Leicester Hockey Club

Leicester maintained its position at the top of the England Hockey Premier League with a satisfactory 2-0 win over bottom side Clifton last Saturday at Leicester Grammar School. The West Country side belied its lowly League placing with some effective hockey that asked plenty of questions of Leicester's solid defence.
The first half saw Leicester frustrated by Clifton and failing to fire on all cylinders. There was a better tempo to the second half and despite some good saves from Clifton's England U21 keeper, Gemma Ible, Leicester scored twice within a minute to seal the win. Crista Cullen scored in the 42nd minute with a trademark drag flick at a penalty corner and a minute later Beckie Herbert fired home a smart reverse stick shot from open play.
Cullen and Herbert, both of whom missed all of last season, are joint second on Leicester's all-time National League scoring charts with 37 goals apiece, 7 adrift of top scorer Hannah MacLeod.
Elsewhere there were wins for Reading, Slough and second-placed Olton and Trojans held Bowdon to a draw. Slough's win came at Birmingham University, Leicester's opposition in this Saturday's away League encounter. The Student side has won 3 and lost 2 of its matches this season and has the firepower to cause problems if the Leicester players are not on top form. Leicester still awaits the return to action of Kerry Williams, Anne Panter and Abi Harper with Williams likeliest to make a return first.
On Sunday, Leicester make the journey back up to Brooklands Poynton for the next round of the Cup. Leicester did not play in the last round as opposition Worcester scratched at the last minute. Poynton beat Didsbury Northern 9-1 but hopefully Leicester presents a different proposition altogether.
Leicester seconds was the only other senior side in action with Leicestershire League suspended for half term. Going into the match Leicester was in a precarious position with 2 points from 3 games but a 2-0 win over Olton 2nds was a real fillip. Leicester's goals came from Nic Just and Sarah Fraser and the win lifts Leicester to 5th in the League. Leicester now faces a run of three tough games starting this week against old rivals Loughborough Students 2nds and followed by fixtures against Matlock and Worcester before the side takes on Birmingham University 2nds in the 2nd Team Cup on 8/11. Coach Jules Sawkings has worked hard on players' fitness and skills and this is beginning to pay off.
Leicester U14s are taking part in an inaugural Midland U14 League so it was unfortunate that this important competition should begin during Leicester's haf term break. A scratch side, which included 10 year old Sophie Jefferson and two permitted guests from Ashby Red Sox, faced strong opposition from Banbury who beat South Leicester 8-0. The game proved to be very evenly matched and ended 1-1, Holly Mould finishing off a penalty corner routine that came from anywhere but the training pitch.
Leicester's second opponents, Melton, had been boosted by attracting several Oakham and Uppingham players who had attended the Junior Development Centre hosted by them and were again tough opponents. Leicester led through Lauren Potter, one of the Ashby imports, and should have sealed the game but allowed Melton in for a late equaliser. Leicester hosts the next round at LGS on Sunday 1st November and will then play South Leicester. Other teams in action will include Buckingham, Towcester and Melton.
Squad: Sarah Law, Lucy Thompson, Charlotte Hickman, Molly Beazley, Lucy Hutchinson, Hope Senior (c), Freya Tailor, Sophie Jefferson, Holly Mould, Lauren Potter and Sophie Callery.