Two goals in two minutes at the end of the first half condemned Hinckley AFC to defeat despite an improved display away to Gresley Rovers.
Hinckley were on top for long spells at the Moat Ground and led through Gabe Webster’s cracker early on, but they’ll rue conceding two poor goals on the stroke of half time that turned a half-time lead into a deficit in the blink of an eye.
And despite seeing plenty of the ball after the break, Hinckley couldn’t force an equaliser but Chris Tullin will reflect that this was the best display of his short tenure so far.
Gresley started on top and had plenty of territory early on, Sam Grouse going close just three minutes in with a cross/shot that bounced off the post.
Both goalkeepers then made smart saves from strikes outside the box – Ollie Bosworth pushed away from Haydn Brown before Tom Everest-Wilcock could only parry Fin Barker’s sweet strike, as he also clawed away Chandler Pegg’s rebound.
As play went on, Hinckley gained more control but it took a spectacular strike to break the deadlock – Barker’s pass to Drew Kear was cut out but Webster lashed the loose ball home with an arrowing strike from 25 yards that gave the keeper no chance.
Hinckley came close to a second 10 minutes later – Pegg got the wrong side of his man but was denied by Everest-Wilcock’s face and the home side made the most of that let-off when Grouse spun his man inside the box and squared for King to side-foot home from 12 yards.
And the home side’s cheers had barely died down from that goal when Grouse got on the end of a long punt upfield and lobbed home to give Gresley the lead against the run of play.
Stunned by that double salvo, Hinckley set about finding an equaliser, backed by a very healthy away contingent in a bumper Bank Holiday crowd of 484.
But for all the possession they had, and plenty of territory to go with it, Gresley defended manfully, led well by Alby Lansdowne who twice threw himself in front of shots to block.
The closest Hinckley came was with 17 minutes to play, a right-wing corner caused chaos with debutant Leighton McMenemy having a header cleared off the line while Pegg tried to force the rebound home but was denied on the line too.
Pegg then couldn’t stretch quite far enough with a flying header – while Gresley’s Ash Garner fired over on a rare home attack.
As the game entered stoppage time, Hinckley had one final chance – it came after a magnificent touch and turn by Zach Tellyn to set up substitute Najeem Oriola but his effort on the angle was easy for the goalkeeper as the hosts held on and left Hinckley to reflect that they’ll play worse in games and win over the course of the season.
Gresley: Tom Everest-Wilcock, Louie Jarvis, Josh Watson, Alby Lansdowne, Jake Conkay, Will Mansfield, Ryan King (Evan Wynne 74), Ash Garner, Fin Ryder, Sam Grouse (Cole McNulty 83), Haydn Brown. Subs not used: Brad Catlow, Joe Sellers, Calum Whetton.
Goals: Ryan King (43), Sam Grouse (44)
Hinckley: Ollie Bosworth, Drew Kear, Danny Fraser, Jake Tullin, Leighton McMenemy, Shaun Watkins, Luke Jones, Gabe Webster, Chandler Pegg (Najeem Oriola 88), Zach Tellyn, Fin Barker (Sonny Sheasby 60). Subs not used: Ryan Tait, Lewis Warnaby, Jordan Gray.
Goal: Gabe Webster (18)
Attendance: 484
