COVENTRY CITY RESERVES 1-0 MLS REPRESENTATIVE SELECT BY KEV MONKS
A goal from Chris Birchall proved enough for City Reserves to beat a visiting Major League Soccer Representative side.
For this game of three,thirty minute periods against a side of Americans under the age of twenty four, Alan Cork included trialists keeper Ashley Morris and midfielder Billy Alvill, alongside the likes of Marcus Hall,Stephen Hughes,Chris Birchall,Adam Virgo and Kevin Kyle.
In blustery conditions at Ryton,the MLS side forced three early corners but fell behind in the 15th minute.
Kevin Kyle advanced towards the goal before being brought down some twenty yards out.Chris Birchall took the resulting free kick and thumped a shot which struck a defender in the wall and looped over the keeper high into the net.
With the wind holding the ball up in the air, City kept the ball on the deck and showed their opponents a lesson in passing with Hughes,Gooding,Virgo and Birchall always looking to get involved.
Apart from a 33rd minute shot across the face of Ashley Morris goal,the visitors rarely threatened and when they did,Mikkel Bischoff and Marcus Hall were in commanding form.
In the 45th minute,Chris Birchall showed an amazing bit of speed to burst down the right and fire a shot which was pushed onto the bar and over for a corner.
(Chris Birchall in action)
Into the third period and Cork sent on Ange Lourougnon for Marcus Hall.
The two trialists in the City side both looked promising with Ashley Morris,who has progressed through the ranks at Merthyr Tydfil, making an outstanding 68th minute stop when he dived to his right to catch a ten yarder and then got down on his left to make another catch two minutes later.
Alvill, who judging by his accent could have played for the visitors, worked hard in midfield and was replaced on the orders of the watching Micky Adams by Lee Hildreth in the 82nd minute.
With six to go,the visitors were forced into a change when their number 13 fouled Dale Jones and then opened his mouth giving referee Mike Bingham no option but to demand his replacement.
A goal from Chris Birchall proved enough for City Reserves to beat a visiting Major League Soccer Representative side.
For this game of three,thirty minute periods against a side of Americans under the age of twenty four, Alan Cork included trialists keeper Ashley Morris and midfielder Billy Alvill, alongside the likes of Marcus Hall,Stephen Hughes,Chris Birchall,Adam Virgo and Kevin Kyle.
In blustery conditions at Ryton,the MLS side forced three early corners but fell behind in the 15th minute.
Kevin Kyle advanced towards the goal before being brought down some twenty yards out.Chris Birchall took the resulting free kick and thumped a shot which struck a defender in the wall and looped over the keeper high into the net.
With the wind holding the ball up in the air, City kept the ball on the deck and showed their opponents a lesson in passing with Hughes,Gooding,Virgo and Birchall always looking to get involved.
Apart from a 33rd minute shot across the face of Ashley Morris goal,the visitors rarely threatened and when they did,Mikkel Bischoff and Marcus Hall were in commanding form.
In the 45th minute,Chris Birchall showed an amazing bit of speed to burst down the right and fire a shot which was pushed onto the bar and over for a corner.
(Chris Birchall in action)
Into the third period and Cork sent on Ange Lourougnon for Marcus Hall.
The two trialists in the City side both looked promising with Ashley Morris,who has progressed through the ranks at Merthyr Tydfil, making an outstanding 68th minute stop when he dived to his right to catch a ten yarder and then got down on his left to make another catch two minutes later.
Alvill, who judging by his accent could have played for the visitors, worked hard in midfield and was replaced on the orders of the watching Micky Adams by Lee Hildreth in the 82nd minute.
With six to go,the visitors were forced into a change when their number 13 fouled Dale Jones and then opened his mouth giving referee Mike Bingham no option but to demand his replacement.
Although by no means a classic,this was another good work out for City Reserves.
1P CCFC 1-0 MLS
2P CCFC 1-0 MLS
3P CCFC 1-0 MLS
Goal Chris Birchall (15)
Team
Morris,Jones,Hall (Lourougnon 61),Bischoff,Lynch,Hughes,Birchall,Alvilll (Hildreth 82),Gooding,Virgo,Kyle
SNU Belford,Burtoft.
2P CCFC 1-0 MLS
3P CCFC 1-0 MLS
Goal Chris Birchall (15)
Team
Morris,Jones,Hall (Lourougnon 61),Bischoff,Lynch,Hughes,Birchall,Alvilll (Hildreth 82),Gooding,Virgo,Kyle
SNU Belford,Burtoft.