Coventry City Ladies 4-1 Lichfield Diamonds
Midlands Combination League
5th November 2006
Christine Wheeler reports
Coventry City Ladies completed a league and cup double over Lichfield Diamonds with a 4-1 win at Westwood Heath, with three players opening their scoring accounts for the season.
Lichfield Diamonds scored first on the counter attack through Aimee Perry after 22 minutes, with a penalty by Mel Byrne towards the end of the first half putting the teams level after Emma Lipman was fouled just inside the box.
Coventry went ahead after 53 minutes through Sarah Marshall, her debut senior goal. The goal seemed to come out of nowhere with even the goalkeeper Steph Cole caught watching. A pass from Byrne then set up Emma Lipman to strike a rocket into the bottom left hand corner to make it 3-1 on 58 minutes for her first of the season.
Lipman almost got her second after 66 minutes with a powerful diving header, but an outstanding save from Steph Cole, tipping the ball over the bar, kept it at 3-1. The Lichfield keeper made a number of magnificent saves throughout the match to keep the score respectable.
The home side were not to be denied a fourth goal though as Maria Cartwright shot through a crowded penalty area past the unsighted Cole just a minute later to add her name to this seasons goalscorers list.
Coventry manager Stuart Wilson thought that this weeks performance was much improved on last weeks FA Cup outing: “The team were taking their chances and keeping the belief that they'd get the goal. We played more ugly and direct in the second half and that got us more chances”
Coventry team: Kerry Williamson, Natalie Wilcox, Natasha Lynch, Alison Forbes, Jenny Lowe (Natalie Brace, 59), Kirsty Robson, Maria Cartwright, Emma Lipman, Kelly-Ann Willis, Mel Byrne, Sarah Marshall (Leanne Griffin, 70) Subs not used: Kelly Henson, Helen Dermody