Big away result for LRFC
HINCKLEY’S Leicester Road FC earned a superb and deserved 2-1 away win at Atherstone Town to take the A5 derby and local bragging rights.
They out thought and out fought their promotion rivals in what was a dogged and disciplined team effort; with first half goals from centre half Danny Jenno (his first for the club) and leading goal scorer Matt Langham securing three crucial points.
The Road harried and frustrated their opponents and often looked like they were the home side with a controlled and battling display - with Atherstone never allowed to find any rhythm or continuity.
In what was a cagey opening, Adders dangerman Joe Obi had a few half chances that the Road were eventually able to snuff out, while lively Road striker Dom Brennan put in a lofted, hanging shot that Adders keeper James Beeson just about tipped over the bar.
But the game properly sprang into life on 16 mins when the otherwise imperious Jenno was beaten by the bounce to leave Obi clear. Road keeper Will Highland got a hand on his thunderous drive but it still flew into the top corner to put the hosts 1-0 up.
The Road came right back at the Adders however and two minutes later a corner from the right was flicked on by Nuno Gomes and rather appropriately Jenno nodded it home on the six yard line past a static Beeson to level matters.
With the midfield congested, both teams looked to counter attack and Mylan Charles put in a last ditch block to stop a promising Atherstone overlap on 20 mins, but five mins later the Road were in front with a well-taken Langham finish.
Brennan cleverly cut out a pass across the defensive line and then threaded it through for the big striker, who calmly drilled it across the keeper and into the far corner for his 22nd of the season.
On 32 mins LRFC midfielder Liam Read skilfully beat two players before firing just wide, but the Road held on comfortably until half time to go in with a deserved lead. They continued in the same vein for the start of the second period too with Brennan, Read and Gomes all going close from corners.
On 60 mins Beeson saved point blank from a bullet Jenno header, with Read screwing the rebound just wide, while on 72 mins Atherstone did have a decent chance but it looped onto the roof of the Road net and out of harm’s way.
Then on 75 mins Mark Green replaced Langham and straight away made a nuisance of himself and caused panic in the Atherstone defence. First of all he won a ball he had no right to win and almost put Jack Harrison in - then he got on the end of a perfectly weighted cross from Read (who in turn had been put clear by a delightful chip over the top by Gomes) but his shot lacked power.
Another defence splitting ball from Gomes put Brennan one-on-one with the Adders keeper on 90 mins, but while he properly put his laces through it, Beeson made a spectacular save to deny him and Green hit the rebound straight at him as he got back into position. Atherstone did have a last ditch free kick on the edge of the box, but the LRFC wall did its job and the Road claimed a deserved victory to properly haul themselves back into the MFL 1 promotion hunt.
LRFC manager Neil Lyne said: “It was an excellent performance, with some smart, resolute and determined play and they just couldn’t break us down and find a way through. We could and should have won by more and apart from their goal, Atherstone didn’t really force our keeper into any meaningful save, which away from home and against a high flying rival epitomised how strong and effective our performance was.”
Next up for LRFC is another big derby game (Sat 12th Jan, ko 3pm) home against town rivals Hinckley AFC, with the Road having run out 3-1 winners earlier in the season at Ibstock.
Starting X1: Highland, Alcott, Earls ©, Jenno, Harrison, Charles, Burrows, Gomes, Read, Brennan, Langham. Subs: Blewitt (GK), Walters, Humphreys, Jeys, Green.