Carillon 1st XI hit seven on return to league action

MIDLANDS WOMEN’S DIVISION 3 SOUTH EAST

DAVENTRY LADIES’ 1ST XI 1 LOUGHBOROUGH TOWN LADIES’ 2ND XI 2 LOUGHBOROUGH Town Ladies 2nd XI started their season in a new league with a 2-1 win over Daventry 1s.

Town started the scoring early with a well worked goal two minutes in from Harriet Galpin, which included a dive over the keeper to ensure the ball crossed the line. Town continued to push throughout the first half and kept the pressure on Daventry.

However, midway through the first half Daventry broke through the back line of Town and were left one on one with the keeper. Kate Horrigan stood strong and saved the strong shot from the Daventry striker. Town continued to put pressure on Daventry and got the score line to 2-0 with a solid goal from Helen Lowe.

Only a few moments later,

ELEVEN months after their last competitive fixture, Carillon 1s took to the field once more. It was a neat bit of symmetry that the first game back was against Burton, who had been the opponents in that last game in 2020.

The side showed a few changes from that last bit of

Daventry were awarded a short corner. The initial strike was defended well, however, in the second phase Daventry scored a lovely goal beating the Town defence and keeper, to leave the score line at half time as 2-1. action with more promising youngsters coming through the club being given their chance, complemented by signings of experienced operators.

Carillon were straight into the stride and immediately pinned Burton back into their own defensive quarter. Burton passes were regularly picked off and it was only a combination of poor finishing and excellent home goalkeeping that kept the game scoreless in the opening minutes.

The honour of scoring the first goal of Carillon’s season went to youngster Ollie Wardle, who tapped in after another period of sustained pressure on the Burton back line. First team debutant, Alex

Aldred, then showed composure in the circle to slip the ball past the goalkeeper for a 2-0 lead. The lead was further increased by Steve Livingstone who again sat the keeper down but this time found the corner of the net to bring the half time score to a comfortable 3-0.

Although the heat was making the heavily sanded pitch slow to play on Carillon again came flying out of the blocks and quickly got the goal that put the game out of reach with Livingstone again finishing well past a tiring keeper. Aldred got his second before Alex Relf scored his first league goal for the 1st XI deflecting in a great ball from the energetic Ruaidhri Maguire.

The scoring was wrapped up by Livingstone who grabbed a well-deserved hattrick, and man of the match, by again picking out the side netting after some impressive close control. A very good opening day performance by the team who look to continue their goal scoring from against Derwent at home next week.

were also in action on the first Saturday of the season. Carillon 2s played host to an experienced Market Harborough side that had been in the division for a number of years. However, with a strong squad Carillon were hoping that they would start the season with a positive result. Despite two strikes by veteran Jez

Clarke and goals for Kumbie Chimhini and debutant Kyle Grobler, it was not to be, as Harborough with some excellent finishing came out on top in a thrilling ten goal encounter, 6-4.

Carillon 3s had better fortune in their opening game as they dispatched a tough opposition in Mansfield 2-0.

Despite a team full of debutants and giving away a number of years in experience, Carillon more than made up for it in effort and went ahead through a Billy Bolton goal.

Although Mansfield did not let up trying to find a goal, it was one of the young debutants, Anshul Dani, who made sure of the win by tucking up in the second half.

MIDLANDS MEN’S DIVISION

9 NORTH EAST NEWARK MEN’S 3RD XI 0 LOUGHBOROUGH TOWN

MEN’S 5TH XI 7 LOUGHBOROUGH Town Men’s 5s made an excellent start to their season on the road against Newark 3s.

Town’s new look side sporting the next cohort of juniors made the most of some early opportunities and took a well deserved 3-0 lead into half time.

Town was equally impressive in the second half with Lex Cook getting his second of the game after a flowing move from the back line saw him break through an experienced Newark defence before converting neatly.

On the final whistle Town had added a further four goals to their first-half tally to run out deserved 7-0 victors. With five different players on the score sheet the Men’s 5th XI will be looking to carry this early momentum to their game against West Bridgford next weekend.

Loughborough Ladies 2nd XI discuss tactics at the break of their clash with Daventry. After the half-time break, Town continued to put pressure on Daventry. This included multiple short corners, as well as two shots that hit the posts, including a lovely volley from Harriet Galpin, unfortunately this time unable to get the ball in the net. Town continued to put pressure on Daventry and kept the ball in the attacking half for most of the game. In the last minute of the game, Daventry broke through Town’s defence once more, though they stood strong and prevented the equalising goal. After a frustrating game, Town were pleased to have got the three points and had a positive start to the new season, and hopefully continue in their winning ways.