Tuesday evening 7th Jan saw our ladies take on an experienced Hartshill Strollers team who play in the Birmingham Ladies League in our first competitive match since we started the group just 4 months ago.

Over the last few months our ladies have put in a tremendous effort to reach a standard that enables them to not only compete with a League standard team that contained two England players, but match them in every department and as you can see by the final score, secure a well deserved victory, that with just a little bit sharper finishing, would have given them a much bigger advantage that on the balance of play, would have justified a greater scoreline.
The Hartshill goal was an own goal. A deflected shot that came off an unlucky Jo Jones that wrong footed our keeper Amy Hopkins-Hayes.

Goals from forwards Luca Vetor and Becky Davies won the match for Coventry but Luca also had a goal disallowed and hit the post with another effort. Apart from Luca, who caused the Hartshill defence problems throughout the match, our wide players, Becky and Rachael Douglas were on top form and were constant thorns in the Hartshill rearguard with their passing and intelligent movement.

In midfield and at the back Lesley Robertson, Deb Devitt and Angela Lloyd were more than a match for anything the Hartshill front players threw at them and provided the springboard for the Coventry forwards to keep the pressure in the opposing half.

At 2-0 up at half-time Elaine Smith and Jo Jones were brought on in defence to replace the excellent Angela and Lesley who had put in a great shift in snuffing out the Hartshill threat that was now more than it had been in the first half.
This change made little difference to the team performance although Hartshill were showing a little more in attack and had a notable effort pushed over the bar by the Coventry keeper and they were getting balls through to their forward players with more regularity. However, the attacks continued from a now buoyant Coventry team and newcomer Jo Jones, went close with a solo effort.
In the second half Elaine Smith was an imposing presence in the middle and caused all sorts of problems to Hartshill when she was taking the ball from defence and threatened the opponents goal. Debbie Devitt who is always assured on the ball was a rock in defence throughout the game.
I cannot close this report without mentioning the very impressive goalkeeper we have in Amy Hopkins-Hayes who hasn’t played for years after serious injury but has now provided us with the security of a keeper that I can only describe as in the same class as our own Jeff Grimes in the men’s team. She won’t know what this means, but we do!
Finally, I would like to thank Stephanie who although suffering from a long term injury turns up week after week, plays when she can, helps with the organising, is always a positive influence and is as much part of the team as anyone.

All in all it was an impressive team performance from a group of players who mostly have never played football in a team at any level. It is a credit to them that they have jelled into a team in every sense of the word. They are keen, spirited and above all, they listen. They are indeed a pleasure to work with. I am very proud of them and they are an asset to this wonderful club of ours.
Well done all.
Bruce, thanks for being there, your input is invaluable.
We are very grateful to Hartshill Strollers and to Jay Bird who brought her team over to Coventry on a cold January night to face a newly formed Coventry & District Ladies team. The match was played in an excellent spirit and we wish you every success in the future. We hope to return the favour and come over to the Black Country in the not too distant future.