"Danny Sturridge's fine vein of form has continued, with the 18-year-old
grabbing two goals in a 3-0 win for City in a Pontin's League fixture
against Preston North End.
There was more good news on the striking front with recent signing Felipe
Caicedo scoring his first goal for City in his first full 90 minutes since
arriving from Basel.

It was a lively start between two teams both featuring some well-known
names, but it was to be City's latest household name, Danny Sturridge that
gave the Blues a perfect start after nine minutes.

Kelvin Etuhu did well down the right before delivering a ball that beat the
North End defence and that allowed Sturridge to score his eight goal in just
six games since his return from a hip injury.

The Blues kept an impressive sounding frontline of Neil Mellor and Brett
Ormerod at bay during the first half and on 26 minutes Sturridge could have
doubled his tally for the afternoon. His shot from the edge of the box took
a deflection and needed a fine full length save from Szamotulski.

Ten minutes later City, and Sturridge, threatened again. Felipe Caicedo and
Paul Marshall combined well to release the 18-year-old striker but he
couldn't beat the Preston keeper with his left footed effort.

In the final minute of the half, January signing Caicedo almost nodded his
first goal in a blue shirt, but he was denied after Szamotulski tipped the
header onto the crossbar.

Sturridge grabbed his second just four minutes into the second half,
drilling the ball home with his left foot from just inside the penalty area.

The two-goal cushion proved to be enough for the Blues for most of the rest
of the game, with Preston's best chance coming when Brett Ormerod saw his
effort cleared off the line with 15 minutes left.

Caicedo completed an impressive display in fine style just after we entered
stoppage time, breaking into the left hand side of the area to smash the
ball above and beyond Szamotulski with his left foot.

City:
Martin, Logan, Williamson, Breen, McDonald, Marshall, Clayton, Moore, Etuhu,
Sturridge, Caicedo.

unused subs: M.Daly, Clegg, D.Ball, Trippier, Weiss.

PNE:
Szamotulski, Aspin, Hill, Collins, Smythe, Nicholls, Mayor, Chaplow,
Anyinsah, Mellor, Ormerod.

unused subs: Fairhurst, Cudworth, Appiah, Shearwood, McCarthy.

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