City experienced a chastening afternoon against a very confident and able Hinckley team who knew how to take their chances. Following the midweek heroics at Farnborough, it was hoped that the Lilywhites could replicate the same spirit  when they faced up to a side who have also had an excellent run, boasting four consecutive victories in an unbeaten seven match run.

Manager Gary Roberts’ dilemma over which centre back pairing he should select was solved for him when Laurie Stewart had to pull out thanks to a nasty dose of food poisoning courtesy of an off-colour chicken. Meanwhile the visitors had to relegate Chucki Eribenne to the bench with a hamstring niggle and do without Connor Franklin who had an ankle injury.

Lee Chaffey heads goalwards

The first couple of minutes served as a template for the match. Alex Taylor found Andy Hall whose cross was blasted over by Andy Gooding – a let off in the first sixty seconds. A minute later, Adam Webster gave warning of what a handful he would turn out to be when he wasted a decent chance having been set up by Hall.

City’s first effort occurred on seven minutes when a composed attack ended when the ball fell to Adrian Cambridge some 25 yards out. He hit his shot with lovely timing but didn’t get enough dip, the ball grazing the bar to safety.

Hinckley showed their ruthlessness on ten minutes when following a foul 35 yards out, Hall played in what looked like a rather weak free kick which was played back across the box and finished clinically by Webster. One-nil to the visitors but given City’s fighting qualities, not an insurmountable setback.

For the following twenty minutes City had their best spell of the match. If a kind break had happened during this periods then who knows if the Lilywhites could have made more of the game than they did. With eleven minutes gone Steve Gentle went to ground in the box. No penalty, insisted Mr George and play was waved on. On 13, Gentle linked well with Ashley Fuller whose intended cross for Frendo was too close to ‘keeper Mackenzie – but no matter, City were on the attack. Frendo then released Cambridge with a delightfully weighted pass that the midfielder used to set up Midgley, only to be denied by the offside flag.

Then on 18 minutes, Cambridge’s low cross was met by a glancing header from Frendo, his effort screwing wide of the left post. It was during this period that City looked most likely to score, indeed on 27 there was a decent shout for a goal when Lee Chaffey’s header from Cambridge’s corner was collected by Mackenzie but with the suspicion that it might have been taken over the line. City appeals were ignored and the chance disappeared. But best of all was Frendo’s header on 29. Cambridge played his pass of the match to Fuller who centred from the left. Frendo needed to put the ball back across the keeper but headed straight at him – in reality, City’s last great chance of the match.

From the half hour onwards there was only one team in the match. Hinckley established control once again, first drawing a fine save from Barrett when he tipped Stuart Gidding's free kick away for a corner. When the goal came it was as scrappy and unsatisfactory as they come. With 35 minutes gone, there was an almighty and untidy scramble in the City goal, the ball eventually falling to Webster, who claimed the goal. It was a poor effort but in the context of the match a crucial one. Having weathered what City could throw at them, the visitors went down the other end to double their lead and put clear blue water between the sides.

John Frendo looks for space

If the Lilywhites thought things couldn’t get worse then they were wrong. As the half time whistle and the opportunity for regrouping beckoned, City were further knocked back, this time by Hall who turned the defence inside out before putting in a low cross which was met, inevitably, by Webster. Three-nil and game over – but with 45 minutes to play.

City were offered the most slender of chances just five minutes into the second half. James Krause found himself on the wrong end of an uncompromising challenge that left the defender clutching his leg. Referee George was right on the spot, blew up and instantly brandished a red card to James Mace. Now up against ten men, could City make a miraculous recovery?

Sadly, not only were City unable to make the numerical advantage tell, they continued to leak goals. Hinckley’s fourth was another strange affair. Robbie Nightingale appeared to clash with Webster inside the box as the two tussled for the ball. As the last man, Nightingale might have feared the worst when Mr George went to his cards. But on this occasion, the yellow was taken out and a free kick outside the area awarded. No sending off and no penalty – but the result was just as telling. Gooding placed the ball, picked his spot and coolly beat the wall and Barrett to notch another for the Knitters.

Could life get much worse? Yes, when Chaffey was adjudged to have handled the ball in the area on 72, giving Webster the chance for another goal. His blast gave Barrett no chance as he took his personal tally to four.

Hinckley were clearly the better team – but five goals better? Not really. City looked lacklustre all over the pitch, with too many players fluffing their lines. A man of the match for City would be hard to choose but if pushed, Captain Cambridge would perhaps get the vote. He must have wondered what his young charges were doing today – as did an impatient crowd.

But as they say: nobody died. A rough result in a sometimes rough game and hopefully a one-off. One defeat in (unlucky) 13 matches. How many of the City faithful would have taken that in August?

Post match reaction Gary Roberts It’s always disappointing to exit the FA Cup, but it was frustrating to lose in the manner we did, albeit against a team from a higher league... more