COVENTRY United Ladies remain without a win in the FA Women’s Championship despite going in front in the 2-1 defeat to London City Lionesses.
Kallie Balfour’s 94th-minute winner was a cruel way to deny the Red and Greens a second-ever point at step two of women’s football, in a game that the hosts looked like taking all three after scoring within the first four minutes.
An early free kick fell the way of Helen Dermody, who volleyed Coventry in front to ensure the perfect start.
London City equalised nine minutes before the break when Ylenia Priest met Flo Fyfe’s lobbed ball over Coventry goalkeeper Sue Wood to head home.
Yvan Sampson went within inches of putting the visitors in front, but narrowly directed her header wide, while Beth Merrick’s audacious effort from distance clattered the frame of the bar to deny the hosts.
Wood had to be alert to prevent Poppy Wilson’s low drive from finding the net, with Hayley Crackle also doing her utmost to prevent the visitors when clearing a header from the subsequent corner off the line.
In a game that continued to remain in the balance, the Red and Greens were denied three times in a matter of seconds.
First, Amber Hughes saw her shot kept out by Lucy Thomas’ foot, before Beth Merrick’s follow-up was cleared off the line and Becky Anderson fired the loose ball over the bar.
The missed chances proved costly, when Balfour fired home from Evie Clarke’s centre to win the game for the Lionesses at the death.
Clarke was awarded a second yellow shortly after, a dismissal which the hosts had no time to take advantage of.
United turn their attentions to a high-profile meeting with Liverpool at Butts Park Arena on Sunday (2pm), in a FA WSL Cup encounter.
