Drummer Boy

Leicester City 4-2 West Ham United (Women’s Super League)

I’m scratching around for matches and this could be the last (paid) of the season for me, I’m falling short of a hundred games since last summer (just the 93 watched in venue) but I’m ready for my break, a week in Dubai awaits as the English game draws near to a close.

It’s the last weekend of the WSL season, and ironically the first Women’s Super League match I’ve been to in a year. Leicester City are second bottom but well clear of already relegated Crystal Palace, West Ham mid table with not a lot to play for but points and placing, elsewhere Chelsea have won the league, Arsenal and Manchester United are playing each other today with the winner taking second prize.

I’m waiting for the wife to get back from her morning Gym class and Asda shop, before rushing out the door to get quickly down the A46. I’ve left it late, leaving at 11:30am for a 12:30pm kick off. I’m frantically speeding down the dual carriageway but I’ve made good time, through Wanlip, Birstall and Leicester city centre as I manage to get lucky with some favourable traffic lights, original ETA down from 12:21 to 12:15pm.

The Venue

I’ve parked in Car Park C which is across the Raw Dykes Road and is now half taken by a huge fan zone, which is these days a thing that ‘Premier League’ clubs have to offer. Not in use today, I wonder if it will be their next season when Leicester City men’s team are back in the Championship.

I’m running to the turnstiles as I know I’ve left it late to get my pew for KO, past a queue of kids and mums as I enter turnstiles 6-12 where I can’t seem to work out how to scan my phone. "Slot it in the gap" I'm told.

Panic over, I’m up the stairs to my seat at the back of the stand, elevated and high up, away from the noisy kids who are waving flags and blowing on vuvuzelas down below, my seat however is directly in front of the one box in the stadium which is taken by the clubs official drummer boy. I jest with him ‘how long do you think I can sit here before moving’? “2 minutes” is the reply. Luckily there’s plenty of blue plastic spaces available so I take a seat a little further down the line.

Inside the King Power Stadium, it really is a fine cauldron, not for everyone, these modern grounds often referred to as soulless bowls, but I like it, the views are good, the pitch immaculate, it’s intimate and when full can create a good noise, even today, with just a thousand or two in attendance, backed by the drummer boy, there’s plenty of noise.

The Game

There’s not a lot at stake but if Leicester win they can move up a place in the table, and the Blues start positive as they look to go forward every time they get the ball, but they don’t have it much as West Ham hold most of the possession, they look to keep it and probe slowly whilst the Foxes are all about the counter-attack.

City do make the breakthrough when Janice Cayman volleys a ball from the edge of the area into the roof of the net, a lovely finish with the laces of her boot to put Leicester one up after just nine minutes.

West Ham respond by crashing the crossbar, French star Viviane Asseyi with a cross-shot from out left has Leitzig perplexed but for little reward, and it's Leicester who double advantage when Hannah Cain is set free. I watched a short video of her only last night, on her road to recovery after a year out with an ACL injury, she talked of retirement when at her lowest, but she’s in fine form today, racing clear she has two pops at the cherry, on the rebound her left footed dink is lovely. Much admired by the young Leicester fans, the Welsh international certainly shouldn’t be thinking about retiring as she shines as one of the game’s best players.

The Score

A two goal lead at half time is deserved but West Ham come out strong in the second half after making a couple of changes, their star attraction is Asseyi who takes every set play, she’s popped up in the box to head in a cross which Leitzig gets hands to but can’t keep out, suddenly it’s 2-1 and the Hammers are back in it.

But Leicester are let loose again, Cain racing free as she’s sent through on goal by Ale, West Ham’s high line often penetrated and another left footed dink over the keeper provides the forward with her second of the game.

You think that should be it, but Viviane Asseyi is leading a one-woman comeback, she’s set sight from around twenty yards over a free kick where anyone sane wouldn’t even think about shooting, a wonderful whipped effort right footed from out wide into the top near corner of the Leicester goal. 3-2.

But every time the Hammers race back, Leicester are let loose, Sam Tierney this time breaking the lines to run through on goal from midfield, Szemik only just starts to race off her line, Tierney has seen it, before having a go at chipping the ball over her, it’s a stunning finish which even has me draw breath, ‘Wow’ is what I say aloud before a gentle round of applause.

That has the kids waving flags in front of me as the drummer boy goes wild, he’s been banging his beat for what it feels like an eternity, I’m glad I wasn’t forced to sit in my actual seat today.

The Stars

Hannah Cain shone with her two goals and what a lovely story for her, back from what must have been hell, she returned to action in October and has played plenty of games since, but in the last month has now scored four goals for club and country, finding her form now at full fitness.

I really like Leicester, as a club, they have good players in all departments, Janina Leitzig in goal is one of the best in the WSL for me, her handling impeccable, whilst in defence, Sophie Howard often controls proceedings at centre half, they don’t let too many in.

Sam Tierney is also a player I really like, she’s one that goes un-noticed often battling away doing the ugly stuff in midfield, she always puts a shift in but has a touch of quality and good subtle movement which I really enjoy watching, whilst the Japanese winger Yuka Momiki is a fine player too, caressing the ball neatly along the playing surface before jetting off on her way.

For West Ham, their single star on the day was Viviane Asseyi, 66 French caps and 14 international goals, you can see why. She’s quick, direct, powerful, technical, she can shoot from distance and score with her head, if only the Hammers had ten other players like her?

The Verdict

In the end, Leicester finished tenth in the twelve team WSL table, West Ham falling to ninth to end a disappointing season lower than expected, only three points above the Foxes, Chelsea went the season unbeaten whilst Arsenal, who have the Champions League final to look forward to next, finished second above Manchester United after an entertaining last day 4-3 win.

Whilst those at the top continue to dominate, clubs like West Ham and Leicester certainly know their place, they have both improved in recent years and are competitive these days against the big guns, they’ll no doubt enjoy their break and go again next season, where they, and the WSL will no doubt continue to improve in quality.

The Teams

Leicester City: Janina Leitzig, Julie Thibaud (CJ Bott 75), Sophie Howard, Chantelle Swaby, Asmita Ale, Sam Tierney, Janice Cayman, Hannah Cain (Hlin Eiriksdottir 83), Yuka Momiki (Saori Takarada 83), Shana Chossenotte (Shannon O'Brien 60), Missy Goodwin (Nelly Las 60).

West Ham United: Kinga Szemik, Anouk Denton, Eva Nystrom, Shelina Zadorsky (Amber Tisiak 46), Verena Hanshaw (Kirsty Smith 79), Manuela Pavi (Oona Siren 46), Katrina-Lee Gorry (Princess Ademiluyi 90), Seraina Piubel (Emma Harries 68), Riko Ueki, Viviane Asseyi, Shekiera Martinez.

12:30pm Kick Off. Saturday 10th May 2025, Leicester City Stadium, Leicester (att: 2,000).