Italian Side Beaten By Reserves

Last updated : 13 February 2007 By Covsupport
COVENTRY CITY RESERVES 2-1 AC RENATE BY KEV MONKS
Coventry City Reserves put in another good performance to beat Italian visiting side AC Renate.

Against the Serie D side from the Lombardy region of Italy, Darren Robinson named a mixture of experience and youth. New Zealand defender Che Bunce was given his first start in a City shirt with outings for Chris Birchall,Adam Virgo,Ben Turner and Stuart Giddings plus American trialist Ian Hetherington.

The football played under Robinson has always been free flowing and this game was no exception with Adam Virgo needing only ninety seconds to rifle a shot onto the top of the crossbar.

Five minutes later, it was the loanee from Celtic who put City ahead when he delicately chipped the ball over Marco Tusino and into the far corner of the net.

Reserves v Renate

Chris Birchall had a fine game in midfield for City and the Trinidad international thumped home a glorious shot from the edge of the area in the eleventh minute to give City a two goal lead.

The visitors who face Nottingham Forest tomorrow and fielded players aged mainly between 22 and 25 also played some neat football in a good quality pitch at Ryton and in the 20th minute, Adam Lee Barrett made two excellent blocks from Bresciani and Claudio Borghi.

Che Bunce and Ben Turner were solid at the back whilst good work from Gooding and Birchall ensured that the front runners were well supplied. This allowed Liam Davis,Virgo and Ange Lourougnon to have a number of efforts on goal as the half came to a close.

The Italians made six changes at the break and again it was the Sky Blues who had the better of the chances with Virgo rising to head wide in the 50th minute and Liam Davis causing problems for the right back when he drilled wide five minutes later.

In the 65th minute, Robinson replaced the industrious Birchall with Lee Hildreth and three minutes later City had the ball in the net for a third time but this time referee James Glover spotted a handball by Ange Lourougnon and the goal was ruled out.

Listening In

Trialist Ian Hetherington did make some good runs and in the 70th minute, the blond haired American got down the right and hit a cross which was deflected. It fell to the feet of Adam Virgo who volleyed onto Tusino's left hand post.

The ball was cleared up field to Claudio Borghi who rounded Lee Barrett and stroked the ball into the net to reduce the arrears.

Chris Duggan was sent on for Stuart Giddings who had put in another good performance after coming on as a sub for the first team versus Cardiff on Saturday.

With five minutes left, Robinson made his final change with David Burtoft coming on for Adam Virgo whose performance had obviously impressed the home side's bench. As Virgo left the pitch, the entire bench shouted what was translated as well done.

Virgo was touched by the gesture and watched on as City held on to win.

HT CCFC 2-0 ACR
FT CCFC 2-1 ACR

Goal Adam Virgo (5),Chris Birchall (11), Claudio Borghi (71)

Team
Lee Barrett,Lynch,Giddings (Duggan 76),Birchall (Hildreth 65),Bunce,Turner,Hetherington,Gooding, Virgo (Burtoft 85),Lourougnon,Davis SNU Belford,D.Jones

AC Renate
Tusino,Ancora,Crippa,Commisso,Paulumbieri,Frigerio,Fossati, Borghi,Curioni,Bresciani,Serio Subs Used Bellato,Soncin,Boyokino,Bazzo,Pozzoli,Staffiero