Cup agony as Academy fall just short
COVENTRY City’s Academy has suffered more cup final agony after Ipswich Town have completed a silverware double over the club.
The Sky Blues Under-18s were thumped 7-0 in the Professional Development League Cup Final at Portman Road last Wednesday night and today City’s Under-16s slipped to a narrow 1-0 defeat to the Tractor Boys in the corresponding final for the lower age group, held at the Coventry Building Society Arena.
The home side started brightly with Mckenzie Stetton seeing a shot tipped over by the visiting goalkeeper Daniel Cullum before marauding wingback Jayden Smith tested the stopper who got down well to his near post to make the save.
And the keeper, who was by far the busier of the two, was called into action again before the break when Rylie Siddall got on the end of Isaac Moore’s pull-back, only to be thwarted by another good save.
City continued to look the more likely in the second half and were handed a clear opportunity to take the lead when they were awarded a 55th minute penalty, when Nick Nkansa-dwamena handled in the box.
Siddall stepped up to take the spot-kick but he was denied by the inspired keeper who made a save down low to his right.
Coventry were then left to rue their missed penalty when the visitors took the lead through Rio Oudnie-morgan who capitalised on a mix-up at the back to find the back of the net.
The Sky Blues almost got an immediate response when a corner from the right was met by the head of Isaac Moore, but his header went agonisingly wide.
Daniel Rachel produced an outstanding save to keep City in the game, as his outstretched hand tipped the ball onto the bar to deny Tommy Taylor doubling the visitors’ lead.
City’s last chance fell to Elliot Betjemann on the edge of the box, but his volley went wide of goal, as the Sky Blues slipped to a second successive cup final defeat.
CITY: Daniel Rachel, Jayden Smith (41’ Dausch), Byron Wilson, Charlie Finney (60’ Panatayio), Ben Blakely, Callum Perry (C), Rylie Siddall, Isaac Moore, Kai Andrews (71’ Ranger), Elliot Betjemann, Mckenzie Stretton.