Luffs fail to build on cup win and still in search of league point

LEICESTERSHIRE SENIOR FOOTBALL LEAGUE DIVISION ONE LOUGHBOROUGH FC 0 HIGHFIELD RANGERS 3

AFTER an enforced blank week the previous Saturday as Greenhills couldn’t raise a team the Luffs were looking to build on their cup win but it wasn’t to be.

This was a cracking game and a credit to the Leicestershire Senior League as both teams gave their all and played some impressive football but a 0-3 defeat? The Loughborough side were adamant “we didn’t deserve this defeat”.

Loughborough began the game on the offensive and the Highfields keeper Josh Wood saved a shot from Alfred Chuckwu and Dan Arnold delivered a cross for Sam Plant to head just wide. Loughborough’s Jack Godkin looked sharp down the left flank and delivered some telling crosses that went unattended and a spell of football involving Josh Banks, Sam Plant and Godkin saw the final shot saved by keeper Wood but Loughborough were looking good.

But the lack of a finish from this period of possession brought Highfield into the game and they developed some good possession football. You associate the Highfields sides to be bristling with skill passing football but they caught The Luffs out after half an hour with a long ball down the middle for Camara Yankcuba to run onto and score the opening goal.

The Luffs looked a little bit uncertain after this keeper Wood made a good save from Luke Rawle but the Loughborough side should have levelled the scores before the break as Plant ran clear on keeper james Hayes but the visiting keeper came off best. Jack Godkin might have levelled the scores but Wood trice blocked his shot and it remained 1-0 at half time.

Loughborough were very much still in this game and it has to be said Highfields just hung on for most the second half. Plant had another chance but his shot went just past the post while at the other end Hioghfields Chucklu had his shot saved by keeper Hayes. For half an hour The Luffs went looking for that elusive equaliser, but when you are down amongst the dead men nothing much goes your way.

In the dying stages of the game keeper Wood lost his footing and Camara tapped in from close range, Loughborough still had one more chance to score Rida Koultouma went clear but shot just wide.

To rub salt in the wounds Camara went clear and completed his hat trick.

Despite a 3-0 score line the Luffs will take encouragement from this performance.