Coventry City Ladies took to the pitch boasting a 100% record for the season so far with 5 victories under their belt, but it was the Millers who attacked from the first whistle. Helen Lynskey broke down the right and played a terrific ball into the box for the in rushing Hayley Wood who got in a shot under pressure, forcing the keeper to push the ball round the post. From the resulting corner the ball fell to Lynskey who shot just wide. Coventry hit back with the game’s first goal after 10 minutes, Bridget Booth unluckily heading past her own ‘keeper when trying to clear a ball played into the Rotherham box. The goal boosted the league leaders and they were soon dictating play through midfield and only an immaculately timed sliding tackle from Kerry Longstone stopped City from extending their lead. This though proved to only be a temporary reprieve as City extended their lead after 25 minutes. The visitors moved the ball from left to right and attacked the by-line before squaring the ball where the City striker was waiting to score easily. The Millers then carved out a rare opportunity as Longstone played a pass to right back Amy Pollock who took off on a run across the edge of the box before laying the ball off for Kerry Jones to shoot from 25 yards, only to see the ball fly straight at the keeper. City then rocked The Millers with a third goal on the half hour mark, ‘keeper Whiteley unable to stop a deep in swinging corner from sailing into the top far corner. Whiteley was soon called into action again saving a free kick after a hand ball. Rotherham made a substitution after 34 minutes with Jones being replaced by winger Klare Osbourne. This seemed to spur on The Millers as they started to push City back and Hayley Wood almost beat the keeper to Pollock’s through ball. The Millers pulled a goal back as Hayley Wood won a free kick on the right hand side after being clattered by the City centre half. Rachael Rutherford stepped up and hit a deep cross which deceived the City ‘keeper, hit the inside of the post and nestled in the back of the goal. This was just the lift the Millers wanted as half time arrived.

Rotherham manager Paul Durrands made his second substitution at the start of the half, Natalie Mason replacing debutant Siobhan Wood. The Millers kept up the momentum gained from scoring as Wood again used her electric pace to run at the defence and win a corner. Coventry could only clear this back out to Mason who hit a terrific cross to an unmarked Lynskey who unfortunately couldn’t keep her shot down and watched it go over the bar. The Millers then pulled back a second goal with a classic counter attack. Coventry attacked down the right and crossed the ball only to see Booth clear to Lynskey, who played an inch perfect ball through to Wood who again used her pace to bear down on goal before curling her shot into the top corner. Rotherham then stung the visitors by drawing level after an hour. Another fast break saw Pollock and Osbourne move the ball down the right wing before the latter played Wood down the channel to win a corner. From this Mason swung in a terrific cross which Sarah Thickett headed powerfully past the City ‘keeper. Both sides went looking for the win with Coventry responding with an ambitious overhead kick going well wide following a break down the left. Longstone then released Wood on another pacy run which resulted in her shot just going wide. The game was now end to end as City broke down the left again and played in a dangerous cross which the attacker knocked wide whilst under pressure from Booth. Next it was The Millers on the attack as Thickett battled with a defender on the edge of the box, only to see her snap shot go well over the bar. Rotherham made their last change as Rachel Hale replaced Rutherford for the last 5 minutes. Both sides then had players down injured for lengthy periods, ensuring plenty of time would be added on. City seemed to gain a second wind from the stoppages as they firstly won a free kick, from which Whiteley came and dominated her area, and then a corner, which was headed a yard wide. The Millers hearts were broken in the 6^th minute of injury time as City hit a free kick to the back post, where it was knocked back across the six yard box to the visitors sub striker who had an easy tap in to win the game. As the final whistle was soon blown, the home team must take enormous credit for a terrific 2^nd half display that owed much to resolute defending and lightening quick counter attacking play..

The next home game is on Sunday 18^th October against Sporting Albion – Kick off is at 2 pm. Home games are played at Roundwood Sports Ground, Rawmarsh. All support is very welcome.

Paul Durrands

Managers comments:

Even though we lost, I was very proud of the way we came back from 3-nil down to 3-3 against the best team in the league.

The league table never lies, as Coventry have won their first 6 games.

The defeat was a “choker” as I thought we deserved a draw at least.

We lost the game in the first 25 minutes and not the sixth minute of injury time as we gave Coventry too much space in our midfield and too much respect.

What it has also shown me is that when we want to play, we are as good as the best in this league, and Coventry will not have a scare like this one, for many a game.

The fixtures haven’t been kind to us over the last week and the next 2 as we played top spot Coventry yesterday, we then play Sporting Albion (alias West Brom Albion) twice in consecutive weeks, who are second, and them Radcliffe Olympic who are third in the league.

These fixtures do give us the chance to take good points off our nearest rivals and therefore it would take us up the league and towards our major “goal” for the season.

