Hinckley AFC returned from their first trip to the well appointed Fernie Fields ground with a point against Northampton Sileby Rangers thanks to Isa Abraham’s second half leveller.
Adam Barber had given AFC a lead on the half hour, but a quick fire double from Josh Drain left them chasing the game before Abraham rescued a point midway through the second half.
Sporting their new violet away kit for the first time, Hinckley almost took an early lead. Abraham was outstanding on the left flank and an early burst saw him whip a ball across the face of goal but Lewis Rankin miskicked and the chance went begging.
On a superb playing surface, the first half had a great tempo to it, Carl O’Neill made a couple of good saves to deny Luke Stevens and Ben Fitzjohn before Hinckley began to get on top.
Jack Edwards went clear of the home defence but drove an effort across the face of goal, Rankin’s goalbound shot was superbly pushed aside by Dean Love at full stretch before Zaki Evans almost scored with a spectacular effort. Taking a quick free kick inside his own half, he spotted Love off his line and the keeper looked back in relief as the shot pinged off a post.
The goal Hinckley had been threatening eventually arrived as Evans swung in a deep corner from the left and Barber rose highest on the far post to head home.
But far from building on that lead, Hinckley quickly found themselves trailing. Sileby levelled when Dylan Surace delivered a deep cross from the left and Drain finished well.
And Hinckley were still reeling when the home side went in front just before half time. They were awarded a penalty when Joe Obi was penalised and Drain stepped up to score his second in five minutes to turn the game around.
The pace slackened after the break, chances became scarce and Hinckley need a flash of inspiration to get back into the game. Abraham was their likeliest source, and so it proved as his turn of pace saw him race onto Edwards’ pass before cutting inside and curling a shot home off the inside of the far post.
Neither side could find a winner, the closest was when O’Neill denied Drain a hat trick by tipping his effort over to ensure a point apiece.
Sileby: Dean Love, Aiden Bradshaw, Rico Alexander, Jack Daldy, Joe Lewington, Luke Stevens, Dylan Surace (Josh Jones 80), Jamal Said, Powfil Raposo (Nathan Burrows 70), Ben Fitzjohn, Josh Drain. Subs not used: Kenzie Cross, Charlie Newell, Dan Mortimer.
Goals: Josh Drain (34, 40)
Hinckley: Carl O’Neill, Jay D’Lionga, Adam Barber, Collins Tanor (Harry Walker-Donovan 65), Joe Obi, James Bryson, Lewis Rankin (Zach Tellyn 60), Zaki Evans (Josh Beeson 82), Bryan Kohyrelon (Brady Middleton 60), Jack Edwards, Isa Abraham. Sub not used: Oli Szymanski.
Goals: Adam Barber (28), Isa Abraham (70)
Attendance: 119
