IT WAS a bad day at the office as an injury-hit City slipped to a 3-0 reverse at Coventry United.
Jeff Woodward went close for the home side within the opening few minutes and it was to set the tone for a difficult afternoon.
An effort from Lewis Rankin was well saved by Tom Palmer in the City goal, whilst Craig Reid was also denied by a smart stop from the on-loan youngster.
There was little from City in an attacking sense until a free-kick from Tyler Weir found Mark Danks who went close in the 24th minute.
City were soaking up plenty of pressure but standing firm. As half-time approached there was a bit of a melee which resulted in a booking for either side once things had calmed down. It was Dave Reynolds who was the City man to see yellow.
Going into the second half goalless, the heat was making life tough for us as we were forced to work hard.
It didn’t take long into the second half for the hosts to get their noses in front through Rankin.
We responded by Danks trying his luck from distance but the home ‘keeper managed to claw the ball away.
Shortly afterwards we were given a mountain to climb when Reid made it 2-0 and this was the signal for Coventry United to up the tempo as Rankin went close in the next raid.
Despite being second-best, Matt Birley had an effort that was deflected just wide, but the third goal duly arrived for the home side with Woodward finding the net from distance.
We ended the game with something of a flourish as Danks and teenage substitute, Aaron Brett, both went close but in the end our makeshift side was well beaten.