Hinckley AFC emerged from a challenging couple of weeks with a much improved performance to see them return to winning ways at Leicester Nirvana.
They did it the hard way too, falling behind to a stunning strike, levelling before half time before their second half display turned the game in their favour.
It was a good, open game to watch with plenty of chances at both ends throughout the match. The ‘keepers were in the action early on, Keelan Fallows pushing aside Kyle Tott’s long range effort for a corner before his opposite number Luke McAdam grabbed Brady Middleton’s curler at full stretch.
But Nirvana took the lead on 17 minutes with a superb goal as Shaq Master took his chance from 25 yards and drilled his shot into the top corner.
Nirvana had the better of the early exchanges, but as the half developed, Hinckley came into the game and levelled just beyond the half hour. Jared Bradshaw delivered a deep corner and Jacob Shilton rose high to head back across goal with a ball being diverted off a home defender into the net.
That goal sparked a lively end to the half. Jordan Clement thought he’d scored but the goal was ruled out as the ball had gone out of play for a goal kick before Fallows produced an impressive double save, tipping Lamar Parkes’ header over then blocking well from the resulting corner.
Hinckley started the second half well and began to threaten. Zach Tellyn delivered a delightful cross that a home defender headed to safety under his own bar as Middleton lurked, before Shilton’s header from the corner was saved on the line by McAdam.
AFC took the lead midway through the half – Bradshaw, making his 50th appearance for the club, delivered another fine set piece as his teasing free kick reached the six yard box and Ben Whitehead used his presence to force the ball home.
They came close to extending their lead. Fallows’ kick launched a quick counter that found Middleton, he curled his shot against the bar with McAdam doing well to block Bradshaw from converting the rebound and Bradshaw himself saw his late effort superbly pushed onto the bar by McAdam.
Whilst the lead remained a slender one, Nirvana still pushed to try and salvage something but Hinckley defended well when they had to and Fallows remined solid, just the one scare when Parkes’ late effort struck the base of a post.
Visiting fans’ nerves were settled with the final kick of the game, Middleton led the line superbly all afternoon and it was fitting that he had the final say as he ran from halfway before beating McAdam to complete a fine afternoon’s work.
Nirvana: Luke McAdam, Kyle Tott (Mahmoud Juma 76), Andrew Woolridge, Lynas King, Shaquille O’Neil Brookes, Kevin Masindo (Pearson Mwanyongo 72), Labeed Abdulrahman (Josh Allen 55), Mass Mbye, Lamar Parkes, Evandro Sanchez, Shaquille Master. Subs not used: Conor O’Neill, David Mensa-Bonsu.
Goal: Shaq Master (17)
Hinckley: Keelan Fallows, Lucinee Donzo, Will Harris (Lukman Darboe 88), Reece Massey, Jacob Shilton, Ben Whitehead, Jared Bradshaw, Lewis Rankin (Jake Tullin 59), Brady Middleton, Jordan Clement, Zach Tellyn. Subs not used Henley Hadley, Amari Osayande, Caleb Yeboah.
Goals: Jacob Shilton (35), Ben Whitehead (69), Brady Middleton (93)
