The busiest weekend of the season so far in terms of fixtures as 11 of our 12 Glenfield United teams were in action on Sunday.
The first featured game came from Ellis Park as the under 11 9v9 team welcomed near neighbours Anstey Swifts, currently in fifth place and beat Glenfield 5-1 back in the mid October.
After an opening 20 minutes where Glenfield 'keeper Matt Moulds was the stand out player, commanding his area and making some good saves, it was Anstey who opened the scoring.
It came through their number ten, who had been a threat leading up to the goal. Anstey caught Glenfield on the break and the striker netted from outside the area, shooting over Moulds.
And it was the same player who doubled Anstey's lead five minutes later, showing persistent work to nick the ball off the Glenfield defence before scoring from the edge of the box.
The scoreline was a tad harsh on United who created chances throughout the first half. The closest they went to reducing the defecit came moments after going two down as Jacob Taylor hit a sweet volley from 20 plus yards which cracked against the bar and bounced over.
Whatever was said at half time by the Glenfield coaching team certainly had an impact as the game was turned on its head in the opening ten minutes of the second half.
After Jacob Taylor's shot was blocked, a cross from James Pye fell to striker Aariyan Palana who thumped the ball into the roof of the net to start the comeback.
The equaliser came in slighlty controversial circumstances. A run from midfield by Pattison Mafuana saw him put through one on one with the Anstey 'keeper and the Glenfield man scored low out of the 'keepers reach. The linesman gave the goal as offside, but the referee over ruled, judging that Mafuana's run came from an onside position.
By now the impetus was with the hosts and they duly took the lead just minutes after equalising. A corner from the right wasn't cleared by the Anstey defence and as the ball bounced around in the area, Palana pounced again to make it 3-2.
With more than half of the second half remaining there were a few nervy moments, but three minutes before full time the game was settled as Albert Findley found the bottom corner, scoring on the break as Anstey pushed forward for an equaliser.
It was a superb turnaround for Glenfield and at full time there was much joy amongst players, parents and coaches. The difference in class from the start of the season is plain to see and although they remain in the lower half of the table, the form they've shown since Christmas bodes well for next season.
The second game of the day was across the village at Gynsill Lane as Glenfield United Under 8's welcomed Highfield Rangers Jaguars.
Three quick goals from the visitors set the tone for the match, as numbers ten, three and seven scored inside the opening ten minutes.
Number three then got his second five minutes prior to the break, before number ten made it 5-0 with the last touch of the half, feigning a shot from the edge of the area before firing low into the corner.
Number seven brought up his second five minutes after the break while two minutes later number three brought up his hat-trick.
Two more goals from number ten, the second being the goal of the game with a strike from outside the area, made the final score 9-0 to Highfield.
As the scoreline would suggest, the visitors were a very good side and possess some talented young players. But there were some promising signs for Glenfield as they continue their development and when they play a side of a similar ability, will be sure to give them a game.
The final game of the day saw Glenfield United Under 18's, fresh from their spirited and by all accounts deserved 4-4 draw at league leaders Anstey Swifts, take on third placed Oadby Owls.
Glenfield held their own against the visitors but it was Oadby that broke the deadlock after 25 minutes, and it came from a Glenfield freekick.
The freekick was cleared and as Glenfield struggled to get back, Oadby countered with number 11 cutting in from the right wing and scoring.
Ten minutes later and it was 2-0 to the Owls. A cross from the right was headed clear, only for the ball to fall to Oadby's number four who caught it sweetly on the volley and found the back of the net, despite Glenfield goalkeeper Mitch Sewell getting fingertips to it.
Oadby hit the woodwork a couple of minutes into the second half, number 11 heading a cross from the right which hit the base of the post.
Glenfield's closest effort came five minutes from time when a hooked shot from Sam Gill was tipped over the bay by the Oadby 'keeper.
The 2-0 defeat for Glenfield, coupled with Harborough's 1-0 win over Whitwick, means United have slipped to 10th. Glenfield travel to bottom side Whitwick this weekend.
Glenfield United results: Glen Villa U7 X-X Glenfield United Hawks U7, Glenfield United Tigers U8 L-W Highfield Rangers Jaguars U8, Rugby Town Tigers U9 2-0 Glenfield United Lions U9, Asfordby Amateurs U9 6-1 Glenfield United Tigers U9, Glenfield United Tigers U10 2-4 Queniborough Reds U10, Glenfield United U11 9v9 4-2 Anstey Swifts U11 9v9, Loughborough Dynamo U12 9v9 1-2 Glenfield United U12 9v9, Glenfield United U14 1-2 Oadby Owls FC U14, Oadby Owls Tawnys U14 0-6 Glenfield United 2005 U14, Beaumont Town FC U14 3-4 Glenfield United 2010 U14, Glenfield United U18 0-2 Oadby Owls FC U18.
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