The Coventry City Ladies maintained their perfect start to the season with a 1-0 home win over Crewe Alexandra.
The victory came courtesy of Robyn James' fifteenth minute winner which gives her a goal in each of the past two games. The Sky Blues were completely dominant in a match that they should've won more comfortably. Sarah Morgan was rarely called upon in the City goal and didn't make her first save until the 55th minute.
Jade Formaston was desperately unlucky not to open the scoring, twice hitting the crossbar in the fifth minute. Georgina Perry was well beaten on both occasions as Formaston's first effort rebounded straight back to her with second attempt falling more kindly for Crewe allowing them to scramble clear.
James' fired City ahead with their next meaningful attempt, latching onto a rebound after starting the move. Pulling the ball back from the by-line, James found strike partner Nicole Tinto who looked up and played in Kelly Henson, the energetic midfielder fired in a stinging effort from the edge of the box that was well saved by Perry but James was on hand to rifle home.
Coventry created several chances to add to their lead with Helen Dermody and Tinto going closest. Sinead Butler prevented Tinto from opening her season account as the striker was bearing down on Perry's goal. Dermody had controlled the ball well in the centre of midfield and her turn and through ball played Tinto in, were it not for Butler's sliding intervention it would surely have been 2-0 on the stroke of half time.
Tinto had the first chance of the second half as well, Formaston took on her marker and beat her to the by-line before swinging in an inviting cross that found the young Scot at the back post. Once again Butler saved the day as her pressure didn't allow Tinto to get a clean contact on the ball as she blazed over the bar. Morgan's first action came moments later as she comfortably gathered a weak Michelle Saunders effort.
On the hour mark Nikki Miles picked out Dermody, whose shot across goal rolled narrowly wide of the left upright. Tinto had another good chance just moments later, Dermody drove in a wayward shot from the left corner of the Crewe area, Tinto got in the way but the ball came in too quickly for her to get a good connection and divert it goalward. Saunders was guilty of wasting the visitors best chance with 20 minutes to play.
After losing her marker for the first time in the game Saunders was wide open but ballooned her header clear over the bar with the goal at her mercy.
The Sky Blues had late opportunities to extend their advantage and make the final few minutes more comfortable as James found herself in a good position to score, as debutant Stacey Christie played her through, but her shot was tame and easily saved by Perry. Radcliffe Olympic remain atop the league on goal difference but have a difficult trip to face Sporting Club Albion, City make the short journey to play Leicester City.
Team: - Morgan; Wilcox, Lynch, McKenna, H. Miles; Formaston (Archibald 75), N. Miles, Henson (Christie 78), Dermody; Tinto, James (Hanson 90).
Subs Not Used: - Manca, Forbes.
Goals: - James (15).
Booked: - None.
Sent Off: - None.