Coventry City Ladies coach Craig Nicholls felt his side had a difficult day during their 2-1 FA Cup Fifth Round defeat to Charlton Athletic.
Manager Craig Nicholls told Matty Roper: "It was a difficult day for us all. We had spells where we played some good stuff but we just didn't have enough of them. Credit has to go to Charlton, especially Kit Graham as she took her two chances really well."
"We seemed to lack a little bit of desire and also composure in the final third. We had prepared well at training this week and work went in on certain things but we still need to be taking this into games. We roll on to next week and we've got to pick ourselves up and get re-motivated. The art of a good team is to bounce back."
Match Report
Coventry City LFC hosted Charlton Athletic at the Oval for an FA Women's Cup Fifth Round tie after the Sky Blues defeated Stoke in the previous round. After a free weekend last week, Coventry were looking to get a victory on their return to action and Craig Nicholls selected a strong team. New signings Carly Davies and Emma Hollingsworth started on the bench.
City began very brightly as just seconds in to the game a long ball by Natasha Lynch picked out Destiney Toussaint who controlled brilliantly before getting a shot away. Her effort was blocked however but it was a great start from the Sky Blues. With just 3 minutes on the clock the home side had another chance after good work out wide, Ashleigh Neville whipped in a good cross that Helen Dermody acrobatically volleyed over the bar.
Despite the home teams bright start, Charlton took the lead on 7 minutes after a swift counter attack. Gemma Shepherd picked up the ball in midfield before spraying it wide to Amy Howlett, she then crossed to Kit Graham who looped the ball over Sue Wood via a deflection off a City defender. City weren't flustered by conceding an early goal though and they kept possession well under pressure as Charlton implemented a high press.
With 13 minutes played City created their next chance as a Helen Dermody corner allowed Jade Formaston to head straight at the keeper. Just seconds later and the away side missed a chance themselves as Graham fired over after hitting a ball that dropped from height. Coventry were the better side after conceding as they knocked the ball around well and got in to dangerous positions, but Charlton continued to look threatening on the counter. The away sides next effort came on 21 minutes after a good passing move but the strike from the edge of the area was blocked brilliantly by Annabel Johnson before Sue Wood saved the rebound.
After good work down the left by Destiney Toussaint City won a corner after 31 minutes. Helen Dermody's delivery was superb and Maz Gauntlett rose above her marker to head home and hand the Sky Blues a deserved equaliser and make the score 1-1. Coventry continued to press after levelling things and Callan Barber and Ashleigh Neville both saw efforts saved before Helen Dermody volleyed wide. City dominated the final 15 minutes of the half but they just couldn't find a breakthrough and it was all even at the break.
Half Time: Coventry City LFC 1-1 Charlton Athletic WFC
KO 3:05
The second half for underway at the same high tempo that was on show in the first half, with both teams pushing for a second goal. It was fairly end to end in the opening 5 minutes but Charlton just shaded the early exchanges. The Sky Blues continued to look dangerous though as Helen Dermody and Destiney Toussaint went close with 55 minutes played, and after this point they settled down and looked to control affairs again but Charlton defended well.
Amber Hughes saw an effort from a tight angle palmed away by the keeper after a superb Maz Gauntlett ball. Charlton then managed to clear their lines and an accurate ball from Amy Rowlett released Kit Graham, the striker then finished neatly on 63 minutes to hand the away side the lead against the run of play, 2-1.
The match remained tightly contested after this point as both teams enjoyed spells of possession, with the intensity remaining very high. Carly Davies then made her Sky Blues debut as she replaced Maz Gauntlett on 66 minutes, an attacking change that Craig Nicholls hoped to make a positive impact. It was her pass that released Amber Hughes out wide on 70 minutes but the winger's cross was gathered by the keeper with bodies piling on the area.
City needed to step it up a level to find a way back in the game as Charlton still looked relatively comfortable with 15 minutes to play. The away side were enjoying a good spell and Sue Wood was called in to action with a good high save as Nikita Whinnett let fly. Carly Davies then played another brilliant ball up the other end which let Amber Hughes win a corner. It was Hughes who then fired over from the delivery on 78 minutes after the ball fell for her nicely.
Charlton looked to keep possession of the ball for the remaining 10 minutes, and holding the ball in the corner became their first priority. When Coventry did get the ball, they struggled to carve out any real chances and a few loose balls were played. What was really missing for City in the final few minutes was the final ball, everything they tried just didn't come off. This was summed up in the final attack of the game as Ashleigh Neville played Amber Hughes through, she then squared to Carly Davies who struck straight at the Goalkeeper. The final whistle blew just after to signal defeat for City and the end of a brilliant FA Cup run.
Full Time: Coventry City LFC 1-2 Charlton Athletic WFC