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TEAM: Murphy (Dunn 46), Christie (Wilson 60), Keogh (McPake 60), Hussey (Phillips 60), Clingan (Cameron 60), Cranie (Wood 46), Bell (Bigirimana (60), Baker (Thomas 54), Jutkiewicz (Jeffers 60), McSheffrey (Ruffles 60), O’Donovan (Eastwood 55) SNU Richards and Willis
KETTERING: Walker, P. Ifil, Davis, (Clapham 46), Dobson (Berry 65), Koo Boothe (Cunnington 55), Ashikodi (Simpson 65), Verma, Kelly, J.Ifil, Meechan, Challinor (Bussey 55).
HT KTFC 0-0 CCFC FT KTFC 0-1 CCFC ATT 969
REFEREE Steve Martin Assistants Wayne Chalmers and Dave Jarrett
GOAL GARY McSheffrey (50)
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REPORT BY KEV MONKS
Coventry City worked hard for a 1-0 victory at Kettering Town this afternoon.
There was an excellent turn out of City supporters, far more than the four hundred in two blocks that the stewards were expecting and the Sky Blue Army was seven hundred strong in the right hand side of the delapidated main stand, which fully explained why Kettering have made the decision to play their league games at Nene Park.
Andy Thorn who had said that this game was all about getting his players match fitness levels up, kept the team that started against Hinckley on Wednesday.
Kettering now managed by Morell Maison were a lot better than City's first two opponents as you would expect and were far quicker in closing down the City players who today were playing with a back four.
Lukas Jutkiewicz and Chris Hussey both had shots blocked in the opening minutes before Kettering struck the side netting,
With Richard Keogh highly capable at centre half, City were able to start to push forward.
Jutkiewicz sent the ball across the area, followed by two corners, the second of which saw Baker fire wide.
Back in the stand, some of the City support were clearly showing their age with some of the songs they were coming out including old favourites from the 1970's including 'Tip Toe Through The West End'.
In the 32nd minute, Joe Murphy made a good stop getting down to a low drive. The ball went straight up the other end for Jutkiewicz to fire over with a shot that saw the balll heading towards some houses behind the goal.
Four minutes later, the Sky Blues created their best chance when Carl Baker rifled a shot, which the home keeper pushed over for a corner.
Bell fired at the same keeper who then helped the Conference side win two corners before the break.
City made two changes at the interval with Chris Dunn replacing Murphy in goal and Richard Wood coming on for Martin Cranie.
Four minutes in and Lukas Jutkiewicz won a corner. The ball, was headed back across the area by Richard Keogh and Gary McSheffrey was on hand to head home from three yards, delighting the majority of the crowd which looked to be around the one thousand mark.
City attacked the side in white and green shirts again and Richard Keogh was unlucky when he hooked not far wide.
Thorn made another two changes bringing on Conor Thomas and Freddy Eastwood before changing the rest of his line up on the hour mark when he made seven more changes.
Dunn pulled off a cracking save diving to his left in the 62nd minute before Arron Phillips started to put in crosses with both Eastwood and Jeffers heading over from his crosses from the right.
Kettering had a couple of chances late on but nothing to worry the City defence and the Sky Blues move on to Chesterfield on Tuesday night still unbeaten in pre-season.
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