The strength of the wind was the dominating factor at Sphinx Drive on Saturday and that led to a poor game in truth but the visitors, who are battling relegation, adjusted better to the conditions on the day and they’ll be disappointed to return home with just a point.

Sphinx had key defender Liam Kay unavailable for this fixture and striker Ryan Harkin also missed out but they were boosted by the return of midfielder Rich Blythe (injury) and defender Lewis Hudson (suspension). Youth team midfielder Callum Maspers came in to make his first start for the first team but other than that the team was unchanged from the 1-1 draw at Sporting Khalsa last weekend.

Sphinx began the match playing into the strong wind and the visitors had the better of the half with the wind at their backs. Sphinx had to be resolute in defence and they needed to be with the attack struggling to fire in the opening 45 minutes. They are always tricky games against a team fighting against relegation at this stage of the season and so it proved today. Sphinx went into half time knowing the wind should be more of an advantage to them in the second half and they would need to capitalise on that in what had been a scrappy game so far.

We were minutes into the second half when things got heated in the middle of the park. Sphinx defender Louis Guest was battling away for the ball when he ended up on the ground with his counterpart. A bout of wrestling ensued which abruptly came to an end when another South Normanton player joined the bout by leaning over to punch Louis Guest in the back of the head while still grounded. It was a clear red card but the referee insisted on consulting both assistants while players from both sides had their say and eventually produced the red card to dismiss the South Normanton player on 50 minutes. The game restarted with a Sphinx free kick which was soon interrupted with another flashpoint as the game threatened to boil over.

The game showed few signs of producing the goals it needed and to the credit of the visitors, it was difficult to tell that Sphinx had a one man advantage. Both sides had their glimpses of goal but today was destined to be a 0-0 draw as they succeeded in cancelling each other out at a windswept Sphinx Drive.
FULL TIME: COVENTRY SPHINX 0-0 SOUTH NORMANTON ATHLETIC

COVENTRY SPHINX MAN OF THE MATCH: Scott Lower
Callum Maspers made his first start for the club and did well in the Sphinx midfield. Tough conditions meant the defence had to be switched on at all times and Scott Lower is todays Man of the Match selection.

COVENTRY SPHINX TEAM: CROSS, LOWER © (Hudson 80 mins), STRINGFELLOW, MASPERS (Blythe 58 mins), QUIRKE, GUEST, GRANDISON (Kelly 70 mins), WOODWARD, GARDNER, O’GRADY, FAULKNER. Unused Subs: Mack and Pearson

Coventry Sphinx are back in action on Saturday 23rd March when they travel to title challengers Walsall Wood.