Coventry City Ladies 2-1 Long Eaton Villa
Midlands Combination League
By Christine Wheeler
An own goal and a Sinead Wade strike help Coventry City Ladies to all three points in their final home fixture of the season.
The game was a well fought battle from both sides with Coventry having a bit of luck with their first goal as Georgio Plinston knocked the ball into her own net after nine minutes following a Wade cross. Long Eaton Villa had some great chances to equalise in the first half from Sharon Cox and Mary Wayne, but they couldn't manage to find the back of the net.
The visitors then had a penalty appeal turned down when Kerry Williamson looked to have brought down Dannielle Duffy after she took the ball round the keeper, but their calls were turned down. Coventry manager Stuart Wilson didn't think it was a penalty "Kez [Williamson] did clatter her, but she got to the ball first, so no penalty in my eyes"
Long Eaton Villa came out after the break determined to press on for a goal, but Williamson was on hand to deny them as she pushed Toni Eaves effort onto the bar. It took until the 61st minute for the away side to get their slice of fortune when Sam Griffiths free kick missed everyone in the box only to bounce over Williamson's head.
Coventry looked like they had retaken the lead with 15 minutes to go after a scintillating run from Sinead Wade, only to see her shot rebound back of the left post. The striker wasn't to be denied three minutes later though. She latched onto a through ball by Kirsty Robson to slide home the winner.
Although the win is unlikely to help the Sky Blues gain promotion this season, Wilson is optimistic for the future. "There are some really great players coming through that are really going to change our team"
Coventry City: Kerry Williamson, Natalie Wilcox (Jade Formaston, 68), Jenni Lowe, Maria Cartwright (Kelly Henson, 34), Natasha Lynch, Ali Forbes, Kirsty Robson, Helen Dermody, Sarah Marshall (Kate Moran, 64), Sinead Wade, Kelly-Anne Willis
Goals: Georgio Plinston (og), 9, CCLFC 1-0 LEV
Sam Griffiths, 61, CCLFC 1-1 LEV
Sinead Wade, 77, CCLFC 2-1 LEV