Road return with a bang

HINCKLEY’S Leicester Road FC earned a comfortable 0-3 away win in Birmingham against Chelmsley Town on Friday writes Greg Rees.

With all the recent postponed fixtures due to bad weather, it was their first MFL 1 league game since the 30th December home draw with Uttoxeter Town, but the inactivity didn’t show as the Road gave a commanding display – very good at the back, well organised and keeping and using the ball superbly.

Skipper Greg Downes got a clinical brace – his 20th and 21st of the season - whilst striker Matty Langham weighed in with his 14th of the campaign so far.

Chelmsley did start brightly and following a break down the right LRFC keeper Will Highland saved smartly low down to his left.

The LRFC stopper also gathered well from a far post diving header moments later as LRFC weathered the early storm.

However, they quickly got a foothold in the game and never let up first half with Downes calmly stroking home the first goal with his left, following a neat headed flick on from Langham in the box.

Not long into the second half Downes made it two after excellent pressing by substitute Joe Kennedy (on for the injured Joseph Lyne) saw the Chelmsley centre half misplace a pass that Langham quickly played through for the skipper, who drew the keeper and then buried it in the far corner.

Callum Earls almost made it three with a bullet header from a Jake Holt corner that the Chelmsley keeper somehow palmed over the bar, but Langham made no mistake when another Chelmsley defensive mix up saw him race clear and roll the ball through the advancing keeper’s legs.

Kennedy almost made it 0-4 near the end when having been put through by Nuno Gomes he cleverly lobbed the keeper but saw a defender race back and clear off the line.

The win moves LRFC up to second in the league and next up is a home game against Racing Club Warwick on Saturday (February 10).