Academy Draw With Chelsea
In front of a sizable crowd at the Alan Higgs Centre which included Micky Adams, chances were limited early on. The best fell to the visitors and saw a second minute effort from Chelsea's left winger Shaun Cummings that City keeper Cameron Belford dealt with in a confident manner.
Belford made another good stop with his legs to initially block Cummings in the 23rd minute. Two minutes later,Rikki Bains lobbed the ball back to where he thought Cameron Belford was. Unfortunately, Belford had come out of his goal and the ball sailed over his head for Cummings to race through to fire into the empty net.
Belford made another good stop with his legs to initially block Cummings in the 23rd minute. Two minutes later,Rikki Bains lobbed the ball back to where he thought Cameron Belford was. Unfortunately, Belford had come out of his goal and the ball sailed over his head for Cummings to race through to fire into the empty net.
U18's boss Brian Borrows ordered his team to get on with the game and the Sky Blues were level inside two minutes thanks to some good work by Paul McCrink who crossed for Arron Stringfellow to stroke home from seven yards.
In the 34th minute, City were prevented from taking the lead thanks to a wonderful right handed save by Rhys Taylor following an Adam Layfield close range header after Rikki Bains initial shot had been deflected.
Taylor looked good in the Blues goal and delighted the small band of Chelsea supporters when he dived to his right to save a 40th minute Vijay Sidhu penalty following a deliberate handball by Dean Furman.
The second half started with another good save from Taylor to deny Gooding and in the 51st minute,a City corner was kicked off the line by Lee Sawyer.
The midfielder was cautioned as was James Younghusband both for late tackles.
This was another trademark hardworking performance from the Sky Blues. They kept the ball moving,making the most of the excellent playing surface to close down the visitors and create what chances they could.
Unfortunately, the Sky Blues could not a way to beat Taylor and will count themselves unlucky not to have won an entertaining game.
Coventry City U16's beat Chelsea 2-0.
HT CCFC 1-1 CFC
FT CCFC 1-1 CFC
Goals - Shaun Cummings (25),Aaron Stringfellow (27)
Booked Lee Sawyer (56),Younghusband (62),Adam Layfield (83), Taylor (90)
Coventry
Belford,Duggan(Jones 78),Kelly,Ogarro,Turner,Bains,Gooding,Stringfellow,McCrink,Sidhu (Lorougnon 75), Layfield SUBS Collett,Hildreth,Burtoft
Chelsea
Taylor,Younghusband,Worley,Hutchinson,Bertrand,Furman,Sawyer (Gradosielski 89),Simmonds,Sinclair,Cummings(Bridcutt 62),Watkins SUBS Russell,Saarelma,Hurrell,