A third derby win for LRFC

HINCKLEY’S Leicester Road FC completed a hat-trick of local derby wins with an emphatic 4-1 victory at neighbouring Nuneaton Griff.

Having won their previous two matches 1-0 at home versus Hinckley AFC and 2-1 away at Atherstone Town, the Road wrapped up another three valuable league points courtesy of goals apiece from Matt Langham, skipper Callum Earls, Dom Brennan and the returning Joseph Lyne.

LRFC began brightly and on just 3 minutes top scorer Langham shot straight at the keeper when well placed. Griff had a long range effort minutes later, but if flew well wide, while Road’s Nuno Gomes had a shot well saved on 8 mins from a well worked corner.

Brennan got his head to a probing Liam Read cross on 11 mins that wasn’t far off the mark, but on 20 mins LRFC broke the deadlock when the lively Gomes was felled in the box and Langham stroked home the resultant penalty for his 25th goal of the season.

Another long range Griff effort on 27 mins didn’t trouble LRFC keeper Will Highland, but three minutes later a long ball over the top beat the Road defence and the Griff striker Brady Middleton took it early and crisply to draw the home team level against the run of play.

The Road rallied well though and on 37 mins Langham at full stretch just failed to convert a pinpoint Earls cross, while Brennan also went close again. But right on the stroke of half time a Jordan Burrows free kick saw Earls rise highest and head firmly home to give the Road a deserved 1-2 lead at half time.

LRFC began the second period at top speed too, Read drawing a very fine save from Griff keeper Dom Cotter on 47 mins. Burrows fired just over on 55 mins after a delicate one-two with Gomes and two minutes later an almighty scramble in the Griff box saw three separate Road players have shots cleared off the line – for one of those ‘how did the ball stay out’ moments.

Road midfielder Mylan Charles grazed the post from a full 25 yards out on 60 mins, but with 68 showing on the clock excellent chasing by Read kept the ball alive and his cute back heel allowed Brennan to pick his spot and curl a beauty into the top corner for a 3-1 lead.

It was all Leicester Road and a few more half chances went begging, but on 88 mins another powerful Earls header was cleared off the line, but sub Lyne was on hand to poke it home for the fourth – in his first game back following a two-month stint at Nuneaton Borough of the National League North.

Starting X1: Highland, Alcott, Earls ©, Jenno, Harrison, Charles, Burrows, Gomes, Read, Brennan, Langham. Subs: Blewitt (GK), Humphreys, Lyne, Green, Jeys.