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 North Kings Lynn 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
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.
Two Jordans celebrate (On the left Ponticelli & right Shipley)
A contemporary report from BBC Sport can be accessed here.
Thanks to Dean Nelson you can see ten minutes of highlights from the City's Cup win (from the away team's perspective) by clicking on the link or image below:-
The Sky Blues lined up (CCFPA members underlined):-
Sky Blue gaffer Mark Robins
Lee Burge, Jack Grimmer, Tom Davies, Rod McDonald, Ryan Haynes, Michael Doyle (c), Jordan Shipley (sub. Callum Maycock -73), Jodi Jones, Marc McNulty, Peter Vincenti (sub. Max Biamou -46) and Jordan Ponticelli (sub. Duckens Nazon -73).
Unused subs: Chris Stokes, Jordan Willis, Stuart Beavon and Liam O'Brien (gk),
Maidenhead put out the following players:-
Carl Pentney, Remy Clerima, Rene Steer, Harry Pritchard (sub. Ryan Peters -82), Alan Massey (c), Adrian Clifton, Ryan Upward, James Comley, Jake Goodman, Christian Smith (sub. James Mulley -58) and Sam Barratt (sub. Jake Hyde -46) Unused subs: Harold Odametey, Sean Marks, Maximillian Kilman and Nick Hamann (gk). Referee: Scott Duncan.
CCFC 2017-18
The Sky Blues successfully navigated the potential banana-skin of non league opposition in Round Two, comfortably beating Boreham Wood by three clear goals in early December. Stoke City were Third Round victims by the odd goal in three in January, also at the Ricoh and Milton Keynes Dons were put out by the Sky Blues by a lone goal, away from Coventry this time. It was left to Premier League Brighton to end the Sky Blues F.A.Cup run in Sussex beating us in the Fifth Round 3-1.
Thanks to CCFPA's Mike Young for sourcing the images. Share Post