Overview
Coventry City kicked off their PDL (Professional Development League) defence with a comfortable victory against Reading at the Alan Higgs Centre on Tuesday afternoon. The Skyblues produced a very strong side, with first team players such as Gustavo Hamer, Tayo Adaramola and Fabio Tavares all featuring for the Skyblues as well as a start in goal for U18s goalkeeper Luke Bell, who has just recently signed his first professional deal with the football club in the summer.
On the day, Coventry were comfortable and in even better news, Skyblues debutant Danny Cashman grabbed two goals on his first outing in Coventry colours after returning from his loan spell at League Two side Rochdale last season. Elsewhere, fellow debutant Luke Bell made a sensational penalty save whilst substitute Harrison Nee returned to action to grab the all important third goal.
Starting Eleven
Coventry City U21s : GK - Luke Bell, DEF - Jack Burroughs, Jay McGrath, George Burroughs, Josh Reid, Tayo Adaramola, MID - Gustavo Hamer, Ryan Howley, Danny Cashman, FOR - Fabio Tavares, Will Bapaga (Subs: Charlie Callaghan (GK), Marco Rus, Aidan Finnegan, Harrison Nee, Tom Costello)
Reading FC U21s : Boyce-Clarke (GK), Abrefa, Burnett, Abbey, Paul, Craig, Camara, Osorio, Jahmari-Clarke, Ehibhatiomhan, Tuma (Subs: Norcott, Kanu, Scott, Akande, Melvin-Lambert)
Match Events
John Dempster's side got off to the ideal start at the Alan Higgs Centre, and he was in luck as he inherited several members of the Skyblues first team, who are all in need of minutes. Particularly, Crystal Palace loanee Tayo Adaramola and the suspended Gustavo Hamer who will miss Coventry's match on Saturday against Hull after his red card against Millwall.
Within seven minutes, the Skyblues could have taken the lead when the Brazilian born, Dutchman Gustavo Hamer picked up the ball just outside the penalty area, and he forced a strong save from Coniah Boyce-Clarke in the Reading goal.
After twenty minutes however, the game got very interesting as the visitors were awarded a penalty despite having a quiet start. The guilty man was Skyblues defender Josh Reid who brought down his man in the area. Up stepped Kelvin Ehibhatiomhan but his penalty was saved brilliantly by debutant Luke Bell to keep the match scoreless. Reading did have another opportunity when midfielder Claudio Osorio found himself in-space from close range but somehow he failed to convert.
Skyblues forward Will Bapaga was next to try his luck, desperate for a goal to kick his season off. However, Bapaga was denied once again by Boyce-Clarke in the Reading goal. The Skyblues best opportunity to take the lead arrived with five minutes to go before the break when Hamer tried his luck once again from distance, only to be denied by a phenomenal stop from Boyce-Clarke who tipped his effort onto the post.
Half Time: Coventry City U21s 0-0 Reading U21s
Just four minutes into the second-half, the Skyblues hit the post again. Jack Burroughs found himself on the end of an overlapping through ball, he cut inside brilliantly but his effort clipped the outside of the post. Two minutes later however, Coventry City took the lead. Crystal Palace loanee Tayo Adaramola did brilliantly on the left-hand side before his low cross was turned in by Skyblues debutant Danny Cashman from close range to make it one nil.
The chances continued to fall Coventry's way and Hamer was again involved as his corner found the head of Josh Reid but he failed to steer his effort on target. Hamer was itching for a goal and went close again just minutes later but he dragged his effort wide of the far post. Adaramola almost turned scorer within a minute when he was unleashed by Will Bapaga down the left hand side, however his effort drifted wide of the corner.
With twenty minutes to go, Coventry City doubled their lead and it was also double delight for debutant Danny Cashman. Fabio Tavares found himself in possession of the ball just outside the area, he slotted through Cashman who rolled his effort past Boyce-Clarke to double the Skyblues lead. This was followed by immediate substitutions as Tom Costello made his debut along with Aidan Finnegan, in replace of Danny Cashman and Gustavo Hamer. Within minutes, Harrison Nee and Marco Rus also replaced Ryan Howley and Will Bapaga.
Speaking of Harrison Nee, he returned to the U21s side after a difficult 2021/22 campaign, which saw him unable to build on his U18s form due to constant injuries. However, he returned with a bang as he picked up a loose ball and drilled a superb effort past the Reading goalkeeper to ensure all three points would be heading Coventry's way.
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