Best And Eastwood Score In City Win

Last updated : 20 July 2009 By Kev Monks at Hinckley

HINCKLEY UNITED 0-2 COVENTRY CITY BY KEV MONKS

Date 18/07/09 AT The Greene King Stadium

Attendance 866


TEAM Konstantopolous, Wright (Clarke 70), Hall, Grandison, Turner, Bell (Doyle 66), Osbourne, Gunnarsson (Walker 66), Fox (Cain 56), Best (Jeffers 75), Eastwood


Hinckley

McKenzie (Jupp 82), Mace, Giddings, Gooding (Roberts 79), Green (Lister 70), Platneur, Hall (Hamilton 75), Dillon (Lavery 27), Lourougnon, West (Taylor 46), Franklin (Dozie 57)


Half Time Score: HTFC 0-1 CCFC

Full Time Score: HTFC 0-2 CCFC

Goals Leon Best (24), Freddie Eastwood (85)

Referee Mick Murphy Assistants Andy Stickley, Scott Postin


Man Of The Match: Marcus Hall took the votes from Jermaine Grandison and Leon Best.

Coventry City won their second consecutive friendly with a 2-0 victory at Hinckley United this afternoon.


City boss Chris Coleman was without Elliott Ward, James McPake and goalscorer from the win at Nuneaton - Clinton Morrison but had Danny Fox and Aron Gunnarsson both pass last fitness tests.


One person who didn't start was Keiren Westwood. The Republic Of Ireland international injured his knee and was withdrawn as a precaution, meaning that Dimi Konstantopolous took over in goal.


Not that it was a problem as the Sky Blues with Danny Fox playing some good balls from the left of midfield dominated against a side which included former Sky Blues - Stuart Giddings, Andy Gooding, Andy Hall, Ange Lourougnon and Matty West and former Coventry Sphinx defender James Mace.


City wore their black away kit for the game on a sunny day with some cloud whilst many of the City support which made up most of the 866 crowd were wearing the new home shirt that was launched yesterday.


David Bell looked good early on as he delivered some good crosses but stout defending ensured that Leon Best and Freddie Eastwood either put the chance wide or were stopped.


In the 24th minute, Coventry took the lead thanks to a long Aron Gunnarsson throw from the Main Stand side and there was Leon Best lurking at the far post to put City ahead from four yards.


City's midfield were involved in a heady battle all afternoon and much of the match was played in the middle third. One crunching tackle saw Dan Dillon limp off before Konstantopolous flapped at a free kick to give Hinckley a rare corner.


Leon Best made some good runs during his time on the pitch. He had to go out wide right to get the ball and one 33rd minute run through the middle brought City a corner. Today, Danny Fox was not finding the man he wanted with his corners and his over hit kick went out of play.


Andy Gooding was for me, Hinckley's best player. The son of former Sky Blue Ray, got into the area in the 38th minute but could only fire a tame effort straight at City's Greek keeper.


Hinckley boss Dean Thomas replaced Matty West who had worked hard up front for the Conference North side at the break but yet again, it was City who had most of the play.


A 48th minute foul on Leon Best gave City a free kick some twenty eight yards out. Fox played it to Eastwood who picked out Gunnarsson from twenty yards. The Icelander hit it well but McKenzie spotted it and moved across to catch the ball.


Best got down the right four minutes later and delivered a lovely cross for Eastwood. From fourteen yards out, the City striker headed over the bar when really he should have put the chance away.


Danny Fox became the first City player to be replaced when he was substituted in the 56th minute for Ashley Cain. The winger took over on the left and got in some good runs to put pressure on the home side.


Coleman and Steve Harrison who was shouting out most of the instructions, made a double change in the 66th minute when Adam Walker replaced Aron Gunnarsson and Michael Doyle came on for David Bell.


They also sent on Jordan Clarke and Shaun Jeffers before a 76th minute run from Cain, saw him avoid the attention of three markers and win a corner which Jermaine Grandison, who was pushing forward more and more often, nodded over.


Issac Osbourne also worked well and the midfielder put in a good cross four minutes later which Jeffers stabbed not far wide of the goal.


You could see that a second goal was coming and in the 85th minute, it arrived. Sean Jeffers on the right delivered a pin point cross to Freddie Eastwood on the penalty spot and the City striker, who was making headlines yesterday for not disposing of his waste properly, to head firmly into the net.


Freddie scores


Jeffers had a half chance late on but City took the victory by two goals to nil.

Pictures copyright of Covsupport News Service