Team
Quirke,Clarke,Cameron (Hollist 80), Fraser,Jones,Wynter,Cain,Leluu (Joel Grandison 46, Jeffers (Ogleby 71),West,Greenway SNU Burge,Grogan
Watford
North,Thompson,Henson,Haddon,Kiernan,Heinati,Bryan (sent off 90),Isaacs,Sorrell,Massey, Whichelon Subs Used Perry,Drmolos
HT CCFC 3-2 WFC FT CCFC 5-2 WFC
Goals Matty West (7 & 49), Shaun Jeffers (23), Michael Bryan (25), Sean Fraser (38 & 77), Gavin Massey (39)
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Coventry City U18's put in a superb team performance to beat Watford 5-2 this morning.
Greg Rioch's side started playing a very attacking 4-3-3 and were nearly ahead inside twenty seconds as a Jamie Greenway effort was hacked off the line for a corner.
In the seventh minute, Matty West opened the goal scoring for the game played on a cold,windy morning at the Alan Higgs Centre. The striker, who had been troubled with injuries last season, started the move which saw him get the ball in a central position twenty yards from goal. One touch and the Birmingham born forward was able to pick his spot to score with a low drive.
City played the ball to feet and fed the wide men and in the 23rd minute, we were cheering a second goal when Shaun Jeffers clipped home Sean Frasers's cross from three yards.
Suddenly, the Sky Blues defence began to be tested by a pacy Watford side, who like City played some good football when they had the ball. Sean Dyche's side pulled on back in the 25th minute when Michael Bryan was allowed to cut inside and beat Quirke with a left footed drive from the edge of the area.
Quirke made two smart saves as Watford had a sustained spell of pressure and it was the break down of one move in the 38th minute which led to the Sky Blues scoring a third goal.
Ashley Cain got the ball on the edge of his own penalty area and raced down the left flank. His speed took him past player after player before he looked up and delivered a sweet cross direct to the feet of Sean Fraser who made no mistake from ten yards.
Celebrations were soon curtailed as Watford went back up the other end and a cross from the left was met by the diving head of the unmarked Gavin Massey who scored from five yards.
Joel Grandison came on for Sulliman Leluu,who had been cautioned at the interval and within four minutes of the restart, a very determined Sky Blues added a fourth goal thanks to another stunning cross from Cain for Matty West to head home at the far post.
Jordan Clarke had a fine game at right back, making some superbly timed tackles and runs to take City forward whilst Brad Jones and Curtis Wynter were solid at the back.
West was denied by the fingers of Jon North in the 53rd minute as the game started to become a midfield battle.
It was a battle that City were worthy winners of. Sean Fraser was a delight in midfield, chasing and closing down the Hornets and in the 77th minute, he netted his second of the match and City's fifth when he collected the ball and sent a right footed volley from fifteen yards high into the net.
Substitutes Joel Grandison and Robert Ogleby both had chances to increase the margin of victory before Watford were reduced to ten men in the final minute when Michael Bryan was dismissed for foul and abusive language.
The City team were warmly applauded on the final whistle for what had been an excellent performance and they will be looking for the same next Saturday when they travel to Aston Villa.