By Sam
July 24 2006
Notts County played there first home pre-season friendly yesterday against Championship side Coventry City and both teams creating chances.
Notts C 0 v 2 Coventry HT 0-0: 1,602 (382 Away Fans)
Pre-season Friendly
Notts County played there first home pre-season friendly yesterday against Championship side Coventry City.
Both teams had a number of chances but Coventry ran out 2-0 winners, with Stern John and Gary McSheffrey scoring. Ian Ross had a penalty saved, but other than that, put in an impressive display in midfield and gave an indication of the influence he could have on the team this season.
In the first half, both teams produced some promising periods of play, and neither side could fine the back of the net with both teams having clear-cut chances.
After ten minutes Junior Mendes was denied by a block from Elliott Ward after Ross had spotted his run and the former Mansfield striker looked lively in attack.
From midway in the first half Coventry started to create clear chances. Gary McSheffrey volleyed wide from a long ball by Marcus Hall. McSheffrey did have time to guide his volley home, but rushed it and dragged his effort wide of Pilkington’s post.
Notts first shot at goal came from Matt Somner after a quickly taken free-kick caught Coventry off guard, but the midfielder got under the ball and it drifted over the crossbar.
Out on the flanks, Parkinson and Pipe showed throughout the game how dangerous they can be, with the pair prepared to attack at will and come inside if need be to have a shot at goal. Dele Adebola blasted over after bursting his way past two Notts defenders and into the area.
Has the half progressed, the game started to liven up. McSheffrey looked a live wire in attack for Coventry. He found his way past Edwards and McCann on the half hour mark, but sent his shot inches wide of the post, but a minute later had the ball in the net, only for it to be ruled out for offside.
Parkinson showed what he could do, when he set off on a dangerous run down the left and went one-on-one with McNamee. He then jinked his way past McNamee and used his right-foot curl a shot towards goal, but crashed against the crossbar and into the path of David Pipe who fired a cross-shot towards goal, which was flicked wide by Dudfield. It was the Magpies best chance of the half.
The end of the half saw a couple of shots at goal from both teams, with McSheffrey being denied by a fine Edwards block, while Dudfield headed a Mendes cross at goal, but Marshall easily saved it.
The second half saw Deeney come on for Pilkington, and immediately he was picking the ball out the goal when Coventry sub John fired home a right-foot shot after a Frank Songoo cross which wasn’t cleared by White.
The Magpies had the perfect chance to pull level after McNamee handled, but Marshall excellently saved Ross’ Spot-kick.
Mendes had a powerful volley saved and Deeney was being tested to his very best by making two good saves from McSheffrey and Cameron. He denied Songoo with a good, low stop, showing he will certainly push Pilkington all the way this season for a starting place.
But with 15 minutes left, he was beaten after the visitors burst forward on the break with Thornton playing McSheffrey though and he turned past Edwards to calmly put the ball past Deeney and into the bottom left-hand corner of his goal.
Notts may have lost, but they battled hard and created chances. Mendes showed pace and skill, while Ian Ross showed why Steve Thompson fought so hard to bring him in, he looked sharp, used the ball well and was attack minded all game.
Notts Team: Pilkington (Deeney), Silk (Gleeson), McCann, White, Edwards, Pipe (Lee), Ross (Martin), Somner (Curtis), Parkinson (Sheridan), Dudfield (N’Toya) Mendes (Frost).
Not Used: Needham
Coventry City: Marshall, McNamee, Hall, Heath (Bischoff), Ward, Hughes (Doyle), Songoo, Cameron, Adebola (John), McSheffrey, Thornton.
Ref: Mr Russell Booth, Notts
Next Match: Tue 25th Jul (H) Doncaster 7:30pm
Info from the Official Notts County site.
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