Apologies to anyone expecting a match report from Newcastle. Unfortunately, I had ten or more fits before,during and after the game and have little to no memory of the day.
Thankfully, the tablets have kicked in,again and I was able to get to Ipswich tonight.
Kev
IPSWICH TOWN RESERVES 0-1 COVENTRY CITY BY KEV MONKS
Craig Reid reeked revenge on his former club to give Alan Cork a winning start to his tenure as City Reserves boss.
After beating Ipswich 1-0 last week at Nuneaton, City Reserves set off down the A14 for the second of back to back games.
With Eric Deloumeaux having left by mutual consent, new boss Alan Cork gave the in-form Craig Reid a run-out against his former club.
Reid was partnered in attack by Graham Barrett in a side that contained Claus Jorgensen, Neil Wood and Sean Cooney in his first game back since picking up a leg injury last April at Charlton Reserves.
In a game watched by Micky Adams and scouts from Chelsea, Everton, Rushden,Cambridge and Colchester, Cork's side were straight on the attack with Graham Barrett who has been called up for Ireland's friendly with Portugal next month, winning a first minute corner.
Reid and Barrett combined for the Irishman to force Town keeper Louis Price into the first save of the game in the third minute.
Barrett returned the compliment when his cross just eluded Reid by a matter of inches six minutes later.
The Sky Blues were passing the ball nicely around the midfield with Craig Pead and Claus Jorgensen closing down their opponents and preventing them from playing whilst Andy Whing and Isaac Osbourne remained firm in a strong City back four.
Steve McCall's side were far stronger than six days ago and in the 27th minute, Dean Bowditch broke through only for a superb tackle by Whing to concede a corner.
On the half hour mark, the dozen or so City supporters in a crowd of around 600, were on their feet as Coventry took the lead.
City were awarded a throw-in on the Main Stand side. Neil Wood banged the ball forward to CRAIG REID who turned his marker before rifling the ball into the bottom corner of the net.
City continued to press with a twenty yard curler from Pead sailed inches wide and in the 37th minute, Reid did well to control the ball before firing over from 25 yards.
Isaac Osbourne who had played well for City's first team at Portman Road sixteen days ago,won a corner as the Sky Blues went into the break comfortably ahead.
Pablo Counago who had been injured as he attempted to get past Andy Whing in the first half was replaced at the break by Billy Clarke.
In the 53rd minute, Scott Shearer, a virtual spectator up to that point, was forced into action when Owen Garvan got a leg to a left wing cross and the Scottish keeper dived to his left to make the save.
Sean Cooney who lack of match practice was noticeable, was caught a minute later by Garvan who crossed for Bowditch to shoot wide from the edge of the area.
Back came City and Craig Reid should have increased Coventry's lead when he rose to head a Jorgensen cross over in the 57th minute.
Chances kept coming the way of the Sky Blues. Graham Barrett twice went wide before Cork was forced into a change when Cooney came off worse in a challenge with Bowditch and left the field to have a couple of stitches in a head injury, with Anthony Barry coming on
Cork's second change came in the 74th minute with Kevin Thornton replacing Claus Jorgensen.
Craig Reid reeked revenge on his former club to give Alan Cork a winning start to his tenure as City Reserves boss.
After beating Ipswich 1-0 last week at Nuneaton, City Reserves set off down the A14 for the second of back to back games.
With Eric Deloumeaux having left by mutual consent, new boss Alan Cork gave the in-form Craig Reid a run-out against his former club.
Reid was partnered in attack by Graham Barrett in a side that contained Claus Jorgensen, Neil Wood and Sean Cooney in his first game back since picking up a leg injury last April at Charlton Reserves.
In a game watched by Micky Adams and scouts from Chelsea, Everton, Rushden,Cambridge and Colchester, Cork's side were straight on the attack with Graham Barrett who has been called up for Ireland's friendly with Portugal next month, winning a first minute corner.
Reid and Barrett combined for the Irishman to force Town keeper Louis Price into the first save of the game in the third minute.
Barrett returned the compliment when his cross just eluded Reid by a matter of inches six minutes later.
The Sky Blues were passing the ball nicely around the midfield with Craig Pead and Claus Jorgensen closing down their opponents and preventing them from playing whilst Andy Whing and Isaac Osbourne remained firm in a strong City back four.
Steve McCall's side were far stronger than six days ago and in the 27th minute, Dean Bowditch broke through only for a superb tackle by Whing to concede a corner.
On the half hour mark, the dozen or so City supporters in a crowd of around 600, were on their feet as Coventry took the lead.
City were awarded a throw-in on the Main Stand side. Neil Wood banged the ball forward to CRAIG REID who turned his marker before rifling the ball into the bottom corner of the net.
City continued to press with a twenty yard curler from Pead sailed inches wide and in the 37th minute, Reid did well to control the ball before firing over from 25 yards.
Isaac Osbourne who had played well for City's first team at Portman Road sixteen days ago,won a corner as the Sky Blues went into the break comfortably ahead.
Pablo Counago who had been injured as he attempted to get past Andy Whing in the first half was replaced at the break by Billy Clarke.
In the 53rd minute, Scott Shearer, a virtual spectator up to that point, was forced into action when Owen Garvan got a leg to a left wing cross and the Scottish keeper dived to his left to make the save.
Sean Cooney who lack of match practice was noticeable, was caught a minute later by Garvan who crossed for Bowditch to shoot wide from the edge of the area.
Back came City and Craig Reid should have increased Coventry's lead when he rose to head a Jorgensen cross over in the 57th minute.
Chances kept coming the way of the Sky Blues. Graham Barrett twice went wide before Cork was forced into a change when Cooney came off worse in a challenge with Bowditch and left the field to have a couple of stitches in a head injury, with Anthony Barry coming on
Cork's second change came in the 74th minute with Kevin Thornton replacing Claus Jorgensen.
Three minutes later, a handsome victory should have been wrapped up when a fine pass from Thornton let in Barrett who scuffed a shot on a pitch that cut up the longer the game went on due to the fine rain. Price was able to get down to get a hand to the ball before a defender cleared for a corner as Reid dived in.
There had been little to cheer for the home fans who were busy abusing the assistant on the Cobbold Stand side where the crowd were housed. The reason for this abuse was that the assistant referee bore more than a passing resemblance to John Cleese.
But with just over two minutes left, Billy Clarke's low eighteen yard shot was pounced on by Shearer and deep in stoppage time, the home side went even closer as a fifteen yard shot from Bowditch bounced off the post.
City kept their cool for the remaining seconds and held on to record their first double of the season.
HT ITFC 0-1 CCFC FT ITFC 0-1 CCFC
City kept their cool for the remaining seconds and held on to record their first double of the season.
HT ITFC 0-1 CCFC FT ITFC 0-1 CCFC
ATT 600
GOAL Craig Reid (30)
Man Of The Match - Craig Reid, Craig Pead, Isaac Osbourne and Andy Whing were the pick of a very good bunch.
GOAL Craig Reid (30)
Man Of The Match - Craig Reid, Craig Pead, Isaac Osbourne and Andy Whing were the pick of a very good bunch.
TEAM
Shearer,Hall,Nicell,Pead,Cooney (Barry 67),Whing, Jorgensen (Thornton 74),Osbourne, Barrett,Reid,Wood SNU Tuffey,Wall,Davis
Ipswich
Price,Mitchell,Barron (Krause 73),Manning, Collins,Patten, McDonald, Garvan,Counago (Clarke 46),Bowditch, Richards SNU Flack,Supple,Sobers