Coventry City Ladies manager Craig Nicholls was disppointed with his side's 1-0 defeat to Sheffield FC.
Nicholls said to Matty Roper: "We were excellent. "We played some good football and dictated the play from start to finish and if we could just get a bit more of a clinical edge we would have games won."
"I think if Sheffield are honest with themselves they'll know they have done a bit of a smash and grab today. But that's the difference when it comes to winning a league. We had some terrible decisions go against us and I thought the ref was pretty poor from our point of view. There is 7 league games to go and if we learnt anything from last year it is that it will go down to the wire! We will keep pushing!"
Coventry City Ladies hosted Sheffield in what promised to be a very interesting encounter. Both teams suffered losses in the Women's FA Cup last weekend and they would both be looking to bounce back. The two teams were locked together at the top of the FAWPL and only goal difference separated the sides. It was a huge game that was hugely anticipated, and despite the awful wind it was a very good affair.
City elected to shoot against the strong wind in the first half but they kept the ball well early on as they looked to cause Sheffield problems. The away side had the first effort of the game however as with 4 minutes played 7 found space down the left, she then ran at the Coventry defence before firing wide of the target. She went close again on 7 minutes as 20 found her with a neat pass this time, 7 then attempted to cross the ball but the wind room it narrowly over the crossbar.
The wind was undoubtedly helping Sheffield in terms of attacking with speed, but the Sky Blues were edging the game in terms of possession and they looked dangerous themselves. A superb Helen Dermody set-piece from deep caused problems on 12 minutes as Amber Hughes saw a shot blocked. With 15 minutes played neither team had created any real chances, but the overall pattern of the game was fairly even as Coventry coped extremely well with the gusty winds.
A sweetly struck corner from Dermody allowed Nikki Miles to head on 17 minutes but she failed to contact clearly with it and the danger was cleared. The next chance of the game fell to the home side too on 23 minutes as a controlled passing move allowed Maz Gauntlett to fire a strike from just inside the area, but it was well held by the visiting goalkeeper. Sheffield won a corner on 26 minutes which allowed them to take the lead with their first effort on target. A good corner from Carla Ward was nodded home by Danielle Cox to give the Yorkshire side a 1-0 lead. The lead was nearly doubled on 30 minutes as Sue Wood was forced to save a Jodie Michalska free kick that shouldn't have been given.
The away side looked confident after scoring but they didn't really cause the City back line any major problems. Coventry did look threatening too and they went close on 34 minutes. Another Helen Dermody free kick was missed by Neville, but Amber Hughes was alert and her effort was saved well down low by Claire Wallhead before Sheffield managed to clear. As for the remainder of the half it remained fairly even as both teams battled but neither team could find a goal before the break. Amber Hughes went the closest on 42 minutes after another dangerous corner but it was to no avail.
Half time: Coventry City LFC 0-1 Sheffield LFC
The first chance of the half came after just one minute as the home side won a free kick on the edge. Helen Dermody whipped it towards the top corner but it was saved well, the resulting corner also caused problems but it was cleared away eventually. Despite the early chance, Sheffield started the second half brightly as they knocked the ball around well in attempt to pressurise City. It was City who had a glorious chance on 52 minutes though as a superb Sue Wood kick released Dermody, she then got under her strike and it flew over that bar.
It continued to be a tight affair but a slick passing move allowed Maz Gauntlett to get a strike away on 57 minutes but to City's disbelief it struck the post with the rebound also being saved on the line by the keeper. It was a good move however that would give the home side some encouragement. Sheffield still looked dangerous in parts but it was the home side who were close to equalising again on 60 minutes as a superb Maz Gauntlett couldn't quite be met by Amber Hughes who was steaming in.
The Sky Blues looked to lift it as they began to win every loose ball, and superb tenacity from the City midfield broke up Sheffield attacks on numerous occasions. It was a good spell from the home side as they looked to control proceedings, and substitute Carly Davies had an immediate impact as her cross picked out Dermody on 68 minutes but the midfielder fired just over. The Sky Blues were looking the much better side now, the only thing missing was a goal. Coventry were boosted on 76 minutes however as Sheffield were reduced to ten after Carla Ward kicked Destiney Toussaint in the face with a disgusting challenge, the City player was replaced by Jade Mellor.
City carried on dominating proceedings but they were just lacking a little bit of incisiveness as Carly Davies fired wide on 86 minutes. Sheffield had a chance of their own just a minute later but Wood got down well to deny Michalska. The striker then had another chance with a minute of normal time to go but it rose over the bar. Despite City's final attempts to get an equaliser it finished 1-0 in favour of the Sheffield side. It was a valiant second half performance which warranted at least a point but City left the game empty-handed.
Full time: Coventry City LFC 0-1 Sheffield LFC