Coventry City Ladies convincingly defeated third placed Radcliffe Olympic 4-0 at home despite twice failing from the penalty spot. In a niggly affair both sides were reduced to 10 men after 80th minute clash between Natalie Wilcox and Angie Smith which saw both players being sent off. Leanne McKenna stole the show with two goals and a typically industrious performance in the centre of midfield. Emily Hanson and Jade Formaston were also on target as the Sky Blues' stretched their unbeaten streak to 13 games.
Formaston began the match in devastating fashion gliding into the box in the first minute before being scythed down for City's first spot kick. Captain Natasha Lynch stepped up but hit a soft penalty that Sophie Turner saved comfortably, Turner, however, was adjudged to have moved early and Hanson was offered the opportunity to get it right. Turner was once again equal to the effort as the Sky Blues wasted a golden opportunity to get their noses in front.
It was left to McKenna to demonstrate how it should be done as City were awarded another penalty in the 31st minute. Laura Turner was harshly adjudged to have handled when it seemed to clearly be a case of ball to hand, the Sky Blues took full advantage though as this time the former Copsewood midfielder powered the ball into the net giving Turner no chance of repeating her earlier heroics.
Both team had good chances to break the deadlock much earlier. Hanson scuffed an effort that Turner gathered comfortably after some good work from Formaston and Robyn James down the right hand side. Straight from that chance Radcliffe almost hit City on the break, Idonnya Aglioghogbe springing the offside trap and rounding Netty Manca's challenge. The Sky Blues' keeper did enough to force her wide though and after avoiding Gemma Clarke's ill-advised lunge Aglioghogbe allowed the ball to run away from her.
McKenna's second came on the stroke of half-time as both she and Hanson went for the ball from a Formaston corner. McKenna's just edged it and her strike was ruled to have crossed the line before it was cleared to safety. City had to wait until after the hour mark to add their third, Wilcox's run into the area was brought to an abrupt halt when she was tugged down from behind. Formaston surprisingly stepped up for the resultant spot kick with McKenna on a hat-trick. The plucky winger justified the decision with an unstoppable blast into the right hand corner of the net.
Hanson made up for her earlier miss with a sublime volley off the outside of her right boot from James' header back across the box. It was Hanson's last action as she made way for youngster Stacey Christie, the combative youth team graduate set James free with a neat flick but Turner raced out to save well at the edge of her box. "It was a tremendous team performance today" stated City Manager Paul Cudby "It would be unfair to pick out any one individual as to a man we were excellent".
"Everyone gave everything they had today, we played some very good football and were solid defensively, on that sort of form we're a match for anyone and I'm hoping to see it continue next week in the FA Cup versus Leafield". The Sky Blues have already welcomed Leafield to Westwood Heath once this season, winning 5-2 back in October.
Team: - Manca; Whitfield, Lynch, Clarke, Wilcox; Formaston, N. Miles (Henson 74), McKenna, Dermody (Parnell 62); Hanson (Christie 74), James.
Subs Not Used: - Morgan, H. Miles.
Goals: - McKenna (31, 44), Formaston (66), Hanson (74).
Booked: - Wilcox, Formaston.
Sent Off: - Wilcox.