Matchday Memories: On This Day 2017 – See Sky Blues Bonfire Night K.O. Of Maidenhead
Jordan Ponticelli in the Sky Blue
On this Sunday (5th November) six years ago in 2017 two goals from young Sky Blue striker (now with National League side Halesowen Town) Jordan Ponticelli was enough to remove Maidenhead United from the First Round of the F.A.Cup. There was a small crowd of 3,370 in the Ricoh to see the tie (including 716 excited fans from the lower league outfit (who were managed by former West Ham star Alan Devonshire). Sky Blue manager Mark Robins was pleased Jordan was able to notch his brace inside twelve first-half minutes in what was, in truth, a routine win against the National League side. Mark was also in the process of seeking to lift his team out of the fourth tier of the Football League where the Sky Blues had found themselves for only the second time in their history after relegation in 2016-17.
Jack in the Sky Blue
Jodi Jones in the Sky Blue
The Sky Blues started strongly with Jake Goodman clearing a shot off the line in the eleventh minute from Marc McNulty. Seven minutes later (now CCFPA member) ‘Sparky’ volleyed a powerful effort against the top of the bar after a good turn to go even closer to giving the Sky Blues the lead.
Then Jordan put the Sky Blues ahead after (now Association member) Jack Grimmer beat his man in the 33rd minute and crossed to Jordan for a neat right foot finish. ‘Ponters’ then doubled City’s lead after Jodi Jones teed him up just before the break. City went in at half-time two goals to the good and expecting more.
Marc & Max
However, it wasn’t to be and Sky Blues ‘keeper Lee Burge (who has also since joined CCFPA) was forced to tip a looping Harry Pritchard free-kick over the bar on 57 minutes. Marc McNulty then had another chance to extend City’s lead, narrowly headed over three minutes past the hour mark. On 67 minutes United’s Adrian Clifton wasted a good chance to pull a goal back but skied over the bar from just 10 yards and the Sky Blues went on to look comfortably in charge. So much so that five minutes before the final whistle Marc had a goal ruled out for offside after he slotted home a pass from Max Biamou! The 2-0 win gave us another home tie against a non-league club, Boreham Wood, in the second round
A contemporary report from BBC Sport can be accessed here.
Manager Mark & Captain Doyler celebrate Wembley win
As is well known now the Sky Blues vacated League Two this season after occupying the last play-off spot (sixth) beating Notts County in two stirring legs of the Semi-Final and then beating Exeter City 3-1 in the final in a brilliant Wembley day out in front of more than 50,000 with nearly 38,000 from Cov!
