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Mar 31st -
And the winner is...
Leicester Ladies 1st team completed a near 100% English Hockey
League season with a 2-1 win at Canterbury on Saturday that left them
with a record across the League season of P18 W17 D1 L0 and a goal
difference of 55. It was not an easy win and some of this was thanks to
pressure from a decent Canterbury side and some was down to match
officials finding greater fault with Leicester's physical play than the
opponents.
Crista Cullen added to her season's tally from the penalty spot after a Canterbury player was judged to have committed a deliberate foul in the circle but this was cancelled out before half time when Canterbury scored in open play. Much of the second half saw Leicester increasing the pressure and it was Cullen again who sealed the win, converting a trademark penalty corner with just over ten minutes to go. Leicester may well meet Canterbury again in the Premiership play offs; the Kent side's 5th place in the Premier League means they face the 4th side in a play off with the winner then facing Leicester at Leicester Grammar School in what is effectively the Premiership semi-final.
On Sunday, a somewhat weary Leicester side travelled back up to
Leicester Grammar School to take on University of Birmingham in the
semi-final of the England Hockey Cup. The Students had provided stern
opposition in two League matches but Leicester had too much quality this
time around, running out 4-0 winners. The win puts Leicester into the
final against rivals Reading who beat Trojans 4-1. The final will be part
of a package of events on May 15th at Beeston in Nottingham. All Leicester's goals came in the first half and all were from
open play. Hannah MacLeod got back into scoring form and her two goals
came either side of goals from Chloe Rogers and Katie Long. Leicester 5ths fought hard against well-placed Roundhill
in their Leicestershire One game but eventually lost to a single goal.
Mar 18th - SEASON LONG CLEAN SHEET AT HOME FOR LEICESTER
Leicester's unbeaten first team concluded its home English Hockey Premier League season with another win on Sunday, this time beating Trojans 6-0. With 9 home games won Leicester's scoring record at home was 29 for and 0 against, a great credit to the whole team but especially the defence and excellent young keeper Maddie Hinch. Despite the side now having clocked up sixteen wins and a draw from its 17 match League season there will be no champagne celebration as no title has actually been won. The EHB in its wisdom has determined that the actual champions will emerge from a play off process which will see Leicester take on the side that ultimately finishes fourth (which could be Canterbury, Olton or University of Birmingham). Should Leicester win that match there will be a Championship final to determine the Premier League champions. In a long hard season, with so many Leicester players involved in tough training and matches down at Bisham Abbey all week, this attritional approach seems questionable. What is guaranteed for Leicester is a place in 2011's Euro Hockey League to sit alongside qualification for the European Indoor competition. Leicester can only be seeded as the number one English side by winning the play off final.
Against already relegated Trojans, Leicester went ahead in the 3rd minute when Chloe Rogers put away a penalty corner, three minutes later Lauren Turner's open play goal made it 2-0 but to Trojans' credit they lived up to their name, working hard, and held out until the 34th minute before Rogers doubled her tally to give Leicester a 3-0 interval lead. That became 4-0 two minutes into the second half when high-scoring Beckie Herbert got the first of two open play goals. Her second came in the 64th minute, after Lucy Brown had scored on 60 minutes.
Herbert's brace took her to 12 for the season alongside Crista Cullen, both of whom were praised by coach Chris Mayer in a BBC Sport article on 19th March, just follow the hockey links from 'other sports'. In it Mayer says: "We want to win every competition we enter. Now we just have to win the Cup and the play-offs and we will be a very happy club."
There were smiles elsewhere in the club as Leicester 2nds ended the Midlands Premier League campaign with a 1-0 win over second placed Kettering. Tori Moore's excellent goal separating two of the better sides in what has been a patchy League. The win meant Leicester finished fourth in the League, behind three club first teams in Worcester, Kettering and Matlock.
Leicester 3rds kept up their promotion chase in Leicestershire Premier with a 3-0 win over Leicester University, courtesy of goals from Katie Gutteridge, Nic Just and Nicky Ginn. The side faces a tough challenge on Wednesday from nearest rivals Ashby who took all three points from their game with Leicester 4ths with a 4-0 win. The 4ths were still in the game at half time but Ashby stepped up the pressure near the end, notching two late goals for a more emphatic scoreline than the game perhaps justified.
Leicester 5ths, hit by late withdrawals and the steady influence of Rose Jacques, found Loughborough Town in fine scoring form. Leicester, fielding five thirteen or fourteen year olds and three 55 year olds, shipped five goals in each half for a disappointing 10-0 loss. Heads did not go down though and the youngsters will learn from this while the veterans will just sprinkle more Radox in the bath.
