AFC’s Great Escape
HINCKLEY AFC overturned a 2-0 deficit to extend their unbeaten run to eight games with a 3-2 win over Pershore Town at St John’s Park writes Liam Gibbs.
Richard Lavery’s side faced an uphill battle midway through the first half when Charlie Ntamark and Jack Downing gave Pershore a two-goal cushion.
But Luke Richards’ goal shortly before half time gave Hinckley hope, before James Williams scored twice in four minutes to turn the game on its head and earn Hinckley all three points.
Having played less than 48 hours earlier, beating Cadbury Athletic 3-0 last Thursday, you might have expected Hinckley to be weary, and for the opening stages that’s how it looked as Pershore moved the ball well.
It was they who broke the deadlock just ten minutes in.
Carl O’Neill scuffed a kick straight to Ntamark, who bent into the empty net from 35 yards to give his side the lead.
They then doubled their lead midway through the half.
Ntamark and Ben Lane were involved in a neat move which ended in Downing running through to slot home a second.
Going two goals down clicked Hinckley into gear, and from then on they stopped Pershore playing the game that had hurt them in the early stages.
Scoring before half time would be crucial to Hinckley’s chances, and they found their reward four minutes before the break when Richards did well to hold off his man before firing home.
Whatever Richard Lavery and Tom Cherry said at half time, it had the desired effect.
Hinckley threatened less than a minute into the half when Kai Tonge was denied by Toby Wilcox, but they weren’t to be kept out for much longer.
James Jepson’s free kick was flicked on by Lavery, and Williams was allowed space inside the six yard box to head into the corner.
The home side now had the momentum and just a minute later, Hart came within inches of giving Hinckley the lead when his volley smacked the post.
From that, Pershore broke and Ntamark found Terence Morton unmarked the box.
He beat O’Neill and looked odds on to score, but the recovering Josh Burniston saved his side with a fine goalline clearance.
That was to prove crucial two minutes later, when Hinckley scored their third.
It was a goal similar to the second, Jepson’s deep free kick flicked on by Lavery for Williams to prod home and turn the game on its head.
Pershore made changes in an attempt to claw themselves level, and Alfie Bloomer forced O’Neill into a tip wide.
But that was the only time the Hinckley ‘keeper was called into any real action as their back four dealt superbly with what their visitors threw at them to hold on for a third win in five days. inside
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