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Match report 15.09.2020
Sharon Taylor17 Sep 2020 - 21:21
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AFC Wulfrunians 0-1 Coventry Sphinx
Coventry Sphinx’s first Midland Football League Premier Division fixture of 2020/21 took
some time to come around, but when it did it was worth the wait.
After two goalless draws followed by penalty shoot-out wins in the FA Cup, Sphinx scored
their first goal of the season at one end but kept a clean sheet at the other to get the league
campaign underway with three points at AFC Wulfrunians.
Wulfrunians should have had the perfect start. With seven minutes on the clock they worked
the ball in between Sphinx’s central defenders and right wing back, and played it across goal
for what should have been a tap-in. They weren’t able to bundle it over the line at the back
post and soon paid for the profligacy.
In the 13th minute Sphinx scored the only goal of what was ultimately a rather scrappy affair
for long spells. Danny Fraser’s vicious corner created a problem for the hosts; as soon as
the attempted clearing header forced goalkeeper Tom Hayward into a save they were in big
trouble.
Liam Kay’s challenge kept the pressure on and Colin Smith was on hand to prod the loose
ball into the net. It wasn’t long before another set piece presented a chance to double the
lead. This time, Sphinx did all the work. Callum Woodward’s free kick was met well by
Patsun Tufan but his clever header crept wide.
Sphinx had what looked a very convincing penalty shout denied twenty minutes later but it
was a scruffy half of few chances. The opportunities that did come Wulfrunians’ way carried
a hint of danger but Sphinx’s defensive trio of James Bryson, Liam Kay and Andre Edwards
were equal to them and Tom Cross was limited to some confident aerial work.
The second half was more eventful as the game opened up and passes started to find their
targets more frequently, but it too took a while to really get going. Wulfrunians fired wide in
the first minute of the half but it wasn’t until after the hour mark that Sphinx came within a
whisker of doubling the advantage.
Lewis Noon has been finding his range from set pieces in the first few games of this season
and it’s only a matter of time before he rips another one into the top corner, as he’s done on
a number of occasions in a Sphinx shirt. His free kick in the 62nd minute forced an
impressive save from Hayward, who had to reach his top corner to keep the deficit to one.
The final quarter of the game was Sphinx’s best and the visitors were on top. Smith and
Noon combined to set substitute Mo Billy away but the young striker was unable to guide his
effort on target.
Noon tried his luck twice more, going just over with one shot and stinging Hayward’s palms
with another, and MJ came off the bench to create a few chances and take on a couple of
his own. He too had one saved relatively easily but his shot that squirmed just wide of the
post looked for all the world like it was going to sneak in.
Inevitably, the home side had a couple of chances of their own and were close to an
equaliser more than once. Fraser’s tremendous last-ditch challenge prevented a Wulfrunians
one-on-one but on current form one has to suspect Cross would have made the save
anyway.
Sure enough, Cross was again the hero deep into second half stoppage time. With a burst of
Wulfs pressure gaining them some ground, the Sphinx goalkeeper had to claw a shot away
from his bottom corner. It was a fantastic save in its own right and he was back on his feet
and standing firm to save the follow-up -- albeit one that might have been disallowed -- to an
audible gasp from the stand.
The win was a fine reward for a battling performance on the road. Finding a way is a great
habit and Sphinx seem to have had a knack for it in the three matches played so far this
season.
Of course, the basis for that is three clean sheets and the solid defensive displays to secure
them. Cross isn’t alone in making a superb start. Our wing backs -- Fraser, Loz Rawlings
and, on this occasion, Tufan -- have backed up their tactical importance with quality games.
The central defenders have been excellent and seem to be getting better with every game.
Two FA Cup games won followed by a win in the first league game. The next challenge,
perhaps, is to take that effective defensive base and really take the game to the opposition.
Do that and Sphinx will be putting teams away before long.
