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Nottingham Forest 2-1 Coventry City Ladies by Kev Monks Coventry City Ladies are the new Midland Women's Combination Champions despite losing their final game of the season at Nottingham Forest. Needing to avoid a four goal defeat in order to secure promotion back to the Women's Premier League (Northern Division), Neil Wilson's side fell behind to a fourth minute goal when Cath Lawson cut in and rounded Gemma Smith to fire into an empty net. With the midfield and defence closing down the Forest players, City began to have more of the possession and in the 16th minute, Julia Marshall's close range shot from a Nicola Foskett corner was kicked off the line by Limara Marcham. Influential midfielder Nicola Foskett was having a fine game in midfield but in the 25th minute, she was stretchered off with a ligament injury. Forest continued to dictate the play and increased their lead when a 54th minute free kick Angie Smith free kick looped over Smith and into the net. However, back came City and the Sky Blues delighted their large, noisy travelling support which outnumbered the home fans in a gate of 250, when a Leanne Griffin free kick from twenty yards soared high into the net with thirty minutes left to play. City, who are looking to raise £35,000 to fund their first and reserve teams next season almost snatched a draw when top scorer Yvette Dolphin created space from a Griffin corner only to see her goal-bound effort blocked by a covering defender with six minutes left. Neil Wilson was an emotional man amongst the jubilant scenes which heralded the final whistle and said "We battled well today and although we lost the game, we put all the effort in to get the result that gave us the league title. "It was this hard effort throughout the season that got the team where they are today. "Thanks must go to all our supporters who made this game feel like a home one and to the players for a job well done." TEAM COVENTRY CITY LADIES 3-0 SHREWSBURY TOWN LADIES BY KEV MONKS Coventry City need only to avoid a 7-0 defeat at Nottingham Forest in their last match on March 28 in order to win the Midland Women's Combination League title, after beating Shrewsbury Town 3-0. In a game delayed for thirty minutes due to a torrential downpour, both sides struggled to cope with the slippery conditions in the opening period. Chances were few but in the second minute, Town keeper Ellie Glover made a double save from Yvette Dolphin and then the visitors attacked with City keeper Gemma Smith making a fine save from a Natalie Poole shot. The Shrewsbury striker, who like a number of City players was being watched by an England scout, fired a 22nd minute shot that Emma Lipman, on the line cleared to safety. Seconds later, Poole had another effort which Smith dived to save. On the stroke of half-time, Glover saved a Dolphin close range and then half-blocked a shot from Laura Healy before Lowe cleared off the line. The tension of needing a victory was starting to get to City and the expectant crowd but with Neil Wilson making an alteration to his formation at the interval, the City players began to find their feet. In the 51st minute, Coventry went ahead when Anna McLeod swept home a Leanne Griffin corner and twelve minutes later, Julia Marshall fed Laura Healy who raced through to beat the keeper. With thirteen minutes left, the Sky Blues wrapped up their 13th victory of the season when the ever dependable Maria Cartwright powerfully headed forward to Yvette Dolphin to dance her round around the keeper before squaring for Laura Healy to blast into the empty net. A jubilant Neil Wilson said "This was a typical battling Coventry performance. It took us 45 minutes to get used to the conditions but in the second half, after we changed the formation slightly, we played some beautiful football I think. "The result was good and what we expected." TEAM
COVENTRY CITY LADIES 8-0 STAFFORD RANGERS BY KEV MONKS Coventry City Ladies moved one step closer to promotion with an 8-0 drubbing of Stafford Rangers at Coventry Sphinx. With fellow title contenders Nottingham Forest only drawing at Crewe, Neil Wilson's side need a victory and got off to the perfect start when Sarah Marshall picked up on the hesitancy of the Stafford defence and rounded the keeper to score after only twelve seconds. The Stafford defence was struggling to cope with the pace of City's front runners and in the fifth minute, an inch perfect pass Laura Healey found Yvette Dolphin who kept her cool to net with a low drive. In the eighteenth minute, Coventry went further ahead when Sarah Marshall sped through before scoring from an acute angle. Three minutes later, the now rampant Sky Blues added a fourth when Rangers keeper Tanya Grigg produced a left handed save from an Amanda Whalley ten yard effort to give City a corner which Dolphin stabbed into the net from close range. City came out for the second half fired up