LRFC grind out win to stay top
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And when Read connected well with the knock down it looked destined for the bottom corner – only for a desperate Stapenhill leg to block it on the line.
Jenno also drilled just wide on the stroke of half time after a Callum Earls free kick was blocked, but it ended all square at the interval with the Road never quite properly into their stride.
The second period also started slowly for LRFC and more hesitancy in the home defence presented the Stapenhill striker with a one-on-one with Highland, but he shot tamely and straight at him.
It woke the Road up, however, and they started to take control and dominate possession – but without carving out too many clear cut chances.
On 53 mins an Earls header was well saved and Read’s follow up was again blocked near the line, with Alcott’s lob back in from the rebound well held by the keeper at full stretch.
Then on 70 mins Burrows’ weaving run down the right saw top scorer Matty Langham get his toe on the end of an inviting near post cross, but it rolled agonisingly across goal without anyone to tap home.
On 76 mins Alcott stung the away keeper’s hands with a fierce drive, but Langham was unable to control the rebound and the danger passed – and minutes later Jack Harrison drilled a shot through a crowded area and the keeper did enough to block.
The pressure was slowly mounting though and on 85 mins Harrison beat the offside trap to get his head on a Jarred Acton cross and when it fell to Langham he squared it for Alcott who placed nicely into the bottom corner.
Deep into injury time, Highland miscued a punch from a looping cross, but he reacted quickly to get a firm hand on the goal bound shot – and LRFC celebrated another three points in the bag.
LRFC Starting X1: Highland (GK,) Acton, Jenno (C), Earls, Harrison, Read, Alcott, Munton, Burrows, Brennan, Langham. SUBS: Perkins, (GK), Beasley, Hohn, Gomes, Charles.