Reading 1 Coventry 0
COVENTRY City Ladies began their first season in the Premier League National Division with a narrow 1-0 defeat away to Reading at Tadley yesterday afternoon.
The Sky Blues started well but eventually fell behind 15 minutes into the second half when Watts fired past Sue Wood from close range.
Despite creating several goal scoring opportunities, with Leanne McKenna and summer signing Maz Gauntlet coming close, the visitor were unable to find an equaliser and had to settle for a small defeat against a team who finished third in the Premier League last season.
"Even with the narrow lose, we still played a good game and we now know the level of talent we will be up against," said coach Sean Green, who was in temporary charge of the side in place of first team coach Paul Cudby.
"It's pleasing knowing that we can play at this level. We missed about two or three opportunities in the second half and if they had of gone in, the outcome could have been a lot different and we could have walked away with a win.
"I'm looking forward to the next game to see how we improve from today's game. But all in all, it was a good game."
Both teams started the game well, with plenty of controlled passes and a very early strike from the home side was no match for Sue Wood who easily dived to catch the ball.
Wood was called into action moments later to save a dangerous cross from Watts but the Sky Blues had to wait until just before the interval to record their first notable chance.
Just minutes before the half time whistle, Leanne McKenna got herself on the end of an Emily Simpkin's cross but her header was slightly too high and sailed just over the bar.
Despite producing some great saves in the opening period, Wood was powerless to stop a close range shot from Watts in the 60th minute which gave the hosts a 1-0 advantage.
The goal sparked the Sky Blues into life and they started to play some great football, with Milly Durrant firing two efforts in the 68th and 70th minute which were unbelievably close to allowing the visitors to take the lead.
A scramble in the Reading goal mouth with ten minutes to go allowed McKenna another powerful header which again went just over the net, but Coventry failed to find a deserved equaliser.
Despite the loss, Cudby's side can hold their heads up high after playing a great game of football in their first game of the 2011/12 league season.
