Hinckley AFC started 2026 as they ended 2025 – with a 1-0 home defeat as they narrowly fell to Eynesbury Rovers at Kirkby Road.
On a baltic afternoon, Hinckley’s performance during the first half did little to warm the 247-strong crowd and Eynesbury took advantage to lead through Luke Young.
They were much improved after the break and missed enough chances to have turned it around, but for the second game running they drew a blank in front of goal and were left ruing a first-half strike costing them in defeat.
It was a game played at a decent tempo throughout. Eynesbury were lively, particularly through their front four, and moved the ball well as they caused Hinckley problems through the first half. Real chances were at a premium, but there was a competitive edge to the game often brought about by a series of bizarre decisions by the referee which frustrated both sets of players.
The visitors started the brighter but only a last-ditch tackle by Ollie Brookes kept them at 0-0, denying Brady Middleton a shot with just the keeper to beat.
And that proved crucial just two minutes later. Shortly before the half hour, Victor Osobu picked the ball up on halfway and drove down the left flank, beating a couple of challenges before picking out Jordan Brown. His shot was saved by Divin Emmanuel but Young reacted quickest to follow in with the rebound and put his side ahead.
Zach Tellyn and Osobu then brought a save from either keeper, the latter drawing a fingertip stop from Emmanuel to keep it at 1-0.
Osobu continued to draw plenty of attention, but three minutes before the break it came from the referee. Eynesbury had been awarded a dangerous free kick 25 yards out for what looked a perfect tackle by Reece Massey, but after Hinckley’s frustration at the decision had died down, Osobu bizarrely spoke out of turn and was sent to the sin bin.
And Eynesbury’s frustrations grew soon after when they felt Young had been pulled back in the box, but he played on and had a shot blocked before protesting to the official that he wanted a penalty.
Hinckley changed shape at the break, introducing Gift Mussa for his debut, and immediately looked better for it. They kept the ball better and controlled much of the play in an attempt to get back into to the game.
Jared Bradshaw’s shot from distance drew a full-length save from Dylan Martin, and from the recycled ball, Tellyn scuffed wide from 12 yards with Hinckley’s best chance.
They then had huge penalty shouts for handball waved away by the referee and continued to seek a leveller as Lucinee Donzo glanced Bradshaw’s corner wide from close range, and then Luke Jones’ deep cross found the unmarked Jacob Shilton six yards out but he got the ball stuck under his feet and it rolled into the gleeful arms of Martin.
Osobu fired wide for the visitors on a rare foray forward but most of Eynesbury’s second-half work was defensive as they clung on to their lead. Lewis Rankin volleyed wide at the far post with AFC’s final chance, and there was still time for one last moment of frustration at the officials when Chandler Pegg was wiped out from behind on the edge of the box but the referee gave a corner instead.
That came to nothing, and Eynesbury held on for their second straight win and in doing so condemned Hinckley to back-to-back losses.
Hinckley: Divin Emmanuel, Drew Kear, Danny Monger, Jake Tullin, Jacob Shilton, Reece Massey (Luke Jones 69), Jared Bradshaw, Lucinee Donzo (Lewis Rankin 81), Ashton DeMulder (Chandler Pegg 63), Brady Middleton (Gift Mussa 46), Zach Tellyn. Sub not used: Gabe Webster.
Eynesbury: Dylan Martin, Reece King, Max Kimpton (Harry Hurst 69), Dean Dummett, Ollie Brookes, Tommy Reynolds (Dammy Nickels 81), Lewis Lynn (Martin Hill 92), Babacar Camara, Luke Young, Victor Osobu, Jordan Brown (Scott Joseph 85). Sub not used: Chris Gough.
Goal: Luke Young (29)
Attendance: 247
Picture: Farouk Kigonya/Takenby17
