2006 / 07 - Under 8's
MINI SOCCER
Coventry Minor League - Division Red

Match Reports at Foot of Page

Management

	Coach	Name	Phone	e-mail
Manager		Craig Trippass
Goalkeeping Coach		Richard Webb
Team Rep		Sharon Walker
Team Rep		Helen Cooper

Fixtures / Results

Match Reports

Match Day Report Saturday 7^th April 2007

League Match

Coventry Sphinx `V` Caludon Youth

Result: 4-2

Man of Match: Zeid Ammourah

On the back of a mid week 2-0 win Sphinx felt confident as they took on Caludon Youth away from home.

It was a positive bright start for Sphinx with plenty of thought put into passing and movement on and off the ball. Sphinx looked the more dangerous of the two sides as they picked holes in the Caludon defence. Caludon struggled, particularly in the midfield to control the pace of the game. When they did break they moved the ball well trying to catch the Sphinx defenders as they pushed deep. In contrast to the pressure Sphinx had put on the home team it was Caludon who struck first. With five minutes on the clock the ball bounced awkwardly towards the Sphinx penalty area, the stand-in keeper looked to collect but could not reach the height of the ball as it frustratingly sailed in to the back of the net. Sphinx never looked perturbed and confidently continued to stroke the ball around the park looking for space to move in to. Eventually the equalizer came as Zeid Ammourah rifled in his cross from the right. The Caludon defenders found themselves in No Mans Land, and Callum O’Brien directed the ball off his chest in to the waiting net.

The game really had begun to pick up pace and both teams sensed an opportunity to swing the match in their favor. Sphinx continued to dominate the midfield and the wings, and with another spell of pressure down the right hand side, Caludon conceded a free kick in a dangerous position. The angle of the kick invited an opportunity to strike goal, Callum O’Brien duly obliged and smashed the ball past the keeper. Sphinx were in control, but Caludon would not lie down and battled for possession until the end of the first half.

The start of the second half saw Sphinx comfortable at 2-1 and promising to put the game out of the reach of Caludon. The midfield looked sewn up and the Sphinx back two repeatedly took possession away from the home side attackers. After persistent pressure in the opening minutes the ball was passed neatly through the midfield to Regan Yates, the keeper came to meet but had to watch as the ball was lobbed neatly over his head and in to the top right hand corner of the goal. At 3-1 Caludon clutched at the hope of a quick goal to get them back in the match, and with less than a minute of Sphinx being two goals ahead they failed to clear the ball- bobbing around the box and it trickled over the line. Sphinx needed to move up a gear to kill the game off. Caludon pressed forward quickly after the kick off but their attack and eventual shot was stopped by an excellent save by the Cov Sphinx keeper. The final five minutes of the match saw Sphinx efficiently complete their management of the game with a fourth goal- A delightful solo run from Zeid Ammorah who almost split the back of the net with his right foot shot from outside the penalty area.

It was a tidy display from Sphinx and another three points to add to the tally.

Match Day Report Saturday 3rd February 2007

League Match

Coventry Sphinx `V` Chapelfield Colts

Result: 1-0

Man of Match: Ross Walker

It was a spluttered start for both teams, as proceedings got under way at the Colts home ground.

Sphinx should have manipulated the first half to their advantage but instead they allowed the Colts to much width and space to soak up the ball. Neither side could be credited with inventive play as the ball was continually failed to clear and bounced from one half of the pitch to the other. There was a semblance of inspiration when Sphinx pushed the ball out wide and drove down the wings, but it ended without effect as the Chapelfields centre back drowned out the attack. The Colts were not without a feel for attacking the Sphinx goal, cracking the lose midfield ball out wide and forcing the Sphinx defence to track the player back. Both teams could feel the frustration, but it was Sphinx who at the end of the first half found themselves with the opportunity of a cross from the right in to the Colts penalty area. With the Sphinx striker waiting to collect the referee had no choice but to point at the spot as the ball struck the Colts defender on the hand. The whistle blew and Callum O'Brien confidently stepped up to smash the ball high over the keeper and in to the waiting net.

With the exception of the occasional burst of pace, the second half had little more to offer than the first. Sphinx could be credited with more control of the match than Chapelfields, but both sides cancelled each other out and the game suffered for it. Sphinx pursued their chances where they could, jockeying with the Colts defence to try and put the score out of reach. Chapelfields stood fast and made it difficult for Sphinx to deal with the long bouncing balls on to the edge of the penalty area. The lack of control of the ball made it awkward for Sphinx to carve out chances and they sometimes stumbled towards the Colts goal. The incessant stop start of the game from throw ins caused the last part of the second half to become un playable and as the final whistle blew the referee drew an end to what had promised to be a much more interesting game of football.

