FA Women’s Premier League (Southern Section)
Team: Coles, Lopes (Manzi), Odeniyi, Nicholson, Denny, Layton, Maggs, Engels (Colepio), Albert, Puddefoot, Netschova (Sseninde)
Sub Not Used: Hayes
Coventry came into this final home match situated in fifth place and with an impressive goal difference of 40 from just 17 games!
The Rangers squad had been heavily depleted recently when the club confirmed that six players had departed. Leading goalscorer Jo Wilson, Sophie Fogarty, Zemeka Clarke and Emma Whitter had all joined the London Bees, whilst Sophie Cheadle and Natalie Richardson headed off to Watford.
Vanessa Nicholson magnificently intercepted a weaving run with a sliding challenge in the box to thwart the danger. She later took a Coventry player out in a dangerous position towards wide-left of the penalty area.
However, Coventry took the lead after around 30 minutes when the ball was lifted from the edge of the box and then found its way between the R’s custodian’s grasp and the crossbar.
The Coventry No.7 was making some productive runs down the right flank, and finding herself free, she took off but was superbly intercepted by Nicholson and the ball went behind.
The visitors doubled their lead from the resulting corner when poor marking allowed Marie Gauntlett to swivel round in the six-yard box and score easily.
Rangers were pumping too many hopeful balls from midfield and had hardly troubled the United keeper. Half-time: 0-2.
Danielle Puddefoot had a very good chance to pull a goal back, but her close range header, from our first corner, was aimed straight at the Coventry keeper.
Later, she made a very hard, but fair challenge and after receiving treatment the Coventry player limped off. Puddefoot then shot low but straight, which didn’t trouble their custodian.
The visitors scored a third around the hour mark with a long-range strike, which evaded the R’s debutant keeper.
Rangers made two changes on 62 minutes when Mariko Engels and Dominika Netschova made way for Fern Colepio and Jean Sseninde respectively.
A few minutes later, Coventry scored a fourth, when following a good move, the ball was knocked into the six-yard box and Gauntlett was on hand to score her second.
After Puddefoot had won another solid but fair challenge, she went down after her shirt was tugged which provoked calls for the culprit to be shown yellow but the referee decided to award just a free kick!
Manzi replaced Micaela Lopes after 72 minutes and two minutes later, a cross from the right found Torkildsen unmarked in the six-yard box, which she spectacularly volleyed into the net.
Cherrelle Albert went down very heavily and eventually the referee stopped play to allow the R’s physio onto the pitch. She appeared to have sustained a neck problem and was helped off which left the home side with ten players.
Following a dangerous ball into the six-yard box, Elly Maggs made a superb challenge, which went out for a corner.
Jessica Ellis was busy treating someone else off the pitch and the R’s were now reduced to nine players!
It could well have been even worse when a Coventry player was taken down when clear through on goal. Thankfully, the referee decided to award a free kick, which was then skied over the bar.
Vanessa Nicholson was booked in the first-half and Danielle Puddefoot was shown yellow early in the second.
QPR Ladies travel to AFC Hornchurch next week to face West Ham United.
Steve Russell