COVENTRY CITY LADIES 1-7 BLACKBURN ROVERS BY KEV MONKS
Coventry City Ladies hit rock bottom with a 7-1 home drubbing by Blackburn Rovers.
With manager Mark Phillips on international duty with England women's team, assistant Ian Weaving watched as his side fell behind in the 19th minute when a Justin Wallace through ball found Andrea Bell who kept her cool to score.
City rallied briefly forcing two corners after a Maria Cartwright header had been cleared.
In the 31st minute,Amanda Whalley found space on the right flank but the England U17's international could only fire into the side netting from six yards.
Three minutes later, City almost fell behind again when a poor Lena Baseley free kick allowed Bell to break through,only to fire wide with only City keeper Kelly Cartwright to beat.
Weaving had given fit again Yvette Dolphin her first start of the season,however a recurrence of a media injury forced the striker who scored twenty four goals last term out of the game.
Four minutes into the second half,Andy Bell went over in the penalty area and Katie Anderton thumped the resulting penalty into the net.
Blackburn confirmed their superiority in the 63rd minute when a ball from midfield found Anderton on the right and she hit a low drive to score from ten yards.
The mood amongst the City support was definitely downbeat but it was lifted a touch with twenty minutes remaining when Anna McLeod and Michelle Hickmott combined for Maria Cartwright to hammer a fifteen yard drive into the net.
Back came Blackburn who added a fourth when Lisa Welsh headed home unmarked from a corner.
A fifth came five minutes later when substitute Hannah Bailey broke through to score with a low drive.
With the game in the dying seconds, Two goals in quick succession completed the rout with another from Hanna Bailey making it six in the 89th minute was followed seconds later by player of the match Katie Anderton again out-pacing the City defence and completing her hat-trick with a close range shot.
City face Sheffield Wednesday at Sphinx Drive next Sunday and will be looking to vastly improve.
TEAM
Kelly Cartwright,Lipman,Hickmott,Healy, Baseley (Weston 55),Lynch,Whalley, Cartwright,Dolphin (Box 42),Marshall,McLeod (Clough 83)
There was much better news from City Reserves who won their Premier League Cup 1st Round tie 2-0 at Aston Villa thanks to first half goals from Leona McCook and new signing Rachel Smith.
City U-11's beat Hinckley United 7-0 but City U12's could only draw 1-1 with Leicester.