Rotherham United Ladies missed the opportunity to make it three wins in a row as they were held to a 2 -2 draw at home on Sunday. The Millers started with the same 11 as at TNS last week and were soon on the attack with Helen Lynskey picking the ball up in midfield and threading it through to put Hayley ayleyHWood away down the right. Wood crossed accurately to Natalie Mason, who saw her shot blocked. A few minutes later Wood again used her lightning pace to beat the defender and knock a dangerous cross into the box, with the Wolves keeper doing an excellent job of collecting it under pressure. Wolves eventually began to settle into a rhythm and were starting to make inroads to The Millers defence, firstly with a header wide from a free kick and then a shot just over the bar with the striker under pressure from Kerry Longstone. Wolves then opened the scoring after 20 minutes. A Wolves corner was caused panic in the home defence and the ball was eventually only half cleared to the edge of the box where the Wolves midfielder hit a first time shot that flew into the top right hand corner, giving Millers keeper Charlie Whiteley no chance. Rotherham kicked off and immediately attacked the Wolves goal winning a free kick on the right from which Amy Pollock flighted to the back post. Lynskey was looking to get a header in when she was barged in the back by a Wolves defender and the referee had no hesitation in pointing at the penalty spot. Up stepped Millers captain Longstone to calmly place the ball into the left hand corner of the net.

Rotherham kept up the pressure with Kerry Jones sliding the ball through to put Wood through, forcing the Wolves keeper to show excellent anticipation to rush out and clear the danger. The home team then broke away from a Wolves corner with Wood and Pollock combining down the right and the latter shooting just wide. A couple of minutes later Rotherham broke again after Whiteley collected a Wolves free kick and released Pollock who played a pinpoint ball to put Lynskey through on the keeper, who pulled off a close range save. Lynskey collected the rebound but could only find the side netting from a tight angle. Rotherham were causing Wolves problems with the speed of their counter attacks and they produced the move of the half after 40 minutes. Longstone won the ball on the touchline deep in Rotherham’s half before laying it to Sarah Thickett who moved the ball out to Pollock, who in turn played a pass to Wood on the left hand side of the box. Wood beat her marker and crossed to Lynskey who was disappointed to see her header fall just wide. The referee blew for half time moments later with the score at 1 -1.

Rotherham manager Paul Durrands made his first substitution before the second half kicked off with Klare Osborne replacing Natalie Mason. The Millers kept up the momentum they had built up in the first half by going on the attack straight away. Lynskey played a ball over the top for Wood, again forcing the keeper to dash from her line and clear the ball. Five minutes later Pollock played a one-two with Wood and then hit a shot from 25 yards which the Wolves keeper did well to turn round the post for a corner. Wood was soon in the thick of the action again as she ran at the away defence only to get pulled down, with the defender receiving a deserved booking. Rachael Rutherford hit the resulting free kick firmly into the arms of the keeper. This was to be Rutherford’s last contribution as 5 minutes later she again injured her troublesome ankle making a tackle and had to receive lengthy treatment on the side of the pitch. Wolves took advantage of The Millers being a player down for 5 minutes and soon had Rotherham sitting deeper, eventually forcing a shot which Whiteley did well to save. Rutherford was then replaced by Leanne Corns on the hour mark. Right back Pollock rallied the home team again trying her luck from 25 yards, only to see it fly straight at the keeper.

The game was now an exciting end to end affair as both teams pushed forward at every opportunity. Lynskey was next to have a chance as she collected Longstone’s ball over the top, controlled it and took aim. Unluckily the ball flew just over the bar. Corns was next to have a run at the Wolves defence, eventually forcing a corner which Thickett headed just over. The Millers kept upping the pressure with Pollock hitting a ferocious first time shot that whistled just passed the top corner. The home team were rewarded after 80 minutes as Lynskey played a perfect through ball for Wood to run on to, hold off the defenders challenge and shoot past the advancing keeper. Hopes of victory were extinguished two minutes later though as The Millers conceded a needless free kick 25 yards from goal. The ball was knocked in at pace and Whiteley seemed to misjudge the flight on the ball, as she tried to clear with her legs, only to see the ball fly into the net. The last chance of the game fell to Rotherham after Corns was flattened by a defender. Longstone’s free kick into the box caused confusion with the ball eventually dropping to sub Osborne whose snap shot from 5 yards cleared the bar. The final whistle went seconds later.

Paul Durrands – Manager’s Comments:

After two really good wins against Stoke City and TNS (Wales) in the last two weeks, I have to say that I was disappointed in not gaining all three points in this home fixture.

Wolves are an excellent footballing side but we created enough chances to win this game comfortably and should not allow teams back into a game, like this when we know we have the ability to see these games “out”.

Our all-round concentration is getting better but certain individuals have to ensure that their contributions are also up to the standard of their team mates.

I have every confidence in my team and I know that we are still getting use to this new league, so we’ll work even harder in training to ensure our comradery will take us through anything this league “throws at us”.