Coventry City’s next generation gave fans a glimpse of what might be to come in a couple of years by turning on the style against Wimbledon to reach the semi-final of the FA Youth Cup.

Wimbledon came to Highfield Road with a high reputation yet left humbled by an incisive performance from the City young guns.

Ironically hot-shot Gary McSheffrey didn’t manage to get on the scoresheet but he had team-mates who did and also struck the woodwork twice in dramatic style.

For the first 15 minutes or so, the visitors looked dangerous but once City hit top gear there was no stopping them.

They took the lead after 18 minutes when McSheffrey tipped the ball around a defender, committed the keeper and slipped the ball to Chukki Eribenne who had a simple side-foot in to an unguarded net.

Gerry Mooney, who later had to leave the field with a nasty leg injury, then combined with McSheffrey and the two almost set up what would have been the finest goal at the ground this season.

Importantly, City struck the second blow just five minutes after their first goal, but got a sizeable slice of luck. McSheffrey was fouled outside the Dons’ box and when Craig Pead curled in the free-kick, the ball stuck a defender and flew into the net.

Wimbledon could have pulled a goal back when Seb Favata but Lionel Morgan, following in at the far post, couldn’t quite reach the ball.

The second half was more one sided. McSheffrey curled a shot in after robbing his marker and when the ball bounced down to Robert Betts, he couldn’t poke it home.

His other effort which hit wood, came from a blasted right foot effort which looked destined for the net before flying off the bar.

City rounded off the evening when the highly impressive Steve McPhee converted, again with the help of a deflection, after a superb cross field ball by Eribenne.

The Sky Blues will now meet the winners of Newcastle v Nottingham Forest, but must be in with a good chance of winning through a two-leg semi-final.