Dodgy Decision Costs U18's

Last updated : 21 October 2006 By Kev Monks
COVENTRY CITY U18's 4-5 LEICESTER CITY BY KEV MONKS

A poor refereeing decision deep in stoppage time saw Coventry City U18's go down to a 5-4 defeat against League leaders Leicester City this morning.

On a sunny morning at the Alan Higgs Centre,Steve Beaglehole's side were ahead in the eighth minute when Ashley Chambers crossed from the right and found Eric Odihambo who headed home from five yards.

Reis Ashraf twice went close before Kieran Fitzharris forced Leicester keeper Carl Pentney into a 28th minute save.

In the 32nd minute, the visitors went further ahead thanks to a Billy McKay shot from inside the area taking a wicked deflection off Brad Jones and crept past Neil Collett.

Brian Borrows side were saved when a McKay chip hit the bar straight after the restart and then pulled one back in the 49th minute when a neat ball through was well finished by Reis Ashraf who raced through to beat Pentney.

In the 51st minute,the Sky Blues were level when Lee Hildreth steered home after Ashraf created space for a cross on the right.

Right back Chris Duggan was given another outing as part of his comeback from injury but in the 59th minute, Leicester retook the lead when Billy McKay stabbed home at the far post from an Odihambo cross.

Lee Hildreth almost equalised in the 67th when Pentney pushed a header onto the post.

City had the bit between their teeth and two minutes later,a deft flick with his right foot into the bottom corner saw Ashraf get his second goal of the game.

With fifteen minutes to go, Leicester regained the lead when Neil Collett saved an initial shot. The City supporters appealed for offside but Ashley Chambers tap in was allowed to stand.

Not that it mattered as Leicester had Scott Gardiner sent off for a bad tackle on Matt West and in the 80th minute, Reis Ashraf was pulled down inside the area and got up to complete his hat trick by tucking away the resulting penalty.

A draw looked a fair result but deep in stoppage time, the referee over ruled his assistant who had correctly spotted a Leicester player offside and seeking an unfair advantage. The ball was banged over to Andy King who finished from close range to give his side a last gasp victory.

HT CCFC 0-2 LCFC
FT CCFC 4-5 LCFC

Goals Odihambo (8),McKay (32 & 59),Ashraf (49,69,80 pen), Hildreth (51),Chambers (75),King (92)

Team
Collett,B.Jones (Duggan 52),Robinson (Grandison 76),Hildreth, Francis,D.Jones,Hett (Hinds 86),Fitzharris,Ashraf,West,Burtoft
Subs Marshall,Wheeler

Leicester
Pentney,Magunda,Turner,Tejan-Sie, (Howard 6),Lycett, Gardener,Chambers (Tuttle 85),King,McKay,Odihambo,Beswick
Subs Cisak,Rougher