Cadbury Athletic 2-1 Hinckley AFC
A late winner from Dean Lea saw Hinckley AFC slip to a 2-1 defeat away at Cadbury Athletic on Saturday.
Lea finished coolly past Hinckley keeper Sam Arnold with just two minutes remaining, after he was sent through on goal following a break down the left flank.
It was Hinckley’s first away defeat of the season, but they arguably should have had the game won in the first half. Despite having the better of it, and creating several opportunities, they came up against an inspired Kenny Sanders in the home goal. He thwarted Hinckley’s attack on several occasions during the opening 45 minutes to keep his side in the game.
Cadbury took the lead shortly before half time, a lead that lasted only a minute before James Bennett-Tindall converted to send the sides in level at the interval.
But Hinckley barely had a chance in the second period as Cadbury asserted themslves on the game, and their rearguard action was broken through Lea’s 88th minute winner.
Hinckley started brightly, and could have taken the lead early on. Mark Bellingham was sent through on goal twice in the opening half hour, but was denied by the onrushing Sanders diving at his feet.
On his first Hinckley start, Sean Williams cut in from the right hand side, before seeing his goalbound shot well saved by the Cadbury stopper.
The first half looked like ending goalless, but Cadbury took the lead after 42 minutes. The Hinckley defence missed a couple of chances to clear, and they were punished when Lea slammed past Arnold amongst a crowd of players in the box.
Hinckley responded immediately. From the restart, Williams advanced down the right flank, and saw his deep cross converted at the far post by Bennett-Tindall to level the scores.
Hinckley struggled to gain a foothold in the second half as Cadbury asserted themselves on the game.
Arnold made two good saves in an attempt to earn his side a point, but as the game entered the dying stages, Lea scored Cadbury’s winner to send Hinckley home empty handed.
Cadbury: Kenny Sanders, Stuart Cooke, Brett Lloyd, Kevin Heeley, James Finn, James McKeon, Ryan Spink, Andy Cooper, Stuart Butcher, Dean Lea, Ben Mooney. Subs: Ryan Gittins, Daryl Charman, Nicholas Allen, Joe Busst, Fraser Oliver
Goals: Dean Lea (42, 88)
Hinckley: Sam Arnold, Bekir Halil, Greg Webb, Nathan Walker, Dominic Smith, George Williams, JJ Melligan, Craig Bannister (Matt Bailey 72), Mark Bellingham (Luke Richards 72), James Bennett-Tindall (Tyrone Clarke-O’Connell 63), Sean Williams. Subs not used: Avun Jephcott, Ryan Taylor.
Goals: James Bennett-Tindall (43)
Attendance: 90
