COVENTRY SPHINX 0-1 BEDWORTH UNITED BY KEV MONKS
Sphinx
O'Neill, Goodbody, McAteer, Rhodes, Ward, Kay, Donaldson (Halton 50), Fisher, Phillips (Smith 83), Murdock, Muldoon (Manak 69) SNU Martin, Doherty.
Bedworth United
Bevan, Moran, Shilton, Connolly, Squire, Cummins, Blair, Lenton (Petty 91), Robinson (Fitzharris 79), Moore, Allen. SNU Kabongo, Lee, Korlya, Edmond, Shepherd
HT CSFC 0-0 BUFC FT CSFC 0-1 BUFC ATT 871
GOAL Matt Blair (67)
Referee Ian Rathbone Booked Lenton, Allen, Rhodes, Squire, Blair
Coventry Sphinx's glorious FA Cup run is over with a 1-0 home defeat against Bedworth United.
The biggest day in Sphinx's 63 year history saw the visit of Bedworth United to Sphinx Drive for this FA Cup Third Qualifying Round clash.
It drew a large crowd of 871 including a number of boisterous Bedworth followers who kept the stewards busy and meant that kick off was put back by ten minutes to accommodate everyone.
Danny McSheffrey's side did not start how they have been doing this season and it was Liam O'Neill's side who had the better of the early chances.
Jamie McAteer cleared a corner after 62 seconds and in the fifth minute, Sphinx keeper Carl O'Neill made a good save to parry an effort from Matt Blair who was watched by his father Andy.
Jerome Murdock was again a big threat to the Southern League Midland Divison defence and in the eleventh minute, he ran through only to be blocked by the feet of on loan keeper David Bevan.
That led to a Tom Muldoon corner. It floated to the far side of the area where Jamie McAteer rose and sent a header onto the bar and over.
At the other end, Jason Moore hooked over before things started to get heated when a clear stamp by Jamie Lenton resulted in only a booking.
In the 27th minute, O'Neill blocked a Cummins shot inside the area. Matt Blair was first to the rebound and his cross resulted in Ashley Robinson directing a diving header wide.
Five minutes before the break, Jerome Murdock was again sent on his way but found his shot blocked for a corner to keep the tie level at the interval.
James Halton was sent on for Aron Donaldson but Sphinx whilst winning much of the midfield battle, failed to find any real penetration up front.
Matt Blair
O'Neill pushed round a Paddy Connolly drive from the edge of the area but in the 67th minute, the Sphinx keeper could do nothing as Bedworth took the lead. Richard Allen got down the right flank and sent over across and there was Matt Blair to steer a diving header into the net.
Blair raced over to celebrate with the Bedworth support congregated in the right of the Willie Knibbs Memorial Stand. The Bedworth followers who had been taunting their board, started to try and get onto the pitch. The pressure they exerted sent a brick wall tumbling over and one Bedworth supporter injured his ankle.
Some of the Bedworth support before the incident.
That part of the stand was cleared and Blair was booked as the game continued.
Subsitute Ramon Manaz fired wide after good work from Murdock but Sphinx could not find a way back into the match and their FA Cup excitement was over for another year.
Photos copyright of Covsupport News Service