Coventry City Girls 1 - 0 Coundon Court Girls
League Shield 23/3/08

Today see us host the semi final of the league shield against Coundon Court. This is our second game this month against Coundon Court .The first a league game saw us come out on top can we again. With only Jade missing through illness hopes were high of reaching our first final. After being given their final prematch instructions NO EXTRA TIME & PENALTIES Coundon kicked off.

Both sides set off at a cracking pace with both defences busy. The best of the early chances went whizzing past the base of the Coundon Post from a shot from Natalie. From a corner delivered in by Natalie the half cleared ball finds Lucy in acres of space. She picks her spot and strikes the ball sweetly into the top corner of the net. Coundon pressed for the equaliser putting the Coventry defence under pressure but the defence held firm. Coventry created chances of the own with Kira shooting wide along with Dion and Bayleigh.

Half time score: Coventry City Girls 1 - 0 Coundon Court Girls

As in the first half Coventry pressed for the second goal. Several good goal scoring chance fell to Coventry players only to see the Coundon goalkeeper in fine form. A fierce shot form the edge of the area by Natalie saw the Coundon keeper take the ball cleanly. Then later Dion had a goal bound shot tipped round the post by the full stretched dive from the Coundon keeper. But our best effort came off the cross bar after some fine play down the left resulted in a shot from Natalie rattled the bar. Last minute scare came when the Coundon striker found herself in a one on one with Sophie. With Sophie coming off her line she put off the striker enough to see the shot go wide of the right hand post.

A tough hard fought cup tie with both sides putting in a lot of effort and some super individual displays.

GIRL OF THE GAME: Kira for a strong performance on the left side of midfield.

TODAY’S LINE UP: Sophie, Lucy, Carly, Victoria, Kira, Shivani, Dion, Bayleigh and Natalie (c)

Coventry City Girls 5 - 2 Leafield Athletic
League 1/12/07

Our fixture today sees us up against Leafield the only side so far to beat us in the league and a chance for us turn the tables and beat them. Back to full strength after last week’s absences in midfield my hopes were high.

Straight from the kick off it was Leafield who put us under pressure and looked the more confident side. With our passing all over the place and the midfield playing to there own game plan and not mine we invited Leafield to attack. With the pressure telling the first goal went to Leafield after some rather sloppy defending left their striker free to shoot on goal. This seemed to kick start the Coventry players and we finally started to compete. After some sustained pressure of our own Dion pounced to score the equaliser and it wasn’t long before Coventry made it two with a neat finish from Natalie. Still from time to time we went to sleep inviting Leafield to attack. With some cool defending under pressure from Lucy and Carly we kept Leafield at bay. At the other end a thunderous strike from Dion put us into a three one half time lead.

Half time score: Coventry City Girls 3 - 1 Leafield Athletic

As with the first half it was Leafield who applied the early pressure but this time the Coventry midfield battled to help protect the defence. A fine strike from Natalie increased our lead to four. It wasn’t long before the Leafield pulled on back with a rocket of a shot which Sophie with no chance. The game see sawed with both sides battling to win the ball and struggling to create anything decent in the way of goal scoring chances. Then from nowhere Natalie let rip from the outside of the area with a thunderous shot which took a deflection off Bayleigh and into the net.

A good result for us but a scrappy performance with plenty of room to improve and thing’s to work on in training.

GIRL OF THE GAME: Natalie caused problems for the Leafield defence scored some timely goals.

TODAY’S LINE UP: Natalie, Victoria, Lucy, Kira, Shivani(C), Jade, Dion, Carly, Bayleigh and Sophie

Leamington Lions 1 - 1 Coventry City Girls
League 24/11/07

Our third encounter with Leamington see’s us this time away and after the two previous encounters another tough game was expected. This isn’t helped by the fact Jade and Shivani are both unavailable depleting our midfield. So on a bitterly cold Saturday morning in Leamington we try to maintain our four match winning streak.

