Hinckley AFC have lost three league games on the bounce for the first time since September 2014 after a narrow 2-1 reverse at Leicester Road.
After a goalless first half, a tight game was still finely poised at 0-0 heading into the 15 minutes.
But the game burst into life at that point when three goals in five minutes secured the points for the hosts, Joe Lyne’s goal and Matt Langham’s penalty netting either side of Josh Willis’ leveller for Hinckley.
Richard Lavery made two changes to his Hinckley side that suffered last gasp defeat at Littleton last week. Luke Richards was suspended but Steve Hart returned from injury, while Chad Timson made his first start.
But the first half was a relatively close one, with neither side gained a real ascendancy for sustained spells. Both showed glimpses, but were limited to just that.
Lyne’s fiercely struck effort was deflected narrowly over for the home side, while Josh Willis and Hart called Will Highland into action when Hinckley threatened, but the sides couldn’t be separated at the break.
Indeed, the home side started the second half on top and had an effort cleared off the line as Hinckley just about survived, and nearly took the lead themselves when Hart lashed an effort which Highland dealt with.
But it took until the 74th minute for the deadlock to be broken – and the home side made the breakthrough. From a long throw, Hinckley didn’t clear and Jordan Burrows fed Lyne to fire into the corner.
But Hinckley hit back straight away. A neat move saw a clever ball around the corner found Willis, who took one touch driving into the box before smashing past Will Highland.
But once again, the scoreline didn’t last and within two minutes the home side were ahead again. Lavery was adjudged to have fouled Sandhu in the box, he picked up a second booking and was sent off, and Langham converted from the spot to restore the home side’s lead.
After that, Hinckley couldn’t force home the equaliser and slipped to a narrow defeat.
Leics Rd: Will Highland, Jarred Acton, Jack Harrison, Greg Downes, Callum Rudd, Callum Earls, Jordan Burrows (Jake Holt 86), Joe Lyne, Matt Langham, Sam Munton (Nuno Gomes 81), Amarvir Sandhu. Subs not used: Ricky Blewitt, Kieran Reid, Josh Unsworth
Goals: Joe Lyne (74), Matt Langham (79 pen)
Hinckley: Carl O’Neill, James Williams, Nick Goold, James Jepson, Richard Munday, Richard Lavery, Kai Tonge, Josh Burniston, Josh Willis, Steve Hart, Chad Timson (Jonathan Bukasa 83). Subs not used: Mitchell Tomlinson, Matt Jelfs
Goal: Josh Burniston (76)
Attendance: 228
