There was late drama, and even later drama, as Rovers Ladies recorded a first win in four games.

It looked as though Gemma Donnelly’s side had let two points slip through their grasp before substitute Ellie Leek came up with an injury-time winner.

They had looked well on course for victory against Coventry United thanks to goals from Saffron Jordan and Farah Crompton, only for the visitors to score two quickfire goals, including an injury-time equaliser, before Leek popped up in the 94th minute to cue celebratory scenes among the Rovers players.

For boss Donnelly, she was disappointed the game hadn’t been wrapped up before, but was pleased to end a run of three successive defeats with a third victory in seven matches.

She said:“We were deserving of the result in the end, albeit we made ridiculously hard work of it.

“I was absolutely fuming in the fact that we’d allowed them to get back into the game because up until that point, I thought it was all us so I hope you can understand how unbelievably pleased I am to get that winning goal right at the death.

“I thought we started really well. Obviously, getting an early goal settles you a little bit but then the opposition are trying to get that equaliser.  

“I thought we were pretty comfortable in the first half and had we been more clinical in front of goal, it would’ve afforded us to be probably two or three in front at half-time so whilst I was pleased with the first-half performance, I was a little bit disappointed that we weren’t going in with two or three goals in front.”

Their one goal advantage at the break came through a 10th minute Jordan penalty, converted after Megan Hornby was fouled by Grace Riglar.

Rovers finally got the second goal they had threatened when Jordan’s shot was pushed away by the goalkeeper, but only as far as Crompton who scored her first for the club just after the hour.

An inability to deal with balls into the box saw Rovers concede two late on, Rio Hardy pulling one goal back in the 85th minute before the visitors equalled in the second additional minute when Katie Wilkinson headed home from close range following a corner. 

But there was still time for Rovers to snatch it, Annabel Blanchard’s cross fumbled into the path of Leek who forced the ball home from close range.

Rovers: Alex Brooks, Chloe Dixon, Kayleigh McDonald, Jade Richards, Hannah Coan (Isobel Dean, 45), Natasha Fenton, Millie Chandarana (Aimee Hodgson, 64), Farah Crompton (Ellie Leek, 84), Annabel Blanchard, Megan Hornby, Saffron Jordan. 

Not used: Eleanor Heeps, Mia Parry, Lauren Thomas