Straight from the kick off a revitalised Leamington put our defence under tremendous pressure. Carly and Lucy are stretched at the back and Lucy doesn’t have to wait long before she’s called into action producing a fine save. For the first quarter of the game it’s all Leamington with wave after wave of pressure. We cannot seem to make any impression on the game. But slowly we start to settle and after much vocal coaching we finally put some pressure onto the Leamington defence with shot’s from Natalie and Dion producing a fine display of keeping from the Leamington keeper. With Leamington going long with their kicks from defence and their tall striker causing problems for our defenders it looked like it was going to be a long morning. From a set piece the ball comes out to the edge of our penalty area. Watched by our players the resulting shot hits the back of our net. One nil to Leamington and on the strength of play in the first half a deserved lead. Leamington were unlucky not extend their lead when a shot from their tall striker thuds against the post. Just before half time we rally slightly with Dion going close.

Half Time Score: Leamington Lions 1 - 0 Coventry City Girls

From the first kick of the second half we looked a more slick out fit. Our passing was crisper and work rate a lot higher. With the greater sense of urgency game more chances. This time it was our turn to put the pressure on and Dion up front was causing all sorts of problems for the Leamington defence supported by skipper Natalie. At the back Carly was having possibly her best game. She was battling hard to keep the Leamington strikers away from goal. Chance after chance fell to the Coventry players and each time either the goalkeeper produced a save or the shot went narrowly wide. Were we ever going to equalise!! A series of corners delivered into the box by Kira kept up the pressure and after one such corner with only 3 or 4 minutes left of play saw Lucy scramble the ball over the line. Finally the goal we so dearly wanted and after all the pressure deserved. With only minutes left of play Dion again went close with a low driven shot beating both keeper and far post.

Another tough encounter with Leamington and honours even this time overall a fair result. All our girls put in a valiant effort and never let their heads drop even being a goal down for quite a long period of the game.

GIRL OF THE GAME Sophie for an excellent performance keeping us in the game with some quality goalkeeping.

TODAY’S LINE UP Sophie, Victoria, Lucy, Natalie(c), Bayleigh, Dion, Carly and Kira

Solihull Borough 2 - 7 Coventry City Girls
Shield 17/11/07

A repeat of last weeks fixture see’s us this time away to Solihull Borough only this time it’s a League Shield fixture. We all finally arrived after a minor scare courtesy of satellite navigation and with only Bayleigh missing and a win last week expectations were high for us to advance into the semi finals.

Straight from the kick off Coventry piled on the pressure and within minutes Kira fired in our first from the right hand side. Just the start we wanted and it didn’t stop there two minutes later Natalie had doubled the lead with a cracking shot. Not allowing Solihull to settle the Coventry midfield dominated and helped create chance after chance. Natalie added to her goal tally finishing a superb spell of pressure with a quality strike. But it didn’t go all our way a super solo effort from Solihull’s striker who held off two players to shot past Sophie who had no chance. The stunned Coventry players responded with a goal from midfield maestro Shivani a super driven shot into the corner of the net. Not to be out done Jade playing out of position up front found the net with a stylish strike low past the diving Solihull keeper.

Half Time Score: Solihull Borough 1 - 5 Coventry City Girls

The second half continued like the first with Coventry putting the Solihull defence under pressure. But Solihull did battle there way out of their own half only to find Carly and Victoria working hard to keep them at bay. With the Coventry midfield again causing problems chances were coming thick and fast but this half Solihull ‘s keeper pulled off some fine saves to deny Dion. With Shivani causing problems for the defence down the right using all her tricks including a rather neat step over it wasn’t going to be long before we increased our total. All Dion’s hard work finally paid off when she worked her way past two defenders to let fly a rocket past the valiant Solihull keeper. Again Solihull broke form defence and another solo effort caught our defence on the hop and their striker shot past the diving Sophie for her second well taken goal. Our last goal came as a bit of a surprise to all including the girl who scored it. Lucy’s lofted shot beat all including the keeper to nestle into the top corner of the goal.

A much better performance by Coventry all round and a place in the semi finals but who against??

GIRL OF THE GAME Dion for her all round effort capped off with a well deserved goal.

TODAY’S LINE UP Sophie (c), Natalie, Victoria, Carly, Lucy, Kira, Shivani, Jade, Dion.

Coventry City Girls 5 - 1 Solihull Borough
League 10/11/07

Our second match at our new home Floyd’s Fields and a return to league action. Our first of two back to back game’s against Solihull.

Straight from the kick off we found the plucky Solihull defence difficult to break down. With a combination of sloppy passing and half hearted tackling we made extremely heavy work of the game. But credit to Solihull they took their chance well and broke from deep in their own half. Moving the ball quickly from defence they caught the Coventry defence sleeping allowing their striker to shoot past the diving Sophie who could only get a hand on it. After going a goal down we did finally manage to string some passes together resulting in a fine effort from Kira only to see her shot blocked. Dion also went close just before the end of the first half with a fizzing shot which sailed over the bar.

