Debut boy Martinez is Reserves' clincher; FOOTBALL: Coventry City Reserves 2 Derby County Reserves 0.
JAIRO MARTINEZ marked an encouraging debut by netting in the final minute of Coventry City Reserves' gritty victory over Derby County.In a bright opening spell from the Honduran he skipped past a challenge from Derby full-back Richard Jackson to fire in a shot which was beaten away by keeper Lee Grant in the fourth minute.
The resulting corner on the left from Gavin Strachan fell back to the feet of the City midfielder and his cross was headed wide by Cedric Roussel from close range.
Derby responded with Marcus Tudgay teeing up Lee Morris but his 12-yard chip drifted over the bar in the 11th minute.
A minute later, Mo Konjic supported the attack in an excellent move to knock the ball to Lee Fowler on the right. He gave Paul Boertien the slip to send over a raking cross from the right which Martinez hit over the bar.
Adam Bolder teed up Adam Murray who blasted a shot high and wide, but it was the Sky Blues who grabbed the lead in the 36th minute.
Stefan Schnoor failed to cut out Colin Hendry's fierce long-range pass and Roussel raced free to expertly chip the ball over Grant from 20 yards to continue his recent scoring form.
After drifting out of the game in the latter stages of the first half, Martinez burst back by blasting a left-footed shot into the side-netting just after the break.
Richard Spong was shown a yellow card for fouling Morris to follow Hendry and Derby's Con Blatsis, Tudgay and Lars Bohinen into the notebook of referee Steve Coffey.
The nippy Fowler released Martinez but his shot flew across the goalmouth and City were then forced to survive an intense spell of sustained pressure.
Konjic was in determined mood as he and Hendry formed an experienced barrier at the back while debutant Ivan Guerrero was solid in defence and attack.
Morris' shot was blocked by Hendry and the former Sheffield United man had an angled shot saved by Gary Montgomery's legs. Montgomery also stopped Schnoor's eight-yard shot with his legs following Tudgey's slide-rule pass.
City had the perfect riposte by making certain of maximum points with a second goal in the 90th minute.
Talented teenager Fowler slid the ball down the left flank to substitute Laurent Delorge and he sprinted to the byline to pull the ball back into the path of Martinez. The 22-year-old rolled a shot into the far corner of the net from seven yards to finally beat Grant.
Coventry City Reserves: Gary Montgomery, Richard Spong, Ivan Guerrero, Barry Quinn (Robert Betts 72), Colin Hendry, Mo Konjic, Lee Fowler, Gavin Strachan (Daniel Hall 75), Cedric Roussel (Laurent Delorge 72), Jairo Martinez, Stephen McPhee. Substitutes not used: Barry Ferguson, Craig Strachan.
 Printer friendly
 Cite/link
 Email
 Feedback
| |
| Title Annotation: | Sport |
|---|---|
| Author: | Wilson, Michelle |
| Publication: | Coventry Evening Telegraph (England) |
| Date: | Oct 25, 2000 |
| Words: | 459 |
| Previous Article: | First-half goals end Bedworth hopes; FOOTBALL: Bedworth United 1 Redditch United 2. |
| Next Article: | Danish boost for Hodgson's England bid; FOOTBALL. |