COVENTRY CITY RESERVES 2-3
SHREWSBURY TOWN RESERVES BY KEV MONKS
Team
Ireland,Robinson,Francis,Barnett,De Zeeuw,Turner,Burtoft (Marshall 77),Hildreth, Simmonds,Andrews,Davis
Sub Burgess,Ashraf,Fitzharris,Grandison
Shrewsbury
Esson,Pyle,Leslie,Ryan,Hall (Miles 46).Ashton, Humphrey,Wright,Evans, Nicholson,Burns (Gibson 81) Subs Brown,Singh,Gray
HT CCFC 2-0 STFC FT CCFC 2-3 STFC
Referee G.Stretton
Booked Jimmy Ryan (67)
Goals Liam Davis (12),Wayne Andrews (31). Dan Evans (48),Shane Nicholson (70 & 87)
Man Of The Match Take your pick from Liam Davis,Donovan Simmonds,Charlie Barnett or Liam Robinson
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WEATHER
Sunny but cold when it went dark due to the openness of Liberty Way.
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CITY SUPPORT
About one hundred and seventy one in the ground, a figure boosted by the Lee Hildreth Appreciation Society. Scouts included Walsall boss Richard Money and Stuart Gray.
As usual,Iain Dowie,Tim Flowers and Frankie Bunn were present.
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STARTING FORMATION
Steve Ogrizovic included trialist Charlie Barnett as well as De Zeeuw,Andrews and fit again Donovan Simmonds
SHREWSBURY TOWN RESERVES BY KEV MONKS
Team
Ireland,Robinson,Francis,Barnett,De Zeeuw,Turner,Burtoft (Marshall 77),Hildreth, Simmonds,Andrews,Davis
Sub Burgess,Ashraf,Fitzharris,Grandison
Shrewsbury
Esson,Pyle,Leslie,Ryan,Hall (Miles 46).Ashton, Humphrey,Wright,Evans, Nicholson,Burns (Gibson 81) Subs Brown,Singh,Gray
HT CCFC 2-0 STFC FT CCFC 2-3 STFC
Referee G.Stretton
Booked Jimmy Ryan (67)
Goals Liam Davis (12),Wayne Andrews (31). Dan Evans (48),Shane Nicholson (70 & 87)
Man Of The Match Take your pick from Liam Davis,Donovan Simmonds,Charlie Barnett or Liam Robinson
_________________________
WEATHER
Sunny but cold when it went dark due to the openness of Liberty Way.
________________________
CITY SUPPORT
About one hundred and seventy one in the ground, a figure boosted by the Lee Hildreth Appreciation Society. Scouts included Walsall boss Richard Money and Stuart Gray.
As usual,Iain Dowie,Tim Flowers and Frankie Bunn were present.
_____________________________
STARTING FORMATION
Steve Ogrizovic included trialist Charlie Barnett as well as De Zeeuw,Andrews and fit again Donovan Simmonds
Simmonds Andrews
Davis Hildreth Barnett Burtoft
Francis Turner De Zeeuw Robinson
Ireland
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Dodgy Danny Ireland made another two howlers to condemn City Reserves to their third consecutive Pontins League Central Division defeat.
Having lost their first two games of the season, City Reserves needed a vast improvement and it looked like this would happen when Steve Ogrizovic's side took the lead in the 13th minute.
David Burtoft,who is playing as a trialist after having his contract cancelled, played a lovely ball inside for Liam Davis who thumped it into the net with a left footed shot from the edge of the area.
Arjan De Zeeuw looked comfortable at the back with Ben Turner whilst Wayne Andrews started slowly but improved as the first half went on.
It was the former Palace striker who put City further ahead in the 31st minute when he was first to a through ball,turned his marker and ran through to stroke the ball low past Ryan Esson.
Arjan De Zeeuw looked comfortable at the back with Ben Turner whilst Wayne Andrews started slowly but improved as the first half went on.
It was the former Palace striker who put City further ahead in the 31st minute when he was first to a through ball,turned his marker and ran through to stroke the ball low past Ryan Esson.
Unfortunately, City were not the same in second half. With Iain Dowie and his staff watching from the temporary stand, you would have thought that the City players would be doing everything possible to try and force their way into the first team squad but so far this season, this has not been the case.
Three minutes in and Shrewsbury reduced the arrears when Danny Ireland, who has yet to prove that he is up to the standard of reserve team football, made a right hash of a harmless looking corner and allowed the ball to drop for Dan Evans to bundle over the line.
Shrewsbury were now controlling the game. Far too often, the ball out of midfield was landing the City defence in trouble and with the hapless Antipodean in goal, it was a case of clear it anywhere.
Charlie Barnett did try to help City in midfield and looked reasonable useful but the Sky Blues lacked a cutting edge and the will to finish off the visitors.
In the 70th minute, Liam Davis struck the far post after a long ball from De Zeeuw had been neatly flicked on by Andrews but seconds later, it was no surprise when Shrewsbury drew level.
Another bang upfield saw Liam Francis play Stuart Nicholson onside and the striker had time to pick his spot and beat Ireland with a low finish.
Dowie and Flowers left shortly after the equaliser, having seen enough and who could blame them?
With three minutes left, Nicholson again broke, Turner and De Zeeuw were awol and the scorer of the second goal was able to hit home a shot from six yards which Ireland helped into the net.
Into stoppage time and Esson,at the other end, showed how it should be done with a diving save to push away a free kick and then had the confidence to claim the incoming corner.
It was another bad defeat and one which will continue unless another keeper is found.