Match Day Report Saturday 27^th January 2007

League Match

Coventry Sphinx `V` Brinklow Juniors

Result: 1-1

Man of Match: Zeid Ammourah

Home advantage for this tie would seem to be the edge that Sphinx would need. Hopes of that diminished after the whistle blew for the start of the first half.

Sphinx looked hard pressed to really stamp their authority on the game and the visiting team had other thoughts. Brinklow played the type of game Sphinx would normally apply, passing the ball through the wings and the midfield and looking for the early deflecting ball to carry through to the penalty area. Sphinx grafted hard to win the ball and stay in the match with some quick one to one's but it was Brinklow who did the real testing, especially from dead balls and the corner flag. The Sphinx defence did their best to measure up to the Brinklow attacks but it was a test of nerves rather than skill for the Sphinx team.

With the odd break from the defence clearing the ball, Sphinx did their best to hit the front man and try to punish Brinklow's willingness to drive forward but it wasn't to be and the Sphinx had to regroup, go back and try again. After ten minutes on the clock it looked destined to be 0-0 at the end of the first half and a chance for Sphinx to take stock in the half time team talk. That was until ,following another Brinklow corner, the ball deflected and ran to the waiting Centre back who confidently hit the ball towards goal. The Sphinx keeper managed to take the sting out of the impending strike but could not save the ball from passing over the line.

Sphinx looked noticeably disappointed as they kicked off from the spot, passing the ball awkwardly and getting caught off guard as Brinklow chased down the ball. Sphinx did raise the tempo of the game for the last ten minutes, striving for tackles and chasing the long ball, but at the end of the first half it remained Brinklow 1, Coventry Sphinx 0.

The second half brought a renewed vigour for Sphinx and they began to take the fight to Brinklow. Pieces of moves started to form out of the wings and at times the Sphinx side held their shape and looked capable of evening the score. The loose ball still troubled the Sphinx defence, who struggled to stay with the pace of the Brinklow attack. Brinklow looked capable of putting the game out of the reach of Sphinx with some well struck shots on goal, but, as ever, the Sphinx keeper timed his saves with an acquired skill. With no more than a minute and a half left to go it seemed an inevitability that all points would go to Brinklow. That was ,until, with only the third Sphinx corner of the game Zeid Ammourah followed up from the in-swinging corner to stab the ball home in to the right hand corner of the net. The Sphinx tenacity had paid off and with less than three further kicks of the ball the referee blew for the final whistle.

This was a game where Sphinx should have applied themselves. There was no room for celebration, more like a muted sigh of relief !

Match Day Report Saturday 13^th January 2007

2^nd Round Cup Tie

Coventry Sphinx ‘V’ Caludon Youth

Result: 2-0

Man of the Match: Callum O’Brien

It was a break from the League this week and back to the Cup for Sphinx. A home tie with Caludon Youth had the potential to be an interesting game.

Sphinx ran the first half from the off pushing Caludon deep in to there own half and only letting them out when the ball happened to run loose or have enough wind behind it. From the Midfield and particularly the wings Sphinx punished Caludon with every touch of the ball. Caludon did well to prevent Sphinx actually converting the numerous attacks and corners in to goals, battling for a foot on the ball in and around their penalty area. With so much possession it was difficult to see why Sphinx had not opened the scoring sooner. Then on fifteen minutes the inevitable happened and with a powerful corner from the right Zeid Ammourah latched his right foot on to the incoming cross and watched as the ball flew goal bound, Caludon’s keeper meet the strike with a well timed dive but failed to keep hold of the ball and it rolled over the line. The last five minutes of the first half began as the first fifteen did and Sphinx continued to open up the pitch with drives down the wings and the occasional set piece.

The next 20 minutes saw Sphinx experiment with different formations but still keep a firm grip on the game. Caludon did try to spark their play in to life with some neat individual work down the left wing but the Sphinx defense tidied up the attempts before they looked too dangerous. Sphinx continued to press Caludon back in to their own half, forcing the keeper in to some good saves and limiting the Sphinx lead to 1-0. Caludon looked stretched and after fifteen minutes on the clock the unavoidable second goal came. This time following a break down the left wing, Regan Gavin collected the ball on the edge of the penalty area and guided his shot in to bottom right hand corner of the net. Sphinx had found the goal they needed to finish the game off. It was a comprehensive display and a win that booked their place in to the quarter final of the cup.

