The Sky Blues Under-18s continued their unbeaten start to the season as they came away with a point against Ipswich Town this past weekend.
Talon Shepard scored Coventry’s opener from a corner after the ball was headed down into his path and he calmly rifled it home.
However, the 18s lead was snatched away in the final moments of the game, as Ipswich saw their pressure pay off as a header in the final stages of the game beat Luke Bell and ensured City and the Tractor Boys would share the points.
After the game manager John Dempster spoke on the sides performance: “We felt that we had the better of the play in the first half producing really good variations of play.
“The players’ decision making of where the space was and when to attack was very good. Ipswich did cause us a lot of problems and we’re slightly disappointed we didn’t convert more of our chances.
“Obviously going into the break 1-0 up we felt good and then coming into the second half it’s fair to say Ipswich had more of the ball and threw everything at us.
“Our boys showed great resilience at times but unfortunately a lapse in concentration and communication at the back led to their goal.
“On reflection I think a draw was probably a fair result because Ipswich played very well in the second half, but when you concede late on, you’re always disappointed not to take three points.”
The last two games have seen the Sky Blues concede late on and despite not losing both results, Dempster and his staff will work hard to ensure this doesn’t become a regular occurrence.
“They are the key messages; it wasn’t for the want of trying that we didn’t get three points, it was just a lack of game management and having that professional mindset to see the game out.
“We fell short today, but then again the players did well, we ended the game with six under-16s on the pitch and they are trying to earn scholarships and the second-year scholars are trying to earn contracts.”
However, despite the late goal snatching away the points, Dempster is pleased with the under-18s start to the season, as they continue their unbeaten run.
“What we try and do is try and get a level of performance and consistency and if you do that, which we have done over the first four games and the results follow and remaining unbeaten is a good happen to go in.
“You always want to win football matches but to have that motivation only improves the team.”