CITY MARCH ON IN THE VASE

City move into the 2nd Round of the FA VASE after an impressive performance at Claines Lane today v Lutterworth Town..

Ahead of the game City had a host of players injured, not available or suspended and called upon the strong club youth set up to bring through younger players which faced the prospect of free scoring Lutterworth from the United Counties League. The visitors had notched 47 goals in their 14 league games so far, including 9 in their last game.

Sam Whitton came in at left back for his first start joined by Josh Schuck, Will Gibbons and Matt Klich.

Any worries City may have had before the game quickly disappeared as the youngsters stepped up to take the game to the visitors moving the ball quickly at every opportunity, however it was the visitors who had the first chance of the game when Craig Maisiri had a great opportunity after a cross from the left but Sam Whitton did more than enough to put him off and the ball trickled through to Bunn in the City goal.

Bailey Fuller had City's first chance after a cross field ball from James Douglas found him clear on the left, however his shot after cutting inside went wide of the post. City's opener came from a Lutterworth attack down the right hand side on 29 minutes. Callum Riley sent in a cross to the City box which was cut out by Sam Hall who played out to his left to find Sam Whitton, his ball forward found Will Gibbons on the half way line, who turned quickly before sending Bailey Fuller through on the right, he then raced forward before checking back, turning inside and firing in to the bottom left corner.

Lutterworth came close minutes later when a cross from deep on the left from Maisiri bounced off the top of the bar and out of play.

Just before the break City nearly added a second when Sam Whitton raced forward to work well with Matt Klich before sending in a cross from the left towards Will Gibbons however keeper Butlin got his hands to the ball before it bounced off Gibbons head and almost over the line before being cleared.

At the start of the second half, the visitors came out with more intent getting a free kick early on after Keenan was brought down by Sam Hall on the edge of the box but the resulting free kick went through harmlessly to Bunn. Keenan then had a half chance with a header after a cross in the from the right but it went well wide of the post.

City's second came from another Loughborough attack with Sunmonu driving forward but his ball found Fortune Maphosa who burst forward before sending off a through ball which split the defence in half and into the path of Will Gibbons who finished from the edge of the box to the keepers right on 63 minutes.

Lutterworth's best chance of the game came minutes after City's second goal. A cross from Louis Samuels on the left found Marshall Keenan but his header crashed off the cross bar.

When it looked like the visitors might be getting back into the game, City turned the screw with attack after attack. Bailey Fuller had a great opportunity to add to the tally after another run on the right saw him again cut inside before firing inches wide of the post. Gibbons then had an opportunity on the left which was saved by Butlin before another chance saw a cross from the right by Josh Schuck flicked over the bar.

Callum Debar, Chris Withington and Bailey Fuller all had shots before Will Gibbons was brought down in the box for a penalty but after dusting himself down pulled his spot kick wide of the post after sending the keeper the wrong way.

With minutes left, City opened the door for a potential come back after a Lutterworth attack saw Sam Hall head back towards Bunn but the ball was too short and Louis Samuels nipped in to make it 2-1. With a grandstand finish up for grabs, City managed to break down the next Lutterworth attack before pushing forward and seeing out the final minute entrenched deep in the visitors half to see the game out.