Coventry City Ladies extended their lead at the top of the Midland Women's Combination League to 3 points with a 2-0 victory over local rivals Copsewood.
Kelly Henson dominated midfield for the Sky Blues and orchestrated a surprisingly comfortable win over the club's most bitter foes. Goals either side of half-time were enough for Coventry as Nicole Tinto's 66th minute effort doubled the lead that Captain Natasha Lynch had earlier provided.
Both teams created decent shooting chances early on with Helen Dermody firing in a weak effort too close to Natasha Smithers before Leanne McKenna did the same at the opposite end moments later. Dermody did have Smithers scrambling across her goal in the 10th minute to make a good save from her wicked curling free kick.
It was Dermody again that was giving the visitors problems, her 25 yard drive in the 17th minute coming at the end of a good move involving Danni Saulter and Cherelle Archibald. Henson, who consistently won possession for the Sky Blues, used the ball to great effect all afternoon and it was her clever pass out to Dermody that led to one of City's best moves. Dermody played a pin-point cross-field ball to Jade Formaston, whose control allowed her to get away from her marker but unfortunately the finish didn't match the build up.
The Sky Blues had dominated the game and deservedly took the lead just before the half hour mark. Saulter won possession on the edge of her own box and, whilst Copsewood called for a free kick, advanced all the way to the edge of her opponents penalty area eventually winning a corner. Abi Cockayne won the aerial battle from Formaston's dead ball delivery with Lynch the beneficiary as she took time to pick her spot before rifling past Smithers from close range.
McKenna had two quick opportunities to drag her side level but, with time and space, could only fire her long range effort curling wide of the left upright before badly skewing a shot past the same post after good work from Melissa Ball on the right wing. The second period opened with Copsewood attempting to make more of a fist of it but without managing to force a save from Adele Rogers who probably had her quietest game of the season.
Saulter almost added Coventry's second when Smithers fumbled a Nicole Tinto cross onto her head. The Copsewood stopper managed to get enough on the goal-bound effort but could only parry it back to the feet of Saulter, whose follow-up effort was blocked. Emily Hanson, who'd replaced Archibald just 2 minutes earlier, was gifted possession by a mix-up in the visitors back line but fired her effort too close to Smithers who almost allowed the ball to squirm under her body.
20 minutes into the second half Coventry's constant pressure paid off. Saulter played the ball wide to Formaston who rode one challenge to swing in a far-post cross to Hanson. The prolific striker hooked the ball back across goal where Tinto was waiting for a comfortable tap in. 15 minutes from time the Sky Blues almost added to the margin of victory, Saulter, Tinto and Hanson all fired efforts goal-bound as the ball pinged about in the Copsewood area before finally being cleared to safety.
Copsewood never managed to mount a sustained challenge as the game began to wind down. Substitute Jade Ogle came close to getting her name on the score sheet with what was almost the final kick of the game. The young midfielder got a good flick on a Dermody corner, turning it towards goal only to see Melissa Ball clear off her own line on the far post.
Left back Jenni Lowe enjoyed a strong performance at the back for City and played a large part as Coventry kept their first clean sheet in the league this season. The Sky Blues take a trip to the East Midlands next week as they visit Radcliffe Olympic for the first time. The Nottinghamshire side have lost only once in their last 6 league games and will be looking to improve on their current position of sixth.
Team: - Rogers, Cockayne (Bryenton 70), Lowe, Henson, Lynch, Forbes, Formaston (Ogle 78), Saulter, Archibald (Hanson 58), Tinto, Dermody.
Subs Not Used: - None.
Goals: - Lynch (28), Tinto (66).
Booked: - None
Sent Off: - None