09/08/2026
🚨📢 Result v Leicester Athletico FC 📢🚨
📅 Saturday 8th August
🏠 Home
🏟️ Thurnby Rangers Sports Ground
📍 Dakyn Road - LE5 2ED
🏆 Senior League Prem
⚽ KO @ 1500
Thurnby Rangers opened the new season with a narrow 2–1 defeat against Leicester Atletico at Dakyn Road, but there were plenty of positives to take from an encouraging performance.
Thurnby started brightly, dominating possession and regularly breaking through the Atletico lines. Despite the impressive build-up play, the hosts were unable to find the breakthrough before Atletico took the lead from the penalty spot after 25 minutes. An awful refereeing decision was later acknowledged by the referee stating in an incident moments later if the Thurnby player had gone to ground, he would have awarded a penalty. This sort of thing encourages simulation and artificial consistency.
The second half saw Thurnby come out with real intent, laying siege to the Atletico goal and creating numerous opportunities, with the woodwork, goalkeeper and visiting defence all keeping the hosts at bay.
Against the run of play Atletico doubled their advantage with around 20 minutes remaining, with more poor officiating. Athletico scored from a deep cross, however the Thurnby defender on hand was being held by an Athletico attacker, with preventing him from defending. Even the Athletico bench were bemused at how the goal was awarded.
Thurnby refused to give up. Reduced to 10 men following an injury with all substitutes already used, the hosts continued to push forward.
With five minutes remaining, Connor King pulled one back after an Olamide shot deflected into his path.
Thurnby pushed for an equaliser until the final whistle, with King agonisingly close to grabbing a second after beating the offside trap and the Athletico goalkeeper, only to see his effort narrowly miss.
Despite the result, there was plenty to be encouraged by, particularly the quality of the football and the character shown to keep fighting until the end against last seasons league contenders.
The focus now turns to Wednesday, when Thurnby travel to St Patrick’s looking to bounce back.