WEEKEND OF WINS
Leicester celebrated after a weekend of wins left club sides in strong positions in League and Cup competitions. pride of place must go to the first team which continues to march majestically on in League and Cup with Reading posing the only serious threat to title ambitions.
On Saturday the side took on Midlands rivals Olton and won 2-0 with goals from the fit again Kerry Williams and Beckie Herbert. Both were in open play, one in the first half and one in the second. Herbert's goal was her fifth in the League making her Leicester's top League goalscorer so far this season.
Herbert was back in goal action on Sunday at Clifton in the last 16 of the England Hockey Cup. Her 10th minute open play goal set Leicester scoring and Katie Long added a second five minutes later, also from open play. Just before half time it was Crista Cullen getting in on the act, unusually for her this goal was also open play rather than her trademark set piece. Leicester's fourth and final goal came in open play from Lucy Brown in the 54th minute.
After 8 games, all won, Leicester sits three points ahead of Reading at the top of the table. Reading has won all of its games, apart from the 3-0 loss to Leicester. The Slough side in third is already 8 points adrift of Leicester. Next weekend both Leicester and Reading ought to win according to the form book. Leicester travels to Trojans, bottom of the League, whilst Reading hosts Clifton, one place above in 9th.
The Cup win sees Leicester drawn at home against non-EHL Surbiton in the quarter finals in late February. Having been the only side playing Premier opponents away in the last two rounds a home draw against a lower League side is a bonus but Surbiton will not be taken lightly having beaten an EHL Conference side in the last round.
Leicester 2nds are the real Jekyll and Hyde side in the club. Last weekend the team beat Midland Premier table toppers Worcester on Saturday and lost heavily in the 2nd team Cup on Sunday. This weekend the team might have been expected to see off bottom side, Hampton but only scraped a 1-1 draw to remain in 5th place. Next Saturday, the team travels to take on new League leaders Kettering. What price a surprise win?
Leicester 3rds put the previous week's heavy loss to Ashby to one side to beat Half Century 3-2 in a tough battle. The three points puts the 3rds back into contention in Leicestershire Premier, just a point behind joint leaders Loughborough Students 4th and Ashby.
Leicester 4ths travelled to Melton for a game that had to be postponed as the pitch was double booked and the 5ths had a blank weekend. Many of the 4ths and 5ths were involved on Sunday in a long trek to Worcester, battling the M42 jams to play Worcester in the U16 Cup. A good 2-1 win sees the girls in action again on 29th November at home to Cannock U16s.
The club U18s travelled to Matlock for their U18 game and came away with a sound 4-0 win. All the goals came from penalty corners with Tori Moore scoring a first half double and Lizzie Honarmand chipping in with a well struck shot from the slipped ball. In the second half, Matlock defended gamely but Jess Anand scored a fourth firing a rebound from a penalty corner high into the net. The draw for the 29th November has yet to be made.