Coventry Sphinx’s glorious FA Cup run is over with a 1-0 home defeat against Bedworth United.

The biggest day in Sphinx’s 63 year history saw the visit of Bedworth United to Sphinx Drive for this F.A. Cup Third Qualifying Round clash.

It drew a large crowd of 871 including a number of boisterous Bedworth followers who kept the stewards busy and meant that kick off was put back by ten minutes to accommodate everyone.

Danny McSheffrey’s side did not start how they have been doing this season and it was Liam O’Neill’s side who had the better of the early chances.

Jamie McAteer cleared a corner after 62 seconds and in the fifth minute, Sphinx keeper Carl O’Neill made a good save to parry an effort from Matt Blair who was watched by his father Andy.

Jerome Murdock was again a big threat to the Southern League Midland Divison defence and in the eleventh minute, he ran through only to be blocked by the feet of on loan keeper David Bevan.

That led to a Tom Muldoon corner. It floated to the far side of the area where Jamie McAteer rose and sent a header onto the bar and over.

At the other end, Jason Moore hooked over before things started to get heated when a clear stamp by Jamie Lenton resulted in only a booking.

In the 27th minute, O’Neill blocked a Cummins shot inside the area. Matt Blair was first to the rebound and his cross resulted in Ashley Robinson directing a diving header wide.

Five minutes before the break, Jerome Murdock was again sent on his way but found his shot blocked for a corner to keep the tie level at the interval.

James Halton was sent on for Aaron Donaldson but Sphinx whilst winning much of the midfield battle, failed to find any real penetration up front.

O’Neill pushed round a Paddy Connolly drive from the edge of the area but in the 67th minute, the Sphinx keeper could do nothing as Bedworth took the lead. Richard Allen got down the right flank and sent over across and there was Matt Blair to steer a diving header into the net.

Subsitute Ramon Manak fired wide after good work from Murdock but Sphinx could not find a way back into the match and their FA Cup excitement was over for another year.
 

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Sphinx: O’Neill, Goodbody, McAteer, Rhodes, Ward, Kay, Donaldson (Halton 50), Fisher, Phillips (Smith 83), Murdock, Muldoon (Manak 69). not used: Martin, Doherty.

 

Bedworth: Bevan, Moran, Shilton, Connolly, Squire, Cummins, Blair, Lenton (Petty 91), Robinson (Fitzharris 79), Moore, Allen. not used: Kabango, Lee, Korlya, Edmond, Shepherd

 

Attendance: 871

 

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