COVENTRY CITY RESERVES 3-4 GRIMSBY TOWN BY KEV MONKS
TeamQuirke, Wright, Borrowdale,Fraser (Lellu 46),Turner,Hall, Doyle (Jeffers 61),Simpson,Eastwood (West 46),Cain
HT CCFC 1-2 GTFC FT CCFC 3-4 GTFC
Goals Freddie Eastwood (18), Nathan Jarman (34 & 69), Danny North (37 & 56), Robbie Simpson (60 & 81 pen)
Man Of The Match - Ashley Cain
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Coventry City Reserves were beaten this lunch-time in an entertaining game against Grimsby Town.
With the Alan Higgs Centre swathed in sunshine, both sides fielded strong starting elevens. Frankie Bunn gave a run-out to Stephen Wright and included the likes of Freddie Eastwood,Michael Doyle and Gary Borrowdale who was back from a loan spell at Colchester United.
Mike Newall had also brought down an experienced side and fielded former Sky Blue Gary Montgomery in goal.
It was the former City keeper who found himself in trouble in the fifth minute when Ashley Cain got down the right and lifted a shot onto the crossbar.
Michael Quirke at the other end was also being kept busy when he got a touch to send a Jarman shot onto the bar,a minute later.
As last night's goal hero Clinton Morrison, watched with team mates, Aron Gunnarsson,Scott Dann,Danny Fox and Isaac Osbourne and bosses Chris Coleman and Steve Keane, Quirke made a stunning dive high to his right to deny a header from the visiting number six.
With Chris Birchall lively along side Fraser and Doyle, City started to press and were ahead in the 18th minute, a ball forward from Ben Turner sent Freddie Eastwood on his way.
The Welsh international raced through and sent a low drive through the arms of the diving Montgomery and into the net.
Coventry continued to create chances with Sean Fraser, Birchall and a Marcus Hall volley from a corner all keeping Montgomery on his toes.
But Grimsby started to threaten on the counter attack,. Quirke made a good save by diving to his right to stop a curling free kick but could do nothing as Nathan Jarman tore past Borrowdale in the 34th minute and then lobbed the ball into the net with Quirke stranded.
Three minutes later and it was 2-1 to the visitors when Danny North, broke through and slipped the ball into the net as Turner and Quirke advanced.
Before the break, Ashley Cain went close with a shot from 25 yards.
Frankie Bunn made two changes at the break, with Matty West coming on for Freddie Eastwood and Sulliman Lellu replacing Sean Fraser.
In the 56th minute, Grimsby went further ahead thanks to the Sky Blues defence standing appealing for offside as Danny North rifled a shot into the far corner of the net.
City took only four minutes to get a goal back. Ashley Cain did all the work before slipping the ball to Robbie Simpson to finish from fifteen yards.
A minute later and City lost Michael Doyle who was ordered to be replaced after a late lunge at an opposing midfielder.
The Grimsby forwards were always a handfull and in the 69th minute, Nathan Jarmen got past Borrowdale and beat Quirke with a low drive for Grimsby's fourth.
Bunn ordered his charges to get forward and this is what they did.
Lellu headed over from a Cain cross and with nine minutes, Ben Turner raced upfield and was on the edge of the six yard box when he was taken down for a penalty. Robbie Simpson stepped up and gave Montgomery no chance.
A Grandstand finish was on. Cain's persistance won an 86th minute corner and his kick was met by Marcus Hall whose drive from twenty yards hit the top of the crossbar and went over.
Two minutes later, Cain raced past a couple of defenders after getting the ball on the halfway line. His cross was perfectly delivered for Matty West at the far post. The Birmingham born striker rose well and got a good head on it, but it hit the stanchion between the underside of the bar and the right hand post and somehow stayed out to give Grimsby a win.