First Team Match Report
Wolves 0 - 0 CCLFC
League - 18 October 2009
Match Reports by Tim Kalns
Coventry City Ladies dropped their first points of the season as they were held 0-0 in a tight and well contested encounter at Wolverhampton Wanderers' Goodrich Stadium on Sunday. The Sky Blues remain three points clear of Sporting Club Albion who enjoyed an impressive 2-0 win at Rotherham .
In a lively opening spell Wolves' keeper Becky Thomas was called into action to save from both Robyn James and Nat Wilcox, but there was little she could have done had Jade Formaston's volley from 12 yards not scorched past the wrong side of the post. In the 20 th minute City skipper Natasha Lynch latched onto Nikki Miles' square pass and sent a dipping shot narrowly over the bar moments before Cherelle Archibald tested Thomas with a stinging strike from 22 yards out.
The Sky Blues were denied a good shout for a penalty on the half hour when James looked to have her legs taken away from behind as she shaped to shoot, but the referee waved away Coventry 's appeals. Moments later, the best chance of the half fell to Wolves when Rebecca Large was played through on goal and brought a terrific one handed save from Netty Manca to turn the ball just wide of the post to keep the scores level at the break.
City started the second half brightly with Helen Dermody turning Formaston's cross just wide shortly before unleashing a curling free kick that brought a flying save from Thomas when the ball looked to be heading for the top corner. The home side though were coming more into the game and City's back four were frequently stretched by Hayley Packer and the pace of Sophie Walker as Wolves played on the counter attack.
With 20 minutes remaining, Walker blocked a Lynch clearance and allowing Large to race onto the rebound but drive narrowly past the post when one on one with Manca. Referee Rob Allen adjudged that Manca got something on the ball and awarded Wolves a corner. Manca came to City's rescue once more, with 15 minutes to play, producing a terrific save with her feet to deny Walker from 8 yards as Wolves applied some late pressure.
Both Lynch and Leanne McKenna sent long range shots dipping narrowly over the cross bar as the game closed out, but that had been the story throughout. For all the Sky Blues possession and neat approach play, they failed to really penetrate and were reduced to long range efforts "We weren't up to standard in the first half” stated City Manager Paul Cudby “we looked a little tired perhaps. The second half was much better from us but both teams had chances to win it, so a draw was probably a fair result".
Cudby's squad will now face back to back home games against TNS and league newcomers Stoke City . The Sky Blues enjoyed their matches with the side from Oswestry last season taking all six points. Stoke have enjoyed mixed fortunes after stepping up into the Midland Women's Combination League and currently sit mid-table.
Team: - Manca; Wilcox, Lynch (c), Clarke, Forbes (Whitfield 46); Formaston, N. Miles, McKenna, Dermody (Hanson 83); Archibald (Christie 80), James. Subs Not Used: - Morgan, Tinto
Goals: - None.
Booked: - McKenna.
Sent Off: - None.
