On a greasy surface under lights at Market Harborough, these two local rivals clashed in this Combination League match and it was no surprise that it wasn't a classic encounter as pride was at stake.

City tried to get some moves going down the flanks through Zira Handley and Natasha Meade, to break the Ladies rear guard down with City squandering a few chances, but they finally broke through when good work by Lauren Impey down the left resulted in a City corner, Meade delivered a perfect cross for Impey to head home.

The Ladies came back at City with a couple of attacks, the City keeper, Sophie Le Gros, having a few anxious moments.

The second period in a strong wind and drizzle, City put some better moves together with Rachel Williams spraying the ball to each flank and things were looking a little better for the home side, and one such move by Williams to Handley out wide outstripped the full back to cross a fine ball to the far post where centre forward, Vicky Lines, rose superbly with a brilliant header into the top corner of the net to put City two up.

Courtney Sweetman-Kirk broke clear for City but shot weakly at the keeper. Lines up front for City was in superb form during this spell with some neat football to bring the oncoming midfielders into play. Some great one touch football for city was exposing the gaps and the pressure was mounting up.

Lines again was the instigator this time controlling the ball well and threadinga great pass through to the on-running Meade to hit home to give City the points to keep them top. Not the best performance all round for City but still proving to be a handful for anyone in their first year in this league.

Squad - Sophie Le Gros, Laura Niblett, Jade Radburn, Leah Rawle, Harriet Crofts, Suzy Eassom, Lauren Impey, Rachel Williams, Zira Handley, Natasha Meade, Vicky Lines, Courtney Sweetman-Kirk, Natalie Reay, Louise Ward, Helen Shipman.

Report By Rehanne Skinner