Last gasp effort sends Road top of the league
HINCKLEY’S Leicester Road FC sit proudly on top of Midlands Football League 1 after a hard fought 2-3 away victory against Paget Rangers in North Birmingham writes Greg Rees.
After being 0-2 up at half time, their sixth successive win came courtesy of a superb 91st minute goal from striker Matty Langham following a lovely team move that characterised the whole game.
Full of confidence and in great form, the Road began brightly and on nine mins a tempting cross from fit again Harry Solomons found skipper Greg Downes who volleyed just wide.
On 14 minutes LRFC went close once more as Holt crossed for Langham but his header drifted just past the far post.
But it was all Leicester Road and the pressure eventually told when, on 31 minutes, Sam Munton’s fierce shot from the edge of the box took a slight deflection to wrong foot the host’s unfortunate keeper.
Two minutes later it was 0-2 when Downes was played clean through by Joseph Lyne, but the keeper brought him down.
The skipper picked himself up and powered in the penalty for his 17th goal of the season.
The Road were cruising, but Paget began to get a foothold in the game and on 37 minutes LRFC keeper Will Highland saved well - and just when it looked like the rebound was going to be put in full back Jordan Burrows cleared brilliantly.
So, 0-2 half time, but both teams playing well on a 4G pitch that aided flowing football.
LRFC were first out of the traps in the second half and on 50 minutes a Jake Holt direct free kick rattled the host’s cross bar.
But almost straight away Highland saved well down the other end and the ball was eventually cleared.
Paget were coming back into it though and on 60 minutes they pulled a goal back when their tricky forward Ryan Conlon turned inside and out and fired past Highland.
On 70 minutes Highland saved brilliantly again, this time down to his right from a direct free kick.
Paget did get it back to 2-2 on 72 minutes when centre half Rioual Bakala headed home directly from a hotly disputed corner.
Jetmir Esso replaced the tiring Solomons on 84 minutes and his pace and trickery caused Paget immediate problems.
They looked settled on a point after battling back to 2-2, but the Road had other ideas.
On 85 minutes Langham was denied after his crisp strike was cleared off the line following good work from Esso dow n the right.
But with the clock in the red Langham fired in (his 10th so far this season) following a great flowing move from the Road and smart approach play again from Esso.