LEICESTER INTO PREM FINAL
Leicester recovered from a goal down at half time to scrap out a 2-1 win over a determined Canterbury at Leicester Grammar School today. Canterbury saw off University of Birmingham yesterday in the 5th v 4th match by 5-3 and they brought game readiness to the semi against runaway League winners, Leicester. Leicester had not played competitively as a side for the best part of a month and that ring rust showed as the game was very evenly contested in the first half. Missing Emma Clarke, away for the World Cup qualifiers in Chile with her native Ireland, and Beckie Herbert, struggling with a hip problem, Leicester lacked full fluency and a combative Canterbury proved dangerous on the counter attack. Canterbury tails were up with them scoring late on in the half from a scruffy penalty corner that Leicester should have cleared.
The story in the second half was very different. Coach Chris Mayer's team talk was effective right from the whistle and Leicester began to run the game. Veteran Olympian Jennie Bimson was inspiring at the back for Leicester, nipping attacks in the bud with telling tackles and launching Leicester's replies. Leicester pressure began to tell and midway through the half a penalty corner strike by Crista Cullen came back off a post and fellow GB star Katie Long slotted the rebound across the keeper and into the far corner.
Canterbury continued to battle and Maddy Hinch in goal had to be alert, acting almost as a sweeper to set up attacks with accurate kicks. With eight minutes to go, Leicester sealed the win from another penalty corner. This time Cullen's fierce shot came off the keeper at waist height and Lucy Brown kept her cool to volley the ball into the goal.
There was still time for some nervous moments with captain Ness Hawkins being sin-binned for a stick tackle, something of an irony given Canterbury's tendency to fail to move five metres before free hit plays. Despite playing the last four minutes a player light Leicester saw the game out in the Kent side's half.
The win means that Leicester now play in next week's Premiership Play Off final at Cannock, chasing top Euro Hockey League seeding. Two weeks later the side faces Reading in the England Hockey Cup Final at Beeston, Nottingham.
Leicester 3rds played their penultimate game of the season, battling to a 1-0 win over Half Century at Soar Valley College. Next weekend 3rds, who have already won promotion to Midlands Conference, tackle Leicester 4ths, who will be after revenge following a 1-2 defeat last time out.
Leicester 5ths found Bosworth a little too strong in their last Leicestershire Premier match of the season. After Bosworth went ahead through ex-Leicester player, Laura Christie, Phil Bliss equalised with a cracking strike. Christie put Bosworth 2-1 up and Sam James extended the lead a minute before half time.
When Christie completed her hat-trick a minute into the second half, it was all over. A nasty facial injury to Bosworth's Vanita Patel and a back injury to Leicester veteran, Hazel Mc Sweeney, took the edge off the second half.