GLOUCESTER CITY 3 HINCKLEY UNITED 5

A MISSED penalty and some comical defending proved costly for Gloucester City and allowed crisis-hit Hinckley United to enjoy what could be their last ever fixture in an eight-goal thriller.

The Knitters could be forced out of business later today, but if so they signed off in style, taking full advantage of what proved to be a decisive penalty miss from City's top-scorer Lee Smith.

City led 1-0 when Smith saw his penalty saved by former Hereford United stopper Chris MacKenzie.

The Tigers were unable to recover and, despite a looming court appearance that could decide their fate, Hinckley made them pay.

With Jack Harris ruled out with the ankle injury he picked up at Workington on Saturday, Tigers boss Dave Mehew made just one change.

In came fit-again Bristol Rovers loan striker Ben Hunt to partner Mike Symons with Jack Pitcher moving to the left of midfield.

With little hint of what was to come, City started brightly and deservedly took the lead in the 20th minute, with Hunt getting the goal his early efforts had deserved.

Reacting to a Mike Symons flick, Hunt out-sprinted his marker before cooly placing a shot past MacKenzie.

Buoyed by the goal, City tore into their visitors and had a prime opportunity to double their money when Smith was fouled in the area and the referee pointed to the spot.

However, MacKenzie saved well from Smith and as the City players' heads dropped, the Knitters gained new-found belief.

Within minutes, poor defending from a Neil Cartwright free-kick allowed Connor Franklin to level the scores. Five minutes later James Mace headed home from a Matt West centre and the Knitters had the lead.

Worse was to follow for the Tigers when, three minutes before the break an error between keeper Mike Green and defender Tom Hamblin allowed West to score a third.

City fought back and in the opening exchanges of the second half the Hinckley defenders dithered and Pitcher stole in to poke home and cut the lead.

The respite was short-lived as West scored Hinckley's fourth on 50 minutes after a good ball from Franklin and completed his hat-trick and scored Hinckley's fifth after more uncertain defending minutes later.

Mehew rang the changes to shore up his beleaguered back line, with the net result of no further goals being conceded.

However, the damage was already done and despite a classy late consolation from Hunt, Hinckley held on for a memorable win.

Gloucester City: Green, Mustoe, Richards, Hamblin, Marshall (Aldrich); Smith, Rose (Reid), Webb, Pitcher; Symons (Morford), Hunt

Subs not used: Baldwin, A Harris.

Hinckley: MacKenzie, Mace, Cartwright, Dillon, Lester, Franklin, Hall (Roberts), Gooding, West (Hamilton), Eribenne (Newton), Taylor.

Subs not used: Collins, Storer