COVENTRY SPHINX 1-0 CAUSEWAY UNITED BY KEV MONKS
Sphinx:Leeson, Muldoon, Jackson, Saunders, Atkins, Ross, Taylor, Rhodes, Cudworth (Ritson 78), Cutting (Unitt 90), Wimbush (Fraser 78). SNU Long, Abajade
Causeway; Turner, Pritchard (Overton 70), Martin, Sproston, Whitley, Poole, Devlin, Stretton, Lloyd, How (Priest 70), Stevenson. SNU Johnson, Hill, Dunn
HT CSFC 1-0 CUFC FT CSFC 1-0 CUFC ATT 75
Goal Ross Wimbush 30
Referee Rob Cairns. Assists P.Tapp & R Pettipher
Booked Rhodes
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Coventry Sphinx kicked off their home Midland Alliance campaign with a 1-0 victory over Causeway United.
Carl Nolan gave a debut to keeper Roger Leeson, who has signed from Daventry Town and brought back old Sphinx favourite Jack Cudworth to a Sphinx side which like Causeway were beaten 1-0 at the weekend.
Sphinx were nearly ahead in the fifth minute. Matt Ross headed back a corner, across the area for Jack Cudworth to stroke the ball onto Turner’s right hand post.
The hard working Rikki Cutting fired at Turner before Cudworth got on the end of a good cross but could only send it wide.
In the 14th minute,. Cutting was sent on his way, only for Turner to block with his feet as Sphinx, with Ashley Jackson making some storming runs down the left and a midfield led by Kyle Rhodes containing the Causeway quartet, had the better of the play.
On the half hour mark, Sphinx took the lead thanks to Jack Taylor picking out the incoming Ross Wimbush who swept the ball into the net, much to the delight of the home support.
Into the second half and Sphinx had the better of the play before Turner had to dive low to push away a Rhodes shot in the 53rd minute.
With Ben Atkins and Matt Ross superb in the middle of defence, Causeway’s attacks were kept to a minimum. Ben Stretton headed wide, but at the other end back came Sphinx towards the club house end goal and from a Tom Muldoon cross, Rhodes planted a 57th minute header against the crossbar.
Both managers made changes late on and although Atkins and Stevenson had chances, it was Sphinx who were to pick up their first three points of the season.
Picture copyright of Covsupport News Service. Credit CNS/KM