THREE goals in a dreadful 15 minute period early in the second half sent Saints crashing ut of the AXA FA Youth Cup at Highfield Road last night.

The prestigious cup competition is aimed at under-18s, which meant Saints went into the third round tie without influential third year players, Scott McDonald and Brian Howard who were ineligible.

Instead, Saints fielded a relatively young side with five first year players in the starting line-up.

After going into the break goalless having weathered a first half storm from the Sky Blues, Stewart Henderson's side found themselves a goal down within 20 seconds of the re-start.

And from then on, Saints found themselves with a mountain to climb which they could not reach.

Coventry settled into their stride quicker than Saints and moved the ball around smartly early on, but it was Saints who created the first chance.

Luke Byles headed down Mark Peters' long throw to Arron Davies who fired wide.

Coventry's Eddie Stanford completely missed his kick from just six yards out when it seemed easier to score and Andy Robertson then did well to deny David Pipe as he broke into the area on two separate occasions.

Saints' rearguard was standing up well to Coventry's advances, despite the constant pressure, particularly from Kenna and Danny Nelson on the Coventry right, and Saints began to claw their way back into the game as the central midfield duo of Matthew Crowell and Arron Davies began to get on top.

Davies nearly put Saints ahead with a 38th minute volley that was well saved by Brush.

Mark Peters unleashed his first effort in the 42nd minute, a powerful strike from a tight angle which was comfortably saved.

And then just before the break, Williams was called upon to turn away a low free-kick from Coventry left-back Stephen Grant.

Saints' second half plan of action was quickly undermined as Coventry engineered a flowing move from the kick-off. Stephen Rice applied the finishing touch to the four-man move to knock the wind from Saints' sails.

Crowell had the perfect chance to equalise soon after. Following good work by Lucas on the right wing, he picked out Crowell arriving late in the box, but the Welsh midfielder fired over the bar from 10 yards.

With that chance seemingly went Saints' hopes. Pipe doubled Coventry's lead after latching onto a perfectly weighted through ball from Mark Noon. Byles denied Pipe a second goal a minute later with a last minute tackle, but from the corner, centre back Sean Cooney smashed in a third goal for the home side after the unlucky Williams had blocked two efforts in a goalmouth scramble.

Peters fired wide after good work by substitute Darren Broxton, and Davies was again denied by Brush in a one-on-one.

Henderson said: "At half time I felt we were well in it, and even at 1-0 down we had a very good chance which might have made a difference, but I think over the 90 minutes that Coventry shaded it."