and went nap,38 seconds into the second period when Nicola Foskett beat off her marker before turning and hitting an unstoppable shot high into the net. The game was totally one way and it was only thanks to the heroics of Grigg who produced a string of fine saves that the scoreline was not much higher. In the 67th minute, Grigg was beaten after failing to hold a Dolphin shot allowing Heidi Lockyer to fire home. Two minutes later, Foskett put Coventry seven goals to the good when she rifled a twenty yard free kick into the net via Grigg's right hand post. Coventry who face Shrewsbury Town at Coventry Sphinx on March 14th completed the rout in the 80th minute when Grigg was involved in a collision with Lockyer and the ball span out for Laura Healey to curl the ball home from twenty five yards. Neil Wilson said "This was a good performance at this stage of the season. "But for their keepers we could got into double figures and I thought we played very well." TEAM
SHREWSBURY TOWN LADIES 2-3 COVENTRY CITY LADIES BY KEV MONKS Coventry City Ladies hung on to keep their unbeaten league run going with a narrow victory at Shrewsbury Town. On a pitch at the rear of the Shropshire town's, Gay Meadow home and one that was badly in need of a cut, Sky Blues defender Natasha Lynch cleared off her own goal line in only the second minute as the home side had the early pressure. Coventry raised the tempo and went ahead after 15 minutes when Sarah Marshall out-paced the defence and round the Town keeper to score from an acute angle. They increased their lead in the 31st minute when Jenny Igoe turned her marker to find Julia Marshall who flicked on for Anna McLeod to loop a twelve yard effort high into the net. As the second period progressed, the home side were making all the running and after forcing two corners, the second of which Emma Lipman kicked off the line. Shrewsbury were awarded a free kick which Lorraine Oliver crashed onto the crossbar. This spell of pressure looked likely to lead to a goal and in the 66th minute, Coventry's lead was reduced when Lorraine Oliver raced through to chip the ball into the net with a right footed effort. Back came the Sky Blues and twelve minutes later, a ball from substitute Nicola Foskett found Yvette Dolphin on the right flank. City's leading scorer cut in before drilling the ball into the bottom far corner of the goal. With seven minutes left, Shrewsbury scored again when Natalie Oliver hammered a low shot past Gemma Smith to set up a Grandstand Finish. A Dolphin header hit the crossbar in the 85th minute and three minutes later, first Price and then Harvey struck the post with close range efforts before Oliver fired the loose ball over to ensure that City left with maximum points and their point lead over Nottingham Forest who beat Stafford Rangers 3-0. Neil Wilson was not happy with his side and said "Although we gifted them their goals. This was an unconvincing win and an unconvincing Coventry performance. "We will have to play a lot better if we are to go on and win the championship." TEAM
COVENTRY CITY LADIES 7-0 LICHFIELD DIAMONDS BY KEV MONKS Coventry City Ladies maintained their title challenge with a highly convincing performance against Lichfield Diamonds at Coventry Sphinx. On a blustery day, Neil Wilson's team took a seventh minute lead when a Jenny Igoe corner was set up by Yvette Dolphin for Julia Marshall to rifle low into the net from twelve yards. In the 23rd minute, City increased their lead when a poor goal kick from Diamonds keeper Leanne Mottram landed at the feet of Dolphin who punished the keeper for her error with a cool strike. Five minutes later, Dolphin was involved again as Coventry went further ahead when she found Anna McLeod who crossed for Jenny Igoe to blast home at the far post. Natasha Lynch and youngster Emma Lipman had kept the visitors attack at bay but in the 55th minute, the defence was breeched by Rachael Patrick who was brought down and a penalty awarded. Nicky Hazell took the spot kick which Sky Blues keeper Gemma Smith dived to her left to save. Three minutes later, a low Griffin cross was met by Anna McLeod at the far post and she drove low into the net from eight yards for Coventry's fourth. City went nap in the 65th minute when Yvette Dolphin was first to react to a Igoe cross and drew out the keeper before slotting the ball into the empty net. Coventry won the ball back from the resulting kick-off and Anna McLeod lofted the ball over the advancing keeper from ten yards to increase City's lead even further. With fifteen minutes left, Coventry rounded off a superb performance when a Griffin cross found Dolphin who turned and fired low into the net to complete her hat-trick. Neil Wilson whose team travel to Shrewsbury Town next Sunday commented "This was a great all-round performance. "It was great to see a lovely hat-trick by Yvette Dolphin after her barren spell of the last couple of weeks and we'll keep battling on."
