Coventry City Ladies booked their place in the League Cup semi-finals thanks to a memorable fight back against fellow Midlands Combination League promotion hopefuls West Bromwich Albion. Danni Saulter's strike in extra time completed the stunning turn around as the Sky Blues ran out 3-2 victors after trailing 2-0 at the half.
West Brom took a 14th minute lead through Abbie Hinton's disputed close range effort. The 19 year old striker escaped the attention of the Sky Blues back line and was left alone in the centre of the box but looked suspiciously offside. Hinton kept her poise and was able to place the ball passed the despairing dive of City keeper Kerry Williamson.
The Sky Blues shrugged off the disappointment of falling behind to battle back into what was becoming a fascinating and hard fought contest. Baggies winger Chanelle Hooper rocked them again though with a clinical strike from the edge of City's penalty area to give her side a 2-0 advantage heading into the break.
Manager Stuart Wilson's double substitution in the 56th minute shook some life back into the Sky Blues and paid almost immediate dividends. Danni Saulter's left wing cross found the red hot Keeley Lowe who was able to head the Sky Blues back into contention.
Jade Formaston pulled the sides level just seven minutes after entering the fray. Kelly-Ann Willis played a cross field pass from the left finding Formo in space and allowing her to cut inside the box rocketing the ball into the roof of the net. The two sides traded blows as the game swung from end to end with both teams searching in vein for a winner in regulation.
The decisive strike came early in the second period of extra-time, a neat passing move on the left saw Nat Brace play a one-two with Willis before picking out former Arsenal midfielder Saulter on the penalty spot. West Brom's tired defenders failed to shut Saulter down affording her enough time to open her body and smash the ball home and Coventry into the next round.
Although WBA still hold a narrow lead in the league, the result provides a small measure of revenge as Coventry had failed to beat the Baggies in their two prior meetings this season. It's back to League action next week for the Coventry City Ladies as they meet their counterparts from local rivals Leicester City. The two sides have played twice already this season with the Sky Blues winning both.
Coventry Copsewood were 3-0 up when a Rea Valley player broke her leg and the game was abandoned in the 37th minute.