Hinckley AFC’s first game as champions ended in defeat as a solitary second-half goal earned Coton Green a 1-0 win at New Mill Lane.
On a blustery night, a game that wasn’t one to live long in the memory was settled by Jay Henry’s goal on the counter to hand Hinckley their first defeat in eight games.
It was a game that both defences dominated, and yielded little goalmouth action. Hinckley started the brighter, and went close after six minutes when Josh Beeson’s acrobatic effort was cleared off the line by Louie O’Connor.
That was a sign of things to come as the home side defended well throughout to preserve their clean sheet and show why they have one of the league’s best defensive records since the turn of the year.
And Coton thought they’d opened the scoring after a quarter of an hour but Matt Gardner was penalised, he felt harshly, before putting the ball in the net.
Either side of half time, home ‘keeper Josh Benton held efforts from outside the box by Jack Edwards and Danny Fraser before play switched to the other end and Henry dragged one narrowly wide on the angle.
As both sides sought the crucial opening goal, Beeson had a close-range header saved before the goal came midway through the half. Tom Hurdman’s interception set Coton on their way, and they broke forward before Henry cut inside and finished at the second attempt after his first was blocked by Matt Dawson.
Hinckley’s best chance at levelling fell to Riley Davoile, who side-footed inches wide when a long throw fell his way, but that was all they were restricted to by the home defence who showed all their years of step five and six experience as AFC failed to score for the first time away from home this season.
Coton: Josh Benton, Tom Hurdman, Luke Fox, Louis O’Connor, Matt Hunt, Dean Morris, Corey Powell, Tom Cullen (Ollie Tate 95), Matt Gardner (Ethan Richardson 87), Stuart Hendrie (Luco Bassett 75), Jay Henry. Subs not used: Jimmy Griffiths, Charlie Adams.
Goal: Jay Henry (68)
Hinckley: Brandon Bache, Matt Dawson, Danny Fraser, Preston Bitemo (Riley Davoile 67), Joe Obi, James Bryson, Josh Beeson, Tom Weale (Sonny Sheasby 89), Jack Edwards (Chandler Pegg 80), Harry Walker-Donovan (Declan Somel 58), Isa Abraham (Lewis Rankin 76).
