VS RUGBY LEGENDS 1-5 COVENTRY CITY 87 PLUS GUESTS BY KEV MONKS
Coventry City's 1987 side made easy work of a VS Rugby Legends side in a game to mark the 50th anniversary of the Warwickshire club.
The City side had seven members of the 1987 FA Cup Winning side and included former players such as Brian Borrows,Brian "Harry" Roberts,John Williams,Dave Busst, Paul Williams and Dean Emerson plus guests Terry Angus and Dean Thomas, the manager of Hinckley United who suffered the tragedy of one of their players Matt Gadsby dying in a game at Harrogate Town yesterday.
A minute's silence was impeccably observed by a crowd of around 400 before kick off on a very warm afternoon at Butlin Road.
In a game of 35 minutes each way, Cyrille Regis kept Mick Martin busy in the VS goal with two early shots before the Sky Blues took the lead in the 22nd minute.
Some excellent work Brian Borrows saw the U18's boss pick out the unmarked Dean Thomas who made no mistake with a simple tap-in.
Dave Phillips looked the fittest player on the pitch fired wide in the 25th minute and then forced Martin in a point blank save with a close range shot.
On the stroke of half-time, Phillips turned provider,sending over a cross for David Busst who beat the advancing Martin to the ball and thumped it high into an empty net.
With the Sky Blue Trust having boosted the three charities benefiting from the game to the tune of £100, Coventry went three goals clear thirteen minutes into the second half. Dave Phillips was again involved crossing for Dave Bennett to bang home from eight yards.
Rugby decided they needed a little extra help and played with twelve men whilst Steve Ogrizovic decided that he would play up front with City supporting Terry Angus going in goal.
The amount of Rugby players on the pitch was finally reduced down to the mandatory eleven players when a mistake in the VS defence allowed Cyrille Regis to head home in the 55th minute.
John Williams replaced Angus in goal,Dean Thomas rifled one just past the post and David Busst crashed a header against the bar but in the 63rd minute the home side pulled one back. Trevor Peake played a winger on side and Pete Beacham slammed home from six yards.
Four minutes later, City finished a good performance with a fifth goal courtesy of Dave Phillips whose low drive from twenty yards plus gave the home substitute keeper no chance.
Both teams received some good applause as they left the field after an entertaining afternoon's entertainment which benefited the Coventry & Warwickshire Air Ambulance, Myton Hospice and Birmingham Children's Hospital Heart Unit.
HT VSR 0-2 CCFC FT VSR 1-5 CCFC
Goals Dean Thomas (22), David Busst (34), Dave Bennett (48),Cyrille Regis (55), Pete Beacham (63), Dave Phillips (67)
City Team
1 Steve Ogrizovic,2 Dave Bennett,3 Michael Gynn, 4 Terry Angus,5 Paul Williams,6 Trevor Peake,7 Dave Phillips,8 Brian Roberts, 9 Cyrille Regis,10 John Williams,11 David Busst, 12 Lloyd McGrath, 14 Brian Borrows,16 Dean Thomas,18 Dean Emerson
