Frustrating 0-1 loss to Leicester

In their final Premier League match before the winter break, Buckingham were, once again, left a little disappointed and frustrated with the end result.

The home side started far faster than their visitors, pressing well and forcing Buckingham onto the back foot. This meant that they dominated the early phases as Buckingham struggled to get out of their defensive third. Leicester deservedly took the lead after sixteen minutes when their pressure finally told and they scrambled the ball in at the far post.

The remainder of the half continued in much the same vein, with the home side firmly in the ascendency. Buckingham were fortunate not to go into the break further in arrears, mainly thanks to some fine goal keeping from the in-form Anna Searle.

A tactical change at half time meant that Buckingham began to have more of the play right from the start of the second half, and with captain and player of the match Kitty Higgins outstanding in midfield they created a number of good opportunities. At one point the umpire seemed to have awarded Buckingham a penalty stroke, only to somehow downgrade it to a penalty corner from which Buckingham failed to score.

Despite Kat Nicholson and Jaz Needham having great opportunities, neither could bring the scores level and Buckingham were forced to weather a late storm from the home side in the final few minutes before the game ended 1-0 in Leicester's favour.

Zak Jones
"I know it's an old cliché but it really was a game of two halves. The match could have been over by half time but once again, the girls showed immense resilience and character to still be in the game. In the second half, we created the better opportunities but were once again, unable to finish them off. Though we are disappointed to lose, we remain in control of our own destiny when the league resumes in February.

Though the girls will be working hard on the physical aspects of their training over the Christmas period, the girls are looking forward to a break from the pressures of the outdoor competition, with our focus switching to indoor and the aim of gaining promotion to the indoor Premier League."