Match Day Report Saturday 6^th January 2007

League Match

Coventry Sphinx ‘V’ AT7 Youth

Result: 1-2

Man of the Match: Sunil Sehmar

Planning and preparation is the key to any big game and this was no exception. Sphinx had done their homework this time round, but was it enough to stem the AT7 tide.

The game started lively but even, with both sides doing enough to warrant first half honors. AT7 played the kind of football you would expect from a team at the top of the league, spreading the ball around and using some nice pieced together moves from the midfield to worry the Sphinx defense. Sphinx on the other hand were keen to display the neat type of play they have developed and consistently probed the wings for weaknesses and loose balls in and around the penalty area

It was AT7 though who struck the first blow when after just over ten minutes the ball was crossed deep in to the penalty area and the forthcoming shot crept frustratingly in to the back of the net. It was time for Sphinx to delve in to the reserve engines and try to convert with one of their attacks. AT7 had the upper hand and keen to subdue the game tried to surge forward. Sphinx suppressed the AT7 play with some intelligent football. By the time the whistle blew to signal the end of the first half Sphinx looked determined to ensure they clashed head on with the opposition in the forthcoming 20 minutes.

It was a tension gripped start to the second half as AT7 squeezed an ever tighter grip on the game. Sphinx had anticipated this and tried to minimize the effect accordingly. Both teams looked capable of killing the game off, moving the ball around the park and linking up well in to open space. On more than one occasion had it not been for the Sphinx goalkeeper Sunil Sehmar the game would have been out of the reach. It was Sphinx though who with no more than ten minutes on the second half watch, neatly pushed the ball in to the path of the Sphinx midfield, where Jack Whitaker collected and proceeded to race towards the AT7 goal. Having beaten two defenders Jack notched up his ninth goal of the season with an accurate right foot shot over the keeper. Neither side could be faulted for lack of determination but it was AT7 who stretched for the finish line when five minutes from the end the ball skipped over the back off the Sphinx defense and landed at the feet of the waiting AT7 left winger, all that remained was for him to slide the ball passed the Sphinx keeper and in to the looming net.

Match Day Report Saturday 16^th December 2006

League Match

Coventry Sphinx ‘V’ Leamington Hibernian

Result: 2-1

Man of the Match: Jack Whitaker

What goes around comes around and that could be said of this fixture when Cov Sphinx welcomed their visitors Leamington Hibernian to Sphinx Drive with an eye on a settling of scores since the last game.

Leamington started the brighter of the two teams, thrusting forward and trying to catch Sphinx napping. Sphinx looked lethargic at times as they soaked up the early pressure with some key tackles in defense and well read goalkeeping. Breaks down the right and left by Sphinx did open up some nice opportunities on goal, but they were unable to convert their chances. Half way through the first half Sphinx looked like they were starting to turn the screw on Hibs and consistently pressed the visiting defenders in and around the penalty area. It was surprising therefore, when, against the run of play Leamington found the net with a trickle of a shot which managed to beat the goalkeeper and the defender and rolled in to the bottom left corner of the goal. It was chin up time for Sphinx who were determined not to suffer the same humiliation as the last time they played Hibs, where they had all the possession but missed out on maximum points.

Towards the end of the first half Sphinx maintained their discipline and started to make their characteristic moves between the midfield, the wings and out from the defense to good effect. Eventually a chance fell from a laid off ball from the left wing which saw the Sphinx midfield player Jack Whitaker shoot from an angle outside the penalty area, the ball looked destined to pass harmlessly by the goal until the Hibs defender stuck out his foot and inadvertently deflected it past the keeper and into his own net. It was a cruel way to concede a goal but one which Sphinx was more than happy to accept.

The Sphinx goal near the end of the first half seemed to be the catalyst for the belief at the start of the second half. Leamington were determined not to lie down and forced Sphinx into a gritty battle for the honors. Fresh legs raised the tempo of the match and afforded Sphinx time to pass the ball around with more effect. Space began to open up through the midfield and it was then that midway through the second half Jack Whitaker shrugged lose his opposite number in the midfield and made his way confidently towards the goal. There could only be one outcome as the keeper stretched helplessly and the ball hit the top left hand corner of the net.

Sphinx and Leamington had fought hard for this one but it was a well deserved ground out win for the Sphinx team.

Match Day Report Saturday 2^nd December 2006

League Match

Coventry Sphinx ‘V’ Coventry Jaguar Youth

Result: 0-0

Man of the Match: Sunil Sehmar (GK)

They say fortune favors the brave and the same could be said of this tie as fifth placed Sphinx played host to a second place, and in form, Coventry Jaguar Youth.

