COVENTRY CITY 1-0 GILLINGHAM FC
City: Allsop, Willis, Webster. Johnson, Thomas (Finch 88), Fleck, O'Brien, Nouble (McQuoid 58), Tudgay (Hines 88), Clarke, Haynes. Subs: Burge, Pugh, Coulibaly, Phillips, Hines, Finch.
Gillingham: Bywater, Martin, Egan, Hause, Hessenthaler, McGlashan (German 85), Morris, Davies (Norris 75), Dack, Dickenson (Pritchard 75), Subs: Morris, Fish, Linganzi, McKain.
HT CCFC 1-0 GFC FT CCFC 1-0 GFC ATT 27,306
Goals Franck Nouble 10
Referee K.Stroud
----------------------------
Coventry City came back to the Ricoh Arena and rounded off a wonderful night with a 1-0 win against Gillingham.
A day that many had dreamed about, following Tim Fisher dragging the Sky Blues kicking and screaming out of Coventry and into exile in Northampton back in 2013 and one that was hard to believe was happening when it was announced a couple of weeks ago.
But after deals were done, the Sky Blues were brought back to Coventry amid huge sighs of relief all round. True to their word, many people said they would be waiting when City returned and the interest in getting tickets and waiting for them to arrive started to border on the pandemonium scales.
City, whose staff worked valiantly it must be said to try and build Rome in a day, could have filled the Ricoh Arena probably twice over and there were many disappointed supporters at home and abroad who wanted to be inside the stadium for City's home coming.
Thankfully, the game was live on Sky so those unable to get in could see what those with a ticket were witnessing and a wonderous sight it was, being once again with so many people that I am proud to call friends and to be again with so many people I have not seen since the Leyton Orient game back in April 2013
The pitch looked awful, although re-seeding has taken place at a ground City now rent for 23 days games a season but the atmosphere was superb as the team took to the pitch after a fifteen minute delay to let the crowd of 27,306, plus interested parties like Kenny Jackett, in to the ground.
With The Sky Blue Song echoing round the ground and songs from Coventry bands including the Specials, The Selecter and The Enemy, Coventry City took to the pitch with a side that was pretty much as expected and was a side that included a debut for Frank Nouble against a Gillingham side that included former City loanee keeper Stephen Bywater and former striker Cody McMcDonald.
City had the first shot on goal in the fifth minute when a blinding Haynes cross was cut back for Jim O'Brien.
Four minutes and a half later and City attacked again through Haynes, another cracking cross and there was Frank Nouble to stroke home and crown his debut with a goal and the first in front of a sell-out crowd at the Ricoh Arena.
It was all City and there was cheers from the crowd for every City pass completed. Thomas fired at Bywater in the 21st minute whilst Steven Pressley tonight in a coat and brown shoes frantically waved his arms trying to get his instructions. Pete Taylor in a shirt and black trousers was not as active in his arm waving as Steven Pressley, preferring the hands on hips approach.
In the 27th minute, City had a free kick which O'Brien, who battled hard for City curled over.
Before Jordan Clarke and Joe Martin had a bit of handbags, the other Jordan in the City side was making some cracking tackles.
Gillingham attacking the North Stand won a 38th minute corner but John Fleck was soon sprinting away with the ball.
A minute later and Ryan Haynes banged over another telling cross to win a corner and was involved on the other side of the pitch to help win another corner.
In the final minute of the half, McGlashan won a corner which was cleared and there was another for the Gills a minute later which was cleared and City led at the break.
Two minutes in to the second half and City Nouble got in on the left and crossed for Fleck to head wide.
Coventry's defence allowed Hause to head over a 54th minute corner and then another three minutes later which Allsop got down to before Pressley sent on Josh McQuoid for Nouble, who got some excellent applause from the City support.
Allsop gave The Gills a corner but City cleared and were unlucky when an audacious 65th minute lob by Fleck was just caught on the line by Bywater.
A reckless foul by McDonald on Webster drew a massive chorus of "Stand Up If You Love City" and the Sky Blue Song from the City support who were backing the team with everything they had.
Peter Taylor opted for a double change which had to wait for five minutes , bringing on Pritchard and Norris before McQuoid won a 76 minute corner that Bywater, who was popular during his loan spell at City, easily caught.
O'Brien fired at Bywater after McQuoid had come out of the blind alley that he had ran into and Fleck was booked as the City support continued to urge the Sky Blues to get another goal.
McDonald lashed into the side netting with five minutes to go. City went up the other end and O'Brien missed from a long ball.
With three minutes left, Steven Pressley used his last two substitutes sending in Jack Finch and new loanee Seb Hines.
Four minutes were added on but City were able to mark their return to our historic city with the win that everyone wanted.