Disappointing defeat for Loughborough FC in their opening game of 2019

LEICESTERSHIRE SENIOR LEAGUE DIVISION ONE HIGHFIELD RANGERS 3 LOUGHBOROUGH FC 1 THE Christnas layoff did nothing for the Luffs as they went down away to a poor Highfields Rangers side in probably the worst performance of the season so far. The Luffs began badly conceding a goal in the first two minutes of the game as Tim Bond couldn’t believe his luck finding himself clear on keepr Harry Burton and rolling the ball into the net.

It didn’t get much better in the first half and Highfields might well have score a few more with Kasium Ramazanie finding himself in a similar situation only to be foiled by keeper Burton.

The Luffs saw the return of striker Tom Antill and he should have levelled the scores with keeper Tasiwa Nyambiya stranded in no mans land but he hoisted the ball over the bar. Bond thought he had scored a second but Burton was at full stretch to make the save.

It looked if the Luffs had steady the ship by half time making slow inroads through the Highfield defence but on the stroke of half time Bond struck again to make it 2-0.

In the second half the Loughborough side set about their opponents and camped in their half, but the combination of some dogged defending and poor finishing saw no progress at all. Jordan Crossland hit one for the Luffs but it flew just wide and James Taylor connected well only to see his shot skin the post. It looked just a matter of time before the Luffs would score but it didn’t happen, even defender Matt Wright stepped up to have a go, just wide again. Ben Haywood came closest hitting the post but it was an easy chance and should have netted.

Then the unthinkable happened Highfields broke for their one and only second half attack and Rawle O’Neil made it 3-0 with 10 minutes to go and a mountain to climb for the Loughborough side.

They still might have took a point as Aaron Dawes made it 3-1 and Highfields were hanging on but hang on they did for a disappointing defeat for The Luffs.