Cov women get off to winning start in Championship

COVENTRY UNITED 3 LONDON BEES 1

GOALS from Amy Wathan, Nikki Miles and Shannon O’brien meant that Coventry United’s second ever FA Women’s Championship campaign got off to a winning start.

The Bees almost got off to the perfect start at the Butts Park

Arena, when Amelia Hazard broke through in the first minute of the game but her shot was blocked.

Coventry took the lead on 13 minutes, when Phoebe Warner capitalised on a loose ball and played it through to Wathan. The Welsh forward, who missed most of last season through injury, finished expertly past keeper Sarah Quantrill.

Wathan had the chance to double the lead just ten minutes later, but couldn’t get enough power on her header. At the other end, Hazard nearly got the equaliser, as her curling effort went narrowly wide.

The second half saw the Bees piling on the pressure, with Lauren Pickett and sub Mel Filis both having chances to draw level. However, after narrowly avoiding scoring an own goal, the Londoners conceded.

With ten minutes remaining,

Helen Dermody’s free-kick fell to Miles, who smashed a powerful shot into the top corner.

O’brien then made amends for missing a couple of chances in the first half by adding a late third, picking the ball up in her own half, running past defenders and then chipping Quantrill to secure the win.

However, there was still time for Merrick Will to grab a consolation as she netted right at the death.

Coventry United manager Jay Bradford said: “I thought that across the course of the game, we were the better team.

“They had spells where they kept possession and caused us problems. But on the whole, I thought we stood up to that challenge.

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