ALFRETON Town's run of five games without defeat ground to a halt at a windswept Greene King Stadium on Saturday, but despite the disappointing result the Reds have slipped just one place to fourth in the Blue Square North.
Undoubtedly the injured trio of Anton Brown, Kyle McFadzean and Matt Wilson were sorely missed, and without a recognised left-back available Alfreton began the game with Dominic Roma in that position in a rare start against his old club before switching with Jordan Hall after going a goal down.
Most of the chances created had been by the home side, with Aden Flint needing to make a handful of interceptions to keep Alfreton in the picture, yet the best chance of the game fell to Damian Reeves in the 61st minute when the striker ran on to a through-ball from Ian Ross only to have his shot turned against the post by keeper Chris MacKenzie.
There was a controversial start to the game with MacKenzie upending Reeves inside 30 seconds as a back-pass went astray, the keeper receiving a yellow card before saving the well-struck free-kick from Ross at his near post.
Neil Cartwright headed a good chance over on four minutes and after a decent spell by the hosts, Hinckley took the lead 15 minutes later through skipper Richard Lavery who struck the ball past Reds' keeper Paddy Gamble from 15 yards after Chukki Eribenne had failed to connect with Adam Webster's deep cross.
Eribene homed in on goal only to be thwarted by Flint on 33 minutes and a good block by Gamble was needed to deal with a Webster drive three minutes after that, before Andy Hall fired over from 12 yards five minutes before the interval.
Alfreton had spent most of the half stitched up by the Knitters but managed a meaningful sortie in the 45th minute, Lloyd Kerry's through-ball releasing Reeves whose cross from the right just eluded Andy Todd.
An overhead kick from Paul Clayton was only just off target seven minutes after the break from a Ross delivery, then two minutes later the Reds' defence was put under unnecessary pressure when Gamble was harshly penalised for catching a ball that came back from Richard Pell, but after a lengthy delay the indirect free-kick was scrambled clear.
Hall had to tackle back two minutes later at the other end as Neil Cartwright latched on to a loose ball and headed for goal, then Todd's strong run to the by-line seconds later in response ended with his cross being caught by MacKenzie.
Another vital block from Flint saved the day as Eribenne broke away in the 65th minute with Andy Gooding squandering a gilt-edged chance from the ensuing corner, then a minute later a brilliant block by Gamble saved the day from a 20 yard rasper by Webster.
In a rare Alfreton attack two minutes before the equaliser Mattie Burke headed over from Anthony Howell's byline pull-back, then up popped Howell to fire under MacKenzie from eight yards in the 80th minute after Cartwright had helped on Gamble's massive clearance, ironically after the Reds' keeper had fumbled a Webster header.
Webster settled the issue with a low drive from ten yards just two minutes later after Gooding's cross had only been partially cleared, then as Hinckley sought a third goal both Eribenne and Webster skied decent chances.
In the second minute of stoppage time, MacKenzie stretched to tip over a fiery free-kick from Ross, then a minute later Alfreton's last opportunity evaporated when former Derby County loanee Mark Dudley blocked a Liam Hearn shot at source in front of goal.

 

Hinckley United: Chris MacKenzie; Alex Taylor, Mark Dudley, Richard Lavery, Paul Lister, Connor Franklin, Andy Hall, Andy Gooding, Adam Webster, Chukki Eribenne, Neil Cartwright.
Substitutes not used: Dan Dillon, Jack Roberts, James Mace, Stuart Storer, Louis Hamilton.
Alfreton Town: Paddy Gamble, Jordan Hall, Andy Todd, Aden Flint, Richard Pell, Ian Ross, Dominic Roma, Lloyd Kerry (Josh Law 62), Paul Clayton (Mattie Burke 74), Damian Reeves (Liam Hearn 62), Anthony Howell.
Sub not used: Matt Wilson.
Attendance: 504.
Referee: Mr Andy Newbold of Loughborough.
Goals: Hinckley United - Richard Lavery 19, Adam Webster 82. Alfreton Town - Anthony Howell 80.
Bookings: Hinckley United - Chris MacKenzie (1 minute, foul on Damian Reeves). Alfreton Town - Lloyd Kerry (foul on Andy Hall), Andy Todd (84, foul on Andy Gooding.
Reds man of the match: Aden Flint.