Leicestershire County Football League
Turner Insurance Services Premiership
Saturday 24th January 2026
Welford Victoria (2) – (0) Harborough Town Spencers
Report – Tony Sansome
It proved to be a frustrating afternoon for Harborough Town Spencers as they slipped to a deserved 2–0 defeat away at Welford Victoria on a heavy pitch, against opponents who showed greater intensity and desire throughout the contest.
From the opening exchanges, conditions made it difficult for either side to play with fluency, but it was the hosts who adapted far better. Harborough struggled to gain any momentum and, in truth, failed to carve out a single clear opening across the ninety minutes. The Welford goalkeeper was rarely troubled, enjoying what was arguably the easiest afternoon he is likely to have all season.
The deadlock was broken just before the 20-minute mark when Spencers failed to fully clear their lines, allowing Welford Victoria to capitalise and take the lead. Within five minutes, the hosts doubled their advantage in controversial circumstances. A player involved in the build-up was clearly yards offside, so much so that players from both sides stopped, expecting the whistle. One Welford Victoria player, however, continued and struck a superb volley that dipped late and caught Harborough cold. Despite the obvious offside, it was a very good finish.
To their credit, Welford Victoria did not need to create many further chances after that. They defended resolutely, winning headers, making blocks, and tackling aggressively to nullify anything Harborough attempted. Every effort to build pressure was met with strong resistance, and the hosts managed the game effectively to see out the win without ever looking uncomfortable.
From a Spencers perspective, it was difficult to take many positives from the performance. The work rate and sharpness required to compete on a demanding surface were lacking, and the result reflected that. One bright spot was Max Aldridge, who stood out with his commitment and effort in an otherwise disappointing display.
There are no complaints about the outcome, with the hosts fully deserving their victory. Best wishes to them for the remainder of the season.
Attention now turns to next week, as Spencers look to respond on the road away to Leicester Lions.