Gomes run of form goes on with a brace
HINCKLEY’S Leicester Road FC earned their fourth consecutive win with a resolute 1-2 away victory against Stafford Town – with striker Nuno Gomes again bagging a brace.
That’s six so far this season for the new boy and his goals came at crucial times as LRFC, though not at their fluent best, did a job and came away with three valuable away points writes Greg Rees.
They started brightly and when Matt Langham beat the keeper to a lofted ball on two minutes his header rolled across the Stafford goal invitingly before being cleared.
Callum Rudd had another good chance from a short corner after four minutes as the hosts looked very uncertain and hesitant.
Then on 10 minutes, another firm Rudd header was cleared off the line after a curling Callum Earls cross from the left.
It was all Leicester Road with a Gomes drive from a Langham knock down flying just wide on 19 minutes and three minutes later Langham in space headed straight at the keeper after good approach work from skipper Greg Downes.
Stafford had their first shot on target after 24 minutes, but it was comfortably held by Leicester Road keeper Will Highland, but the Road went straight down the other end and Downes just failed to get on the end of a tempting Sam Munton cross with the Stafford keeper floundering.
Stafford had one more attempt on the LRFC goal fielded by Highland, but on 38 minutes the Road broke the deadlock when good hold up play and a low cross from Langham saw Gomes slide in and finish emphatically at the near post. A deserved 0-1 at half time. Straight from the kick off Joseph Line was played through, but a blatant body check in the area failed to earn what was a stonewall penalty to all in the ground but the referee.
But the let-off seemed to stir Staf- ford Town and they enjoyed a period of sustained pressure from a series of corners and probing crosses, with Highland doing well to tip away a skidding shot low to his left on 60 minutes.
Another corner on 65 minutes was scrambled away by the Road, but then Jake Holt forced a fine save at the other end with a left footed drive.
Leicester Road full back Jarred Acton cleared off his line on 70 minutes, but two minutes later after not being shut down in midfield the Stafford skipper advanced and let fly from 20 yards into the top corner giving Highland no chance.
This time it was Leicester Road’s turn to spring into action and after a trademark pass and move inter- change a Holt snapshot around the penalty spot produced a stunning reflex save from the Stafford keeper on 74 minutes.
The Road poured forward again searching for a second and a couple of chances went begging, but on 76 minutes Holt picked himself up off the floor to deliver a pinpoint free kick into the box, which Gomes flicked over the advancing keeper to cue delighted celebrations amongst the Road players.
Steely determination saw the game out for LRFC with Highland having to pluck one arcing header out of the air that was drifting for the top corner but it was a job well done in restricting a dogged Stafford to just a few clear cut chances all game