Coventry City Ladies won 3-2 at Rochdale Ladies this afternoon at Chadderton FC.
City Ladies travelled to Rochdale, knowing that they needed to win in order to keep their hopes of winning the Women's Premier League Northern Division alive.
Paul Cudby was forced to shuffle his pack with regulars Butler, Durrant and Saulter all unavailable but his side got off to a great start when Leanne McKenna thundered in a Jade Formaston's 13th minute corner.
Five minutes later, Karen Clough had netted three times in her last two outings, doubled City's tally when she rifled in a Formastion through ball with a left footed drive from 18 yards.
It was all City as Kirsty Robson was tripped from behind when through on goal and Helen Dermody's free kick had to be fingertipped away by the home keeper.
There was very nearly a third goal for City when Nat Wilcox's flat cross to the six yard box was just taken off Dermody's toe. Just before the end of the half, Karen Clough sliced wide when she went one on one with the home keeper from a clever Robson through ball.
Into the second half and a great fingertip save by Wood denied Keelie Savage's close range header before Savage went just over with another header.
City went up the other end and another great chance went begging as Robson and Dermody combine to play Clough in but the keeper blocked from point blank range.
However, City made to pay when a mix up between Natasha Lynch and keeper Sue Wood leaves a Dale player with a soft header into empty net from 15 yards.
Karen Clough just failed to knock in Formaston's cross but Rochdale were level when a free kick into box was smashed past Wood from close range.
Thankfully, parity was not for long as a great strike through a crowded box by Leanne McKenna gave the Sky Blues a 3-2 win.
Coventry City Ladies are at home to Leicester City on Thursday night. Kick off at Coventry Sphinx FC is at 7.45pm.