SAINTS Women slipped to a 2-0 defeat at Coventry United in the opening match of their Continental Cup campaign.

It was Marieanne Spacey-Cale’s side’s first ever match in the cup competition open to the top two divisions, but they faced a fellow Championship outfit.

Saints made a handful of changes from their league draw at Bristol City last time out, including a start for the likes of Ella Pusey and summer arrival Megan Wynne.

Pusey could have put Saints ahead inside the first 15 minutes but her effort was cleared off the line, after she had rounded the goalkeeper, and they went into the break level.

A quickfire double saw Coventry net in the 50th and 55th minutes but Saints had chances to get back into the contest.

Katie Wilkinson was denied a first goal for the club after a solo run before Pusey fired over the crossbar.

Heading into the closing stages, Georgie Freeland rattled the crossbar and there was to be no breakthrough.

Saints face home fixtures versus Reading and Tottenham Hotspur and will need positive results if they are to make the quarter-final stages.

Saints Women return to action later in October, when they welcome Birmingham City to Snows Stadium on Monday 17, and face Coventry again next month in the league.

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