LCFC Women’s Season In Quotes: Part Two
Durham remained title challengers for most of the season and so, having drawn 2-2 early on in the campaign and now locked together on 38 points, the reverse fixture in mid-March carried huge significance.
The fact it had to be rearranged only served to crank up the tension an extra notch and when it finally came around, Leicester were ready to do battle.
Remi Allen told the media: "It's huge, ultimately it's a cup final. It’s the biggest game we will play. We'd like to put some daylight between us and Durham.”
And despite losing the midfielder to injury early on after a late challenge, that’s exactly what the Foxes did, thanks to two goals from Sam Tierney – her first strikes for the Club.
Thrilled with the result, the match-winning centre-back admitted she was unsure just how the goals went in: “To be honest, I'll have to watch it back because it was all a bit of a blur!”
City were now on the cusp of sealing their maiden second tier title. A Natasha Flint double in the 2-0 home win over Coventry United had them on the brink. Durham had pushed the Foxes all the way, but now just three points separated Leicester from being crowned champions.
The pre-match build-up had been Morgan’s message of instilling calmness into the players, despite the obvious magnitude of the occasion: "I'm excited and a little bit nervous because we want to get over the line, naturally.
“It's the most important game of my career and hopefully that importance has made us prepare well and to keep ourselves switched on.”
The day everyone had been waiting for finally arrived and LCFC Women had the chance to wrap up the championship on their own patch. London City Lionesses were the visitors to Quorn and played their part in a competitive match.
The nerves may have been jangling when the halfway point passed without a breakthrough. Tierney popped up once more to break the deadlock, before a more regular name was added to the scoresheet – Flint. Ultimately, as they had over the course of the season, the hosts proved too strong.
Following joyous scenes at the full-time whistle and once the champagne had been sprayed across the Farley Way pitch in celebration, LCFC TV caught up with an emotional Ashleigh Plumptre to marvel on the achievements of a historic campaign.
The Leicester-born defender was immensely proud to have played her part: “It’s just surreal - and to do it at home too. It's unbelievable. I literally looked at the badge before I walked out and then, with five minutes to go, I looked at it again and I ended up tearing up when I was on the pitch with five minutes left! It just means more because I'm playing for something bigger than me."
The coronation was set for 2 May, 2021. The game against Charlton Athletic was secondary to the title celebrations, which would be held at King Power Stadium. A special day in a special location.
Prior to the final league fixture of the season, Morgan had told the players to embrace the occasion: "I don't think it will impact upon the way they play but they should definitely take in the moment and saviour it and realise that this is the way the women's game is going. We're at a club that's allowing that to happen and to facilitate that possibility for our girls.
"The fact that we're going to lift our trophy in King Power Stadium, and the fact it's a historic occasion as our first game there, is phenomenal and I feel very lucky, to be honest, and thankful that I get an opportunity to be a part of it.”
City swept the opposition aside, winning 4-0 on their Filbert Way bow with a performance typical of the champions’ class, which had been evident throughout 2020/21.
Captain on the day, Sophie Barker, one of the most experienced members of the squad, was lifting the trophy for the third time in her career.
"It was amazing,” she beamed post-match. “I’ve done it a couple of times, but to be fair, I've not done it on a pitch like this. Today, it's just come together with a 4-0 win, you can’t ask for more really. We wanted to go out there and put a performance on like champions today.”
City’s final outing would be the Vitality Women’s FA Cup Fifth Round clash with Manchester United at Leigh Sports Village, a reward for overcoming a tricky test against Liverpool in round four.
Before the game, Plumptre spoke of how the pressure would all be on the side that had just finished fourth in the Barclays FA Women’s Super League, creating a new environment for the FA Women’s Championship champions, who were so often targeted as the team to beat in the second tier.
In the pre-match press conference, the defender commented: “Naturally there is more freedom because we are underdogs and we have only just been promoted from the Championship.
“Man United have just missed out on a Champions League spot so we're not really expected to win. I love the underdog mentality. We feel no pressure, we're just going to go there and obviously enjoy the game, but it's also a perfect ending almost for the start of next season."
And what an ending it was as Leicester laid down a marker of intent ahead of next season’s top flight bow. Shannon O’Brien equalised for the visitors, who just wouldn’t lie down when Hannah Cain scored another leveller in the second half.
A moment of magic from top goalscorer Flint secured the victory, while Kirstie Levell certainly had a part to play at the other end.
Several crucial saves kept the Foxes in the game and then ahead late on, with the shot-stopper able to reflect on the performance and also her first season at Leicester.
“I don’t think it’s sunk in yet,” ‘keeper Levell admitted. “We’ve come today and completed our game plan that we’ve been working so hard on in training this week.
“This just shows what a year it’s been and we’re very happy to be in the next round of the cup. I absolutely love it here. I can only highlight the fact that I’ve made the right decision to come to this Club.”
We’ll leave the final word to manager Morgan, who, after that famous United win, credited the Football Club’s overall ambitions, vision and backing.
“Anyone looking from the outside should be thinking that this is a Club going places,” he explained. “The investment, the actual direction of the Club from Khun Top, the owner, to Susan Whelan, the CEO, and the rest of the people involved, is phenomenal.
“They want to push because they want us to be competitive and I’m hoping today showed them that we are there and we can keep doing this for next season. Now we’re just looking forward to taking the time off, resting, recovering and starting again next season."