U23 Professional Development League 2
Team: Roach, Williams-Lowe, Pitblado, Remy, Kefalas, Gubbins, De Silva, Aoraha, Armstrong, Aveiro, Taylor-Crossdale
Subs: Little, Drewe, Jude-Boyd, Ajose
A first visit to the Harlington training ground in a very long time. Joe Gubbins captained a Rangers team that included two trialists. Marcus Bean was spotted in the car park.
Luke Tisdale’s side came into this game in top-spot of the Northern Division.
A good start from the R’s, Dillon De Silva did really well whilst under pressure, which took him to the edge of the box, where he turned and belted the ball just wide of the post.
However, it was the Sky Blues who took the lead in the 16thth minute in rather unusual circumstances after the visitors had been awarded a free kick. With no R’s player standing over the ball, and a defensive wall still being formed, and seemingly no whistle from Mr Mannix, Liam Kelly calmly stroked the ball into the net!
When Rangers were awarded a free kick shorty after in a similar position, a Coventry player stood in front of the ball as Mr Mannix momentarily held his whistle in the air!
Alex Aoraha was wearing a covering over his nose and after going down from a knock he had to temporarily withdraw.
Good work from De Silva on 30 odd minutes resulted in a corner, Joe Gubbins rose well in the box, but his header went just past the post.
Cian Tyler managed to parry a curled strike, whilst at the other end, Josh Reid’s corner found Jodi Jones and his volley whizzed just wide of the post. Half-time: 0-1.
Dillon De Silva had a superb first-half, but Joseph Ajose replaced him after the interval.
The Coventry keeper was forced into making a double save following an R’s free kick.
Ajose let fly around the hour–mark, but his effort bounced off the crossbar.
Andy Impey took off Shiloh Remy and brought on Arkell Jude-Boyd.
Faced one-on-one, the QPR trialist keeper did really well to push the ball away and avert the danger.
The Sky Blues were getting a stronger grip on the game. Jodi Jones cut into the box and pulled the trigger but he directed his effort straight at Josh Roach at the near post.
Coventry doubled their lead on 69 minutes when Bright Enobakhare’s cross was nodded in at the far post by Liam Kelly. Aaron Drewe was introduced a couple of minutes later.
The visitors added a third goal on 73 minutes when Fabio Tavares took control of a loose ball and after his pacey run had taken him into the box, he smashed it into the back of the net.
The Sky Blues nearly added a fourth when Kelly’s lob from close to the half-way line forced Josh Roach to scramble back and almost collide with the post, but the ball passed just over the crossbar.
Steve Russell