SHREWS SHOCK THE SKY BLUES...
COVENTRY City’s chances of retaining the Checkatrade Trophy suffered a setback as they slipped to a dramatic defeat against Shrewsbury Town last Tuesday.
The Sky Blues won the competition by defeating Oxford United 2-1 in the final at Wembley last season, but now face a fight to qualify from Northern Group E, which also includes Walsall and West Brom U21s.
The top two in each group qualify for the last 32.
Coventry fell 2-0 behind to League One high-flyers Shrewsbury in the first half, Stefan Payne and Arthur Gnahoua doing the damage, but rallied to draw level courtesy of Tony Andreu and a Marc McNulty penalty.
However, there was a sting in the tail as sub Joe Riley struck with a superb free-kick in injury time to earn the Shrews, who had had James Bolton sent off, maximum points.
Sky Blues boss Mark Robins said: “We tried to claw our way back into it but it should not take us until half-time to get going. Shrewsbury were a good side.”
The goals flowed thick and fast in midweek, with 74 in 22 ties. Last season’s beaten finalists Oxford showed they mean business again with a thumping 6-2 victory at Stevenage in Southern Group G.
Roared
Harry Beautyman gave Stevenage the lead on 19 minutes, but that only seemed to fire up the U’s.
Rob Hall bagged a double and James Henry, Jonathan Obika, Joe Rothwell and Jack Payne all got on the scoresheet as Pep Clotet’s men roared into a 6-1 lead by the 64th minute.
Alex Samuel pulled one back for Stevenage eight minutes from time. AFC Wimbledon, meanwhile, edged a seven-goal thriller at Barnet in Southern Group F. Anthony Hartigan, Egli Kaja, Cody McDonald and Charlie Clough (own goal) made up the Dons’ tally, while Ruben Bover, Shaquile Coulthirst and Andre Blackman netted for the Bees.
Bristol Rovers continued their recent good cup form with a thumping 5-1 win at Wycombe Wanderers. Dominic Telford and Ryan Broom notched two apiece for the Pirates and Liam Sercombe, who netted in last season’s final for Oxford United, got the other. Dayle Southwell had put Wycombe ahead in the fifth minute. Bradford City hit the goal trail in their match at Chesterfield, running out 4-2 winners. Alex Jones bagged two and Omari Patrick and Jacob Hanson also netted. Kristian Dennis and Jordan Sinnott netted for the Spireites.
On-song
It proved to be a night when EFL sides largely got the better of the invited academy teams. On-song Junior Morias and Marcus Maddison (pen) scored for Peterborough in their 2-0 success against Southampton U21s, while Fleetwood Town eased to a 30 victory against Leicester U21s. Joe Nuttall came on as sub and scored the only goal on his debut as Blackburn edged out Stoke U21s, Scunthorpe ran out 3-1 winners against Sunderland U21s and MK Dons beat Brighton U21s 2-0. Colchester United drew 2-2 against Reading U21s, but it was the U’s who picked up the extra point on offer by winning a penalty shoot-out 6-5.
The only invited side to win were Newcastle U21s, who triumphed 2-1 at Crewe.
There were seven group matches played in mid-August, leaving three ties to be played to finish off the first round of matches. Accrington Stanley host Middlesbrough U21s, Bury host Rochdale and Walsall entertain West Brom U21s. The matches have been pencilled in for Tuesday, September 19. Winning teams all earned £10,000 in prize money, while there was £5,000 for those who drew. Other results: Morecambe 0 Carlisle 2; Blackpool 1 Wigan 1 (Wigan won 5-4 on pens); Oldham 0 Port Vale 0 (Port Vale won 4-2 on pens); Mansfield 1 Lincoln 3; Grimsby 1 Doncaster 1 (Doncaster won 4-3 on pens); Crawley 0 Charlton 2; Gillingham 2 Southend 1; Exeter 1 Yeovil 3; Forest Green 2 Newport 0; Northampton 1 Cambridge 1 (Northampton won 5-4 on pens).