Women’s football: Pearse red card costly as Palace lose 5-2 at Coventry United

Coventry United proved devastating from set-pieces as Katy Morris and Helen Dermody scored two goals apiece in a 5-2 romp over Crystal Palace.

While the final scoreline looks one-sided, Coventry had to wait until well past the hour mark before pulling clear, with Palace having lost Gracie Pearse to a red card.

But their set-piece prowess proved the difference with three goals from corners and a further strike from a free-kick proving the difference in this FA Women’s Championship encounter.

This was a breathless encounter virtually from the off, with Coventry taking just four minutes to hit the front when Morris was fastest to react to a corner played into the near post, stabbing home.

Palace responded, Cherelle Khassal slotting home Lizzie Waldie’s cross to level matters on 19 minutes.

However it was the home side who led at the break, Dermody absolute pinpoint from a free-kick lifted over the wall from just outside the box.

Once more Palace hit back, Coral-Jade Haines made no mistake from the spot just before the hour after a handball from Ashlee Brown.

But three minutes later Pearse was dismissed, and from there Coventry were able to seize control.

It was Morris once again from a corner, proving the most alive when a dangerous cross could not be cleared initially as she lunged for the ball and poked it home.

Beckee Anderson forced a good save out of Chloe Morgan before sub Amy Wathan made the game safe as she powered a header home from yet another corner.

And there was still time for Dermody to grab to make it five, collecting the ball from Destiny Toussaint before slotting home her second, three minutes from time.

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