Adders strike back in dying moments
LEICESTER Road were left disappointed on Bank Holiday Monday as visitors Atherstone Town pulled back a two goal deficit in the last five minutes of the match.
From the start the hosts took the game to Atherstone and the home side came close on a number of occasions early on with their slick high tempo passing game making things difficult for the visitors. It seemed only a matter of time before the first goal was to come and it was Matty Stenson with his 10th goal in eight games that broke the deadlock when he headed home powerfully from a corner.
A second goal looked inevitable and following a great one-two between Joe Lyne and Tom McGlinchey, it was McGlinchey who finished to double the advantage. Leicester Road continued their pressing from the start of the second half and the Atherstone keeper had to be alert to keep out another Stenson header.
Another quick interchange between the Leicester Road front men saw McGlinchey in the clear and with the keeper beaten, but his right footed curling shot thudded against the inside of the post.
With 20 minutes to go it was the visitors who went close as a free kick went narrowly over the bar, but soon the home team were to go close to increasing their advantage twice getting behind the Atherstone defence but on both occasions the finishing touch was missing.
Atherstone were riding their luck and with a feeling that they might get something from the game, a close range header was easily saved by home keeper Will Highland.
He was to be beaten soon afterwards however when as the clock reached the final five minutes, the Atherstone No 9 latched on to a lay back to rifle the ball home.
Atherstone now had the bit between the teeth and with a minute left, it was their No 9 again who headed powerfully into the roof of the net.
Leicester Road visited the new 3G pitch at Pack Meadow for the first time to take on newly-promoted Chelmsley Town.
A snapshot from a Chelmsley forward sailed wide of Will Highlands post.
Highland was again called into action when he made a fine save from the Chelmsley Number 9 and the same player missed a golden opportunity soon after.
LRFC were gradually getting used to the 3G pitch and Sam Munton and Tom McGlinchey fed Joe Lyne who shot narrowly wide.
Matty Stenson took the ball past the keeper on the half hour but couldn’t squeeze the ball in from a tight angle and from the follow up Callum Earls shot narrowly over.
As half time approached Theo Brown also went close to giving the visitors the lead.
It wasn’t all one way traffic though and on the hour Chelmsley were unlucky when a shot rebounded off the visitors’ post.
The first goal was going to be all important and Leicester Road got it when Stenson picked up the ball and from 30 yards unleashed a shot that deflected off a Chelmsley foot and past the stricken keeper.
The visitors continued to press and as the game entered the last 10 minutes Chelmsley looked to get something from the game, but Stenson who picked the ball up in midfield and as the Chelmsley defence back pedalled he threaded a super ball through for McGlinchey to slip the ball past the keeper to secure the points.