Blaby Foxes FC

Final pre season friendly today against AFC Beaumont and a 1-0 win. A very fair and tight game with not many chances at either end. Reece driving through from the defence and his long range effort hitting the bar the first opening. Blaby were solid in defence but didn’t really create a lot. A few blocked shots from Josh and Tom before Logan’s free kick just over. Niall called into action tipping Mikey’s header over. Into the second half and more of the same, Beaumont very organised at the back but the breakthrough came after Scott challenged for the ball and it fell to Kane with the keeper in no man’s land for a trademark lob from distance. Blaby saw the game out but didn’t retain the ball particularly well. Still a win but there’s so much more to come from this team with the injury bench already looking busy. The pre-season has been a mixed bag with 3 wins and 3 defeats but the new lads have settled in well and are good additions. Excited to see what the season holds as it starts in a couple of weeks.

Motm Mikey.

Another week, another friendly, another win. Blaby came out 5-3 winners in a well contested friendly. Blaby started well passing it from the back and trying to get forward but nothing really clicking up the top end. Leicester town took lead after 20 with a great curling goal from outside the area. Less than 5 minutes later a spot on Ben corner was met by Reece’s bullet header to level. Blaby continued to play with chances for Kane and Owayne being brought down in the box but a penalty denied. Leicester town took the lead again with a low free kick squirming through Niall’s legs. Blaby responded again with Owayne keeping a deep cross alive before squaring it for Kane to fire home for 2-2. 6 subs at half time and Blaby really took control. A few minutes into the second half Scott capitalising on a loose ball and powering through to square for Andy to tap in. Blaby pressing much higher up paying dividends as Mitch won it and poked it through to Josh to finish from outside the area with the keeper in no man’s land. A moment to forget for Scott though as Blaby had 3 attackers in the box and no defenders before Scott got all in a mess and bundled it out for a goal kick with Andy and Tom waiting for a tap in. Scott did get his reward though with Mitch and Ash linking up before crossing low for Scott to poke home. Blaby did lose concentration towards the end as the ball deceived the defensive line and the striker tapped over Niall’s head. Blaby good for the victory but still areas to improve. Squad depth is looking good with 17 players all playing their part.

Motm. Scott.

Pre season is well under way. The boys put it an a gutsy display against Lutterworth in a 2-1 win. Lutterworth did the double over blaby in the league last season and most likely be in their league again this season. Blaby started really well passing it well from back to front. A few chances for Andy and Tom before the breakthrough. Kane and Tom raced through before Kane with a trademark lob from the edge of the area after 30 mins gave them the lead. Before half time Blaby doubled it with Bens deep corner won by Reece and knocked down for Stevie to poke home. Lutterworth did have chances but the defence stood firm. Into the second half Lutterworth brought a lot of their first team into the fold and saw much more of the ball. Blabys effort kept up and weren’t giving it away. Lutterworth did get a goal back with a finish from a tight angle and kept pushing. Blaby not giving in and competing for every ball. Blaby could’ve added when Tom and Matt’s energy up top knicked the ball but couldn’t convert. Andy also hitting the post with a stooping header at the back post. A really gutsy performance and the new signings in Josh, Ash and Reece a huge part of it. Onto next week as more friendlies to come.

MOTM. Ash

Blaby finally back in action today with only their 3rd game in 2 months. But their first of 4 games in 10 days. A difficult result to take with a 1-0 defeat to craddock. Blaby didn’t start well and were passing poorly. Craddock took the lead after 15 minutes after Mitch was dispossessed and the attacker fired into the top corner from a tight angle with a good finish. Blaby started to play and chances a plenty. Josh and Tom spurning chances and Scott have a couple of shots blocked. Blaby dominated for the rest of game with chances coming thick and fast but wasteful in front of goal. Could’ve easily had 10 from the chances created but to no avail. Ryan having very little to do apart from the odd routine save. Defensively very solid and dominating throughout but so poor in front of goal have cost us today. Next game is on Wednesday which will be a real test.

After 5 weeks the boys finally took to the field again. They made it back to back 3-0 victories with an away win over Bagworth. Another really professional and composed performance. Bagworth started well and had lots of the ball but were constantly rebuffed by blabys back line. A really combative game as challenges were flying in from both teams. Blaby took the lead towards the end of the first half. An expertly delivered corner by Harry to the back post was met by Mikey steaming in to head home via a deflection. Blaby continued to battle but the playing surface made short passing difficult. Into the second half and the game was tight, although Ryan was relatively untroubled Bagworth continued to fight. The substitutes swung the tide though. With 30 mins to go a long ball by Ryan was flicked on by Andy to Kane to knock it through to Tom who kept his cool and found the bottom corner. Bagworth started to tire and a few minutes later it was 3. Ben delivering a corner that was challenged by Mikey before Max’s fine feet found Mikey to finish expertly with the outside of his boot. Blaby then closed the game out well and could’ve had a few more with Stevie, Josh and Tom constantly threatening in behind. The subs won this game and that’s why the squad is important. Max, Tom, Ben, George and Andy all having an impact from the bench. 2 goals for Mikey but the entire defence were immense today. Great to be a part of.

