COVENTRY CITY RESERVES 3-1 CRYSTAL PALACE RESERVES BY KEV MONKS
Coventry City Reserves signed off 2005 with a 3-1 victory over Crystal Palace.
Coventry City Reserves signed off 2005 with a 3-1 victory over Crystal Palace.
Alan Cork gave a debut to Stern John who is back at the club after an unsuccessful spell at Derby County in what was a young team.
Palace boss Kit Symons who once turned out for John Sillett's testimonial at Highfield Road fielded a slightly stronger side with Tommy Black, who hit a hat-trick in the game at Selhurst Park,getting a game.
Those who were not having their questions answered at the club's AGM which was going on at the Arena,should have been at Butlin Road instead to see Stern John curl wide in the opening minute and two minutes later,City were ahead when Kevin Thornton was brought down inside the area,and got up to stroke home the resulting penalty.
In the fifteenth minute,City went further ahead when Stern John was left unmarked to head home from a corner.
Two became three in the 23rd minute. Kevin Thornton was brought down on the edge of the area. A number of us thought it was a penalty as did Thornton who appealed. Thornton took the free kick which was too quick for referee Amy Raynor's liking. Thornton went into the book and straight on to the scoresheet as his free kick was fumbled into the net by Palace keeper David Wilkinson.
In the final minute of the half,Craig Reid thumped a drive from inside the area against the crossbar.
City were straight on the attack after the restart. Aza Ogarro won a corner, Stuart Wall who had a solid game at centre half powered a header bringing a tremendous save from Wilkinson who parried the ball before Thornton sent the rebound over.
Stern John was cautioned for raring up at an opponent after a heavy tackle.
In the 49th minute,Palace had their first real chance when Black hit a shot from eight yards and somehow,Stuart Wall got back to clear off the line.
Stern John who always looked a threat even if he did not do a lot was substituted by Alan Cork in the 54th minute with Vijay Sidhu coming on.
Reid scooped a 61st minute effort at the keeper, but Palace pulled one back in the 72nd minute with a stunning strike from Lewis Spence who lashed the ball high into the net from 25 yards.
With time running out, Wilkinson saved with his feet from a close range Sidhu effort and then from Wall following a Thornton free kick.
Two Palace players were booked at the end. Glenn Wilson for a trip and Gary Borrowdale for kicking the ball away after Craig Reid had been sent crashing.
Thornton took the free kick and just missed out on a deserved hat-trick when his effort from nineteen yards curled just past the far post.
HT CCFC 3-0 CPFC
FT CCFC 3-1 CPFC
Goals
Thornton (4,23),John (15),Spence (72)
Booked
Tommy Black (18),Kevin Thornton (23),John (47),Wilson (89),Borrowdale (92)
MOM Kevin Thornton
Team
Tuffey,Bains,Lynch (Layfield 87),Gooding,Wall,Turner,Reid,Ogarro,John (Sidhu 54),Thornton,Davis (McCrink 83)
Subs Sidhu,Belford,Layfield,McCrink,Kelly
Palace
Wilkinson,Fray,Wilson,Borrowdale,Straker (Dayton 54),Berry, Spence,Hall,Hughes,Black,Grabban
Subs
Banks,Swaibu,Peltonen,Kudjodi
Tuffey,Bains,Lynch (Layfield 87),Gooding,Wall,Turner,Reid,Ogarro,John (Sidhu 54),Thornton,Davis (McCrink 83)
Subs Sidhu,Belford,Layfield,McCrink,Kelly
Palace
Wilkinson,Fray,Wilson,Borrowdale,Straker (Dayton 54),Berry, Spence,Hall,Hughes,Black,Grabban
Subs
Banks,Swaibu,Peltonen,Kudjodi