Kick off weekend

It was first day back for the Everards Leicestershire Senior League this weekend. Before we start with the action, let's look at the changes.

In the Premier Division, last season's champions Allexton & New Parks were promoted to Step 6 and Midlands Football League Division One, which will cover most of Leicestershire Step 6 clubs this season, with only Holwell Sports and reforming Coalville featuring in the United Counties League Division One, as the UCL continues its migration northward... Meanwhile, 2023 Senior League champions Asfordby were to be relegated from the UCL back into the Senior League. However, a summer exodus hit the club hard, and despite the club's best efforts, they were forced to resign from the League at the end of July before a ball was kicked. That means that the Premier this term will only have 15 teams, as Asfordby's resignation came after the AGM. At the other end, Barrow Town were relegated to Div1 of the LSL, and Anstey Town and Leicester Atletico came up the other way.

Atletico had been due to play Asfordby on the opening day, but instead found themselves on the sidelines until midweek. Anstey Town, for their Premier debut, found themselves returning to familiar ground, as they were hosted by ex-landlords Ellistown. For the first time this year, it's hello to Andy Grout:

"If Anstey had their shooting boots on then there would have been no complaint if they had won the game by half-time. Credit also goes to the Ellistown crossbar, which saved the hosts bacon twice in the game. The longer it remained 0-0, the more Anstey became frustrated, and the more Ellistown sensed a smash-and-grab. It was goalless until 51 minutes, when Kielan Thackeray smashed home after 51 minutes from 20 yards. Anstey went on the front foot, and only the Ellistown keeper Kyle Warren kept the home side in front. The game remained a close contest until 81 minutes, when a shot destined for the top left corner was handled in the box, and referee Mr Fradley pointed to the spot, with the penalty converted by Sonny Sheasby, Ellistown winning 2-0."

The big scorers of the day were Aylestone Park Reserves, who thumped AFC North Kilworth 9-3 at the Linwood. Evan Kane led the way with four goals, with Seb Corredor, Dan Henfrey, Leo Hicking, Bayem Onelum and Stan Rossell also scoring for Aylestone, Taylor Sharpe, Jake Smith and Ellis Weston replying for NK. There was also a first half hat-trick for Tom Vyce on his debut for Desford. His four goals in nine minutes at the end of the first period, after Callum Brown had opened the scoring for Desford in the 12th minute, put Desford 5-0 up at half-time at Cottesmore, and Vyce added another in the second half, 6-0 to Desford the final score.

Last season's runners-up Hathern opened their account with a 4-1 win at home to Thurnby Rangers. After a cautious and goalless first half, Thurnby took the lead early on in the second half after a defensive slip let in their attacker, who squared the ball to Austin Enekwe who turned it in after 50 minutes. That was as good as it got for Rangers, as Hathern equalised five minutes later when Kai Williams was unmarked at the back post, and Thurnby went back into their shell, with only their keeper to thank for keeping them level for as long as they were. Ten minutes from the end though, they were undone when a long cross into the box just eluded the keeper's hands, and Williams headed in at the back post, before the tiring Thurnby defence's offside trap malfunctioned altogether, letting Jack McLachlan to get one-on-one and slot home, and then the over-run defence were again stretched by a Hathern attack, and Dolton Taylor got on the end of the final pass to stab it in, three goals in six minutes securing the points for Hathern.

Meanwhile, two first-half goals from Aran Leacock and Seon Shippley were enough to give Highfield Rangers a 2-0 win at Friar Lane & Epworth. There were perhaps two surprise results- FC Khalsa recorded a 1-0 win at home to Burbage & Huncote, Clayton Nhau scoring in the first half, whilst Magna 73 stunned Sileby Town at the Meadows, as Reegan Lawrence, Fin Thomas and Archie Allen fired them into a 3-0 lead after just 25 minutes. Conner Packwood scored on the stroke of the break, and new signing Tom Pope scored early in the second period to reduce arrears to 3-2, but Magna hung on for the win.