Sphinx were not in awe of this Cov Jag side and, although it was clearly the intention of Jaguar to try and dominate the game, they found a resolute Sphinx team who were well prepared and ready to challenge Jag for every inch of the park. Sphinx have a tried and tested formula in passing to feet and working the ball through the midfield and the wings, but that ran in to difficulty against a Jag side who used pace and quick thumping long balls to rattle the Sphinx defence.

The determination of Jag to score throwing players forward did leave holes for Sphinx to exploit but the gaps were closed down as quickly as they opened .The work rate of both teams made it tricky for either side to administer the killer blow and score, in particular the Sphinx goal-keeper Sunil Sehmar who stuck to his task with resolve, making a string full of first half saves that would have otherwise condemned Sphinx to a mountain to climb in the second half.

Much of the second half resembled the first with Jag stretching the Sphinx team in order to break the deadlock. Sphinx refused to give in to the pressure with some outstanding defending and using the loose ball put together some solid passes to attack the Jag goal. The frenetic pace of the game began to show on both sets of players with wild shots and tackles starting to appear. It was Jag who finished stronger and with more flair but like the first half the Sphinx keeper held his nerve defending two corners and a shot on goal before the final whistle.

This was not a game that either side would want to play every week but one where Sphinx had set their new standard.

Match Day Report Saturday 18^th November 2006

League Match

Coventry Sphinx ‘V’ Ernesford Dynamos

Result: 1-1

You could say winter had well and truly arrived at this fixture when the Sphinx campaign found itself at Ernesford Dynamos on a soggy and windy Saturday morning.

As the referee prepared to start the first half Sphinx had all the tell tale signs of a team primed for action. From the outset they looked comfortable and confident as they comprehensively chased down Ernesford in the wings and through the Midfield creating opportunity’s to run at the goal time after time. Sphinx rarely looked troubled as the defence pushed up making it difficult for the Dynamos to clear the ball out of their own half. Ernesford began to look more and more vulnerable each time Sphinx pieced together a move towards their defence. Finally with less than thirty seconds of the first half to play out, another Sphinx move through the left wing opened up a shot on target for Zeid Ammourah who duly obliged as he consigned his dipping left foot shot beyond the keepers reach and into the net. The Dynamos had only time to touch the ball as the ref blew for the end of the first half.

The second half afforded Ernesford little or no respite from Sphinx, the gloves were off and they began to make runs down the lines and even from balls out of the defence. Both teams shuffled the pack taking tired players off and bringing on fresh legs. Ernesford were quick to jump on loose balls ricocheting in and around the Sphinx area. Sphinx looked set to finish off their opponents when four minutes from the end Ernesford played their player past the Sphinx line and with only the goalkeeper to beat smashed a low shot into the back of the waiting net. A cruel blow for Sphinx but one which did not diminish their resolve and they continued to threaten the Dynamos goal with fluid passing moves.

The referees whistle brought an end to a game which Sphinx had won ten times over but still only managed to come away with a draw. 

Match Day Report Saturday 11^th November 2006

League Match

Coventry Sphinx ‘V’ Chapelfields Colts

Result: 4-0

Man of the Match: Jack Whitaker

Sphinx found themselves back on familiar soil this week as they played host to Chapelfields Colts. With the Colts lying in eighth place and Sphinx in at a respectable sixth, this game looked set to be another battle of nerves.

Hitting the ground running is always the best way to start a game and that’s exactly what Sphinx did. Building solidly from the midfield Sphinx pressed the Colts defence for weaknesses and watched as chances came close. Chapelfields tried to use their forced clearances from goal to break and attack down the wings but the Sphinx defence reacted quickly reading the threat with accuracy. Sphinx continued to use the midfield to spread the ball around the pitch and after just over thirty seconds the Colts finally buckled. Tracking the lose ball out of the penalty area Jack Whitaker struck his characteristic right foot shot over the goalkeeper and in to the back of the net.

Sphinx continued to work hard and carve out breaks on goal and was duly awarded for their efforts when this time Jack Whitaker drilled his low shot towards the Colts goal. Passing through the defenders the keeper looked certain to save comfortably but fumbled and allowed the ball to spill in to the goal. At 2-0 Sphinx were well and truly in the driving seat and looking to extend the score beyond the Colts reach.

