COVENTRY United Ladies scored three goals in the space of eight second-half minutes to blitz Watford and start their Continental Cup campaign with a 3-0 win at Butts Park Arena.
Goals from Charlie Estcourt on 52 minutes, Katie Wilkinson on 56 minutes and Olivia Fergusson on the hour mark blew away the Hornets and secured a first win of the season for Coventry.
Victory for United means they currently top Group C on goal difference ahead of Women’s Super League side Tottenham Hotspur – who beat Charlton Athletic 1-0 at the Hive.
Both teams made a slow start to the game before Adekite Fatuga-Dada’s cross hit the inside of the post just past the quarter hour mark as Watford came within inches of breaking the deadlock.
Shortly after, Wilkinson tried an audacious lob from 40-yards out after spotting Hornets keeper Mia Smith off her line – with Smith saving comfortably to keep the scores level.
United came forward again just past the half hour mark and should have gone ahead when Estcourt was played through by Wilkinson only to be denied by an excellent save by Smith when one-on-one.
From the resulting corner, Rio Hardy’s header came back off the crossbar which meant the game remained scoreless heading into the break.
Watford started well after the interval and could have gone ahead when the ball took an awkward bounce before hitting Hornets full-back Rosie Kmita which forced Olivia Clark to make a fine reaction save.
However, the visitors good start did not last as Estcourt poked home on 52 minutes in between a crowd of players to hand United the lead.
And they did not have to wait long for a second when the impressive Wilkinson doubled Coventry’s lead four minutes later – as she drilled the ball into the bottom corner.
The blitz was complete on the hour mark when Wilkinson played the ball through to Fergusson who finished beautifully to leave Watford stunned.
Coventry could have added to their lead later in the half when Fergusson found space in the box with Watford keeper Smith making another superb save.
United hit the woodwork again when Wilkinson’s effort was deflected onto the bar before substitute Phoebe Warner sent the follow-up narrowly over.
The win marked the Red and Greens first victory of the season having started their FA Women’s Championship campaign with five defeats from six matches.
United are next in action at 2pm on Sunday, October 31 when they travel to Blackburn Rovers for a league game at the Sir Tom Finney Stadium.
