A Ryan Seal tap in and a Dale O’Donnell own goal gave Hinckley AFC a 2-0 win over Coventry Copsewood at St John’s Park.
In a win that kept Hinckley second in the table, they had plenty of the ball but couldn’t break Copsewood down before half time.
But once Seal gave AFC the lead, they never looked like dropping points and Hinckley secured the points shortly afterwards when O’Donnell turned into his own net.
Carl Abbott made three changes to his Hinckley side that beat Southam United on Tuesday, with Haydn Whitcombe, Francino Francis and JJ Melligan all coming into the side.
And AFC had the bulk of possession early on, creating their first chance eight minutes in when Paul Sullivan drew O’Donnell into his first save after good work from Javia Roberts.
Then Sullivan, a thorn in Copsewood’s side throughout, went close again, firing narrowly wide after good link up play with Seal.
As Hinckley continued to press and sought to find the goal that would open the game up, Sean Williams whipped a ball across the box but Francis couldn’t convert, before Sullivan fired just past the post again as Copsewood remained level.
It was the visitors, though, who had arguably the best chance late in the half. David Akinuli raced through on goal after an error at the back, but Whitcombe bravely denied him with a low save.
Copsewood had the first chance of the second half too, Whitcombe tipping over Joe Taylor’s header, before Hinckley resumed their control of the game.
They came close to breaking the deadlock when Seal struck the bar after a cleverly worked free kick, but did take the lead just a couple of minutes later. From a regulation ball across the box, O’Donnell spilled into the path of Seal, who tapped home one of the simplest of his 49 goals this season.
Ten minutes later, Hinckley doubled their advantage. AFC broke forward down the right and Roberts squared across the box, where O’Donnell deflected the ball into his own net.
As Hinkley sought the goal that would truly kill the game off, Melligan missed a one-on-one and Roberts was denied strong penalty shouts after being dragged down by George Whitelaw.
And although they couldn’t add more emphasis to their win, it was a comfortable three points for AFC ahead of the visit of Atherstone Town on Tuesday.
Hinckley: Haydn Whitcombe, Javia Roberts (Chad Degville-Cross 83), Lee Thomas, Ryan Paddock, Francino Francis, Andy Westwood, JJ Melligan (Mark Williams 83), Ryan Seal, Sean Williams, Paul Sullivan (James Williams 69), Darious Darkin. Subs not used: Jamal Clarke, Jack Hartopp
Goals: Ryan Seal (62), Dale O’Donnell (72 OG)
Copsewood: Dale O’Donnell, George Whitelaw, Jordan Fesal, Craig Civzelis (Alex Andrews 49), Brett Davies, Matt Burt, Tom Muldoon, Jack Rooney, David Akinuli, Chris Johnson, Joe Taylor. Subs not used: Casey Gaggini, Danny Fraser
Attendance: 175
