COVENTRY CITY U18'S 2-0 BRISTOL CITY BY KEV MONKS
Coventry City Academy christened their new home at the Alan Higgs Centre at Allard Way with a 2-0 victory over Bristol City.
In a game which started 28 minutes late,due to the visitors being delayed in traffic, Steve Ogrizovic's side took the lead in the eighth minute thanks to good work from Kevin Thornton who picked out Andy Hall. The midfielder who is getting accustomed to life at right back, jinked his way to the byline before cutting the ball back for Paul McCrink to tap from from three yards.
Bristol replied with three corner before Aaron Stringfellow's right footed shot after a long run forced visiting keeper Sam Pearce to dive to his left to save.
Gary O'Toole up front without his usual striker partner in Ben Mackey was on hand in the 20th minute to nod over a Hall cross before trying his luck with an acrobatic over head kick which missed the goal by a matter of feet.
On the brand new surface at the centre which has both indoor and outdoor pitches,Coventry were adapting to the conditions well.
On the half hour mark, Liam Davis who was a handful throughout,span and drilled a right footed effort against the foot of Pearce's near post.
Two minutes later,City increased their lead when Gary O'Toole seized on a ball over the top of the Bristol midfield and kept his cool to slot the ball into the net.
England U17 international Andy Gooding was linking well with Davis and in the 47th minute, Davis powered his way through before finding Gooding who fired over.
Six minutes later, the son of former Sky Blue Ray was involved with a free kick which Pearce dived to push away for a corner.
Coventry keeper and skipper Jonny Tuffey had been rarely tested but on the hour mark, Danny Whing crossed for Mike McKay. The Northern Irish keeper dived at the feet of McKay which was enough to ensure that the shot went wide but was injured in the process.
Tuffey recovered after treatment to save at his near post from a Sean Lamb shot.
With Ryan Lynch on for Kevin Thornton, Bristol started to lose their discipline and had Jack Alward cautioned for protesting 71st minute handball.
Four minutes later, the away team created their best chance of the match when a neat ball from Whing allowed Cadina Avalovic to blast a ten yard effort and for Jonny Tuffey to make a superb one handed reflex save and push the ball over the crossbar for a corner.
Steve Ogrizovic gave Craig Reid a brief run out as Bristol's indiscipline continued with needless cautions for bad tackles by Tom Osman and Mike McKay
City also had one caution when Andy Hall was carded late on as they held on to record their seventh victory in eight matches.
HT CCFC 2-0 BCFC FC CCFC 2-0 BCFC
GOALS Paul McCrink (8)
Gary O'Toole (32)
Booked Andy Hall
Alward,Osman,McKay
Man Of The Match - Liam Davis
TEAM
Tuffey,Hall,Leyfield,Stringfellow,Bains,Wall, Gooding,McCrink,O'Toole (Reid 79), Thornton (Lynch 68),Davis (O'Grady 88)
