Team
Ireland,Francis,Borrowdale,Hildreth,Dann,Hall (Burgess 62),Cairo (Richie 83),Thornton,Birchall,Andrews,Davis SNU Simmonds,Collett,Walker
Leicester
Henderson,Cox,Clapham (Rowe-Turner 66),N'Gotty (Garner 62), Worley,Weslowski,Bori,Kishishev,Fryatt,Campbell (Burns 73),Beswick
SNU Douglas,Hellings
HT CCFC 1-1 LCFC
FT CCFC 2-2 LCFC
Goals Matty Fryatt (16),Chris Birchall (25),Wayne Andrews (70),Ryan Beswick (77)
Ref David Coote
Booked Weslowski (11),Bori (37),Hildreth (50),Cox (90)
Att 120
Scouts etc, both managers plus Richard Money,Paul Williams and a scout from Carlisle.
Man Of The Match Scott Dann just pipping Kevin Thornton and Marcus Hall.
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STARTING FORMATION
Birchall Andrews
Davis Hildreth Thornton Cairo
Borrowdale Hall Dann Francis
Ireland
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Coventry City Reserves were held to a 2-2 draw by Leicester City.
This was a game first moved from Nuneaton to the Ricoh (to save the pitch) and then to the Marston's Stadium, home of Hinckley United and Leicester City Reserves.
Unfortunately,with engineering work between Coventry and Nuneaton,we had to divert to Birmingham and get a train from there. We arrived in Hinckley,relieved at finding the game was on after a pitch inspection and saw Steve Ogrizovic field a strong team.
New £1 signing Scott Dann was given his debut as was Gary Borrowdale,whilst Chris Birchall was back after recovering from a hamstring injury and Marcus Hall also made his first start.
Leicester boss Gerry Taggart,fielded a strong team with Jamie Clapham,Bruno N'Gotty,Rado Kishishev and Matty Fryatt all starting.
On a pitch which was heavily sanded before kick off, Ellery Cairo had the first shot of the game in the second minute, but two minutes late,Danny Ireland produced a good stop diving to parry a Dudley Campbell curling free kick.
In the 15th minute,a powerful run by Ryan Beswick down the left,led to Marcus Hall conceding a corner. When the kick came in,there was Matty Fryatt to stab home from close range after N'Gotty had headed on.
City hit back and were level in the 25th minute. Liam Davis got the ball on the left and played it inside for Kevin Thornton inside the area to drive a shot which Paul Henderson got down.
The Leicester keeper pushed the ball straight to Chris Birchall who stroked home from five yards.
Scott Dann proved useful at both ends, making some great tackles and a handy target for set pieces as City forced a number of corners to finish the half strongly
Thunderstorms greeted the start of the second half
Marcus Hall,who made some excellent challenges was replaced in the 62nd minute.
Eight minutes later,City went back in front when Liam Davis and then Chris Birchall poked the ball forward inside the area for Wayne Andrews to thump the ball low into the net.
The lead lasted for only seven minutes as the visitors drew level thanks to a stunning Ryan Beswick free kick from twenty yards which flew into the net.
Heavy rain stopped the prospect of any decent play although Wayne Andrews went close and the match ended in a draw.