COVENTRY SPHINX 2-1 BOLDMERE ST MICHAELS BY KEV MONKS
Sphinx: O’Neill, Hayden (Muldoon 86), Jackson, Kay, Ward, Long (McAteer 60), Barnett (Tomcazak 50), Rhdoes, Edwards, L.Williams, Donaldson. SNU A.Williams, Daffern
Boldmere: Butler, Gould, Donaghey, Stevenson, Watkins, Lewis, Tulloch, J.Smith, Jakab, K.Smith, Reece Subs Ly Weller, Grosvenor, Keighly, Le Weller.
HT CSFC 0-1 BSM FT CSFC 2-1 BSM ATT 98
GOALS Jozef Jakab (38), Arron Donaldson (83 & 89)
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Coventry Sphinx came back to snatch a victory which keeps them at the top of Midland Football Alliance.
A good crowd at Sphinx Drive, which had enjoyed reduced admission prices, saw a highly entertaining game played between two sides looking to play good football.
Sphinx had the better of the chances early on and in the 12th minute, Luke Williams burst into the area and saw his shot blocked by Butler the visiting keeper which led to a corner that saw Kyle Rhodes who worked like a Trojan in midfield flicking wide from four yards.
Boldmere, who went into this game against the league leaders,.ninth in the table, forced two corners in quick succession and a free kick before Terry Ward, who had a superb game at the back for Sphinx, got at the back post for a 20th minute free kick and set up a chance for Jack Edwards to hit a shot which just went over the crossbar.
A good move eight minutes later, saw Dion Barrett pick out Arron Donaldson who used his speed down the left flank to get in a shot which Butler did well to get past his right hand post for a corner.
Sphinx should have been ahead but in the 38th minute, they were a goal down when former Stratford Town striker Jozef Jakab nipped in and was able to slip the ball past Sphinx keeper Carl O’Neill and his left hand post from an acute angle.
The goal brought Sphinx to their senses and they raised their game once more, winning two corners and having a Chris Hayden shot whistle inches over before the interval.
Five minutes into the second half and Danny McSheffrey and Lee Knibbs went for a change bringing on striker Pawel Tomczak, who was making his return after a shoulder injury and ten minutes later and after the Sphinx support had watched a pile driver from Rhodes fly past the far post, Jamie McAteer came on for Chris Long.
With the Sphinx defence now keeping the visiting front runners quiet, Sphinx’s midfield, with every player working hard, were able to push forward more.
Rhodes had a header saved as did Tomczak with a volley and Hayden fired wide before the Sphinx support and players were fuming with the referee and his assistant when Luke Williams was first to an 80th minute through ball and flicked the ball over Butler.
A defender got back to kick the ball out of the goal but only after the ball had crossed the line. The Sphinx players protested but with the assistant clearly not up with play, the goal was not given.
However, in the 83rd minute, the home fans were cheering when Butler could only get down to push a shot to his right and the ball fell for Arron Donaldson to tap into the empty net.
Tom Muldoon was sent on for Chris Hayden who like the rest of his team-mates, had played their part in a good performance and in the final minute, Sphinx got their rewards when Arron Donaldson got the ball on the left hand side of the area, cut in and slipped the ball past Butler to give Sphinx another three points which keeps them on the title trail.
Sphinx are four points ahead at the top of the table of Westfields who drew 1-1 at Alvechurch.
Picture copyright of Covsupport News Service. Credit CNS/KM