Leicester U10s and U12s did very well at the Leicestershire Clubs mini hockey, the U10s won their competition and the U12s narrowly lost out. The U10s now go on to the Midlands round.
Mar 18th - LEICESTER TOPS
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.
Mar 9th - LEICESTERS 100% RECORD GONE
Leicester lost the 100% tag at Slough last Sunday but a 1-1 draw means that the team remains unbeaten and just one point away from securing the title. Although Slough managed to hold the League's top side, the draw meant that with just nine points to play for they cannot top the League as they are still 10 points behind the Pukka girls. The only side still capable of pipping Leicester is Reading whose 5-1 win saw them reduce the deficit to 8 points.
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They would have to win all three remaining games and see Leicester lose all three and that does seem unlikely.
The Leicester players had a much less arduous week ahead of the Slough match, the England girls being given some time off their tough training regime at Bisham Abbey. The rest did not appear to have done much good as early on Leicester had possession turned over and Lauren Penny was on hand to turn breakaway into lead. The goal sparked Leicester but they still stuttered until Katie Long deflected in an excellent equaliser in the 31st minute.
Leicester had most of the possession and pressure in the second half but no additional goals would come and the side had to content itself with remaining unbeaten. This weekend Leicester visits Olton where a win would clinch the title but coach Chris Mayer knows that the West Midlanders, chasing the fourth Premiership play off spot, will have no desire to hand Leicester the title. |
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Leicester 2nds put up a very good fight against Midlands Premier leaders Worcester before going down 2-1. With just two games left, Leicester 2nds lie 5th in the table, one of three teams on 24 points. This weekend the 2nds visit bottom side Hampton in Arden and will be hoping to collect all 3 points.
Leicester 3rds' gutsy 1-0 win over Leicestershire Premier rivals Loughborough Students 4ths sees them stay top of the League but with a number of games to rearrange that were postponed during the snowy and frosty months.
Leicester 4ths battled through to a 1-1 draw in a physical encounter with Hinckley 2nds. Abi Lester scored to put Leicester into a deserved lead but Hinckley fought back well. Steph Mason's good save at a penalty corner rebounded off a defender and fell nicely for a Hinckley forward to finish effectively.
Leicester 5ths enjoyed an exciting game with higher placed Bosworth, who had former Leicester players Laura Christy pulling the strings for them in midfield. Two good goals from Hope Senior took Leicester 2-1 ahead after an early Bosworth goal. Bosworth scored again but two Gaynor Nash goals seemed to have sealed the win. Bosworth hit back before Ashley Goodenough scored what proved the clincher ahead of a late fourth for Bosworth gave the game a 5-4 scoreline to Leicester.
The U16s great run to the last eight of the England Hockey U18 Cup came to a disappointing end at champions Wakefield. Leicester dominated the first half but two errors saw Wakefield players in space and their finishing was clinical. 7 first half penalty corners for Leicester to none for Wakefield told the story but Leicester failed to work the Wakefield keeper in any meaningful way. What was perhaps most galling was that Wakefield should at some point in that first half have been a player down. Abbie MacArthur was very effective driving down the right and won countless fouls and penalty corners with neither Yorkshire umpire reaching into her pocket.
The second half saw Leicester having to chase the game and the young side was soon 3 down. The final scoreline of 5-0 to Wakefield was very flattering and their coach Norman Hughes conceded that his girls had been totally outplayed in the first 35 minutes. However, it's all about scoring goals and Leicester's youngsters need to develop a mean streak.
Comedy moment of the game was when with three minutes remaining a Wakefield girl was green carded, first card of the game. The same player immediately fouled again and unwisely coach Chris Glover pointed out that a yellow card was perhaps appropriate. Indeed it was, but as he was the one carded Leicester had to remove a player and the Wakefield girl went unpunished!
Despite the heavy loss the girls can be very proud of their achievement and at least half will still be U16 next season whereas most of the opposition were top end of the age group.
Mar 3rd - WIN 14 FOR LEICESTER
It was not the season's most fluent performance but a 3-0 win over University of Birmingham meant a 14th League win from 14 for Leicester who remain 10 points clear of the chasing pack with just 12 more points up for grabs this season. Lauren Turner's high quality first half goal, rounding the keeper before slipping the ball home, was all Leicester had to show for near total domination of the half.
Turning around 1-0 down the Students did much to frustrate Leicester throughout the second period and Leicester's two late goals from a Crista Cullen penalty corner and a Lucy Brown deflection were most welcome to kill off the Students' hopes. A slight lethargy about Leicester's performance was excusable given that several of the side had played three uncapped matches against Ireland in the previous week, matches that brought the Leicester girls up against club teammate Emma Clarke, reportedly Ireland's best performer in the games. (GB won all three matches).
