Leicester Road win Derby against AFC
HINCKLEY’S Leicester Road FC claimed all three points and local bragging rights in the re-arranged derby versus Hinckley AFC – with a 2-1 home win.
That’s seven league wins on the trot for the Road and all three goals came in a frantic five minutes late into the game, which saw AFC finish with nine men.
It moves LRFC back up to third in MFL 1 (above Atherstone Town) and with a seven point cushion over AFC, who have just two games left, and means the Road will definitely finish in the top four again this season.
The Road began brightly with Amarvir Sandhu continuing his fine form of late and stretching the AFC defence.
Jordan Burrows shot just wide on seven minutes and then LRFC No.9 Matty Langham had a decent claim for a penalty with defenders all over his back on 12 minutes as he turned in the box.
Steve Hart looked to be AFC’s dangerman and his searching cross on 18 minutes found Josh Willis on the penalty spot, but his header lacked power.
Then Road’s Jarred Acton crucially got his head to another Hart cross before Willis to snuff out another AFC chance.
On 25 minutes, LRFC’s Joseph Lyne had a scorching, goalbound shot deflected just over the bar, as the Road threatened to get on top.
Then on 33 mins LRFC keeper Will Highland had to save at full stretch after a long ball from the back caught the hosts cold.
Right on 45 minutes Sandhu had another mazy run, cleverly beating two defenders, and a shot on target that AFC keeper Carl O’Neill only just smothered, but it was all square at the break - with neither side gaining a real ascendancy despite both showing glimpses.
A kit clash saw LRFC began the second half in a changed strip of orange.
Leicester Road continued as they had left off when on 55 minutes more good work from Sandhu down the right forced a corner, which was almost scrambled home.
AFC had a decent effort blocked in the box, but the Road turned defence into attack and delightful interplay between Lyne, Sam Munton and Sandhu saw a shot cleared off the line.
Two more clear chances followed– with the visitor’s defence all at sea – but somehow the Road didn’t convert.
Hart hit a half volley pile driver from the edge of the box on 63 minutes, but it was straight at Highland and he held well, as the game continued to ebb and flow, but then it properly sprang into life.
On 75 minutes a long throw found Burrows, who neatly played in Lyne and he turned smartly to lash it in the top right corner for a 1-0 lead. The visitors levelled just three minutes later when a quick, probing ball down the left found Josh Burneston and he smashed it past Highland after a good first touch.
Not to be outdone, The Road composed themselves and when Sandhu broke free and was brought down from behind on 80 minutes, the referee had no hesitation in pointing to the spot – it also earned AFC’s Rich Lavery a second yellow and an early bath.
Despite a long delay, Langham decisively stroked home the penalty for his 22nd goal of the season and the Road calmly rode out the rest of the game.
Indeed, they could have made it 3-1 when on 89 minutes Sandhu flashed a cross across the six yard box but it just evaded three Road players with the keeper stranded.
Deep into injury time, with their frustration mounting, AFC’s Richard Munday saw red for a poor tackle on Lyne, but the Road deservedly took all three points after a dominant and composed second half.