COVENTRY CITY 3-2 PRESTON NORTH END
Murphy (GK), Adams, J. Clarke, Wood, Edjenguele, Jennings (Moussa 75), Bailey (Thomas 53), Fleck, Baker (c), McSheffrey (Elliott 86), L. Clarke. Subs: Dunn (GK), Cameron.
Preston North End: Simonsen (GK), Cansdell-Sherriff (Robertson 18), Wroe, Holmes, Byrom (Monakana 55), Garner, Buchanan, Welsh (c), King, Foster, Beavon (Proctor 82).Subs: Stuckmann (GK), Procter, Beardsley.
HT CCFC 1-0 PNE FT CCFC 3-2 PNE ATT 12,655
Goals Steven Jennings 40, Luke Foster 67, Stuart Beavon 80, Carl Baker 92, Leon Clarke 94
Referee R.Madley. Booked Garner, Clarke.
-------------------------------
Coventry City's Wembley dream is still on after they came back to beat Preston 3-2.
On the day that long standing Coventry City employee Michelle Ridley was laid to rest, the Sky Blues took on Preston North End in the Johnstones Paint Trophy Northern Final with Mark Robins making only one change from the side which had been beaten at Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday.
The fact that this game was live on Sky and meant that City supporters around the world could focus on events at the Ricoh Arena, did not deter the Sky Blues support and 12,655 tickets were eventually sold.
On a bitterly cold, misty night, the game started at a fast pace with a Preston free kick and a corner either side of a Steven Jennings shot at the end where the Preston fans were.
In the 12th minute, Gary McSheffrey went on a good run and shot against a Preston side, who had their coach in his shorts, known for winding up players, bawling instructions from the bench, which was quick to close down the midfield.
Preston were forced into an early change when Shane Cansdell-Sherriff, limped off before the game continued at a frantic pace.
Jordan Clarke did well keeping Joe Garner in check whilst at the other end, Leon Clarke wasted a good chance in the 36th minute.
Garner, much to the excitement of the radio lads covering Preston, fired into the side netting at the other end.
In the 40th minute, a free kick gave City the lead when Edjenguele headed on and Steven Jennings slotted home at the far post for the first goal City have have scored in the first half of a game in this competition.
City started the second half with two free kick before the visitors won a 50th minute corner before Robins sent on Conor Thomas for James Bailey who had picked up a knock and the youngster, who did well against Tottenham, continued in the same vein.
Preston, who had made their second change two minutes after City, won a corner but the ball was soon up towards the empty North Stand end.
Unfortunately, some of the balls in the direction of Leon Clarke were overhit and City did not get the shots on goal that they should. And with City one goal is never enough as in the 67th minute, Luke Foster bundled home from a corner, just after Westley and his sidekick had been remonstrating with the fourth official trying to get a penalty.
City had the ball in the net straight away but a Clarke header was ruled out by the assistant on the East Stand.
There was twenty minutes left and the need for City to raise their game was now massive, so Franck Moussa was sent on for Jennings who had done well in midfield.
Baker flashed wide across the goal as the mist continued to come down. McSheffrey had a shot saved and in the 78th minute, Moussa was fouled and this set up a free kick which Baker superbly struck but hit the bar.
Preston attacked and in the 80th minute, Stuart Beavon hit a shot, which took a massive deflection and it went into the net with Joe Murphy helpless.
There was a massive chorus of the Sky Blue song as the City support tried to rally the team.
McSheffrey fired across the box before being replaced by Elliott. Preston responded with their usual time wasting tactics and in the third minute of time added on, the Lillywihte were made to pay when Carl Baker had the Ricoh rocking after smashing the ball in from the right hand side of the area,off the keeper.
We were still celebrating when, two minutes later, the visiting keeper flapped a Baker shot and Leon Clarke, who was one of three players on goal, banged in to send City into the Final and spark unprecedented scenes of delight.