Coventry City ladies kicked off their Midlands Combination League pre-season warm up game with a 4-0 loss against Bristol Academy, who play in the Premier League National Division, the women's top flight.
Being pre-season, the match was divided into three periods of thirty minutes to allow coaches to assess fitness and tactics and change them accordingly.
Both sides were missing players from the very start, with Coventry playing without a recognised centre back due to injuries. This became evident from the first period, which ended 3-0.
Bristol registered their first shot from a free kick on six minutes, which sailed over the bar failing to trouble Coventry goalkeeper Kerry Williamson. The opponents were excellent at maintaining the ball in the first thirty minutes with some tight passing, which didn't give the Sky Blues much sight of the ball. The first goal was scored on nine minutes by Kerry Bartlett, who also scored the third after eighteen minutes. The second goal was scored by Michelle Green on fourteen minutes. It seemed that Coventry were in for a rout from their top flight opponents.
The Sky Blues had their first corner on 23 minutes, but failed to make anything of the opportunity.
Coventry goalie Williamson showed her value to the team on twenty five minutes when she pushed a shot onto the bar. The rebound was collected by Bristol, but the following poor shot was easily saved.
The final five minutes of the first period showed the start of the Coventry fighting spirit with right back Natalie Wilcox and midfielder Amanda Whalley linking up well on the right wing.
Coventry's first real push on goal was at the end of the first period when Amanda Whalley hit a long ball to Sinead Wade, who chased the ball, but was beaten to it by the Bristol goalkeeper.
The start of the second period had echoes of the first when Bristol hit a free kick over the bar after five minutes. However, this seemed a momentary lapse as Coventry went back to their fighting ways. There was good link up play between Captain Emma Lipman and Kelly Ann-Willis on the left wing, which looked promising for a Coventry goal. Near the end of the second period, striker Mel Byrne got away from her marker and saw her header from a cross go just past the post. This was Coventry's best goal opportunity the whole game and should have been put away as the Bristol goalkeeper was stranded. The Sky Blues seemed to have found their confidence and were more willing to pass the ball around.
Coventry's first effort in the third period came after just two minutes following a lightning run from Sinead Wade at the Bristol goal, only to see her effort hit the side netting. A minute later, Yvette Dolphin made a run at goal only to lose her boot and any opportunity of a goal for her efforts. Then, a cross from Wade from the right went behind Dolphin who was running in for the cross. Later, Natalie Wilcox crossed a ball into the penalty area, but Dolphin failed to catch it cleanly and the shot was easily saved. It seemed like a Coventry goal was so close, but it never materialised.
Half way through the third period, a miscommunication in the Coventry defence allowed Bristol a chance on goal. Williamson managed to get her fingertips to the shot for a brilliant save, and the ball was cleared by the defence to escape any further danger.
Bristol's fourth goal came from a questionable penalty, resulting from a foul by Lucy Campbell on Gemma Hopkins, who converted the penalty. Campbell said after the game that thought she got the ball. Coventry manager Stuart Wilson said it was “arguably a penalty”, and even Bristol manager Gary Green didn't seem convinced, saying “they don't often flag, so I would imagine it was a penalty”.
After the game, manager Wilson said he had been “very pleased” with the overall performance, but admitted the team were “very rusty in the first third...it was always going to be difficult, as a lot of players haven't played with each other before”. He also said that he might have found a new centre half in Lucy Campbell, who was standing in due to injuries. She normally plays in a centre midfield/striker position.
Coventry are now hoping to play a few more warm up games before the season begins.