Hinckley AFC’s eleven match unbeaten league run was ended as Littleton ran out 2-1 winners at Five Acres on Saturday.
In a game where Hinckley didn’t have the same creative spark that they possessed in recent weeks, they struggled to create chances despite seeing plenty of the ball.
Paul Sullivan equalised Sean Brain’s opener early in the second half, but Hinckley couldn’t kick on from levelling and Dan Carter netted Littleton’s winner midway through the second half.
For the fourth consecutive week, Carl Abbott made just one change to his Hinckley starting eleven, with Kirtis Monson replacing Lee Thomas at left back.
But Hinckley found it difficult to break down the home defence, and indeed it was the home side who had the better of the first half chances.
Carter and Brain were threats throughout and the latter gave Littleton the lead half an hour in. Hinckley were punished for slack defending they allowed Brain too much space in the box, and he converted a free header from six yards.
For Hinckley, Javia Roberts had a shot comfortably saved and Sullivan saw his effort cleared off the line, but the home ‘keeper was largely untroubled during the first 45 minutes.
After half time, though, it took Hinckley just eight minutes to restore parity as the two strikes combined well to level. Great work from Roberts saw him turn his man and square across goal where Sullivan tapped home from close range.
Sullivan was then denied by the ‘keeper, but Littleton still looked dangerous when they broke forward and restored their advantage midway through the half. It was a return to Five Acres to forget for former Littleton ‘keeper Haydn Whitcombe, who sliced his attempted clearance downfield and Carter took full advantage to slot home.
As Hinckley sought an equaliser late on, Sullivan – Hinckley’s biggest goal threat throughout – struck the post, but that was the closest they came to salvaging a point from the game.
Hinckley’s second league defeat of the season sees them slip to fifth in the table, and they will look to get back to winning ways at the first possible opportunity against Studley at St John’s Park next week.
Hinckley: Haydn Whitcombe, James Williams, Kirtis Monson, Jack Farmer, Jamal Clarke, Peter Williams (Lee Butler 68), Sean Williams, Ryan Seal, Javia Roberts, Paul Sullivan, Andy Westwood. Substitutes: Jacob Sturgess, Mark Williams, Leadun Dunlevy, Tom McCrystal
Goal: Paul Sullivan (53)
