Football
Cudby relishing Wolves County Cup clash

Buy photos » Courtney Sweetman-Kirk scored Coventry’s second goal. (s)

PAUL Cudby was this week relishing the prospect of facing Wolves in the semi-final of the Birmingham County Cup after watching his side overcome Leafield Athletic 2-0.

Youngster Emma Hollingsworth headed the Sky Blues ahead early on and Courtney Sweetman-Kirk secured the passage into the final four with a superb solo effort in the second half.

It puts the ladies through to the semis for the second consecutive year and Cudby was already looking forward to a tough away fixture at their West Midlands rivals.

"I thought we were excellent from start to finish and controlled the game throughout. The girls played some really terrific football." he said.

“For a first game back after Christmas and New Year I felt we were great and it sets us up well for next week when we travel to Aston Villa in the League Cup.

“And I'm pleased to see we've been drawn against Wolves too in the semi final. They're a really good, well organised team, and our games have always been tight in the past so I'm sure it'll be a good match."

The ladies finally got to play their first match since December 18 at Coventry University's Westwood Heath ground and they could not have got off to a better start when Hollingsworth bundled the ball home from a corner.

Leanne McKenna was having a superb game in the middle for the Sky Blues and she came close to doubling the lead but the visiting keeper made a superb save to tip the midfielder's 36th minute header over the bar.

Cudby's side remained in control in the second period and Sweetman-Kirk made it 2-0 eight minutes after the re-start with a superb 20-yard strike which flew into the top corner of the net.

She was denied by another cracking save four minutes later as City took the game to a hard working Leafield side, but they were unable to add to their lead and are now preparing for a trip to Aston Villa in the League Cup this Sunday.