Coventry City Ladies put in yet another dominant display to defeat the Loughborough Students 3-0 at Westwood Heath Sports Ground. The result marks City's 11th straight League win and 18th in their last 21 games overall. The three goals came in 14 first half minutes and ended a one-sided match in which L'boro never really got going.
Keeley Lowe opened the scoring in the 9th minute ramming past Francesca Colenso in the Loughborough goal after she'd made a good save from Danni Saulter's header. The goal was made by Carli Davies who again looked excellent on the left side of midfield. Davies won possession near the edge of her own box and took the ball to the edge of the opposition's avoiding two sliding tackles and delivering a beautiful cross for Saulter's well headed effort.
Loughborough attempted to mount an immediate response but good defensive work from midfield duo Kirsty O'Sullivan and Katie Moran set Davies free to drive down the left. The winger curled in a wicked cross which would've been turned into her own net by Lea Cobhan but for Colenso's save at full stretch. The Students struggled all day to clear their own area and Davies almost punished them when she turned and shot from the penalty spot but Colenso again foiled City.
Coventry and Lowe's second did eventually come when, in the 22nd minute, a succession of corners was converted with a near post header. Last weeks 5 goal star Jade Formaston drove the ball in from the right, finding Lowe unattended at the near post. Colenso was powerless to stop the neat flicked header and stood rooted to the spot as the ball squeezed inside the upright.
The Sky Blues' third came just one minute later as Loughborough were again unable to get any purchase on a clearance with the ball coming straight back at them. Saulter, who'd shaken off the ankle knock collected at Hereford last week, picked up the ball on the edge of the area and lobbed a stranded Colenso with a very precise finish.
A couple of accurate deep crosses from right back Natalie Wilcox laid on further chances for O'Sullivan and Saulter with both narrowly missing the target. Lowe, who was making her first start since missing 5 games with a groin injury, had chances to score her hat-trick but was denied by more good work in the L'boro goal by Colenso and a well timed challenge by Laura Steele.
The visitors finally began to create some chances late on and Kerry Williamson had to get down well to save from Julie Stirrup after Nicola Tweedle's pull back left her one-on-one with the City keeper. Moments later Williamson was well beaten by Tweedle's long range effort and was relived to see the ball sail just over.
With promotion rivals Leicester City Women also winning today the pressure remains on Coventry as they stay just one point clear having played two more games. Leicester play one of those games next week when they make the tough trip to Wolves, Coventry have a rare weekend off and will be hoping for a favour from their West Midlands neighbours.
Team: - Williamson, Wilcox (Dermody 63), J. Lowe, O'Sullivan (Henson 59), Lynch, Pinner, Formaston (Willis 72), Moran, Saulter, K. Lowe, Davies.