Half Time Score: Coventry City Girls 0 - 1 Solihull Borough

After some stern words of encouragement the Coventry girls knew exactly what was expected of them. Within minutes the telling pressure paid off when Natalie found herself in space on the right hand side of the box. Opting to go for goal her shot whizzed past the keeper and into the net. It wasn’t long before again Natalie found the back of the net with another quality strike. With all the pressure now coming from a buzzing Coventry Natalie claimed the first hatrick of the season with a long range effort which took a slight deflection past the keeper. Not to be out done Dion found the net for the fourth goal a cracking shot past the diving keeper and her fourth of the season. Just before the final whistle Dion scored her second of the game crowning off what was certainly a game of two halves.

GIRL OF THE GAME Natalie, an outstanding performance some well taken goals and the first hatrick of the season.

TODAY’S LINE UP Natalie, Victoria(C), Carly, Lucy, Kira, Shivani, Bayleigh, Jade, Dion and Sophie

Coventry City Girls 2 - 2 Leamington Lions (AET)
Penalties: Coventry City Girls 4 - 5 Leamington Lions
Cup 6/10/07

After a three week lay off which saw a slight change in personnel and a change of venue. We started back after half term with a cup game against Leamington Lions. A full squad to choose from which now included Sophie making her debut in goal and Natalie playing her first game for the club in midfield.

A close encounter between the two sides in the league meant this was always going to be a close game. Straight from the start Leamington put us under pressure and it wasn’t long before Sophie got her hands on the ball and her new kit dirty. With our midfield at sixes and sevens the first quarter of the game was all Leamington. Our defence was having to work hard at keeping Leamington at bay but an unfortunate clash between Lucy, Victoria and a Leamington left both players coming off for treatment and new defensive partnership of Carly and Kira which held the fort. Slowly we came into the game with Dion and Natalie causing problems. But from a cross from the right the Leamington strike force managed to force the ball past the full stretch Sophie who managed to get a hand on but couldn’t keep the ball out. We pressed hard for an equaliser but the cross bar denied a super strike from Dion.

Half time Score:Coventry City Girls 0 - 1 Leamington Lions

Within a minute of the restart we were two down and under pressure. Leamington again had delivered the sucker punch and found the net. But to the girls credit they didn’t let their heads down and battled hard. Wave after wave of Coventry pressure finally paid off when a cross form the right found Bayleigh unmarked her first shot hit the post but she managed to find the net with her second. This brought us back into the game and a bit of self belief in a few players. Continually we pushed for the equaliser debutant Natalie took on the defence and let loose a fierce shot past the Leamington keeper. The game see sawed as both sides looked for the winner and again Dion went close.

EXTRA TIME
As with the normal time Coventry pushed hard for the winner as penalties are a cruel way to finish a game. Dion came close to winning the game as did Natalie but it wasn’t to be.

PENALTIES
The penalty shoot saw both sides score 4 a piece then onto sudden death we missed but they didn’t. Well played to all the girls from both sides but head’s up to my Coventry girl’s as penalties is a cruel way to finish a game.

GIRL OF THE GAME Another quality performance by Lucy couldn’t ask for more.

TODAY’S LINE UP Natalie, Victoria, Carly, Jade, Lucy, Kira, Shivani, Bayleigh, Dion(c) and Sophie

Marston Green Girls 0 - 2 Coventry City Girls
League Shield 6/10/07

Our second trip to Marston Green in nearly as many weeks but this time our first outing in the League Shield. As with the league encounter I expected a tough game with both sides eager for the win. Our kick off was delayed by half an hour due to half there team getting stuck due to car break down. Finally we kicked off with skipper for the day Heather opting to kick off. As predicted Marston Green were well up for this encounter and having acquired a few new players including a goal keeper looked extremely threatening in the opening exchanges. The delay to the kick off seemed to have affected some of our girl’s concentration and constant calls from the touchline were required to keep the midfield in shape. Both sides had excellent chances to score during the first half. Some very timely challenges from defenders Lucy, Carly and Victoria prevented some but not all of the Marston Green attacks. The attacks that did get through saw their shots go wide or stopped by the diving Captain Heather. Going forward we did create chances of our own and twice Jade shot just past the post along with Dion who also went close.

