THE NEW era for Coventry United Ladies began in convincing fashion after they open their Premier League Southern Division campaign with a 5-0 win at home to West Ham United.
After a positive pre-season campaign which included three consecutive wins, Michael Foy’s side made the perfect start at the Bedworth Oval on Sunday when Nikki Miles headed home a Helen Dermody corner on eight minutes.
Both sides had chances in what was a competitive first first half but Miles’ goal seperated the two sides at the break.
West Ham started the second half very brightly but they failed to really test Sue Wood in the Coventry goal and on 68 minutes Maz Gauntlett fired home a second after Dermody’s initial shot was parried by the West Ham goalkeeper.
Dermody set up Miles for a second and Coventry’s third from a corner before on 75 minutes Callan Barber set up Dermody to score a fourth.
And with nine minutes remaining the home side wrapped up an emphatic win when debutant Amanda Whalley stole the ball in midfield and produced an exquisite lob over the goalkeeper from 30 yards out.
“It was a very professional performance and I am very pleased,” said Foy. We kept the ball well, pressed in the right areas and pulled out a great score line to open up the season.
“All the hard work throughout pre-season has paid off. We go again next week.”
Coventry’s player of the match Libby Piggott added: “It was a brilliant start to the season on both a personal level and as a group.
“I felt we all worked hard to break them down and finished it off with some quality goals! It was great to have such good support for the team too, they can provide an extra boost for us.”