For the second game running there was drama deep into time added on but after the ecstasy for Zach Tellyn’s late winner at Lutterworth on Tuesday there was despair at Deeping as a late equaliser for the home side turned three points into one for Hinckley.
It was an eventful afternoon, both sides were in front at some stage during a first half in which they shared four goals, before Chandler Pegg’s strike on the hour looked to be enough to grab the win for AFC.
But Rangers’ sub Jonny Lockie had other ideas to rescue a point in the game’s final twist.
In a match neither of these bottom two sides could afford to lose, there was nothing cagey about the opening stages. Deeping had a couple of decent chances before Hinckley went ahead in the sixth minute, there was an element of good fortune about it as Gabe Webster’s 20-yard shot took a wicked deflection to beat the home keeper.
Undeterred, the home side fought back and turned the game on its head with two goals in five minutes. The first was a horror show for Hinckley, they carelessly gave away possession on the edge of their own area and Will Bestwick gleefully took advantage of the gift presented to him.
And they soon went ahead with a clever free kick from Callum Davies, who sized up a set piece 25 yards out, spotted a gap and placed his precise shot home.
Deeping had the better of it and Hinckley were grateful to Divin Emmanuel who made a stunning triple save to keep the ball out, sustaining an injury in the process that necessitated six minutes of added time at the end of the first half.
As the game entered that extra period, AFC levelled again as Webster grabbed his second of the half, pouncing on a rebound after Alfie Bird couldn’t hold Tellyn’s cross.
Emmanuel then denied Michael Gash with Danny Fraser heading the resulting corner off the line before Hinckley took the lead again on the hour. They broke quickly, Tellyn spread the ball wide for Knox Ellis and the youngster, just minutes into his league debut, showed great awareness to make ground on the left before squaring for Pegg who bundled the ball home.
It then became a rearguard action for Hinckley, made more difficult when Ky Green limped out of the action, but they defended well and when the home side did get behind them, Emmanuel made another fine save to tip over Gash’s header.
Hinckley had to endure six minutes of added time and towards the end of that period, they succumbed as Lockie got free on the inside right channel and drove his shot home inside the far post to salvage a point for the hosts.
Deeping: Alfie Bird, Scott Floyd, Ryan Cook (Kyle Rowell 77), Callum Davies, Ben Greenacre (Finlay Henderson 90+4), Bradley Grant, Bailey Baker (Jonny Lockie 84), Jack Wilson (Dan Flack 65), Michael Gash, Will Bestwick (Harvey Thorne 74), Bradley Rolt.
Goals: Will Bestwick (12), Callum Davies (17), Jonny Lockie (90+6)
Hinckley: Divin Emmanuel, Charlie Williams, Danny Fraser, Jake Tullin, Ky Green (Najeem Oriola 71), Shaun Watkins (Pradeep Bahrey 65), Lucinee Donzo, Gabe Webster, Chandler Pegg (Afonso Mvula 66), Zach Tellyn, George Dimmock (Knox Ellis 54). Sub not used: Chris Tullin.
Goals: Gabe Webster (7, 45) Chandler Pegg (61)
Attendance: 156