Back to winning ways for blaby as they recover from a poor run of form. They won convincingly 3-0 against Craddock. A really solid and professional performance front to back today. Blaby started well and were passing out quickly and building play but no breakthrough and only a few half chances. Craddock did start to grow into the game as the wind penned blaby in. Craddock had a goal ruled out for offside after Ryan made a good save. But on the stroke of half time Blaby got their goal. A blaby corner was headed out for Ben to strike across the ball first time from well outside the area to send it flying into the bottom corner, goal of the season contender for sure. Blaby started the second half still playing well and kept the ball moving. Josh being released down the left wing to pull it back for Kane to take a touch and fire convincingly into the top corner on his first start since injury. Game management was good as Blaby took the sting out of Craddock attacks and Ryan making good saves when called upon. A third on the counter as Matthew sprung behind and played in Josh to round the keeper and tap in. Great to be a part of today and well worth the victory.

Another league game today as the boys fell to 5-2 defeat to Lutterworth. Another difficult day as a poor run of form continues. The team are lacking any sort of consistency in midfield and attacking areas with several players unavailable. Lutterworth took the lead after Ryan made a solid save at his near post for the ball to fall kindly for the attacker to tap in. A few minutes later after Max was forced over to give Lutterworth a corner it was headed in from under the cross bar by their tall centre back. Blaby did get back after link up play through Zig, Andy and Josh allowed Scott to steal in front of the keeper and put it past him. Lutterworth then made it 3 after a free kick bounced off the crossbar onto the back of Ryan. Lutterworth added a 4th just before half time and then they were reduced to 10 for a really cheap double booking. Blaby starting to apply pressure the momentum did swing but then after 10 mins of the second half a couple of injuries and reshuffle took the sting out of the game. Blaby got their second with Toms corner kick going all the way in. Lutterworth got one towards the end on the counter coolly finished. It’s a tough spell for Blaby at the minute with no rhythm to the side. But effort and fight all over the pitch.

A difficult result to take for blaby today. They returned to league action after 7 weeks after a stop start winter period. But a string of squad drop outs left the matchday squad crippled. Blaby played really well in the first half and controlled the ball passing well through midfield. 2 early goals against the run of play gave a real uphill battle. The first Ryan coming out to claim a through ball that squirmed under him for the striker to score from a tight angle. The second on the counter from a blaby corner. Blaby continued to play and got back in after Toms corner was turned in by a defender at the near post. But less than 5 minutes later Andy’s clearing header was shot from out wide which Ryan couldn’t hold and tapped in for 3-1. Blaby rallied again with Kristen linking up well with Scott to finish before half time. Scott and Stevie also have glorious chances to taken. 3-2 in the second half and the lads begin to tire with no squad depth they failed to capitalise. A long range free kick parried by Ryan and tucked in left it at 4-2. Excellent performances by Mitch, Jacob and Kristen but not enough energy in the side against a full squad Epworth. The boys still have 6 games to score plenty of points and they have to pick themselves up.

The final group game of the EW Foster cup is a day to forget as the foxes are knocked out by Skettle. With only 1 win from their group they go out. The performance today wasn’t great against a full throttle Skettle team as they ran out 7-0 winners. Skettle are known for blowing teams away by attacking in numbers as they flood the box and cut back for tap ins. Blaby couldn’t handle the running power as they still recover from injuries. Shame to end the cup like this today but the effort was there from everybody an plenty of players were dead on their feet. Back into the league next week as the boys still in a good spot to fight for 4th place.

Group game 2 of 3 today away at Enderby United. The boys battled well but fall to a 4-2 defeat. A very good first half again against a higher division side and they took the lead after 30 mins. A measured through ball by Harry releasing Josh to beat the offside trap and knocked it around the keeper to tap. Enderby did get an equaliser before the half with a long free kick bouncing just before Ryan in goal which meant he couldn’t hold on and it was bundled in. Second half was the same with both teams battling well but as Blaby started to tire Enderby made all their subs and the game got away with 15 to go a couple of goals from pinching the ball high up. Blaby still fought and Harry combining with Kristen down the left same as last week got their reward. Kristen’s deep cross was met by Josh to header in brilliantly. Blaby did have other chances for Josh who ran himself into the ground but wasn’t to be. Enderby ended the game strongly and Ryan saved a penalty with 5 to go. But a cracking strike made it 4-2 to finish it. Injures taking their toll today as with the usual squad depth I think Blaby get a result. It will go to the final group game and it’s still in Blaby’s hands to progress. Harry and Josh amazing today.