BANBURY UNITED 1-2 COVENTRY CITY BY KEV MONKS
Coventry City were made to work hard for a 2-1 win at Southern League Premier Division Banbury United.
The Sky Blues sent a reasonable side to the Spencer Stadium for a game which was part of the Southern League club's 75th anniversary celebrations.
In that side were two coming back from injury in Robert Page and new signing Wayne Andrews with Andy Whing,Claus Jorgensen,Andy Morrell and Jay Tabb also starting. In goal was Elliott Ward's brother Scott who had a howler at Halesowen,a week ago.
Kevin Brock who played for Oxford, sent his team forward from the start winning a free kick and a corner.
Ward must have been working hard with Seamus McDonagh over the last week as his kick had come on in leaps and bounds. In the 17th minute,Ward jnr raced out to kick away as John Gardener bore down on goal.
He saved from Andy Baird two minutes later and in the 25th minute denied Stuart Bridges with a one handed save to push the ball away for a corner.
It was not until the 31st minute that the home keeper Alan Porter had a shot to save. The custodian got down to a Wayne Andrews shot from inside the area to concede a corner.
Seconds later and after Ryan Lynch had cleared off the line following a Ward error,Porter superbly saved from a Tabb twenty yarder after Isaac Osbourne's cut back had initially hit the post,
Wayne Andrews fired over as the half came to a close.
As the second half started, Ben Turner fired wide. Banbury went up the other end and Ward had to react to a Gardener shot from ten yards.
With the sun dropping and the floodlights coming on.Banbury took a 56th minute lead thanks to ANDY BAIRD being allowed space on the right to rifle the ball past Ward.
Andy Morrell who again looked well off the pace wasted another good opportunity, a minute later . Banbury countered and won a free kick some twenty yards out. Andy Fuller hit a fierce drive but Ward was equal to it diving to his right to push round for a corner.
In the 68th minute,City were level. Jay Tabb forced his way into the penalty area, Wayne Blossom pulled him down and local referee Dermot Gallagher awarded a penalty.
Coventry City were made to work hard for a 2-1 win at Southern League Premier Division Banbury United.
The Sky Blues sent a reasonable side to the Spencer Stadium for a game which was part of the Southern League club's 75th anniversary celebrations.
In that side were two coming back from injury in Robert Page and new signing Wayne Andrews with Andy Whing,Claus Jorgensen,Andy Morrell and Jay Tabb also starting. In goal was Elliott Ward's brother Scott who had a howler at Halesowen,a week ago.
Kevin Brock who played for Oxford, sent his team forward from the start winning a free kick and a corner.
Ward must have been working hard with Seamus McDonagh over the last week as his kick had come on in leaps and bounds. In the 17th minute,Ward jnr raced out to kick away as John Gardener bore down on goal.
He saved from Andy Baird two minutes later and in the 25th minute denied Stuart Bridges with a one handed save to push the ball away for a corner.
It was not until the 31st minute that the home keeper Alan Porter had a shot to save. The custodian got down to a Wayne Andrews shot from inside the area to concede a corner.
Seconds later and after Ryan Lynch had cleared off the line following a Ward error,Porter superbly saved from a Tabb twenty yarder after Isaac Osbourne's cut back had initially hit the post,
Wayne Andrews fired over as the half came to a close.
As the second half started, Ben Turner fired wide. Banbury went up the other end and Ward had to react to a Gardener shot from ten yards.
With the sun dropping and the floodlights coming on.Banbury took a 56th minute lead thanks to ANDY BAIRD being allowed space on the right to rifle the ball past Ward.
Andy Morrell who again looked well off the pace wasted another good opportunity, a minute later . Banbury countered and won a free kick some twenty yards out. Andy Fuller hit a fierce drive but Ward was equal to it diving to his right to push round for a corner.
In the 68th minute,City were level. Jay Tabb forced his way into the penalty area, Wayne Blossom pulled him down and local referee Dermot Gallagher awarded a penalty.
CLAUS JORGENSEN who missed a penalty in Portland took the kick and scored with ease, drawing a sigh of relief from the 400+ strong City support in a crowd of 1200.
City might have taken the lead in the 72nd minute but Liam Davis scuffed a shot after an initial Tabb shot had been parried.
Coventry struggled to find space throughout the second half thanks to some workman like defending and closing down from the home side but in 80th minute, Andy Gooding who replaced Wayne Andrews, cut in from the left and hit a shot which Dan Szczukiewicz slammed onto his own cross bar before the ball was finally cleared.
With seven minutes to go of a game where the Sky Blues relied on their fitness to eventually wear out the home side, Andy Morrell sent JAY TABB on his way and the signing from Brentford kept his cool to push the ball past the keeper and into the net to give City a win.
City might have taken the lead in the 72nd minute but Liam Davis scuffed a shot after an initial Tabb shot had been parried.
Coventry struggled to find space throughout the second half thanks to some workman like defending and closing down from the home side but in 80th minute, Andy Gooding who replaced Wayne Andrews, cut in from the left and hit a shot which Dan Szczukiewicz slammed onto his own cross bar before the ball was finally cleared.
With seven minutes to go of a game where the Sky Blues relied on their fitness to eventually wear out the home side, Andy Morrell sent JAY TABB on his way and the signing from Brentford kept his cool to push the ball past the keeper and into the net to give City a win.
Some City supporters may have expected a greater margin of victory against a side playing five divisions below the Sky Blues, but Banbury, to their credit, played out of their skin to prevent any rout,only tiring in the last twenty minutes and provided Coventry with a good workout.
HT BUFC 0-0 CCFC
FT BUFC 1-2 CCFC
ATT 1200
Goals Andy Baird (55),Claus Jorgensen (68 pen),Jay Tabb (83)
Team
Ward,Whing,Lynch,Turner,Page,Osbourne,Jorgensen,Tabb,Morrell,Andrews (Gooding 62),Davis
Subs Belford,Ashraf,West,Lourougnon,Hildreth,Jones.
Banbury United
Porter,Bridges (Nicholls 70),Szczukiewicz, Blossom,Hayward,Fuller,Stanbridge,Williams,Redknap,Baird,Gardner (Lazarus 58)
Subs Johnson,Dixon
HT BUFC 0-0 CCFC
FT BUFC 1-2 CCFC
ATT 1200
Goals Andy Baird (55),Claus Jorgensen (68 pen),Jay Tabb (83)
Team
Ward,Whing,Lynch,Turner,Page,Osbourne,Jorgensen,Tabb,Morrell,Andrews (Gooding 62),Davis
Subs Belford,Ashraf,West,Lourougnon,Hildreth,Jones.
Banbury United
Porter,Bridges (Nicholls 70),Szczukiewicz, Blossom,Hayward,Fuller,Stanbridge,Williams,Redknap,Baird,Gardner (Lazarus 58)
Subs Johnson,Dixon