Hinckley AFC’s four-match winning streak came to an end as a solitary second-half goal gave Wednesfield a 1-0 win.
The good form Hinckley carried into the game felt a far cry from their display at the Cottage Ground as they failed to score for the first time this season.
In what was a drab spectacle throughout, the home side’s Kevin Nickles headed the only goal ten minutes into the second half.
The game was a midfield battle played too often in the air on a bumpy pitch.
And that was typified by an opening 45 minutes which failed to yield a shot on target from either side as both struggled to create.
Ex-Hinckley man Dimitri Dunkley had one deflected wide for the hosts and Nickles failed to connect with a cross, while Hinckley’s Luke Wilson hooked onto the roof of the net but that was as close as either side came in an easily forgettable half.
The game was settled ten minutes after the break. It felt like the breakthrough could only come from a set piece, and so it proved as Ashley Southall nodded a free kick back across goal and Nickles’ header trickled into the corner.
Adam Barber’s goalline clearance denied James Thompson a second shortly after as Hinckley kept themselves in with a chance.
But home ‘keeper Craig Pain didn’t have a save to make as Hinckley lacked a spark and fell to their second league defeat of the campaign.
Wednesfield: Craig Pain, Jimmy Yates, Jake Griffiths, Ashley Southall, Joe Finch, Ben Squire, Shane Thomas, Shaquille Lee, Kevin Nickles, James Thompson (Jack Dew 79), Dimitri Dunkley. Subs not used: Jake Pain, Sam Ball, Aman Nandra, James Weaver.
Goal: Kevin Nickles (55)
Hinckley: Brandon Bache, Ethan Baynham, Jeremie Agholor, Joe McNulty, Luke Wilson (Lewis Rankin 59), Adam Barber (Jack Beasley 83), Harry Walker-Donovan, James Reid (Kai Gibbs 83), Emile Beckford (Lewis Padmore 64), Ben Newport, Fortune Sibanda (Ryan Murphy 64).
Attendance: 75
