FA Cup
Saturday 11th August - Sphinx Drive
RESULT: COVENTRY SPHINX 0 WHITCHURCH ALPORT 1
Attendance: 157
Coventry Sphinx exited the FA Cup at the first time of asking with a goal midway through the second half proving to be the difference between the two sides. Lee Knibbs welcomed back Callum Woodward who returned to the side in place of the injured Liam Cairns. He also moved Lewis Hudson forward into a more attacking role and recalled Liam Rock into the side. This meant that Phillips and O’Grady had to settle for places on the Sphinx bench alongside the likes of Charlie Faulkner and Michael Quirke.
It was a cagey start to the match with the game set for a replay if the scores were level after 90 minutes. Sphinx continued their league form defensively but they were struggling to test the visiting keeper with any regularity. The same could be said for Whitchurch however and it was no surprise that this closely fought match went into the break without a goal.
Lee Knibbs had some good attacking options on the bench and he was quick to make changes in the second half with Leigh Phillips and Josh O’Grady joining the action. This immediately lifted Sphinx and they were looking more of a threat but they found the Whitchurch keeper in great form who was confidently taking crosses and making saves when it was required. Phillips had a great chance shortly after coming on and he would have been disappointed to see his first time effort from a Hudson cross go just wide of the post. O’Grady was looking particularly dangerous from free kicks but the keeper was equal to his efforts on goal.
Whitchurch dealt Sphinx a blow on 73 minutes with what turned out to be the winning goal and Sphinx then made a further substitution with Charlie Faulkner replacing Lewis Hudson. Sphinx kept plugging away and committing men forward which opened the game up and enabled Whitchurch to threaten the goal themselves. Sphinx couldn’t find the goal they needed and it was Whitchurch and their travelling support who were left celebrating progress into the next round of the FA Cup.
MAN OF THE MATCH: JAMIE TOWERS
Louis Guest looked dominant in the air and Rhys Deehan rarely disappoints at left back. The substitutes Leigh Phillips and Josh O’Grady gave Sphinx a lift in attack. Sphinx looked solid defensively as a team but it was Jamie Towers who stood out as the chief threat going forward.
COVENTRY SPHINX TEAM: CROSS, LOWER ©, DEEHAN, DOWNIE, STRINGFELLOW, GUEST, TOWERS, WOODWARD, JOHNSTON (O’Grady), ROCK (Phillips), HUDSON (Faulkner) Unused subs: Quirke, Jackson, Obimpeh
Sphinx are back in league action on Tuesday evening at Sphinx Drive with the early league leaders Lye Town making their way over to Coventry.
Image courtesy of nicspics