Coventry City U23's hit six past Crystal Palace in a thrilling game at the AHC this afternoon.
The Sky Blues were able to name a such a strong side, it could have passed for a first team with only Jak Hickman in the starting eleven who had not made his league debut for City's first team.
They took on a Palace side, coached by former City defender Richard Shaw, who were top of the league.
However, right from the kick off, after a minute's silence to mark the sad death of Cyrille Regis yesterday, it was clear that the Sky Blues, boosted by their 5-1 win at Bristol City, were in the mood to go for goals.
City should have been a goal up inside the opening two minutes when Jordan Ponticelli rattled the bar on an afternoon of rain and sunshine.
In the eighth minute, we had the first goal of the afternoon, which came when Ryan Haynes crossed and Stuart Beavon was there to head from ten yards.
The City support, surrounded by scouts from the likes of Barnsley, then had another goal to cheer as in the ninth minute. Josh Barrett tapped home from a lovely Ben Stevenson cross from the right which went across the area.
With Stevenson and Maycock bossing the midfield and Hickman running forward at every opportunity, the Sky Blues were able to create a number of chances with even Rod McDonald making his home debut for City U23's having a pop at goal
In the 32nd minute, it was three when Josh Barrett, who has been amongst the goals for Reading U23's, cut inside and slipped the ball under Dion Henry in the Palace goal.
Five minutes later and it was four when Hickman brilliantly played in Jordan Ponticelli who ran through and lifted the ball into the net and on the stroke of half-time, City were five goals to the good, thanks to Jordan Ponticelli being sent on his way and finishing as cool as you like in what was one of the best ever first halves I have seen a City Reserves side put in, in my 45 years of watching them and a first class performance from every City player on the pitch.
Richard Shaw must have given his team some massive lecture at the break which saw Jordan Thompson coming on for Rod McDonald.
Palace were a lot better defensively, although up front, they struggled as Dion Kelly-Evans made cracking tackle after cracking tackle, a number on Sullay KaiKai, who will probably have the bruises to show that he was in one hell of a battle.
Jordan Ponticelli was replaced after 54 minutes by Bilal Sayoud for a City side which should have been tighter on Nya Kirby as he got through and beat Liam O'Brien to get the Eagles on the scoresheet.
However, it proved nothing more than a consolation as in the 86th minute, Ryan Haynes stormed down the flank and had a shot parried by Henry. The ball came lose and there was Josh Barrett to fire home and complete his hat-trick.
The Irishman was immediately replaced by Kyle Finn, who harried and jostled like the rest of his team mates before City could celebrate a superb 6-1 victory.
