Matchday Memories: On This Day 1980 – Super Sky Blues Score 5 In 5th Round & Sting Hornets

On this day (9th December) in 1980 the Sky Blues, after waiting 97 years, finally made it to a cup semi final! A week earlier they had travelled to Vicarage Rd to take on Watford in the Fifth Round of the League Cup and had come away with a 2-2 draw to earn themselves this replay thanks to a Garry Thompson brace. 

In earlier rounds Gordon Milne‘s men had disposed of Manchester United (1-0 in both legs) in Round 2, won 2-1 at Brighton in Round 3 and won their Fourth Round replay tie at Cambridge United by a single goal from Steve Hunt. 

Today in the 5th Round replay they brushed aside the Graham Taylor‘s Hornets by five clear goals in front of an large, excited Highfield Road crowd of 30,389 to earn themselves a Semi Final date with West Ham United. Milne’s team, stuffed full of youthful talent, demolished the Hornets scoring three first half goals to knock the stuffing out of the side from Hertfordshire. Peter Bodak gave City a great start with a stunning seventh minute strike. Then came, at last, the first of a brace from Mark Hateley on the half hour and ten minutes from the break one from Thommo (all three now CCFPA members).

Peter in the Sky Blue

Mark in the Sky Blue

Garry in the Sky Blue 1981

The second half remained goalless until ten minutes from time. However, despite the Sky Blues ‘keeper Les Sealey picking up a spot of concussion the home team’s defence remained dominant and protected Les so much that he had only one save to make the whole game! Steve Hunt‘s 80th minute goal and then a final goal, the second of his brace, four minutes later netted by Mark Hatelely wrapped up the Sky Blues 5-0 win over the Hornets.