LTHC Ladies 1st XI 8 vs Northampton Ladies 2nd XI 0
MRHAWL – Midlands Feeder East
Saturday 28th September 2019
Coming off the back off three pre-season wins, Loughborough Town Ladies 1st XI took to the field looking to continue their good form in the first league game of the season. Facing a side only recently promoted to Midlands Feeder East, Town started the stronger of the two sides as Northampton struggled with the face pace set by the home side. Despite looking threatening, Town took time to break the deadlock – Alex Hardy eventually netting their first of the morning after a clever baseline drive by Emily Hill. Hill then grabbed a goal of her own from a tight angle before the half time whistle sounded.
Now well and truly in their rhythm, it wasn’t long before Town scored their third after the half time break. New signing Ellie Sloper’s powerful cross found Grace Thompson who cleverly lifted the ball past the stranded Northampton keeper to take the score to 3-0. Minutes later, Daisy Perry-Mitchell’s pass set up Emily Burgwin; her fantastic solo drive seeing her round the out-rushing keeper and calmly slot the ball home for Town’s fourth.
Northampton’s youthful side struggled to maintain any meaningful attacks, with centre backs Alice Thompson and Helen Lowe marshalling Town’s back line and untroubled keeper Harriet Galpin effectively playing the role of ball girl.
With well over a quarter of the game remaining, Town continued to press on for more goals and their persistence was rewarded with the ball finding a Northampton foot in the circle. A quick injection from Katherine Laws set up a zig-zag routine between Hill and Georgina Godfrey, with Godfrey sweeping the ball low to the keeper’s right for the 5-0 lead.
As Northampton lost a player to a yellow card, Town continued to capitalise and a strong drive from Thompson set up Hannah McCleery in the circle. McCleery kept her cool in front of the Northampton keeper and smashed the ball home to take the score to 6-0. Town still could have had more as Hardy’s reverse stick shot blazed just wide of the far post, and Godfrey could not connect with Burgwin’s pinpoint cross – the ball flying agonisingly wide of the open goal.
Northampton’s misery was complete as they were reduced to 10 when their player saw another yellow card for verbal abuse of the umpire. Town again capitalised with their player overload – new recruit Zoe Hainsworth’s smart deflection taking the score to 7-0. With just minutes left on the clock, Town added insult to injury when Georgina Godfrey scored her second of the morning from a short corner. Town ran out 8-0 winners and took their place at the top of the table – a strong start in their pursuit of promotion.
© Andy Smith
Back row (L-R): Shana Featonby, Emily Burgwin, Katherine Laws, Emily Hill, Hannah McCleery. Ashleigh Godfrey, Helen Lowe, Alice Thompson, Ellie Sloper, Zoe Hainsworth.
Front row (L-R): Rebe Casselden, Alex Hardy, Katie McKinlay, Harriet Galpin, Georgina Godfrey, Daisy Perry-Mitchell, Grace Thompson
