LEAMINGTON FC C 0-5 COVENTRY CITY BY KEV MONKS
Coventry City won The Mayor's Charity Cup with a 5-0 victory at Leamington FC.
For this inaugural match at the New Windmill which Mayor of Leamington Iain Jermond wants to be an annual event, Darren Robinson fielded a strong starting side as well as trialist Mark Howard and Jonny Tuffey in goal.
With Micky Adams sat amongst a crowd of 971, Dele Adebola and Gary McSheffrey both drew early saves from Brakes keeper Richard Morris.
City took the lead in the 20th minute through Gary McSheffrey who finished with a low shot from inside the area after Adebola did well to lay the ball into the path of the incoming McSheffrey.
Three minutes later, City went further ahead. This time it was Andy Morrell who was on target,perfectly executing an overhead kick from six yards following a corner.
The Sky Blues continued to press and on the stroke of half-time,Dele Adebola added a third. Referee James Barnwell inexplicably awarded Coventry a throw in. Andy Whing got to the ball and delivered a low cross for Adebola to flick into the net from five yards.
At the start of the second half, Robinson made nine changes sending on the likes of Thornton,Heath,Lynch,Turner, Davis and Reid.
Six minutes in and City went further ahead when Liam Davis turned smartly to curl a sublime shot past Morris from eighteen yards.
Jonny Tuffey,in his final ever game for the Sky blues did not have a shot to save in the second half and was replaced on the hour mark by Cameron Belford.
Craig Reid had a number of chances before The Sky Blues wrapped up the match in the 75th minute. Lee Hildreth shielded the ball inside his own half and fed Kevin Thornton who raced over forty yards before slotting the ball past the substitute Brakes keeper.
With David Burtoft and Ange Lourougnon sent on, Reid and Ben Turner had efforts scrambled off the line by the Midland Alliance side managed by City supporter Jason Cadden as the Sky Blues coasted to victory.
Matt Heath lifted the trophy on behalf of Coventry City but the real winners from an enjoyable night was the MacMillan Cancer Support Charity which made £3,900 from the evening's takings.
HT LFC 0-3 CCFC
FT LFC 0-5 CCFC
ATT 971
Goals Gary McSheffrey (20),Andy Morrell (23),Dele Adebola (45),Liam Davis (51),Kevin Thornton (75)
Team
1st half
Tuffey,Whing,Hall,Howard,Williams,Hughes,Morrell,Doyle,Adebola, McSheffrey,Scowcroft
2nd half
Tuffey (Belford 60),Ogarro (Burtoft 79),Turner, Howard,Heath,Osbourne,Hildreth (Lourougnon,Thornton,Reid,Davis,Lynch
Leamington
Morris (Coleman 56),Care (Adams 70)),Thompson (Feely 43),Parish, Cudworth,Howells,Morgan,Herlihy (Rodman 56),Adams,Thompson ,Husband (Shepherd 63)