Ryan uses head to book final spot for young guns
RYAN Howley headed Coventry City into the final of the Professional Development League play-offs in a nine goal thriller against Ipswich Town at the CBS Arena.
Luke Tisdale’s lads finished second in the PDL North to book their place against Town who finished top of the PDL South, in the semi-final, and now face Bristol City away in the final, thanks to two extratime penalties before Howley’s winner. The home side made a bright start to the game with Will Bapaga racing on to a through ball to stay ahead of his marker and drill home to give his side a sixth minute lead.
However, Town were back on level terms in the 14th minute through Tommy Hughei before Cameron Humphrys gave the visitors the lead just before the half-hour mark.
Coventry, who handed an opportunity to Dutch wingback Lesley Duru, who is currently on trial with the club from Fulham’s Under-23s, fared better after the break when they got themselves back into the game when Marco Rus slotted home an equaliser in the 55th minute, to make it 2-2.
City suffered an immediate setback in extra-time when Hughei restored the visitors’ lead a minute into the restart but they were back on level terms again in the 98th minute when Bapaga was brought down in the box, leaving substitute Jonny Ngandu to slot home to make it 3-3.
Tawanda Chirewa then hit a top corner finish from the edge of the box to put Town in front again on 104 minutes before the Sky Blues were awarded a second penalty when Harrison Nee was fouled in the area, leaving Ngandu to score again to make it 4-4. And Ryan Howley popped up with a header five minutes from time to secure the 5-4 victory.