Coventry City Ladies put on an impressive performance to finally see off the challenge of Leeds Vixens, but were made to work hard for the points as the visitors came back strongly in the second half.
The Sky Blues started brightly and could have taken an early lead when Mckenna's shot was blocked after 5 minutes, but Kirsty Robson miscued the rebound. Robson soon made amends though when skipping past Cocerill and squaring from the bye line where Karen Clough (pictured above) netted at the second attempt after keeper Bevan had again blocked.
City were enjoying a dominant spell with Torkildsen in particular tormenting the visitors backline and getting the ball into the 6 yard box, but both Formaston and Clough failed to convert. On the half hour though, the Sky Blue's pressure finally told when Callan Barber sent Torkildsen free and this time her perfectly measured return from the bye line was stroked right footed into the bottom corner by Barber Minutes later Kirsty Robson almost executed a carbon copy, but Bevan blocked brilliantly on the line at full stretch. As half time approached an excellent sweeping move started by Lynch and played through by Milly Durrant was driven against the foot of the upright by Torkildsen with Bevan beaten. From the rebound however the ball was cleared long upfield and Vixens' Romero sprinted through one on one with Wood but the keeper reacted superbly to get two hands on her shot.
Within minutes of the re-start City were left to rue a host of missed chances when Leanne Smith bundled the ball in after City had given away a sloppy corner.
On 56 mins Barber slipped the ball cleverly inside for Torkildsen, whose left footed pile driver was superbly tipped past the post by the impressive Kelly Bevan. Most of the action now though was at the other end with Vixens having lots of possession but failing to get in any strikes to trouble Sue Wood. On 71 minutes City should have gone 3-1 up when slick interplay between Robson and Barber set up Clough to run onto behind the last defender but her shot from 12 yards flew over the bar.
Again City could have been made to pay as Vixens threw more players forward in search of an equaliser and for 5 or so minutes the home goal came under siege with Lynch, Ward and McKenna forced to resort to some desperate head tennis to keep the visitors at bay.
On 89 mins, Clough made up for her earlier miss when her persistence paid off with a left foot finish into the corner after she'd gone to ground, and straight from the kick off she picked up the ball on the left and beat Bevan from long range to bag her hat trick.
The score line may have flattered City, but the 3 points keeps them second in the FA Northern Premier League.
First Team Coach Paul Cudby said, "The most pleasing thing was the result because before the match we had spoken about being positive and against Leeds that showed and although the match was tougher that the score-line suggests, it was a fantastic result for us.
We worked very hard over the past couple of weeks, but there are still one or two things we can work on to improve our game and really cement ourselves in this very tough division."
He added, "It's good to get back to winning ways and to have 14 points at this stage of the season which currently puts us in second place is very pleasing."
Picture copyright of CCLFC. Manager's comments courtesy of Steve Carpenter.