AN INCREDIBLE 13-game unbeaten run finally came to an end for Coventry United Ladies after Tottenham Hotspur overturned a slender lead to claim all three points from Sunday’s Premier League Southern Division encounter.
Ali Hall made the most of her recall to the starting line up with a first half header to put Coventry in front two goals in the final 12 minutes saw the visitors snatch a late victory.
Michael Foy made three changes to the side that beat C&K Basildon in the Premier League last Sunday with Lottie McElroy, Hall and Anna Wilcox all returning to the starting line-up.
It was a lively start to the contest at Butlin Road with Hall sending a far post header on seven minutes wide while Amber Hughes floated a shot beyond the corner of the crossbar and post after a superb cross from Annabel Johnson.
The hosts continued in their efforts to take the lead with Crissy Torkildsen being deied by Chloe Morgan in the Spurs goal and the rebound fell to Jade Brook, but somehow Morgan managed to scramble well to direct the midfielder’s right-footed effort wide.
Then came the breakthrough and it was Hall who did the business. Torkildsen produced a corner which was floated to the back post and the winger picked her spot, heading powerfully across goal into the far corner.
Wilcox fired over from eight yards out and Hall thought she had doubled Coventry’s advantage but her header hit the sidenetting.
Spurs’ best chance of the half fell to Bergin who tested McElroy from long range but the Coventry goalkeeper was able to make a comfortable stop.
Coventry picked up where they left off after the break with Hughes testing Morgan from 25 yards out and soon after there was some great interplay between Callan Barber and Hughes which ended with Hughes’ dipping effort blocked and the rebound by Torkildsen was also blocked by a stern Spurs defence.
Hall sent a powerful header goal bound from Barber’s corner, but she was denied by the back of the unaware Hughes.
Bianca Baptise’s corner was headed wide by Martin before Coventry mounted more second half pressure but they were unable to find a second with Torkildsen converting a Nikke Miles cross agonisingly wide of the goal on 67 minutes.
At the other end a poor clearance by McIlroy presented a chance for Baptise but the Spurs player rushed into her 30-yard effort and McElroy was able to gather the ball.
After a period of changes, Spurs found their lifeline on 78 minutes when Rosie Kmita’s great first touch found the back of the net and her stunning strike left McElroy helpless.
United went close as Torkildsen was denied by Morgan from a free-kick but the decisive goal came minutes later. Bianca Baptise skipped in from the away side’s left flank and her pass found its way to Rosie Kmita who swept home her second.
Coventry threw numbers forward in search of an equaliser to protect an unbeaten home league record but they could find no way past a resolute Spurs defence.
