City See Off Arlesey

Last updated : 03 November 2012 By Kev Monks at Ricoh Arena

COVENTRY CITY 3-0 ARLESEY TOWN

City Murphy, Clarke, Reckord (Willis 71), Christie, Edjenguele, Baker, Jennings, Moussa, McSheffrey (McDonald 56), Fleck, Ball (O'Donovan 78). SNU Dunn, Cameron, Barton, Jeffers.

Arlesey: N.Abbey, Thurlbourne, Davis (Partrick 87), Blackwell, Frater, Farrell (Z.Abbey 78), Goss, Hatch, Dillon, Roberts,Marsh (Proser 56). Subs Hibbalt, Cook, Brown,Busey 

HT CCFC 1-0 ATFC FT CCFC 3-0 ATFC

ATT 6594

Goals Callum Ball 27, Cyrus Christie 62, Stephen Jennings 89

Referee K.Wright

Booked Dillon, Thurlbourne, Clarke

Man Of The Match Frank Moussa took the votes with nominations for Steve Jennings and Cyrus Christie

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Coventry City avoided the banana skin and progressed to the FA Cup Second Round with a 3-0 win over Arlesey. 

It's the FA Cup. But hey, there's no sight of Christmas jumpers or the odour of cheap scent bought on Christmas Eve off some cart down the Precinct as a panic gift. It's not Third Round day in January, it's First Round day in November, a sign if we needed reminding of how low CCFC have actually sunk. 

I'll admit to not even being born the last time, City entered the FA Cup this early and it was for many a shock to be playing in the competition this early. But we were and on a sunny but cold afternoon, Mark Robins who hadn't won an FA Cup tie as a manager, changed the side around, starting with Callum Ball up front.

Drew Roberts had chances for the Southern League Premier Division side, in yelllow shirts and black short, either side of a deflected Gary McSheffrey shot winning a third minute corner. 

Chris Marsh sent on to the roof of the North Stand net as some in the East Stand started to get frustrated after one poor City pass too many.

Fleck wasted a good chance in the 14th minute, before Baker had a free kick cleared away by the diving Nathan Abbey.

There was more evidence of Sky Blue nerves when Joe Murphy's clearance from a goal kick hit Reckord's heel and fell for former Nuneaton player Chris Dillon, who thankfully volleyed straight into Murphy's hands.

The City support were growing restless but in the 27th minute, it was back to cheers when Callum Ball made the most of a through ball, dinked it over the keeper and City were ahead.

Pressure in the 33rd minute including a Baker shot being pushed away for a corner followed from a City side still struggling to deal with an Arlesey side which showed plenty of fitness to make up for what they lacked in finesse.

In the 37th minute, Abbey made a great save from a McSheffrey diving header from a Ball cross from the left.

City started the second half trying to walk the ball into the net whilst Arlesey looked for the counter-attack.

Chris Marsh had the 517 away fans oohing in the 52nd minute when he shot wide with only Murphy to beat.

Mark Robins send on Cody McDonald and the visitors made a change with the impressive Marsh being replaced.

Two City corners came to nothing but in the 62nd minute, City were two goals up when Cyrus Christie got the goal he deserved for his work rate when he danced into the area and beat the keeper with a left footed shot.

Crosses and shots started to rain on the Arlesey goal with Jamie Reckord thumping the bar before he was replaced in the 71st minute by Jordan Willis.

Seven minutes later, City U21's top scorer Roy O'Donovan came on for Ball as Moussa struck the bar and saw his shot hit the keeper but go out for a corner. 

Fleck fired wide and in the 89th minute, Stephen Jennings tapped in to see City were through to their first FA Cup Second Round for the first time since 1963 and the City support give Arlesey some good and deserved applause.