Royals come up short in trip to Coventry

OVENTRY SPHINX 2 POTTON UNITED 1

Potton can feel a little unlucky to leave Coventry empty handed after making the long journey missing no fewer than 5 players from the regular starting line up. On a perfectly maintained pitch, the opening 15 minutes did not create any real openings for either team other than a Jack Thomas shot from 18 yards which went well over the cross bar.

Coventry began to control the game and a quick break saw a strike from the dangerous Jamaal Adams came back off the inside of the post and was cleared by Joe Gauge. It was the hosts who took the lead on 19 minutes when a free kick just inside the Potton half was met by a header from Callum Stewart which left Sam Irish no chance. Coventry continued to look dangerous when attacking and should have doubled the lead on 30 minutes when the ball was not cleared and a shot from 12 yards was well over.

Potton equalised on 33 minutes, against the run of play, when a Jamie Eames free kick 30 yards out was met by a fierce Luke Pyman header. Adams then had another chance to put the hosts in front when his shot was deflected onto the cross bar and over. Sam Irish then pulled off a fantastic save after another Coventry break. The home side did take the lead a minute before break when a Coventry player went down in the box and the referee gave a penalty from some way away. Captain Callum Woodward duly slotted home the resultant spot kick in the bottom corner. HT 2-1

Potton had to make a change at half time with Callum Wilson having to come off with a hip injury and he was replaced by Josh Howard-Dobson but it was the visitors who started the second half the brighter of the 2 sides. A bursting run down the right from Sam Dowridge saw his cross into the box met by Loren Maxwell whose effort was cleared off the line by a home defender. A long Jack Thomas throw was flicked on to Luke Pyman whose shot from 18 yards was over the bar. Chisom Amadi replaced Ieuan Lewis and was soon in on the action when a run through the middle slipped the ball to Maxwell whose couldn’t get enough power on his shot to trouble the home keeper. Josh Howard-Dobson then crossed into the box but Dowridge took too many touches and was quickly closed down.

George Brinkman replaced Joe Gauge as we went into an all out attack to try and find the equaliser and less than 2 minutes after coming on went up for a challenge and was shown a red card by the referee, even the home supporters said it was harsh. Playing with 10 men for the last 10 minutes did not make it easy but the team continued to battle but couldn’t find the equalising goal. FT 2-1

Potton United: Sam Irish, Luke Pyman, Callum Wilson (Josh Howard-Dobson), Joe Gauge (George Brinman),Ieaun Lewos (Chisom Amadi), James Smith, Jamie Eames, Jack Thomas, Loren Maxwell, Sam Dowridge, Ibrahim Camara