COVENTRY CITY RESERVES 2-0 FULHAM RESERVES BY KEV MONKS
Coventry City Reserves turned in another good performance to be beat Fulham 2-0 at Butlin Road.
Alan Cork again included Stephen Hughes,Richard Duffy and Stuart Giddings in a side which saw Stuart Wall and Rikki Bains at centre backs.
Fulham fielded a youthful side with only Sylvain Legwinski being the name of note in a sixteen that included a substitute called Gary Mabbutt.
A cold night in front of a reasonable crowd at Butlin Road saw the first shot on the goal come in the third minute when Clayton Ince's long kick was caught by Fulham keeper Mark Davidson at the other end.
Aza Ogarro was doing most of the running for Stephen Hughes in midfield and in the tenth minute, the Birmingham born midfielder who will be at pastures next season sent a header wide.
This was the third comeback game for Stuart Giddings and the left back got better as the game progressed. His passing was neat and his class shone throughout.
In the 34th minute, City took the lead. A throw-in was won on the far side. Kevin Thornton met the throw and delivered a pin-point cross for Aaron Stringfellow at the far post to finish from three yards.
This was a game not littered in chances but in the 53rd minute,a lovely ball from Giddings played in Ange Lorougnon whose shot on the turn was deflected for a corner.
Giddings was replaced after an hour to good applause by Lee Hildreth.
Ray Lewington's side were struggling to find a way past the solid Wall,Bains and Richard Duffy and their only shot was a speculative effort from Neal McDermott which Clayton Ince tipped over.
With eleven minutes to go, Lourougnon and then Hildreth had shots inside the area blocked before Stuart Wall fired over.
City pressed again. Lorougnon rounded the keeper but a covering defender got to it and sent the ball into the side netting for a corner.
Lorougnon, the first year Academy player from France was replaced by Ben Turner in the 84th minute and seconds later, Lee Hildreth wrapped up a good performance by the Sky Blues when he smacked a twenty yarder low into the net.
City travel to FA Premier Reserve League South Champions next Monday.
HT CCFC 1-0 FFC
FT CCFC 2-0 FFC
GOALS Aaron Stringfellow (34), Lee Hildreth (85)
TEAM
Ince, Duffy,Giddings (Hildreth 60),Wall,Bains, Ogarro,Stringfellow,Hughes,McCrink,Lorougnon (Turner 84),Thornton (Jones 88) SNU Tuffey,Lynch
Fulham
Davidson,Murtagh,Omozusi,Moncur,Watts,Legwinski, Ottley (Hudson-Odoi 46),Milsom, Sankoh, McDermott, James (Goncalves 76) SNU Brooks-Meade,Miguil,Mabbutt