Half time Score: Marston Green Girls 0 - 2 Coventry City Girls

The second half continued just like the first with both sides battling hard. Slowly Coventry took more control of the game, our midfield started passing with a bit more urgency. Shivani bossed the midfield with some excellent play, tireless tackling and pinpoint passing. Again and again Coventry pressed for the opening goal, Sophie took on two Marston Green defenders with a mazy run only to see her shot saved. Finally all the pressure paid off when Dion beat her marker and fired in a low shot past the Marston Green keeper. Within minutes Jade had made it two when she finished off some fine play with a shot into the bottom right hand corner. The game continued to flow from end to end with both teams creating chances.

GIRL OF THE GAME Jade another good performance capped off with a goal and always plays with a smile.

TODAY’S LINE UP Heather(C), Victoria, Carly, Jade, Lucy, Kira, Shivani, Bayleigh, Dion and Sophie

Coventry City Girls 4 - 1 Warriors FC
League 29/9/07

Our second home game of the season see’s us playing against Warriors Fc for the first time. With Carly captaining the side for the first time and a new look defence due to Lucy’s trip to the dentist this was going to be a test.

Warrior’s kicked off the first half and put us under some early pressure. After the first few nervous minutes we started to settle into our more normal passing style. Slowly the midfield of Shivani, Kira and Sophie applied some pressure of their own to the Warriors defence. From one such attack the ball was crossed into the penalty area, their unmarked Bayleigh turned shot the ball past the keeper for her first competitive goal for Coventry City. Our second came again from Bayleigh the poacher popping up in the right place at the right time to turn the ball into the Warriors net. With a change of personnel in the middle on came Lucy and Dion to play in midfield with Kira dropping back into defence. We continued to create chances with Dion going close with a thunderous shot. Our third came from a super through ball from Kira which the Warriors defence failed to clear and ended up in the net. It wasn’t all one way traffic but with Carly, Victoria and also Kira in fine form Heather in goal had little to do.

Half time: Coventry City Girls 3 - 0 Warriors FC

We kicked off the second half hoping to maintain the momentum from the first. Again we applied pressure on the Warriors defence looking to extend our lead. The warriors defence held firm and their keeper made a couple of timely saves one denying Bayleigh her hat-rick. As the half developed Warriors created more attacking play of their own and Carly and Victoria had plenty to do at the back. Heather was also called upon to make a fine save diving low to her left. With constant attacks and our midfield at sixes and sevens warriors found the back of the net. Their attack down the right resulted in a thunderous strike past the diving Heather. This seemed to wake up the girls and we again started to apply pressure to the Warriors defence. Dion went close with a fine effort and Sophie also found herself in acres of space but rushed her shot. We finally scored our fourth with a cracking shot from Dion after some heavy Coventry pressure.

We played both sets of girls a great game played with good sprit and enthusiasm.

GIRL OF THE GAME: Captain Carly a fantastic game at the heart of the defence.

TODAY’S LINE UP: Heather, Victoria, Carly(C), Lucy, Kira, Shivani, Bayleigh, Dion and Sophie.

Marston Green Girls 0 - 3 Coventry City Girls
League 22/9/07

On our travels again and looking for our first win away from home and after last weeks home win confidence was building within the squad. For the first time this season a full squad of players were available giving us three subs.

Both sides looked evenly matched based on previous results against other teams. With Marston Green kicking off down a slight slope the initial exchanges favoured the home side with our defence having to work hard. Rising to the challenge Lucy and Victoria kept a tight line marking the Marston green strikers. Our midfield worked hard to try and create chances for Bayleigh our lone striker up front. As the game slowly progressed we came close on a couple of occasions through Sophie and Dion. But the deadlock was finally broken when Shivani fired in a fierce shot that beat the Marston Green keeper. We didn’t have it all our own way and Heather pulled off a fine save to deny Marston Green an equaliser.