The second half brought no rest for Chapelfields as Sphinx continued to manipulate the game in their favour. The Colts looked spirited when attacking but failed to give support to their lone striker and could not finish as a result. Sphinx persisted in trying to increase the score sheet tally and on the third minute of the half Jack Whittaker completed his hat trick, when moving in to space at the edge of the centre of the penalty area and planting his shot in to the back of the goal. At 3-0 Sphinx had put the game out of the reach of the Colts and began to enjoy the space afforded to them. With four minutes left on the clock it was for the forth time and to cap a memorable display that Jack Whitaker demonstrated what he is capable of. Picking the ball up just inside the Chapelfields half he danced past two defenders and riffled his shot past the waiting keeper.

As the final whistle blew Sphinx celebrated and took a moment to reflect on a job well done.
 

Match Day Report Saturday 4^th November 2006

League Match

Coventry Sphinx `V` Bedworth Eagles

Result: 1-1

Man of Match: Jacob Duignan

After the euphoria and high’s of last weeks Cup Tie it was back to the league for Sphinx and a clash with Bedworth away promised to be a tough contest.

Straight after the kick off Bedworth had come out fighting picking holes in the Sphinx defense and stretching the away team into making simple mistakes. Sphinx battled hard to stamp their authority on the game but struggled to string together passes and play the kind of football they are capable of. Bedworth continued to press Sphinx in all areas of the park but were unable to convert some straightforward goal chances. Sphinx persisted to make the best of a difficult game playing some frustrating football and forcing Bedworth to go into half time at 0-0.

The second half started with more of a spark for Sphinx when just over a minute in to the fixture Bedworth conceded a free-kick just outside the penalty area. Sphinx piled in to the box waiting for the inevitable hanging cross from Jacob Duignan, the outcome proved to be completely the opposite when he hit his low right foot shot in to the net at the near post. At 1-0 Sphinx should have capitalized on the home team’s misfortune but instead allowed themselves to be pressed deeper in to their own half. Bedworth used the width to build cohesive runs in to the box troubling the Sphinx goal. It wasn’t until two minutes before the end when Bedworth finally made the most of another well worked attack down the left flank before turning inside and the resulting low shot abruptly hitting the right hand corner of the Sphinx goal to bring them the equalizer.

When the referee blew the final whistle at 1-1 it was satisfying to see that Sphinx had walked away with a point.   

Match Day Report Saturday 28^th October 2006

First Round Cup Tie

Coventry Sphinx  `V` Hawkes Mill Juniors

From the beginning Sphinx had poured on the pressure making enough chances to warrant a first half lead. Hawkes Mill had defended, to their credit throwing players behind the ball time after time. Had it not been for the goalkeeper as last man standing each attack by Sphinx could have been converted on to the score sheet. Hawkes Mill were not without their occasional attack on goal, however it did little to dampen the fires of the Sphinx as they continued to open up the right and left wing with testing crosses for Hawkes Mill to contend with.

Elements of the second half saw a more muted Sphinx allowing Hawkes Mill to pressure through the midfield. A later spell at the end of the second half again saw Sphinx breaching the right and left wings to fire in crosses for the defenders to deal with. A resolute Hawkes Mill had finally found some spark and started to show the kind of football they are renown for.

By the end of normal time you would have been forgiven for thinking that this tie would have ended in a penalty shoot out. That was until the deadlock was finally broken in the first half of extra time and following an initial strike, Jack Whittaker crashed his second shot from the edge of the penalty area into the top right hand corner of the goal making it 1-0 to Sphinx. This spelled the beginning of the end for Hawkes Mill and within a minute of kick off Regan Gavin found the back of the net with a turn in the penalty area to strike his right foot shot in to the bottom left hand corner of the goal. At 2-0 Sphinx looked extremely comfortable and you felt it was only a matter of time before Hawkes Mill conceded again. Another two minute spell of pressure by Sphinx saw one of the Hawkes Mill defenders make a rash challenge in the box and the referee had no option other than to point to the spot. With the last kick of the first half of extra time Callum O’Brien took the responsibility of penalty kick man and confidently converted with a right foot shoot in to the bottom left hand corner of the net. With the keeper beat for the third time Hawkes Mill looked dejected and it was with a brave attempt to stem the ever growing tide of pressure on goal that they played out the second half of extra time.

When the final whistle blew it was Coventry Sphinx who celebrated, and deservedly so.

Squad / Goals

Zeid Ammourah.................................14

Billy-Joe Davis.....................................3

Jacob Duignan....................................2

Regan Gavin.......................................3

Callum O'Brien....................................6

Lewis Richards....................................-

Sunil Sehmar (GK)..............................-

Matthew Trippass................................-

Ross Walker.......................................-

Jack Whitaker.....................................9

Regan Yates.......................................1

Team Photo