HINCKLEY UNITED 1-0 COVENTRY CITY RESERVES BY KEV MONKS
TEAM
Collett,Gooding (Fitzharris 81),Robinson,Hildreth, Hawkins (c),Francis,Simmonds,Thornton, Simpson,Hollist (Burgess 70), Davis, SNU Ashraf,Cain
Hinckley
Bowles,Roma,Shilton (Bradshaw 85),Nurse,Butler (Smith 85),Birch,Cartwright, Jackson,Marrison (Murphy 67),Stevenson,Story (Storer 11)
Referee S.Barrow
Att 408
Goal Chris Nurse (87)
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STARTING FORMATION
City Reserve team boss named a strong-ish side for the second visit in successive seasons to the new home of Hinckley United. Those with Football League experience were Colin Hawkins who skippered the side, Kevin Thornton and Liam Davis whilst Robbie Simpson and Lee Hildreth have been involved in first team friendly matches this season.
Collett
Robinson Hawkins Francis Hollist
Gooding Thornton Hildreth
Simmonds
Simpson Davis
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GROUND
The Marston Stadium, opened a couple of seasons ago is a good hike from the town centre but is a decent ground fit for a side in the Conference North. It has one single tier main stand. Covered terracing behind one goal with more covered terracing down the side and hard standing behind the goal to the left of the main stand.
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WEATHER
A warm evening with plenty of sun
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Coventry City Reserves went down to a late goal defeat in a friendly at Hinckley United tonight.
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FIRST HALF
Against a side managed by Dean Thomas who often turns out for City veteran teams, both sides played some good football early on.
Robbie Simpson was usually involved in the moves and had a great cross cleared in the sixth minute from a lovely through-ball from Liam Robinson.
At the other end,Colin Hawkins was in fine form winning every header whilst Francis and Robinson kept the defence steady.
The first time, it was really breached was in the 18th minute when Chris Nurse thumped a shot onto the bar from eleven yards out, followed two minutes later by Jon Stevenson breaking down the right before firing wide.
Although the Sky Blues were enjoying plenty of possession against a side which included former Sky Blue Sam Shilton and Neil Cartwright,son of Les, they lacked the necessary desire in front of goal.
In the 38th minute, Thornton jinked his way through and was up-ended some twenty six yards out. Simpson took the resulting free kick but could only fire it straight into the waiting arms of Sean Bowles.
Lee Hildreth whose performances for the reserves and academy last season earned him a one year deal fired wide two minutes before the break after some nifty footwork from Liam Davis took him round four players.
HT HUFC 0-0 CCFC
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SECOND HALF
After a bad tackle on Liam Davis had upset the City supporters in a crowd of 408, the Sky Blues had the better of the early part of the second period and earned two corners.
With the home side making the first change bringing on former Nuneaton Borough striker Gez Murphy in the 67th minute followed three minutes later by Steve Ogrizovic replacing Chris Hollist with Callum Burgess.
As the game reached it's conclusion,Hinckley started to look threatening. Tony Butler sent a downward header inches over the bar from a 75th minute free kick and you could sense that the home side felt that a win was within their grasp.
Andy Gooding limped off with nine minutes and was replaced by Kieran Fitzharris who was unlucky not to have scored the opening goal when his shot form a Simpson cross was pushed up into the air by Bowles before being cleared.
Dean Thomas made a triple change in the 85th minute and the effect was instant as less than two minutes later, Chris Nurse was first to a corner on the left and dived to head the ball through a crowded penalty area and into the net.
With seconds left, Robbie Simpson rose to meet a deep cross from Thornton but the former Cambridge United forward sent the ball agonisingly wide of the far post and Hinckley won the match.
FT HUFC 1-0 CCFC
Man Of The Match - Colin Hawkins took the vast majority of the votes with a nomination for Liam Robinson.
SUPPORTERS VIEW
We caught up with Steve from Tile Hill after the game. He said: "The first half was more entertaining than the second with the better side in the second half winning.
"It was a good chance to see the prospects of the future and whilst those who had played together before did ok, Robbie Simpson did not look settled."