Coventry City Ladies won 4-1 at Huddersfield Town in a WPL Northern Division fixture.
The Sky Blues travelled to Shelley FC on Sunday to take on Huddersfield Town Ladies in the FA Women's Premier League. City would be in confident mood after the County Cup triumph over Sporting Club Albion on Thursday night, and the players would be looking to pick up another three points in the league this time around. The previous meeting between the two sides was a goal fest, with the Coventry side winning 6-4.
City started quickly and they created the first chance of the affair after just 30 seconds. Natasha Lynch played a forward ball which found Maz Gauntlett, she then cut inside before firing just over. Just a minute later and the Sky Blues were a goal behind however as a long ball released Kate Mallin, the Huddersfield skipper then fired low in to the far corner past Sue Wood as the Coventry defence were breached.
The game was fairly even though after the opening goal and Ashleigh Neville was close to equalising with 7 minutes on the clock. A ball out wide found her and she opted to cross the ball in, the breeze took it towards goal though and the keeper was forced to react, Amber Hughes was then inches away from contacting with the rebound. Just three minutes later and the scores were level after Amber Hughes won a free kick around 35 yards out. Helen Dermody then delivered a dangerous ball which put the home defence under pressure, forcing an own goal of a defender's head with the ball looping over the keeper.
Coventry were starting to settle down a bit now and get a grip of the game, and another good move allowed Maz Gauntlett to fire just wide on 14 minutes after Huddersfield had a chance of their own. With another few minutes played City went close to taking the lead after a superb Callan Barber corner caused havoc, Nikki Miles then rose above her marker but she was only to divert her header just wide of the post.
The game was being edged in terms of possession by City but the home side looked to be the more dangerous of the two teams at the moment. It was however Coventry that took the lead on 29 minutes as Jade Formaston stole the ball in the centre, the ball then fell to Maz Gauntlett and she showed excellent feet before drilling the ball in to the bottom left corner past the sprawling keeper. It was nearly 3-1 just a minute later as a beautiful long range pass by Nikki Miles picked out Amber Hughes, the winger then chopped inside but the keeper responded to her effort well.
The Sky Blues started to really control the game now as they found keeping the ball relatively easy. Some quality passing moves were on display but the home side still looked dangerous on the attack themselves, the City defence were defending confidently however to deny them any real opportunities. Coventry were close to widening their advantage on 43 minutes as Jade Formaston whipped in a great cross from the right wing, Nikki Miles was on hand to head towards goal but the keeper reacted brilliantly with a quality save. Just seconds later and another chance came around after Amber Hughes sped past two defenders out wide, she then squared to Helen Dermody but she fired over from 12 yards.
Another goal was scored before the half-time whistle though and it fell City's way. A great corner by Calan Barber picked out Ashleigh Neville who headed across goal for Natasha Lynch to head home at the back post.
City got the second half underway with real pace and the home goalkeeper was forced in to a save with 47 minutes on the clock. Helen Dermody rolled her marker before playing a sly ball in to Amber Hughes, the winger could only strike straight at the keeper though. Just three minutes later and another chance was passed by as Callan Barber's floated corner picked out Natasha Lynch, the captain got under the ball though and her header flew over the crossbar.
Huddersfield continued to battle and work in the centre of the pitch but Coventry looked much more likely to score another. Possession was very much controlled by the away side as Huddersfield looked stretched and jagged, and this tiredness seemed to have an effect on 61 minutes as a central defender headed straight in to Amber Hughes' path. The City forward then chested the ball down before blazing over from just inside the area. Helen Dermody also went close on 65 minutes as she struck a sweet free kick over the wall from 25 yards, the keeper saw the ball all the way though and she sprung across to save well.
With 69 minutes played the Sky Blues widened their lead, a lovely build up allowed Helen Dermody to receive the ball on the edge of the area, she then shifted the ball before smashing a left-footed strike in to the bottom corner. City continued to press as they looked for a fifth and Dani Selmes pressed the defenders at every opportunity, causing panic in the Huddersfield defence. It was this high press that brought the next chance as Libby Piggott and Ashleigh Neville tormented the defence, Neville then stole the ball before her powerful effort was saved in the top corner from the home keeper.
The final five minutes of the tie remained one way traffic really but Huddersfield did break on a few occasions, they couldn't break down an organised Coventry defence. No real chances were created in the dying embers though and the whistle was sounded to signal three points for the Sky Blues.