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U23s End Season By Hitting Coventry for Six
Monday, 24th Apr 2017 21:39

Town’s U23s ended their Professional Development League Two South season on an emphatic note by thrashing Coventry City 6-0 at Portman Road. Ben Morris and Flynn Downes both scored twice and Adam McDonnell and Ben Folami once each as Gerard Nash’s side dominated from beginning to end.

The young Blues made a positive start with Albert Wilton making a break down the right in the opening minute but Sky Blues keeper Corey Addai claimed his low cross at a stretch.

In the second minute striker Ben Morris mis-hit a low shot wide from the edge of the area but less than a minute later the England U18 international put the Blues in front.

Having been played in on goal the 17-year-old finished with his usual confidence, finding the inside of the net off keeper Addai’s right hand.

The Blues immediately went looking for a second, passing the ball around slickly in the visitors’ half with Wilton always a danger on the right.

Coventry threatened for the first time on 11, Lewis Green scuffing a shot through to Michael Crowe, referee Lloyd Wood having waved play on after Corrie Ndaba had collided with a Coventry attacker. ""Play continued and Flynn Downes went close to making it 2-0 to Town with low shot across the face of goal from the right of the area from a Morris pass, before Ndaba was booked for the earlier challenge.

Adam McDonnell, the only player in the Town team with first-team experience, shot straight at Addai on 14, then three minutes later Kelly-Evans forced Crowe to parry behind with a strike from a tight angle on the left.

From the resultant corner, Chris Camwell curled a shot from not far outside the area just beyond Crowe’s left post.

On 22 Town deservedly doubled their lead. After a sharp interchange of passes involving Morris and James Blanchfield, Wilton fired a low ball across the six-yard box, which Morris turned past Addai.

Six minutes later it was 3-0. McDonnell exchanged passes with Australian striker Ben Folami on the left of the area before slotting the ball past Addai.


In the 31st minute Folami was felled just outside the area and Morris smashed the freekick into the wall before volleying the rebound over.

Wilton shot wide after a Town break following a rare Coventry attack, Tom Bayliss picking up a yellow card for a foul on McDonnell in the build-up.

On 35 Ndaba crossed deep from the left, Luke Woolfenden nodded back across goal from the far post and Morris turned a volley against a defender.

Eight minutes later, Woolfenden was booked for frustratedly slamming the ball into the ground after a throw had been awarded to Coventry, before Dan Smith headed tamely wide for the visitors.

Just before the whistle, Blanchfield sent Folami away but a defender got across to dispossess the striker.

The young Blues were applauded off at the break after an entertaining and dominant first-half display against a Coventry side which had offered little.

Two-goal Morris was replaced by Jack Lankester at half-time and the first-year scholar was quickly into the action, cutting in from the left and hitting a low shot which Addai saved with his boot.

The Blues extended their lead in the 54th minute with a sweeping move. Downes fed Blanchfield as he broke into the area on the left and the ex-Arsenal youngster cut across to Lankester, whose shot was blocked by Addai. However, midfielder Downes - praised in recent weeks by manager Mick McCarthy who watched the first half from the directors’ box - followed up to make it 4-0.

Two minutes later, Downes hit a powerful strike from distance following a corner which Addai did well to save down to his right, then on 62 Blanchfield was yellow-carded for a foul on Kelly-Evans.

In the 63rd minute Town made it five. The increasingly influential Downes exchanged a one-two with Lankester as he broke into the area. Addai saved his first effort at goal but the loose ball fell to the midfielder, who stroked it over the line from a matter of inches.

Six minutes later, Wilton forced Addai to save down to his left with a shot from the right of the box then, following the resultant corner, Lankester cut in and hit a low strike which the keeper claimed at the second attempt.

Coventry sub Kyle Finn shot wide for the Sky Blues on 69, then a minute later Town made it six with the best goal of the evening, Folami cutting in from the left before lashing a powerful right-foot strike across Addai and into the net.

The visitors had their best chance of the night in the 74th minute when Smith was sent scampering away beyond the Blues backline but the striker hit his shot over both the advancing Crowe and the bar.

Wilton was replaced by Ross Meldrum for the final 15 minutes, then shortly afterwards Crowe was off his line quickly to stab away from Green after he was played in on the right of the area.

Just before the whistle, Jordan Thompson was booked for a foul on Lankester with the Sky Blues’ frustration showing on a night when they were outclassed by Town’s youngsters.

Town’s victory was as comfortable as it comes with the result never looking in doubt from the opening minutes.

Morris once again clinically took his early chances - although his goals were overshadowed by strike partner Folami's brilliant strike - to take his season's total to 14 before being withdrawn at the break.

First-team involvement can't be too far away, if not in the remaining games of this campaign then certainly in pre-season.

The midfield dominated their Coventry counterparts throughout with Downes and McDonnell thoroughly deserving their goals well-worked goals and Blanchfield and Wilton also impressive, while the Town defence rarely looked in much trouble. Sub Lankester also made his mark after the break.

The result sees the U23s climb above the Sky Blues into fifth in the Professional Development League Two South table but with the Midlanders and Colchester, who are eighth, each still having one game to play.

