LRFC slip to home defeat

HINCKLEY’S Leicester Road FC slipped to a disappointing 2-1 home defeat against Brocton FC on the weekend – conceding two goals to their more clinical mid-table opponents.

It was another subdued performance from the Road, but whereas last week away at Uttoxeter they were able to ground out a late 2-3 victory, this time they didn’t create enough clear cut chances and were made to pay.

In a largely uneventful first half, the first quarter was rather scrappy, with neither side taking control and silly free kicks being given away, but on 17 mins LRFC got their first real sniff when a neat interchange freed Joseph Lyne down the left and his pinpoint cross to top scorer Matt Langham drew a decent save from Brocton keeper Mark Wiggins.

On 24 mins Langham was almost in again when fed by another accurate cross, but he was unable to bring the ball under control quick enough and was eventually crowded out by two grateful Brocton defenders.

Then on 28 mins it should have been 1-0 to the home side, but for a wonder double save by Brocton’s Wiggins - Lyne found Langham around the penalty spot and his fierce drive was superbly stopped to the keeper’s left and as the rebound fell to Dom Brennan on the edge of the box Wiggins also managed to get a deflecting hand onto his goal bound effort to keep it 0-0.

So, it stayed to half time, but shortly after the second period began it was Brocton who nicked the opening goal – a corner wasn’t defended well and Brocton centre half Jack Arrowsmith was eventually able to stab it over the line.

What followed was a period of sustained pressure from LRFC, with the home team camping in their opponent’s half, but with the final pass just falling short or going missing.

However, on 66 mins it finally clicked for LRFC when some good pass and move play again freed Lyne down the left and this time Langham was able to slot his through ball past the keeper for a deserved equaliser.

The lead lasted for just a minute though, as an almost identical Brocton raid down the left saw their midfielder Andy Davis arriving on the edge of the area to fire a cracking volley past a wrongfooted Ricky Blewitt in the LRFC goal.

Predictably, LRFC again laid siege to the Brocton goal as they looked to protect their lead and on 80 mins stand in skipper Danny Jenno (deputising for the sick Callum Earls) fired a rasping free kick just over the bar.

Shortly after the Brocton keeper was booked for time wasting and although there was one frantic goalmouth scramble where LRFC almost made it 2-2, the away side hung on to bring what would have been the Road’s six-game unbeaten run to an unfortunate end.

Starting X1: Blewitt, Alcott, Kelly, Jenno, Harrison, Lyne, Acton, Charles, Read, Brennan, Langham. Subs: Highland(GK), Burrows, , Humphreys, Cairney, Green.