For the second time over the Bank Holiday weekend, Hinckley conceded an equaliser in time added on as Chelmsley Town snatched a 2-2 draw thanks to Aidan Doherty’s spot kick.
The hosts will view it as two points lost having created enough chances to have won the game, particularly in the second half.
But profligate finishing and resilient defending meant the spirited visitors were always in the game and they took their chance at the death.
It was an entertaining game for the Bank Holiday crowd. Hinckley dominated possession for most of the game, but Chelmsley were well organised at the back and chances were limited in the first half.
Adam Barber and Isa Abraham both dragged shots wide of the far post before Town went in front on 25 minutes. Oliver Jeeves took advantage of a static AFC defence who waited for an offside flag that never came, and kept his composure to round Brandon Bache and finish.
Chelmsley almost doubled their lead immediately as Lewis Moss was denied at close range by Bache before play reverted back to type as either side of half time. Matt Dawson gave notice of what was to follow as he flashed two dangerous balls across the face of goal that Mitch Piggon then Jack Edwards were inches away from connecting with.
Hinckley made four substitutions, including the popular return of the talismanic Tom Weale, and the changes soon had the desired effect as Hinckley drew level on the hour. Another surging run from Dawson took him to the right hand byline and his low cross was sliced into his own net by Tom Hackett.
AFC took the lead five minutes later – Abraham broke down the left and pulled the ball back for Lewis Rankin whose purple patch continued as he found the corner of the net with the sweetest 20-yard strike leaving the keeper motionless.
Hinckley were on top now and looked to kill the game off. Ky Green saw his effort cleared off the line before visiting ‘keeper Tom Allsopp made two fine saves to deny Abraham.
And the value of those saves increased in time added on when his opposite number Bache brought down his man in the area, and though he got a hand to Doherty’s spot kick, there was still enough power to find the net.
There was still time for one more chance as Sam Walton headed a Rankin corner just over the bar, but the points were shared.
Hinckley: Brandon Bache, Matt Dawson, Danny Fraser, Jack Edwards (Kye Barrows, 84), Joe McNulty (Ky Green, 60), Sam Walton, Adam Barber (Tom Weale, 56), Josh Clarke (Jordan Holmes, 56), Mitch Piggon (Jack Kennedy, 60), Lewis Rankin, Isa Abraham.
Goals: Tom Hackett (60 OG), Lewis Rankin (65)
Chelmsley: Tom Allsopp, Ben Cranage (Casey Roberts, 74), Aidan Doherty, Tom Hackett, Corey Solomon, Lewis Moss, Sam Jeeves (Chris Lloyd, 74), Harry Jennings (Kaine Williams, 72), Oliver Jeeves, Joe Summers (George Hunt, 45), James Henry (Luke Garner, 84).
Goals: Oliver Jeeves (25), Aidan Doherty (91 pen)
Attendance: 232
