LCFC Women: Five Season Defining Games

Crowned second-tier champions for the first time in the Club's history, City will now compete in the Barclays FA Women's Super League for the 2021/22 season.

With some stunning goals, incredible games and plenty of new records along the way, here's a look back at how they did it through the spectrum of five games in particular...

Coventry United Ladies 1 LCFC Women 9
Sunday 15 November, 2020
Butts Park Arena

In a history-making season, there have been plenty of moments to saviour for City and the Club's biggest-ever Championship victory is certainly one of them. Trailing to Maz Gauntlet's third-minute strike, what followed was a display of dominance and ruthlessness from the visiting Foxes, who scored nine goals during a scintillating display of attacking quality.

Lachante Paul's equaliser set Leicester on their way before Natasha Flint edged the Foxes ahead on 20 minutes. The pair soon added their second goals within a minute of each other to extend the lead to 4-1 at the break.

Even more potent in the final third after the interval, Paige Bailey-Gayle took just three second-half minutes to open her account for the afternoon, ahead of Remi Allen getting her name on the scoresheet.

Sophie Barker then scored the best of the bunch when she found the net directly from a corner, while there was soon to be a first Leicester goal for Ruesha Littlejohn from the penalty spot. Millie Farrow rounded off the scoring with two minutes to play, completing a spectacular performance at Butts Park Arena.

Liverpool Women 1 LCFC Women 2
Sunday 17 January, 2021
Prenton Park

Liverpool, relegated from the top flight last season and a potential promotion rival, presented a stern test of Leicester's title credentials. Another game in which City were forced to come from behind, the away side had it all to do after Missy Bo Kearns struck first for the Reds.

That early blow, coming after 10 minutes, did not deter the Foxes from playing their natural game. Natasha Flint's penalty, just ahead of the break, was a turning point in the contest. The former Blackburn Rovers forward stepped up and coolly dispatched the spot-kick to draw Leicester level at half-time.

A straight red card for half-time substitute Melissa Lawley, two minutes after coming on, left Liverpool with an uphill task too. But Amber Whiteley's side battled on, making it difficult for the visitors to penetrate their defence.

It would take something special to separate the two sides and that's exactly what Charlie Devlin produced, with nine minutes remaining.

Remi Allen looked to find Flint in the box and when the ball fell for City's No.7, she hit a powerful first-time strike that beat Rachael Laws at her near post to snatch three points late on.

London Bees 0 LCFC Women 7
Sunday 7 March, 2021
The Hive Stadium

Hitting seven goals without reply, the Foxes were in rampant mood when they arrived in the capital in early March. Knowing a win would set them up nicely ahead of facing closest rivals Durham a week later, City laid down a marker in stunning fashion against the Championship's basement club.

It took 41 minutes to breach Bees' backline, but once Millie Farrow broke the deadlock with her fourth of the season, the floodgates well and truly opened. Two goals from Lachante Paul either side of half-time made it 3-0, ahead of Shannon O'Brien's own quick-fire double - netting for the first time since her January move from Coventry United.

Top scorer Natasha Flint also found the net before assisting the final goal of the day. Leicester saved the best for last and a stunning long-range strike from Esmee De Graaf, which arrowed into the top corner, was a fitting way to round off the scoring in north London and keep Leicester atop of the Championship table.

Durham 0 LCFC Women 2
Sunday 14 March, 2021
Maiden Castle Sports Park

Leicester had required a 90th-minute equaliser to salvage a point in the reverse fixture at Farley Way Stadium but there would be no need for such late drama this time around as the Foxes wrapped up victory over Durham earlier in the second half of this encounter.

Following a tough battle in the opening 45 minutes, Sam Tierney popped up with her first goal for the Club less than two minutes after the interval. The ball was initially headed out to Lachante Paul, who, on the edge of of the box, volleyed it towards goal and the waiting Tierney helped it on its way with a superbly taken close-range volley that gave Megan Borthwick no chance in the Durham goal.

In the context of the game, it was a vital opener and, having waited 17 games to put her name on the scoresheet, Tierney managed to find the second, too, heading in Charlie Devlin's pinpoint free-kick on the hour-mark.

The win sent City three points clear at the top of the second tier standings, with a game in hand on the chasing Wildcats, and also marked a league-record 10 straight victories for the Foxes.

LCFC Women 2 London City Lionesses 0
Sunday 4 April, 2021
Farley Way Stadium

After coming out on top in the showdown between the league's top two sides, City then increased their lead at the Championship's summit with a 2-0 home victory over Coventry United on 28 March. That meant another three points against London City a week later would confirm the Foxes as FA Women's Championship champions.

However, they knew it would not be easy against the only side to defeat Leicester this season - and so it proved. Still goalless with just over 20 minutes to play at Farley Way Stadium, Sam Tierney proved once again that she is a player for the big occasion, firing home with her left foot at the second attempt inside the area after Remi Allen's clever flick from another expertly worked Charlie Devlin set-piece. 

Devlin was also involved in the second goal, commuting the ball out to the left and Esmee De Graaf, who took one touch inside, before curling a cross in for Natasha Flint, who gratefully accepted, controlling the ball before finding the net in typically clinical style for her 16th goal of the league campaign, sparking jubilant celebrations. 

City saw out the final 15 minutes to record a 12th successive win, keep a fifth consecutive clean sheet and, most importantly, ensure they would be playing top flight football next season.