COMMANDING WIN FOR CITY

CITY continued to make positive strides with a deserved 3-0 victory over Coventry United.
It was City who looked to fashion the first opening of the game as Mat Birley, back in the starting line-up, put a low ball into the danger zone only for it to evade everyone.
At the other end, Nathan Vaughan had to be alert to clear ahead of Cox who looked to break through.
As the opening period went on it was City who were looking the most likely side only for the final ball to let us down.
There was a good chance for Dave Reynolds just before the half-hour mark as his strike produced a good save from the ‘keeper.
The resulting corner was cleared as far as the edge of the area where Alex Tomkinson tried his luck but fired over.
A neat move from City ended with Birley firing into the side-netting as we carved our opponents open.
Despite our best efforts, we could just not find the opening goal as Coventry United were resolute in defence to frustrate us.
The visitors started to build up a head of steam as the first half came to a close and a couple of corners in quick succession caused problems with Lee Hughes back to help out the defence with a timely intervention and clearance.
At the other end, Reynolds’ effort from distance was well saved as the ball came through a crowd of players and then the same player got in another effort on goal in the next attack which was blocked for a corner.
Goalless going into the second period, a free-kick from Nathan Hayward was pumped into the area where Hughes got in a shot on the turn that went wide.
The opening goal finally arrived on 49 minutes when Reynolds caused problems before laying the ball off for Tomkinson who fired home.
It was a deserved goal and the general feeling was that once the first goal arrived, more would soon follow.
Sure enough within five minutes we had doubled our advantage when Hughes did all the ground work before playing in Reynolds who stayed cool to guide the ball home for his 20th goal of the season in all competitions.
It gave us a cushion but to their credit, our visitors kept plugging away in search of a way back into the game, however, some of their challenges could best be described as robust with Hughes, Jamie Smith and Reynolds all on the receiving end.
There were yellow cards being issued to both sides as the game became scrappy in the closing stages.
We managed to get a third goal in stoppage time at the end when Reynolds turned the ball home to avenge the 3-0 loss that we suffered in the away fixture back in August.

CITY: Vaughan, Weir, J. Smith, M. Smith, Forsyth, Hayward, Birley (Halil), Birch, Hughes (Baldwin), Reynolds, Tomkinson. Subs not used: Gwynne, Thomas, Stoddart
BOOKING(S): Birch, Hughes, J. Smith, M. Smith
GOAL(S): Tomkinson, Reynolds (2)
ATTENDANCE: 354