Coventry City 4 Derby County 1 BY Tim Kalns
The Sky Blue Ladies got their season back on track with a comfortable win over a useful looking Derby side that included Jade Formaston's England U17 colleague Cara Newton on the bench, in front of a good sized turn out at Westwood Heath.
Stuart Wilson was able to pair up Emma Lipman and recent signing Danni Saulter together in midfield for the first time. It was a combination that clicked from the start with both involved in a build up that saw Jade Formaston finish from a tight angle to give City the lead in the opening minutes.
Kelly-Ann Willis went close with two strikes that went narrowly over before Formaston bagged her second with a fine individual effort, cutting into the box and skipping past three challenges before rolling the ball in off the far post.
Derby brought on Cara Newton at the restart and she used her pace and strength to good effect in a bright opening spell for the visitors as Derby forced a series of corners.
Stuart Wilson brought on Sinead Wade and Maz Gauntlett for their seasonal debuts, but neither had touched the ball when moments later the Sky Blues went further ahead when Natalie Brace's cross from the left was stabbed home from short range by Danni Saulter.
It was just reward for the tireless ex-Arsenal midfielder, who has quickly settled into her central role with the Sky Blues and looks a fine acquisition.
Derby pulled a goal back when keeper Nina Robery could only parry a fierce free kick from just outside the box and a County striker reacted quickest to fire into the roof of the empty net.
City restored their three-goal advantage 5 minutes from time when Lipman's through ball sliced up off a defender and substitute Helen Dermody volleyed superbly into the far corner from the right hand edge of the box.
Team: Robery, Wilcox, Lowe, Saulter, Lynch, Cartwright, Formaston (Dermody 81), Lipman, Byrne (Gauntlett 66), Willis (Wade 66), Brace snu: Henson
Coventry City Reserves 3 Derby County Reserves 1
Goals from Sarah Marshall, Jodie White and debutante Kirstie O'Sullivan gave the Archer Bassett Sky Blue Reserves victory to clinch a fine double over their East Midlands' rivals over the weekend.
Team: Morgan, Whitfield, Middleton, O' Sullivan, Forbes (Sugarman), Whitehouse, Mitchell
(C. Smith), Davis, Marshall (Harman), White, Bradford
The Sky Blues travel to Leicester City Ladies next Sunday.
Jade Formaston two goals