Defeat a bitter pill to swallow for The Road

LEICESTER Road slipped to a home defeat and an away draw as they played two rearranged matches in the space of 48 hours.

Facing Cadbury Athletic in Birmingham, The Road twice fought back from a goal down to secure a point on the road on a tough playing surface.

But they fell to an agonising 2-1 home defeat against Racing Club Warwick when a second-half equalizer was ruled out by a call from the linesman.

Against Cadbury Athletic, a Callum Earls brace wasn’t enough as the points were shared in tricky conditions, but on possession, territory and chances created, the Road should probably have taken all three.

The hosts took the lead early on as the Road, trying to play their football on a tricky pitch, were stopped in full flow and Athletic’s Alex Testom hit a speculative shot from just outside the box.

Road keeper Will Highland had covered until it hit the surface and suddenly bounced up over him. So, 1-0 to Cadbury.

Parity was restored when a Callum Earls freekick wrongfooted the Cadbury keeper.

Cadbury again took the lead shortly before half time when Leicester Road were caught out by the sticky playing surface.

Testom, who had been causing problems all over the attacking third, pinched the ball and squared it for fellow forward Lewis Kemp who smashed it home.

The second half was all Leicester Road however, with Cadbury really under the cosh, and it was Earls again (from another free kick) as he reversed it into the far top corner to ensure Road left Cad- bury with a deserved point.

Back in action 48 hours later, Leicester Road met Racing Club Warwick.

Starting strongly, Leicester ROad welcomed former youth and first team player Amarvir Sandhu back into the fold and he caused problems for the opposition from the off

n eight minutes her was fouled in the box and Matty Langham stepped up to slot home his 16th goal of the season.

Warwick were back on terms quickly when a crossed ball struck Leicester Road defender Callum Earls and bounced into the bottom corner for an own goal.

On 22 minutes, a speedy counter attack saw Warwick take the lead when a through ball found Bertie who rounded Road keeper Highland and found the net.

The home side were on the front foot for large spells of the second half as Warwick attempted to defend their lead.

Langham was denied a stonewall penalty when felled from behind in the box with a challenge that would have been a foul anywhere else on the pitch; then shortly after when Sandhu connected with a pinpoint cross and the keeper could only palm into the path of unmarked Callum Rudd, the linesman inexplicably flagged - even though Rudd was a clearly behind Sandhu and nowhere near interfering with play.

Late on Leicester Road found the woodwork three times but frustratingly couldn’t find the back of the net amid a series of goalmouth scrambes.

The match finished 2-1 to Warwick who too three points from their two shots on target.