Coventry City Ladies coach Craig Nicholls has described his side's 4-0 WPL Northern Divison victory over Stoke City as a good professional performance.
Nicholls told Matty Roper: "it was a good professional performance on a heavy pitch. We created some really good opportunities and were clinical with the four goals. It was good for Amber and Helen to continue there goal scoring form but i'm also very really pleased with Danielle's debut performance and goal."
"Another clean sheet is also excellent and shows how solid we are and how we have a determination to not concede goals, it's a testament to our hard work."
Report
When the fourth round draw of the FA Women's Cup was made, Stoke City were the team Coventry City LFC pulled out of the hat, and on Sunday the two teams met in the League. The Sky Blues were at home and looking to make it 20 games unbeaten in all competitions, and they were in good mood after last weeks away win at Oxford. Stoke came in to the match with a win under their belts also as they defeated Morecambe 3-2 last weekend.
It was a fairly even first 5 minutes of the game but it was City who created the first few chances. A good driven corner from Helen Dermody allowed Amber Hughes to fire towards goal on the volley but it was blocked on the line from a Stoke defender. Seconds later and another Dermody delivery caused trouble, the floated ball hung in the air and Ashleigh Neville rose to nod just wide of the post.
With 11 minutes on the clock the Sky Blues took the lead after pressing high and winning possession. Good work from new signing Danielle Selmes allowed Amber Hughes to pick up the loose ball and barge past her marker and close in on goal, she then opened up her body and slotted comfortably in to the bottom corner to make it 1-0 to the home side. Just 3 minutes later and the lead was doubled after a lofted ball from Helen Dermody bounced before the Stoke defender, Amber Hughes then poked the ball forward and finished the chance superbly with a volleyed finish the dropped in off the underside of the bar.
City started to have the lions share of possession but Stoke were physical in the middle of the park and made it hard for the Sky Blues. Coventry still looked more threatening going forward though as Helen Dermody went close a couple of times, the away side also had a few attempts but nothing to worry Sue Wood in the home goal. Danielle Selmes also dragged a shot just wide on 35 minutes after a penalty appeal was turned down when Dermody appeared to be tripped in the area.
The home side continued to threaten before the break as a Hughes cross was diverted to the edge of the area where Jade Formaston took aim but her effort flashed just over the bar. It was 3-0 before the break though as Helen Dermody placed a sweetly struck free kick in to the top corner from 30 yards to hand the Sky Blues a three goal advantage at the break.
Half time: Coventry City LFC 3-0 Stoke City LFC
Stoke looked lively early on in the second half but it was Coventry who had the first chance. A superb run by Amber Hughes saw her drive in to the area, she then played a swift one-two with Samantha Quayle before firing just wide on 50 minutes. It was Hughes who burst through the middle just a few minutes later and she this time laid the ball in to Danielle Selmes' path; the new recruitment striking straight at the Goalkeeper.
The away side then went close on the hour mark as a dangerous cross was whipped in the area, this was then met by an attacker and it rolled just wide, to the relief of City 'keeper Sue Wood was at full strength. Just seconds later though and the Sky Blues attacked up the other end and made it 4-0. A brilliantly weighted cross from Amber Hughes found Danielle Selmes open in the area, she then headed brilliantly in to the corner to open her account at the club.
The game then turned a little scrappy but it was still the home side who looked most dangerous. The work rate and grit of Coventry was again making them very hard to break down as Stoke looked for a consolation goal. Although it was dogged at times, the home side began to look dominant again late on as they looked for a fifth goal; Ashleigh Neville went close a couple of times as City didn't look in any danger of conceding.
A superb move allowed the home side to create another chance as the clock approached 90 minutes. An excellent lofted pass from Maz Gauntlett released Neville down the left, she then drilled the ball across the face but striker Destiney Toussaint couldn't quite connect with the ball properly. That was the last real action of the game as the referee blew his whistle to signal a comfortable win for the Sky Blues.
Full Time: Coventry City LFC 4-0 Stoke City LFC