SHREWSBURY TOWN 2-2 COVENTRY CITY BY KEV MONKS
Team
Marshall,McNamee (Birchall 54),Giddings (Borrowdale 64), Osbourne (S.Hughes 77),Hall (Page 77),Hawkins (Ward 69),Cairo (Simmonds 79),Doyle (Thornton 77),McKenzie (Best 71),Adebola (Mifsud 46),Tabb (Davis 64) SNU Konstantopoulus,Gooding,
Shrewsbury Town
Garner,Ashton,Drummond (Leslie 68),Kempson,Pugh, Langmead,Hibbert,Herd,Hall,Humphrey (Moss 87),Cooke (Murdock 61) SNU Donnelly,MacKenzie,Flynn
Referee Andy Hall Att 3239
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Shrewsbury Town were the first opponents at Highfield Road and City returned the compliment by being the first professional team to play at the New Meadow in a match which finished in a 2-2 draw.
GROUND
Four stands all the same and easy to find but a good hike out of the town centre. It's openness may be a problem in winter.
Team
Marshall,McNamee (Birchall 54),Giddings (Borrowdale 64), Osbourne (S.Hughes 77),Hall (Page 77),Hawkins (Ward 69),Cairo (Simmonds 79),Doyle (Thornton 77),McKenzie (Best 71),Adebola (Mifsud 46),Tabb (Davis 64) SNU Konstantopoulus,Gooding,
Shrewsbury Town
Garner,Ashton,Drummond (Leslie 68),Kempson,Pugh, Langmead,Hibbert,Herd,Hall,Humphrey (Moss 87),Cooke (Murdock 61) SNU Donnelly,MacKenzie,Flynn
Referee Andy Hall Att 3239
_____________________________
Shrewsbury Town were the first opponents at Highfield Road and City returned the compliment by being the first professional team to play at the New Meadow in a match which finished in a 2-2 draw.
GROUND
Four stands all the same and easy to find but a good hike out of the town centre. It's openness may be a problem in winter.
As new grounds go it's not bad.
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WEATHER
This was a sunny evening
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FIRST HALF
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WEATHER
This was a sunny evening
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FIRST HALF
Iain Dowie gave a start to new boy Ellery Cairo,played Stuart Giddings at right back,with Adebola and McKenzie up front.
The game was less than five minutes old when the Shrews won a corner. Colin Hawkins missed the incoming ball allowing centre half Darren Kempson to turn and fire high into the net from eleven yards.
The game was less than five minutes old when the Shrews won a corner. Colin Hawkins missed the incoming ball allowing centre half Darren Kempson to turn and fire high into the net from eleven yards.
Although,Adebola went wide with a header.Gary Peters side did most of the early attacking.
When the linesman on the empty stand had got another flag after breaking his first one,City gave the three hundred or so Sky Blue supporters assembled something to cheer when Dele Adebola fed Doyle. In came Jay Tabb, who looked composed as he slotted the ball into the net with twenty minutes gone.
Chris Humphrey was a thorn in City's side all night,forcing the majority of the home side's attacks whilst Nightboat (Cairo) settled in well, with some neat touches in a hard working midfield.
When the linesman on the empty stand had got another flag after breaking his first one,City gave the three hundred or so Sky Blue supporters assembled something to cheer when Dele Adebola fed Doyle. In came Jay Tabb, who looked composed as he slotted the ball into the net with twenty minutes gone.
Chris Humphrey was a thorn in City's side all night,forcing the majority of the home side's attacks whilst Nightboat (Cairo) settled in well, with some neat touches in a hard working midfield.
In the 35th minute,a combination of Stuart Giddings and Colin Hawkins was accused of bringing down Dave Hibbert by Referee Andy Hall who awarded a penalty.
Hibbert hit the kick well but Andy Marshall was in superb form diving to his left to push the ball away for a corner.
HT STFC 1-1 CCFC
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SECOND HALF
Hibbert hit the kick well but Andy Marshall was in superb form diving to his left to push the ball away for a corner.
HT STFC 1-1 CCFC
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SECOND HALF
At the break,Michael Mifsud replaced Dele Adebola and within two minutes of the restart,City were ahead.
The move was started by Colin Hawkins bursting forward. The Irishman found Tabb who sprayed the ball out to Cairo on the right. A good ball across the box followed and there was Stuart Giddings at the far post to lash into the net.
We sat waiting for City to take full control of the game but for Iain Dowie and his backroom staff which included new Academy boss Greg Rioch decided that this was the time for experimentation.
Chris Birchall was the first of nine changes which whilst giving everyone valuable match practice did affect the way the team played.
Gary Borrowdale at left back looked solid as did Elliott Ward as City were solid at the back but not relied on the occasional break.
One of these came in the 73rd minute and saw a step over from Mifsud take him round a defender before hitting a left footed shot which Glynn Garner had to push over the bar.
Leon Best who put in a reasonable start forced Garner into the same save with three minutes to go. This brought a Thornton corner, Best rose but Ben Herd was on the line and headed away.
We sat waiting for City to take full control of the game but for Iain Dowie and his backroom staff which included new Academy boss Greg Rioch decided that this was the time for experimentation.
Chris Birchall was the first of nine changes which whilst giving everyone valuable match practice did affect the way the team played.
Gary Borrowdale at left back looked solid as did Elliott Ward as City were solid at the back but not relied on the occasional break.
One of these came in the 73rd minute and saw a step over from Mifsud take him round a defender before hitting a left footed shot which Glynn Garner had to push over the bar.
Leon Best who put in a reasonable start forced Garner into the same save with three minutes to go. This brought a Thornton corner, Best rose but Ben Herd was on the line and headed away.
A minute later and Mr Hall was being accused of home bias when Shrewsbury equalised.
Elliott Ward had cleared off the line. When the ball came back in, Coventry born Kelvin Langmead hit a shot which hit a defender and looped off Robert Page. None of the City fans reckoned it had crossed but the linesman on the empty stand side said that it had and the goal was given and the game finished in a draw.
FT STFC 2-2 CCFC
Goals Darren Kempson (5), Jay Tabb (20),Stuart Giddings (47),Kelvin Langmead (88)
Man Of The Match Andy Marshall took the votes with nominations for Giddings,Cairo and Doyle.
Fans View
FT STFC 2-2 CCFC
Goals Darren Kempson (5), Jay Tabb (20),Stuart Giddings (47),Kelvin Langmead (88)
Man Of The Match Andy Marshall took the votes with nominations for Giddings,Cairo and Doyle.
Fans View
We caught up with Nigel from Wyken who was on the Sky Blue Trust coach for his views. He said: "A good run out for the first practice game and it was a good friendly.
"Is Mr Dowie doing a Sven Goran Erikkson? As he played almost all the players. "I was impressed with Best and Cairo but the star of the game was Shrewsbury's Chris Humphrey.
"It was a dodgy decision for their equaliser but it was a good start for City."