COVENTRY CITY LADIES 3-2 COVENTRY COPSEWOOD AET
In what appeared on paper to be the tightest fixture in the first round of the Women's FA Cup, Coventry City Ladies emerged with a slender 3-2 victory over Coventry Copsewood Ladies thanks to Danni Saulter's extra-time winner. Saulter had given Coventry a second half lead with what looked certain to be the winner as the Sky Blues dominated possession & looked to be in complete control before a late penalty sent the game into an additional period.
Copsewood had taken an early lead when Ria Baker's 3rd minute cross from the right hand side was caught up in the strong gusting wind and dropped over keeper Nina Robery & into the far corner of the goal. Robery's day got worse as she was hospitalised after bravely collecting at the feet of Nicola Foskett.
The Sky Blues struggled to get into the game in the early going as they found the blustery conditions difficult. A full half hour had gone by before Nicole Tinto had Coventry's first effort on goal. Jade Formaston's ball found the hard working striker who burst through but was quickly closed down before pulling her shot wide left. The chance appeared to lift the Sky Blues play as Saulter forced a good save from Natasha Smithers after being fed following good control from Cherelle Archibald.
Three lengthy injury delays extended the first half to 51 minutes & it was deep into first half stoppage time that Emily Brimson fired in off her own crossbar to draw the side level. Natalie Wilcox won possession & fought off two challenges before pushing the ball wide to Saulter who fired a tantalising ball across the 6 yard box. Archibald looked certain to tap the ball home but was beaten to it by the unfortunate Brimson.
Foskett should've restored Copsewood's lead just 1 minute after the re-start, Wilcox miss-kicked her clearance allowing the advancing midfielder with just Adele Rogers to beat but Foskett blazed the ball high over the bar. Saulter punished the miss in the 57th minute with a strike from 30 yards out that left Smithers no chance. Coventry pushed forward in waves dominating the second period in search of a goal to finish the contest.
Helen Dermody was unlucky not add to the score, hitting the cross bar direct from a corner before shooting narrowly over from a tight angle. Moments later Archibald fired a great ball across the front of goal that was just out of the reach of her forward partner Tinto. With the Sky Blues seemingly cruising towards victory Captain Natasha Lynch was guilty of a clumsy challenge in her own box to give away a penalty for the second successive match.
Kayleigh Brookes stepped up to fire home the resulting spot kick, dragging Copsewood level and forcing the game into extra-time. The first additional period passed almost without incident as the local rivals felt each other out resulting in a stalemate. However, Helen Dermody was guilty of not hitting the target when it seemed harder to miss after Saulter's cross eluded everyone finding the winger drifting in at the far post.
Jade Formaston played the telling ball of the match as her push forward sent Saulter through to slide the ball past Smithers and into the empty net as the keeper came out to challenge. Saulter's second seemed to take an age to cross the line as it snuck in the bottom left corner. Left back, Jenni Lowe, almost finished the contest after her burst forward beat two, the shot though sailed narrowly wide of the left hand upright.
Adele Rogers was called into action late as Ria Baker stormed forward looking to take the contest to penalties. The young replacement keeper got down bravely to smoother the ball bravely at the feet of the pacey striker securing the Sky Blues victory. Coventry City now await the draw for the second round & turn their attentions to next weeks second round County Cup tie away to Solihull.
Team: - Robery (Rogers 10), Wilcox (Forbes 73), Lowe, Henson, Lynch (c), Bryenton, Formaston, Saulter, Archibald, Tinto (Ogle 83), Dermody. Subs Not Used: - Willis.
Goals: - Brimson (OG) (45+3), Saulter (57 & 108).
You can hear Danni talking about women's football here by clicking on
http://www.cclfc.co.uk/news08/talk-sport-radio-interview.php