The Coventry City Ladies rounded off their 2009 campaign in some style as an energetic performance lead to a comfortable 6-1 win over relegation threatened Loughborough. Emily Hanson scored twice and had a hand in two others as the Sky Blues carved their visitors open at will. Jade Formaston, Danni Saulter and Nicole Tinto also chipped in with one each whilst top scorer Helen Dermody hit her 20th of the season.
It was Formaston that opened the scoring with a well placed effort from wide on the right. Her cross shot from deep hit the back of the net off the left hand upright to give the Sky Blues a dream start as they went in search of the three points they needed to heap pressure onto Derby 's shoulders at the top of the table. Five minutes later Dermody almost repeated the feat from the opposite flank but her effort curled just wide.
Both full backs got forward well in the first half as the Sky Blues piled on the pressure looking to kill the game before half time. Nikki Miles, playing in her preferred position at right back for the first time, played a large part in the second. The Centre of Excellence graduate received the ball, side stepped one challenge and picked out Saulter who played a flowing 1-2 with Formaston before cutting in from the touchline and pulling back to Hanson who had all day to pick her spot.
Two goals to the good inside the first half an hour, the Sky Blues showed no sign of taking their foot off the gas. Formaston toyed with her marker on the right before launching a cross to the far post where Tinto and Dermody were queuing up. Stuck on 19 goals since the end of March, Dermody made sure of her twentieth with a powerful blast from no more than a yard out as Coventry took a deserved 3-0 lead in at the break.
Coventry didn't miss a beat after the restart and Nicole Tinto hit her eighth goal with an easy tap in from Hanson's right wing cross. The pacey Scot had crept in unchecked at the far post and was able to comfortably pick her spot to side foot home for 4-0 47 th minute advantage. It was Hanson again that set up the fifth, using her speed to great effect on the right hand side. Looking up the bullish striker pulled back to Saulter who took a touch and fired in from the penalty spot.
With an hour gone and a comfortable 5-0 lead the Sky Blues began to ease off and second half substitute Harriet Chapman took full advantage. Loughboro' Captain Sarah Ronald delivered a superb cross from the left that Chapman forced home from close range leaving Adele Rogers no chance. Apart from that 73 rd minute strike the Sky Blues had limited L'boro to a handful of long range efforts that never really threatened Coventry 's goal.Typically, Hanson had the last word. Saulter won possession deep in Loughboro's half and slid a ball for Hanson to run onto and lob Vicky Hewitt with just 3 left in the game. The 6-1 result means that Derby must win away at Crewe on Tuesday evening if they are to pip the Sky Blues to the league title. With the title on the line the match has been shifted to Pride Park as the Rams go in search of the three points they require.
Manager Paul Cudby was pleased to see his team lay down the gauntlet to the Rams "From start to finish we were excellent today. The players clearly wanted to not only finish the season on a high but also test Derby 's nerve for Tuesday too". He continued with a little look to next season and beyond "We finished the game with 10 players that have come through the ranks as youngsters which must say our future is very bright too. It was a great way to end our season".
Team: - Rogers, N. Miles, Forbes, Henson (Ogle 75), Lynch (c), Cockayne (H. Miles 46), Formaston (Archibald 65), Saulter, Tinto, Hanson, Dermody.
Goals: - Formaston (10), Hanson (27 & 86), Dermody (36), Tinto (47), Saulter (53).
Booked: - None.
Sent Off: - None.