City’s U23s got back to winning ways with a 5-3 victory over in form Wigan Athletic at the Alan Higgs Centre this afternoon.
Wigan earned an early corner and from Luke Robinson’s set piece was headed across goal by Thelo Aasgaard but Harry McGee fired wide.
Robinson then crossed to the back post with McGee heading back across to Tom Costello who headed against the bar before Thelo Aagaard fired wide.
Jodi Jones put Aaron Evans-Harriott through but he was just beaten to the ball by the sliding Arthur Lomax.
But it was the visitors that took the lead when Kieran Lloyd put a ball across the six yard box for Costello to tap in.
Cian Tyler was called into action when McGee’s shot from range was dipping but the City ‘keeper pulled off a strong diving save.
Ricardo Dinanga then shot from range after being teed up by Matty Godden but his shot was saved by Sam Tickle in the Latic’s net.
Marco Rus put a dangerous through ball to Fabio Tavares but Lomax’s clearance was put out of play by Robinson.
From the resulting throw in, Jones crossed for Godden to direct the ball into the back of the net with his head to equalise!
Dinanga then fired into the side netting then he ran on to the end of a Evans-Harriott cross but he couldn’t keep his effort down.
Wigan responded through Robinson but he could only fire his shot wide after being set up by Aasgaard before Tyler tipped Costello’s shot onto the post.
City then broke from a Latics’ corner with Jones trying an effort from range but Tickle did enough to deny the midfielder.
But just before half time Costello got his second of the game when he headed in a cross to put Wigan ahead at the break.
HALF TIME: Sky Blues U23s 1-2 Wigan Athletic U23s
Costello then spurred a great chance to further the visitors lead but he fired wide with the goal gaping when he got onto the end of McGee’s cross.
Rus then flicked a ball over the top that Tavares headed the ball into the path of Evans-Harriott who’s superb volley it into the bottom corner drew the Sky Blues back level!
Cian Tyler then did well to deny Scott Smith at his near post with his legs, in what was turning into an end to end encounter.
A tricky run from Rus saw the midfielder cut inside before being stived down by Lomax to earn City a penalty which Godden fired into the bottom corner.
Robinson’s cross was flicked goalwards by Chris Sze but Dinanga was on hand to clear off the line.
The Sky Blues broke through Rus who got his second assist of the game when he slid in Godden who slotted home for his hat trick!
Jones then picked out Godden who selflessly passed across goal to Tavares for the hardworking forward to convert to get his seventh of the season!
Wigan earned a succession of corners in the final minutes and Robinson’s in swinging cross was unluckily deflected into the back of Tyler’s net by Ryan Howley.
Tyler then came out and denied Costello his hat trick with his feet with the forward bearing down on goal as City ran out winners.
FULL TIME: Sky Blues U23s 5-3 Wigan Athletic U23s
Scorers: Matty Godden 34’, Aaron Evans-Harriott 57’, Matty Godden 65’ pen, 77’, Fabio Tavares 80’; Tom Costello 19’, 42’, Ryan Howley 88’;
Cards: Ricardo Dinanga 79’; Arthur Lomax 64’
Sky Blues U23s XI: Cian Tyler, Blaine Rowe, Ryan Howley, George Burroughs, Ricardo Dinanga (Shay Young 84’), Marco Rus, Jodi Jones (Harrison Nee 81’), Jonny Ngandu, Aaron Evans-Harriott, Fabio Tavares, Matty Godden (C).
Unused subs: Trialist, Oliver Berry, Evan Eghosa
Wigan Athletic U23s XI: Sam Tickle, Kieran Lloyd, Arthur Lomax, Adam Long, Luke Robinson, Divin Baningine, Scott Smith (C), Baba Adeeko, Thelo Aasgaard, Harry McGee, Tom Costello.
Unused subs: Owen Mooney, Harry McHugh, Chris Sze, Levi Welsh.