Rovers travelled to the home of Leicestershire and Rutland County FA Headquarters at Holmes Park where Leicester City Reserves play, to compete in the Central League Cup.
Wednesday, 4th December 2013 at Holmes Park, Whetstone
Central League Cup
Referee – Mr Ian Smedley
A sunny but bitterly cold afternoon was soon warmed up for the Rovers defence as they struggled to keep the home team at bay in the first ten minutes or so. Frempah hit a cracking shot straight at Maxted following a corner in the 4th minute as the home team set up a series of attacks. However, having weathered the storm Rovers then won a corner that came out to Middleton on the right just outside the area but the keeper saved his shot at the near post.
Rovers travelled to the home of Leicestershire and Rutland County FA Headquarters at Holmes Park where Leicester City Reserves play, to compete in the Central League Cup.
A corner minutes later to Rovers was cleared. In the 15th minute Middleton won the ball in midfield, took the ball on but fired wildly high and wide from just outside the area. From the resultant goal kick, Smith punted into the Rovers penalty area where the Rovers defence failed to clear properly and PANAYIOTOU collected the ball and rifled it into the net from the edge of the area in the 16th minute.
From the re-start Bennett received on the Rovers left and from 25yards curled an effort for the top far corner but it just scraped over the bar. Five minutes later Panayiotou, from the edge of the penalty area, had his shot comfortably saved by Maxted. Just past the half hour Cain had a go from 25yards but Maxted saved well going to his left. In the 42nd minute a free kick from the right touchline was headed down by Peterson for Whitehouse to shoot over the bar from 25yards. A corner to Leicester was cleared to the Rovers left where Finnegan took it on before crossing to the far post where Peterson, unmarked, headed over from close range.
Five minutes into the second half a good move upfield by Bennett, Middleton and Whitehouse for the latter to hit a good cross low into the six yard area where Peterson failed to get the necessary touch albeit under challenge. The home team then forged forward and in the 55th minute added another goal when WATSON converted a cross from Cain on the right.
Rovers hit back in the 58th minute when Whitehouse fed Peterson on the edge of the six-yard box but Smith was out quickly to smother the ball as the Rovers man shaped to shoot. Five minutes later and Middleton, receiving from Bennett, hit a terrific shot that Smith could only beat away. Minutes later Cain shot over from distance and Panayiotou fired high and wide from 25yards.
In the 81st minute another good low cross from the right byline hit the far post and bounced up into the grateful arms of Smith. Then, in the 85th minute, Leicester added a third goal when CAIN had a fierce drive blocked but followed up to drill the ball into the net. The difference between the sides at the end was that the home team had taken the chances on offer but the Rovers hadn’t.
Teams – Leicester City – Adam Smith; Ritchie de Laet (Jamie Anton 60), Callum Elder, Ryan Watson, Alie Sesay ©, Ben Frempah, Adam Dawson (Robert Paratore 67), Michael Cain, Harry Panayiotou, Joe Dodoo, Zoumanna Bakayogo (Marcel Barrington 40)
Sub not used – Josh Smith
ROVERS – Jon Maxted; Jordan Binns, Liam Wakefield ©, Abdoulaye Meite, Evan Finnegan; Josh Meade, Harry Middleton, James Harper, Kyle Bennett; Harry Forrester (Billy Whitehouse 33), Alex Peterson
Subs not used – Scott Brown, Callum Terrell, Jack McLaren gk