First defeat in 14 games for LRFC
HINCKLEY’S Leicester Road FC slipped to a disappointing 1-0 reverse against Ashby Ivanhoe – to lose their unbeaten home record and record a first defeat in 14 MFL Division 1 games
Despite an uncharacteristically flat performance they still created enough chances to win the game, but were undone by a well-taken second half lobbed finish by
Ashby striker Grouse, some tenacious defending and more than a few inspired saves from the away keeper Dyche.
The Road began brightly enough with full back Jack Harrison overlapping on 4 mins and just being beaten by the toe of Dyche to a well weighted through ball from Liam Read. Read then shot on the turn minutes later after being set up by Simon Alcott and it was only a whisker wide.
Ashby seemed content to counter attack and on 10 mins their midfielder Minshull forced Road keeper Will Highland into a full length save, however three minutes later LRFC could have taken the lead - but Alcott’s lob when clear was under hit and the fingertips of Dyche intervened.
On 17 mins Dyche’s fingertips again came to the rescue, this time from a misplaced back pass and then on 22 mins centre half Callum Earls ghosted past a few defenders, but the barging Ashby challenge that ended his run in the box was seen by the referee as a fair one.
Minshull again has Highland back-pedalling on 25 mins with a flicked half volley that only just drifted wide and Grouse also got away minutes later, but Highland was well out to block. Then on 39 mins Read and Sam Munton combined well with the latter drawing an acrobatic save from Dyche.
Ashby’s Minshull was again very close on 40 mins with a fierce poke just wide, however just before half time LRFC’s Jordan Burrows miscued when well placed in the area and Harrison’s goal bound follow up was blocked near the line – and 0-0 it remained at half time.
LRFC’s somewhat disjointed play continued in the second half, unfortunately, with a Read through ball to Munton just over hit and skipper Danny Jenno heading over when well placed from a corner. Matt Langham’s dink over the defence on 60 mins saw Read about to pull the trigger before a very late flag for offside added to the frustration, while on 65 mins an Alcott header was well palmed away at the far post by Dyche, but the referee gave no corner?
Two further corners caused more tension and pressure in the Ashby box, but they held firm, and on 70 mins in a rare foray forward they snatched a lead when a ricochet from a poor clearance put Grouse clear and he lifted it over the advancing Highland and into the top corner.
LRFC continued to press for an equaliser, but couldn’t carve out any real clear cut chances – Burrows’ shot only hitting Dyche’s legs when stretching for a through ball and Dom Brennan (on for Mylan Charles) drawing another fine save from the away keeper with a curler from inside the box.
Right at the death Alcott won a free kick on the edge of the area, but although Earls hit it with typical zip and curl around the wall, Dyche again managed to get a hand on it low down and Ashby celebrated wildly at the final whistle.
LRFC Starting X1: Highland (GK,) Acton, Jenno (C), Earls, Harrison, Charles, Alcott, Munton, Burrows, Read, Langham. SUBS: Perkins, (GK), Beasley, Hohn, Gomes, Brennan.