Reserves Beat Not So Happy Hammers

Last updated : 07 February 2006 By Kev Monks
WEST HAM UNITED RESERVES 0-3 COVENTRY CITY RESERVES BY KEV MONKS

Coventry City Reserves continued with their rich vein of form winning 3-0 at West Ham United.

For a league game moved to West Ham's Academy home at Little Heath in the Romford area of East London due to the unavailability of their usual haunt of Dagenham & Redbridge and refurbishment at Upton Park, Steve Ogrizovic and Brian Borrows took a side which had three changes from the one which beat Ipswich 4-0. Out were Andy Whing, trialist Danny Thomas and Andy Gooding with Rikki Bains,Aza Ogarro and Lee Hildreth coming in.

Chances in the first half which kicked off at 1pm on a bitter afternoon were at something of a premium but in the 31st minute,Kevin Thornton, who was again a livewire, was tripped.

The midfielder got up,took the free kick,some twenty yards out and found Craig Reid who slotted the ball past former City keeper Stephen Bywater.

The goal was ruled out for offside but two minutes later,Reid fired City ahead when he raced through from a Sidhu ball to drive the ball past Bywater.

Hammers boss Kevin Kyle made two changes at the break and it took a good block with his feet to stop Hogan Ephraim from equalising two minutes into the second half.

In the 51st minute,Davis on the left,knocked the ball to Sidhu who found Craig Reid on the penalty spot. City Reserves top scorer let the ball come to him before striking a left footed volley past Bywater.

Ryan Lynch's throw-ins were causing the home defence countless problems and Bywater had to be alert to deal with efforts by Ogarro and Turner.

In the 78th minute,Liam Davis had to be replaced when he was shoved over and fell badly. Aaron Stringfellow was sent on and four minutes later,Paul McCrink replaced Vijay Sidhu.

With the game now in the second minute of stoppage time, City wrapped up another good performance when substitute Craig Kelly whipped in a cross, Reid flicked the ball on for Stuart Wall at the far post to scoop the ball into the net from close range.

HT WHU 0-1 CCFC
FT WHU 0-3 CCFC

Goals Craig Reid (33,51),

Booked Darren Blewitt (50)

Team
Tuffey,Bains,Lynch,Ogarro,Turner,Wall,Hildreth (Kelly 87),Thornton,Sidhu (McCrink 82),Reid,Davis (Stringfellow 78)

Subs Belford,Layfield.

West Ham
Bywater,Henry (Fitzgerald 79),Blewitt,Tomkins,White (Hales 46),Baradji,Ephraim,Cowley,Jeffrey,Hines (Davidson 46),Welsh

Subs Andrews,Kemal,Widdowson