2009 Runners-up the Coventry City Ladies coasted to victory in the 2nd round of the Birmingham County FA Cup with a 5-0 win away to Knowle Ladies. Topscorer Helen Dermody notched two goals from the bench with Cherelle Archibald, Jade Ogle and Jade Formaston also on target for the rampant Sky Blues.
Stacey Christie, making only her second start, impressed in the centre of midfield and made the first goal for Archibald in the 12th minute as she hustled to win possession from a goal kick. The combative Centre of Excellence graduate laid the ball on for the rejuvenated striker to turn and shift the ball onto her right foot before firing the Sky Blues into the lead.
On a pitch of poor quality the Sky Blues failed to push on in the remainder of the first half but picked it up in the second period as Archibald turned provider to lay on a first goal of the season for Jade Ogle. From just inside the box Ogle's strike came in the 52nd minute as Coventry began to push the tempo. Dermody's first goal came shortly after her introduction from the bench, a trademark free kick from the edge of the box pushed just out of the reach of the keeper.
Dermody's second marked her eighth goal in 11 games and came just five minutes later as she linked up nicely with fellow substitute Formaston. Christie earned a second assist with 10 minutes remaining as she collected the ball on the edge of her own area and beat four challenges as she maruded into the opposition half and played through Formaston one on one with the keeper with the winger winning confortably for a final score of 5-0.
Manager Paul Cudby was pleased with the result but not overjoyed with the performance "we didn't move the ball quick enough in the first half, the second half was better but I'd still expect us to play at a much higher tempo against Radcliffe next week. The performances of Hazannah Parnell and Stacey Christie were real positives but overall the conditions were awful today and weren't conducive to playing good football so I'm just glad to have negotiated a potential banana skin without picking up any injuries".
Team: - Morgan; Whitfield (Wilcox 46), Lynch (c), Forbes, H. Miles; Parnell, Ogle (Dermody 58), Christie, Henson (Formaston 46); Archibald, Hanson.
Subs Not Used: - Manca, N. Miles
Goals: - Archibald (12), Ogle (52), Dermody (60, 65), Formaston (80)
Booked: - None.
Sent Off: - None.