COVENTRY CITY LADIES 2-1 ILKESTON TOWN BY KEV MONKS Coventry City Ladies stormed to the top of the Midland Women's Combination League with a 2-1 victory over Ilkeston Town at Coventry Sphinx. Ilkeston started the brighter forcing four corners in the opening ten minutes. Neil Wilson gave a debut to Leanne Griffin and it was the newcomer who made a long run before firing over in the twelfth minute. This effort brought the Sky Blues in front of a good sized crowd to life and twice Town keeper Kerry Donnelly made fine saves from Sarah Marshall shots. City took the lead in the 29th minute when Jenny Igoe beat two defenders on the left and sent over a pinpoint cross that Kelly Mulhall stabbed home at the far post. Just over a minute later, City doubled their tally when Heidi Lockyer beat the offside trap to net from close range. With the second half pretty even, Ilkeston pulled one back after an hour when a speculative thirty yard shot from Georgina Plinston sailed over the head of City keeper Gemma Smith and dropped into the net. In the 64th minute, Coventry had the ball in the net for a third time but Sarah Marshall's effort was harshly ruled out for offside. For Marshall, it was her last kick of the game as she was replaced by debutant Anna McLeod. The work rate from Griffin and Nicola Foskett allowed City to continue their spell of pressure and after two corners, Donnelly made a superb point blank save from a Yvette Dolphin shot. Liz Spanner had been giving the Sky Blues defence all afternoon and in the 83rd minute, the Town centre forward raced through on goal only to be stopped by a low diving save from Smith. Four minutes from time, Mulhall squared to Dolphin who rounded the keeper before hitting a shot which rebounded off the foot of the near post. Neil Wilson was delighted with his team and said "With the formation change that we had today, we played really well with a great debut by Leanne Griffin. "There were a lot of good performances out there and I'm pleased that we are still going strong." TEAM
COVENTRY CITY RESERVES 2 REDDITCH UNITED 0 Katy Box scored twice to secure a comfortable 2-0 victory over Redditch United and lift City Reserves to 3rd place in Division One South, their highest position to date. The win marks the Sky Blues' tenth in succession, an impressive sequence that has seen them score 49 goals and concede just 7; and includes victories over both league leaders Headless Cross and second placed local rivals, Marconi. City never looked like conceding any more in Sunday's match against Redditch at North Brook Road. On a heavy pitch probably better described as 'bottomless', the Reserves dominated from start to finish, but struggled to put away the chances their approach play deserved. There were some 40 minutes on the clock when City finally broke the deadlock. Sian Noone took a short corner and Tash Folwell showed enterprise and quick feet to trick her way into the area and cross low for Katy Box to volley in from close range. The second half continued much as the first, with Redditch playing five across the back and frustrating City with a disciplined offside trap. Katy Box had the ball in the net again only to have the goal disallowed for a foul on the keeper, but duly bagged her well deserved second on 72 minutes with a well struck shot from the right hand edge of the penalty area. Tom Williamson brought on subs Leona McCook, Becky Woods and Nicola Thorne for a rousing last 15 minutes in which City could have added any number of further goals, Leona McCook in particular going close with two fine strikes following mazy runs through the Redditch defence. At the final whistle though, the score remained 2-0. Tom conceded that Redditch had made it very difficult, but was critical of his side’s failure to break down the visitors’ offside trap. “We showed our naivety today and must learn from it. Two-nil does not nearly reflect the level of our domination of the game; we have to be more clinical
ILKESTON VILLA 0-0 COVENTRY CITY LADIES BY KEV MONKS Coventry City Ladies blew the chance to join Nottingham Forest at the top of the Midland Combination League table following a goal less draw at Ilkeston Villa. On the ground where scenes used in the television programme "Playing The Field" were filmed, Neil Wilson's team forced two early corners. In the 24th minute, Villa who have not lost in 2004,counter-attacked after a City corner, and Sky Blues keeper Gemma Smith made a fine save with her feet. The ball rebounded to Sam Barlow whose shot was cleared off the goal line by Karen Weston. With the majority of the game being played in the middle third of the pitch, chances were limited but in the 53rd minute, Kelly Mulhall who was booked for a late tackle in the opening period, teed up Julia Marshall for a right footed effort that just missed the Villa keeper's far post. Five minutes later, Maria Wayne tore through the Sky Blues defence but could not beat Smith who again saved with her feet. Wilson sent on Nicola Foskett for Amanda Whalley who will train with England U17's at Preston next week and Foskett was involved in the 66th minute, setting up a chance for Natalie Justice which went just over the bar. In the 74th minute, Wilson made a double substitution bringing on Heidi Sloan and Emma Lipman who was booked forty seconds later for a reckless challenge. With eleven minutes remaining, good work from Yvette Dolphin found Kelly Mulhall on the right flank and the Coventry defender drilled a low shot which Wilson smothered at the near post. Yvette Dolphin almost snatched a win with two minutes left, but she fired agonisingly wide from a Foskett pass. Neil Wilson was in good spirits after the game saying "This was a workmanlike performance. I don't think that we did a lot wrong other than not score. "Credit to Ilkeston who battled for every ball. Every team that we face for the rest of the season is going to try and beat us because we are at the top of the league. We have a good enough squad, to make sure we get promoted and let's not get too disheartened that this was two points dropped, but the title is still in our own hands." TEAM
