BLACKBURN ROVERS 4-3 COVENTRY CITY BY KEV MONKS
"Outrageous" were the only polite words uttered by a 75 plus strong band of City supporters after City U18's went down to a 4-3 defeat in the FA Academy League Final at Blackburn Rovers.
Thankfully,the M6 traffic was not too bad and we arrived in Blackburn in time for something to eat. We opted for a Chinese takeaway,but were wishing we hadn't after listening to an environmental health officer asking the staff if they knew the correct temperature for keeping food in a fridge as we waited for our meal!
Having beaten Newcastle United at Highfield Road on Saturday, Brian Borrows brought Ben Turner back into the defence and also included Andy Gooding who had played for England U17's in a 1-0 defeat against hosts Italy in the European Championship on Sunday.
Backed by chants of "Sky Blue Army" from the families of Rikki Bains and Vijay Sidhu, City looked comfortable in the opening half playing some good football and keeping things tight at the back.
Keith Barker,a gangly Dele Adebola sort of a striker, looked the main threat for Gary Bowyer and Marek Walsh's side, twice firing wide early on.
Playing left back for the Sky Blues was Ryan Lynch and in the 21st minute,he got to the byline and delivered a cross which Rovers keeper Frank Fielding had to dive to save.
Ten minutes later,another good cross by Lynch was knocked back by Paul McCrink for Vijay Sidhu to see his shot hacked away a yard from his own goal by Tony Kane.
On the stroke of half-time,Lynch was involved again when his cross was knocked by Gooding to McCrink. The Northern Irish youngster saw his shot blocked,a cry of handball went up from the City bench,players and supporters but nothing was given.
The game burst into life in the 53rd minute when Keith Barker was allowed space to turn in the box and blast a shot past the helpless Jonny Tuffey.
All this did was to spark City into action and nine minutes later,they were level thanks to Paul McCrink, making it three goals in three games, keeping his cool and slotting the ball under the Rovers keeper from ten yards.
In the 66th minute, Brian Borrows made his first change when he replaced Azariah Ogarro with centre half Stuart Wall.
However, Wall was only on the field of play for 54 seconds when he was very harshly sent off.
Substitute Joe Garner raced towards the penalty area, his arm tangled with that of Wall's and Garner flung himself to the ground. Now Ryan Lynch and Rikki Bains were close at hand and behind Wall, so there was no way that Garner could had a goalscoring opportunity. Referee Mr S.A. Pardoe decided otherwise and waved a red card in the face of the stunned City substitute.
The Sky Blues refused to let this event dampen their spirits and in the 75th minute,they took the lead when Vijay Sidhu found himself with only the keeper to beat after a ball from Lynch and smacked the ball home from ten yards.
Three minutes later, it was three-one to City when an Andy Gooding long range shot took a deflection off a defender and sailed into the net past a wrong footed keeper.
Craig Reid was sent on for Sidhu in the 82nd minute. But in a bizarre twist, he too was sent off in the last minute of normal time after jumping for a ball with Eddie Nolan. The Blackburn number six fell to the ground,clutching his ankle after a challenge which was totally innocuous. Mr Pardoe summoned Reid over and waved a red card in his direction, much to the amusement of Nolan who was clearly spotted revelling that he had helped get the Sky Blues down to nine players.
Five minutes of time were displayed by the fourth official and two minutes later, Blackburn scored when a Joe Garner shot cannoned off the crossbar and was adjudged to have crossed the line. Aaron Stringfellow and Andy Gooding protested and were duly cautioned by the card happy referee.
The decision riled the City players and they allowed Joel Byrom to equalise from eight yards, although it was difficult to tell in a crowded penalty area.
Academy skipper and custodian Jonny Tuffey made a terrific block on his line from a Barker shot as Blackburn pressed home their numerical advantage.
Rovers compounded the misery when a cracking header in the eighth minute of stoppage time from Joe Garner flew past the helpless Tuffey.
The Blackburn fans in a crowd of around a thousand could not believe their luck whilst the City supporters vented their spleen at the referee.
The City players,most in tears, headed straight to the dressing rooms and had to be brought back for the presentation of their runners-up medals.
It was an outrage that some very inexplicable refereeing should ruin what should have been a decent game of football. However, Steve Ogrizovic,Brian Borrows, the coaching staff and all of their players should all be proud of their achievements this season.
HT BCFC 0-0 CCFC FT BCFC 4-3 CCFC
"Outrageous" were the only polite words uttered by a 75 plus strong band of City supporters after City U18's went down to a 4-3 defeat in the FA Academy League Final at Blackburn Rovers.
Thankfully,the M6 traffic was not too bad and we arrived in Blackburn in time for something to eat. We opted for a Chinese takeaway,but were wishing we hadn't after listening to an environmental health officer asking the staff if they knew the correct temperature for keeping food in a fridge as we waited for our meal!
