COVENTRY CITY U21’S 1-4 CREWE ALEXANDRA
City:Burge, Philips, Haynes, Bromley (Azille-Moore 60), Neilson (Bako 75), Lawton, Garner, Lobjoit, Maund (Baker-Richardson 60), Triallist, Rankin. Subs; Richards, Maddison, Bako,
Crewe:Garratt, Bailie, Robertson, Nolan, Johnson, Guthrie, Jones, Giverin, Ellington, West, Peters. Subs, Perry, Murdoch, Smith, Allcock.
HT CCFC 0-3 CAFC FT CCFC 1-4 CAFC
GOALS Nathan Ellington 11 pen & 22), John Guthrie, (32), Louis Johnson (70), Trialist (73)
Referee M.Giblin Booked Trialist
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Coventry City U21’s were beaten 4-1 by Crewe Alexandra at Nuneaton Town FC on Friday night.
Ian Foster named a changed side from the team which was beaten at Sheffield Wednesday on Monday and this side included former Leicester defender Robbie Neilson, who was watched by his mate Steven Pressley, who sat in the press box with Neil MacFarlane and Steve Ogrizovic, and a Brazilian striker who played up front with Ben Maund.
The six foot tall Brazilian was involved straight away playing a cracking ball over to Arron Phillips, who had a torrid evening as Crewe who fielded former West Brom striker Nathan Ellington, a player you have to question as to what was he doing playing at this level, started to push forward with the likes of Liam Nolan, Billy Waters and Luke Giverin, closing down City’s midfield.
The visitors first attack came in the fourth minute and Lee Burge did well to save with his feet from Ellington and Neilson headed over for a corner.
Four minutes later and some good work by Philips saw the ball come off a Crewe defender, but to everyone's amazement, the assistant referee on the main stand side awarded a goal kick.
Crewe went up the other end and Mr Giblin pointed to the spot following a foul on Jones. Up stepped Nathan Ellington and he converted the penalty with ease to give the visitors the lead.
Neilson made a great block before Rankin went up the other end and sent a 20 yard curler just over.
But in the 22nd minute, Nolan and Giverin combined to play in Nathan Ellington on the left and the experienced front man clipped the ball past the helpless Burge and into the far corner of the net.
With Ivor Lawton battling well for City and Ryan Haynes pushing on, City nearly pulled a goal back in the 27th minute when a great run and shot from Leon Lobjoit saw the ball bounced off Garratt’s left hand post.
A clumsy foul which saw him ended up in the Main Stand advertising hoardings earned the trialist a talking to from the referee. That led to a free kick to Crewe who quickly won another on the left. The ball came across and there was Jon Guthrie at the far post to bundle the ball into the net for Crewe’s third goal in the 32nd minute.
Ian Foster did not make any changes at the break and Crewe continued to take the game to City with a lovely run and shot from Giverin being pushed away by Burge for a corner which was met by Ellington who got in a header that Burge finger-tipped over for another corner.
Foster did make two changes on the hour mark bringing on Courtney Baker-Richardson and Tarik Azille Moore.
Baker-Richardson who netted seven goals for City U18’s in pre-season, flashed a shot wide after City broke from a 64th minute Crewe corner.
In the 70th minute, Crewe scored a fourth goal following a corner won by Billy Waters. The flag kick was initially cleared but the ball fell to Walters who got past Phillips and cross for centre half Louis Johnson to head home.
Crewe might have scored four goals but the goal of the night came three minutes when the trialist turned some twenty yards plus out and absolutely thundered a shot, which absolutely flew into the net to give the few City supporters amongst the parents in a crowd of around sixty.
Neilson, who had a reasonable game was replaced by Eli Bako as the Trialist went into the book for another foul.
The Brazilian, along with Baker-Richardson and Lobjoit had efforts on goal but the young Sky Blues side, who will learn valuable lessons from playing against the likes of Ellington, went down to their second defeat of the season.