STAFFORD RANGERS 0-3 COVENTRY CITY LADIES BY KEV MONKS Coventry City picked up their first win of 2004 with victory at Stafford Rangers and reduced the margin of points behind leaders Nottingham Forest to two. Manager Neil Wilson used the match against the side bottom of the Midland Women's Combination table, to give some of his squad players a run out and fielded a team who found the going very tough on a pitch was a disgrace to a farmers field. (Please note that CCLFC do not blame anyone to do with Stafford Rangers for the state of the pitch). City took the lead in the 25th minute when Julia Marshall superbly lobbed home keeper Sam Goodin from thirty yards. Nine minutes later, the Sky Blues increased their lead after a Jenny Igoe corner was dropped by Goodin on to the feet of Sarah Marshall who netted from close range. With both penalty areas completely covered in mud, efforts from long distance were the order of the day and three minutes before the interval, Sky Blues skipper Maria Cartwright blasted a 35 yard shot that Goodwin could only get an hand to but not prevent from going into the net. Goodin was the busier of the two keepers in the second period and she earned a player of the match award with a diving left handed effort to thwart Jenny Igoe in the 48th minute, then four minutes later, she dived to her right to save an Amanda Whalley effort and give City a corner which she helped clear a Maria Cartwright header off the goal line. Cartwright was one of three Coventry players substituted in the 61st minute as Wilson continued with his experimentations, giving a debut to U16's defender Sharleen Shackleford. Despite Heidi Lockyer going close six minutes from time, City who face Shrewsbury Town at Coventry Sphinx FC on Sunday February 1st, could not find the net again but still ran out comfortable winners. Neil Wilson was pleased with the victory and said "Considering the condition of the pitch, I'm more than happy with a 3-0 victory. "Our keeper did not have a save to make and I'm happy with that." TEAM
CREWE VAGRANTS 2-2 COVENTRY CITY LADIES BY KEV MONKS Coventry City Ladies moved into second place in the Midland Women's Combination table after snatching a late draw at Crewe. On a muddy and bumpy pitch that had passed two inspections, Neil Wilson's team found themselves unable to play their normal brand of attacking football and their only chances in a dull first half came through three Jenny Igoe efforts. After being read the riot act by their manager at the interval, City were ahead inside twenty seconds of the restart when Yvette Dolphin capitalised on a mistake between the vagrants keeper and defender and pounced to net from close range. The home side replied immediately with Gemma Edwards heading in a Jenny Wealls corner and on the hour mark, took the lead when Steph Knott drew out Gemma Smith and chipped the ball over the City keeper into the empty net. Emma Lipman had a fine game in defence for the Sky Blues who continued to battled and with seven minutes remaining, City snatched a point when a Jenny Igoe corner was deflected into the net. Neil Wilson was happy with the point and said "On a heavy pitch, we got what we deserved with a point. "It was never a classic but at this stage of the season, I'm happy to take a point". TEAM
ROTHERHAM UNITED 3-3 COVENTRY CITY BY KEV MONKS Coventry City Ladies kept their promotion hopes very much alive after coming from three goals down to snatch a draw at Rotherham United. In a highly entertaining affair, dubbed by referee John Abbey as the best game he had took part in all season, Neil Wilson's side were a goal down after only twelve seconds when Sarah Thickitt capitalised on a mistake in the City defence and scored from eight yards. The South Yorkshire side who are second in the Midland Women's Combination table increased their lead three minutes later when Kerry Longstone beat Smith with a right footed volley. Unperturbed, the Sky Blues came back with leading scorer Yvette Dolphin curling a shot against the post and Nicola Foskett going equally as close with a drive from the edge of area. With Karen Weston and Natasha Lynch having sorted out City's defence, the attacks continued and in the 24th minute, Millers defender Smith cleared a shot from Sarah Marshall off the goal line. After another Dolphin effort had been superbly saved by United keeper Cheryl Adams, the home side increased their lead through Davies who headed home a free kick in the 34th minute. The mood in the dressing room at the interval was that the game was not beyond them and so it proved as Yvette Dolphin scored from close range following a Natalie Justice cross ten minutes after the restart. Dolphin, Sarah Marshall and substitute Amanda Whalley continued to cause the home defence problems with Marshall striking the foot of Adams left hand post in the 64th minute. Coventry who have announced that they will not appoint a new Head Coach until the end of the season, continued to attack in numbers and in the 83rd minute were awarded a penalty when Dolphin was brought down by Whitely and Jenny Igoe netted from the resulting spot kick. Five minutes later, City delighted their travelling support when Yvette Dolphin found a way through the Rotherham defence to score from six yards with a low drive and snatch a point. Sky Blues boss Neil Wilson was very happy with his side and said " From 3-0 down, I thought we did well to come back and it again shows the character of our side. "We matched them all over the park after a few mistakes early on. "We fully deserved the three goals we scored and could have had more."
