COVENTRY CITY LADIES 4-4 MIDDLESBROUGH LADIES BY KEV MONKS
The term "A game of two halves" is an often used cliché but it perfectly describes a game which saw Coventry City Ladies come from bring four goals down at half-time against Middlesbrough to earn a draw.
Mark Phillips side, who face Birmingham City in the Birmingham County Cup Final next Sunday, were a goal down inside six minutes when Lisa Thompson broke to score.
Thompson added a second in the 23rd minute when she reacted first to a loose ball after a penalty area scramble.
Becky Cartwright added a third for the North East side eight minutes later from a free kick before Nikki Duckling was allowed to race through and beat Gemma Smith with a powerful drive six minutes before the interval.
A furious Phillips made three changes at the interval and within seven minutes, the Sky Blues had reduced the arrears when substitute Sarah Marshall crossed for Katy Ward to net from close range.
The goal lifted City and their supporters on a cold day at Coventry Sphinx and in the 58th minute, Sarah Marshall turned from provider to scorer when she smashed the ball home after Boro keeper Ami Bullen failed to hold a corner.
Ten minutes later, Sarah Marshall scored again, this time with a stunning strike from twenty yards which flew high into the net with Bullen well beaten.
Julia Marshall, Maria Cartwright and Michelle Hickmott pushed City forward and they earned a draw seven minutes from time when Hickmott beat the offside trap before coolly finishing.
Despite this being a fantastic advert for women's football, results elsewhere meant that the Sky Blues have dropped into the relegation zone.
TEAM
G.Smith (K.Cartwright 46),Bryenton,Archer, Healy, Lynch, Samuels,McLeod (J.Marshall 46),M.Cartwright,Ward,Whalley (S.Marshall 46),Hickmott SNU Lipman,R.Smith