Womens FA Cup, 19/02/2017, 2pm. Rugby Town FC.

Goals : Moran (15)

The Midland derby in the FA Women’s cup was always going to be a tough tie for both teams. Playing on grass also would add an element of danger to a team that was used to playing on 4G. First off Rugby Town FC were great hosts for this game, a nice venue with good and helpful people working it seemed. Also Coventry United were great and gracious even in defeat after the game. A win would see ethier team into the next round and the possibilty of meeting a WSL 1 team. After the last two years of reaching the QF of the FA Cup no doubt Villa were hungry to make it a hatrick.

It was a fairly even game throughout with not many clear cut chances. It took a wonder goal by Katy Moran hitting the ball on the volley after 15 minutes to separate the sides. Great to see our captain back and smashing it once again. To Covenry’s credit they battled right until the end creating a tense and close affair. Coventry’s #2 (I apologize i don’t know her name) was for me their player of the match. Each half she took on both our wingers and stopped them with pace and precision. Easily could make it into WPL and WSL level I am sure.

Beth Merrick came closest to adding a second goal for Villa with her set pieces just clearing the bar or curling just wide. Lucy Shepherd came off the bench and looked like if she had more time would of scored. Last season we played Tottenham around the same time and needed extra time against them, this year we made sure the 90 minutes was enough to progress into the next round.

Player Of The Match – Claire Skinner – In goal we added the Welsh International Claire Skinner and for anyone who knows me this signing couldn’t be any better, still doesn’t seem real. Was an amazing unexpected birthday surprise to see Claire lining up with our girls and my team. She kept a clean sheet on her first game and was commanding throughout. So happy and over the moon she is signed up for the foreseeable future. She was in Reading’s development team and moved to a club in Wales that unfortunately folded but their loss was our gain. Claire kept the world’s best player at bay against Norway in a game in June for Wales. She is an incredible goalkeeper and an amazing person. My birthday was totally made by seeing her and the 1-0 win.

Claire Skinner – So happy she is a Villa player, first game, first clean sheet and can’t wait to sing more for Super Claire Skinner.

Lucy Porter – Said it a while ago but one of the best defenders in WSL, everything Coventry tried she stopped. Candidate for POTM also.

Elisha N’Dow – After picking up a yellow card did really well and was controlled and ushered the ball out of play while timing tackles perfectly.

Grace Smith – Cleared the ball well, I prefere Grace in CM to burst forward, but proved her class to adapt to what is needed at anytime.

Amy West – By Amy’s standard’s it might not of been her best game but she still put in some important tackles before coming off at half time.

Beth Merrick – Gave alot of effort and came close to adding a goal from her set pieces while pushing the team forward up the wing.

Chloe Dale – Did well in the middle once again was always involved in the game staking her claim once again for being in the starting line up.

Katy Moran – Great to see our captain back and scoring a wonder goal for the win. Took a booking at a crucial time as well.

Alice Halsall – Had a decent game throughout, defended well and stopped Coventry building any attacks.

Mollie Rouse – Worked hard during the game to link the midfield and attack but it was almost like Coventry knew who our biggest attacking threat was.

Tash Baptiste – Also worked really hard to create chances but Coventry defended well and was solid at the back.

Lucy Shepherd – Looked hungry when she came on. Was unlucky not to get a goal and terrorized Coventry from the second she came on.

Kerri Welsh – Didn’t have much time on the pitch but filled in at CM to stop Coventry building anything of substance and kept the ball going the right way.

The draw for next round of the FA Cup is Monday 20th February at 11.40am when the WSL 1 teams enter the draw. Was hoping for a tie against WBA or a home draw. But we ended up drawing Sunderland away which will be a tough game and interesting to see the state of the club at Sunderland with all the players leaving lately. The game will take place on Sunday 19th March with venue to be confirmed.

Our next game is at home to Millwall at Tamworth FC on Sunday 5th March at 2pm. This will no doubt be an incredible match once again seeing how last seasons two meetings saw us win at home and draw away at The Den. But before that our development team play away to Doncaster on Sunday 26th March.