Leicester City started their league campaign away at Alfreton Town on Sunday with a solid performance. In the first 10 minutes both sides were weighing each other up with several exchanges and City started to just take the edge.

A Town attack was broken down with some stout defending by Leah Rawle and Remi Allen came in to receive the ball. Allen did some trickery to get her out of a tight spot and looked up playing a superb 70 yard crossfield ball for the pace of Zira Handley to get her first touch in behind the full back, surging into the box she struck coolly into the bottom corner on 18 minutes. Town responded and pushed on gaining a corner, which was cleared from the danger zone but picked up again by Town who struck well, but a brave dive across the ball by Rawle blocked the shot.

City started to take control in the midfield and were causing problems with Allen and Rachel Williams linking up well. One such exchange including Natasha Meade allowed Williams to receive the ball and run at the Town defence taking on 3 players in the process her final left foot shot hit the crossbar.

City played some intelligent football at times releasing Kath Glass on the left wing and Zira Handley on the right both of which were getting in behind to cause some problems. Vicky Lines City's new forward was working hard and got two good shots off on target but the keeper held on safely. It was only a matter of time before City got their second and it came from Allen switching play quickly and Caz Toone joining in the attack. A good ball forward saw Meade set back for Williams who struck a hard shot past the keeper.

A few minutes later Town continued to battle and got their reward when City temporarily switched off leading to a shot well saved by Captain and Keeper Sophie Le Gros the save ricocheted out and in the scramble Town struck again and found the back of the net making it 2 - 1.

Town came out with all guns blazing second half pushing more players forward trying to get back into the game. City absorbed the pressure well but not without Town getting some shots off. Le Gros had to be on her toes when two shots came in that were struck well and were dipping just under the bar. Both were saved well pushed over to safety. The resulting corners from both also required Le Gros to be at hand when she came to claim both safely.

City had their chances at the other end too with Jade Radburn and Meade striking from distance but just hitting over. A near miss came from some excellent work from Glass on the left who delivered for Lines whose shot just went wide. Handley was continuing to be a nuisance also hitting a shot just wide and Glass doing the same. Glass however, redeemed her missed chance with a great pass from Impey who had been performing well at the back, which set Glass free to pick out a pin point cross for Handley coming in back post to smash home a bullet header in one of the best moves of the game. To put the game beyond Town. City performed well throughout and showed their intentions in this league.

Squad - Sophie Le Gros (C), Jade Radburn, Lauren Impey, Leah Rawle, Caz Toone, Remi Allen, Rachel Williams, Kath Glass, Zira Handley, Natasha Meade, Vicky Lines, Courtney Sweetman-Kirk, Katy Morris, Laura Niblet, Simone Hamilton.

Match Report By Rehanne Skinner