Dominant LCFC Women Come From Behind In Palace Triumph
Natasha Flint and Aimee Everett came in as the Foxes made two changes to the side which defeated Liverpool 2-1 last weekend, replacing Libby Smith and Sam Tierney respectively.
Despite a bright start from City, which included a half chance for Esmee De Graaf, it was Palace who took the lead on four minutes through a close-range effort from Cherelle Khassal.
Bianca Baptiste nearly doubled their lead, too, when she collected a loose ball and ran at goal, but Kirstie Levell delivered a brilliant point-blank stop to deny the Palace forward.
At the other end, Sophie Howard shot wide, before Charlie Devlin followed up a piece of individual brilliance, an audacious flick, with a low drive, which was saved well by Chloe Morgan.
Leicester were really pushing for a leveller and went agonisingly close as Howard nodded Devlin’s corner onto the crossbar in the 27th minute at Hayes Lane.
They hit the bar again five minutes later as Devlin threaded a pass through to Flint, a summer signing from Blackburn Rovers, who sent another effort crashing into the woodwork.
When Amy Taylor was given a straight red card for a late challenge on Howard, though, it did not take too long for Leicester to assert their dominance with a numerical advantage too.
Allen’s close-range finish, after Devlin’s cross, restored parity on the scoresheet on the cusp of half-time, before an unstoppable drive from Flint completed a remarkable turnaround in first-half stoppage time.
Paige Bailey-Gayle was unlucky not to add her name to the scoresheet after the restart, but Lachante Paul did exactly that on the hour-mark when she converted a rebound following Morgan’s save from Flint’s low effort.
Allen, meanwhile, doubled her individual tally on the day later on, getting onto the end of a cross from substitute Lia Cataldo, as the Foxes ultimately ran out as comfortable victors in Bromley.
Major moment
While few in attendance would disagree with the claim that City were well on top beforehand, the dismissal of Amy Taylor naturally improved their chances late in the first half.
Within four minutes, the Foxes were in front, overturning Cherelle Khassal’s opener with a quick-fire double from Remi Allen and Natasha Flint to set Leicester on their way to an assured victory.
Who impressed?
So often a source of creativity for the Foxes, midfielder Charlie Devlin was in fine form once again for the visitors, showing a confidence to play with an admirable audaciousness in Bromley.
It was her industry in the middle, helped by Remi Allen and Aimee Everett, which enabled Leicester to cut through Palace's back-line and carve out chances throughout the first hour.
Where does it leave us?
LCFC Women, who remain unbeaten, climb to third in the FA Women’s Championship on 11 points – just three behind early pace-setters Durham, on 14, after five matches.
Coming up…
A trip to Princes Park is next up for the Foxes, to face London City, on Sunday 1 November (2pm kick-off), before they welcome Blackburn Rovers to Farley Way Stadium in the Continental Cup group stage on Wednesday 4 November (7:45pm kick-off).
The details…
City: Levell; Barker, Howard, Plumptre, De Graaf; Everett (Cataldo 66’), Allen (c), Devlin (Blanchard 62’); Bailey-Gayle (Farrow 66’), Flint (Littlejohn 74'), Paul (Fergusson 74').
Subs: Lambourne, Smith.
All times BST.