COVENTRY UNITED LADIES conceded three late goals as they were beaten 3-1 by Sheffield United Ladies on their return to action under new ownership.
The Red and Greens were playing in their first match since Lewis Taylor saved the club from liquidation and looked set to claim a crucial point in their fight against relegation.
However, two goals from Courtney Sweetman-Kirk and Georgia Roberts opener, in the space of 10 second-half minutes, condemned United to defeat.
Mollie Green scored a consolation goal for Jay Bradford’s side in injury-time as they try and claw back some points after being hit with a 10-point deduction earlier this month.
The defeat means Coventry remain 12th in the FA Women’s Championship table on minus four points, 10 behind 11th placed Watford.
In a game of few chances, the Blades took the lead on 79 minutes when Roberts smashed home from close range after Coventry goalkeeper Lucy Thomas parried the ball into the defender’s path.
And Sweetman-Kirk settled the game on 81 minutes when she found the far corner after being slotted in by Mia Enderby.
The striker grabbed her second of the game on 88 minutes when she dinked the ball over Thomas after Enderby had been denied from distance.
However, the Red and Greens finished the game on a high when Green superbly found the top corner from a free-kick in the first minute of time added on.
Coventry are next in action at home to London City on Sunday, January 23 with kick-off at 2pm at Butts Park Arena.