Midland Football Alliance
Loughborough University 3, Ellesmere Rangers 0


DESPITE another gutsy performance, Ellesmere were second best as goals from Daniel Nti and recent new signing Ebby Nelson-Addy condemned them to their 13th defeat of the season.

The absence of Kirk Jones and the loss of Matty Fletcher was evident as club captain Connor Courtney and James O’Reilly plugged the defence with Richard Brown and Dan Tolley drafted into midfield.
 

Matty Preece who was injured in the warm up last week against Westfields made a welcome return supporting Kevin Renshaw up front.
 

Rangers started well but struggled at times. The true state of the pitch mushy on top but hard below deceived many and at times both sets of players were forced to change their footwear. The experience and total fitness of the hosts were overpowering at times with Rangers very much on the back foot. Loughborough broke the deadlock on 21 minutes following a quick break from Ellesmere’s first corner.
 

Leading goalscorer  Nti witnessed his close range effect blocked by Maguire but  Nelson-Addy made no mistake from the rebound.
 

The hosts doubled the lead on 51 minutes when Addy supplied a neat through ball to Nti who fired the ball home. Seven minutes later, Nti was denied by the crossbar.


Alan Webb a former Welsh Under 18 international enjoyed the second half by contributing an endless supply of deep crosses from the right. Despite denying Nti with another block Maguire was unable to prevent Loughborough from adding a third goal when 12 minutes from time, Addy fired home from a Webb cross.