Ladies Suffer Losses

Last updated : 10 August 2009 By Adam Etherridge

Whilst Clinton Morrison notched two goals in the first 25 minutes to get Coventry City off to a flyer, his female counterparts were drawing yet another blank as they crashed to a third straight pre-season defeat.

The Ladies crammed two pre-season fixtures in over the past four days and looked every bit like they needed them. A 5-0 defeat at the hands of local rivals Leicester was followed up by a 6-0 thrashing at the hands of Luton Town.

Both of Coventry's conquerors play in the Premier League's Northern Division and look set for their season's kick off in just seven days time. City's Manager, Paul Cudby, will be relieved that he still has a month to prepare his side. "We've got an awful lot of work to do if we're to achieve our goal for the season and join those clubs in the Premier League" stated Cudby after the convincing defeat at the hands of Luton.


Without inspirational Captain Natasha Lynch marshalling the defence, City's back line was breached three times either side of the break. "We defended as individuals and didn't work hard enough to gain possession. When we did have the ball we wasted it far too often and got punished" bemoaned the disappointed Cudby. However, there were signs of encouragement against the Foxes on Thursday evening.


A solid first half performance had the Sky Blues level at the break but they somewhat capitulated in the second half conceding five times as their Premier League opponents began to show their class. Cudby gave a frank assessment of his team's performance "we played some good stuff in the first half and worked really well as a team. We had two efforts cleared off the line and were desperately unlucky not to score. The team that came out for the second half were unrecognisable, we played as a group of individuals and got what we deserved".


After failing to score in their first three pre-season outings against teams from the Northern Premier, Coventry will hope to break their duck against lower league opposition in their final two warm up matches. Next Sunday Cudby will welcome his former club, Birmingham Athletic, to the Alan Higgs Centre before travelling to face Stratford Town two weeks before the start of the Midland Women's Combination League.


Team vs. Leicester City Women: -

Sarah Morgan (Netty Manca), Jade Whitfield, Ali Forbes, Nadine Lewycky, Natasha Lynch; Emily Peacock, Kelly Henson, Stacey Christie, Helen Dermody (Cherelle Archibald); Nicole Tinto, Robyn James.


Team vs. Luton Town Ladies: -

Sarah Morgan (Netty Manca (Adele Rogers)); Natalie Wilcox, Nadine Lewycky, Chantelle Davis (Jade Ogle), Ali Forbes; Emily Peacock (Nikki Miles), Kelly Henson, Stacey Christie, Helen Dermody (Cherelle Archibald); Nicole Tinto (Emily Hanson), Robyn James.