Leeds United Ladies 0-1 Coventry City Ladies
COVENTRY City Ladies made it two wins out of three in the Premier League National Division after an excellent 1-0 victory over Leeds United Ladies on Sunday afternoon.
The Sky Blues went ahead after just four minutes when summer signing Maz Gauntlett fired home a terrific right-footed volley following a Helen Dermody corner.
As the first half progressed Leeds began to dominate possession but found it difficult to break down a resolute Coventry defence.
Despite having more of the possession the hosts found it difficult to manufacture any real chances and were forced into testing their luck from distance, but failed to test Sue Wood in the Sky Blues goal.
Courtney Sweetman-Kirk had a shot from 20 yards out comfortably saved before the interval as the Sky Blues took a 1-0 lead into half-time.
The home side came out with renewed vigour after the break but once again failed to break the pattern of the game.
Sweetman-Kirk had a header cleared of the line and substitutes Hayley Phillipowsky and Callan Barber combined well but Phillipowsky's goalbound poke was superbly saved by Leeds goalkeeper Jule Draycott.
Despite some late pressure by the hosts, Paul Cudby's side managed to hold on for the three points and are next in action when they host Sunderland Ladies this Sunday (August 14).
Team: Wood, Steele, Ward, McKenna, Lynch, Manley, Sweetman-Kirk (Durrant 84), Simpkins, Gauntlett (Phillipowsky 70), Goulding (Barber 45) Dermody
Subs not used - Formaston, Morgan
Quote from first team coach Paul Cudby:
"I thought we did very well," said Cudby. "Leeds will be one of the toughest teams we play this season.
"But we passed the ball well, defended very well and showed a great deal of concentration and a great deal of commitment to the cause.
"We limited them to very few clear cut chances and when they did break through, we had Sue Wood to thank who was in exceptional form today.
"Having said that, I still feel we had the better of the chances, we dropped a bit in the second half and didn't press them as much, but everyone did their job as well as they could and I don't think many teams will leave leeds with a clean sheet.
"If we can keep on improving and working hard we won't be far from the standard needed to compete in this league."
