Hinckley’s Leicester Road FC lost their unbeaten home record to tough, resilient and streetwise league leaders Bromsgrove Sporting in a close encounter decided by the odd goal.
A powerful header from a corner on 27 mins that gave LRFC keeper Will Highland no chance was all that separated the two teams in a game of few clear cut chances and where both sides largely cancelled each other out.
LRFC began tentatively and Bromsgrove’s very direct style stretched them, with a clear two-on-one wasted by the visiting team on 13 minutes and LRFC centre backs Josh Unsworth and Callum Earls both blocking goal-bound efforts.
Bromsgrove’s lively No.9 Jason Cowley curled one inches wide on 17 mins and a looping header from the same player was guided past the post from Unsworth on 26 mins, but from the resultant corner Bromsgrove defender Luke Edwards rose highest in a crowded box and LRFC were one down.
Towards the end of the first half Bromsgrove tried the same tactic again from a corner on the opposite side, but this time Highland gathered easily and LRFC went in just 1-0 down with all to play for. Whilst Bromsgrove were enjoying the majority of the possession, it was Leicester Road who looked more dangerous on the break.
Leicester Road began the second half with much more intent and purpose, with their patient build up style of play frustrating the visitors. However, a defensive mix up on 55 mins left the Bromsgrove left winger Reece Hewitt free, but he blazed over when well placed.
Two minutes later LRFC’s Joseph Lyne beat a couple of defenders on the left and cut it back nicely for Tom McGlinchey on the edge of the box, but it fell to his less favoured left foot and he just hooked it over the bar with the visitor’s defence all at sea. Moments later Billy Bennett also had sight of goal but his rasping shot was just over too.
Bromsgrove were now having to counter attack and on 60 mins the busy Cowley let fly from just outside the box and keeper Highland saved well at full stretch. Shortly after he was called into action again, tipping a stinging free kick by Chris Lloyd onto the bar after a dubious free kick was awarded.
Amarvir Sandhu replaced McGlinchey on 63 minutes, as LRFC looked to stretch the Bromsgrove defence even further and a period of sustained pressure by Leicester Road followed, with a succession of corners won. Perhaps a few more shots from distance might have paid dividends for LRFC, but they continued to pass and probe intelligently outside the box, with that final, cutting through ball just eluding them.
On 72 mins Bromsgrove broke clear and sent another half chance over the bar, but it was LRFC forcing the game with two Bromsgrove players being yellow carded in quick succession for cynical fouls on Leicester Road’s Jake Holt, who was starting to boss the midfield.
The same player fired over on 80 mins, but minutes later he linked well with No. 9 Matty Stenson, who almost put Sandhu clean through with a clever pass.
Sam Munton replaced Bennett for LRFC on 86 minutes and was quickly into the action, while Sandhu was pulled back when away from his marker in what should have been another booking, but despite forcing some more corners LRFC couldn’t trouble the Bromsgrove keeper – and the visitors were content to play out the 5 minutes of overtime in and around the LRFC corner flags to run the clock down. |