COVENTRY CITY LADIES 1-2 WOLVES WOMEN BY KEV MONKS Coventry City went out of the Birmingham County FA Cup Quarter-Final with a 2-1 defeat against Wolves at North Brook Road. On an unforgiving pitch that had passed two pitch inspections, City keeper Gemma Smith made two good saves before Yvette Dolphin gave the Sky Blues a sixteenth minute lead when she latched onto a long punt from star defender Karen Weston. Former Sky Blue Dennis Mortimer brought a young side to Coventry and his charges were nearly level in the 32nd minute when Karen Weston reacted first to clear a Becky Hall shot off the line. They equalised after 65 minutes when Lynsey Hopton curled a twenty yard shot round Smith and into the net. Three minutes later, Hall nipped in behind the Coventry defence to nod a ball from Hopton down and then fire it past Smith to book Wolves a place in the Semi-Final. City nearly sent the game into extra time, but a fifteen yard drive from the industrious Natasha Lynch crashed against the post and Wolves held on to win. Neil Wilson was disappointed with his team's second half performance and said "I'm disappointed with the result. "In terms of performance it was very patchy, but full credit to Wolves who had a young side and kept battling. "We have to move on and we will start preparing for our trip to Rotherham on January 4th." TEAM
LOUGHBOROUGH STUDENTS 3-4 COVENTRY CITY BY KEV MONKS Coventry City Ladies showed their fighting spirit by coming from two goals down to get a last gasp winner
at Loughborough Students. The Sky Blues who had to release Manager Paul Barnes from his duties in midweek,
took a twelfth minute lead when Leanne McKenna headed in a Nicola Foskett corner. City lost the influential
Foskett with a leg injury shortly before the Leicestershire based side equalised on the half hour mark when
Vicky Brackenbury headed in a Cat Stainthorpe cross. Despite a superb defensive display by Karen Weston and
some fine saves from keeper Gemma Smith, Loughborough took the lead thanks to Stainthorpe sweeping a Dani
Robelo cross in the 66th minute. Seven minutes later, Robelo added a third for the side second in the
Midland Women's Combination by curling a low eighteen yard drive past Smith and Coventry's first defeat
since the opening day appeared on the cards. With six minutes remaining, Natasha Lynch raced from her own
half and saw her shot parried away by home keeper Young. The ball fell to the incoming Yvette Dolphin who
gratefully accepted the chance to record her 14th goal of the season. Caretaker boss Neil Wilson was
punching the air in jubilation as two minutes later, substitute Julia Marshall created space, turned and
curled an 18 yard shot over the head of Young to draw City level. In the final seconds, City attacked once
more and Julia Marshall was brought down in the penalty area. After some hesitation referee Chris Lamb
pointed to the spot and debutant Emma Lipman, a product of City's junior teams confidently stroked home the
resulting penalty to give City an unlikely victory. A delighted Neil Wilson said "I thought we were
dead and buried with fifteen minutes to go. "But as I have said previously, it shows just what
character the team has got. "Every player to a woman did exceptionally well and they did us
proud." Smith, Sloan ,McKenna (Lockyer 84),Cartwright, Lynch, Weston, Folwell (Lipman 68),Foskett (J.Marshall
29),S.Marshall,Dolphin,Whalley SNU Justice & Box COVENTRY CITY LADIES 2-3 AET SOUTHAMPTON BY KEV MONKS Coventry City Ladies were beaten in extra time in a thrilling FA Women's Cup Third Round tie at Coventry Sphinx. The National League Southern Division side stunned a large crowd, when an eighth minute Gemma Woodford corner was rifled into the net from ten yards by Cassie Thorp. City fought back with Saints keeper Connie Brazier having to deal with shots from Nicola Foskett, Sarah Marshall and Jenny Igoe. In the 55th minute, the pressure from Paul Barnes team paid off when Nicola Foskett brushed past three defenders to find Yvette Dolphin who took one touch before lashing the ball into the net. The lead lasted twelve minutes when Saints leading scorer Kelly Baker capitalised on a lapse in City's defence and stroked the ball past Gemma Smith from close range. With Leanne McKenna marshalling the City defence, Coventry pushed forward and with two minutes of time left. A Jenny Igoe corner was nodded by McKenna allowing Dolphin to net from close range to send the tie in the extra time. In the 111th minute, Southampton booked a Fourth Round berth when Gemma Woodfield rifled in from twenty yards with some aplomb. Paul Barnes was happy in defeat and said "I'm very, very proud of the girls today, they were absolutely tremendous. Although I'm disappointed to lose, but the manner in which we lost was extremely good. "Performance wise, we have matched a team with Premier Division experience and England internationals. All in all, I'm extremely proud of all the players and very grateful to everyone who has supported us and helped to make this match a success". TEAM
COVENTRY CITY 3-2 CREWE VAGRANTS BY KEV MONKS Coventry City Ladies maintained their promotion push with a hard fought victory over Crewe Vagrants at
Hawkes Mill Lane. Paul Barnes side were a goal down inside 60 seconds when Kazza Szymura headed past City
keeper Gemma Smith. On a pitch that deteriorated by the minute, Coventry kept battling and drew level in the
29th minute when the referee spotted a handball and Jenny Igoe dispatched the resulting penalty high into
the net. Igoe was having a fine game and a minute later, she rifled a thirty yard free kick over Vagrants
keeper Kelly Roberts for her second goal. Crewe started to get back into the game and equalised four minutes
into the second half when Szymura flicked a header past Smith. But with sixteen minutes remaining, a through
ball from Sarah Marshall let in Yvette Dolphin to beat the defence and score from close range and seal a
tenth consecutive victory for the Sky Blues. City assistant manager Neil Wilson said "Considering the
awful conditions to play in and at times I thought the game should have been abandoned, we showed a lot of
metal to come back from going behind to a goal in the first minute. "We showed a lot of character and
it was through the effort of our players that we got the three points to keep us in contention." TEAM
