COVENTRY SPHINX 1-0 STUDLEY
Sphinx; O’Neill, Dyke, Hill (Richey 62), Bannister, Guest, Holmes, Galdins, McNally (Bilic 73), White (Cutting 79), Edmund, Jackson. SNU Rhodes, Ritson.
Studley: Brady, Blade, Keane, Collins, Turner (Usher 12), Corr (Curtis 46), Charlton (O’Shea 46), Delley, Ramsey, Crawford, Taylor. SNU Dempster, Pulisciano.
HT CSFC 1-0 SFC FT CSFC 1-0 SFC
Goal Harry White (14)
Referee Rob Cairns. Assts P.Tapp & P.Bliss
Booked Jackson
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Coventry Sphinx were back to winning ways with a hard fought 1-0 victory over Studley.
Sphinx boss Luke Hopkins changed his side from the one beaten by Rocester on Monday night and included new signing Danny Edmund from Daventry Town.
Sphinx got straight into the action on a bitterly cold afternoon at Sphinx Drive and had Liam McNally fire over after ninety seconds from a free kick following a foul on White.
Danny Charlton was Studley’s main threat in the opening forty five minutes and he got in a low shot which Sphinx keeper Carl O’Neill brilliantly pushed round for a corner.
That was cleared and with Guest and Holmes strong at the back, Sphinx started to create chances.
In the eighth minute, a Harry White was deflected for a corner which Martin Crawford had to hook off his own goal-line and six minutes later, with Studley having to change their back four when their captain Scott Turner limped off, Harry White got to the edge of the area and created room for himself to fire in a left footed shot which went into the net from fifteen yards and delighted the home fans.
A great run from Charlton at the other end gave Studley a corner before Edmund headed over at the other end.
The visitors won a corner and had a Ramsey shot blocked by the feet of O’Neill before a 40th minute Stephen Delley volley thundered against the crossbar from twelve yards.
Before the sides went in for the break, Kiam Galdins fired over after ghosting in from a great position.
Studley lost the services of Charlton who had picked up a knock and were forced into a double substitution at the break but it was Sphinx who were creating the better of the chances.
Matt Bannister had one good chance just after the restart and eleven minutes later, a cross from the right picked out White who centred for Danny Edmund to bundle the ball into the net. The Sphinx support were on their feet but Mr Tapp had his flag up and the goal was ruled out.
Hopkins made changes to the Sphinx using all of his three permitted substitutes against a Studley side who should have levelled when in the 65th minute when Rico Taylor danced through before firing wide from a couple of yards out.
Both sides won corners. O’Shea missed with a shot on the turn and Sphinx had a corner at the other but there were no more goals and Sphinx who travel to Kirby Muxloe on Tuesday night, were left to celebrate a 1-0 win.