Coventry City

The 20-year old, with first-team experience as well as a stint at non-league Bromley, was a constant threat in the opening quarter, before City were able to muster adequate response.

Skipper Dev. Kelly-Evans latched on to a flick-on from Chris Camwell, before cleverly evading two tackles and finding the bottom corner from 20-yards. 

Both Kyle Finn and Jordan Ponticelli had darted goalwards, leaving a pocket of space for Kelly-Evans to exploit, and the forward drove his effort with pinpoint accuracy in to the left hand corner of the net.

Jordan Shipley powered the ball forward in the 40th minute, with the eventual shot ending up wide of the target, before Tom Bayliss struck narrowly over, as City ended the half strongly. 

And the home side were out the traps quickly in the second period, as Kyle Spence nearly forced City in to the lead. A breakaway attack was lead by Ponticelli, who found Spence unmarked at the back post but the wideman couldn’t convert.

Kelly-Evans had the chance to add to his tally for the afternoon moments later, before a smart intervention from Lions’ keeper Ryan Sandford, who saved with his feet.

Further opportunity fell to Ponticelli, who whipped an effort goalward in the 70th minute, calling Sandford in to action once again. The Millwall stopper was equal to the shot, parrying to safety, but City were firmly in command. 

Mason Saunders-Henry headed wide for the visitors in the final quarter, with Corey Addai rooted, but it finished inches wide of the mark. 

Finn was well found by substitute Billy Stedman in the dying stages, but couldn’t fashion one of his trademark curling efforts, before Tom Bayliss had the chance to seal it. And the U18s skipper soon turned provider, as the architect of the decisive goal.

Bayliss spotted the run of Ponticelli, who had evaded the offside trap and used his pace to get in behind, before slotting home for the win.