Hinckley AFC failed to score in a league game for the first time in 15 months as Littleton scored a goal in each half to take a 2-0 win.
The last time Hinckley didn’t find the net was back in January 2017 in a defeat to Atherstone Town, but after Saturday’s 6-1 win over Heather they couldn’t back up Saturday’s scintillating performance with another.
Steve Roche and Robbie Bunn scored either side of half time as the visitors capitalised on a lacklustre Hinckley display to take all three points back to Worcestershire.
Richard Lavery made one change to his Hinckley side that started Saturday’s win, bringing himself back in after suspension in place of the injured Jonathan Bukasa.
But, unusually, AFC didn’t really look like scoring and Littleton defended well as they stopped the supply to Hinckley’s forwards.
Luke Richards fired a couple of efforts wide in the first half as the visitors strangled Hinckley’s play, and they took the lead themselves just after the half hour. A cross from the left found Roche, who headed beyond Carl O’Neill to put Littleton ahead.
That left Hinckley with work to do at half time if they wanted to take all three points, but their task was made twice as difficult five minutes into the half. AFC failed to fully clear a corner, and Bunn fired home from the edge of the box to double the visitors’ advantage.
Even at 2-0, a lacklustre Hinckley couldn’t fashion many chances as the visitors managed the game well.
Indeed, with Hinckley throwing men forward late on, it was Littleton who came closest when they broke forward quickly and Bunn dragged wide of the post with just O’Neill to beat.
As Hinckley sought to extent their record of scoring in every league game this season, Kai Tonge had half a sight of goal in stoppage time but Littleton ‘keeper Brendon Bunn came out quickly to deny him.
It was the first time AFC had failed to score in a home league game since November 2015, and meant they stayed in fifth ahead of a quick turnaround against Chelmsley Town on Thursday.
Hinckley: Carl O’Neill, James Williams, Nick Goold (Jack Sutherland 82), James Jepson, Richard Munday, Richard Lavery, Kai Tonge, Josh Burniston, Luke Richards, Steve Hart, Josh Willis. Subs not used: Mitchell Tomlinson, Chad Timson, Matt Jelfs
Littleton: Brendon Bunn, Robbie Agar, Shay Palmer, Simon Fitter, David Edwards, Jordan Jones, Daniel Byford, Steve Roche (Alex Beck 81), Dan Carter, Robbie Bunn, Dale Edwards (Matthew Chambers 84). Subs not used: George Westwood, Connor Perry-Holmes
Goals: Steve Roche (32), Robbie Bunn (50)
Attendance: 105
