Coventry City Ladies coach Craig Nicholls was proud of his players after their defeat to Cardiff City in extra time of the FA WPL League Cup Quarter-Final.
Manager Craig Nicholls reflected on the 4-3 loss and told Matty Roper: "It was a really up and down game today. We played well in spells and should have maybe killed the game off with a couple of chances, but we then allowed Cardiff too much room and time to play. When both teams allowed each other time they then dictated the game."
"We left everything on that pitch and I'm very proud of all the players as they all played 120 minutes. We had 3 young girls on the bench and with nature of the game was difficult to make a change. 22 unbeaten is a phenomenal effort. We pick ourselves up, brush ourselves down and start again!"
"I've told the players it will hurt at the moment but it's now a game in the past which we can do nothing about. We can however, affect the next game which is Stoke in the FA cup. Good luck to a good Cardiff side in the next round."
Coventry City LFC travelled to Keynsham to face Cardiff City in the League Cup Quarter Final. It was a much anticipated game as both teams currently sit top of their respective divisions. After last weeks postponement, the Sky Blues were looking to progress in to the Semi-Final
The game started at a high pace and both teams seemed up for the fight, but with just 3 minutes played Cardiff took the lead. A free kick was whipped in dangerously from the touch line and it ricocheted off a few bodies in the area before wrong footing Sue Wood. It wasn't the start the Sky Blues wanted, but optimism remained as there is an undoubted amount of quality within the side.
With 15 minutes on the clock, Cardiff were enjoying more possession and looked the better side. Coventry created their first chance of the game on 18 minutes though as they broke forward with pace. Helen Dermody picked up the ball deep in to the Cardiff half and sprayed the ball out wide, Amber Hughes ran on to it and her effort was well saved by Alesha McGlynn.
Despite City not starting brilliantly, they remained positive and got an equaliser on 26 minutes. A superb long ball by Samantha Quayle was kept in play by Ashleigh Neville, she then drilled in a high cross which the 'keeper fumbled in to Amber Hughes' path who chested home, 1-1. From this point on the team looked revitalised as they began to get a foothold on the game. Just 4 minutes later and the Sky Blues took the lead, another Neville cross was fumbled and Hughes was there again to poke the ball over the line to make it 2-1.
The game started to even out from this point as both teams looked to cause problems. Cardiff had a glaring chance which they missed on 36 minutes after a long ball fell to Naomi Clipson, the striker then wrapped the ball round the post. Coventry then carved out a chance of their own just seconds later as Quayle showed great pace down the left before picking out Maz Gauntlett, her effort was then well saved.
Despite a lot of possession late on in the half for the hosts, they couldn't break down a resolute Coventry defence and the score remained 2-1 at the break.
Half Time: Cardiff City LFC 1-2 Coventry City LFC
At the start of the second half, City created an opening with around 20 seconds played as Maz Gauntlett saw her shot blocked by a defender. 52 minutes had been played before the away side created another chance, a long kick from Sue Wood fell kindly to Helen Dermody who shot with her outside foot, only for her strike to be saved unconvincingly from the goalkeeper.
The home side then started to enjoy possession a lot more again, but they couldn't seem to find the killer pass to break down the Sky Blues defence who were strong and organised. With an hour on the clock they did find a breakthrough though, as Sue Wood's initial save from a long range effort was picked up out wide by the winger, who then crossed in low for Kelly Isaac to equalise.
Cardiff continued to press as they looked for a third, and a superb Nilki Miles challenge in the area denied them a goal scoring opportunity. The Sky Blues remained firmly in the contest though and on 73 minutes the home side gave the ball away sloppily in the defensive third, Helen Dermody then made them pay as she finished brilliantly to hand City a 3-2 advantage.
A good spell of possession then followed as they looked to see out the game, but Cardiff pulled level again on 82 minutes. Naomi Clipson skipped past a few defenders which allowed her to gain a yard in the area, she then showed brilliant feet before finishing neatly in to the bottom corner to make it 3-3. Sue Wood then had to deny the hosts again saving a free kick, and the resulting corner was diverted on to the post as the Sky Blues survived a scare.
Cardiff continued to mount the pressure but the Sky Blues defended well to ensure the tie went in to extra time.
Full Time: Cardiff City LFC 3-3 Coventry City LFC
The first half of extra time got underway and it looked to be tightly contested as both teams fitness was put to the test. Both sides created half chances in the first period but nothing that troubled either goalkeeper. The best chance of the first 15 minutes fell to Coventry as Jade Formaston played a great long ball to Amber Hughes, her attempted lob then dropped wide. The home side enjoyed the lions share of possession after this and had a great chance themselves but Sue Wood made a great stop down low. Both teams continued to battle but neither could take advantage.
Half Time ET: Cardiff City LFC 3-3 Coventry City LFC
Cardiff continued to have the Sky Blues on the back foot in the second period of extra time, but Coventry went close with 109 minutes played. Maz Gautlett used great strength to hold off her marker before releasing the ball to Helen Dermody who was lurking on the edge, her strike then dropped narrowly wide.
Just three minutes later and the Bluebirds were on the attack again, but Sue Wood saved magnificently. However, just seconds later Cardiff took a 4-3 lead as Abbie Britton scored a wonder goal from 30 yards which flew past the despairing Wood and in to the top corner. Coventry then went close in the dying embers as a Helen Dermody corner caused havoc and City had two efforts blocked in a goal mouth scramble. The hosts then held on and condemned the Sky Blues to their first defeat in 22 games, and Cardiff progressed in to the semi final.