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Coventry City Girls FC Under 14A Match Reports 2005/06 Coventry City Ladies 2 - 3 Leicester City This was always going to be a tough game, with Coventry only having the bare 11 available to play against League Leaders Leicester. Invited to watch the game was Martin Woodhouse, Managing Director of Benfield Construction Limited, Sponsor of the girls’ new kit. After the team photo and a presentation of a signed shirt from the team to Mr Woodhouse, the game got under way. Coventry were quick off the mark, within three minutes, Beth Fivey made a blistering run down the right and then delivered a fine cross for the oncoming Becky Jones to tap in past the Leicester keeper. Leicester then bounced back and had equalised two minutes later. We were entertained with a fantastic end-to-end game with both teams having a number of chances to break the deadlock. Coventry keeper Lucy Gardner looked good in her new ‘Green’ home strip, could be heard bellowing instructions to her defenders, Hannah Miles, Melissa Welland, Shannan Middleton and Paige Oddy playing out of position at left back. They all worked hard and played well together as a unit. Midfielders Bizzie Lizzie Stubbington and Lianna Mudd linked together well supplying balls through to forwards Kayleigh Steele and Rose McAleer who both troubled the Leicester defence. Lianna made a fantastic goal line clearance to stop Leicester taking the lead. Just before the break, following a Leicester corner and a goalmouth scramble, a Coventry player tapped in her own goal past a wrong-footed keeper. Half Time 1-2. After the break it was Leicester’s turn to be quick off the mark and had extended their lead with only three minutes played. Coventry then stepped up their work rate and had a number of chances but just lacked the finishing touch. Coventry piled on the pressure and after twenty minutes forced a Leicester error, after one of many corners a Leicester player headed in past her own keeper the score now 2-3. Credit goes to all the girls for their hard work and determination, no Subs available gave their all. With the clock counting down, the Coventry girls tried and tried and deserved a draw but were beaten by the clock; they would have surely earned a point if only we had had more playing time. Hard Luck girls, 10 out of 10 for effort and determination! Team: Lucy Gardner, Hannah Miles, Melissa Welland, Shannan Middleton, Paige Oddy, Beth Fivey, Lizzie Stubbington, Lianna Mudd, Rose McAleer, Kayleigh Steele(C), Becky Jones. Subs: None Available Benfield. Managers’ Player of the Week: Lianna Mudd. Leafield Athletic 2 - 1 Coventry City Ladies A tired and weary looking Coventry team made hard work of this game. We made plenty of silly mistakes, like, not closing down, waiting for the ball and foul throws to name a few. However the girls did battle hard and after17 minutes were awarded a corner, Kayleigh Steele took the kick and Lizzie Stubbington followed up and slotted one past the keeper to give us the lead. We then seemed to coast along as Leafield stepped up their game and put the back four Hannah Miles, Lianna Mudd playing out of position, Shannan Middleton and Abi Fitzgerald under constant pressure and making the City keeper Lucy Gardner work hard for the first time in a number of weeks. We still managed to go into the break with a one nil lead. Half-time Leafield Athletic 0 - 1 Coventry City Ladies. With all the hard work done, Coventry looked like spectators as Leafield once again piled on the pressure and after 11 minutes they were on the score sheet with an equaliser. At this stage of the game Coventry would have been happy to share the points, but Leafield had different thoughts and again stepped up their game. The City keeper scooped up, a Coventry back pass, and Leafield were awarded a free kick just inside the 18-yard box but failed to capitalise. Ten minutes from time and Leafield took the lead, following the constant pressure. Coventry then left it too late, we managed a number of counter attacks but failed to find the target. We were also awarded a couple of corners late into the game but failed to equalise. The girls should stay disciplined and learn to listen to the management and not be influenced by the crowd. Let's put this behind us and learn from our mistakes. Re-group, train hard, have a laugh, onwards and upwards! Unlucky girls. Every team has a bad day. Let this one be ours! Team: Lucy Gardner, Hannah Miles, Lianna Mudd, Shannan Middleton, Abigail Fitzgerald, Danielle Browne, Kayleigh Steele(C), Lizzie Stubbington, Rose McAleer, Paige Oddy, Beth Fivey. Subs: Rebecca Jones, Stacey Christie. Managers' Player of the Week: Shannan Middleton. Coventry City Ladies 14 - 0 Alvechurch Lions After a nervous start the Sky Blues put on a fine display in front of a large home crowd, on a well tended pitch. It took Eight and a half minutes before Becky Jones blasted a great goal into the visitors' net. City struggled, as it seemed as Alvechurch had 11 players in defence! The box was always crowded with black & white shirts but Stacey Christie managed to find a gap and net her first on the 14th minute. Three minutes later Skipper Kayleigh Steele delivered one of her trademark corners and after a goalmouth scramble Rose McAleer scored her first of five goals. On the 19th minute Hannah Miles made a fantastic solo run from deep in the city defence, she ran the length of the pitch and the following shot was deflected past the keeper by a Lions' defender. We again struggled, to find a way through the crowded Lions' defence, missing a number of chances and failing to capitalise. When called upon the Coventry defence, Hannah Miles, Shannan Middleton, Paige Oddy and Abi Fitzgerald all played their part in making an easy job for the Coventry keeper Lucy 'Safe Hands' Gardner! Who had another great game between the City 'Sticks'. We also saw the City defensive line pushing well into the visitors' half, this allowing defenders to shoot and head at goal! But also chasing back and winning tackles whenever Alvechurch made any counter attacks. The Coventry midfielders 'Dynamic Duo' Lianna Mudd and Danielle Browne, both worked tirelessly and both missed a number of chances with shots going wide. Nine minutes from the break Stacey Christie managed to find another gap in the Lions' large defence and bag her 2nd of the game. Half Time Coventry City Ladies 5 - 0 Alvechurch Lions After a good team talk, substitutions and a change of formation by Manager Jace Steele, Coventry stepped up a gear and were soon on the score sheet with Rose McAleer scoring her 2nd after just three minutes of play. City substitutes Lizzie Stubbington (D Browne) and Beth Fivey (B Jones) had an instant impact on the game. Beth made a fine run down the left side before slotting one past the Lions' keeper in the 4th minute. We then saw ten minutes of play with 'bizzie' Lizzie working hard in the middle, who should of been on the score sheet, with shots and headers on target but failing to find the net. Beth again made another fine run down the left before bagging her 2nd of the game. Rose McAleer scored her hat-trick on the 18 minute. Coventry finally tamed the Lions with three goals in three minutes. The first was from a neat pass by Becky Jones, which put Rose through to blast her 4th in on the 24th minute. Straight from Alvechurchs' kick off Rose pinched the ball and weaved through the Lions' defence and her shot rebounded off the bar for the following Paige Oddy to open her account and get on the score sheet. Again straight from their kick off this time Skipper Kayleigh nicked the ball and with her blistering pace weaved through the weary Lions' defence to slot one past the keeper on her home debut. Two minutes later constant pressure from Coventry forced a Lions defender to head one straight past her own keeper. With only a few minutes remaining saw a brave Rose clash with the visitors keeper but had managed to net her 5th before the contact was made. Special mention must go to Alvechurch Lions for their sporting attitude and not giving up despite the score well done girls. Well done girls a superb performance. Keep showing us that you can do it! Team: Lucy Gardner, Hannah Miles, Shannan Middleton, Paige Oddy, Abigail Fitzgerald, Lianna Mudd, Danielle Browne, Kayleigh Steele(C), Rose McAleer, Rebecca Jones, Stacey Christie. Subs: Lizzie Stubbington, Beth Fivey. Managers' Player of the Week: Hannah Miles. |