Ladies Still Confident After Defeat

Coventry City Ladies finished their pre-season in confident mood despite a 3-1 loss to Premier League Northern Division's Nottingham Forest.

The home team took the lead after sixteen minutes following a defensive error by Natalie Wilcox. The right back failed to clear the danger after a shot across goal. The resulting scramble ended with the ball being deflected into the goal off centre back Natasha Lynch.

The Cassidy Sky Blues drew level twenty minutes later. Kayleigh Poole's cross from the left wing reached Natalie Brace who headed the ball into the path of Mel Byrne who deftly chipped the ball over the oncoming goalkeeper.

Forest were back in front just a minute later though when Catherine Stainthorpe scored with a low shot into the right hand corner.

Lisa Dawkins' team wrapped up the win eight minutes into the second half. Lucy Campbell had managed to clear a shot off the line by Nat Clarke, but could do nothing about a second close range effort by Kelly Finley.
 

After the game, Coventry manager Stuart Wilson admitted he “would've liked a few more pre-season friendlies”, adding that he was not concerned about the three losses out of four in pre-season: “all the teams we've played, with the exception of Marconi, have all been teams above us…so we should be ok”

Coventry City Ladies begin their Midlands Combination League campaign at home versus West Brom on Sunday, 3rd September.