Danny McSheffrey recorded his first victory as full time manager of Coventry Sphinx FC with a 2-0 victory home Midland Alliance victory against Alvechurch tonight.

On a warm, pleasant night in front of a good crowd at Sphinx Drive, Luke Hopkins gave Sphinx an eleventh minute lead when he got to a cross from Jerome Murdock deep inside the penalty area and turned to lash into the net.

The rest of the first half was a tight affair, which was noted for a 40th minute header from Martin Crawford going just wide.

Sphinx attacked from the first whistle in the second half and should have increased their lead two minutes in, when Hopkins on the right centred and Callum Woodward hit the post.

The spritely midfielder tried his luck with a long ranger two minutes later, which just bounced wide before some of the Sphinx support thought they had scored in the 51st minute as Jerome Murdock danced his way through the visiting defence, only for David Rimmer in the Church goal to grab on the line.

Rimmer was dispossessed in the 54th minute but this time, Murdock only found the side netting with his effort.

In the 70th minute, Jerome Murdock finally opened his League account after notching ten goals in pre-season when he rounded Rimmer to fire into an empty net.

With Saturday's home FA Cup tie against Bromyard Town on the minds of the Sphinx management team, changes were made with man of the match Kyle Rhodes one of those replaced.

Alvechurch substitute Roy Dunkley went close with a late header but Sphinx were deserved winners.

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Sphinx: O'Neill, Haywood (McAteer 73), Holmes, Rhodes (Green 79), Ward, Kay, Muldoon, Woodward, Hopkins (Phillips 83), Murdock, Donaldson. Not used: Furlong, Maguire.

 

Alvechurch: Rimmer, Rolfe, Kelly, Hooper (Collins 51), O'Sullivan, Millward, Daniels, Michael Crawford, Martin Crawford, Gittings (Dunkley 35), Amory (Usher 73). Not used: Redhead.

 

Attendance: 96

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

photos copyright and courtesy of Mick Evans @ KORU Digital

In the Press:

Match Report from www.alvechruchfc.com

Alvechurch stumbled at the season’s second hurdle with a disappointing defeat at Coventry Sphinx.

The 2-0 loss was, on the face of it, not a disaster, but looking behind the scoreline, there was a worrying lack of lustre to the performance that must be remedied before Saturday’s important FA Cup tie at Bewdley Town.

On a bright, sunny evening, and on a pitch that was lush with green grass, the hone side looked much more comfortable, although the nature of the opening goal owed as much to fortune as to decisive play. A low cross from the left by Jerome Murdock should have been cleared easily, but the ball out of defence cannoned off Luke Hopkins, and the Sphinx forward was first to respond to lash the fortuitous loose ball into the net from eight yards, and give Sphinx an 11th minute lead.

There was little to choose between the two sides as the remainder of the first half unfolded, although neither side really gave notice of any further goal action. Sphinx looked lively on the counter attack, and the ‘Church defence at times looked stretched, but although the sun was setting, ‘Church were still in the game.

In the closing minutes of the half, ‘Church carved out their best chance of the night. Rolfe floated in a superb cross from wide right, picking out Martin Crawford six yards out, but the forward’s header was disappointingly off target.

The second half began badly for Alvechurch, and Sphinx threatened to put the game out of reach in the opening exchanges.

On 48 minutes, Aaron Donaldson surged through two challenges and on approaching Rimmer’s goal lashed the ball against the outside of the post.

It was all one way traffic for a good quarter of an hour as ‘Church struggled to put any seriously threatening passage of play together.

Inevitably Sphinx finally found a way through, although it was perhaps more controversial than desired. Sphinx were awarded a free kick just inside their own half, and through a melee of players, the ball suddenly appeared at the feet of Jerome Murdock, yards behind the Alvechurch back four, on the edge of the box. It was a relatively simple task for the Sphinx front man to round Rimmer and slot into an empty net, and secure the points for the home side on 72 minutes.

Alvechurch laboured away for the remaining time, and but for a headed effort from substitute Roy Dunkley that flew harmlessly over, there was little threat to Sphinx recording their first win of the season.