COVENTRY CITY LADIES 1-2 LEEDS UNITED LADIES
City: Wood, Wilcox, McQuilkin, Barber (Reay 70), Lynch, Walton, Formaston, Ladd, Sweetman-Kirk, Dermody, Dale (Gauntlett 65). Subs: Clough, Miles.
Leeds United: Draycott, Lipman, Emmonds, R.Lee, Sharp, Murphy, Sheen (Coates 82), Sykes, Huegett (Bass 56), Rich (Thackeray 63), Staneff. Subs: A.Lee,Robert.
HT CCLFC 0-1 LULFC
FT CCLFC 1-2 LULFC
Referee M.Gupta, Ass: R.O'Mahoney & P.Tapp
Goals Hayley Sharp 38 & 81, Courtney Sweetman-Kirk 77
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Coventry City Ladies battled well but were beaten 2-1 at home by Leeds Uniited Ladies.
At Stratford Town FC's DCS Stadium, which the club are also using for their final home game against Portsmouth on May 26th, City boss Chris Holloway had to shuffle his pack for a WPL National Division game against a Leeds United side who have also been turned down for the FA Womens Super League.
In a game played in a strong wind and amid rainy conditions, Leeds had the better of the opening exchanges with Tanya Rich causing problems for the City defence.
Helen Dermody was the first City player to have a go on goal with a seventh minute header before Sheen went up the other end and fired a tame shot at Sue Wood.
Clare Sykes also had a chance before Kim Walton who had a fine game at centre half for City, alongside the hard working Laura McQuilkin made a superb block to concede a corner.
Helen Dermody also played well for City, crossing for Jade Formaston to rifle not far wide from twenty yards and then having a shot pushed away by the Leeds keeper.
Dermody, unselfishly picked out Courtney Sweetman-Kirk whose flick was caught by Draycott.
In the 38th minute, the deadlock was finally broken when Hayley Sharp got through and slipped the ball past Wood into the bottom corner of the net.
City were a lot more positive in the second half and went close in the 54th minute when Sweetman-Kirk headed just wide at the far post from a free kick.
Both sides made changes and in the 77th minute, City were level when Courtney Sweetman-Kirk rounded Draycott and stroked into the empty net.
Unfortunately, the joy was short-lived as Hayley Sharp was allowed four minutes later to get in a shot from twenty yards which beat the diving Wood and condemed the Sky Blues to defeat.