LUFFS 0 BLABY & WHETSTONE 1 (01/12/01) @ The Drome Loughborough little adventure in the Jelsom Homes Senior cup came to an end on saturday with just the narrowest of margins against Senior League Premier Boys Blaby and Whetstone. The Leicester side came to Loughborough with the reputaion of not scoring many and not conceding many and left with their reputation in tack but at times they sailed very close to the wind and verty nearly got their fingers burnt.   Traditionally, of course, whosoever knocks Loughborough out of the Senior Cup goes on to win it but this season "The Luffs" fancied their chances themselves and on Saturday's performance there was some justification. This was a contrast in footballing styles and  credit to both sides for producing some interesting football after a week of continuous rain leaving so many clubs kicking their heels.   Blaby were happy to sit back and let Loughborough come at them for long periods but looked remarkable cool at the back and were prepared play cat and mouse with the Loughborough forwards despite the conditions and showed an interesting skill in doing so.  The first sign of any penetration by Loughborough was a Brookes cross which the Blaby keeper Powell punched clear while Bells header forced a more accomplished save.   After opening by pushing Blaby back the visitors showed an incisive quality on the break with wing back Boot breaking quickly and skilfully and Ketnore seeing a shot deflected just wide. Loughborough's Mcintosh had a low shot saved while at the other end keeper Springthorpe made a good save at the near post.  Loughborough pushed on not quite used to this freedom to run at the opposition but it was a much practised tactic by the Blaby side illustrated by centre back martin heading a Bell cross into his keepers arms.   O'Callaghan and Mcintosh combined well down the left but they met a solid defence while Bell should have opened the scoring for Loughborough with a good chance hitting a defender and Rogers shooting just over on the rebound. Blaby might have scored in the first half, a goalmouth scramble saw Springthorpe eventually smother the ball and they appealed for a penalty shortly after, but it was a half hearted appealed and rightly turned down by Leicestershire referee Jarvis.   Mcintosh went on a mazy run in the Blaby penalty area but the final shot went over and an entertaining first half finished goaless and honours just about even. The second half saw Loughborough chances to take this game come and go has O'Callaghan hit a low cross and Bell was a whisker away from connecting from close range.  The O'Callaghan brothers combined with Paul heading just wide, it was a good start to the second half by "The Luffs" and Blaby were on the back foot.   The chance of the half was created by O'Callaghan, he rounded two defenders and the keeper but allowed time for Blabby to assemble numbers on the line and the open goal failed to materialize and the final shot was blocked.  At this stage you would have put your money on Loughborough getting the breakthrough as Bell headed just past the  post. But Blaby were a cagey side and rode out this period of pressure and seized their moment from a set peice.   The Loughborough side will look closely at their defensive make up for this one, the free kick near the touchline offered no more serious threat than a corner, but two Blaby forwards were left unmarked and Favour squeezed the ball into the net at the near post. It was somewhat against the run of play but if the defence had had a momentary lapse of concetration then if the attacking players  we have seen score ten goals in the last two league games had been on form Loughborough would have been in the next round and not Blaby. The Loughborough side were then given the task of breaking down a mean Blaby defence but even so the equalizer might well have come in the last fifteen minutes of the game.   Macintosh found the side netting and Gunn went clear on the Blaby keeper only to shoot wide.  Loughborough pressed hard down both flanks fight to the end but their name was not on this cup this season and Blaby went through with the narrowest of margins. It's cup again this week for Loughborough, the Endsleigh Challenge Cup Third Round and time to see the team of the moment Rugby Town at "The Drome" kick off 1.30 pm.   These are by far the best side Loughborough have seen this season but it was only 3-1 away in the league and if the goal scoring form returns then we could well see an upset in Loughborough on saturday.