COVENTRY CITY RESERVES 1-0 NORWICH CITY RESERVES BY KEV MONKS
Craig Reid scored the only goal as City Reserves beat Norwich City at Rugby Town.
Alan Cork switched the team from the one that won at Portsmouth a month ago and gave debuts to Matt Heath and Robert Page who is recovering from a facial injury and played wearing a mask. Also back from injury were youngsters Aaron Stringfellow and Adam Layfield who had spent some of Christmas in Walsgrave Hospital with pneumonia.
Ryan Lynch had done well on the left wing in the reserves friendly against MK Dons last week and was preferred to Liam Davis.
Luke Webb blazed over with ten minutes gone and on a rock hard pitch,Craig Reid won a 19th minute corner. When the ball came in,his back-header rolled across the face of the goal and out for a goal kick.
Page conceded a 24th minute corner before some good linking between Vijay Sidhu and Aza Ogarro allowed the Birmingham born midfielder to fire over from twenty yards.
Norwich arrived at Butlin Road with only two subs and on the half hour mark,they had to use Sek Muddel when Adam Gusterson limped off.
Jonny Tuffey had to make a save four minutes later when he got down to a Smart shot and Page cleared the danger.
With the temperatures dipping,there was little for the crowd of 236 which included a number of agents to cheer.
Craig Reid scored the only goal as City Reserves beat Norwich City at Rugby Town.
Alan Cork switched the team from the one that won at Portsmouth a month ago and gave debuts to Matt Heath and Robert Page who is recovering from a facial injury and played wearing a mask. Also back from injury were youngsters Aaron Stringfellow and Adam Layfield who had spent some of Christmas in Walsgrave Hospital with pneumonia.
Ryan Lynch had done well on the left wing in the reserves friendly against MK Dons last week and was preferred to Liam Davis.
Luke Webb blazed over with ten minutes gone and on a rock hard pitch,Craig Reid won a 19th minute corner. When the ball came in,his back-header rolled across the face of the goal and out for a goal kick.
Page conceded a 24th minute corner before some good linking between Vijay Sidhu and Aza Ogarro allowed the Birmingham born midfielder to fire over from twenty yards.
Norwich arrived at Butlin Road with only two subs and on the half hour mark,they had to use Sek Muddel when Adam Gusterson limped off.
Jonny Tuffey had to make a save four minutes later when he got down to a Smart shot and Page cleared the danger.
With the temperatures dipping,there was little for the crowd of 236 which included a number of agents to cheer.
The visitors had a couple of breaks but it was not until the 58th minute when Jonny Tuffey had to save a Lee Howlett drive.
Rikki Bains was the first City sub to be used when he came on in the 62nd minute for Aaron Stringfellow. Three minutes later, Cork made another change with Paul McCrink going up front to boost the strike pairing of Reid and Sidhu.
The only caution of the game came in the 67th minute when Michael Spillane brought Ryan Lynch down with a clatter as the winger tried to get past him. The foul led to a free kick. The ball bobbled around the penalty area and fell for Craig Reid to stab the ball towards the goal only for Jim Brennan just in front of the goal line to block.
Robert Page looked every bit a defender who has captained his country and along with Heath never looked anything less than always in total control of the situation.
When Cork's final substitution came in the 76th minute, it was Adam Layfield who was replaced by Ben Turner.
The temperature was in the minus figures and the game desperately needed a goal and with eleven minutes to go it finally arrived.
Ryan Lynch knocked the ball forward into the penalty area. Craig Reid was first to it and the Reserves top scorer turned before lashing the ball into the net from sixteen yards.
On a pitch which deteriorated by the minute, this game was never going to be a classic but another three points is always welcome.
HT CCFC 0-0 NCFC
FT CCFC 1-0 NCFC
Goal Craig Reid
Booked Michael Spillane
Team
Tuffey,Stringfellow (Bains 62),Layfield (Turner 76),Heath,Page,Ogarro,Gooding,Webb (McCrink 65),Sidhu,Reid,Lynch Subs Wall,Belford
FT CCFC 1-0 NCFC
Goal Craig Reid
Booked Michael Spillane
Team
Tuffey,Stringfellow (Bains 62),Layfield (Turner 76),Heath,Page,Ogarro,Gooding,Webb (McCrink 65),Sidhu,Reid,Lynch Subs Wall,Belford
Norwich
Lewis,Cave-Brown,Brennan,Fisk, Shackell (Eames 73),Gustarson (Muddell 30), Smart,Howlett,Martin,Spillane,Eagle