a 0-0 at home and this was a game they will feel they should have won, they were on top for long spells, particularly after the break, but it was one of those days where the ball just wouldn’t go in.
But a second consecutive league clean sheet will be a big positive for Chris Tullin’s side, not least because they were forced into a reshuffle after only half an hour when Ky Green came off ill.
The two sides came into the game with near identical league records and that suggested closely-fought encounter materialised. But far from being a drab 0-0, there were opportunities at both ends and both sides will rue missing that finishing touch.
The first half was a pretty even affair, Chandler Pegg had a sighter inside 30 seconds but was denied by a recovering Taylor Jaine block, before Luca Burton couldn’t keep his effort down after a neat Hucknall move.
Burton so nearly provided the standout moment of the half, a sweetly-struck 30-yarder which cannoned off the post, and perhaps that forbode that it wouldn’t fall for either side in front of goal.
Hinckley then started to take the upper hand, Luke Jones blazed over when Pegg found him on a counter attack, and moments later the same player cut in from the right, Zach Tellyn got a touch on his cross/shot but visiting keeper Alfie Smith-Eccles was equal to it with a superb point-blank save.
Just before the break, Divin Emmanuel held from Trevell Lindo and then Tellyn couldn’t keep a bouncing ball down when it broke to him on the edge of the box, as the sides went in level.
Where the first half was pretty closely fought, Hinckley took the upper hand in the second and after David Kolodynski shot wide for the visitors, the hosts started to turn the screw with plenty of possession and territory.
Danny Fraser was a threat down the left but a series of inviting crosses weren’t met by attacking runs, not least when his delivery was cleared off the line and Lucinee Donzo fired the rebound into the side netting on the angle.
Gabe Webster also found the wrong side of the post soon after, Pegg had strong penalty shouts waved away when he was pushed in the back, and as the game entered its last 20 minutes, it really opened up with both sides seeking that elusive goal.
Hucknall substitute Issa Gaye got on the end of a long ball but lobbed straight at Emmanuel, and Hucknall then thought they’d got a winner through Lindo but the referee spotted that he’d hauled Jake Tullin to the ground in the build-up.
Play switched to the other end but Hinckley were kept out when Webster’s header was cleared off the line and Afonso Mvula’s follow-up was blocked as they tried to force it home inside the six yard box.
And there was still time for a big chance for both sides in stoppage time. Gaye got in down the right channel but was denied by a combination of the recovering Tullin and Emmanuel. Hinckley cleared the resulting corner and broke quickly, Drew Kear bore down on goal but with just Smith-Eccles to beat he, like others before him, couldn’t keep his shot down – the best opportunity of the game gone late on as Hinckley had to settle for a point.
Hinckley: Divin Emmanuel, Drew Kear, Danny Fraser, Jake Tullin, Ky Green (Max Jemson 30), Charlie Williams (Shaun Watkins 79), George Dimmock (Lucinee Donzo 46), Gabe Webster, Chandler Pegg, Zach Tellyn, Luke Jones (Afonso Mvula 62). Sub not used: Najeem Oriola.
Hucknall: Alfie Smith-Eccles, Ben Cassady (Neo Saunders 56), Trent Jules, Omreiki Myles (Issa Gaye 56), Taylor Jaine, Aaron Addy, Eli Christie, Luis Parkes, David Kolodynski, Luca Burton (Frankie Timson 80), Trevell Lindo (Nashiem Isman 90). Subs not used: Brad Holmes.
Attendance: 216
