LCFC Women Hold Out For Blades Draw

There were two changes to the City line-up as midfielder Ruesha Littlejohn – making her full debut - and forward Libby Smith came into the side in Chesterfield.

Following an opening-day 3-0 success over Blackburn Rovers last weekend, the Foxes picked up where they left off – scoring inside just two minutes on matchday two.

Natasha Flint – the scorer of a brace at Farley Way a week earlier – saw her effort parried by Fran Kitching, but there was Millie Farrow to net her first goal for the Club from close range.

Flint had alarm bells ringing again in the United penalty area when her shot was saved, but not seized by Kitching. However, the home size were able to finally clear the danger.

Veatriki Sarri, meanwhile, forced Leicester shot-stopper Kirstie Levell into a decent save from a long-range free-kick as the Blades looked for a route back into the game.

A reminder of the home side’s quality came midway through the first half as Jade Pennock won possession on the right wing before Sophie Walton’s drive crashed onto the crossbar.

They did get back on level terms on the half-hour mark, too, as Kasia Lipka played in Mel Johnson to net her first goal for the Blades after winning possession high up the pitch.

Paige Bailey-Gayle immediately charged upfield from the restart and was denied by Kitching, while Farrow also went close to a second goal of the day from close range.

Leicester continued to carry a threat after the break with Flint being denied again by Kitching, before Ashleigh Plumptre and Charlie Devlin were introduced on the hour-mark.

However, with 66 minutes on the clock, the Blades took the lead as Levell initially did brilliantly to deny Pennock, but Johnson was there to finish her second of the afternoon.

Just as it seemed City would fall to their first defeat of the season, Devlin was felled in the area and up stepped Flint to net her third goal of 2019/20, cooly beating Kitching from 12 yards with seconds to play.

Major moment

Leicester were knocking at the door in the latter moments, but they just could not unpick a rigid Sheffield United defence as the clock ticked down – until Charlie Devlin was upended in the area.

It required a composed figure to step up to take the penalty and Nastasha Flint didn't disappoint, firing it beyond Fran Kitching to rescue a potentially precious point for the visitors. 

Who impressed?

Making her first appearance of the season from the bench in the second half, forward Lachante Paul injected real energy into Leicester’s performance in the latter moments.

While it was fellow substitute Charlie Devlin who won the penalty – and early top goalscorer Natasha Flint who converted it – Paul's impact helped the visitors mount their comeback.

Where does it leave us?

Leicester remain second in the FA Women’s Championship with four points from only two games, while Sheffield United remain top, above the Foxes only on goal difference. 

Liverpool, Durham and Charlton Athletic are also level on four points, but are currently placed below the Foxes.

Coming up…

City's next outing comes on Sunday 27 September as they welcome Manchester City to Farley Way Stadium in a rescheduled 2019/20 Women's FA Cup Quarter-Final tie.

A week later, on Sunday 4 October, Durham are the visitors to Quorn in the FA Women's Championship (2pm BST kick-off).

The details…

City: Levell; Morgan (c), Howard, Tierney; Barker; Bailey-Gayle (Devlin 60’), Allen, Littlejohn (Plumptre 60’), Smith; Farrow (Paul 78’), Flint

Subs: Lambourne, Riglar, Everett, Cataldo, Thomas, Fergusson

Goals: Farrow 2’, Flint 89' (pen)