Score draw - Rodborough at home

Score draw - Rodborough at home

Leckhampton learned the lessons of the last match between these two sides and started with the right level of tempo. 

Playing 4-3-3 they lined up with Will in goal, a back 3 of Lewis, Ben and George. The midfield quartet were Sam, Tom, Jacob and Seth. The attacking trio were Luca and Alf in wide positions with Gus through the middle. 

On the bench, Hayden and Jorge. 

Playing up the slope in the first half LRFC were more than a match in midfield and while susceptible to a long ball the defence and Tom, forced deeper by the Rodborough right back, were able to clear the lines. 

The LRFC back three were immense in this game. Winning the ball and then driving into midfield. As the game progressed and Rodborough were being forced back the back three were in the Rodborough half as they pressed for a winner. 

Rodborough opened the scoring with a finish inside the box after LRFC failed to clear their lines. Rodborough were sharper to the ball in attacking positions something that LRFC struggled to get to grips with. 

There was time for a disallowed goal, the linesman flagging for offside. 

It was 1-0 at half time.

Second half and lrfc playing down the slope started pressing immediately. Rodborough were holding firm and hitting long balls out of defence. On the break they remained dangerous although the lrfc keeper didn’t have any real saves to make. 

Lrfc equalised from the penalty spot. Jacob, who was the MotM, threaded the ball forward for Luca to latch onto. His pace sent him clear only for the defender to bring him down. 

Penalty given and scored low to the keepers right. The keeper went the right way but couldn’t get down quickly enough. 1-1 and how the game would finish. 

LRFC continued to create chances, Gus crossed the ball from wide right which Jorge narrowly missed only seconds into his season debut. Alf and Luca both had chances that they couldn’t fully connect with. 

As the end of the match approached it looked like LRFC might get the winning goal. As they pressed though there was an ever present threat from Rodborough that they had to be mindful of. Pressing high did cut off that ready supply.

At the final whistle both teams might feel they had done enough to win it rather than share the points. This was a really competitive and fair contest between two fully committed and capable teams.

Jacob was MotM, his composure in midfield was the calming influence that the team needed. This gave the platform for the team to press and look for goals. 

Even more impressive was the LRFC performance. There was desire from every player, energy and tempo. The passing was better; crisper and accurate. There was pressing all over the pitch and fitness levels looked good. 

Tom caught the eye in the first half with his energy, fitness and relentless tracking up and down the pitch. The back 3 played as a real unit and Lewis’ in particular is a real physical presence. His was a massively improving performance today as he grows in confidence following his return to the beautiful game following a year egg chasing. 

This is something for LRFC to build on and if they do so they will have something to play for until late in the season.