City Ladies Beat Stoke

Last updated : 02 November 2009 By Adam Etheridge

An under strength Coventry City Ladies side made hard work of their 2-1 win at home to newly promoted Stoke City. Helen Dermody's 85th minute free kick secured the three points and preserved the Sky Blues 100% home record. Robyn James had given City a deserved 1-0 lead only to see Emma Sanders coolly equalize for the visitors.

 

With Natasha Lynch missing for the first time in two years Dermody was handed the Captain's armband and the responsibility of leading the team. The skilful winger didn't disappoint as she held her nerve to step up late in the game to curl in a wicked free kick that caught out Suzanne Marshall in the Stoke goal to send the City faithful into raptures.

 

Cherelle Archibald, who displayed great touch all afternoon, had won the free kick after taking possession on her chest and wrong footing two would be tacklers with a deft dragover and spin that resulted in her being hacked down just shy of the box. Dermody had already sent a few efforts narrowly wide earlier in the game but found her range perfectly to leave Marshall stranded.

 

Coventry enjoyed the best of the first half without ever finding a cutting edge. Marshall twice denied Archibald with Dermody, Jade Formaston and Robyn James guilty of missing good chances. James looked much sharper though as the second period began with a bang. Emily Hanson played a glorious through ball that James latched onto took wide drawing Marshall off her line. With the goal at an acute angle a cross looked the more promising option but James had other ideas firing into the far side of the goal from nigh on the touchline.

 

Archibald had a good opportunity to add to lead but shot narrowly wide of the left upright as Stoke's defense gifted her the ball. Netty Manca had been rarely tested in the City goal and was powerless to deny Sanders in the 73rd minute as she beat Natalie Wilcox to former Coventry defender Lyndsey Bryenton's hopeful punt and kept her nerve to shoot across goal and in for the equalizer.

 

The Sky Blues picked themselves back up and stepped up the tempo as Archibald made a good chance for herself but shot narrowly wide. The powerful striker then pulled her moment of inspiration out of the bag to open the door for Dermody's free kick. The same pair almost combined again as once more Archibald turned a defender and forced a free kick, Marshall this time was equal to Dermody's strike and punched the drive over the bar.

 

 

 

With the rest of the top four not idle, Coventry's win opens an eight point lead as they head into a two week break from league action. Cup ties away to minnows Knowle and Long Eaton await Paul Cudby's side before they complete the first half of the season at home to Radcliffe Olympic in three weeks time.

                       

Team: - Manca; Whitfield (H. Miles85), Clarke, Henson, Wilcox; Formaston, N. Miles, Hanson (Christie 78), Dermody; Archibald, James (Tinto 89).

 

Subs Not Used: - Ogle, Forbes.

 

Goals: - James (46), Dermody (85).

Booked: - None.

Sent Off: - None.

 



Helen Dermody.