Loughborough Lightning have kicked off their FAWNL Division 1 Midlands campaign in dominant fashion, demonstrating their intent with a commanding start to the season. A comprehensive 6-0 victory away to Lincoln City in the season opener set the tone, followed by an emphatic 8-0 thrashing of Notts County at home, with seven different players getting on the scoresheet. Two clean sheets and a remarkable 14 goals in their opening two matches saw Lightning surge to the top of the table heading into September.
In their next outing, a tightly contested top-of-the-table clash against Peterborough United ended in a 1-1 draw. Kayleigh Hines put Loughborough in front with a well-placed header, but a late penalty from Peterborough denied Lightning the win. Other notable league results included a 4-2 triumph over Leafield Athletic, a 3-0 victory against Lincoln United, and a dominant 4-0 win over Worcester City, cementing Loughborough's strong start.
Cup action, however, presented a setback. In the FAWNL Cup, Lightning suffered a 2-1 extra-time defeat to Derby County, despite a goal from Delglyn. The team has since shifted its focus to the FAWNL Plate competition, where they bounced back with a 4-1 win over Norton and Stockton Ancients, with Delglyn once again starring, this time with a brace.
With a waterlogged pitch at Northampton and the postponement of their match against Solihull Moors, leaving Lightning with two games in hand, they are no longer top of the table. However, they remain one of only nine teams across tiers 3 and 4 to stay unbeaten.
Looking ahead, Loughborough Lightning are set for a busy schedule. They face Wellingborough Town Ladies in the FA Cup on the 13th, followed by an FAWNL Plate tie against Halifax on the 20th, before resuming league action with an away fixture against Barnsley on the 27th. The team remains focused and determined as they aim to continue their strong form in both league and cup competitions.