Lachante Paul – A Season To Remember
The LCFC Women winger arrived back at Belvoir Drive last week to begin the pre-season schedule ahead of the team’s maiden Barclays FA Women’s Super League campaign.
And the London-born attacker made a key contribution to the FA Women’s Championship title triumph, which saw the Club promoted into the WSL for the very first time in its history, scoring seven times in 25 games.
There was as many as 13 new faces coming through the door at the start of LCFC Women’s inaugural campaign as a full-time, professional outfit, as they officially joined the Leicester City family.
But one of those already established in the team was Paul, signed from Arsenal in the summer of 2019, having top scored for the Gunners in the WSL Academy League.
The 18-year-old impressed in her debut season with the Foxes during the shortened 2019/20, making 16 appearances and netting six goals.
Her upward trajectory continued last campaign. Having come off the bench in the draw with Sheffield United, Paul made a vital impact as a substitute against Durham a week later, snatching a 90th-minute equaliser to ensure City’s unbeaten start remained intact.
She was rewarded with a place in the starting XI for the following fixture against Liverpool and repaid manager Jonathan Morgan’s faith by scoring for the second successive game. Her goal proved to be the winner as City triumphed 2-1 against a potential promotion rival.
The former Arsenal forward’s scoring streak was extended when she netted against Crystal Palace, producing the third goal of Leicester’s comprehensive 4-1 success at Hayes Lane in mid-October.
The new-look team was really beginning to gel and click into gear by November, culminating in the biggest win of the season, away to near-neighbours Coventry United. Paul grabbed the equaliser and would have a brace ahead of half-time, before the visitors ran riot, eventually winning 9-1.
Leicester were soon edging closer to the title when Crystal Palace arrived at Farley Way Stadium and the only goal of a tight contest was created by Paul’s trickery and delivery.
She found Hannah Cain in the middle, who finished brilliantly to secure another three points. One of four assists from Paul throughout the season, it proved decisive in Quorn.
A week later, Paul was back among the goals herself during the emphatic 7-0 victory over London Bees at The Hive. Two finely taken goals, both struck from outside the box with her left foot, made it nine league wins in a row for the champions elect.
Once the title had been wrapped up, it was time for LCFC Women to be crowned as champions, making their King Power Stadium bow on Filbert Way ahead of the trophy celebrations.
Paul had a hand in the two of the goals that afternoon in May, as City swept Charlton Athletic aside, winning 4-0. Firstly, using her pace and close control to skip inside and find Charlie Devlin, who in turn played through Cain to finish and make it 2-0.
Then chasing Cain’s aerial pass down the right, Paul controlled expertly and clipped a cross back into the box for her fellow forward to nod home and increase the advantage, on a historic day in LCFC Women’s history.
Paul will be looking to flourish once more during 2021/22 and add to her tally of 13 goals for the Football Club, as an exciting new era in the top division of women’s football begins.