Unbeaten league season still on cards for the Foxes
WOMEN’S PREMIER LEAGUE MIDLANDS
DIVISION ONE THE NEW SAINTS LFC 1 LOUGHBOROUGH FOXES 4 LOUGHBOROUGH Foxes have extended their unbeaten run in the Women’s Premier League Midlands Division One after coming from a goal down to beat mid-season title contenders, The New Saints Ladies, 4-1 at the Park Hall Stadium.
TNS raced into an early lead when Charlotte Canlett swiveled well on the edge of the box and rolled her shot into the bottom corner of the net for her 11th of the season. The hosts nearly saw themselves double their advantage just after five minutes.
After a long break in play due to injury, Phobe Davies rattled the crossbar with a free-kick from 25 yards, which would have made it a very difficult for recently crowned champions, Loughborough Foxes, to maintain their unbeaten run in the league.
TNS sat with 10 players behind the ball after taking the lead and were determined to keep Foxes out through defensive organisation, but this only lasted until eight minutes before the break.
Charlotte Cooper notched her 22nd goal of the season after pouncing on a loose ball inside the box following excel- lent work down the right by Eva Rogers. The scores were level at the break and set up for an interesting second half.
Foxes began to turn the screw in the second half and had their noses in front when Olivia Bramley tucked home a close range effort just after the restart and the visitors never looked back. Bramley had her second, and Foxes third just before the half hour mark. TNS’ attempted clearance struck Bramley fortuitously and hit the net to give the champions the cushion they deserved. Bramley nearly secured her hat-trick, but was denied by a goal line clearance to prevent the centre half from scoring her fifth of the campaign, and taking home the match ball.
There was still time for Foxes to add to their tally and it came through an unlikely source. Stand in centre half, Laura Steele, whipped her cross straight over the goalkeeper’s head directly from a corner to cap off a solid display in the visitor’s back four.
Foxes now have 58 points from a possible 60, with two games remaining. Foxes welcome Sporting Khalsa in two weeks where they will be presented the trophy at the Loughborough University Stadium and are on the road the following week to Radcliffe Olympic Ladies.