COVENTRY CITY U18's 2-3 BARNSLEY
City: Fagan, Kelly-Evans, Haynes, Lawton, Azille-Moore, Fletcher, Bako (Forrester 66), Fredrick, Maund, Garner, Rankin. SNU Kelly-Evans, Gott, Maddison, Bromley.
Barnsley: Mackey, Alderson, Smith, J.Moore, Freeman, Shilito, Alexander-Salmon,Abbott, Oates, Biggina, Maris. Subs Used McKnight, Sousa, Williams
HT CCFC 1-0 BFC FT CCFC 2-3 BFC
GOALS Lewis Rankin 27 Brad Abbott 47,86 pen, Greg Maris 53, Jordan Forrester 66/
__________________
Coventry City U18's played their part in a highly entertaining game but went down to a late defeat against Barnsley.
A good crowd on a sunny morning at the Alan Higgs saw Louis Garner flick a shot at the visiting keeper.
City played some really good football, allowing Ben Maund to fire over when clean through, a Tarik Azille-Moore shot at the visiting keeper Mackey and a Louis Garner free kick in the 24th minute of a game being deflected over for a corner.
In the 27th minute of a first half watched by former Sky Blues Steve Ogrizovic and Marcus Hall, a good move allowed Lewis Rankin to go on a bit of a run and create some space to send a right footed twenty yarder low into the net.
However, it was not too last and in the 42nd minute, City keeper Shane Fagan pulled off a fantastic save to push a Rhys Oates shot.
Then two minutes after the restart, Barnsley were level thanks to a great twenty yarder from Brad Abbott.
Barnsley piled on the pressure and Fagan made a great double save from Alexander-Salmon and Abbott. But could nothing to stop a drive by George Maris giving Barnsley a 53rd minute lead.
City were denied a penalty when a trip on Garner was deemed to be outside the area by the referee.
Ian Foster sent on Jordan Forrester and the youngster had only been on the pitch for a matter of seconds when he nipped in and slipped the ball past the keeper to make it 2-2 after 67 minutes.
The goal lifted City and although Fagan made one good save before the flag went up, Jemal Fredrick and Rankin who was having a stormer continued to threaten.
But with four minutes remaining, the referee failed to give a handball to City and allowed Barnsley to attack. Oates was pulled down for a penalty which Barnsley’s man of the match Brad Abbott cooly dispatched.
In stoppage time, City won two corners, the second was cleared off the line, but the Sky Blues went down to a defeat.