FULHAM RESERVES 3-0 COVENTRY CITY RESERVES BY KEV MONKS
Coventry City were given a master class by an organised Fulham side at Motspur Park.
Alan Cork who sat on the bench with his son Jack, named a City side that included all four of City's non-contract players with starts for Andy Gooding and Ben Turner.
In Billy McKinlay and Ray Lewington's starting eleven was former City defender Dean Leacock with former Watford striker Heidar Helguson up front.
On an absolute bitter evening at Fulham's training ground complex,complete with a cricket pavilion for a stand,temporary floodlights and temporary goals,
Fulham created the better of the early chances with three excellent crosses by Ahmad Elrich being wasted by Wayne Brown and Heidar Helguson.
With ten minutes gone,City won their first corner and five minutes later,Liam Davis raced past three defenders only to see his drilled shot take a deflection and go the wrong side of the post.
Jonny Tuffey in the City goal was forced to make his first save of the game in the 27th minute when he reacted with his feet to a corner allowing Paul Watson against his former club to clear away.
Fulham took the lead in the 34th minute when a well worked move down the left was switched for the incoming Ahmad Elrich to fire an unstoppable six yard shot into the back of the net.
It was now all Fulham with a Phillipe Christanaval shot rasping the bar three minutes after the goal and chances for Milsom and Timlin.
Both sides made changes at the break, Kevin Thornton who was injured just before the break was replaced by Paul McCrink and Christianaval was switched for Kazeem Orelaja.
Fulham who were only two place above City in the league went further ahead in the 51st minute thanks to a powerful low drive from Heidar Helguson.
With Thornton off,City resorted to hoofing it forwards and time after time,the ball came straight back at the Sky Blues defence.
Ben Turner nearly scored a third for the home side,thankfully his backwards header went wide.
Craig Reid who has been pushing for a first team squad place,forced Fulham keeper Jaroslav Drobny into a save with a sixteen yard shot from an acute angle in the 72nd minute.
Youseff Sofiane who had not been as supportive as he and Liam Davis could have been, had a good effort from long range saved late on.
In the last minute,Fulham broke away,with Helguson squaring for Ahmad Elrich to smash into the net.
Tonight there was only one team in it and it was not the Sky Blues.
HT FFC 1-0 CCFC
FT FFC 3-0 CCFC
Att 62
Goals Ahmad Elrich (34 & 90)
Heida Helguson (51)
Booked
Brown 78
Team
Tuffey,Watson,Impey,Wall,Turner (Bains 75),Ogarro (Sidhu 68),Gooding,Thornton (McCrink 46),Reid,Sofiane,Davis
Subs
Kelly,Stringfellow
Fulham
Drobny,Moncur,Watkins (Miguil 80),Pearce,Leacock.Christanaval (Orelaja 46),Elrich,Milsom,Helguson,Timlin,Brown
Subs Davidson,Casal,Ehui
Coventry City were given a master class by an organised Fulham side at Motspur Park.
Alan Cork who sat on the bench with his son Jack, named a City side that included all four of City's non-contract players with starts for Andy Gooding and Ben Turner.
In Billy McKinlay and Ray Lewington's starting eleven was former City defender Dean Leacock with former Watford striker Heidar Helguson up front.
On an absolute bitter evening at Fulham's training ground complex,complete with a cricket pavilion for a stand,temporary floodlights and temporary goals,
Fulham created the better of the early chances with three excellent crosses by Ahmad Elrich being wasted by Wayne Brown and Heidar Helguson.
With ten minutes gone,City won their first corner and five minutes later,Liam Davis raced past three defenders only to see his drilled shot take a deflection and go the wrong side of the post.
Jonny Tuffey in the City goal was forced to make his first save of the game in the 27th minute when he reacted with his feet to a corner allowing Paul Watson against his former club to clear away.
Fulham took the lead in the 34th minute when a well worked move down the left was switched for the incoming Ahmad Elrich to fire an unstoppable six yard shot into the back of the net.
It was now all Fulham with a Phillipe Christanaval shot rasping the bar three minutes after the goal and chances for Milsom and Timlin.
Both sides made changes at the break, Kevin Thornton who was injured just before the break was replaced by Paul McCrink and Christianaval was switched for Kazeem Orelaja.
Fulham who were only two place above City in the league went further ahead in the 51st minute thanks to a powerful low drive from Heidar Helguson.
With Thornton off,City resorted to hoofing it forwards and time after time,the ball came straight back at the Sky Blues defence.
Ben Turner nearly scored a third for the home side,thankfully his backwards header went wide.
Craig Reid who has been pushing for a first team squad place,forced Fulham keeper Jaroslav Drobny into a save with a sixteen yard shot from an acute angle in the 72nd minute.
Youseff Sofiane who had not been as supportive as he and Liam Davis could have been, had a good effort from long range saved late on.
In the last minute,Fulham broke away,with Helguson squaring for Ahmad Elrich to smash into the net.
Tonight there was only one team in it and it was not the Sky Blues.
HT FFC 1-0 CCFC
FT FFC 3-0 CCFC
Att 62
Goals Ahmad Elrich (34 & 90)
Heida Helguson (51)
Booked
Brown 78
Team
Tuffey,Watson,Impey,Wall,Turner (Bains 75),Ogarro (Sidhu 68),Gooding,Thornton (McCrink 46),Reid,Sofiane,Davis
Subs
Kelly,Stringfellow
Fulham
Drobny,Moncur,Watkins (Miguil 80),Pearce,Leacock.Christanaval (Orelaja 46),Elrich,Milsom,Helguson,Timlin,Brown
Subs Davidson,Casal,Ehui