Canterbury Ladies 1 - 2 Leicester

FRUSTRATION rather than disappointment was the mood in the home camp as National League title favourites Leicester reinforced their credentials by coming from behind to beat Canterbury Ladies at Polo Farm.

Canterbury’s frustration stemmed from the fact that against almost any other team their performance, particularly in the first half, would have been good enough to have clinched victory.

Leaders Leicester, though, are no ordinary side. Second-best for much of the first half the midlanders showed resilience and no little skill to turn the tables and all but end Canterbury’s own hopes of landing the Premier Division title.

Canterbury skipper Mel Clewlow admitted as much afterwards and had no complaints with the result.

Without Anna Bennett (ill), Christina Houslop (injured) and Susannah Townsend (absent) and only youngster Lucy Stewart on the bench, they simply lacked the strength in depth to cope with Leicester’s second-half revival, led by the impressive Rebecca Herbert.

Clewlow, whose side now trail the leaders by seven points, said: "We’re frustrated more than disappointed because we knew that if we’d had played like that the previous weeks we wouldn’t have lost the previous two games.

"Leicester outplayed us in the second half but I can’t fault the players’ effort or commitment. They gave it everything."

* Canterbury face Clifton at Polo Farm on Saturday.