LRFC take another three points
HINCKLEY’S Leicester Road FC secured a hard-fought 1-0 home victory over a well-drilled Kirby Muxloe side to move 10 points clear in Midlands Football League Division 1.
A looping first half header from top scorer Matty Langham proved decisive, but it could and should have been more as a few gilt-edged chances were spurned in a dominant final quarter of the game.
Kirby forced the game’s first corner from the kick off, but LRFC were soon right at them and Liam Read stung the away keeper Jones’ outstretched hand on 3 mins with a rasping shot.
Dom Brennan than curled a beauty from 25 yards out that also forced a fine save.
It was nip and tuck but on 9 mins LRFC took the lead with a well-worked goal that saw an exquisite flick pass from Read find the overlapping Jack Harrison down the left wing, who whipped in a pinpoint cross that Langham glanced over the helpless Jones high into the far corner.
The Road took command and after a few half chances Nuno Gomes got on the end of a cute Brennan dink on 20 mins, but his deft lob just drifted wide. Minutes later, however, Road keeper Will Highland was called into action when he just got to a through ball just before Kirby No. 9 Mass.
He then had to save smartly straight after when a fierce shot from the edge of the box from Kirby’s Barber tested his reflexes. Brennan retaliated again though with a mazy run that forced a full length save down low from Jones and another snapshot from 15 yards out that was only inches over.
Gomes and Read tested Jones further and LRFC centre backs Callum Earls and Danny Jenno had to deal with a few dangerous balls into the box, but as the game drifted towards half time a curling cross caught the home defence knapping and a pinpoint header from Kirby’s Bosworth was just a whisker wide.
LRFC began the second period brightly and a hanging Gomes cross from the right saw Harrison arrive just a fraction late as his header at full stretch lacked direction.
Then on 55 mins another great team effort saw Jarred Acton and Langham play in Read, who set up Gomes on the six yard line, only for him to be denied by a last ditch tackle.
Minutes later a neat one-two between Langham and Jordan Burrows from a short corner saw another goal bound effort from Read blocked late, but then Highland had to smother a half volley as Kirby continued to look for the counter attack.
Shortly after their midfielder Barber also wriggled clear but he miscued his shot well wide.
Continued inside