Williams strikes again as Spurs Women reach last eight of Conti Cup (original) (raw)

Rehanne Skinner made nine changes to the team that started at Villa. Skipper Shelina Zadorsky and Kerys Harrop remained in the line-up, goalkeeper Becky Spencer and Jiali Tang returned from injury and there was a first start for Isabella Lane, the Academy graduate who recently scored on her debut off the bench in this competition against Watford. 'Izzy' impressed, and made an early impact.

It was pretty much one-way traffic in the first half. Addison went close with a header from Tang's cross and it was soon 1-0 as Lane darted down the right and picked out her opposite wing-back Morgan just inside the box, she produced a superb finish, a clean, first-time strike that flew past Olivia Clark.

A host of chances and near misses followed - Tang just wide from Harrop's pass, Chioma Ubogagu from 25 yards, Rosella Ayane curled wide from the edge of the box, Addison fired wide after a one-two with Ubogagu - until Addison added the second goal on 29 minutes. Morgan this time turned provider, a pinpoint cross headed down and home by Addison from 10 yards.

Tang's cross bounced back off the crossbar on 33 minutes and 10 minutes later, Spencer made her first save after Hardy's break and curler from the left angle.

Rehanne made changes at half-time with Scarlett Williams introduced for her debut alongside Maeva Clemaron, the pair replacing Zadorski and Harrop. Williams came into the back three, where she was joined by Morgan, with Addison switching to the left.

The home side struck back at the start of the second half. Spencer came out of her area to meet a ball over the top, Destiney Toussaint nicked the ball off her and planted into the empty net from 25 yards.

Olivia Fergusson followed up with a 25-yard tester for Spencer but we looked to have regained control over the next 25 minutes as Josie Green rattled the crossbar, Lane drilled wide and Clark denied Ayane one-on-one after she was released from halfway by Addison.

Coventry continued to push though and were rewarded on 77 minutes when Hardy followed up Toussaint's press and simply smashed the ball into the top corner from 25 yards.

Under pressure for a few minutes, we regained our composure and pressed for a winner. Clemaron's controlled effort from 25 yards beat Clark but rebounded out off the underside of the crossbar on 87 minutes. A minute later, the winner. Green's corner initially found Asmita Ale, her shot was blocked, Williams poked the loose ball back out to Green who this time delivered the type of cross all forwards thrive on - and Williams was there to make it count.