Coventry City Ladies returned to winning ways with a 3-2 victory at home to TNS. Goals from Jade Whitfield, Cherelle Archibald and Jade Formaston handed the Sky Blues a well deserved 3-0 lead before some questionable decisions almost allowed the Welsh visitors to snatch a point. Sporting Club Albion's 1-1 draw at home to Rotherham extends City's lead at the top of the Midland Women's Combination League to five points.
With Nikki Miles failing a late fitness test and Kelly Henson still sidelined there was a long awaited midfield start for Emily Hanson and within seconds of the kick off she showed her intent with a 22 yard effort that went just wide of Angela Birkett's right hand post. Birkett's respite was a brief one though, from the goal kick Jade Whitfield took aim and let fly from 30 yards out with a powerful dipping effort that left the keeper no chance.
City piled on some early pressure with the benefit of the wind at their backs, Jade Formaston and Helen Dermody in particular getting behind the Saints' full backs to provide a succession of quality balls for Archibald, Hanson and Robyn James to get in strikes at goal. On 15 minutes Archibald pounced to lash in the rebound after Burkett had parried a Natasha Lynch free kick to make it 2-0.
After the break the visitors came out with more purpose and managed a rare foray into Coventry's half. The move served as a wake up call to the Sky Blues and five minutes later James nodded Leanne McKenna's curling cross back into the 6 yard box where Formaston volleyed in off the underside of the bar to make it 3-0 and seemingly putting the game out of reach.
Sarah Burke had other ideas though, the TNS striker seized upon a loose ball after fullback Whitfield looked to have been unfairly hauled to the ground. Holding off a challenge from Lynch, Burke advanced on goal and finished well from 12 yards. If City thought they were hard done by, worse was to come just moments later. Burke looked to be at least five yards offside when setting off in pursuit of a hopeful long ball, once again the Sky Blues appealed in vain as Burke finished in style.
Netty Manca was forced to make a terrific one handed save from Courtnie Cassidy to keep the Sky Blues noses in front but for the remaining 20 minutes the home side re-asserted control and successfully closed out the game to maintain their 100% home record. "I'm pleased with the win" began Manager Paul Cudby "but from being 3-0 up to concede twice was obviously disappointing. I think we've only played at about 70-80% of our maximum and I'd like to see us start getting closer to playing at our best".
"That said however, it's a good sign that we're still winning games when we're not yet playing to our full potential. Hopefully we can keep winning whilst improving as well, we're going to need to be more clinical if we're to achieve our aim of promotion, but, I'm sure we have the players and desire to do it". City's next game is at home to league newcomers Stoke City. The Staffordshire side won promotion as Champions of the West Midlands Regional Premier Division and currently sit mid-table after adapting well to life in their new surroundings. Kick off is at 14:00 at Coventry University's Westwood Heath Sports Grounds.
Team: - Manca; Whitfield, Lynch (c), Clarke, Wilcox; Formaston (Christie 70), McKenna, Hanson, Dermody; James, Archibald (Tinto 75).
Subs Not Used: - Rogers, Ogle, H. Miles.
Goals: - Whitfield, Archibald, Formaston.
Booked: - Whitfield
Sent Off: - None.
