COVENTRY CITY U18'S 1-2 WALSALL BY KEV MONKS
Coventry City U18 Team
Burge,Phillips, Gudger, Bottomer, Adams, Misomba, Birgirama, Grogan, Daniels, Smith, Rankin: Subs: Ruffles, Harris, Christie, Henderson
HT CCFC 0-1 WFC
FT CCFC 1-2 WFC
Goals Connor Deeds pen (41), Jack Cresswell (47)
Johnson Harris (66),
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Coventry City U18's battled well but were beaten 2-1 by Walsall in a pre-season home game.
With Conor Thomas on first team duty, Richie Stevens fielded a young team including a number of trialists.
City looked comfortable in midfield from the start with Conor Gudger and Gael Birgirama passing well.
The visitors were quick on the break and City keeper Lee Burge having to make two excellent one handed stops.
In the 41st minute, Walsall were awarded a penalty when Rudi Masomba shoved the number eleven.
Conor Deeds' spot kick just beat Burge to fire Walsall ahead and two minutes in the second half, it was 2-0 when Masomba conceded a free kick,some twenty yards out and Jack Crossell gave Burge no chance with a stunning free kick.
Being two goals down brought the Sky Blues to their senses.
Substitute Johnson Harris, hit the post in the 52nd minute and Josh Ruffles had a header saved before his cross was headed onto the keeper's left hand post by Jamie Smith.
Masomba headed over from a corner but in the 66th minute, a lovely pass from Arron Phillips, son of former Sky Blue Dave, found Lewie Rankin on the right. His expertly measured cross went straight to the head of Johnson Harris, who scored twice against Bournemouth last week and the ball flew into the net.
City continued to try and break down an organised Walsall side and were unlucky not to have snatched a draw when a Harris header was cleared off the line with seven minutes to go.
With seven minutes left, Harris was unlucky not to have got an equaliser when his header from a corner was cleared off the line for another corner.
City battled until the end but went down to defeat.