COVENTRY CITY U18's 1-1 TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR U18's BY KEV MONKS
City
Burge, Phillips, Gudger, Grogan, Henderson (Willis 64), Christie, Bottomer, Ifil (Roberts 64), Clarke-Harris, Daniels (Richards 86), Ruffels. SNU Wordby, Donald
Spurs
Miles, Batham (L.Angol 78), F.Angol, Dombaxe (Archer 74), Sherriff, Stewart, Munns, Trippin, Oyenuga, Pritchard, D. McQueen (Fredricks 57)
Subs A. McQueen, Purcell
HT CCFC 1-1 THFC FT CCFC 1-1 THFC
GOALS Lee Burge (33 OG), Billy Daniels (42)
__________________
Coventry City U18's earned an excellent point against Spurs this morning in their first Academy League fixture of 2011.
Against a Spurs side that was watched by their Academy Director and former Sky Blue Perry Suckling, Greg Rioch's side caused problems for the visiting defence from the start.
In the fourth minute, Miles produced a stunning save, diving to his left to push away a Luke Bottomer drive and four minutes later and Miles was called into action and used his legs to good effect when he blocked Johnson Clarke-Harris' shot.
Spurs had arrived at the Alan Higgs Centre as keen to play football as the Sky Blues and Pritchard for Spurs was a handful with the number ten making a great run through City's defence before he was stopped by a timely 24th minute intervention from Cyrus Christie.
Both sides keeping looking to take the lead and in the 33rd minute, it was Tottenham who did just that when a McQueen daisy-cutter of a shot, was spilled over his own goal-line by LEE BURGE.
It was nearly two a minute later when Connor Gudger cleared off the line. The Tottenham players appealed for handball but nothing was given by referee Mr Plane and City got back into the match.
In the 42nd minute, the Sky Blues were level thanks to BILLY DANIELS finishing off a superb six man move. City started in their own penalty area and passed the ball up, using the likes of the hard working Arron Phillips, Gudger and Ruffels for Daniels to slip the ball under Miles from six yards and deservedly draw City level.
The second half saw a lot less chances than the first and the better of what ones there were fell to the Sky Blues.
With Bottomer leading a City team in the second half which took the game to the visitors, Clarke-Harris had a 52nd minute effort blocked and ten minutes, a surging run and shot from Bottomer was cleared off the line.
Bottomer had a 25 yarder saved and Grogan was also denied as both sides took a point from what was a thoroughly enjoyable game.