Teamsheet
Cross, Edwards, Fraser, Downes, Kay, Bryson, Tufan, Woodward © (Billing), Smith (MJ),
Noon, Pryce (Billy). Unused subs: McConnachie, Tellyn
some time to come around, but when it did it was worth the wait.
After two goalless draws followed by penalty shoot-out wins in the FA Cup, Sphinx scored
their first goal of the season at one end but kept a clean sheet at the other to get the league
campaign underway with three points at AFC Wulfrunians.
Wulfrunians should have had the perfect start. With seven minutes on the clock they worked
the ball in between Sphinx’s central defenders and right wing back, and played it across goal
for what should have been a tap-in. They weren’t able to bundle it over the line at the back
post and soon paid for the profligacy.
In the 13th minute Sphinx scored the only goal of what was ultimately a rather scrappy affair
for long spells. Danny Fraser’s vicious corner created a problem for the hosts; as soon as
the attempted clearing header forced goalkeeper Tom Hayward into a save they were in big
trouble.
Liam Kay’s challenge kept the pressure on and Colin Smith was on hand to prod the loose
ball into the net. It wasn’t long before another set piece presented a chance to double the
lead. This time, Sphinx did all the work. Callum Woodward’s free kick was met well by
Patsun Tufan but his clever header crept wide.
Sphinx had what looked a very convincing penalty shout denied twenty minutes later but it
was a scruffy half of few chances. The opportunities that did come Wulfrunians’ way carried
a hint of danger but Sphinx’s defensive trio of James Bryson, Liam Kay and Andre Edwards
were equal to them and Tom Cross was limited to some confident aerial work.
The second half was more eventful as the game opened up and passes started to find their
targets more frequently, but it too took a while to really get going. Wulfrunians fired wide in
the first minute of the half but it wasn’t until after the hour mark that Sphinx came within a
whisker of doubling the advantage.
Lewis Noon has been finding his range from set pieces in the first few games of this season
and it’s only a matter of time before he rips another one into the top corner, as he’s done on
a number of occasions in a Sphinx shirt. His free kick in the 62nd minute forced an
impressive save from Hayward, who had to reach his top corner to keep the deficit to one.
The final quarter of the game was Sphinx’s best and the visitors were on top. Smith and
Noon combined to set substitute Mo Billy away but the young striker was unable to guide his
effort on target.
Noon tried his luck twice more, going just over with one shot and stinging Hayward’s palms
with another, and MJ came off the bench to create a few chances and take on a couple of
his own. He too had one saved relatively easily but his shot that squirmed just wide of the
post looked for all the world like it was going to sneak in.
Inevitably, the home side had a couple of chances of their own and were close to an
equaliser more than once. Fraser’s tremendous last-ditch challenge prevented a Wulfrunians
one-on-one but on current form one has to suspect Cross would have made the save
anyway.
Sure enough, Cross was again the hero deep into second half stoppage time. With a burst of
Wulfs pressure gaining them some ground, the Sphinx goalkeeper had to claw a shot away
from his bottom corner. It was a fantastic save in its own right and he was back on his feet
and standing firm to save the follow-up -- albeit one that might have been disallowed -- to an
audible gasp from the stand.
The win was a fine reward for a battling performance on the road. Finding a way is a great
habit and Sphinx seem to have had a knack for it in the three matches played so far this
season.
Of course, the basis for that is three clean sheets and the solid defensive displays to secure
them. Cross isn’t alone in making a superb start. Our wing backs -- Fraser, Loz Rawlings
and, on this occasion, Tufan -- have backed up their tactical importance with quality games.
The central defenders have been excellent and seem to be getting better with every game.
Two FA Cup games won followed by a win in the first league game. The next challenge,
perhaps, is to take that effective defensive base and really take the game to the opposition.
Do that and Sphinx will be putting teams away before long.
Teamsheet
Cross, Edwards, Fraser, Downes, Kay, Bryson, Tufan, Woodward © (Billing), Smith (MJ),
Noon, Pryce (Billy). Unused subs: McConnachie, Tellyn
Further reading