COVENTRY CITY YOUTH 0-0 SOUTHEND UNITED YOUTH CITY WIN 3-1 ON PENS BY KEV MONKS
Coventry City Youth booked an FA Youth Cup Fourth Round trip to Reading with a penalties victory over Southend United.
On a cold night for the first ever FA Youth Cup tie at the Arena, the crowd of 344 which included Micky Adams, Adrian Heath and Alan Cork, was split into the Main and East Stands, they watched on as Brian Borrows side created two early chances with striker Reis Ashraf just missing a Matt West cross from the right and with still only ninety seconds gone, Dale Jones sent a trade mark long ranger high and wide of the goal.
Both sides had gone into the game seventh in their respective divisions and the side who play in the Football League Youth Alliance thought they would take the lead in the 15th minute when Charles Ademeno rounded Cameron Belford and advanced on goal. In came Callum Burgess who superbly timed his block and cleared the danger.
City went straight up the other end and Reis Ashraf crashed a right footer against the bar.
After that, it was the visitors who looked more likely to score. Jason Lindie and Rhys Henry had already fired wide before Belford saved from Ademeno and in the 26th minute,blocked with his feet when the ball came back in after the hard working Liam Robinson had cleared off his own line.
Dale Jones and Lee Hildreth were in the middle of everything that was good about the Sky Blues and worked well for Jones to set up Ashraf for a drive which Joe Welch saved.
Two minutes before the break, back came Southend with Belford pushing over a twenty yarder from Lee Smyth for a corner. When the flag kick came in,Ademeno got in a header but Liam Robinson was again on hand to clear off the line.
Ricky Duncan's side did not need the half-time break as in what was a turgid second period, they created absolutely nothing to worry the City defence.
Apart from two City corners in the 55th minute, the only note taking was from the referee Mr Newbold who cautioned Carl Patten,Franck Moussa and Luke Thurlbourne and we were left to muse as to whether it was playing at the Ricoh which had prevented the free flowing football, regular U18's watchers are used to.
So it was no surprise that the game went into extra-time. Brian Borrows sent on Kieran Fitzharris and Adam Hett to try and get a winner.
Dale Jones and Ange Lourougnon both had chances but Jones header from a corner was blocked whilst Lourougnon fired over the bar much to the dismay of his Ivory Coast based parents who were sat to my right.
Callum Burgess and Fitzharris joined the list of cautions and with Belford grabbing the ball from a corner,the game went into penalties.
Southend won the toss and took the first penalty. Franck Moussa took the kick but Cameron Belford in the CT Stand goal dived to his left to make a superb save.
Liam Robinson, my outfield Man Of The Match, scored from City's first penalty as did Reiss Noel.
Ange Lourougnon gave the keeper no chance and it was 2-1 to City. Lee Smyth was next but his kick was wide.
Up stepped City's skipper Lee Hildreth. The Nuneaton born striker whose goal put City in the Birmingham Senior Cup Quarter-Finals smashed home his spot kick.
Some of the City players thought they had won and were told to get back into the centre circle by fourth official Alan Waddington.
Seconds later,they were to taste victory when substitute Davis Abbey stepped up and fired wide of Belford's right hand post.
The game will hardly go down as a classic but City were through and that is all that matters.
HT CCFC 0-0 SUFC
FT CCFC 0-0 SUFC
ET1 CCFC 0-0 SUFC
ET2 CCFC 0-0 SUFC
Penalties
SUFC Franck Moussa Saved 0-0
CCFC Liam Robinson Scored 1-0
SUFC Reiss Noel Scored 1-1
CCFC Ange Lourougnon Scored 2-1
SUFC Lee Smyth Missed 2-1
CCFC Lee Hildreth Scored 3-1
SUFC Davis Abbey Missed 3-1
Coventry City won 3-1 on penalties
ATT 344
Booked Carl Patten,Franck Moussa and Luke Thurlbourne,Callum Burgess,Kieran Fitzharris
Team
Belford,Duggan (Fitzharris 95), Robinson,Hildreth, Burgess,Francis,West,Jones,.Ashraf ( Hett 97),
Lourougnon,Burtoft SNU Collett,B.Jones,Ritchie
Southend
Welch,Coggin,Herd,Thurlbourne,Noel,Patten,Henry,Moussa,
Lindie (Abbey 95), Ademono (Forshaw 80),Smyth SNU McDonald,Hopkins,Absolon