Coventry City Under 23s drew 0-0 this afternoon with Crewe Alexandra at the Ricoh Arena.
Jason Farndon’s side included Jordan Willis and Stuart Beavon as they return to fitness, while substitutes from Saturday’s first team game Jordan Ponticelli and Josh Barrett both got valuable game time.
The Sky Blues had the best of the opening exchanges, with Kyle Finn testing the Crewe keeper early on from 30 yards out.
15 minutes in and City came close to breaking the deadlock. Josh Barrett cut inside from his wide left position, and his curling effort looked destined for the top corner only to be defected wide by the Crewe defender.
Shortly afterwards, Barrett’s far post corner was met by the head of the returning Jordan Willis, whose effort went over.
In a spell of dominance for the Sky Blues, the next chance fell to Barrett again. Stuart Beavon broke free on the right and put in a great cross for Barrett. He controlled the ball inside the area and forced Crewe keeper Richards into another save. However, the shot was too hot to handle and the ball fell to Ponticelli who also forced a point blank stop from the keeper.
Barrett and Beavon linked up again in the 21st minute, when the Reading loan man turned provider. A whipped ball from the left found Beavon, and the striker headed just over.
Past the half hour mark, City continued their dominance with a flurry of corners. Chances fell for Barrett, Beavon and Ponticelli but were all deflected wide by the visitors as their defence stood strong under pressure.
With half-time approaching the Sky Blues continued to try to find a gap into the Alex defence, but to no avail as the sides went into the dressing rooms level at half-time.
The Sky Blues continued in the same vein as the first half in the second period. Ponticelli hit a speculative effort wide from 30 yards out, before Kyle Finn picked up on loose Crewe interplay and then forced Richards into another stop.
A Nice one two inside the box between Kelly-Evans and Ponticelli, put the full back then puts in a dangerous cut back, which was cut out by Crewe.
Josh Barrett had switched over to the right wing, and had an effort from that position 68 minutes in -A looping half volley was wide. City were having some joy on the right flank, and Ponticelli did some good work on the wing to force a corner. Barrett’s powerful corner was met by Beavon, with his header just wide.
On 75 minutes, Jason Farndon made a triple change. Jordan Willis had completed his 75 minutes, and Stuart Beavon and Kyle Finn joined him in being replaced by Reece Ford, Billy Stedman and Josh Eccles.
As the encounter entered the final ten minutes, the Sky Blues pushed for a goal. Josh Barrett found room inside the box, and his angled effort from the left of the area was smartly saved by Richards.
With time ticking down, Jordan Ponticelli had efforts from the edge of the box and an audacious overhead effort from 25 yards out, but the scores would remain level and the Sky Blues would have to be satisfied with a point.
CCFC: Addai, Di Kelly-Evans, Willis, Thompson, Camwell, Maycock (C), Trialist, Finn, Barratt, Beavon, Ponticelli.
Subs: Bilson (GK), Sayoud, Eccles, Stedman, Green, Ford.
Crewe: Richards, T.Johnson, Walker, Lundstram, Offord, Griffiths, Finney, Dale, Hurst, Walsh, Reilly