COVENTRY CITY U18's 1-1 CHELSEA BY KEV MONKS
Team
Burge, Phillips, Cudger, Bigirimania, Adams, Christie, Rankin, (Daniels 57), Thomas, Harris (Willis 84), Bottomer, Ruffels. Subs Henderson, Richards, Grogan
Chelsea
Blackima, Sampayo, Ince, Nkumu (Bangna 46), Affane, Rogers, Clifford, Kane (Stenning 46), Piogenik, Saville, Dewyne (Loudon 61)
Subs , Beeney, Swift.
HT CCFC 0-0 CFC FT CCFC 1-1 CFC
GOALS Phillip Progenik (33), Jonson Harris (66)
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Coventry City U18's earned a highly creditable draw against Chelsea in an inter-league fixture this lunch-time.
City boss Greg Rioch kept new signing Courtney Richards on the bench and fielded a strong side.
In what was a highly entertaining affair with both sides committed to playing attacking, entertaining football, City didn't let a big crowd at the Alan Higgs Centre on a glorious day get to them and attacked Chelsea from the start.
Luke Bottomer who worked tremendously hard all game had the first shot to win the first of two corners.
He was involved two minutes later with a lovely ball to pick out Josh Ruffles who dragged a shot wide from six yards>
City had the ball in the net when Jonson Harris lobbed visiting keeper Jamal Blackima but the whistle of referee Mr Sheffield had already gone.
Lee Burge made two good saves from George Saville but in the 33rd minute, he was picking the ball out of the net.
Mr Sheffield failed to give City a free kick on the right, Chelsea played to the whistle and the ball was slipped to Phillip Progenik to stroke the ball into the net.
Lewis Rankin who also impressed for City nearly had the Sky Blues level a minute later when he fired over after a Harris shot following some excellent work by Ruffles.
Harris fired wide with only the keeper to beat in the 42nd minute and five minutes after the restart, City's youngest ever first team player crashed a shot against the bar.
Chelsea had started the second period the better but it was the Sky Blues who were giving as good as they got.
In the 66th minute, a cross from the hard working Arron Phillips was eventually knocked back in by Christie and knocked down by Birgirimana for Jonson Harris unmarked inside the area to slot under the keeper to draw City deservedly level.
Luke Bottomer hit the side netting as tempers became frayed.
With neither side being able to get the winning goal, both sides had to settle for a well deserved point.