LCFC Women’s 2020/21 Review: November

The month started with the first defeat of the season as London City Lionesses recorded a 4-1 home victory over the Foxes at Princes Park.

After a bright start and Paige Bailey-Gayle’s third goal in four matches, the hosts turned the game on its head thanks to a brace from Atlanta Primus either side of half-time.

Further strikes from Lilly Agg and Ellie Mason ended Leicester’s unbeaten league run, but there was a chance to bounce back just three days later.

Blackburn Rovers were once again the visitors to Farley Way Stadium for a midweek cup fixture under the lights, as the Foxes’ League Cup journey began on home soil.

It turned into a thrilling night as Natasha Flint’s double, coming on five and 32 minutes, put City in full control at the interval.

However, Rovers fought back and pulled a goal back shortly after half-time, courtesy of Elise Hughes, before Charlotte Newsham levelled the scores six minutes later.

On came Charlie Devlin and Bailey-Gayle, both making an immediate impact from the bench. Devlin regained the lead with just 12 minutes to play, ahead of Bailey-Gayle continuing her fine scoring streak to make it 4-2.

There was still time for a fifth in stoppage time via Kayleigh McDonald’s own goal, capping off a five-star City performance and putting three points on the board to rise to the top of the Group E standings.

League action resumed that weekend, as Lewes arrived in Quorn hoping to inflict back-to-back Championship defeats on the Foxes. A tight encounter was settled by one moment of magic by the in-form Bailey-Gayle.

Capitalising on defensive uncertainty, the forward latched onto Ashleigh Plumptre’s aerial cross-field ball, firing a controlled, first-time effort into the roof of the net, beating Tatiana Saunders at her near post.

Arriving after half an hour, the goal was enough to see off the Rookettes and get Leicester firmly back on track in the league table, ahead of meeting Coventry United the following weekend.

The home side took a shock early lead at Butts Park Arena with Maz Gauntlett applying the finish after just three minutes, but crucially, there was a quick response from the visiting Foxes.

Remi Allen’s low cross found Lachante Paul and she took one touch to steady herself before slotting the ball under Olivia Clark and drawing Leicester back level.

Bailey-Gayle provided the second for Flint, using her pace to set up City’s No.20, who made no mistake with a thumping strike on 20 minutes.

Both goalscorers would add a second before the break, firstly Paul cleverly manoeuvred the ball onto her right foot and saw her effort deflect into the net, then Allen threaded a pass through for Flint, who coolly flicked it home past the onrushing Clark.

A further five goals came in the second half. Leicester took just three minutes to find their scoring touch as Plumptre picked out Bailey-Gayle, who drove forward and clinically fired into the bottom corner from a tight angle.

Keeping up her record of scoring in all four November fixtures led to a nomination for the Championship’s Player of the Month award for the forward.

Allen soon pounced on a loose ball, lofting it over the ‘keeper for number six, before midfield partner Sophie Barker had her first goal for the Club, scoring directly from a corner.

Ruesha Littlejohn also added her maiden Foxes strike, converting a penalty, while Millie Farrow rounded off the scoring with two minutes to play, providing a neat finish following a brilliant passing move involving Freya Thomas and Allen.

The month concluded with the latest international break and so after a minor blip, Leicester had produced a strong November, racking up three consecutive victories in league and cup, scoring 16 goals in the process.