CHAMPIONS
Leicester has topped this season's English Premier League with two matches to go after a resounding 8-1 win at Olton. Following last week's 1-1 draw at Slough which saw Leicester lose the 100% tag the side looked nervous early on and went behind to an 11th minute goal by Rachel Walker. One minute later and Leicester squared matters with Kerry Williams scoring the first of four goals. It was not until the 23rd minute that Katie Long's finish took Leicester ahead and this was added to by Hannah Smith before Williams made it 4-1.
The second half saw Leicester begin to turn on the style: Williams' completed her hat-trick before Crista Cullen added to her tally of penalty corner goals. Williams' 4th and a goal by captain, Ness Hawkins, rounded off the goals.
The win leaves Leicester 8 points clear of the pack with two games still to go. This Sunday at LGS 12.30 the team will be looking to put on a show when it entertains the bottom side Trojans. Trojans has just one point from a possible 48 and surely will go back to Hampshire empty-handed this time.
This Friday evening , players and officials will enjoy a Civic Reception at Town Hall in honour of the club's National Indoor crown.
Leicester 2nds, comfortable in mid-table were held 1-1 away at bottom side Hampton in Arden, who most other Midlands Premier sides have dispatched fairly readily. The draw is fairly typical of Leicester's inconsistency which has seen them beat the top sides and disappoint against the weakest ones.
Leicester 3rds kept up the drive for promotion with a 2-0 win over Melton in a rearranged League game but will have to do without good young defender Carmen Simpson in the run-in. She broke a bone in her hand in a training session at school.
There was some ill-feeling in Leicester 5th's good win over Ashby 2nds. The Ashby players queried a number of decisions that went against them and seemed bemused at the award of penalty corners when defenders got away from pressure by hitting the ball behind their defending goal-line. Ashby had taken the lead only for player coach Gaynor Nash to equalise. Hope Senior stretched the lead and Ashby equalised before a win was sealed for Leicester with Jo Wyeth notching the winner.
Leicester 4ths midweek Plate semi-final against Charnwood/Sileby (Charnby) ended in a sorry 4-1 loss. Leicester looked sharper early on but Charnby took the lead with the first of 3 good penalty corner strikes from Liz Tabram. When Leicester did get into the game they found Harriet Galpin in fine form but she could not keep out a well-flighted flick by Gaynor Nash which made it 1-3 but soon afterwards Tabram's goal ensured a solid win for Charnby.