FA Premier Reserve League (south)Coventry Reserves 0Ipswich Town Reserves 3ANTONIO Murray would surely have made watching Blues boss Joe Royle sit up and take notice with what was a starring role for Town reserves at Coventry last night, writes Derek Davis.
FA Premier Reserve League (south)
Coventry Reserves 0
Ipswich Town Reserves 3
ANTONIO Murray would surely have made watching Blues boss Joe Royle sit up and take notice with what was a starring role for Town reserves at Coventry last night, writes Derek Davis.
The taxi-driver's son from Cambridge scored the all-important opening goal at Highfield Road and put in a mature midfield performance.
Dean Bowditch grabbed the second and substitute Craig Read the third as Town turned their first-half domination into second-half goals.
Alun Armstrong showed a professional resolve after being told he would be available on a free transfer and put in probably his best second-string showing since coming back from a fractured wrist.
Teenage defensive duo Aidan Collins, who is likely to feature at Derby on Sunday, and 18-year-old triallist Steve Towers from non-league Oadby Town, impressed as Town reserves relinquished their title but ended the season on a high.
Reserve-team boss Steve McCall said: "We were always in charge but it was not until Antonio's goal that we really got on top. It was a very accomplished display with a lot of good performances."
One down side was a knee injury to Matt Bloomfield, who was stretchered off after a brutal tackle in the area which should have resulted in a penalty but was ignored by the referee.
Coventry City: Brush, Oddy, Thornton, Briscoe, Cooney, Higgins, Hall, Shevel, Mackey, McSheffrey and Doyle. Substitutes: Stanford, Tuffey, Giddings, Noon and Goodman.
Ipswich Town: Price, Mitchell, Chaffey, Murray, Collins, Towers, Abidallah, Bloomfield, Armstrong, Bowditch and Boardley. Subs: Flack, Peat, Hogg, Reid and Barron.
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