COVENTRY City Under 18s rounded off their programme of pre-season friendlies with a 3-2 win over Charlton Athletic at the Alan Higgs Centre.
Sulieman Leluu bagged a brace along with one from Jacob Blackwell to ensure Gregor Rioch's side ended their preparations ahead of the 2009/10 Premier Academy League season on a high note.
City were two goals up just after the half-hour mark, Jacob Blackwell opening the scoring after 31 mins with a superb free-kick on the edge of the area won by Leluu.
And Leluu grabbed a second two minutes later, benefitting from a great deep cross from Blackwell to head the Sky Blues into a 2-0 lead.
City conceded a goal on 37 minutes from a Charlton corner which was slotted home from close range but the Sky Blues netted the fourth goal in just nine minutes to make it 3-1 when Leluu turned his man 30 yards out and sent a rocket into the roof of the Charlton net.
The Addicks reduced the deficit to a goal with 20 minutes to go, making it 3-2 and they missed an opportunity on 80 after sending a penalty wide of the goal.
Coventry City academy manager Gregor Rioch said: "The first 20 minutes we were a bit wayward and our passing wasn't quite what I would have expected it to be but we soon settled down and ended up playing some really excellent football.
"Fivew of our boys were away with the first team and while that leaves us short in terms of numbers it's a fantastic problem to have as an academy manager and it gave us the chance to allow some of our under 16s to make the step up.
"If this is going to continually be the case then I will be a very happy man indeed."
Team
Coventry City: Burge, Gudger, Bottomer (Christie 65), Greenway, Adams (Phillips 75), Blackwell, Grandison, Thomas (Ruffels 75), Grogan, Leluu (Bigirimana 65), Ogleby
