Grice fires in a double as Leek extend winning start
Betvictor South East Leek Town ....................... 2 Sutton Coldfield Town .... 0
LEEK Town recorded their fifth successive win of the season and maintained their 100 per cent record with a 2-0 victory against Sutton Coldfield Town at home, who are still looking for their first point of the league campaign.
The game began as a cagey affair, but Leek started the brighter and had numerous attacks down the right hand flank without creating a clear cut chance.
Some neat work from Jake Twyford, Rob Stevenson and Tim Grice created several chances in the box, but the Royals defence held out.
As the half progressed the game became closer and Sutton Coldfield pressed the Leek defence, having the ball in the net once only for the goal to be ruled out for offside.
On 34 minutes an attack from the left saw Stevenson pick out Twyford whose shot was deflected and the ball fell to Grice who made no mistake from two yards out.
Just before half-time it should have been another goal as Stevenson crossed to Grice at the far post, but the prolific striker put the ball over the bar from close range.
The second half started scrappily with both sides committing fouls in midfield, and Billy Reeves was shown a yellow card in the 49th minute.
Leek continued to try to play football and on 58 minutes Stevenson found Grice with a pin-point cross field ball from the left. Grice beat the offiside trap and coolly rounded the keeper to make the score 2-0.
This broke the resolve of Sutton Coldfield and Leek created several chances in a short period, the best of which was a quick free quick taken by Twyford to Chris Baker who struck the upright with a longrange effort. Leek managed the remainder of the game well with goalkeeper Danny Roberts rarely being troubled, Sutton Coldfield became frustrated and picked up four yellow cards as the referee lost his patience with their players.
Leek Town: Roberts, Agbozo,
Keenan, Grocott, Harrison, Chadwick, Baker, Reeves, Grice (Kirby 90), Twyford (Walford 81), Stevenson (Bott 78). Substitues: Bavanganga, Goode (unused).
Attendance 340. ■ MEANWHILE, the club has unveiled a new mural at the ground, which has been commissioned from local Biddulph artist, Ethan Lemon.
Local businessman and Leek Town sponsor Jed Eatough of LSGK Accountants approached club chairman Jon Eeles with the idea a few months ago, and introduced Ethan to the Club.
Ethan, aged 19, is on the Princes Youth Trust Enterprise scheme. As part of the scheme he is assigned a business mentor who helps with all aspects of business development. Ethan has been working with Jed as his mentor for over a year.
Eeles said: “We are all delighted with the new mural that Ethan has done for us, he is a very talented lad. As well as an opportunity to showcase his work we are hoping the mural will drum up even more interest on social media, and we are encouraging people to take selfies in front of it. Central to the mural is the Leek Town crest, with some notable landmarks from our heritage in the background - I think it is terrific.”
The mural is situated inside the ground on the Grace Street side and the Club are inviting home and visiting fans to pose for selfies and post on social media with the hashtag #WEARELEEK.