Leicester Road FC topple table-toppers
HINCKLEY’S Leicester Road FC loosened Studley’s grip at the top of MFL Division 1 after a fine display saw the hosts defeat the league leaders in a very tight game writes Tom Jackson.
On another day Callum Rudd, Joseph Lyne and Matt Langham could also have nicked goals, but the one calmly dispatched by Luke Kingsley-Smith on 66 mins sealed the three points against a Studley side who, as always, gave a good account of themselves both defensively and going forward.
Indeed, Studley looked the brighter of the two sides in the opening exchanges.
A clearance by Aaron Westwood found Andy Nichol through on goal but a lastditch tackle by Rudd saw the ball go out for a corner.
Leicester Road then retaliated with a chance of their own, Greg Downes chested a lofted ball down for Lyne but his longrange effort just found the wrong side of the post.
This seemed to create a flood of chances for the Road - first Nuno Gomes picked the ball up from his own half and travelled 30-yards before playing in Kingsley-Smith whose shot was smothered by Studley goalkeeper Ryan Young.
Then Langham thought he had broken the deadlock shortly after on 24 minutes after firmly meeting KingsleySmith’s cross with his head, only to see it go a whiskerwide of the goal.
Studley continued to fight back and when Westwood’s corner found an unmarked Greg Oldfield, he inexplicably failed to hit the target.
It seemed to galvanise the away team though, with Luke Dugmore’s far post ball creating the opportunity for Nichol to make it 0-1, but LRFC’s Jordan Burrows bravely got his head in the way to clear the danger.
Before the end of the half there was injury concern for Rudd as a strong shot by Dugmore struck the Hinckley defender in the side of the head.
But after lengthy treatment both on and off the pitch, Rudd returned to the field with just a sore head. Honours even at half time. Rather like the first, Studley came out all guns blazing in the second half, with chances from Gareth Evans and Oldfield quickly testing LRFC goalkeeper Will Highland.
Highland was also called into action on 60 minutes as Oldfield latched onto the end of a Westwood effort, which required the goalkeeper’s finger tips to keep it out.
Studley came close again minutes later when Gomes – helping out at the back – almost deflected a shot into the back of his own net, but Highland again made an acrobatic save.
LRFC were weathering the storm, however, and their trademark pass and move football started to pin the visitors back.
Right on cue on 66 minutes, Gomes found space and his probing cross found Kingsley- Smith in the area unmarked and his effort was too powerful for Young to keep out – 1-0 to the Road.
It made for a nervy remaining 20 minutes, but LRFC cancelled out their dogged opponents superbly.
Near the death, Rudd thought he had put the hosts two in front after burying Langham’s cross, only to see it harshly ruled out for offside by the assistant referee.
Nevertheless, it was another inspired display from the Road and after beating then leaders Walsall Wood 2-0 earlier in the season, they’ve proved they are more than a match for anyone in MFL 1.