BEDWORTH UNITED 0-3 COVENTRY CITY RESERVES BY KEV MONKS
TEAM
Collett,Robinson (Jones 75),Giddings,Hildreth, Burgess, Francis (Hollist 86),Marshall (Richie 71), Thornton (Fitzharris 25),Simpson,Simmons (Ashraf 51),Davis
BEDWORTH
Kemp,Starkey,Darlison,Cummins,Barnett,Adamson,Adams, Porter,Greenway,Browett,Verma
Subs Pitham,Pollard,Baker,Kinder,Davies, Wiggins, Williams,Aidey,Bartley
ATT 632
Referee Stuart Attwell
Goals Robbie Simpson (15 & 63), Hildreth (85)
___________________________________________
GROUND
A tidy ground with one stand on the far side. Most of the supporters stood on the hard standing in front of the social club which is a tradition at The Oval. There is grass banking behind both goals.
It was agreed that with the excellent facilities,bar and food kiosk etc, City Reserves would have been better playing their league games there rather than at Nuneaton's new home of Liberty Way.
__________________________________________
WEATHER
It was a glorious day in Coventry with the sun and warm weather remaining until late in the second half.
_________________________________________
STARTING FORMATION
Collett
Robinson Burgess Francis Giddings
Marshall Hildreth Thornton Davis
Simpson Simmonds
___________________________________________
CITY SUPPORT
There was over two hundred City supporters in a crowd of 632.
___________________________________________
FIRST HALF
Captained by Stuart Giddings,City Reserves always looked comfortable in the first half, playing some neat football.
Both sides had managed early corners but it was the Sky Blues who struck first in the 15th minute when Stuart Giddings got down the left and crossed for Robbie Simpson to head home from six yards.
Stuart Giddings in action
For some reason, Bedworth's number seven Carl Adams seemed to have a point to prove to some of the City players. In the 23rd minute, he stamped on the ankle of Kevin Thornton which was the one he suffered with last season and the Irishman was forced to limp off to be replaced by Keiran Fitzharris who worked hard in his midfield role.
Then on the half hour mark, Adams piled in Liam Robinson and both players were spoken to by referee Stuart Attwell which left the watching Iain Dowie and the City support seething.
With the game a midfield battle,chances were at a premium but in the 39th minute, a trip on Robbie Simpson saw a free kick taken by Lee Hildreth headed just wide by Donovan Simmonds.
HT BUFC 0-1 CCFC
________________________________________
SECOND HALF
Steve Ogrizovic did not make any changes at the break but was forced to do so in the 51st minute when Donovan Simmonds was brought down,some twenty five yards out and limped off with a ligament injury.
In the 63rd minute,City went two-nil up when a long ball from Callum Burgess was collected by Robbie Simpson who raced through. The signing form Cambridge United kept his cool and stroked the ball low past the diving Andy Kemp and into the net.
Substitute Luke Baker hit the post four minutes after the goal with a crisp shot but that was it from Martin Sockett's side.
Dean Marshall, who has come back after an injury which saw him miss most of last season, again played well before he was replaced in the 71st minute.
Liam Robinson who plays in the U18's alongside Marshall also worked hard before he made way for Bradley Jones with fifteen minutes left.
It was Jones, the younger brother of Dale who was on City's books last season who set up City's third goal of the night when he tore down the right and instead of going for goal which looked a good option from our vantage point by the away dug-out.
Unselfishly, the young Coventrian crossed,in the 85th minute, for Lee Hildreth who had got in ahead of Fitzharris to head the ball into the net from four yards.
The goal wrapped up a good evening for City who face Stoke City on August 22nd in their first Pontins League Central Division fixture and we hope the injuries sustained will not be as bad as first feared.
FT BUFC 0-3 CCFC
Man Of The Match - Robbie Simpson took all the votes.
Supporters View
We caught up with Rob from Poole after the game. "This was a good,entertaining game," said Rob. "It was a good workout and I was impressed with Robbie Simpson."