On Sunday the same group of players had to rouse themselves for a home Cup quarter final against South Premier leaders, Surbiton. The Surbiton girls, coached and coaxed along by former international, Helen Grant, never gave up and scored two second half goals to take a little of the shine off Leicester's 6-2 win. Some of Leicester's goals were very classy, notably a reverse stick rocket from Kerry Williams and a brilliantly placed flick shot from Chloe Rogers. The win puts Leicester into the semi-finals on the last weekend in March, the match brings the Birmingham University side back to Leicester Grammar School. The other semi sees Helen Richardson's Reading side as likely winners against Trojans.
This Saturday, Leicester faces a tough English Hockey League task with a trip to joint second placed Slough. The Berkshire side won 8-1 at Trojans to stay in the chase and would be delighted to cut Leicester's lead to 7. Veteran Jane Smith is in good goal-scoring form and Leicester's back division will need to be on its mettle to keep her out.
Leicester 2nds produced a battling performance after their long trip to Matlock Baileans ground in Wirksworth. A 3-3 result was the outcome, keeping Leicester 2nds in the top half of the table and slightly denting Matlock's title ambitions.
Leicester 3rd's hopes of winning Leicestershire Premier received a double boost at the weekend when the side beat Charnwood-Sileby 8-1 (with Sandy Yeates getting a hat-trick) and Half Century beat Ashby 1-0. The 3rds take on the 4ths in midweek in a re-arranged match.
The 4ths played well with just 10 players against Loughborough Students 5ths before eventually losing 4-3. At 2-1 up the side's concentration when some Students' supporters, very much the worse for wear at 9 in the morning turned up and began directing some pretty foul language at the players, especially the 4ths. With several juniors in the side this was most unwelcome and unsettling. Eventually the Loughborough umpire was prevailed upon to get rid of them. Leicester's goals were scored by Jo Wyeth, Abbie McArthur and Abi Williams.
Leicester 5ths battled hard against a more experienced Melton 2nds. Taking a good 1-0 lead thanks to Hope Senior the youngsters were pegged back late in the first half. A very even second half saw the sides share the spoils in a 1-1 draw.
Leicester made it 13 wins from 13 English Hockey League games at Clifton on Saturday but not without putting the wind up their supporters first. Bristol escaped the worst of the weekend's weather and initially it looked as though Clifton had caught Leicester cold, racing into an 11th minute lead through Carys Hopkins. The first half was a tale of missed opportunities and misplaced Leicester passes and when the half time whistle blew the Leicester players found themselves in the unusual position of being behind.
Carefully chosen words from coach Chris Mayer did the trick at half time with Leicester back on terms just five minutes into the second half, Crista Cullen converting a penalty corner. From then on it was just a question of how many goals as Leicester moved through the gears. Captain Vanessa Hawkins found the net in the 50th minute with Lucy Brown netting just three minutes later to effectively put the game beyond a gallant Clifton side. Hannah MacLeod applied the coup de grace; her 58th minute goal leaves her just one off a tally of 50 EHL goals for Leicester.
Leicester's win sees the side 10 points clear of nearest rivals Reading who were held to a 1-1 draw by Canterbury. Slough, 5-3 winners over University of Birmingham, are also on 29 points alongside Reading.
This weekend Leicester's opponents are the students from Birmingham who ran Leicester close in a 2-3 defeat at their own ground. The match is scheduled for a 12.30 start at Leicester Grammar School, Great Glen. The following day Leicester will face non League Surbiton in the last eight of the England Hockey Cup. This will be the first round in which Leicester has not faced Premier League opponents and it would be a major shock if Leicester's name was not in the semi-final draw on Monday.
Details have been circulated about the new end of season EHL Championship. Should Leicester finish as EHL winners the team will be guaranteed a European Hockey League place next season. Were the side to finish 2nd - 5th there would be another opportunity to be one of England's two women's clubs in Europe. To be England's top side in the European League, Leicester would need to reach the Championship final.
In all likelihood Leicester can expect to be involved in two European campaigns in 2011; one indoor and one outdoor. The need for some serious fund raising will be urgent.
Elsewhere in the club, the snow put paid to all last weekend's games. This Saturday the 2nds face a tough trip to Matlock Baileans while the 3rds continue the quest for promotion with a home match (10.30) against Charnwood-Sileby. The 4ths travel to Loughborough Students 5ths for an early 9am start and the 5ths entertain Melton 2nds at Leicester Grammar School (1.30).
