Ryan seals victory with goal in each half

A PENALTY in each half from captain Ryan Seal was enough for Hinckley AFC to get back to winning ways with a 2-0 success over Heather St John’s, writes Liam Gibbs.

AFC lost at home in the league for only the second time this season last Tuesday but still occupy second spot after bouncing back with a win over their landlords.

On a glorious sunny and warm day Seal was coolness personified from 12 yards, twice slotting beyond Heather keeper Ben Allsop after referee Scott Tallis had pointed to the spot.

But it was Heather who started the game on top, and had the first real spell of pressure when they forced a couple of corners, although it was Hinckley who forced the first save of the game when Allsop denied James Williams’ header from Lee Butler’s corner.

Then, good work by Javia Roberts saw him pull back to the edge of the box, where Seal stroked wide.

Real goalmouth action was few and far between, with both sides playing some neat football at times but lacking the killer final ball.

When Hinckley did fashion chances, Francino Francis headed over from six yards and Darkin’s cross was nodded wide by Roberts as Hinckley knocked on the door.

The opener came three minutes before half time. Paul Sullivan drew a foul from Levi Dawson, and Seal stepped up to send Allsop the wrong way from the resulting spot kick.

On the stroke of half time, Sullivan was denied a goal of his own by Allsop’s low save as AFC took a slender advantage into the break.

While there was only a goal between the sides, Heather were always in with a chance and their first chance to level came when Michael Tweed’s swerving 30 yarder was parried away by Haydn Whitcombe.

Hinckley broke forward immediately, sending Roberts through on goal. His heavy touch took him around Allsop, he went down and the referee questionably pointed to the spot. Seal wasn’t to let up the opportunity of a second, emphatically slamming into the bottom corner.

Darkin then stroked inches wide as Hinckley looked to put the game beyond doubt, while Heather had a couple of half chances but couldn’t trouble Whitcombe.

The closest either side came late on was when Hinckley substitute Sean Williams could only blaze over, but despite not adding to their tally AFC held on to record their third clean sheet in four games.