COVENTRY CITY U21's 1-2 NOTTS COUNTY
City: Burge, Phillips, Haynes, Finch, Urquhart, Quinn, Garner (Thomas 85), Barton (Bako 62), Trialist, Manset, Rankin. Subs Smith, Gott, Maund.
Notts County: Speiss, Bennett, Guy, Melvin, Hollis. Holt, Hodge (McGowan 85), Dixon, Murray (Waite 85), Coombes, Haworth. Subs: Bange, Geldenbuys, Pilkington.
HT CCFC 1-1 NCFC FT CCFC 1-2 NCFC
Referee M.Billingham
Goals Trialist 19, Elliott Hodge 45, Adam Coombes 53
Booked Garner, Melvin, Bako, Haworth.
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Coventry City U21's went out of the PDL League Cup with a 2-1 defeat to Notts County.
A sunny afternoon at Nuneaton Town for this PDL League Cup 2nd Qualifying Round tie saw Ian Foster's side who are bottom of the League 2 North without a win, taking on Notts County.
Ian Foster named a side that was captained by Aaron Phillips and included a trialist playing up front.
With Steve Ogrizovic, Marcus Hall, Richard Money, Clinton Morrison and Kevin Wilkin amongst the fifty or so watching the game, City, through the likes of Garner, Quinn,Rankin and Manset showed some useful touches early on.
In the ninth minute, Andy Haworth fired a low shot from edge of area at Burge, who then made a great save to deny Ronan Murray.
Five minutes later and Burge got down to a Coombes shot. City countered and the trialist won a corner that was cleared after a flap by Fabien Speiss in the Magpies goal.
The first goal of the game came in the 19th minute and was down to Mathieu Manset beating the offside trap and cutting the ball back for the Trialist to sweep home from the edge of the area.
The Trialist who was tall and skinny broke through five minutes after his goal. The City support thought he was going to score but he could only find the side netting of Speiss' left hand post.
With Steven Pressley having done the school run to pick up his daughter and he and Neil Macfarlane now watching on, they saw a composed Stuart Urquhart marshalling City's defence well against the pace of Coombes and Haworth.
Just before half time, City should have gone further ahead when Manset headed wide from a good ball from the trialist.
However, they were made to pay for not having the game wrapped up when County attacked. Lee Burge did very well, making one smart save but Elliott Hodge was left free to get to the loose ball and score from an acute angle.
As the second half started, City attacked through Ryan Haynes. A good cross and Manset got in a shot from six yards which was cleared off the line.
Both sides won corners but in the 53rd minute, Adam Coombes broke through, got past an Urquhart tackle, which had he gone down would have led to a red card for the young Scot and beat Burge to put Notts County 2-1 up.
Eli Bako replaced Adam Barton to join up with a hard working Ryan Quinn as County won a 62nd minute corner.
Manset sent a free kick over and in the 71st minute, the visitors whose manager was questioning the referee at every opportunity, had a free kick which Haworth aimed straight at Burge.
Ryan Quinn fired at Speiss. The Magpies countered again and Murray missed the far post with his shot with only Burge to beat.
In the 83rd minute, Manset sent over another cross and this time, Aaron Phillips was waiting on the penalty spot. Phillips took aim but his kick hit Speiss' right hand post.
After a bit of handbags which saw Melvin and Bako cautioned, Ian Foster sent on City Welsh U17 international George Thomas for the final few minutes.
Ryan Quinn fired wide late on but it will be Notts County who are at home to Wolves in the next round.