Women’s football: Crystal Palace lose 1-0 at Leicester – with keeper Morgan’s heroics keeping score down
Much-changed Leicester City were made to work hard to maintain their place at the top of the FA Women’s Championship by Crystal Palace.
The hosts had the chances to add to Hannah Cain’s 35th-minute goal but Palace had enough second-half possession to keep the outcome in doubt.
Leicester had much the better of the first half but were made to work hard for their lead, Palace goalkeeper Chloe Morgan was in action as early as the second minute to paw away a close-range shot from Millie Farrow, before Charlie Devlin sent a free-kick wide in a lively home start.
Sophie Howard’s fierce long-range hit had Morgan diving to her right to save soon after, before Kate Natkiel shot wide at the other end with Kirstie Lovell stranded off her line.
Andria Georgiou’s driving run reminded Leicester of Palace’s threat on the break, but it was City who opened the scoring in style 10 minutes before the break. Lachante Paul did particularly well tight to the byline and Cain finished emphatically from 12 yards.
Morgan then saved from Ash Plumptre and tipped Esmee De Graaf’s effort on to the bar, as Palace had more play after the break but the openings largely fell Leicester’s way.
Cain and Farrow went close early on and Devlin was denied by Morgan’s outstretched foot after a good run into the box.
In the frantic closing stages, Morgan completed her excellent afternoon with an outstanding save and Plumptre nodded against a post, before the same player did her job at the other end, as she did well to block Bianca Baptiste’s dangerous shot.
Morgan said: “I was pleased with my performance but obviously disappointed with the result. We came with a strategy to try to break down Leicester but they are a difficult side to beat.
“We came out blazing a lot more in the second half, knowing we had 45 minutes to prove ourselves and we showed a lot more fight. We had more of the ball after the break but couldn’t quite get the goal we needed.
“I was very happy with the saves I made but now we’ll look to next week and try to redeem ourselves.
“This is definitely a hard place to come as Leicester are a good side and in confident form.”
Everyone at the South London Press thanks you for your continued support.
Former Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick has encouraged everyone in the country who can afford to do so to buy a newspaper, and told the Downing Street press briefing:
“A FREE COUNTRY NEEDS A FREE PRESS, AND THE NEWSPAPERS OF OUR COUNTRY ARE UNDER SIGNIFICANT FINANCIAL PRESSURE”
If you can afford to do so, we would be so grateful if you can make a donation which will allow us to continue to bring stories to you, both in print and online. Or please make cheques payable to “MSI Media Limited” and send by post to South London Press, Unit 112, 160 Bromley Road, Catford, London SE6 2NZ
