Coventry City Ladies manager Craig Nicholls was delighted with his side's 3-1 victory at Stoke City which sends the Sky Blues in to the Fifth Round of the FA Cup.
Speaking to Matty Roper, Nicholls said: "It was a very professional performance and a good reaction from last week. We had a great start to the game scoring two early goals which were superb team efforts, but then we made another error from a set piece which is something we need to work on.
"Another goal was then superbly taken by Maz and that really killed the game off and for the rest of the game we were not really under any pressure.
"We had to move a few players around today, Ash Neville playing at full back, Annabel Johnson playing centre back and Callan playing more advanced being examples. Libby Piggott also started an FA cup game at this stage in the competition which is a massive positive for the youth at the club.
"Roll on Wednesday in the County Cup Semi-final versus Wolves!"
Report
After least weeks defeat at Cardiff City in the League Cup the Sky Blues were in cup action again as they travelled to Stoke City, this time in the FA Cup Fourth Round. Coventry defeated WSL2 side Oxford United in the round previous, and a victory against the Potters would see City progress in to the Fifth Round where potential WSL1 clubs await.
City started the brighter of the two teams as they stamped their authority in the midfield battle. With just 2 minutes on the clock the first chance was carved out, a forward ball was met after Maz Gauntlett showed good strength before firing straight at the keeper. Just 2 minutes later and the Sky Blues took the lead after good midfield play by Callan Barber, she played in Amber Hughes who beat the offside trap before slotting home neatly, 1-0.
With the next attack the away side doubled their advantage. A high intensity allowed Ashleigh Neville to drive down the right wing, she then drilled a cross in to the danger area and Helen Dermody finished with a great little flick. After 10 minutes though Stoke got an early goal back from a simple long free kick by Meg Bowyer, Louise Roberts ran on to it but the final touch was off a Coventry defender who inadvertently poked home to make it 2-1 and hand the home side some optimism.
From this moment on the game evened out a little as both teams began to scrap for possession. City were having the better passages of play though, as Gauntlett went close from a Dermody cross. Despite the Sky Blues dropping a little, they made it 3-1 with 23 minutes played. A superb winding run from Amber Hughes allowed her space to pick out Maz Gauntlett, the striker then finished with aplomb as she planted the ball in to the top corner.
After scoring their third, the away side started to control the game as they limited Stoke to very few chances. The midfield was winning every loose ball which allowed for the Sky Blues to keep possession and dictate the game. The Potters showed glimpses of quality, but not enough to worry City too much at this point. The game remained like this for the rest of the half, and the final chances fell to either side, Coventry's came first after a superb Formaston ball allowed Amber Hughes' drilled effort to be tipped out wide. Stoke then had a final dig of their own from long range which flashed past Sue Wood's right hand post.
Half Time: Stoke City LFC 1-3 Coventry City LFC
The second half's opening exchanges were fairly scrappy, but a nice passing move lead to the first chance for Coventry. A long ball from Natasha Lynch freed Hughes out wide, she then played the ball in to Callan Barber who showed quick feet before firing wide on 51 minutes. Following that chance, the Sky Blues looked the side more in control again as they knocked the ball around well in parts. The gritty side of the game was also performed well as City began to win more and more of the 50/50 challenges.
City continued to press as they looked for a fourth but the Stoke back four were restricting chances. Ashleigh Neville did show tantalising feet on 67 minutes as she rouletted around her opponent before striking wide. On 69 minutes the home side went mightily close to narrowing the margin through Ashleigh Hayes, the winger showed good feet before firing a low strike off the foot of the post. Up the other end another chance was created for the away side on 78 minutes after superb play in the final third, this allowed Jade Formaston to test the keeper from the edge of the area but she held on well.
A great corner from Callan Barber caused problems with 82 minutes played as the ball was eventually cleared off the line. No real chances were created beyond this point, and a feisty closing few minutes were completed, meaning the Sky Blues ran out 3-1 winners.
Full Time: Stoke City LFC 1-3 Coventry City LFC