Michael Folivi scores twice, as the Under-23s suffer late heartbreak on the road...
Nicky Eaden’s Under-23s were denied three points in the final moments against a strong Bolton Wanderers side at the Macron Stadium.
Michael Folivi scored both goals for the away side, capping off highly promising first appearance for the club since joining on-loan on deadline day.
It was the Sky Blues who began brightly, as a new-look forward line featuring Yakubu and Folivi linked well. Driving at the Bolton defence, the latter slid a ball through to Kyle Spence. The midfielder cut it back towards Folivi, but on the turn he could only divert the ball past the far post.
After a few half-hearted penalty appeals from the host’s, they did take the lead midway through the first half. Pressing high, Conor Wilkinson won the ball back in an advanced area before firing into the bottom corner from the edge of the area.
Five minutes before half time the Sky Blues were level. It was again the pairing of Yakubu and Folivi linking well, as the Watford loanee glided past two challenges and hit an effort across the ‘keeper and into the bottom corner.
Moments before half time it was the turn of the Yak to have his first sighter at goal. A loose ball fell the way of the 34-year old, but his curling effort from 25-yards didn’t trouble James Aspinall in the Bolton goal.
The home side began to take control at the beginning of the second, creating two chances within ten minutes of the restart. Liam Trotter headed over from just six-yards out, before a loose Corey Addai kick fortunately went unpunished, as Max Clayton curled over the bar.
It was Bolton who continued to come forward, with Reece Wabara looking to test Addai on this occasion. He cut inside onto his right foot, but a deflected long range effort dipped just past the far post.
Despite being on the back foot, it was the Sky Blues who took the lead in the 70th minute. Folivi scored his second of the evening, picking up the ball on the left before driving inside and finishing well into the corner.
Folivi, seemingly involved in all aspects of attacking play, should have sealed his debut hat-trick five minutes before the end. Kyle Spence was bundled over in the area, but the forward’s effort from twelve yards was saved.
However, in almost the last attack of the game the home side levelled. Liam Trotter's deflected effort completely wrong footing Addai and finding the bottom corner.
Teams:
Coventry City: Addai (GK), Whitmore, Thompson, Harries, Camwell, Lawton (Hickman 67'), Maycock, Shipley, Spence, Folivi, Yakubu (Ponticelli 45').
Subs: Naylor (GK), Sayoud, Smith.
Bolton Wanderers: Aspinall (GK), Solomon-Otabor, Wabara, Thorpe, Lavelle, Brockbank, Trotter, Perry, Wilkinson (Newell 56'), Clayton, Karacan (Earing 45').
Subs: King (GK), Spooner, Honeyball.