COVENTRY City Girls under-14’s have set up a quarter-final clash with Stourbridge in the U14 Open Cup following a convincing 5-1 defeat of Derby County.
Having been out of action since October due to a string of postponements, the Sky Blues were more than grateful to step back out onto the pitch again, something which was reflected in the dominance of their play.
The rout got underway just seconds after kick off when Aicha Bamba won possession from a Derby defender inside the penalty area before dispatching into the roof of the net with aplomb.
It set the tone for a determined display from the hosts, who were first to every ball and kept working in search of a second goal.
They found it on 12 minutes when Mary-Ellen Boyle picked out the corner of the net from just outside the penalty area.
While Derby’s Ava Bell did pull a goal back from a corner kick, it did little to dim the Sky Blues, who responded with a third goal.
Katie Hunter was the player to provide it, tapping in after visiting keeper Amber Doney had pulled off a save from a corner kick.
Momentum stayed with Coventry after the break and resulted in a fourth goal just two minutes into the half, this time Alexandra Oliver provided the finish after Hunter had struck the crossbar following a corner kick.
The number of chances became fewer as the half progressed, although there was still time for a final Sky Blues goal when Bamba placed a shot underneath Doney for her second and Coventry’s fifth.
Manager Mujahid Ali was ecstatic after the game, commenting: “I think it was the best performance of my three years with this team.
“It was a clinical and relentless display. The hunger, desire and quality the girls showed was phenomenal and maybe even shocked me.
“I knew my team was good, however as we’ve historically been slow starters, I did not expect them to play like that for the whole 70 minutes.”
Next up is an U14 Premier Division away game against Hawkes Mill Juniors on Saturday (10.30am) as Coventry return to Central Warwickshire Girls Football League action.
