Loughborough Ladies get season off to a flying start
LOUGHBOROUGH LADIES 10
LEICESTER UNIVERSITY 0 LOUGHBOROUGH Town Ladies 1st team got their season off to a great start with a 10-0 win over Leicester Uni.
After several weeks of fitness and training the women’s side looked strong from the get go. The squad had a couple of fresh faces but having narrowly missed out on promotion last year, were keen to achieve the target set by the coaches to score 100 goals for the season.
The first goal came from forward Jo Hatley with a deflection from the post and with the first goal in the bag, a chain reaction was set off leading to Gee Godfrey scoring a smart goal off a strong ball from Shana Featonby at the back.
Godfrey also scored the third goal of the match with a spin and strike from the top of the D.
Annie Piper was next in line to score with a cross from Hatley that managed to pass through to the back of the D in open space which she flung into the net.
The final goal in the first half was again from Hatley on the post bringing the score up to 5-0.
The second half was slower with tiredness setting in for the Ladies. However the determination within the squad seemed to continue to grow. Impressive midfield performances from Piper, Ash Godfrey and new signings Abi Jewkes and Sophie Bea Wylde set up relentless attacking moves from Town.
Any counter acts from Leicester were quickly stifled by Town’s strong defensive line. With some effort and scramble in the D, the relentless Jo Hatley scored her hat-trick and this goal set the team in motion to grow the score line.
Emily Beattie made it 7-0 with a reverse stick shot into the top of the net after a one on one with the keeper. Annie Piper scored her second goal of the match and Loughborough’s eighth with a scrappy battle round the keeper finishing it off by pushing the ball through the keeper’s legs. Shana Featonby followed with a deflection from the post during a short corner to make it 9-0.
With another short corner being awarded after the final whistle was been blown, Leicester’s misery was complete when a strong strike from Gee Godfrey into the corner of the goal also brought her a hat-trick for the match.
The final score was 10-0 to Loughborough Town, starting the season off with a strong win and only 90 more goals to score to reach their target.