Feb 15th - What a weekend for Leicester
As we move towards the business end of the hockey season things continue to look good for Leicester. On Saturday, the first team entertained last year's runaway champions, Bowdon Hightown and emerged as 5-0 winners. Bowdon had their moments, particularly when Leicester took the collective foot off the pedal midway through the second half but their season was summed up when a Leicester error put the normally deadly Tina Cullen through and she shot miles wide. Instead it was all about the Leicester sharp shooters: Beckie Herbert set off the scoring in the 4th minute and this was soon followed by Hannah MacLeod's 47th League goal in a Leicester shirt. With Leicester well on top Crista Cullen saw a drag flick well saved but before half time a quick adjustment of feet at another penalty corner saw the ball roofed beyond the keeper's left hand.
In the second half Bowdon created some moments of danger but Leicester clicked when it mattered, Chloe Rogers' through ball deceived the keeper and a slightly fortuitous defection by MacLeod made it 4-0. Leicester's 5th near the end was a classic team goal. A Bowdon shot was kicked out by Maddy Hinch and a quick break was launched. The ball was on the edge of Bowdon's circle in a flash and when Herbert laid the killer ball across goal Cullen had raced up and dived full length to nudge it home.
With 12 games gone and 12 won Leicester holds an 8 point lead over Reading. Next week's opponents are Clifton whose lowly League position belies the ability in the side.
Leicester 2nds moved into joint second place in Midlands Premier with a very good 4-1 win at Olton 2nds. Kate Sharland led the way with 2 goals and was joined on the score sheet by Nicole Main, returning after a year out with ligament damage, and Phillippa Wain.
Leicester 4ths returned to form with a 4-0 win against Lutterworth 2nds. Abi Williams scored a lovely goal, rounding the keeper, Sandy Yeates chipped in with two goals and Sarah Treanor, on a break from keeper's duties, slotted home the fourth.
On Sunday the club U16 side travelled to Sutton Coldfield for a match in the last 16 of the U16 England Hockey Cup. After a few tentative exchanges Leicester took control with Carmen Simpson powering home the first of her 3 penalty corner goals. When the Sutton keeper saved another Simpson strike Polly Sedgwick was on hand to hit home the rebound and Abi Lester rounded off the first half goals, scoring well at the second attempt.
Two more Simpson drives were followed by a neat 6th from Lily Bridgwood. Leicester now go into the hat for the quarter finals to be played on 7th March.
Feb 9th - Leicester Latest
After the previous week's stunning triumph for the 'Outdoor On Tour' team from Leicester in the National Indoor Championships, it was back to the chilly outdoor version for the girls plus notable extras like Crista Cullen, Jennie (could be Sue Barker's successor) Bimson and Hannah MacLeod. And what a challenge! A trip to closest rivals Reading who would be fielding ex Leicester star Helen Richardson, freshly selected as Hockey Writers' Player of the Year.
Those of us unable to travel were nervously checking text messages as on paper this looked a tough one against a team boasting Richardson, Walsh, Ellis, Danson et al but the team made light of the opposition to win 4-1 with two goals from Chloe Rogers (unsung star of Leicester's indoor triumph), one from Katie Long and another from Beckie Herbert, Player of the Match in that Indoor final. Danson pulled one back for Reading but they could not stop the Pukka girls from notching up 11 wins from 11 England Hockey League games. Brilliant!
This week Leicester hosts Bowdon Hightown, last year's runaway title winners but having a much tougher time this season and languishing close to the foot of the table. Leicester had a tough battle against them earlier in the season before pulling away and the players know that Bowdon will fight hard for 70 minutes.
Leicester 2nds looked good in taking a 1-0 lead against a strong Harborne side in Midlands Premier but the Birmingham side fought back to grab an equaliser. Honours ended even as both sides' attacking intent foundered. The side looks comfortable in mid table but will be looking for a good win at Olton 2s on Saturday to begin to feel safe.
The 3rds had no game but the 4ths were hoping for a win against bottom of the table Leicester University. In a tough physical encounter the Leicester youngsters had the edge in skill and took a 1-0 half-time lead with a great goal from Tara Johnson who finished a solo dribble with a deft reverse stick flick. Abbie MacArthur added an equally good second early in the second half and it looked all over bar the shouting. The Students came back though as Leicester wasted several chances and scored what looked like a consolation. With a minute to go the Students' umpire awarded a dubious penalty corner and the ball somehow ended up in the net via Katie Mason's face. Discussion followed with an animated Leicester team and coach about the validity of the goal but it stood and the 2-2 draw means the 4ths are still too close to the relegation zone for comfort.
The pattern of the game was different for a resurgent 5ths who came back from 2-0 down against top of the table South Leicester. South deservedly led but the Leicester fight back in the second half was admirable. Rosie Hampton scored both Leicester goals; the first was a slightly scuffed shot but the second was a cracker from a slipped corner.