A late Robert Dickinson goal sealed the Town youngsters' passage through to the fifth round of the FA Youth Cup. Ian Westlake put Town ahead before Alun Jephcott equalised. Darren Bent punished an error from the Coventry keeper before Dickinson scored the goal of the night.

Town's first opportunity came from a huge scramble inside the box after an 11th minute corner. Robert Dickinson, Darren Bent and pretty much everyone else had shots blocked before the ball was eventually blocked.

The Blues had had the better of the opening and it wasn't long before they were ahead. Captain Westlake picked up the ball on the edge of the area took on a couple of defenders and was forced wide. However, he was not to be thwarted and hit a cross shot past Brush in the Coventry goal.

Coventry's twin strike force of David Pipe and Alun Jephcott were causing the Blues problems and on 21 Jephcott was dispossessed inside the area by Beevers as he ran on to a ball over the top which had been missed by Chaffey.

But a Coventry equaliser was only two minutes in coming. Conor Kenna crossed from the right and Jephcott nipped in at the near post to slip the ball past Lewis Price in the Town goal.

Almost immediately Town tried to hit back through Dickinson, but his shot went just wide.

Coventry though were getting on top and the impressive front two came close on several more occasions, Pipe going just over and being stopped by the keeper after being played in by Jephcott.

Just before half-time, though Westlake made another mazy run, this time down the right. He put the ball across, but the ball failed to fall for a Town player.

Half-time saw a Town change of kit. Both sides had started the game in their blue shirts and referee Mr Conn (write your own jokes) had clearly decided there was a clash.

Coventry had the first decent early chance with Mark Noon hitting a shot across the face of the Town goal. Four minutes later Westlake tried his luck again but his shot was weak and keeper Brush had little trouble.

Chances were far and few between, but Darren Ambrose had a good opportunity on 66 when a cross from the left fell to him on the right just inside the area. He mis-hit his shot off a defender and it was cleared. A minute later Ian Smith decided to make a change, taking off Steve Burton and replacing him with the more creative Matt Robinson.

With 20 minutes left on the clock it was looking as if the game would go to extra time. Then Coventry keeper Brush ran out to clear a long ball forward as Robinson closed in. The keeper missed his kick and sent to the ball to Darren Bent's feet. Bent reacted quickly and chipped the ball over Brush and his defenders and into the net.

Town now put the pressure on and after 75 minutes Robinson hit a shot just wide of Brush's post. Two minutes later Bent had another go at chipping the keeper but this time Brush was able to catch without too much trouble.

The Town win was sealed with nine minutes on the clock when Robert Dickinson picked up a cross from Ambrose which had been hit too deep. Dickinson brought the ball inside before lashing the ball into the roof of the net giving brush no chance.

On 85 Coventry came close to a second when Pipe ran on to a ball over the top. Price showed his counterpart at the other how to kick and put the ball out for a throw.

The youngsters now play Fulham away in the next round.

Team: Price, Okay, Richards, Chaffey, Beevers, Westlake, Bloomfield, Ambrose, Bent, Burton (Robinson 67), Dickinson.

Photo: Action Images

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