Coventry City Ladies coach Craig Nicholls was delighted with his side's 6-2 win over Derby County,
Nicholls told Matty Roper: "It was a much better all round performance. We had some excellent attacking options and every time we went forward we looked likely to score, we probably should of had a few more goals."
He also added: "It was good to give a debut to Emma Hollingsworth at centre back and I thought she performed very strongly considering a lack of playing time prior to us signing her. We just need to keep our heads down now and get on with our jobs to ensure we get three points every week."
Megan Ralph, who made her first team debut, also spoke to Matty Roper and said: "I am really proud on a personal level to have made my first team debut. I wasn't expecting to get on in all fairness, but it's something I've worked hard to achieve for a long period of time."
"In regards to the game itself I thought the team battled well and performed to a high level. The second half was particularly good as we knocked the ball around well and created numerous chances in front of goal. We fully deserved the win, we've just got to keep it going now."
MATCH REPORT
The Sky Blues welcomed Derby County Ladies to the Oval on Sunday looking to bounce back from last week's defeat to Sheffield. It was a must win game against the Rams as Coventry attempted to stay in touch with Sheffield who now sit top of the division. City started with a strong team, Emma Hollingsworth started her first game for the club since joining from Notts County.
In the opening few minutes it was a fairly even contest, but the Sky Blues managed to break through and create the first chance of the game on 3 minutes. A good outside of the foot pass from Ashleigh Neville was collected by Helen Dermody who then poked the ball past her marker before firing straight at Sarah Morgan in the Derby goal. With just 7 minutes on the clock City did take the lead though to make it 1-0. Poor defending allowed Destiney Toussaint to steal the ball on the edge of the area, she then rolled Helen Dermody in and she finished confidently in to the bottom corner.
City looked the more confident of the two sides after scoring and they played the ball around well, but it was Derby who were next to test the defence. A lofted ball fell in to the path of Precious Hamilton but her effort was saved and held brilliantly by Sue Wood in the home goal. The Rams did look a threat through the long ball which released Precious Hamilton on numerous occasions, the striker looked to be the focal point of the away attack as she looked to cause problems. The Sky Blues were still looking to cause problems up the other end though in what was a well contested first 20 minutes.
With 24 minutes played the away side managed to equalise, another ball over the top released Ellie Towers who crossed to Melissa Johnson to tap home from six yards. The Sky Blues looked to get back in front immediately after scoring with a Helen Dermody corner allowing Ashleigh Neville to head just over. It wasn't a brilliant opening half hour for the home side as Derby pressed high and caused City to give away possession too many times. Despite this, Coventry still looked threatening but the final ball was lacking. This was until the 33rd minute however as another Helen Dermody caused havoc and Destiney Toussaint found space at the back post to bundle the ball over the line to make it 2-1.
The home side continued to press after taking the lead. Particular joy was to be had down the right wing where Amber Hughes and Helen Dermody were tormenting the defence. It was a move down the right that allowed the lead to be stretched to 3-1 on 38 minutes. A superb ball by Annabel Johnson released Amber Hughes out wide, the winger then managed to beat her marker before crossing to Ashleigh Neville who finished excellently off the far post. After scoring the third the home side controlled possession brilliantly and frustrated Derby who couldn't get a touch of it. The final chances of the half fell to City as Toussaint and Hughes both fired just over after controlled passing moves before the whistle sounded for the break.
Half Time: Coventry City LFC 3-1 Derby County LFC
The second half started as the first one left off, with City keeping possession well and controlling the game. Every time Derby did try to put together a string of passes Jade Formaston was there to thwart them with superb challenges in the heart of the midfield. With 53 minutes on the clock City went close again after another Formaston tackle allowed the home side to win the ball and move forward, it was then Callan Barber who fired just wide from 25 yards. Just seconds later and a strike from similar range made it 4-1 as Annabel Johnson hit a fierce strike which flew past the keeper and in to the top corner.
Chances continued to flow for the Sky Blues as Destiney Toussaint was denied by a good save before Helen Dermody saw a goal bound effort deflected wide. The keeper was on hand again with 60 minutes played as she got down magnificently to deny Ashleigh Neville a second. Just seconds later though and it was 5-1 as the ball bounced around in the area before Amber Hughes prodded the ball over the line. It was a very bright start to the second half which allowed them to race in to a very dominant position.
City nearly managed to get a sixth on 65 minutes as great work by Destiney Toussaint down the right allowed her to pick out Helen Dermody, she then rolled the ball to Callan Barber who saw her effort tipped on to the post. Just seconds later and another chance went bagging as Toussaint misses from close range. Derby couldn't get out of their own half as the Sky Blues looked to step it up and cause all sorts of problems. It took a magnificent save from Sarah Morgan to deny City a sixth as she sprung magnificently to thwart Ashleigh Neville. There was a goal in the next attack though and it fell to the visitors against the run of play, as a decent move allowed Precious Hamilton to rifle a shot over Sue Wood to make it 5-2 with 73 minutes on the clock.
Derby were through on goal again on 76 minutes but Annabel Johnson held off the striker brilliantly to allow Sue Wood to smother. City then broke up the other end as a low cross was missed by Helen Dermody just six yards out, substitute Maz Gauntlett then went close herself on 81 minutes. Another goal was scored on 85 minutes though and it was the hosts who got it after a Toussaint cross was lofted over the keeper with excellent technique by Helen Dermody to make it 6-2. The final few minutes were also controlled by Coventry as substitute Megan Ralph went close with an effort from a tight angle but the referee brought an end to proceedings to hand Coventry the victory.
Full Time: Coventry City LFC 6-2 Derby County LFC