Down to the wire after a Bank Holiday stalemate
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LEEK Town’s bid for home advantage in the play-offs will go down to a winner-takesall final day showdown with Marine this weekend, writes
LUKE REYNOLDS.
The Blues could have put themselves in pole position for that coveted third spot but were unable to find a way past neighbours Kidsgrove Athletic on Easter Monday.
The Blues knew the visit by the Grove would be a challenging game for them, their near neighbours lying mid-table in the NPL West and recently overcoming both Bootle FC and Trafford FC away from Hollinwood Road.
The game proved to be a typical local derby, high on effort but low quality chances on goal and at times it was a highly competitive encounter.
In a first half largely dominated by the Blues but with few real goal scoring opportunities, their patient passing play produced early chances for both Dan Trickettsmith, Tom Edge and then towards the end of the first period, Will Saxon.
It was a steady start by Leek, as they kept up their trademark possession game, despite some seemingly late tackles from the visitors.
On 38 minutes, Kidsgrove had their first shot at goal with striker Kieran Brown seeing his effort float wide.
Leek immediately went on the attack from the restart, with a good chance to get a first goal soon coming to Blues forward Tim Grice, but he saw his shoot slide just past the post.
Soon after, following some great build up play by the home team created a great chance for Edge, who saw his strong shot well saved by Grove keeper Brown.
It was all Leek now and the Blues continued to dominate play through Billy Reeves, Marc Grocott and Edge in midfield.
On 55 minutes a fine Trickettsmith chip somehow failed to slide into the visitors’ net, with the Kidsgrove goalkeeper seemingly well beaten.
Then on 68 minutes, Kidsgrove forwards Brown and Mccarthy combined well and when Leek failed to clear a throw, a fine shot from substitute Adu-gyamfi was well saved by Blues keeper Sam Booth.
As the second half developed, a change came for the Blues with Olly Harrison coming on for Grocott.
As the game progressed into the final phase, both teams had chances to score. And when a penalty was awarded by referee Warner for a trip on Saxon it looked like the home team would take the lead, but Louis Keenan’s well-struck spot-kick was well saved by Grove keeper Ryan Brown.
Final changes came late on with Davidson coming on as a substitute for Edge and Lewis Short replacing Dyer.
In the final minutes, it was end to end play from both teams, played at a fast pace.
The Blues now look forward to playing their final match away to Marine to decide their final placing in the play-off zone.
BLUES: Booth, Dyer (Short 88), Keenan, Grocott (Harrison 76), Wara, Ryder, Edge (Davidson 69), Reeves, Grice, Trickett-smith, Saxon. Subs not used: Ly, Roberts
ATTENDANCE: 730