COVENTRY CITY LADIES 2-0 CHARLTON ATHLETIC LADIES
City: Wood, Johnson (Wilcox 68), Lynch, Walton, Hollingsworth, Miles, Barber, Dermody, Saulter, Sweetman-Kirk, Toussaint (Dale 73). Subs Rogers, Goulding, Edwards.
Charlton: Cooper, Boyer, Simmons (Austin 83), Dixon, Jones, Daniels, Albert (Chandler 46), Clifford, Graham, Shepherd, Bennett. Subs Lynch, Sherwood, Keogh.
Ref P.Spink. Assts P.Tapp, J. Woodhouse.
HT CCLFC 1-0 CALFC
FT CCLFC 2-0 CALFC
Goals Courtney Sweetman-Kirk 25 & 85
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Coventry City Ladies got their season off to a great start with a 2-0 victory over Charlton Athletic at Bedworth United FC.
With Paul Cudby away doing his UEFA A Licence, coach Stuart Ryder, the former Walsall defender, took control of the team against a Charlton side managed by former Aston Villa and Charlton Athletic player Paul Mortimer.
Helen Dermody had the first effort of the game when her sixth minute volley was pushed around for a corner by Cooper, who dived at full stretch.
Ten minutes later, Courtney Sweetman-Kirk toe poked a yard wide from 20 yards and this was followed by a good move involving the forward who played in Dermody for a shot which went wide and Sweetman-Kirk curling a shot onto the roof of the net.
The next time, Sweetman-Kirk got the ball, it was in the back of the net to give City the lead.
Nicky Miles showed great persistence to rob her opponent and play in Sweetman-Kirk who lobbed Kelly Cooper from 25 yards.
Cooper got the better of Sweetman-Kirk three minutes later, before the visitors managed their first shot of the match when Wood got down to deal with a Gemma Shepherd shot.
The Sky Blues passed the ball round well as the game went into the second half.
Charley Clifford flashed wide at the other end against a City side which was putting plenty of pressure on Cooper.
Shepherd flicked wide in the 53rd minute and two minutes later, Kit Graham drove wide.
City should have gone two up in the 56th minute when Dermody and Barber, who had a fine game in midfield, played in Sweetman-Kirk who lobbed Cooper. Much to the annoyance of the City support, a flag went up and the goal was ruled out.
In the 70th minute, Charlton who were getting more pressure, had a corner initially saved by Wood and then cleared off the line by Walton.
Wood saved again but City broke with Sweetman-Kirk hitting the bar.
City had been looking for a second goal and it came with five minutes remaining. Danni Saulter, sent a ball across and Sweetman-Kirk fired home from twelve yards as the Charlton defence appealed for an offside decision which did not come.
City travel to Leeds United next Sunday.
Source: FOOTYMAD