Having beaten Newcastle United at Highfield Road on Saturday, Brian Borrows brought Ben Turner back into the defence and also included Andy Gooding who had played for England U17's in a 1-0 defeat against hosts Italy in the European Championship on Sunday.
Backed by chants of "Sky Blue Army" from the families of Rikki Bains and Vijay Sidhu, City looked comfortable in the opening half playing some good football and keeping things tight at the back.
Keith Barker,a gangly Dele Adebola sort of a striker, looked the main threat for Gary Bowyer and Marek Walsh's side, twice firing wide early on.
Playing left back for the Sky Blues was Ryan Lynch and in the 21st minute,he got to the byline and delivered a cross which Rovers keeper Frank Fielding had to dive to save.
Ten minutes later,another good cross by Lynch was knocked back by Paul McCrink for Vijay Sidhu to see his shot hacked away a yard from his own goal by Tony Kane.
On the stroke of half-time,Lynch was involved again when his cross was knocked by Gooding to McCrink. The Northern Irish youngster saw his shot blocked,a cry of handball went up from the City bench,players and supporters but nothing was given.
The game burst into life in the 53rd minute when Keith Barker was allowed space to turn in the box and blast a shot past the helpless Jonny Tuffey.
All this did was to spark City into action and nine minutes later,they were level thanks to Paul McCrink, making it three goals in three games, keeping his cool and slotting the ball under the Rovers keeper from ten yards.
In the 66th minute, Brian Borrows made his first change when he replaced Azariah Ogarro with centre half Stuart Wall.
However, Wall was only on the field of play for 54 seconds when he was very harshly sent off.
Substitute Joe Garner raced towards the penalty area, his arm tangled with that of Wall's and Garner flung himself to the ground. Now Ryan Lynch and Rikki Bains were close at hand and behind Wall, so there was no way that Garner could had a goalscoring opportunity. Referee Mr S.A. Pardoe decided otherwise and waved a red card in the face of the stunned City substitute.
The Sky Blues refused to let this event dampen their spirits and in the 75th minute,they took the lead when Vijay Sidhu found himself with only the keeper to beat after a ball from Lynch and smacked the ball home from ten yards.
Three minutes later, it was three-one to City when an Andy Gooding long range shot took a deflection off a defender and sailed into the net past a wrong footed keeper.
Craig Reid was sent on for Sidhu in the 82nd minute. But in a bizarre twist, he too was sent off in the last minute of normal time after jumping for a ball with Eddie Nolan. The Blackburn number six fell to the ground,clutching his ankle after a challenge which was totally innocuous. Mr Pardoe summoned Reid over and waved a red card in his direction, much to the amusement of Nolan who was clearly spotted revelling that he had helped get the Sky Blues down to nine players.
Five minutes of time were displayed by the fourth official and two minutes later, Blackburn scored when a Joe Garner shot cannoned off the crossbar and was adjudged to have crossed the line. Aaron Stringfellow and Andy Gooding protested and were duly cautioned by the card happy referee.
The decision riled the City players and they allowed Joel Byrom to equalise from eight yards, although it was difficult to tell in a crowded penalty area.
Academy skipper and custodian Jonny Tuffey made a terrific block on his line from a Barker shot as Blackburn pressed home their numerical advantage.
Rovers compounded the misery when a cracking header in the eighth minute of stoppage time from Joe Garner flew past the helpless Tuffey.
The Blackburn fans in a crowd of around a thousand could not believe their luck whilst the City supporters vented their spleen at the referee.
The City players,most in tears, headed straight to the dressing rooms and had to be brought back for the presentation of their runners-up medals.
It was an outrage that some very inexplicable refereeing should ruin what should have been a decent game of football. However, Steve Ogrizovic,Brian Borrows, the coaching staff and all of their players should all be proud of their achievements this season.
HT BCFC 0-0 CCFC FT BCFC 4-3 CCFC
ATT 1000
GOALS Keith Barker (53)
Paul McCrink (64)
Vijay Sidhu (75)
Andy Gooding (80)
Joe Garner (92,98)
Joel Byrom (93)
BOOKED Keith Barker,Aaron Stringfellow, Andy Gooding
SENT OFF Stuart Wall,Craig Reid
Man Of the Match - Ryan Lynch just tipped the vote
Mare Of The Match - Referee S.A.Pardoe
May this be his last game ever, if he does not admit his failings and have the two red card rescinded.
TEAM
Tuffey,Stringfellow,Lynch,Ogarro (Wall 66 sent off 67),Turner,Bains,Gooding,McCrink, Sidhu (Reid 82 sent off 90),Thornton,Davis SNU Belford,Layfield,Hildreth
Blackburn
Fielding,Barr,Kane (De Vita 83), Stopforth,L.Jones,Nolan,Griffiths (Garner 46), Hodge,Barker,Welch,Byrom SNU Z.Jones, Rowntree,Sakali