Big home win for Leicester Road

HINCKLEY’S Leicester Road FC secured a fantastic 5-0 home win over Cadbury Athletic to move up to second in MFL Division 1 – two points behind leaders Uttoxeter Town but with a game in hand.

An outstanding opening 14 mins set the platform with good goals from Liam Read, Matt Langham and Jordan Burrows, but Cadbury then made a real game of it before Dom Brennan added a fourth just before half time and Chris Hollist opened his account for the Road late in the second half.

LRFC started like a train and on 2 mins Langham drew a fine save from the away keeper after controlling well. But almost immediately Jack Harrison played a lovely through ball for Liam Read to race onto and he finished nicely for the opening goal.

On 8 mins it was 2-0 when Danny Jenno picked out Langham and he brought the ball down instantly and fired in from 20 yards with a sweet strike. The Road continued to dominate and on 14 mins some lovely intricate passing between Callum Earls and Read set up Burrows and he made no mistake for 3-0.

Cadbury could easily have thrown in the towel there and then, but they fought back admirably and on 15 mins LRFC keeper Will Highland had to make a smart save as their striker broke clear. It signalled a period of sustained away pressure as another one-on-one was thwarted by Highland minutes later, as was a testing cross shot - and then on 26 mins Cadbury blazed over from six yards out.

Having weathered the storm, LRFC found their feet again and on 35 mins they were again clinical and four goals to the good when Langham picked out Brennan and he finished well at the far post. Cadbury did have one more chance when again breaking clear after some good interplay, but Highland thwarted them once more and the Road went in with a healthy 4-0 half time lead.

As play resumed, Cadbury began as they left off and another breakaway chance was repelled, but on 50 mins Sam Munton’s teasing cross was just headed wide by Brennan. Langham was centimetres wide with a great effort on 58 mins and five minutes later Brennan fired agonisingly over when well placed.

Straight after a well worked LRFC corner routine saw Simon Alcott shave the post from 30 yards out. Then on 72 mins a cute pass from sub Nuno Gomes (on for Munton) put Read clear, but his first touch let him down somewhat and it was eventually cleared. However, minutes later Hollist (on for Langham) scored the fifth with almost his first touch when Read played him in and he finished well from around the penalty spot.

On 81 mins Cadbury had one last chance to grab a consolation goal, but Highland again saved well to deny them and right at the death the away keeper made an equally fine save to fingertip Harrison’s fierce drive away and stop it being six of the best for LRFC.

LRFC Starting X1: Highland (GK,) Alcott, Jenno C), Earls, Harrison, Charles, Burrows, Munton, Read, Brennan, Langham. SUBS: Bukowski, (GK), Ncube, Hollist, Beasley, Gomes.

Saturday 12th October, LRFC entertain former rivals Walsall Wood (who now sit on top of the MFL Premier Division) at home (ko 3pm) in the FA Vase.