COVENTRY CITY LADIES 5-0 SOUTHAM UNITED BY KEV MONKS Coventry City progressed into the last sixteen of the Birmingham County FA Women's Cup with a 5-0 victory over Southam United at North Brook Road. With head coach Paul Barnes using the game to cast an eye over some of his squad, City took the lead in the sixth minute when Amanda Whalley flicked on for Heidi lockeyer to race through and score from an acute angle. In the thirteenth minute, City's England U-17 international Amanda Whalley netted after latching on to a through ball from Linda Scott before chipping the visiting keeper. City continued to take the game to the West Midlands Regional League Division One South team and Lockyer added her second, seven minutes later with a twenty yard strike. Two minutes later, Julia Marshall added a fourth for Coventry in spectacular style with a super right footed volley from the edge of the penalty area. Linda Scott was running the midfield and she helped City to go nap when her 33rd minute free kick was met by Whalley who volleyed home from ten yards. Southam had offered little but in the 39th minute tested City keeper Gemma Smith with a shot from Sarah Brown. Paul Barnes made two changes at the interval and was seething as his side turned in a lacklustre performance in the second half that was marred by an injury to Stacey Davies which required hospital treatment. The City boss said " A disappointing performance although the result says we won quite convincingly. As a team performance goes that was probably our worst of the season and if we want to be real contenders both in our league and the FA Cup then we are going to have to improve three fold on today's performance. "The only plus point was a clean sheet. All in all, I'm quite unhappy". Smith,Mulhall (Lynch 46),Sloan,Folwell, McKenna, Weston, Justice, Scott (Cartwright 46), Whalley, Lockyer,
J.Marshall (Dolphin 62) SNU Igoe, S.Marshall BIRSTALL UNITED 1-5 COVENTRY CITY LADIES BY KEV MONKS Coventry City Ladies progressed to the FA Cup Third Round with a deserved victory at Birstall United. Paul Barnes side took the game to the Leicestershire based side from the start and were ahead inside three minutes when Coventry third successive corner from Nicola Foskett , was swung in by Jenny Igoe and Sarah Marshall netted from close range. Five minutes later, City doubled their tally when a Dolphin shot cum cross found Kelly Mulhall on the right flank and she rifled the ball in from twenty yards. City were firmly in control and in the 11th minute, a Jenny Igoe corner was knocked down for Dolphin to record her tenth goal in five starts. In the 24th minute, Birstall pulled one back through a Kirsty Chadwick volley from fourteen yards. Coventry backed by a healthy support, added a fourth in the 38th minute when a Sarah Marshall shot fell for winger Julia Marshall to score from eight yards with a low drive. On the hour mark, Sarah Marshall capitalised on a poor clearance by home keeper Yvonne Campbell and advanced before looping shot over the keeper from an acute angle to complete a fine win. Paul Barnes said "A good performance but not our best. I was really pleased that we came though a potential banana skin against a team who have not lost for two years today. I'm really pleased and looking forwards to the next round." Smith, Mulhall, Igoe, Cartwright, Lynch (McKenna 72),Weston,Justice,Foskett (Folwell 55),S.Marshall, Dolphin (Whalley 55),J.Marshall SNU Sykes, Sloan
COVENTRY CITY LADIES 6-1 ILKESTON VILLA BY KEV MONKS Coventry City Ladies maintained their push for promotion back to the Northern Division of the FA Women's Premier League with a fine victory over Ilkeston Villa at Hawkesmill Lane. Paul Barnes side took the lead in the ninth minute when Villa keeper Hayley Wilson tried to trap a Nicola
Foskett 35 yard shot with her feet. However she mistimed the kick and the ball rolled into the net. Three
minutes later, City went further ahead when Yvette Dolphin found Sarah Marshall who turned past a defender
before thundering an 18 yard shot high into the goal. Despite the rain, wind and mud, City kept battling
away and in the 39th minute, Kelly Mulhall produced more misery for the visiting keeper with a long range
effort that sailed over the head of Wilson. Four minutes later, Ilkeston reduced the arrears when Kate
O'Neill chipped City keeper Gemma Smith from twelve yards. The Sky Blues came out on the attack in the
second half and within eight minutes of the restart, good work allowed Yvette Dolphin to record her ninth
goal in four starts from close range via a defender's deflection. With sixteen minutes remaining, City went
nap thanks to a twenty yard drive from Nicola Foskett. Paul Barnes had made three substitutions in the
second half and his third replacement, Rachel Mee had only been on the pitch for three minutes when she
blasted home from close range after Wilson had fumbled the ball under pressure from Dolphin to record a fine
win. Paul Barnes was highly delighted with his team and said "This was a good performance considering
the weather conditions. They hampered the way we played but we overcame those and I thought we deserved to
win by the margin that we actually did. Ilkeston didn't cause us any problems and it sets us up nicely for
our FA Cup tie at Birstall next weekend" TEAM
LICHFIELD DIAMONDS 3-8 COVENTRY CITY BY KEV MONKS Coventry City booked their place in the Women's FA Cup Second Round with an 8-3 mauling of fellow Midland Women's Combination side Lichfield Diamonds. Captain Maria Cartwright, who played despite a broken nose and black eyes sustained in an collision during City's 6-1 County Cup win at Rugby Town, gave City the lead in the fifth minute when she sent a looping thirty yard shot over the head of home keeper Steph Campey. Paul Barnes side played some neat football to create attacks and in the 27th minute, Yvette Dolphin netted from a Nicola Foskett corner via a Cartwright deflection. Lichfield went straight down the other end and won a free kick which Rachel Patrick curled into the net from twenty yards. In the 36th minute, Dolphin was involved again when she set the ball back for Kelly Mulhall to loop a thirty yard shot over the floundering keeper. Six minute later, another Foskett corner was tapped home by Sarah Marshall for City's fourth. Paul Barnes demanded more of the same from his charges at the interval and two minutes into the second period, a Jenny Igoe cross was fumbled by Campey and Nicola Foskett dived to head in to the net. On