Keeper is the hero in shoot out win for LRFC
FA VASE (FIRST QUALIFYING ROUND) LEICESTER ROAD FC 0 HAUGHMOND FC 0 (LEICESTER ROAD WIN 3-0 ON PENALTIES) LEICESTER Road came into Saturday’s unpredictable tie against Haughmond FC of the Midland League Premier Division off the back of four straight league wins and after only conceding two goals.
The game started evenly on an immaculate pitch influenced by a slight tail wind. Haughmond created the first real chance forcing Will Highland into a save down to his right after five minutes.
Leicester Road had to wait until 13 minutes to create their first chance after the ball found Matty Langham whose half turn and clean strike forced the Haughmond keeper into his first action save.
Leicester Road soon found their rhythm and began to take control of the game with their passing and possession approach without really getting behind Haughmond. The best chance of the game fell to Leicester Road when Matty Langham crossed for Sam Munton but his angled shot went agonisingly wide as the referee blew the whistle for half time.
Leicester Road continued on the front foot throughout the second half but were finding it difficult to get behind and through the Haughmond back line. Sam Munton managed to get his shot away on 66 minutes which was redirected by Simon Alcott only for the Haughmond keeper to save whilst falling the wrong way, brilliant save and Haughmond survive again. The game had 0-0 written all over it because Leicester Road just couldn’t seem to force the ball over the line. Neil Lyne decided to change things and replaced Sam Munton with Callum Earls quickly followed by Jake Brown replacing Simon Alcott. This time Haughmond make a rare foray forward forcing Will Highland into the save of the game down to his left hand side.
The game drifted on until the final whistle which meant the game would be decided by penalties.
Leicester Road were awarded the first penalty and the players from both teams assembled on the halfway line.
Nathan Astill strolled up to take the first penalty and confidently dispatched it sending the Haughmond keeper the wrong way to put Leicester Road 1-0 up.
Next up Haughmond, great penalty even better save. Will Highland guessed the right way and tipped the ball onto the post.
Matty Langham confidently lines up the next penalty and dispatches it without any problems sending the Haughmond Keeper the wrong way to make it Leicester Road 2-0 up.
Next up Haughmond, Will Highland saves the penalty magnificently.
Callum Earls effortlessly dispatches the next penalty to put Leicester Road 3-0 up.
Next up Haughmond, unbelievable, Will Highland saves the penalty again.
Leicester Road win the penalty shootout 3-0 thanks to three great strikes and Will Highland totally psyching out the Haughmond penalty takers to put Leicester Road into the next round of the FA Vase away to Midland League Premier Division opposition again in the form of Romulus.
Team: Will Highland, Adam Hohn, Danny Jenno (C), Nathan Astill, Jack Harrison, Jordan Burrows, Jo Lyne, Simon Alcott, Dom Brennan, Sam Munton, Matty Langham. Subs: Callum Earls, Jake Brown, Jarrod Acton, Lewis Jones, Jack Beasley.