C&K BASILDON Ladies crashed out of the FA Women’s Cup after they were beaten 2-0 by Coventry United on Sunday.

Steve Tilson’s side had not conceded in the two previous encounters with Coventry so far this season, winning 1-0 and drawing 0-0, but the visitors were worthy winners in the second round at the Frost Financial Stadium.

The first opening of the match came in the fifth minute, when Kerry Stimson's ball into the penalty area found Amy Nash, but she was unable to get a shot away and was crowded out.

Five minutes later, Rebecca Smith won an important challenge inside the Basildon penalty area to deny Coventry a shot on goal and, a few minutes later, an overhead kick was comfortably held by Molly Povey in the home goal.

Coventry continued to exert pressure as a free-kick from a dangerous position just outside of the penalty area went into the side netting.

But the goal wasn’t long in coming.

Just after the half-hour mark, a corner was played to the edge of the penalty area and Ashleigh Neville struck the ball on the volley and into the roof of the net.

Coventry continued to press, and a minute later Povey had to make another save as Helen Dermody steered a cross towards goal.

Four minutes into the second-half, Nash’s cross into the Coventry penalty area was missed by the Coventry defenders, with the goalkeeper out quickly to reach the ball ahead of Lily Mellors.

Povey made a good save from a shot from inside the penalty area as United turned up the pressure, and Kerry Stimson was on hand to clear the loose ball from underneath the crossbar.

Karissa Rodney shot the wrong side of the post as C&K looked for a way back into the match, although Coventry were also pressing.

A few minutes later Povey was forced into making another good save when a Coventry player found herself through on goal, before the away side wrapped up the tie in the final minute of normal time.

As Basildon committed players forward looking for the equaliser, Coventry broke out of defence and, although Povey was able to tip a shot onto the crossbar, Alison Hall was on hand to convert the rebound and set up Coventry for an away tie against Sporting Club Albion in the third round.

 

C&K Basildon: Povey, Stimson, Stephanou, Lacey, Long (Blowers), Little, Huggins, Rodney, Smith, Mellors, Nash.