Leicester Road FC cling on to progress in cup
FA VASE
LEICESTER Road have progressed through to the next round in the Buildbase FA Vase after beating Clay Cross Town 3-2 on Saturday.
LRFC headed north for the tie against a Derbyshire team in good form and after going three goals up, the hosts hit back to make it a nervy last 15 minutes for the visitors.
The game started slowly and the nearest effort was a sliced clearance which sailed over the Leicester Road bar.
Alex Kent fired a shot over the bar on 15 minutes and keeper Will Highland was called on to make his first save soon after.
Clay Cross wasted a couple of chances but it was Jake Holt who picked up a ball on the edge of the box and rifled the ball into the net to break the deadlock.
Holt had taken charge of the game at this stage and he was influential in much of the play as Leicester Road increased the tempo with their slick passing game.
It was Holt again who created the second goal when he put Theo Brown in the clear in the box and he fired past the keeper to increase the lead before half-time.
Leicester Road started the second half kicking down a slight slope and with a couple of minutes the ball found its way through to Sam Munton with space in the box.
Following a slight deflection, the ball sailed into the far corner to increase the advantage and make Leicester Road firm favourites to make the next round.
Clay Cross were given a lifeline after being awarded a penalty for a foul in the box.
The hosts converted the spot-kick to revive their hopes.
Leicester Road tried to reassert their dominance and made a few changes but the home side’s tails were up.
Clay Cross pressed high and used long balls to bombard the Leicester Road box
With 15 minutes to go, Clay Cross ensured the game would go to the wire when they fired home a great shot.
The hosts were pressing hard and they almost levelled when a shot rebounded off the bar on 80 minutes.
Leicester Road were also trying to extend their lead and they came close then a Tom McGlinchey effort bounced off the post into the arms of the keeper.