Hinckley LRFC score late to earn FA Cup replay

HINCKLEY LRFC earned a late 1-1 draw with Hanley Town on Saturday to earn a replay.

Both teams started this FA Cup tie with a lot of respect for each other and it wasn’t until 12 mins before the first real chance fell to Hanley when their striker curled over the bar from the edge of the box without troubling Will Highland.

The game turned into a fierce midfield contest with Hanley probably edging the first 20 mins.

The second chance of the game also fell to Hanley after they broke down the left and their strikers glancing header narrowly drifted wide.

Hinckley came out the stronger in the second half and Simon Alcott nearly broke the deadlock when he intercepted the ball and broke through but failed to bring the ball down and get any power on his header which fell kindly straight into the Hanley keepers arms.

With the game still focussed on the midfield battle it was Hanley who broke the deadlock on 65 mins when they were awarded a penalty after Danny Jenno was deemed to have pushed the Hanley striker in the box.

Neil Lyne then made changes introducing Jack Harrison at the expense of Jordan Burrows and Tom Smith being replaced by Jake Brown.

Jake Brown made an instant impact by pressuring the Hanley into defensive mistakes.

The ball was won in midfield by Ben Humphreys who played in Simon Alcott who in turn released Jake Brown to out pace the Hanley defence and slot the ball into the back of the net to bring Hinckley LRFC level at 1-1.

Team: Will Highland , Jarred Acton, Callum Earls, Ben Humphreys, Danny Jenno (C), Nathan Astill, Jordan Burrows, Simon Alcott, Matty Langham, Dom Brennan and Tom Smith Subs: Jake Brown, Jack Harrison, Jack Beasley and Joseph Lyne