the hour mark, City scored a sixth when Maria Cartwright sent a long ball forward for Dolphin to race through, draw out the keeper and fire into an empty net. Two minutes later, Dolphin completed her second hat trick in successive matches and put the City fans in seventh heaven, when she tapped in a Foskett free kick. Lichfield reduced the arrear slightly in the 72nd minute when Rachel Patrick netted with a 25 yard free kick. In the 78th minute, a shot from Foskett was fumbled by the keeper and Sarah Marshall pounced to score City's eighth. The game finished on a slightly sour note when Kelly Mulhall was sent off for protesting a handball decision which led to Nicky Hazell scoring from the resulting pen, two minutes from time. Paul Barnes said "Absolutely tremendous. Although we gave away three silly goals, it did not detract from a fantastic performance. We were complete all over the park and looked the finished article today which was really pleasing." TEAM
RUGBY TOWN 1-6 COVENTRY CITY LADIES BY KEV MONKS Coventry City Ladies go into their FA Cup 1st Round tie at Lichfield Diamonds on Sunday with doubts over their captain Maria Cartwright, after she was taken to hospital with a broken nose. Cartwright was injured in a clash of heads in the 22nd minute of the Sky Blues Birmingham County Cup clash at Rugby Town after heading home a Rachel Mee corner in the 13th minute to put City ahead. Rugby drew level two minutes later when Kerry Luckett chased a long ball and poked the ball past City keeper Gemma Smith. In the 19th minute, Coventry regained their lead when Heidi Lockyer netted from a Kelly Mulhall cross. City continued their pressure and in the 39th minute, Yvette Dolphin ran on to a Kelly Mulhall pass and beat the home keeper with ease. On the stroke of half-time,Dolphin made it four when she headed home a Rachel Mee corner. Paul Barnes made changes to freshen up his team and in the 64th minute, Dolphin completed a fine hat-trick when she curled the ball high into the net from the edge of the penalty area. Five minutes later, City completed the rout when a Rachel Mee corner was headed into her own goal by Kelly Reeves. Understandably Paul Barnes was pleased with his side's efforts saying "This was a thoroughly professional performance. To be honest the game was won by half-time and it gave us a chance to look at some of our fringe players in a competitive game. All in all, I was very impressed" TEAM
LICHFIELD DIAMONDS 0-4 COVENTRY CITY LADIES BY KEV MONKS Coventry City Ladies maintained their bid for promotion from the Midland Women Combination with a fine
victory at Lichfield. Against their FA Cup first round opponents, City used the blustery conditions to their
advantage when Heidi Lockyer lobbed the Diamonds keeper to give City a 34th minute lead. Twenty minutes
later, Coventry doubled their tally when a Nicola Foskett free kick was eventually deflected for a corner
following a Kath Hartley shot. Jenny Igoe took the corner and Kelly Mulhall rose to power home a header from
six yards. In the final minute of normal time, debutant Yvette Dolphin raced in to scored from close range
and four minutes later, she netted to complete a fine City victory beating the keeper from four yards. Paul
Barnes said "This was a good performance in which we were thoroughly professional from start to finish.
Two good goals from Yvette Dolphin on her debut and Sarah Marshall was player of the match by a long way and
I'm pleased with the way we are playing." TEAM COVENTRY CITY LADIES 2-1 ROTHERHAM UNITED By Kev Monks Coventry City Ladies boss Paul Barnes was in buoyant mood after his side picked up their third consecutive win of the season with a well deserved victory at Hawkesmill Lane. "Another good performance and another 2-1 win (our third in three matches)." said Barnes after his team took the lead in the 21st minute through a Jenny Igoe penalty before Rotherham equalised through Kerry Longstone six minutes later. He was less happier about how his side were made to battle for their victory after Sarah Marshall had netted her third goal of the season two minutes into the second half and was grateful to the efforts of Karen Weston and her defence for keeping the United attack at bay. "We had to fight a bit more in the second half than we would have liked, but had we taken our chances the game would have been buried by half-time. There were some great individual performances and I think that our team spirit is carrying us through." He added. Gemma Smith, Kelly Mulhall, Heidi Sloan, Maria Cartwright, Natasha Lynch, Karen Weston, Natalie Justice (Julia Marshall 70),Kath Hartley, Amanda Whalley (Heidi Lockyer 46),Sarah Marshall, Jenny Igoe. SNU Zoë Sykes
ILKESTON TOWN 1-2 COVENTRY CITY LADIES Coventry City picked up maximum points with a late victory at Ilkeston Town. City got off to a bad start in the eighth minute when Maria Cartwright was adjudged to have fouled Town striker Liz Spanner and a penalty was awarded. Spanner's place kick was superbly tipped onto the bar by Gemma Smith and cleared for a corner. When the ball was swung back in, Sharon Cox nodded the ball home from close range. City rode their look and were thankful to the efforts of Gemma Smith who saved with her legs from the feet of Gemma Kent. In the 25th minute, Paul Barnes side equalised when Amanda Whalley beat the Ilkeston offside trap and rounded the keeper and a covering defender to score from an acute angle. Just before the interval, Coventry almost took the lead but Jenny Igoe's shot crashed off the foot of he post. In a second period blighted by stoppages, Paul Barnes was forced into a change when young defender Heidi Sloan limped off with a hamstring injury as City held the side relegated from the Women's Premier League Northern Division last season. Chances had been limited but with six minutes left, Sarah Marshall cut inside and drilled a low shot past the home keeper for her second goal in successive games. Paul Barnes was delighted with his team's performance and said "Another good game, performance wise it was fantastic. We were ropey for the first twenty minutes but the game for us got better and better and we got our just rewards." 1 Gemma Smith,2 Kelly Mulhall,3 Heidi Sloan (12 Sarah Marshall 54),4 Nicola Foskett,5 Maria Cartwright,6 Natasha Lynch,7 Natalie Justice,8 Heidi Lockyer (14 Kath Hartley 59),9 Karen Weston,10 Amanda Whalley,11 Jenny Igoe. SNU Georgina Perry.
