C & K Basildon Ladies boss Steve Tilson feels his side have exceeded expectations in Premier League South this season.

Sunday’s 2-1 defeat at high-flying Coventry City kept Basildon seventh in the 12 team table.

But Tilson is happy with the team have adapted to playing at a higher level following their promotion last term.

“Our main target this year was to stay up and we’ve gone beyond that expectation so the girls deserve plenty of credit,” said Tilson.

“We will look to push on and improve in the next couple of seasons now and then we will look to hopefully be able to push for promotion ourselves.

“That’s certainly the long term goal.”

Basildon also saw close up at the weekend what it takes to be up towards the top of the table as they slumped to a defeat against a Coventry side sitting third in the table.

However, Tilson was still full of praise for the performance.

“I thought we played well and the girls certainly gave it their all,” said the former Southend United manager.

“We took the lead against the run of play and were eventually undone by an own goal.

“But these things happen and Coventry are a good side who we’ve now played four times this season.”

Despite the final score-line, Basildon went in front after just 11 minutes when Zoe Rushden fired home from the penalty spot after being brought down in the box.

Coventry looked for an instant response, and on the quarter hour mark, Claire Lacey had to head away a dangerous cross.

And, from the resultant corner, Stacey Little had to head the ball out from just under the bar.

But the game was turned on its head inside the first 15 minutes of the second half as Coventry scored twice.

On 51 minutes, Ash Neville delivering a low cross which was converted by Amber Hughes before the hosts went in front on the hour mark when Hughes’ cross deflected in off a Basildon defender.

Basildon were almost gifted an equaliser just minutes later when Karissa Rodney intercepted a pass just outside the Coventry penalty area before sending a deflected effort over the crossbar.

Following the near miss, Basildon committed players forward late in the game but they were unable to conjure up an equaliser.

Basildon will now be looking to bounce back against Lewes this weekend before they face Writtle in the Essex County Cup final on Thursday April 21 at Thurrock’s Ship Lane ground.

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