WEST BROMWICH ALBION 1-7 COVENTRY CITY LADIES BY KEV MONKS
Coventry City Ladies cruised into the final of the Birmingham County FA Women's Cup with a 7-1 victory at West Bromwich Albion.
Having netted 29 goals in the previous three rounds, Mark Phillips side continued this rich vein of goals by taking the lead in the 18th minute of the semi-final when Katy Box chipped Baggies keeper Lydia Broom from the edge of the area.
The West Midlands League side were level six minutes later when Hayley Phillopowski beat the offside trap to slide the ball past Gemma Smith.
Skipper Maria Cartwright was in commanding form and restored Coventry's lead in the 32nd minute blasting home a rebound after a Julia Marshall effort had hit the post.
Two became three two minutes later when referee David Cooke awarded the Sky Blues a penalty following Nigerian international Blessing Igbojoinu being sent crashing to the ground. Katy Box stepped up and the former Barwell striker made no mistake from the penalty mark.
With two minutes of the half remaining, Anna McLeod burst down the right flank,crossed for Box to hit a shot which Broom half saved and Julia Marshall nipped in to net City's fourth.
West Brom put up a spirited performance in the second half until a 67th minute corner allowed substitute Sarah Marshall to tap in with her first touch of the ball.
England U21 international Michelle Hickmott was another City player causing problems for the home defenders and less than a minute later, she fired home from an Igbojoinu cross.
The City supporters in a healthy crowd at Oldbury United were very pleased with the prospect of the club's first ever County Cup Final and were in seventh heaven in the 73rd minute as Maria Cartwright wrapped up a fine performance with a stunning strike from 33 yards which flew high into the net.
Mark Phillips whose side will face either Birmingham City or Aston Villa in the Final at BCFA HQ at Ray Hall Lane on March 20th said: "This was a good performance against what could have been a difficult side. "We did the simple things well and showed good character to get so many goals after conceding a sloppy one. "Although it's nice to have the final to look forward to,we still have a lot to put right."
TEAM
G.Smith,Bryenton,Lipman (Stephenson 65), M.Cartwright,Lynch,R.Smith,McLeod,J.Marshall (S.Marshall 65),Igbojoinu,Box (Byrne 74),Hickmott,SNU Whalley,K.Cartwright