COVENTRY CITY LADIES 2-1 NOTTINGHAM FOREST Coventry City Ladies made it an enjoyable weekend for City supporters when like Gary McAllister's side, they came from a goal down to win. The opening period contained very few chances as Paul Barnes side contained a Forest attack which had netted twelve goals in their previous two matches. The best chance fell to City's England U-17 trialist Jenny Igoe whose shot was hacked off the line by Limara Marcha in the 40th minute. At the end of what was a bad tempered first half, Forest were down to ten players when Catherine Lawson was sent off for foul and abusive language and threatening behaviour. Forest started the brighter in the second period and took a 57th minute lead when Michelle Shooter outpaced the City defence to slot the ball past City keeper Gemma Smith. The goal forced City boss Paul Barnes into action and he sent on striker Sarah Marshall for midfielder Natalie Justice. With five minutes of her introduction, Marshall in her second spell with the club had drawn City level, scoring from an acute angle after good work by Amanda Whalley. Nicola Foskett was in fine form along with Kelly Mulhall and both were involved in a move that led to City snatching a victory, two minutes later when Jenny Igoe lashed the ball high into the roof of the net from twenty yards with the Forest keeper well beaten. Paul Barnes was delighted with his first Midland Women's Combination League victory and said " What a great performance. "We got out the blocks early and pressured, the girls did everything we asked and got their just rewards on the day." TEAM
COVENTRY CITY LADIES 2-2 PETERBOROUGH UNITED Coventry City Ladies rounded off their final home pre-season game by coming from behind to draw with Peterborough United. The Sky Blues trailed to an eight minute header from Vicky lines who nodded a corner past City keeper Gemma Smith. Sarah Marshall who had scored twice in City's midweek victory over Romulus three times went close to the Peterborough goal as did efforts from Chelsea Bailey and player of the match Maria Cartwright. However, the City supporters in a fair crowd at Hawkesmill Lane, were silenced when Peterborough were awarded a free kick just outside the penalty area in the 56th minute. The decision so incensed Lena Baseley that the referee ordered that she be replaced. Lisa Wright took the kick and curled the kick into the bottom right of Gemma Smith's goal. Jenny Igoe had replaced Baseley and after her 62nd minute shot had been parried away for a corner, She pulled one back after a Kelly Mulhall shot had crashed down off the crossbar and into the path of the England Under 19 trialist. The goal gave City hope and eight minutes later, they had tied the game when England Under 17 trialist Amanda Whalley headed home a Mulhall cross.
COVENTRY CITY LADIES 3-1 STRATFORD TOWN Coventry City Ladies continued their build-up to their Midland Women's Combination campaign with a 3-1 victory against Stratford Town at Hawkesmill Lane. Team Boss Neil Wilson felt his side were comfortable as Kath Spencer pushed the ball forward for Sarah Marshall to out run the visitors defence and fire Into the net with ten minutes on the clock. Marshall was proving a handful for the Stratford defence and only a super save from the Stratford keeper prevented the City striker from adding a second in the 19th minute. A second goal did come in the 27th minute when City were awarded a penalty after the referee spotted a Town defender using her shoulder to clear the ball and Kath Hartley made no mistake from the spot. Like Marshall and England U-19 trialist Jenny Igoe, Hartley was in fine form and in the 34th minute she set up Maxine Knox who drilled a shot against the foot of the post with the keeper and defence static. Three minutes later, City earned a corner that was swung in by Igoe and Marshall was on hand to head in at the far post. Within seconds of the restart, Stratford earned some reward for their efforts when a shot from Ester Slater sailed over the head of City keeper Gemma Smith and into the net. |