Wasted Chances Mean Only A Point For Reserves

Last updated : 13 September 2005 By Covsupport
NORWICH CITY RESERVES 0-0 COVENTRY CITY RESERVES BY KEV MONKS

Wasted chances meant that Coventry City only got one point from their trip to Norwich City.

Oh, the joys of reserve team football,a trip to Norwich on a Monday night. Thankfully, there was little traffic around and the half a dozen City supporters made their way into the Jarrold Stand at Carrow Road in plenty of time for kick off.

With both sides having first team games this week,neither side fielded a particularly strong starting eleven.
Alan Cork gave Clayton Ince his third reserve team outing of the season and included Paul Watson and Andy Impey who both stand a better chance of a paying contract if Derby take Stern John on loan and pay his wages.

The only player in Keith Wall's youthful Norwich side that most City supporters would have heard of was Ryan Jarvis who scored in the corresponding fixture last season.

Watched by a crowd of 725,City had the first chance of the game when Kevin Thornton flicked the ball to his left for Isaac Osbourne who got round the back of the defence and centred for Vijay Sidhu to stroke an eight yard effort at Norwich keeper Joe Lewis.

City keeper Clayton Ince who was making some new friends amongst the youngsters in the Barclays Stand end,made his first save of the evening six minutes later when he gathered Lee Howlett's 25 yarder.

Play was suspended in the 21st minute when Paul Watson was treated for a head injury clearing away an Asmat El Ouargi cross.

The former Brighton defender was fit to resume and was involved as a trip on Liam Davis brought the first of two corners. Kevin Thornton who was covering every blade of grass yet sent a 28 yard left footer on to the roof of the net and on the half hour mark,rifled over from an acute angle.

All that was missing from an encouraging Sky Blues performance was a killer touch in front of goal but despite the efforts of Thornton and Reid nothing was forthcoming before the break.

Ryan Lynch who was clearly not comfortable was replaced by Luke Webb at half-time with Paul Watson moving to left back.

Five minutes in and Watson went close with a twenty six yard free kick that whistled just past Lewis' left hand post.

In the 54th minute, Thornton raced through to find Andy Impey. The shot was deflected for a corner. When the ball came in,Vijay Sidhu rose inside the six yard box to plant a header against the crossbar.

Norwich went straight up the other end through Chris Martin who fired wide with only Ince to beat.

Liam Davis wasted a glorious chance in the 63rd minute when he rounded the keeper only to blaze over from six yards with Craig Reid unmarked a few yards away.

Norwich who have taken Calum Davenport on a three month loan, always looked a threat and another Lee Howlett long ranger skidded past Ince's right hand post in the 71st minute.

A foul on Liam Davis led to a booking for Andy Fisk. Watson's free kick was cleared for a corner and then another until a schoolboy error gave Norwich back the possession.

In the 77th minute,a Craig Reid run saw his low twelve yard drive saved by Lewis.

With four to go, Luke Webb held off two markers to side-foot the ball to Sidhu who drove wide.

The miss summed up the night and meant that some hard work only counted for one point.

HT NCFC 0-0 CCFC
FT NCFC 0-0 CCFC
ATT 725

BOOKED Andrew Fisk (71)

MOM Kevin Thornton

TEAM
City
Ince,Watson,Lynch(Webb 46),Bains,Wall, Thornton,Osbourne,Impey,Thornton,Reid,Sidhu,Davis Subs Gooding,Layfield,Ogarro,Turner

Norwich
Lewis,Cave-Brown,Gusterson,Howlett,Halliday,Spillane,Fisk,Martin,Ryan Jarvis (Quaye 68),El Ouargi,Ross Jarvis Subs Herbert,Muddel,Bexfield,Thrale.