This was just one of those days as Argyle Ladies went out of the Premier League Cup against a Coventry outfit who had just too much nouse for an Argyle outfit who never really got themselves in the game. Saying that Argyle had their chances but by and large they were second best.
Manager Travis Rowland had to shuffle the pack as midfielder Kayley Lane became ill over night with Jessie Boston given a run out.
On a very cold and windy Haye Road Argyle played with the wind at their backs but it was Coventry who started the brighter and took the lead in the 18th minute when after a Helen Dermody corner had been cleared back to her she crossed the ball back in to headed in unchallenged at the near post by Nikki Miles.
Argyle floated in and out of the game and almost drew level when Natasha Knapman saw her fierce drive superbly saved by goalkeeper Susan Wood.
Argyle goalkeeper Michaela Phillips made a superb save to deny Jade Brook.
Argyle slowly came into the game with Knapman working herself an opening but once again was denied by Wood.
Phillips then made another superb save to deny Brook but Argyle almost scored as Wood denied Zoe Cunningham.
In the second half Argyle stepped up the pace and started to be more direct, but an unfortunate error by up until then the impeccable Katie Middleton saw her robbed of the ball leaving Amber Hughes a run on goal which she made no mistake.
Stunned by this goal Argyle fought hard to get back into the game and Becky Dandridge raced on to a through ball only to be denied with another good save from Wood.
To freshen things up Rowland brought on Amber Pollock for Ezme Wells and Becky Atkins replacing Kayleigh Brown.
Any chance of a fightback was lost when after Knapman saw her effort whistle past a post Coventry went quickly back up the pitch for Miles to fire in Coventry’s third goal.
Sarah Prior came on for her first game of the season replacing goalkeeper Phillips.
Coventry could have added another but Prior was on hand to grab the ball when it came crashing down off the crossbar.
It proved not to be Argyles day as Coventry go on to meet Blackburn Rovers on the semi final.
Manager Rowland reflected on the tie saying: ‘I don’t think the girls were really up for it, they just weren’t there. It was disapointing but at least it wasn’t in the league. We switched off for their first goal and it was amistake for the second.’ Rowland added: ‘There may be some changes for our match against Chletenham on Sunday. The thing is you learn more from when you lose than when you win and this was our fifth game this season against a team from a higher division. We will have to go back to the drawing board in training as we prepare to meet Cheltenham in a league match.’