LRFC win thanks to Acton and Lyne
Duo on the scoresheet as Leicester Road making a flying start
IT seems a distant memory since the FA declared last season null and void due to the Covid-19 pandemic with the league title clearly within touching distance of Leicester Road FC.
After coming through a second local lockdown, the pre-season schedule was devastated due to teams being forced to play the majority of friendlies behind closed doors to follow the government directives.
Against all the odds and within restrictive Covid-19 guidelines, Neil Lyne continued to work tirelessly throughout the close season, adding four new faces to an already established squad that were in pole position last season to win the league and get promoted.
On Saturday, the squad took on Chelmsley Town who groundshare with Coleshill Town on their synthetic pitch for this season’s opener.
Chelmsley were considered to be an unknown quantity with a new young team even though they are alleged to be sponsored by current Watford captain Troy Deeney.
The game kicked off and both teams settled into the game with Leicester Road moving into the offensive forcing Chelmsley back into their defensive third for the majority of the first 20 minutes with a couple of half chances falling to Liam Read and Dom Brennan in quick succession.
The game opened up after 23 mins when Leicester Road were awarded a penalty, but Matty Langham’s spot kick was forced wide for a corner.
The corner was only half cleared by the Chelmsley defence to Jarred Acton on the edge of the box who took great delight in riffling a thunderbolt half volley in off the crossbar to put Leicester Road 1-0 up after 24 mins.
The goal spurred Leicester Road on and they continued to pen Chelmsley into their defensive third, with the highlight being Matty Langham almost making it two after his well-hit volley narrowly crept wide after 30 mins.
Leicester Road continued to apply the pressure and kept constant possession which paid dividends following neat intricate work between Jo Lyne, Jordan Burrows, Dom Brennan, Liam Read and Matty Langham, which opened up space for Jo Lyne to clinically execute into the top corner to put them 2-0 up after 38 mins.
Leicester Road continued the second half very much in the same vane as they finished the first half, dominating the game and keeping possession for long periods of time.
The first real chance in the second half came after 55 mins when Nathan Astill broke out of defence and dribbled the length of the pitch only to see his shot drift narrowly wide.
Leicester Road continued in the ascendance with Chelmsley offering very little in terms of attacking and threatening Leicester Road and the game started to lose its tempo.
Chelmsley did rally briefly after 70 mins with a rare venture forward, resulting in a 20-yard effort that sailed over the unsuspecting Will Highland and into the top corner to bring Chelmsley back into the game at 2-1 much to the delight of the Chelmsley bench.
Leicester Road tightened up their play by continuing to dominate territory and possession and Chelmsley found it difficult to penetrate or threaten Leicester Road.
Lewis Jones was introduced on 80 mins, replacing Simon Allcott, and made an immediate impact by forcing the Chelmsley defence constantly onto the back foot.
With the game already won, Leicester Road forced the game through to the end giving nothing away and content to put the first win of the season in the top draw.
Team: Will Highland, Jarred Acton, Jack Harrison, Jordan Burrows, Danny Jenno, Nathan Astill, Simon Allcott, Joseph Lyne, Matt Langham, Dom Brennan, Liam Read. Subs: Adam Hohn, Lewis Jones, Will Groocock, Callum Earls, Jake Brown.