Half time: Marston Green Girls 0 - 1 Coventry City Girls

Lucy and Kira kicked off the second half with a move involving Dion which perhaps needs a bit of practise. The second half continued like the first with both sides having there fair share of chances. Again Marston Green forces a fine save from Heather when their striker latches on to a defence splitting pass. Heather comes off her line to meet the advancing striker, dives and stops the ball with her legs. At the other end Jade is causing problems for the Marston Green defence with surging runs and linking well with Dion. Our second goal comes from an inch perfect pass from Dion finished in style by Jade. Then late in the game a pass from midfield finds Dion in space she beats the last defender and rifles a shot past the keeper for her second goal of the season.

A good solid performance and with each game the girls are improving and were finally starting to create and score more goals.

GIRL OF THE GAME: Shivani, a superb midfield performance some silky skills, good passing and a well taken goal.

TODAY’S LINE UP: Heather, Victoria, Lucy, Bayleigh (c ) Kira, Shivani, Jade, Dion, Carly and Sophie

Coventry City Girls 2 - 0 Leamington Lions
League 15/9/07

Our very first home game this season and a near full squad to pick from only Jade missing due to illness. Taking her place in the squad for her first game is Bayleigh after missing the first game due to England duties (watching not playing). With the sun blazing down and pitch in good nick my hopes were for a good contest.

From the kick off both sides battled hard to retain possession as play moved from one end to the other. Kira, Shivani and Sophie found the Leamington midfield hard to play through and some timely challenges from Leamington defenders broke up many of Coventry’s attacks. A couple of half chances fell to Dion but again the Leamington defence crowded her out. This wasn’t all one way traffic Leamington themselves kept our defenders busy with attacks of there own and Victoria and Lucy put in plenty of tackles to prevent shots raining in on Heather in goal. Just before half time the ball squeezed through the Leamington defence to Sophie and from the right hand edge of the penalty area poked a shot at goal and past the keeper and into the net our first goal of the season….

Half time Score: Coventry City 1- 0 Leamington Lions

Leamington kicked off the second half and play continued as in the first half both sides battling hard. For large spells of the second half Leamington put us under pressure looking for the equaliser. Our midfield had to help out the defence leaving Bayleigh now up front a lonely figure on her own. But we did on occasion break out with Carly now on in midfield looking to link with Bayleigh along with the lively Kira and Shivani joining the attacks. The heat and the pace took its toll on both sets of girls and both sides created goal scoring chances. With Dion back up front she slipped her marker only to see her shot hit the post. From an excellently delivered corner from Kira, Dion again goes close. At the other end Lucy put in some super tackles and Heather made a good save. With the last attack of the half Dion finally finds the net with a thunderous strike.

Well played both team’s a very tight game again and our first win of the season.

GIRL OF THE GAME Kira for an all round captain’s performance.

TODAY’S LINE UP Heather, Victoria, Lucy, Kira(c), Shivani, Bayleigh, Dion, Carly and Sophie

Leafield Athletic 1 - 0 Coventry City Girls
League 8/9/07

Our first game had finally arrived a tough first game Leafield away with very little match practise a tough game.

Straight from the first whistle you could tell this was going to be a very tight game. With both sides competing for every ball and the game being played at a very quick pace anything could happen. The first effort on goal came from Leafield after catching the Coventry defence a bit flat. Coventry raised their game and came close with an effort of their own through striker Dion. The game see sawed back and forth with both defences being tested. The dead lock was finally broken when the Coventry defence failed to clear leaving a Leafield player unmarked to force the ball past Heather in goal. Now trailing the girls battled on with Shivani and the ever lively Jade taking the game to Leafield. But our defence continued to work hard denying Leafield any chance to increase their lead. With Victoria and Lucy linking well in defence the Leafield Girls found chances hard to come by.

Half Time Score: Leafield Athletic 1 - 0 Coventry City Ladies

The second half continued the like the first with both sides struggling to create any chances on goal as both defences were in fine form. Slowly Coventry enjoyed more and more possession and passed the ball well particularly in midfield with Kira linking up with Shivani whose pass through to Jade was perfect. Unfortunately Jade’s shot on goal went inches wide, leaving us still looking for an equaliser. Our closest effort came when Dion’s shot crashed against the post and Leafield cleared. The performances from all the girls were first class and if I haven’t mentioned everyone it wasn’t because they played poorly. The girls deserved something from that game and if they continue to play like that we’ll certainly win more games that we lose.

GIRL OF THE GAME:
Lucy for total commitment and some timely tackling.

TODAY’S LINE UP:
Heather, Victoria, Lucy(C), Kira, Shivani, Jade, Dion, Carly and Sophie