Coventry Sphinx worked hard to earn a 2-1 victory at Causeway United this afternoon.
On a sunny afternoon at a ground where the home support and bench tend to make the most of their home advantage by getting at the match officials early on, Paul Charnley's side trailed to a bizarre goal in 12th minute.
Young Sphinx defender Liam Kay headed the ball towards his own keeper. Carl O'Neill in the Sphinx goal,came out but could only succede in missing the ball, allowing Stuart How to get round him and slot the ball into the empty net from eight yards.
However, a good following of Sphinx supporters and officials were soon cheering when Sphinx equalised four minutes later. Jerome Murdock, who was a massive threat to the home defence all afternoon, raced to get a ball on the right flank. At the second attempt, he got past a marker and cut the ball back for Tom Thacker to drive into the net from sixteen yards.
Robbie Stevenson was a revelation for Sphinx in midfield. His free kicks, from fouls given by a card happy referee,who was struggling to keep uo with the tempo of the game, kept the home keeper busy.
Jimmy Halton was another dangerman for Sphinx, launching long throws into the mixer with good effect. One throw in the 28th minute, saw Joel Skeldon make a good catch to deny Jamie McAteer and ten minutes later, the home keeper made a fine stop from another exocet throw.
Referee Mr Stowe of Evesham, continued to dominate the game. After Stevenson and Thacker had both narrowly missed, the always lively Callum Woodward got inside the penalty area and rounded the keeper. Skeldon dived to his left and sent Woodward crashing to the ground. Mr Stowe was not in the best of positions to see but waved his hands to indicate that a penalty was not to be awarded whilst the linesman, surrounded by home supporters making their way round the ground for a half-time cuppa, kept his flag firmly down by his side.
Sphinx in red. James Halton (8), Robbie Stevenson (10)
In the 55th minute, Mr Stowe was in a decent position to see that Ben Stretton had fouled Jerome Murdock from behind, some twenty eight yards out and cautioned him. Robbie Stevenson stepped up to take the kick and drilled the ball low into the net.
It was nearly 3-1 a minute later, when a fine run by Halton was only stopped by Skeldon using his legs to block.
As the nastiness crept back into the game, Aston and How both were booked by a referee,whose delay of the game by giving players a lecture for every little misdeameanour,caused much frustration amongst both sets of benches.
Although nearly caught by a late Chris Busby header, the Sphinx players continued to battle for each other.
Four minutes of stoppage time saw Jerome Murdock roll the ball the other side of Skeldon's left hand post as Sphinx kept going to ensure that they headed back down the M42 with another three points.
Sphinx
O'Neill, McAteer,Holmes,Rhodes (Mead 83),Ward,Kay,Woodward,Halton, Thacker (Hopkins 77),Stevenson,Murdock SNU Carpenter, Harri
Causeway
Skeldon,Martin,Sproston,Cox,Aston,Field,Jones (Millard 60),Stretton (Priest 71),Busby,How,Neate. SNU Plington,Whiteley,Henley.
Booked Kay,Rhodes (Sphinx), Jones,Stretton,How,Aston (Causeway)
Coventry Sphinx Reserves were beaten 5-1 at home by Midland Combination Reserve Division leaders Tamworth FC. Robbie Scott scored for Danny McSheffrey's side.