Hinckley emerged with the points from a Kirkby Road goal fest against Histon that was good value for the crowd on an otherwise dank and gloomy afternoon.
AFC were excellent in the first half, they built up a four goal lead and looked dangerous every time they went forward meaning the victory was virtually assured at the break.
Though Histon gave it a good go in the second half, they had too much to do and Hinckley returned to winning ways.
Joe Conneely recalled Harry Walker-Donovan in midfield, with Jack Edwards moving into a striking role and the skipper quickly made an impact, a cushioned volley to give his side the lead on 12 minutes.
That sparked a burst of three goals in five minutes that set Hinckley on their way. Their second was superbly crafted goal as Edwards and Isa Abraham made good ground on the left flank before finding Lewis Rankin who applied a composed finish to open his account for the season.
The cheers has barely died down when two became three. Edwards, revelling in his new role, closed down and dispossessed visiting keeper Sam Roach in his own box who watched on in horror as Edwards rolled the ball into the empty net.
Hinckley continued to press, Walker-Donovan blazed over a gaping goal after great work from Abraham and Zaki Evans’ acrobatic effort sailed just wide.
But they added another on the stroke of half time, as Rankin and Jay D’Lionga combined on the right and delivered a cross that Walker-Donovan neatly tucked away.
To their credit, Histon fought back after the break and got their reward ten minutes in when Connor Barnes headed home from close range when Hinckley failed to clear a corner.
Moments later, the visitors sensed a comeback when Tom Binder scored a remarkable goal. A Hinckley attack broke down, the ball found Binder still in his own half, he looked up and struck a superb shot home to surely secure Histon’s goal of the season award this early in the campaign.
Suddenly Histon had belief as they enjoyed a good spell, but the home side defended well for the most part, experiencing one scare when Luke Young’s overhead kick struck a post. At that point, with eight minutes remaining, another Histon goal would have given the home contingent the jitters.
It wasn’t to be, Hinckley still created chances and Roach made good saves from Rankin and Evans before the final whistle sounded to confirm a first home win of the season in the league.
Hinckley: Carl O’Neill, Jay D’Lionga, Adam Barber, Zaki Evans (Bryan Kohyrelon 89), James Bryson, Joe Obi, Lewis Rankin (Oli Szymanski 82), Zach Tellyn (Josh Beeson 70), Jack Edwards, Harry Walker-Donovan (Elliot Edwards 63), Isa Abraham (Brady Middleton 76).
Goals: Jack Edwards (12, 18), Lewis Rankin (14), Harry Walker-Donovan (45)
Histon: Sam Roach, Jake Kerins, Ellis Leka, Ryan Towner (Max Ryan 67), Max York, Karl Saffery, Connor Barnes (Taylor Franklin 78), Tom Binder, Matthew Allen (Marcus Cole 55), Luke Young, Joseph Sutton. Sub not used Charlie Black.
Goals: Connor Barnes (56), Tom Binder (58)
Attendance: 235
