Ladies Lose League Cup Semi-Final

Last updated : 03 April 2009 By Adam Etheridge

Coventry City Ladies suffered Cup heartbreak last night at the hands of arch-rivals Copsewood as Chantelle Stanley scored direct from a free kick in stoppage time to hand the hosts a 2-1 victory. Debutant Catherine Lawson had handed the Sky Blues a 1-0 lead on the stroke of half time but Amanda Whalley pulled Copsewood level just after the restart before Stanley's heroics shattered City's hopes for an historic treble.

 

Copsewood had the better of the early exchanges as the Sky Blues were slow out of the traps. Whalley fired into the side netting when presented with a good chance after coming in unchecked on the far post. The near miss sparked Coventry into life and a pair of new signings from Premier League side Notts Forest used there understanding to great effect. Leanne Woodford broke down the right before squaring to Lawson in the centre only to see her effort slice badly wide. Top scorer Helen Dermody picked up the wayward shot wide on the left and swung in a cross shot that drifted narrowly over and onto the roof of the net.

 

The two Midland Combination rivals traded decent chances with Leonna McCook and Leanne McKenna both going close to breaking the deadlock for Copsewood. At the opposite end Natasha Smithers had to get down bravely to foil Cherelle Archibald and only a timely block from Emily Brimson could deny Dermody's powerful strike. As half time drew ever closer Woodford and Lawson combined again in a similar move. This time Lawson took a couple of touches to create some separation from her marker before unleashing a powerful drive that Smithers got a hand to but couldn't prevent from hitting the back of the net.

 

Just over a minute into the second period Whalley drew Copsewood level, her perfectly placed lob from outside the area gave Adele Rogers little chance as it dropped into the far side of the City goal. Coventry's Manager, Paul Cudby, sent Emily Hanson into the fray to provide some spark up front for the Sky Blues and the move almost paid immediate dividends. Jade Ogle's ball wide to Woodford set the winger away down the right flank. Woodford, making her return from cruciate ligament surgery, fired in an inviting cross that Hanson almost got on the end of but came out worst off after colliding with Smithers.

 

 

 

 

 

With 15 minutes to play, and the game still in the balance, Smithers handed Lawson a great opportunity to kill the tie. The keeper's clearance fell straight to the powerful centre forward whose shot sent Smithers scrambling back to her goal to claw the ball away for a corner. Smithers was again called upon and made a great save to deny Ali Forbes' header from a Dermody free kick. Copsewood had been the beneficiaries of some contentious free kicks and received yet another with a little under 5 minutes remaining on the clock.

 

When Stanley eventually stepped up to fire in her free kick the game had moved into stoppage time and the full back decided to take a pot shot from deep. Rogers back pedalled desperately and initially looked equal to the effort but couldn't quite do enough to keep the ball out of the net. Copsewood erupted into jubilant celebration as they had surely done enough to steal the tie. Coventry did have one last chance as Hanson fired a ball across the box to pick out Lawson who attempted to bend the ball inside the far post but could only push her effort narrowly wide.

 

The Sky Blues' next game is a huge test of their promotion credentials. A trip to West Brom on Sunday the 12th of April could make or break their season. Coventry will be hoping for a favour from Copsewood as they host Derby on the same day. The Rams can reclaim top spot this Sunday if they defeat Radcliffe by seven clear goals.

 

Team: - Rogers, Cockayne, Lowe, Henson, Lynch (c), Forbes, Woodford (Formaston 76), Ogle (Miles, N 73), Archibald (Hanson 60), Lawson, Dermody.

Goals: - Lawson 45

Booked: - None.

Sent Off: - None.