COVENTRY CITY 3-1 CARDIFF CITY BY KEV MONKS
Coventry City finished the season in eighth place after a 3-1 home victory over Cardiff City.
One year to the day after we said our goodbyes to Highfield Road, a 22,536 gate at our new home saw Micky Adams name a side which saw Richard Shaw make his last ever appearance in a City
shirt.
Shaw received a standing ovation from all four corners of the ground including the 1500 or so Cardiff fans who had to journey to Corley Services on the M6 in order to get their match tickets.
Shaw partnered Matt Heath at the back with Marcus Hall going to left back with Dele Adebola replacing Don Hutchison. Stuart Giddings was benched alongside Isaac Osbourne whom I had the pleasure of the SBT Young Player Of The Year Christy Heffernan Memorial Trophy to after the game.
Former City defender David Jones included former Sky Blue Willie Boland and Leamington born Richard Scimeca in his starting eleven.
On a cold afternoon and with a massive police presence around the stadium, City only needed seven minutes to take the lead.
Gary McSheffrey who scooped the City, London and Irish Supporters Clubs Player Of The Year awards, got down the left and delivered a cross which fell nicely for Stern John to ram into the net from eight yards.
The lead lasted for only twelve minutes as an error by Richard Shaw let in Guylain Ndumbu-Nsungu. The former Darlington,Colchester and Sheffield Wednesday striker whipped over a cross. Matt Heath stood rooted to his spot,leaving Marton Fulop unable to guard his near post and Steve Thompson was on hand to force the ball home.
Kevin Thornton was lively in midfield, making sure he was a viable outlet and always looking to receive the ball whilst McSheffrey often was able to utilise the space on the left flank.
This he did in the 29th minute when some neat touches saw him force Neil Alexander into a save with a twenty five yarder.
Jermaine Darlington became the first name into the book of referee Trevor Kettle for a trip on McSheffrey as City won two corners to finish the half well.
With scuffles breaking out on the concourses at half-time between City and Cardiff followers, David Jones replaced Darlington with Neil Ardley.
For the first five minutes of the second half,it was Cardiff who looked the more likely to score the next goal,especially when Thompson headed wide from six yards when he really should have scored.
In the 50th minute, Richard Shaw was substituted. The City defender left to a standing ovation,a tribute for his ten and a bit years contribution to the Sky Blue cause.
Kevin Thornton fired a few feet wide with a long ranger. Cardiff broke up the other end and Jason Koumas smashed the ball against the post from twenty odd yards.
Dennis Wise was sent for Stephen Hughes in the 57th minute and the former Millwall boss whose influence on the City side since he joined in January has been immense, changed the game.
Wise had been on the pitch for seven minutes when City re-took the lead. A through ball from Doyle found Dele Adebola who advanced on goal before getting the ball on his right and slotting it past Alexander.
Don Hutchison replaced Stern John in the 66th minute as a revitalised City kept up the pace.
The contract seeking Hutchison should have done better from a 72nd minute Whing cross before the Sky Blues were down to ten men after Stuart Giddings limped off with a groin injury with eight minutes to go.
The numerical disadvantage did not bother Adams side and in the last minute,the victory was wrapped up when another excellent Whing cross from the right after a sublime Thornton pass,was met by the diving head of Dennis Wise from four yards and flew into the net.
It was a fitting end to what will be remembered as a good season and one we all would have settled for back in August 2005.
Thanks to everyone who has given me a lift this season and thanks to everyone for reading my reports.
HT CCFC 1-1 CCAFC
FT CCFC 3-1 CCAFC
ATT 22,536
GOALS Stern John (7),Steve Thompson (20),Dele Adebola (64),Dennis Wise (89)
Booked Darlington,Ledley,Loovens
TEAM
Fulop,Whing,Hall, Shaw (Giddings 50, off 82),Heath,Hughes (Wise 57),Doyle,Thornton, John (Hutchison 66),Adebola,McSheffrey SNU Morrell,Osbourne.
Cardiff
Alexander,Darlington (Ardley 46),Cox,Parry,Ledley,Boland,Thompson,Loovens,Scimeca, Ndumbu-Nsungu (McDonald 62) SNU Margetson,Barker,Cooper