Leicester Road canter to a comfortable 4-1 win at home

HINCKLEY’S Leicester Road FC secured a comfortable enough 4-1 home win over Coventry Copeswood, although the final score line could have been even healthier.

For their fourth straight MFL win on the spin, goals apiece from Mark Green (his first for his new club), Nuno Gomes, Joseph Lyne and Matty Langham wrapped up all three points for the Road – who played very well in patches but weren’t always at their fluent best.

The game began at a lively pace and Copeswood had the first chance on two mins but scuffed their shot wide, while on five mins Road captain Callum Earls thundered a 35 yard free kick against the post. It ricocheted against the keeper and seemed to cross the line but the referee waved play on as the Coventry side desperately cleared their box.

Two minutes later however, a clever ball over the top beat the offside trap and the Road were 0-1 down as the Copeswood centre forward controlled well and finished clinically. LRFC responded well and immediately though and after a flurry of attacks led to a corner it was flicked on by Langham and Green nodded in at the far post to draw the Road level.

Leicester Road were now gaining a grip of the game and dominating possession and on 14 mins they went 2-1 up after a lovely interchange between Gomes and Langham. The former drove forward from the half way line and fed Langham on the edge of the box – and as he shaped to shoot he spied Gomes continuing his run and slid it through instead for his strike partner to slot home in the corner.

Copeswood continued to look dangerous on the break and forced Road stopper Will Highland into a save low down on 20 mins, as well as trying from range, but LRFC were creating the better chances – with Green shooting straight at the keeper on 29 mins and Jordan Burrows hitting the side netting on 35 mins when he really should have done better.

But then on 38 mins, Road’s sustained pressure told and when the Copeswood keeper saved bravely at the feet of Lang- ham, midfielder Lyne picked up the rebound, beat a defender and slid it neatly under the still recovering goalie to make it 3-1. It was no more than the Road deserved and they headed to the break in control, but right on the stroke of half time Highland maintained their deserved two goal lead with a wonderful reflex save onto the crossbar, after a fine move down the right, to ensure Copeswood didn’t go in with their tails up.

Eager to put the game to bed, LRFC started brighter and on the front foot, with a greater degree of control they were able to sustain for the whole half this time.

Gomes soon had a half chance cleared and Green hit the post after controlling a superbly weighted long ball. Earls did have to make a fine headed clearance at the other end, but Mylan Charles was repeatedly breaking up Copeswood forages forward in midfield and ensuring they never got any momentum going.

On 55 mins Gomes was felled in the box as he bore down on goal and Langham duly despatched the penalty for a more reassuring 4-1 score line. Gomes also had a 20 yard pile driver well saved on 62 mins as the Road turned the screw even further. On 65 mins it should have been five when a pinpoint cross from the left by Jack Harrison found Gomes unmarked, but going for power he headed over from just three yards out.

Copeswood continued to work hard and a curling low shot was well saved by Highland and Charles had to make a last ditch clearance from a corner, but Leicester Road held firm and appropriately had the last real chance of the game when on 86 mins substitute Amarvir Sandhu – who had earlier replaced Langham – sped into the box and drew a great save from the Copeswood keeper to keep it to 4-1.

Starting X1: Highland, Alcott, Earls ©, Rudd, Harrison, Lyne, Charles, Burrows, Gomes, Green, Langham. Subs: Blewitt (GK), Humphreys, Nabay, Whitehouse, Sandhu.