HEAD COACH CUDBY PROUD DESPITE OPENING DEFEAT
Manchester City Ladies FC 3-1 Coventry City Ladies FC
Coventry City ladies head coach Paul Cudby was proud of his team’s performance despite losing 3-1 in their opening fixture of the 2010/11 Premier League North Division.
A poor first half performance saw the away side fall two goal behinds at the interval, but a much improved second half performance got Cudby’s side back into the match before Manchester City sealed the victory with a late goal.
It was the first match for Coventry City Ladies in the Premier League North Division after gaining promotion last season and although his side were slow to begin with, Cudby was more than happy with his team’s second half fight-back.
“In the first half we looked nervous. We conceded an early goal and made few mistakes. The girls were understandably nervous but really the first goal was a big blow.
We picked up second half and things got better. We got a goal back and really gave it everything but we couldn’t find the equaliser and then the third goal really killed us of.
It was our first game back on the big stage and although we didn’t get a result, it was still an impressive showing from the girls. I am very proud of their performance, especially in the second half.”
After falling behind to an early goal in only the fifth minute of play, Cudby’s side found themselves two goals down before the break with a mountain to climb when Manchester City strengthened their lead in the 40th minute.
A determined half-time team talk rejuvenated Coventry Ladies and the away side team found themselves back in the match when Nikki Miles pulled one back early in the second half with a deflected finish, but a late Manchester City third ended any chance of a revival.
SQUAD: Wood, Cardin, Wilcox, McKenna, Lynch (c), Allen, Formaston, Miles N, James, Torkildsen, Hickmott. Subs: Robson on for McKenna 45, Dermody on for James 65, Ward on for Wilcox 78. Unused Subs: Manca, Miles H.