London City Lionesses head coach Melissa Phillips said that yesterday’s 1-0 defeat to Durham at Maiden Castle was a tough one to take.
The Pride conceded an early goal from a corner kick but grew into the game and dominated for large parts, particularly towards the end of the first period and in the second half.
Brooke Nunn, Rianna Jarrett and Carly Girasoli had chances to rescue at least a point for the Dartford-based club but it simply wasn’t their day despite their best efforts.
When speaking to FAWSL Full-Time after the match, London City Lionesses boss Phillips said that it was a difficult defeat to take given how well her side had played in the North East.
“It’s a tough one to take,” she said. “A third-minute set piece goal, that’s what Durham are known for.
“We dominated the rest of that half and ultimately, didn’t knock on the frame of goal enough. They dropped into a back-four in the second half and it did change the game, we didn’t have as many clear cut opportunities, we just had to battle through the conditions and the way that Durham play and credit to them, they came out on top with their game plan.”
Home keeper Megan Borthwick made two good saves to deny Nunn and Jarrett but other than that, she remained largely untroubled. Phillips went on to say that her side need to improve with their finishing in the final third.
The London City Lionesses boss added “We always knew that it would be a battle of two different identities, them out of possession and us in possession.
“Ultimately, we have to be a little bit more clinical in the final third and around the mouth of the goal.”
The best chance of the game for the visitors came in the final quarter of the match when defender Girasoli popped up unmarked in the box. The player somehow headed wide with the goal at her mercy and Phillips simply determined that it wasn’t her side’s day in front of the opposition goal.
“It just wasn’t our day in terms of not having enough quality on frame, that’s the reality of it,” she said.
“I think we did all but create and test the goalkeeper in the final third.”
London City Lionesses return to the North East on Sunday when they face Sunderland at the Eppleton Colliery Welfare Ground.
About The Author
