HINCKLEY UNITED 2-1 HISTON

Attendance: 778

By ANDY GIBBS at THE GREENE KING STADIUM

LEFT back Stuart Giddings proved an unlikely goal-scoring hero as his two goals saw The Knitters into the First Round Proper for the first time in five years.

Giddings struck on the stroke of half-time and again on the hour, his goals coming either wide of Lanre Oyebanko’s leveller for Histon as United overcame two defensive re-shufffles to run out narrow but deserved winners.

Hinckley lost defenders Lee Collins and Neil Cartwright to first half injuries, with Dan Dillon filling in at right back for the second half, but they made light of those difficulties with a determined, hard-working and disciplined display to overcome their higher ranked opponents who reached the Third Round last season having beaten Swindon and Leeds along the way.

It wasn’t FA Cup drama of the highest order during a scrappy first half in which both sides sought, but failed to gain, midfield supremacy and a lacklustre opening provided only half chances, Cartwright’s close range shot from an acute angle was superbly blocked by Gareth Gwillim whilst Collins produced a similarly brave block at the other end to deny Danny Wright.

That proved to be Collins final act as he limped out of the action to be replaced by Paul Lister, followed shortly after by Cartwright who limped off after fouling Nathaniel Knight-Percival.

Whilst Dean Thomas was contemplating his change, United took the lead in first half injury time. Andy Hall delivered a deep corner from the right which found Connor Franklin who lifted the ball back into the danger zone where GIDDINGS emerged from a cluster of bodies to score from close range.

It was a great time to score, but Histon chose an even better time to equalise. Within 20 seconds of the second half they were level with an outstanding individual goal from Lanre OYEBANJO who picked up the ball on the right hand touchline inside his own half, but he just kept running, evading a series of half-hearted tackles as he made his way into the area before beating Chris MacKenzie with a low shot.

The game hung in the balance once again, but it swung back Hinckley’s way when they scored the decisive goal on the hour with the best move of the game. It began with Adam Webster on the right, he linked up with Hall who fed Andy Gooding, he made ground before switching a pass to GIDDINGS who ghosted into the area in the inside left channel and unleashed a shot that beat Danny Naisbitt to put United in front.

Chukki Eribenne planted a header straight at Naisbitt before Histon threatened and Chris MacKenzie produced a stunning save to tip over Danny Wright’s powerful 20 yard shot and preserve his side’s lead.

Matt West came within a whisker of increasing United’s lead late on when he beat Naisbitt to a through ball on the edge of his area before heading inches wide and that proved to be the final chance of the game as last seasons giant-killers were themselves slain in their first game of this seasons competition whilst The Knitters live to fight another day.

HINCKLEY UNITED: MacKenzie, Dillon, Giddings, Lavery, Collins (Lister, 34), Hall, Gooding, Webster, Eribenne (West, 75), Cartwright (Taylor, 45) Subs not used: Hamilton, Roberts, Hinds.