Match report - Coventry Sphinx 2-2 AFC Wulfrunians

By Sharon Taylor

Coventry Sphinx 2 AFC Wulfrunians 2 – Harkin returns to salvage a point for Sphinx. By Martin Sutton

The points were shared in an entertaining encounter at Sphinx Drive after Sphinx gave up an early lead and then came back to take a point. Wulfrunians will point to the referees decision not to red card the Sphinx keeper who had handled outside the box but a draw was a fair result in the end. Sphinx took an early lead through Chris Sterling but Wulfrunians hit back with two goals for a half time lead. Sphinx introduced Ryan Harkin from the bench and he wasted little time in finding the equaliser with a classy finish.

Callum Woodward and Michael Quirke were suspended and Ryan Harkin wasn’t fit enough to start the game so there were one or two players out of position today with Lee Knibbs needing to replace three key players. Sphinx got themselves in front on nine minutes and Chris Sterling had Scott Lower to thank for serving up his goal on a plate. A forward run from Lower took him deep into the visitors box and he ignored the crowds shout of “shoot” to pick out STERLING on the edge of the six yard box who tucked it away to give Sphinx the early advantage. Sphinx were looking relatively comfortable in the first twenty minutes and Donaldson went close with a strong drive after being set up by Faulkner. Wulfrunians responded immediately with the equaliser with Daley firing in the rebound after an initial shot from Moan was saved by Jack Tregartha. Sphinx then created a chance from a Deehan cross that was flicked on by Towers to Faulkner and his close range effort was going wide until the intervention of a defender sent the ball goal bound which needed another defender to then clear the danger. Wulfrunians then took an unexpected lead with Meggoe poking past a wrong footed Tregartha to turn the game on it’s head. That’s the way it stayed until half time and Sphinx would have to be sharper to get something from this contest.
HALF TIME: COVENTRY SPHINX 1 AFC WULFRUNIANS 2

We were little over ten minutes into the half when the biggest talking point of the afternoon certainly went the way of Coventry Sphinx. A high ball was headed back towards Sphinx keeper Tregartha by Louis Guest but Tregartha was already outside his box as the ball was about to go sailing over his head and towards the empty goal. Tregartha instinctively caught the ball outside the penalty area and the vast majority of people in the ground awaited the apparently inevitable red card for the keeper. To everyone’s surprise the referee reached for his yellow card and left the Sphinx keeper on the pitch. Sphinx were quick to introduce Ryan Harkin and their stroke of luck was built on with Harkin equalising soon after joining the play. It was a brilliant goal from the striker with a ball into the box controlled and finished on the turn in a crowded area. 2-2 and the game was there for either side to win. Neither side could find the winner though and a point each was a fair reflection of the game although the handball decision could have made the result very different.
FULL TIME: COVENTRY SPHINX 2 AFC WULFRUNIANS 2

COVENTRY SPHINX MAN OF THE MATCH: RHYS DEEHAN
Liam Cairns performed well in a defensive midfield role and broke up play well. Charlie Faulkner was full of energy again but my choice is left back Rhys Deehan. Rhys played with energy and got forward well from his left back position.

COVENTRY SPHINX TEAM: TREGARTHA, LOWER (c), DEEHAN, CAIRNS, STRINGFELLOW, GUEST, TOWERS, DONALDSON (Harkin 58 mins), STERLING (Cranage 66 mins), DOWNES, FAULKNER

Updated 06:27 - 31 Aug 2019 by Sharon Taylor

Where next?

FIRST TEAM - Updated fixture schedule Dates set for all remaining first team fixtures
Match preview - COVENTRY SPHINX v AFC WULFRUNIANS 07.04.2018 Competition: Midland Football League Premier Division

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Schedule
Sat 30 Mar
h
Coventry Sphinx Sutton Coldfield Town
League 15:00
Mon 1 Apr
a
Coventry Sphinx Lye Town
League 15:00
Sat 6 Apr
h
Coventry Sphinx Walsall Wood
League 15:00

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