Coventry City Ladies got their WPL Northern Division campaign off to a bad start with a 5-0 defeat at Tranmere Rovers.
On a ground at Heswall Fc where former City winger Ray Woods first plyed his trade,the Merseyside took the lead in the 17th minute when Rachel Rigby beat the offside trap to score past City keeper Kelly Cartwright.
City boss Mark Phillps was forced into a change a minute later when Maria Cartwright was carried off with a head injury.
The home side went further ahead in the 26th minute when a cross from Sue Kenwright was dropped by the City keeper onto the foot of Kim Holden who scored with ease.
Holden turned provider six minutes later when she crossed for Lauren Carubia to stab home from close range.
In the 39th minute,Carubia broke through. The City defence appealed for offside and Carubia crossed for Holden to tap in.
There was little to cheer for the City supporters and the closest City came was in the 43rd minute when Julia Marshall headed against the post from a Katy Box corner.
A 63rd minute calf injury combined with a head injury forced Coventry defender Natasha Lynch off the pitch and two minutes later,the advancing Cartwright missed the ball allowing Sue Kenwright to head home unmarked.
Sarah Marshall and Katy Box both had efforts saved by Rovers keeper Liz Morris.
On the final whistle, complaints were made that referee Dave Roberts,who will be on the line for City's Coca Cola Championship for City mens home game against Rotherham on September 18, only played forty two minutes in the second half to no avail.
Mark Phillips said:" We gave them too much respect in the first half and got punished for it. "We were a lot better in the second half. A little bit of luck and a goal might have helped us. "That is the first one out of the way - the headless chicken game as I like to call it and we can work on the away game at Oldham Curzon next week." As a first game,it was not the best of results but there will be other teams on no points."
TEAM
Kelly Cartwright,Kelly Mulhall,Lynsey Bryerton,Julia Marshall (Heidi Lockyer 55),Nat Lynch (Leanne McKenna 66),Maria Cartwright, (Lena Basely 18), Amanda Whalley,Laura Healey,Anna McLeod, Sarah Marshall,Katy Box SNU Gemma Smith,Nat Justice.