Town ease past Sky Blues to reach quarter-finals

STRATFORD Town proved too strong for Coventry City’s under-23 side in the Birmingham Senior Cup for the second year running as goals from Edwin Ahenkorah and Richard Gregory propelled them into the quarter-finals, writes Bryan Hale.

Both sides made a cautious start with Kyle Finn’s long-range effort for the youthful Sky Blues on the quarter-hour mark the first real threat to either goal.

Bilal Sayoud went a lot closer five minutes later with a rasping drive as he cut in from the left followed by the tricky Kyle Spence working his way in from the right to hit a fierce effort which was turned behind by Niall Cooper.

But Town took the lead on 29 minutes with the best move of the match so far. Dan Summerfield skipped past two defenders down the right touchline and whipped over a pinpoint cross which was expertly volleyed in by Edwin Ahenkorah from six yards out.

Summerfield could have doubled the advantage soon after as he surged into the penalty area only to shoot narrowly over, and in the 37th minute Will Grocott was inches away with a 20-yard free-kick as Town reached half-time deservedly in front.

Ahenkorah made way for Richard Gregory for the second half, and he had only been on the pitch for six minutes when he showed exactly why Leamington are interested in luring him away from the DCS as he turned past his marker to drill the ball unerringly into the bottom of the corner of the net.

The Sky Blues tried hard to get back into the game with Devon Kelly-Evans catching the eye with his pace and persistence and substitute Jordan Ponticelli going close on a couple of occasions but Town looked to be in control as they saw the game out in relative comfort.

Stratford Town: Niall Cooper, Dan Summerfield, Kieren Westwood, Barry Fitzharris, Liam Francis (c), Charlie Faulkner, Simeon Tulloch, Jean Kalenda (Rob Ormston 55), Edwin Ahenkorah (Richard Gregory 46), Will Grocott, Charlie Evans (Kyle Jaynes 70).