Late winner sinks 10 man Leicester Road
LADY luck seems to have deserted Hinckley’s Leicester Road FC at the moment with a hat trick of sucker punches leading to an unfortunate 2-3 home reverse against Pershore Town on Saturday.
An injury time goal at the end of each half from Pershore, plus a controversial red card for the Road conspired against them in a game where they really deserved all three points rather than none at all.
With midfield stalwarts Jake Holt and John Grady both out injured, LRFC manager Neil Lyne brought in Academy graduate Sam Wells to sit in front of the back four and he wasn’t far short of being the Road’s best player on this frustrating afternoon.
LRFC were slow to start but gradually got their passing game going and created a host of chances in the first half, but crucially only managed to convert one of them – on 15 mins when centre forward Matt Langham slotted home after an accurate Nuno Gomes cross was headed back across goal for him by skipper Greg Downes.
On 24 mins Sam Munton fired just over after Downes played him in from the left and eight mins later a curling Callum Earls free kick was parried by the Pershore keeper, who also recovered well to smartly save the rebound effort from Josh Unsworth.
Minutes later a powerful run from wing back Jarred Acton down the right led to him feeding Joseph Lyne in space, but his crisp snapshot was also just over.
On 43 mins Munton was cleverly threaded through, but brought down on the edge of the box, with another Earls free kick deflected wide when it looked destined for the net.
And right on half time Munton also fired in from the edge of the box but the Pershore keeper made another fine save, while another goal bound effort was just deflected over.
To make matters worse the Road were rocked in first half injury time when Pershore equalised completely against the run of play.
A free kick was hopefully pumped into the LRFC area and after a mad scramble in the six yard box the ball rebounded off the post, was blocked on the line but eventually bundled home.
LRFC quickly took charge of the second half again and after just three minutes Nuno Gomes opened his account for the club when calmly lobbing the keeper following a lovely one-two with Downes.
On 51 mins a quick break allowed Unsworth to race down the right and cross to Langham, but he just failed to find Downes who was ready to pounce.
The dangerous Gomes pulled up with a hamstring injury on 54 mins however and was replaced by rangy new forward Joe Kennedy, who showed some nice touches, but on 60 mins the game’s defining moment went against the Road when left back Jack Harrison was shown a very harsh straight red for a late challenge.
He went on a galloping run down the left but miss-controlled and his opponent got to the ball first.
Harrison jumped in to block rather than dive in at the player and the Pershore players were as surprised as everyone else that he was sent off.
Thirty minutes with 10 men isn’t easy, but even after that dubious decision LRFC created the better chances, with Pershore only looking dangerous on the break.
On 66 mins another decision went their way when a side footed effort came down off the crossbar and the linesman, rather than the referee, saw it as over the goal line for a fortunate 2-2 equaliser.
The game was very open now with both teams having chances, but the Road looked the team more likely to seal any win - Lyne having a long range effort on 89 mins just tipped around the post.
However, just seconds before the ref blew his whistle Pershore nicked it at the death when LRFC keeper Will Highland and Earls hesitated over a long, looping ball and their forward nipped in between them both to poke it home.
LRFC Starting XI: Will Highland, Jarred Acton, Josh Unsworth, Callum Earls, Jack Harrison, San Wells, Joseph Lyne, Greg Downes, Sam Munton, Nuno Gomes, Matty Langham. Subs: Ricky Blewitt GK, Callum Rudd. Josh Smith, Jordan Burrows, Joe Kennedy.
LRFC will be looking to make amends this Saturday (9th Sept) when again at home versus Racing Club Warwick in the FA Vase, kick off 3pm.