This week we have match reports from the M3 and L3, plus some pictures from each game.
LTHC Men’s 3rd XI 4 vs Derby 1st XI 3
Midlands Men’s Division 5 East
After a midweek loss to top of the table Repton 2nd XI, Loughborough Town 3rd XI were back at home for an important game against Derby 1st XI. Both sides sat on 15 points with Town in 7th place (due to goal difference) and Derby one place below.
Town started well taking a two-goal lead within the first fifteen minutes. Both goals coming from penalty corners. The first goal was a well worked routine which the ball was eventually moved back to the left-hand post where Jacob Harris tapped it in, and the second a low drag flick by Sam Horsman from the top of the D. As the half time neared Derby got back into the game as some poor defending let the away side open their account. Half-time 2-1.
As the second half started Derby put pressure on Town’s defence leading to some good scoring opportunities though keeper Tom Abbott made some good saves. Slightly against the run of play Town scored their third with a goal from Nathan Holifield. Derby not giving in piled pressure on Town, and with one of those attacks scored their second to bring the score back to 3-2. Knowing this game could slip away from then Town upped their game. Horsman nearly got his second of the game from a penalty corner, though his well taken drag flick which was going top left into the goal was well saved by the Derby keeper.
On a Town counter attack down the right Holifield scored his second of the game, as from a ball fired into the D, he managed to get a slight touch on the ball to give Town a 4-2 lead. Derby again not going away scored their third with about five minutes to go. A tense last five minutes followed with Derby having a quite a few chances to equalise especially with a late penalty corner, though Town saw all of these off to take the 4-3 win and an important three points.
Town don’t play next weekend, though the week after they travel Market Harborough 1st XI, which will be a tough game.
More photo’s from the game can be found in the 2021 / 2022 Season Gallery.
LTHC Ladies’ 3rd XI 2 vs Loughborough Carillon 1st XI 0
Midlands Women’s Division 4 Nene / Charnwood
After a great win the week before, Loughborough Town Ladies 3rd XI faced formidable competition, as they played local rivals and top of the league Loughborough Carillon 1st XI. The opposition had beaten Town in the first half of the season, and so there was a definite desire to even the score.
Town started strong but were met by an equally impressive midfield of Carillon. Both teams were passing well and creating chances, and the game was end to end. The deadlock was broken around the fifteen-minute mark as a ball out from defence found midfielder Fran Bucher, who passed to Emily Quinn. Despite Carillon’s best efforts to stop her, Quinn drove the side-line releasing a perfectly timed pass to Sam Dalby who was unmarked in the D. The keeper spotting the danger tried to close the gap, but Dalby slipped the ball past her to make it 1-0.
Carillon rallied well and pushed to get an equaliser but Town doubled their lead in the twenty fifth minute after Quinn again beat Carillon’s defence and drew the keeper away from a waiting Dalby, who received another great feed from Quinn to slot it home for hers and Towns second.
Whilst the second half saw no change to the score line, it was not without drama. Both teams wanted to secure the win and Kate Horrigan in Towns goal, was again impressive as she closed down players and stopped all that came her way. With about eight minutes to go, an amazing goal line save from Izzy Perry prevented any sign of a late comeback, as defensive pairing Iris Broekhuijzen and Annabel Page followed this up with strong tackling and targeted clearances.
As the final whistle blew Town took all three points, and levelled the head-to-head this year. As most teams take a break next week, Town will travel to Leicester 4th XI to play third in the table, in what is anticipated to be another great game.
More photo’s from the game can be found in the 2021 / 2022 Season Gallery.