U23s: Crowe, Woolfenden, Ndaba, C Smith (c), Webber, Blanchfield, McDonnell, Downes, Folami, Morris (Lankester 46), Wilton (Meldrum 75). Unused: Marsden, Cahill, McGavin.

Coventry: Addai, Green, Camwell, Shipley, Thompson, Harries, Spence (Spence 46), Bayliss (Doyle 60), D Smith, Kelly-Evans (c) (Eccles 87), Sayoud. Unused: Naylor.


Photo: TWTD



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budgieplucker added 22:15 - Apr 24

Really entertaining match, nice slick football all round in the first half, Ben Morris showing plenty of promise up front.

McDonnell and Blanchfield pulling most of the strings from midfield, but Coventry didn't appear to have much to offer.

In fairness most lads put in a good shift, first Albert Wilton looked very good on the wing but faded in the second half.


McDonnell seemed to tire second half, town kept going despite not finding quite the same fluency as first half but they missed the threat and enterprising runs of Morris who only played 45 minutes.

I am developing into a big James Blanchfield fan who was a dynamo for the full 90 minutes, yes he received his statutory yellow card for his combative midfield style and play and looks as if he could the robust type of player who might just be able to cope with the rigours of the Championship.

Flying Downes lacks a bit of finesse and has an awkward douglas like style but to his credit he arrived from deep to score a brace.
9

harlingblue added 03:25 - Apr 25
Very impressive performance by this young U23 team, all looked comfortable on the ball and very aware of each others movement. Morris was a constant menence, Blanchfield combative, while Folami (a Dozzell lookalike/playalike) shows great potential. A very good all round team performance against a team one place above them in the U23 League.
Congratulations to Gerard Nash as Manager of this team, they entertain and play a good brand of football, while bringing new players through and having to accommodate first squad members returning from injury.
10

Mark added 07:38 - Apr 25
Is it me, or do the U23s seem to perform better when all the youngsters play rather than first teamers being involved?!
13

Battyboy added 08:44 - Apr 25
Great performance by the 23s. Excellent football once. again.
4

Daleyitfc added 09:33 - Apr 25
I have no doubt that all of these will be released this summer to allow McCarthy to bring in some more 30somethings.
0

PortmanRoadLibrary added 09:36 - Apr 25
I've watched the under 23's half a dozen times this season and they are a credit to Gerard Nash, playing lovely passing football from the back. For me the outstanding player last night was Flynn Downes, who scarcely put a foot wrong all night, weighing in with a couple of goals as well. There is a lot of potential in this group of young players, let's hope it comes to fruition at first team level.
13

Lenboy4 added 11:07 - Apr 25
Fantastic game to watch all played really good.

Outstanding Flynn Downes.
3

truckertractorboy added 12:01 - Apr 25
Who remembers the days when the first team played like that ??
7

Kesblue66 added 12:34 - Apr 25
Make Nash first team manager,with a experienced man like Burley to support him.
3

MathieandMarshall added 12:39 - Apr 25
oh to read this on a first team match report:

"The Blues immediately went looking for a second, passing the ball around slickly in the visitors' half "
5

DiamondGezzer added 14:04 - Apr 25
Well done lads !
4

Bluetone added 15:24 - Apr 25
Careful lads young players who "score goals for fun" are not liked by Dino.
0

therein61 added 17:18 - Apr 25
A Town team scoring 6!!!! playing out from the back and looking to add more goals!!! while passing to a team mate going forwards with intent!!! of course this was a Gerard Nash team Micks favourites would have scraped 0-0 with the great Skuse just edging Doogie for MOTM!!!!!
2

Cloddyseedbed added 17:54 - Apr 25
Unfortunately that's the problem with our club, different playing styles and when asked to step up they wonder what the hell is happening, cos MM's way is not the way to play football. Well done U23's and Gerard Nash.
3

Kirbmeister added 18:17 - Apr 25
Another opportunity to have a dig at MM when this article has f..k all to do with him.
-8

therein61 added 18:46 - Apr 25
The article is about our club and Mick is the manager! therefore when a side is selected( by Nash) and puts in a good performance and plays to win then the overlord deserves a big dig for only producing 3 good displays all effn season Kirbmeister!!!!!!!!!!
2

Kirbmeister added 18:53 - Apr 25
All those !!!!!!! - that told me!
-1

Bluetone added 19:47 - Apr 25
The "I love McCarthy's dull, dire disastrous hoof ball" cronies are still supporting this relict of days from prehistoric times. I guess they just love crap hoof ball and have a low opinion of excitement and entertainment. .
1

armchaircritic59 added 20:43 - Apr 25
Absolutely, cloddyseedbed. You need a playing style running through the club, from the very youngest to the most senior pro, and it makes it a lot easier for the youngsters to integrate into the first team. Rather like Pochettino has done at Spurs.
5

Kirbmeister added 21:22 - Apr 25
Bluetone- I'm not a MM fan just saying this article was reporting a good win by the U23's but It doesn't matter what positive story pops up on here the comments will always remain so predictable.
-2

GiveusaWave added 00:17 - Apr 26
Good result, but not a good time to be a Sky Blue right now. Doubt they'll ever recover. Sad times for them.
0


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