Varsity 2017: Monday Night Football goes the way of UoL

History was not to repeat itself on a night of Varsity defeats for De Montfort University Leicester (DMU) men’s and women’s football clubs.

One of the flagship fixtures of the annual Varsity series did not go the way of #TeamDMU on Monday night as the University of Leicester (UoL) cyclone blew in, clinching two critical points.

Women’s football 1^st team were heavily defeated 4-0 while the men’s 1^st XI lost narrowly 1-0 in blustery and wet conditions.

The victories for UoL bring the overall Varsity score level at 11-11 as we enter the competitions dramatic climax- ‘Winning Wednesday’.

A late venue change due to a waterlogged pitch at Aylestone Park Football Club saw both fixtures moved to Beaumont Park, home of #TeamDMU, which you thought would play in our favour. It wasn’t to be.

Victory on penalties for the women’s side and a clinical 3-0 victory for the men last year gave #TeamDMU optimism going into the fixture, but UoL wanted revenge.

Kicking off the evening was the women who battled away in the opening 10 minutes in search of an opener to take the game to the opposition.

Captain Grace Morgan stood strong in defence preventing UoL from taking an early advantage blocking a few long range shots as the opposition looked to capitalise on the break.

Soon UoL took a grip on the game firing low to the #TeamDMU keeper’s right to take a 12^th minute lead.

From there on it wasn’t plain sailing as UoL, who were dominant in possession grabbed a second as a searching cross from the right was neatly tucked away at the back post.

A third came soon after as a free-kick from halfway was poorly dealt with at the back and the rebound was struck low under the keeper from six yards.

At half-time #TeamDMU had a mountain to climb if they were to repeat last year’s Varsity success.

To a certain extent they got themselves back into the game, with some neat play in the opposition half bringing chances to create a comeback.

However, as time passed by UoL grew stronger and with 20 minutes remaining they earned themselves a penalty which was slotted nicely to the keepers left to extend their lead to 4-0.

From there on, UoL played the game out to clinch a deserved victory despite a committed and proud second half performance from the women’s 1st XI.

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A frantic and blooded opening 10 minutes in the men’s game offered what promised to be an entertaining fixture as the heavens opened at Beaumont Park.

#TeamDMU enjoyed early possession and they pressured UoL high up the pitch in search of an opener.

However, on 12 minutes UoL snatched the lead after a mistake in the #TeamDMU defence presented an opening, the attacker firing low past James Dillon.

Celebrating in front of the #TeamDMU crowd, you could sense UoL were still feeling the pain of last year’s heavy defeat.

#TeamDMU’s brightest sparks in the opening 45, David Adjei and Ken Feyi, offered a lot down the left as the men looked for a way back into the game, but UoL stuck to their game plan and went in at half-time ahead.

The second half was set to be a fierce encounter, but UoL played the game out offering #TeamDMU very little in attack.

The introductions of Josh Gwekwerere and Jerry Elongama gave hope going forward, but the UoL defence stood strong to kill any chance of a comeback.

With minutes to play it all boiled over with fans reacting to a scuffle on the side in front of the stand as the Varsity emotions were let loose, but the referee did well to calm the situation.

As the full-time whistle blew, fans flooded onto the pitch to congratulate the opposition and UoL took both Varsity points from #TeamDMU’s grasp on a night of disappointment.

 

The men’s 2^nd, 3^rd and 4^th teams will be in action on Wednesday at Stoughton Road as will the women’s 2^nd XI.

You can keep up with events right across the Varsity series through our Twitter, Facebook and Snapchat accounts, and follow the story using #DareToWin and #TeamDMU on social media.