Pike: Take Confidence Into The League

- LCFC Women defeated Durham 2-1 in the Continental Tyres League Cup on Wednesday
- Molly Pike scored her first Leicester goal, while Shannon O’Brien was also on the scoresheet
- The Foxes face Everton in the Barclays FA Women’s Super League at Pirelli Stadium on Sunday (2pm kick-off)
- Pike says City will enter the game with confidence following their first victory of the season

The Foxes recorded a 2-1 victory at Maiden Castle Sports Park courtesy of second-half goals from Pike - her first for the Club - and Shannon O’Brien, lifting City up to third in the standings following their second group stage fixture.

The midfielder now hopes to replicate the same level of performance when Everton visit Pirelli Stadium on Sunday (2pm kick-off), as Leicester go in search of their first win of the league season.

“I’m delighted to get off the mark on a personal note and delighted for the team to get our first win,” the 20-year-old commented to LCFC TV. “Hopefully we can kick on this Sunday and carry it on into the league.

“It was very important. We can take that team morale and move it into the league and put in the performances that we’ve produced in other competitions before, and hopefully get our first point or first three points on the board in the league.”

Pike was involved in several of the key moments during the game, including Abby Holmes’ sending off just before half-time, for bringing Leicester’s No.8 down as she raced towards goal. City were able to exploit their player advantage shortly after the interval, when O’Brien broke the deadlock with a fine strike.

Former Everton star Pike added the second before Durham’s Lily Crosthwaite halved the deficit and ensured a nervy ending in the north east, but Leicester were able to hold out and claim a precious three points.

“I took a touch across her and I thought I either go through and score because she can’t touch me, or she kicks me and that’s what she did and then as the last man she was sent off,” the former Everton playmaker explained.  

“It was a great finish (by O’Brien), she took her time, took a touch and it was a great strike. I think that lifted everyone and showed that we could get more. It doesn’t matter how it goes in, a goal is a goal and I’m really happy with that.

We then did make it hard for ourselves, but again, we did really well. That last-minute tackle from Shannon at the very end showed everyone was fighting to the very end of the game.”

Purchase match tickets and Fox Travel for LCFC Women vs. Everton at Pirelli Stadium HERE.

Lead image: Craig McNair / Durham Women FC