Loughborough Foxes make an early exit from league cup

FAWNL LEAGUE CUP BRIGHOUSE TOWN 2 LOUGHBOROUGH FOXES 1 LOUGHBOROUGH Foxes paid the penalty on Sunday as two spot kicks saw them fall to defeat against lower division opposition in the League Cup.

Brighouse were full value for the win with wayward finishing and good saves from Foxes keeper Amy Burle keeping the score down.

The Foxes midfield was lacking the direction of club captain Shauna Chambers and the energy of Charlotte Cooper and struggled to impose themselves on their opponents for any length of time. Chances were at a premium early on, but Brighouse gradually got on top with Foxes largely restricted to long range shots which the Brighouse keeper dealt with comfortably.

The home side had struck the woodwork twice through Laura Bartup and Charlotte Proud before they finally broke the deadlock in the 37th minute when the first penalty was awarded for a push. Bartup duly converted to give Brighouse the lead, and only a fine save by Burle two minutes later, stretching to her left, kept the deficit to one at the interval.

Brighouse continued to press after the break, but Foxes finally had a spell where they caused the Brighouse backline some anxiety with last week’s four goal hero Becky McGrother prominent in several attacks. It was McGrother who found the equaliser, running through the home defence and slotting the ball inside the right hand post.

Burle was forced into a sharp save to keep the scores level as she turned the ball over the bar, but Brighouse were not to be denied for long. Another penalty came their way four minutes from the end of normal time, this one a more contentious award for handball. Bartup stepped up again and fired the ball past Burle for the winner.

Despite being switched to right back for the last quarter of the match, McGrother still offered the main attacking threat with two late efforts. A long run up the right flank was thwarted by a good save by the Brighouse keeper, who also saved McGrother’s firm header from a corner.

Foxes will be looking to bounce back on their return to league action next weekend when they face Huddersfield Town at Shepshed Dynamo’s Dovecote ground. Kick-off is at 2pm on Sunday September 1.