DERBY COUNTY LADIES 0-1 COVENTRY CITY LADIES BY KEV MONKS
Wood Wilcox Ward McKenna Lynch Butler Durrant Miles (Archibald 46) Clough (Saulter 67) Barber Dermody subs Manca Fowler Christie
Derby: Simpson, Griffiths, Anslow, Abbey, Hart, Wayne, Jeffery, Pashley (Legister 80) Newton (Johnson 72), Steadman, Ward subs Taylor. Sculley, Graham (gk)
HT DCFC 0-1 CCFC FT DCFC 0-1 CCFC
Goals Karen Clough (16)
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Coventry City Ladies were promoted to the Women's Premier League after a 1-0 win at Derby County tonight.
City arrived at Borrowash Victoria needing a victory to make sure of second place in the table, which would give them promotion. However, Paul Cudby had injury problems and was without leading striker Kirsty Robson who injured her shoulder in last week's Birmingham County Cup Final defeat to Aston Villa and the influential Jade Formaston.
Both sides started in bright sun-light winning corners before Pashley volleyed over in the seventh minute.
Five minutes later, a Derby attack was foiled, Karen Clough countered and her shot had to be scythed away for a throw. In the 16th minute, Clough was not to be denied when she was left all alone in the area and fired past from Simpson from ten yards.
Derby forced three corners but with the superb Leanne McKenna in midfield, City went looking for a second goal.
It nearly came with substitute Cherelle Archibald's first touch when she played in but a great save from Simpson only brought a corner.
The nerves on the faces of a big City support was clear to see as a 62nd Dermody volley from 25 yards was caught and Sue Wood used her legs to block Steadmen at the other end.
Sinead Butler and Natasha Lynch were in fine form at the heart of City's defence and along with fellow defenders Ward and Wilcox cleared any danger.
Dermody curled over a free kick and Saulter fired over and with time running out, Callen Barber fired over.
In stoppage time, Derby fired over from a corner but it was the Sky Blues who were celebrating a second successive promotion.
Speaking after the game, a delighted Coventry City Ladies Chairman David Singleton said to Covsupport News Service: "We have worked for ten years to get this far but no-one thought we would have had back to back promotions.
"The resilliance of our players, the determination of the coaching staff and the unbelievable effort of the backroom team have made this happen and I am so very proud of them all."
Pictures copyright of Covsupport News Service. Credit CNS/KM