An unexpected winter break of four weeks for Coventry Sphinx came to an end on Saturday thanks to the work of Long Eaton Utd who put in a great effort to get this game on. It was a break Sphinx didn’t want with six consecutive league wins behind them but they eventually got back onto a football pitch at a place they have historically struggled to score never mind take a point. They achieved both today with a Charlie Faulkner goal cancelled out by Fabian Smith seeing the spoils shared at Grange Park. Long Eaton looked the most likely to win in the end but the fighting spirit of Sphinx saw them collect a very useful point.
Lee Knibbs came into the game with a couple of key players missing in key positions but that gave opportunities to defender Ricky Hill and forward Pawel Tomczak. Positional changes were also made to the team on the pitch to accommodate the changes but it was a familiar looking side all the same. Long Eaton have recently changed their management team and as is often the case, a raft of new players had come into Grange Park too. This was a very different Long Eaton to the team we had met earlier in the season and they had begun life under their new manager with two good league wins.
Hard work would be required to succeed today against a re-energised Long Eaton. Sphinx had a sniff of goal in the early stages with persistent work from Harkin releasing Faulkner into the box who saw his near post shot saved well. Both sides battled away but both keepers remained largely untroubled with the defences having the upper hand. Just after the half hour mark Sphinx went close with a firm Tomczak header pushed over the bar by an alert Low in the hosts goal. Even at this early stage, there was a sense there wouldn’t be many goals in this game and it was just before half time when Long Eaton seriously threatened the goal. Cameron went on a driving run before forcing a solid save from the largely redundant Allingan in the Sphinx goal. Sphinx had time to respond with Harkin curling an effort just wide of the far post before half time. The first half action was strictly limited in the penalties areas but Sphinx would have been happier with the score line than the home side.
HALF TIME: LONG EATON UTD 0 COVENTRY SPHINX 0
Ten minutes into the half Sphinx drew first blood with a confident finish from Charlie FAULKNER who had outpaced the defence to get through on goal. A crucial opening goal for Sphinx but that only encouraged Long Eaton to step up their efforts. Allingan was now having to come up with some saves as Long Eaton were starting to find their way through the Sphinx defence. Sphinx remained a threat when they got out of their half with a counter attack led by Donaldson leading to Faulkner drawing a great save from the Long Eaton stopper. The game was opening up and with Sphinx holding a 1-0 lead they would have preferred a tighter game at this point. Lee Knibbs brought on fresh legs in the Sphinx midfield with teenagers Gabe Barnwell and Danny Bowes replacing the tiring Towers and Donaldson. Long Eaton were gradually turning up the pressure on the Sphinx defence with some good football but when they did get through they found Jake Allingan in fine form in the Sphinx goal. There was just ten minutes to go when a key minute changed the game. Initially a defensive error gifted Sphinx a glorious chance with Harkin feeding Faulkner into a one on one with the keeper but he was denied by the shot stopper. Long Eaton then equalised with their next attack and it was Fabian Smith who forced in the equaliser. It was no more than Long Eaton deserved and it was a tense ending to the game with Long Eaton sensing the opportunity to take the win. Sphinx battled away well and took the point their spirit had earned. Long Eaton were the better side in the second half and will feel they could have won the game but Sphinx dug out an away point that could prove to be a big point as the season progresses.
Coventry Sphinx are back in action at Sphinx Drive on Saturday 23rd December when Lye Town visit Coventry.
FULL TIME: LONG EATON UTD 1 COVENTRY SPHINX 1

COVENTRY SPHINX MAN OF THE MATCH: JAKE ALLINGAN
Jamie Towers was asked to play out of position but worked hard for his team in an unfamiliar role. The defence were worked hard today and they stood up to the test well. Faulkner took his goal well and could have had at least one more. Goalkeeper Jake Allingan had a quiet first half but he maintained his concentration to perform superbly in the second half. He made saves when he was required but his taking of high crosses and his distribution were also noticeably good. He’s a young keeper who continues to improve and he was well worth the Man of the Match today.

COVENTRY SPHINX TEAM: Allingan, Lower (c), Stringfellow, Woodward, Hill, Guest, Towers (Barnwell 75 mins), Faulkner, Harkin, Tomczak (Sterling 88 mins), Donaldson (Bowes 72 mins)