As the game began to open up Huggins played a lofted ball into the right hand edge of the box with Whittle struggling Browne dealt decisively with the danger in an aerial challenge that left Bloomfield needing treatment. The half chances that were presenting themselves were as a result of defensive hesitancy rather than quality build up. With 10 minutes gone the City back line failed to deal with a throw in on the left hand side which was worked into the box, the ball travelling across the face of the goal before reaching Doughty who blazed over when well placed.

With City’s creative limitations evident set plays seemed the most likely result of any breakthrough. On 14 minutes the Knitters failed to deal with a Niven corner allowing Matt Rice a shooting opportunity. At the other end Hinckley were beginning to make some inroads down the right flank, 20 minutes in Tim Wilkes did well to work the ball inside to Dave Sadler but he too was unable to keep his shot down.

Whilst there was little quality on show in the middle of the park there was no lack of commitment, Skelly possibly fortunate to avoid a card for a late challenge on Doughty after 21 minutes.

Starved of any service the hard working Bloomfield carved out the best chance of the opening period through sheer endeavour on 24 minutes. Riding two tackles he forced his way forward through the inside left channel, reaching the bye line he had the strength to hold off Browne before cutting inside and making himself just enough room to shoot. Whittle parried his shot from point blank range, Richard Skelly saw his follow-up effort blocked before the loose ball was scrambled clear.

The game developed into an attritional battle for the remainder of the half, punctuated by the odd harsh challenge. On 26 minutes Wilkes caught Vowden with a late tackle and was carded by Mr Miller, soon to be followed by Shane Wardley who felled Leon Doughty near to the touchline.
City ended the half on a positive note when Skelly fed Clements and the winger ran strongly at ex-City favourite Martin Fox. Holding off his man Clements was able to angle the ball back from the bye line but failed to find his strikers.

No changes in personnel at the break but City made the livelier start to the second half. Kevin Wilkin was a willing runner through the channels and on 48 minutes he chased a Niven through ball, getting in ahead of Browne and then pulling away from his man before angling back a decent cross which Whittle snatched off the head of Bloomfield. Two minutes later Hayes played a lofted pass into Bloomfield enabling the City striker to cushion a header into the path of Richard Skelly who flashed his shot wide of Whittle’s right hand post.

On 55 minutes, Niven, who had shown some decent touches on his debut was booked for a foul on Tim Wilkes which owed more to the adjustment of pace at this level than any malicious intent. Before the resultant free-kick could be taken Gary Roberts made his first change introducing Owen Paynter at the expense of Matt Clements.

Only a minute later Hinckley were ahead. Vowden wrestled with Scott Voice in midfield and was penalised. The City defence only partially cleared the free kick which fell to Jamie Lenton wide on the left. With time and space, the midfielder, on loan from Nuneaton, lofted a high ball into the far post, the towering Andy Penny rose highest and bundled the ball across the face of the goal and into the net. A scrappy goal in character with the game as a whole. With City rocking Hinckley looked to double their advantage, pressured into conceding a corner Lenton connected powerfully with the place kick but shot narrowly wide.

With an hour on the clock City came within inches of finding a leveller. An inswinging Hayes corner, from the right had Whittle in all kinds of trouble, his weak punch fell to Rice whose right foot effort crashed against the bar. The ball rebounded dangerously back across goal and Paynter’s fierce drive was forced behind for another corner, this time from the left. Niven swung this one in towards Whittle and again the former Oldham Athletic stopper flapped and missed but the ball sailed harmlessly away from goal.

As City strived to level a Vowden clearance found Wilkin who in turn played the ball in behind Browne for Bloomfield to run on to. Again showing great tenacity Bloomfield rounded his man but ultimately over ran the ball.

With 17 minutes remaining Gary Roberts made a double substitution in an attempt to save the game with Jack Wignall and Robbie Simpson replacing Dan Huggins and Richard Skelly respectively. City switching to a back three with Wardley pushing forward into a four man midfiled and Simpson joining up with Wilkin and Bloomfield in a three-pronged attack.

In his advanced role Wardley did well to feed Niven in the inside left channel, the former Ipswich player making a good clean strike but Whittle was comfortably behind it. Moments later another Wardley through ball found Bloomfield who showed great strength in holding off Browne before running the ball behind although the former Bournemouth striker claimed he had been impeded.

With Hinckley looking to consolidate Neil Cartwright replaced Tim Wilkes as the game entered the last 10 minutes.

City thought they had snatched the equalising goal on 85 minutes. By this stage of the game every corner looked like it might yield something with Whittle looking increasingly jittery. Another Hayes inswinger, again from the right saw the Knitters’ stopper punch the ball into the air and then grab it on the way down under pressure from Bloomfield. The City midfielder was convinced the ball had crossed the line but earned only a caution for disputing the decision with the assistant referee.

Hinckley still posed a threat coming forward although their attempts to play high balls into their strikers from wide positions had meant they were never able to sustain any attacking momentum. With only four minutes to go the impressive Dave Sadler ran menacingly at the City rear guard weaving his way into the right hand edge of the box before firing across the face of goal where Wignall was on hand to put the ball behind for a corner.