Home victory for City U13's

City U13's recorded a home victory against Coventry Sky Blues and record their first league points of the season.

Q1
Both teams started the game nervously and the first encounters were scrappy but as the teams settled and got the ball down the game improved. The Coventry defence were playing a high line and caught the home side offside a few times before a neat through ball by Adam Willis put Ashton Doyle in the clear in the 6th minute. Doyle won the foot race with the visitors defender but unfortunately his effort was to close to the Keeper who saved well. Coventry had a chance a few minutes later with a neat move and strong drive into the home penalty area but they were denied by a strong tackle from Chester Hooper. The visitors were causing problems down the left flank with their pacey winger but the home defence of Joe Layland ,Chester Hooper, Hayden Russel and Fin Mcglen coped well after a few initial scares. City could have taken the lead right on the whistle of the first quarter after Willis put another great ball through to Joe Layland who drove down the flank and delivered a pin point cross to the advancing Doyle who timed his run to perfection and struck a sweet effort goal bound but was denied by an excellent save from the visiting Keeper

Q2
Coventry started the second quarter brightly with their strong centre half driving forward at every opportunity linking well with his midfield and almost broke the city defence but they were denied by a crunching last ditch tackle by the impressive Jayden Bennet. The city midfield were now starting to take control with some neat passing and Henry Guy came close to opening the scoring with a typical strong drive but his effort was saved by the keeper who recovered well to deny the oncoming Jake Brookes. With the game opening up City had further efforts from Kyle Clayton and Willis before taking a deserved lead in the 30thn minute. The home side were awarded a free kick which Jake Brookes took quickly catching the visitors defence sleeping, and Guy put Doyle clear with a slide rule pass and and he beat the keeper with a fine shot into the corner of the net. Guy, Willis and Clayton were now dominating in the midfield and the three again combined to put Doyle in the clear again but his shot was to close to the keeper who saved to keep the score at 1-0. The home side doubled their lead right on the whistle at the end of the quarter after Guy and Doyle linked well ending with a Doyle shot which the keeper could only parry into the oncoming Brookes who slotted home.

Q3
The home side made some changes with Russell pushed up top and Clayton into the centre of midfield at the start of the 3rd quarter and were now in total control, Russell was put through on goal but put his effort wide of the post and further efforts from Mcglen, Clayton and Guy all failed to add to the score. Coventry to their credit continued to press but their only effort on goal was easily saved by Zac Watkins in the City goal and further efforts were dealt with by the centre half pairing of Josh Francis and Josh Sanders. In the 56th minute the home side increased their lead with the best move of the game starting with some cool passing from Watkins and Francis at the back, Francis played a ball to Clayton in the centre of midfield who turned the visitors superbly and slid in Doyle who out paced the defence and rounded the keeper for his second, a great goal from end to end with 5 passes. Russell had a further chance to add to the scoring but was denied by the visitors keeper who was having a good game before Coventry should have opened their account after some sloppy home defending saw their striker in on goal but he blasted his effort over the bar.

Q4
The visitors started the last quarter strongly pressing the home side looking to get some rewards and they were nearly successful with a strong break and drive but they were denied by a fine close range save by Louis Hudson in the home goal. Hudson also comfortably saved a further effort from a corner before city scored their 4th. City won the ball with a great press from a Coventry throw in and Russell found himself in on goal and made no mistake with his low drive finding the bottom corner.
The visitors continued to look for a foothold in the game and their perseverance paid off in the 72nd minute with a strong run and cut in from the right by their big centre half resulted in a goal which gave them some hope. Two minutes later they added their second after some sloppy home defending and a few nerves were starting to show from the home side. However these were soon removed in the 75th minute when the impressive Henry Guy won the ball back with a strong tackle and typical drive into the box and great strike to make the score 5-2. The scoring was completed in the 77th minute when Doyle completed his fine hat - trick with another clinical finish past the advancing keeper

Awards
Gold - Jake Brookes
Silver - Ash Doyle
Bronze - Zac Watkins